Decoupaging My Head!

I decoupaged my head!  Hilarious, I know ;)

Actually, I was trying to figure out some way to display my baby headbands at the boutique. I was having quite a fit trying to figure a good way of hanging them up or laying against stuff, and it was not going my way.  Then, after we added new stock to the boutique and ate lunch, my wonderful mother took me to this junkie antique store (the junkier, the better!), where she bought me a child size shabby chic dress form in green in celebration of Mother's Day.  (I love dress forms; they decorate my whole house.)  Isn't she awesome? 

While we were there, I saw someone's booth had glued a styrofoam ball to an empty ribbon spool and spray painted and then used it to display baby head things.  I thought it was a great idea and was going to make a similar thing my self. 

Then, at Hobby Lobby, I saw they had these styrofoam heads, and they were fairly small.  However, I wanted to alter it a bit, so I got some scrapbook paper and ripped it up and decoupaged with glossy Modge Podge. 

I don't think the front view photographed well because you can't really make out the intricacies of it's eyes and nose and mouth.  But, I wanted to share. I do like how it came out.  I think I'm going to embellish it with flowers and/or ribbon to "frou frou" it up a bit in a mixed media/altered art kinda way. 

Sneak Peak - SunKissed Sun Dress & Bloomers Sewing Pattern

I just finished up a new pattern. It's the SunKissed Dress & Bloomer Set. Here is the sneak peak. It will be available in 0-24 months sizes. I'll be digitizing it in the next week, and it should be available by June 1st.

Ribbon Flower Baby Headband Tutorial

I created this little tutorial when I was making a ribbon pin/brooch to complete a little outfit for The TipToe Fairy.  This tutorial shows you how to attach it to a baby headband as well.  You can find the baby headbands at craft stores like Hobby Lobby super cheap.  These ribbon flowers are fun little accents to dress up anything from heads, bags, and clothing.  You can add them to headbands and clothing or even attach them directly to hair clips.  So cute!!

Materials: 

1-4 yds of 1 to 1.5 inch wide ribbon (I prefer grograin, but any will be fine)

needle and thread

sewing machine

small piece of felt

pin back, headband, alligator clip, etc. 

Tutorial:

** For this tutorial I used just 1 yd of ribbon. 

1.  First sew a gathering stitch along the entire length of ribbon, about 1/4 inch from the edge.

2.  Pull the threads to create a gathered ribbon.  It will flip all over it self until you start the flower. 

3.  Prepare your needle and thread. This is a little tricky...while holding the threads taut to keep the gather, fold the raw edge of the ribbon over two times then with a needle and thread sew together those edges near the gathering stitches.  Then, you will slowly wrap the gathered edge if the ribbon into a tight spiral.  Sewing the gathered edge together all around the flower as you go.  

4.   Just as you began folding the raw edge over twice, do the same with the end of the ribbon as well.  Then, when the ribbon is completely wrapped, sew back and forth around the gathered edges to make sure the ribbon flower stays nice and tight.

Here is the finished flower:

5.  Next, cut a circle of felt to cover the gathered edges and whipstitch around the edges.


6.  Optional:  To attach to a baby head band, cut two small slits and slide a length of 1/4 inch elastic through.  Then insert the elastic into the baby headband and tie off.  Cut the loose ends short.
 

And you're done! 

Review: The Weight of Silence

The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I have really enjoyed Heather Gudenkauf's books. This one is a fast read. I couldn't put it down for 2 days straight. The anticipation of what happens to these two little girls was driving me to want to skip to the end, but I fought the urge.

I wish Petra's story would have been told a little more. While there were little bits and pieces in the book to give you clues to what happens to her, I just wished it had been explored more in the story. With everything else in the story being "real time," it just seems odd that you find out what happens to her after the fact.

Antonia drove me crazy. Her relationship with Louis drove me insane, too. Why dump your childhood sweetheart for a nasty drunken idiot just because he goes to better himself at college for a few years? They had this unbreakable bond since 2nd or 3rd grade and then you hate him because he is going off to college? And another thing about her was the whole relationship with Griff. For Toni to be this amazing girl with big brothers who would and could not deter her as she grew up, and then she ends up a battered wife just doesn't seem realistic to me. Who would not run from someone who threatens you on your "first date?" I just find it hard to believe her mother dying just drove her to stupidity.

I did enjoy the epilogue from Calli. I always hate when a book just ends after a huge ordeal, and you end up wondering what happened to the characters.



View all my reviews

The TipToe Fairy Micro Boutique is Open!

My mom and I have a "microboutique," as she calls it, which is called The TipToe Fairy.  It is at this really awesome "etsy-esque" place known as the Creative Collective in Fort Worth. They opened for business on May 1st.  I had heard that the official Grand Opening was scheduled for May 12th, but I'm not sure if that has been pushed back.  However, they are indeed open for business now Wed-Sun. 

We've created a Facebook page for The TipToe Fairy.  I think if you "like" it, you'll get our updates, which will be about once a week about the new stuff up at the microboutique. 

Also, I created a blog where we will show pic of the latest things going up for sale.  You can find it here, The TipToe Fairy Blog. We were in such a rush to get things to the store, we forgot to take pictures of it all.  So, this picture shows a bunch of our wares.  Quilts, lots of applique baby things such as upcycled clothing and tiedyed onesies, freshly made one of a kind boutique outfits, and lots of baby things like yummy organic bamboo wipes. 

If you're local and interested in being a vendor at the Creative Collective, I think there are still spots open.  Their Facebook page is Creative Collective Fort Worth .

I'm so excited!  I heard through my mom that I've had some sales in the last day or so.  Woohoo! 

I've just spent the last day cleaning my sewing pit.  Boxes were EVERYWHERE!  I'm getting back to the sewing and will have lots more stuff coming soon (i.e. before the grand opening this weekend)...diaper bags, tote bags, one of a kind clothing, and more!

Our first garden!

Our veggies are finally coming along. Here's our first cucumber and sweet peppers.

I have a crafty booth at an etsy place in Fort Worth, TX, if you're in the area. They are still looking for vendors. Here's the link:
http://www.facebook.com/CreativeCollectiveFTW Check it out!!

I'll update more later with pics.