Dessert Inspiration

     Some desserts to cool you off as the weather gets warmer!

Turtle Brownie Ice Cream Dessert

Mud Slide Ice-Cream Cake

"Healthified" Turtle Ice Cream Cake

Banquet Dress – Part 4 – Finished

It’s finished and over. Yay! So much stress to finish!!

Here’s how it ended up:

• 3 Layers in the skirt. 2 of chiffon and one of satin.
• Each layer was two complete circles. (If you need an explanation on how I did this, just let me know!)
• The neckline was a sweetheart neckline
• Bodice was lined in cotton
• The back neckline was round and swooped down as low as I could get it and still wear my normal bra with it.
• The sash was made of chiffon and covered up the unsightly waist.
• I added a waist stay on the inside and I think that helped so much!
• I did a rolled hem on the bottom, although I wish I had gotten some wooly nylon to do that instead.
• I made my own facings for the neckline and arms.
• The flowers were made by burning chiffon and satin and tulle.
• One of the chiffon layers was a different color, but it worked out okay.
• If you make a dress like this, you’re gonna have some trouble getting enough fabric. I had to accumulate this fabric over several weeks. Waiting for coupons to come out and such.
• Even with coupons, it was still pretty expensive, I’m scared to total everything up…maybe I won’t. heehee.
• I made his tie as well. I used the pattern from the Purl Bee. I think it adds a nice touch.
• It was fun to dance in. It was fairly low profile until he spun me around. Then it would swish out! fun!

Dress Inspiration

So I know a lot of what I'm posting lately is just inspiration...but it's better than nothing! I got my sewing area mostly finished up. I will be posting pictures as soon as I can get them! It's from Verity Clothing. She got the pattern from the May 2009 issue of Burda Magazine. Isn't it lovely? I want to make one!!

But for now, here is a lovely dress I ran across.

Sewing Nook Inspiration

I have decided that spring break is a perfect time to redo my sewing nook. It is connected to my room and is where I do all my creating. Here is what I want to do:

1.) Create a desk similar to this one. Mine will probably be in a L-shape. Mine will also be wider, and will probably have a file cabinet under one side and a shelf of some sort along the other. I might also secure the back against the wall using  bracket of some sort. My grandma has the doors and shelves, so all I need to get is a file cabinet, and I just found one on craigslist for $8! I’m thinking about painting the table a teal/aqua color…

image from YoungHouseLove

Tutorial here

2.) Paint the walls. I am wanting to stripe the walls using the same color as my main room along with another slightly darker color. I want this room to be fun! This tutorial is also from Young House Love. LOVE their stuff!  It looks to be fairly straightforward.

image from Young House Love

Tutorial here

3.) I am also working on some watercolors of dresses to hang on the wall. Kind of like this:

image from Young House Love

4. ) My grandma has an old window frame that I might incorporate in some way. I might do something like the picture, or I might just paint it and hang it  on the wall.

image from Remodalholic

I’ve got some other ideas, but I guess that’s it for now!

Main Dish Recipe Ideas

Santa Fe Grilled Chicken

Ranch Chicken

Stacked Enchilada Bake

Bedroom Makeover

When we moved into our house almost 3 years ago, I wanted to paint my room yellow. Unfortunately, I was talked into painting it some green color that I really don’t care for. As such, I have never bought matching bedding or really hung any pictures. But I am ready for a change! I am going to try to do this over the summer, so I am just in the planning stages at this point.

I am wanting to keep the decorating cost to $50 + whatever I can sell from my current décor (bedpreads, art, etc.). This is going to be the most challenging part about this project.

Here is what I am thinking for the paint color:

I am wanting a pinkish grayish tone. Something I can build on. I want it to be sophisticated, but able to work with a lot of different tones of pink too.

(although I really like the paint colors in almost all the pictures)

Fondant by Benjamin Moore (I would have it paint matched to a cheaper brand)

This wall color is really nice too! I am not sure what it is though, some sort of really pale pink.  (I like the color in the picture with the daybed with the pink sheets as well)

Here is what I am thinking for bedding:This is gorgeous! But at $80, it is way out of my budget!This is another nice option. Both of these are from Target.

I have posted a tutorial for this in the past. I think it is from kojodesisgns. I saw the inspiration at Anthropologie yesterday and liked it a lot. The only thing I am worried about is the balled up parts being too hard.

There is a tutorial for this Anthro inspired bedspread here. I like the ruffles on it. And it would be a lot softer than the other option. I could make this for cheap too from sheets on clearance. And that will keep the cost down as well! If I can make it as a button-on cover that will go over a down comforter I will be extra happy! That way I could wash it easily too!

Art inspiration:

I am not sure what I will do for art yet. I want to be able to put some bold pieces in there too, but keep it sophisticated as well.

I will most likely be getting some crisp white furniture (I don’t have any right now). I also have a pink rug, and a bunch of frames that I need to use. I would also like to paint my sewing room, which is attached to my bedroom either a bright pink color or some other inspiring color. I also need to think about curtains for my windows and curtains to separate my sewing room from the rest of the room. I am excited!

(I am not sure where I got all these images, if they are your pictures and you want credit, just let me know and I will be glad to give it to you!!)

Spinach Pesto Manicotti

Spinach Pesto Manicotti

• Made this awhile back
• Remember to not cook hamburger before stuffing
• Make sure to cook noodles all the way done
• I made basil pesto using this recipe
• It turned out fairly tasty
• Oh…I grew my own Basil…’cause I’m just that cool!

Adjustable Petticoat

from Sew Retro

I would say that most people that wear voluminous skirts are after the perfect level of "poof." I have made several different petticoats in the past, never being completely happy with any one. I would love to try this though! She uses a skirt pattern and adds ruffles and tulle to give it some umph. (click on the picture for the tutorial)

Wood Burning Inspiration

image and tutorial at Remodelaholic

Happy Valentines Day!!
Isn't that cool? I would definitely like to do something like that on our walls! And we already have a wood burning pen which makes it even cheaper...now maybe if I can scrounge up some wood from my Grandma's house...hmmm...
How about one of these verses for the kitchen?

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.- Prov. 15:17

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.- 1 Corinth. 10:31

Banquet Dress–Part 3–Muslin

I have been working on this muslin here and there for quite some time now. I finished it up this morning. I cut the patterns I had talked about recently, but they didn’t look right on me.

 

 

 

So I ended up using the pattern on the left (Butterick 7304) for the bodice, since it had a dropped waist, and the pattern on the right (Butterick 6937) for the neckline. I just kinda did the back neckline by hand. I am really happy with how it turned out! I had to size down the bodice pattern, which is what took so long. I also ended up doing a sway-back adjustment. I need to start checking for that on all my clothing. Rgh.

So here is the muslin. I am going to look for fabric today to see which color would be best. Although I am thinking about the color of the background of the picture. We shall see.

Only Iron Once

I ran across this tutorial the other day and thought some of you might want to see it! When I buy fabric for a project it always ends up balled up and wrinkled once it's been washed. I think this would allow me to iron it and then hang it up to prevent it from getting wrinkled again! The distance between the hooks would have to be strategic. 23" apart would probably be best. You could get 45" fabric folded in half on that. We shall see. :) It is definitely on my to do list!
Tutorial here.

Vogue 2960

I found this fabulous brown suede-ish fabric at Wally World for $5 for the whole bolt (5 yards on a bolt)! So I decided on Vogue 2960 since I thought that the wrinkles in the fabric would work well with the under-bust gathers.

I don't know what our Hancocks problem is, but they seem to always have a shortage of the Vogue patterns in the smaller sizes! AGH! So I had to cut a size that was 3-4 sizes to big. So I definitely ran into some issues there. I also cut the back up a lot higher. I don't have a picture of it, cause it didn't turn out too interesting. Just a slight scoop neck. I also took out the buttons in the front, as it was just going to be too much for this dress!

The waist looks a lot better on. I ended up making a sash and a flower for my hair out of some blue taffeta I got off the clearance rack. :D
It is fully lined to give it some extra body. I ended up lining it with a dark pink sheet I got from target for a few dollars. It makes me happy just knowing that color is there. haha!
I'm pretty happy with it. I feel pretty when I wear it. There are a few details I would change if I did it over again, but I think a lot of the issues were from sizing down the pattern. Which I'm not really that great at. I would like to make it again sometime, but buy the right size first!

Valentine's Day Inspiration

10 more days people! If you need some ideas, here are a few to get your creative juices flowing. :)

 

 

tutorial at Junkin' Junky

tutorial from Brassy Apple

 

 

 

 

 

tutorial from Flamingo Toes

Hope those help you out!

Additional Dessert Recipes

     More dessert recipes to delight your taste buds!

Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Impossibly Easy French Apple Dessert Squares

Chocolate and Caramel Oatmeal Bars

Banquet Dress – Part 2 – Patterns

image from Sew Red Hot

This dress really caught my eye. Especially the bodice.

It is made from Vogue 1172. The bodice has princess seaming and nice sleeves/straps which I think will be perfect for my banquet dress.

I still want to do a double circle skirt though. I don’t think that should be very hard to draft.

Anthro-Inspired Bedpread

     Isn’t this comforter amazing? It’s made of jersey which would be super snuggly! I am really thinking of making one!

image and tutorial from Kojo Designs

Banquet Dress – Part 1 – Design

 

The banquet rolls around once a year. And once it’s over I immediately start thinking about next year’s dress. We swing dance at the banquet, so it is imperative that I can dance in the dress. I ran across this dress from Refugee Crafter:

It’s gorgeous! Based on that, here is the sketch I came up with:

My version has:

• Boat Neckline
• Fully Lined Bodice (probably cotton)
• Princess Seaming
• A full circle skirt (the more I look at my inspiration, the more I think it is 2 circles around)
• Chiffon on top (Inspiration has 4 layers in skirt)
• Taffeta underneath
• Rolled Hem with Serger for Skirt edge
• Either full length or tea length. This is probably gonna depend on what size taffeta/chiffon I can find
• Waist Stay

Possibilities:

• Beading around neckline
• chiffon sleeves
• Possible chiffon layer on bodice too, if it needs it
• Triple ribbons on upper layer of skirt
• Boning?
• Decide on lining for skirt – synthetic or cotton?

That’s what I have so far. Things might change. We’ll see. :)

Vintage Patterns

During my recent shopping trip at the thrift store, I also picked up a bunch of vintage patterns for 25 cents apiece!!

Advance 2764 Short or Long-Sleeved Dress with Box Pleats

Vogue 5088 This one has multiple views, including a gathered skirt, pencil skirt, 3/4 length sleeves, sleeveless, and a jacket. This one will be lots of fun!

Vogue 5250 This one has an overblouse, but I don’t really care for it. I bought it mostly for the box pleated skirt.

Mccalls 3973 includes 5 different blouse patterns. I can’t wait to try some of these to go with skirts this spring/summer.

Butterick 4309 This one is from the ‘70’s maybe? I’m not sure. It is a 14, which in the 50’s patterns fits me fine, but I don’ think it is going to fit right in this pattern. I don’t know yet. I bought it mainly for the Raglan Sleeve T-shirt pattern on the right.

Simplicity 3637 CULOTTES!! Haha! I am excited to see what this looks like made up! They include “soft pleats” and a pocket. teehee.