Lovely This and Lovely That

Well I said I would “hopefully” post the rest of my Christmas projects on Sunday.  Sadly that lead to posting them 3 days from Sunday, on Christmas day of all days.  To be fair I actually finished making them all yesterday.  I just was a little too busy to post them what with preparing for Christmas eve services a such. 

First up, this lovely top made from a plain t-shirt.  It had been ages since I’ve done one of these and nothing completes a lovely holiday skirt like a lovely dressy top.  I did the usual things I do with t-shirts (remove sleeves, cut sides and necks, add elastic, etc.), but the neck line is slightly different.   I used two types of eyelet lace to embellish the neckline, and I added cris-crossing straps on the front.  I’ve done something similar in the past but with straps that tie around the neck.  By doing them this way I don’t have to worry about tying them just right.  Saves time getting dressed.

Speaking of holiday skirts, I made a couple more this year.  That’s right, not just one, but…

…Two skirts.  They are both very similar in design and made out of almost the same fabric.  Same Edwardian style pattern, but one is red and one is black.  In fact it’s the same fabric I used for the wreath and some of the ornaments on my list.  One might think it is a bit obsessive to have two extremely similar skirts, luckily one of them isn’t  for me.  It is a gift for someone, but I won’t say which one so as to not ruin the surprise for them.  Of course what’s more fun than lovely matching skirts?

Lovely matching hair accessories!  When I made the fabric yo-yos for the wreath and ornaments, I made a few extra to use for hair accessories.

To go with the black skirt I made this lovely headband.  It is trimmed with white lace, black bows, and silver and white buttons.

For the red skirt I made these hair combs.  Similar to the headband except I used white bows and use dark red rose buds instead of buttons.
Here’s the updated list:

• Pouches
• Zip, zip, zip
• Red skirt
• Black skirt
• Bird skirt
• Hair accessories
• Ribbon fun
• Top
• Wreath
• Ornaments galore
• Bun-bun

Eleven down and out.
Have a lovely holiday everyone!

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Pouches, Just Pouches

In addition to the usual gift ideas (like ornaments), I thought it would be good to give something useful.  Something that served a practical purpose while still being pretty.

Something like these lovely, lacey pouches.  Perfect to organize a purse or to use instead of one.  They were quick to make too.  I just cut rounded rectangles from the lacey fabric and some satin and pinned them together right sides out.  Just fold to form a pocket and add bias tape to the edges.  Finish with a snap and it’s good to go.

In addition to the lacey ones, I whipped up these pouches too.  The top one is a simple zippered pouch but with the zipper in the center for easy use.  The two on the bottom are a little more interesting.  They are made of two fabric yo-yos with a zipper between them and buttons for decoration.  A bit tricky to do but worth it.  They will make excellent change purses.  I’m thinking of making a tutorial for them, I just need to figure out how to explain it without confusing or annoying anyone.
Here’s the updated list:

• Pouches
• Zip, zip, zip
• Red skirt
• Black skirt
• Bird skirt
• Hair accessories
• Ribbon fun
• Top
• Wreath
• Ornaments galore
• Bun-bun

Seven down, just four more to go.  I should have them done by Sunday, hopefully.

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Birdies, Roses, and Ribbons

This post may contain affiliate links, please see my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

I had intended to post this Sunday, but time sort of got away from me.  There was a lot to do that day. 

Sunday was the day of the choir’s annual Christmas Cantata.  I had to be up about an hour earlier to prepare for it as well as all the other things I had to do for the holidays.

I wanted to have a special new skirt to wear for the cantata, so I whipped this one out of some fabric I found at Bookman’s for 50 cents.  Great deal. 

It has cardinals and holly all over it.  I trimmed it with matching red bias tape and cream colored eyelet lace.

As an added touch, I decided to whip up a lovely pin to match.  This one was super quick and easy to make. 

I just got four wire stem rose buds and wrapped the stems around a large safety pin.  Yes, that is a safety pin they are attached to, the leaves hide this fact.  To finish I just had to glue some faux pearls to the center of each bud. 

It was just the right thing to complete my outfit.  I’m thinking of making more in other colors.

The skirt fabric wasn’t the only good thing I found at Bookman’s.  I also found some cute holiday print ribbon.  It has the word “JOY'” printed on it.  I got 2 spools for 50 cents each.  I should mention that I used trade credit for the ribbon and fabric so they were essentially free for me. 

Anyway,  I bought the ribbon mostly to wrap presents in, but I thought it would be fun to use it to make a few small gifts too.  So I whipped up a few hair bows.  Perfect to delight a few little girls I know. 

I also whipped up a cute wristband for a certain little fellow I know.  I’m sure they will love them.

Here’s the updated list:

• Pouches
• Zip, zip, zip
• Red skirt
• Black skirt
• Bird skirt
• Hair accessories
• Ribbon fun
• Top
• Wreath
• Ornaments galore
• Bun-bun

Five down, Six more to go.  The next two will be up tomorrow.

 

Recommended Supplies

• Victoria Lynn™ Ribbon Roses Bunch, Red
• Loops & Threads Safety Pins, Assorted
• Aleene's Jewel-It Embellishing Glue
• Darice 5mm Loose Pearls-1000PK/White
• Maker's Holiday Satin Ribbon 3/8''x9'-Gray Snowflakes
• Christmas Cotton Fabric-Poinsettias & Scrolls On Red

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Yo-Yos and Buttons

Last year for Christmas I made a bunch of ornaments out of fleece including a bunch of yo-yo ornaments (see Fleecy Ornaments).  Well, people seemed to liked them so much that I decided to make some more this year only with cotton fabric instead of fleece.

Behold!  Twenty nearly perfect ornaments.  Most of them were made from some green or pink and green paisley fabric.  A few were made from scraps of a delightful black Edwardian print fabric.  It’s the same pattern as the fabric used for my wreath but in black instead of red.  You will be seeing more of the this fabric very soon.
Just some fancy buttons and ribbon to make them tree-ready.  Can’t wait to give them out.
Here’s the updated list:

• Pouches
• Zip, zip, zip
• Red skirt
• Black skirt
• Bird skirt
• Hair accessories
• Ribbon fun
• Top
• Wreath
• Ornaments galore
• Bun-bun

Three down, eight more to go.  Some of you may have noticed something a little different with this list.  I am linking the completed items on the list to their posts to make it easier for everyone to look back or check projects they missed.  Just trying to be helpful.

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Here’s Bun-Bun

I  know a certain little boy who has been good all year and seems to like bunnies.  What would make a better gift than a cute little bunny?

How about a bunny like this one?  It came out a little differently than I had planned, but it’s still cute and that is all that matters.  He is made from some remnants I found at a small thrift store.  He is stuffed with actual cotton, has large button eyes, and of course he has a little bowtie for reasons I can’t share right now.

Also he just has to have this little cotton ball tail.  What else could be more perfect?
Here’s the updated list:

• Pouches
• Zip, zip, zip
• Red skirt
• Black skirt
• Bird skirt
• Hair accessories
• Ribbon fun
• Top
• Wreath
• Ornaments galore
• Bun-bun

Two down, nine more to go.  The next will probably be up tomorrow or possibly Friday with some good news!

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Wordless Wednesday: A Good Use for Cute Ribbon

 

Before.

After.

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Red and Green

At work we’re having a little wreath decorating contest.  Sounds fun right?  Hence why it’s my first project for the holiday season.  Plain wreaths were provided free for anyone willing to decorate them, that of course includes me.  And everyone gets to vote on them and there are cash prizes for the best wreaths.
Here’s my entry, think I have a shot?  It includes fabric yo-yos made from and Edwardian print fabric and trimmed with buttons and eyelet lace, dark red velvety bows trimmed with rose buds of the same color, and one big bow with a button in the center.  I’m not sure the big bow came out quite how I wanted, but besides that I think it came out perfectly.
Here’s the updated list:

• Pouches
• Zip, zip, zip
• Red skirt
• Black skirt
• Bird skirt
• Hair accessories
• Ribbon fun
• Top
• Wreath
• Ornaments galore
• Bun-bun

One down,  ten more to go.  The next project will be up tomorrow, so look forward to it.

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Bring It On Santa

A few facts.  First, this blog has been very silent when it comes to crafty stuff, mostly due to lack of inspiration (and being lazy with the camera).  Second, a major holiday is looming that offers much inspiration to craft.  And third, nothing motivates more than a to-do list, not to mention that it helps organize all this “inspiration”.  Hence I’m bringing back the sort of old tradition of my yearly Christmas craft list.  And here it is in all it’s glory.
Christmas List #4

• Pouches
• Zip, zip, zip
• Red skirt
• Black skirt
• Bird skirt
• Hair accessories
• Ribbon fun
• Top
• Wreath
• Ornaments galore
• Bun-bun

A decent amount to complete by Christmas.  And for that extra boost of motivation, I plan to have most of them completed by the 15th.  Yep, 10 days.  Better get cracking.

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