Transforming Three Shirts Into an Easter Dress

Week 4 of Project Run and Play theme is "my style".  

My style is to creatively refashion:

This project came about when my daughter emailed me a photo of a dress she wanted me to make her three month old daughter for Easter. It happened to be from a popular children's clothing company called Persnickety. For those of you familiar with the line, you know the unique style I'm talking about (the dress she liked is no longer available, but similar to this style here). So, my creative juices started flowing on how I could make it work. 

While my daughter and granddaughter were home a few weeks ago, I had my daughter go through my stash of fabric and clothing to see what we could use. We came up with three old shirts to make it happen. Then I tried to duplicate the style of the outfit she liked using the three items she selected (as shown above). Here's how it turned out. Pretty cute, if I do say so myself:

My style is to add detail to whatever I make, whether it's embroidery, smocking, applique, or a little vintage lace, as you can see below:

My style is to make sure my grandchildren know their grandma loves them a lot!

I hope you've enjoyed this cutie modeling her Easter finery.

I'm really wishing I could kiss her happy baby cheeks right now...

 But she's thousands of miles away... so, so sad!

The free pattern I used for this dress is the same one I used for the Lace Embellished Dress for a Baby Girl found HERE.

xoxo Grandma

Linked to:  Project Run and Play, Snickerdoodle Sunday, Make It and Love It, Creating My Way to Success, Make it Pretty Monday; The Dedicated House, Crafty Allie

Super Simple Carrot Container

If you are like me, you enjoy giving away treats to neighbors and friends during the holidays. Easter is no different at my house. Of course, I am always trying to find ways to spruce up holiday containers to stash those treats. This year I am using these cute little carrot containers. 

The best part about them, besides being darling, is they are super easy to make! This carrot gift container requires just one straight seam. That's right... just ONE! 

Let's get started! Download the pattern HERE. Now follow the steps below:

Now for the fun part begins, fill that fabric carrot with a treat! 

Add a little green raffia to tie this carrot container closed and your yummy carrot is ready to give away.  xoxo Grandma

Linky Parties: The Dedicated House: Before and After

Dress Pocket Pick-Me-Up

Do you have an outfit that needs a little pick-me-up? Try adding a pocket to give the outfit a little punch of personality. Below, I chose a simple striped dress and added a hand painted pocket. And as simple as that, this dress has new life breathed into it.  

To see how this pocket was created using white fabric and Sharpie markers go to this post This technique is fun and a little bit addictive!  

For another example of a hand painted pocket see this post. Let your imagination be your guide! 
Now, go have a fun day!
xoxo Grandma
Linked:  Nap-Time Creations, Crafty Allie: Worthwhile Wednesdays, Creating my way to Success, A Round Tuit, The Dedicated House: Before and After

Seahorse Summer Outfit

Week 3 of Project Run and Play was to design your own fabric.  When I read this challenge, I knew exactly what I was going to finish. In January, I designed some seahorse fabric but then tucked it away because I was going on a trip to visit my grandchildren. You know how life goes, once I got home I forgot about it. Well, I pulled it out of its stash to use for this project, which I made into a toddler summer outfit with a nautical theme. And I must say, I love how it turned out. To see the post about how I designed this fabric go to "Fabric Painting With Markers".

The fabric I designed was really bright, so I decided to combine it with a simple white on white print.  I added just one of the seahorse panels as a pocket to the tunic.  I framed the pocket with bright pink piping, which makes the pocket look like a miniature work of art.

The large covered button was custom painted fabric too.  It took about four attempts to get the right design, color and size onto the button.  

The pattern I used for the tunic is called Black Bird Tunic ( a free download) and was designed by Shwin & Shwin. To fit my granddaughter,  I had to enlarge this pattern.  It's a little big on her now but she's a growing girl.

To the tunic, I added bright pink capri length leggings, keeping them neutral in design so that they can be worn with other shirts.  

Next, I made my very first purse using two more custom designed fabric panels.  I added a rock which had a hole through it. I found this little rock on the beach near my granddaughter's home.  I wrapped jewelry wire around the hole and then sewed this rock onto the closure.

Lastly, I added a hand painted seahorse stuffed animal, as seen here, just because it was so fun to create!  If you want to make your own seahorse toy, then go to "How to Make a Toy Seahorse" where I've shared the pattern and the tutorial all for free!  Below my granddaughter is introducing the baby seahorse to his mother, as she creatively declared.

Get some markers and rubbing alcohol & let me know if you think this fabric technique is as much fun as I did. xoxo Grandma

How to Make a Seahorse Toy

My family loves seahorses (and anything nautical, really). While creating a little outfit with a nautical theme, which I'll show you on Monday, I felt inspired to make a stuffed toy seahorse to go along with it. Outfits are always more fun when they have a toy to go along with it!   

To make your seahorse, here's what you need to do:

• Cut out 2 seahorses using THIS downloadable pattern.  
• Paint both pieces of fabric, making sure you paint them mirror image of one another using this technique. Note: they don't have to be exact matches because no one will see both sides at the same time, but you want them to be pretty similar.     
• Let your fabric dry.  
• Heat set the fabric with a hot iron.  I covered my images with scrap pieces of fabric to keep my iron clean.  I strongly recommend that you do the same thing...unless you like a colorful iron.  Just warning you!
• Stitch around the edge of the painted fabric using 1/4" seam allowance.  Make sure you leave open about  2" to turn the fabric.  I left mine open right below the dorsal fin.

• Turn your fabric right side out.

• Stitch across the dorsal fin.

• Stuff the seahorse with batting.  You'll need a long narrow stick or other tool to get a little batting into the tip of the tail.  I didn't put any batting in the very end of the tail.
• Sew closed the opening.

To see more seahorse fun, check out THIS coordinating outfit. xoxo Grandma

Quick Onesie Make-over

Sometimes plain white onesies need a little pick-me-up. So, for this project I took a white onesie, added a little green ruffled trim, hand-stitched a soft pink chiffon flower onto it, and in about an hour, this is what that boring onesie became:

I also sewed on a little trim to the bum area for some extra flare:

Now I have a sweet gift for a baby girl. And it took me little time to make! Now, go have a great day!

xoxo Grandma
Linked:  Crafty Allie, Nap Time Creations, Snickerdoodle Sunday

Sandcastle Dress

Here's my week 2 project for Project Run and Play. The theme this week is "Spring Break - design an outfit inspired by your favorite vacation spot."

My favorite vacation spot: the beach - almost any beach will do. But my favorite beach is Cannon Beach in Oregon.

My inspiration: building sandcastles at the beach. Here's a little trivia for you: this year Cannon Beach, Oregon will celebrate their 50th year hosting a sandcastle contest. Although my sandcastles will probably never be contest worthy, I still enjoy building with sand whenever I'm at a beach. Below is a photo of one of my sandcastles I built while vacationing in Fort Myers, Florida a few years ago. The other photo is me working on a sandcastle somewhere on an Oregon beach as a child.  

Psychologists say that a little sand therapy is good for adults.  No wonder I can't resist a little sandcastle time when I'm at the beach!  I'm hoping to instill this skill in my grandchildren.  

Fabric:  Navy blue knit, refashioned from one of my dresses (the front bodice was always a too low for my style), plus a little white seam tape to give this dress a nautical feel.

Pattern inspiration: this dress from J.Crew Kids, which retailed for $69.  I like my price better - about $1.50 for the seam tape...OH YEAH!

My favorite part about this design is the detail on the pocket; an embroidered mini sandcastle (which I embroidered myself).

I even found the perfect button, a Nautica brand one for the top, back closure.

My granddaughter loved looking at my collection of seashells and the magnifying glass made this whole experience even more fun for her.  

When I finished taking these photos, she proudly declared to her big brother that she was having fun playing with Grandma.

I only wish I could have taken her to the beach and built a sandcastle with her... sigh! One day...xoxo Grandma