I'm A Finalist in the Great Ugly Knit Upcycle & Now I Need YOUR Vote!

Blog friends I REALLY need your help--

My Toddler Dress Tutorial was picked as a finalist in a national upcycling sewing contest!

(It's gotta be because my model is so dang cute!)

Click this link and vote for me--Finalist #7!

If I win I will get a Singer 2932 Sewing Machine!

Thanks everyone!

Allison

The Ruffle T-Shirt Craze Continues . . .

I am hooked on and have fallen head-over-heels for these ruffled t-shirts! Am I crazy? I definitely have the ruffle bug!

I am also excited to say that I have been given a feedback e-mail on the tutorial I did for the Ruffled Toddler Dress from an Upcycled T-Shirt, AND it included a photo of the reader's finished dress!

Oh, and if you noticed the "Vintage Pollyanna" name on the photo collage, it is a blog I am creating that showcases a love for all things vintage, lovingly named after my Mom's antique store.

Stay tuned,

More later, gotta run and sew!

Ruffled T-Shirt #2

I went over to my friend Flannery's house last night to sew with her--we decided to try out this tutorial from Tea Rose Home. She chose a white tee and I chose lavender.

Sewing with a friend is so much fun! It was great to work together--she is a more experienced sewer than I am, so I feel like I learned a lot. Her shirt isn't quite done yet, but when it is I will be sure to have her post some photos so that I can share them with you!

This one was a bit harder than the first ruffled t-shirt I did, but I am really happy with how it turned out!


My friend Erica has asked for one of my ruffle tees and I think this one would be great on her!

Ruffled Toddler Dress Tutorial from Upcycled Tee Shirt

Hold your horses folks--I am about to present you with my VERY FIRST sewing tutorial! I have been absolutely crazed with the ruffle shirt tutorials over at Tea Rose Home, (see my recent attempt here) and so I started poking around looking for a toddler dress tutorial which I found at Happy Together. My dress is a combination of both.

For those of you that know me, you know I am NOT great with a sewing machine. I am NOT organized, I am NOT patient, I do NOT use patterns,--basically the way I sew is haphazard, frenzied with excitement and usually with James or Ella (or both) running around. So, my point is that if I can do this, YOU CAN DO THIS!

Start with a tee shirt. I went through my closet this morning and found an old, OLD long-sleeved tee from Old Navy that I used to wear when I was pregnant with James.



I'm not sure why I still have it, as it has a HUGE grease stain on it, but I am sure glad that I hung on to it!


As is instructed by the tutorial over at Happy Together, I found a dress that Ella currently is wearing that I really like the cut of. I folded the tee shirt in half vertically, and then did the same with the dress, which I placed on top of the tee shirt and then cut around it with scissor. See? NO PATTERN!


Then I cut up the side seams on the tee shirt and placed right sides together, pinning them so that I could stitch up the sides (leaving the armholes open) and across the shoulders.


After I finished stitching the two sides together I turned it inside out. Don;t worry about stitching the hem, as you will be covering it with a ruffle. Notice in later photos that when I cut the shape of the dress out, I centered what will be the dress' neckline over the v-neck of the tee. That way there is a more finished look on the dress. Not necessary, but so helpful for someone like me.

Next I cut open the arms of the tee shirt.


I trimmed them with my rotary cutter into a rough rectangle (notice I say "rough" there is blissfully nothing exact about this pattern.) Then I cut two pieces about three inches wide and one piece about 2" wide. I did the same on the other arm.


Now for the ruffle. sew all four of your two-inch pieces together, to form a nice long strip. Next, change your machine settings so that you are using a wide straight stitch. (If this ruffle part makes no sense, I will not be offended if you need to jump over here or over here for a better explanation of how to do it.)

Sew down the middle of your strip. DO NOT BACK STITCH at the beginning and the end.

When you are done, take one end and gently pull the bobbin thread (this is when it is handy to use two different thread colors) or else just try each thread until you find out that when you pull it you make a ruffle.


THIS is the step that is time consuming, almost frustrating, as it can take some time to get the ruffle to look just right.

VOILA! Ruffle!


Next pin the ruffle around the bottom edge of the dress. Tee shirt material can be a little wonky, so make sure that you aren't pulling or stretching either the dress or the ruffle as you go along.


Next, sew RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE of the ruffle, all the way around. Some people do this step, but not me, as I said, I am a haphazard, let be what will be, it may all come out in the wash (fingers crossed that it doesn't) kind of seamstress.


Now make a ruffle out of each of the 1 1/2" pieces for each armhole. Pin them around (start and end at the armpit) and sew again.


Ta-DAAAH!!! I was so excited at this point that I was jumping around the room, shoving the dress at Ella and James and yelling "LOOK WHAT MOMMY MADE!!!"


You could be done at this point, but I was going ALL OUT and felt like I was on top of the sewing world, so I got a little crazy and wanted to add an embellishment. I had made one of the flowers in the Tea Rose Home tutorial and it just about did me in, so I went for what I thought might be an easier approach--the rose in the Happy Together tutorial.

I sacrificed an old tee shirt of James' that is too small for him.


From the back I cut a large oval-ish piece and then began to cut a 1/4" (sort of) piece from all the way around it.


Next I pinned it to the shirt and started winding around it loosely.


Next I stitched it in my typical lackadaisical fashion. Not great, but that is why I like the shabby part of shabby chic. (Wink, wink).


I added a vintage purple button to the center of the rose and that was it! (For the life of me I can't get this photo oriented vertically, so just bend your head to the right and you'll see the dress properly.) HA HA.


My Ella in her brandy-new upcycled tee-shirt dress!! (Seriously, I could stitch some paper bags together, throw them on her and she would look great.) Who can even look at what she is wearing when her smile is co crazy-cute??!!


I hope you try my tutorial! And if you make this dress, please leave me a comment and let me know how it turned out!

I am linked up over at Tea Rose Home for Link Party 17! Go see what everyone is posting! Fun stuff!

Oh, and stay tuned . . . I am in the midst of a new blog project combining all of my favorite loves--cooking, baking, homemaking, crafting and collecting--and all with a vintage twist!

XOXO

Allison

2 Tee Shirts + 2 Hours = Homemade Goodness!

I've been wanting to try this do-it-yourself upcycled ruffled t-shirt tutorial for months! A friend suggested that we work on a similar one together, and once I got the idea in my brain I just.couldn't.stop.thinking.about.it!!

I grabbed two shirts from Old Navy on sale for $5 each, and then raced home to start. I finished sewing all of the ruffles in the first hour. EASY PEASY. The flower??? Dang it, Flan told me it would probably give me issues, AND IT DID. (Notice there is one shirt on my flower and two in the tutorial.) Sigh.
Anyhow--it's done! Whaddya think?


(And stop slobbering over my new bag. HANDS OFF!) I got it on wicked clearance when I was as the Freeport Outlets last weekend. Anyhoo--my husband says it reminds him of a construction zone. Whaaaaaaaaaatt??????

Here is the shirt as pictured on Old Navy's website. The color I got is called "dumbell."


Go make yourself a shirt!

Handmade Vintage Freshness Can Be Found at Three Sisterz

Introducing Three Sisterz!


I know I have mentioned my friend Flannery about a million times on this blog, but I have been meaning to introduce the recent work that she and I and her sister Courtenay have recently finished, branding their business, Three Sisterz.


Flan came over a month or so ago and I walked her through some marketing ideas to help get Three Sisterz off the ground. They had a blog, but they needed to find a way to update it, get more exposure, and move to the next level. They were interested in how online marketing could help them, and seeing as how I make my living in marketing, communications and social media design, I was excited to assist them. I do really enjoy helping strong, creative women in their pursuing their dreams.

She and her sisters sew charming, one-of-a-kind pillowcase dresses using the most beautiful, whimsical fabric you can imagine. I think their sensibility is a fresh take on vintage and I adore it. They also make appliqued onesies, precious little skirts and a number of other custom-made items. Here's a few items from their recent work:

We talked about the look and feel that they wanted, played around with some images and came up with a new banner and design for the blog. Here is the banner, but you have to go and visit to get a real feel for the changes that we made.

Next we parlayed the new look for the brand into a Facebook badge and graphics for their Etsy store. A few days later I took some photos for them (this one is my fave!) of Flannery's middle daughter, Mary Larkin in one of their signature dresses. (Okay, you can't see much of the dress in this shot, I know . . . bad marketer, BAD!)


You can find their Facbook page here:

And you can take a look at their Etsy page here:

So please, before you run into a big box store for a summer dress that every little girl on the block is going to be wearing, think twice and buy something custom-made and AFFORDABLE and unique. Plus, doesn't it feel great to support another woman, another mother, in their efforts?

Remember this shot of my little Ella in her Three Sisterz pillowcase dress? (Just look at that little bow mouth!!!) Do you need any more convincing than this?


There's just something about these stunning handmade creations that these women are making, that make little girls' cheeks that much more PINCHABLE and SMOOCHABLE!

Now, go and "like" their Facebook page, and then go browse their blog and their Etsy store!

And be sure to spread the word and tell your friends, too.

N is for . . .

A friend of mine is Now mother to a New, Notable, Noisy and Nifty Newborn named Nicholas. She is a dear Blogland friend, and having received some Nice handmade gifts from her in the past, I wanted to return the favor.

Thinking of my New friends over at 3 Sisterz, I decided that a Neat little sewing project was in order.

Tah-dahhhhh!


(I am Not a great seamstress, and that is why I do not have a business selling items like this. The ladies at 3 Sisterz, however, do make them for sale, and I know from experience that everything is properly aligned and not a stitch is out of place.)

Now take Note, if you are staring a New applique project:

1. Do Not use a dark, contrasting thread,
2. Remember that flannel can be tough to work with,
3. Consider using more pins for correct placement (as in the cock-eyed green tie),
4. Maybe don't choose a Notoriously small item of clothing


Anyhoo, I know it doesn't matter, because I am a little Nutty anyway, and my stitches, though perhaps not Nimble or perfect, are certainly Noteworthy for the love with which they are made.



Love you Stephanie! Keep an eye out for your package! And give that baby Numerous kisses from me!!!!

Shake your Sillies Out in Style with Three Sisterz!

Need a one-of-a-kind shirt for your little executive? James received this hand-sewn applique shirt yesterday from my friend Flannery. She just came back from a sewing frenzy in Philly with her sister Courtenay. She walked it over and I started smiling immediately!

Sew Flan, did you know that green is James' favorite color? (And he loves blondes, you know, so you rate right up there with Zula Patrol and Monkey's Lunchbox!)

He wanted to put it on ASAP, and then I asked him to shake his sillies out and I snapped a few shots.

If anyone wants one of these fabulous tees, visit Three Sisterz! (I think they can whip up some onesie versions, too!)

THANK YOU Flannery & Courtenay!

Well Hello, Little Peep!

I have been making these little fabric Easter eggs that I found a tutorial for on Retro Mama. It took me far more time to sew these little cuties up than I had imagined. I did learn the secret of a ladder stitch, though, and that is a bonus. I made a dozen and I would say only one actually looks like an egg. The others are all a bit misshapen. But you know what? I love them anyway.

I found a vintage egg cup that my Mom had given me years back. My one decent-looking egg now sits in this cup. Don't you just love the look on the little chick's face? Me too.

A Spring Poem

Bright hues of orange and lime, pink and lavender unfurl
against a canvas of fresh white, like the opening young leaves
of the Forsythia outside the window, where I gaze for a moment,
looking up from the methodical, plodding foot of my sewing machine.

The cheep-cheep of the House Sparrow that has taken up residence
under the feeders and who is now peck-pecking at the hearts of Sunflower seeds
fills my thoughts with Springtime and the duplicity of weather that comes with it,
sudden rainstorms; bright moments of sun; still-frosty mornings and warming afternoons.

Sewing brightly-colored, whimsical eggs for Easter for no one but myself,
I am taking pleasure in the quiet time--boy is at school and daughter is dreaming
of the bunnies in the book we read together last night, and for now I hear nothing but
the dip-dip-dip of my needle and the cheep-cheep of the sparrow and I am smiling.

Sweet as Pie

What more can I say about this adorable pillowcase dress that my friend Flannery made for Ella? SWEET AS PIE!


I'm not sure how I got to be so lucky as to have this talented seamstress living right across the street from me, but boy it makes me smile! She is so talented, and this dress just makes me so happy. The Amy Butler fabric, the beautiful pink ribbon, such a simple idea and yet so exquisitely beautiful!


And Ella? I think she loves it! (But of course she had to pair an accessory with it first).


Want to know more about these whimsical dresses? Visit Flan's recent post at Three Sisterz, a blog that she and her sisters keep about their creative adventures!


Thanks Flannery!