Shopping with a Little Different Perspective

I have been eyeing some little girl’s striped knit dresses for the summer. Some that I saw were 40 to 50 dollars! Well, you know me; I wasn't gonna pay that much for a kid’s dress; something she might only wear for one season.

Then, one day I was at Ross (boy, I love Ross and TJ Maxx! I can find pretty darn cute stuff for killer deals) checking out the teen dress section. Look what I found...


Aren't they cute? I especially love the orange one; I think the color combinations are super. I guess they are a dress or a tunic top, either way, I loved the colors.

The light bulb moment came to me (grin)...they are too tight or too short for my liking, if my daughter is in her teens, BUT they are perfect for her 6 years old frame. AND, they were $5.99 each!

We had a small summer fashion show that afternoon, and of course, a photo shoot...



She LOVEs it!


I simply adjusted the shoulder straps, and the dresses were perfect for her. With a little bit of imagination and perspective adjustment I scored big time. :)

Experimental Scrap Quilt

Do you remember these quilts that I shared last spring?



Well, last year before I started getting a series of procedures (so around September), I was getting antsy. I wanted many projects done and have some projects ready for me to do in bed... You know, those type of things. I pieced five quilt tops that time, and I just finished quilting one of them over the weekend.


It's rather funny looking huh? Here is the reason why... I used up all the scraps from the boy's quilt to make this. I had absolutely NO design plans whatsoever. I just kept on piecing, adding fabric here and there and if there were parts that were too long I simply cut it to match the length.

I have a love for traditional quilts, but I have been mesmerized by modern style quilts too. I wanted to see what I can come up with, with leftover fabrics. So, it was sort of an experiment.
Because it was an experimental quilt, it was also perfect for me to practice machine quilting on. I didn't have to worry about making it so perfect.




I know I still have a lot to learn, but actually machine quilting is starting to become fun. I am not so scared anymore!


There are a couple other quilts that I basted and am thinking about quilting soon. It is so hard to decide what kind of design to go with it. I can't wait to get started though. :)

Tutorial/How I Turned a Dollar Store Find to a Ring Display Case

I am pretty excited about this project I was just about share with you, because, I only spent $1 to buy the wood frame at the dollar store about year ago or so, and rest of the material was I already had at home and leftovers from other projects!


Even though you don't have exactly the same frame, no worries. You simply need to increase or decrease the number of "fabric spring roll" :) you put in.

1. One dollar frame... this is the before picture that I simply spray painted it to prep for the project and set a side.


2. To make the "fabric spring roll"( just don't know the proper name for it)to slide the rings in, cut 4"x 4" squares out of linen and slightly less than 2"w X 9"L batting. In this case I cut out 27 pieces each, but this will change depends on the wood frame you have.


3. Fold the batting few times to make it look like the one in the picture and sew the end.


4. Place the folded batting onto the 4"x 4" fabric diagnally, than stard wrapping it like making a spring roll. Use pictures as a guide.


then, sew the end.


You need to make this how many ever you need, but this is like the perfect part to make it into take and go project in the zip lock bag.

5. Drizzle the glue from glue gun into the each square. Quickly put the fabric spring rolls into the square before the glue gets dry. Its best to work one square at the time.


6. Use butter knife to push in some ends that are sticking out.


You see the difference of before and after?



7. Now, it is time to enjoy.


Each rings are snugly in it's place...I LOVE it.



Just like I said in earlier, you don't have to have exact same frame to make a ring display case like this. You could even use glasses, baskets, boxes, cans, I mean the possibilities to make this unique are endless. Did I make you wanna look around your house a bit to see what you can find? :)

Wreath Ebook

Hi all! I have been pretty busy the last weekend, and didn't complete a small craft project I have been working on to make it into a tutorial. It is coming soon though!

I am just hopping in to let you know that my eclectic flower wreath project got featured in Wreath ebook along with 13 other awesome projects!


I created the wreath a while ago, but it is still one of my all-time favorites. I hope you will enjoy the tutorial.

So, the new week is starting, are you ready for it? Me? Hmm... The kids are starting their spring break this week, so I am planning lots of activities with them. Usually they behave better when they have tasks and projects. I will see how it plays out though. :)

Ready or not here I come new week, I am gonna make it really fun!

Vintage Pillow Case Quilt No.2

In the last post, I shared a diamond quilt I did, using machine quilting. This one however, I really wanted to hand quilt with big stitches. I finished sewing all the yo-yo's, and I am ready to share the pictures with you today.


Some of you might recall this quilt;


Yup, you guessed right, the hexagon with different fabrics are the same blocks on both quilts. I used them and I added white vintage sheets between the blocks. Isn't it funny how small changes can bring a whole new outlook on the finished quilt? (Who said it is just like our lives? I might use a quilt metaphor instead of chocolate as Forrest Gump did :) ).

I really enjoyed quilting this by hand.


I didn't plan it that way, but don't you think the colors are perfect for Easter?


I have plans with my family this week end, and it is going to be busy but a really fun weekend. I hope you are enjoying the spring, and finding some time on the side for yourself to be creative and make your soul happy. :)

Diamond Quilt

Over the weekend, we visited family, and had a nice time. I was particularly excited that I was able to finish a quilt. A quilt I pieced so many months ago, but afraid to machine quilt and walked away from it for a while... I wanted to give it to my brother-in-law as a house warming gift.

I stayed away from my usual colors and flower patterns(giggle), and went with darker colors and plaids. I used a 60 degree diamond ruler to cut the fabrics (I bought my ruler at Joann's with a 50% off coupon, by the way). Cutting and piecing the fabrics went pretty quick. Can you imagine using different fabrics to make this diamond quilt? Ah... did I hear Amy Butler? Woo, I am so going to...

He gave us a tour of his first place he purchased, and I was soo excited that the color of the quilt actually went with the couch and the chair he had in his living room!


Do you know what else I was so excited about? I. Machine. Quilted. It!!


I mentioned that I wanted to practice machine quilting more, but I was really worried that I would mess it up. But, you know, it actually wasn't so bad, I just did loops all over the quilt and it turned out OK for a machine quilting apprentice. :)

Jewelry Affaire

I felt like I could use a little pick me up last week. Then I received something in the mail...


!!!

After I shared my April necklace about a year ago here on my blog, I was contacted by Jewelry Affaire, and they were interested in the necklace. I knew it would be featured in their magazine, but I didn't know exactly when.

If you happen to be at the book store and find the magazine, please open up page 51...


There are so many beautiful pieces of jewelries in this issue (as usual), I thoroughly enjoyed reading the magazine that afternoon. :)