A Fashion School Secret...

I had a small realization the other day, and really wanted to right it down. Since it's fashion related I thought this would be the best spot for my ramblings.

I have struggled most of my life to "fit in" with my wardrobe. Growing up I never felt like I wore the same things that everyone else did. We didn't buy brand names or go on shopping sprees like a lot of my friends. My parents were very practical in every department, and clothing was no exception. We were given the essentials with a few splurges for Christmas and birthday, but even then, we probably needed it, and it was purchased on a budget. We were taught that if we felt we needed more, we could work (either a part time job or chores at home) and purchase what we wanted. I don't want to make it sound like my parents weren't very giving and that I wasn't grateful, because I was and still am! There are many aspects of my families lifestyle that I appreciate now that I'm trying to run a household on a students budget. In fact, I contribute most of my love for sewing and designing to the times my mom and I designed and sewed my school dance dresses.

This mindset provided MANY lessons, but I will only go into one right now. When I went shopping I knew I wasn't going to get a bunch of pieces, so I needed to make them count. Looking back now, my wardrobe consisted of all kinds of colors and patterns. I didn't want to waste my money on a plain t-shirt when i could get a geometric patterned, asymmetrical neck-lined top instead. This also meant I had to come up with creative ways to wear what I had and to make it different each time. I will now admit that, before kids, my favorite pastime was creating new outfits with the clothes in my closet. Sad, I know. I remember a friend once telling me that I could put any combination of pieces together and it would still turn out great. I was honored by the compliment so I gave her theory a try. I put together an extremely colorful outfit and went to school. No comments, no compliments, and no haters. It made me laugh all day to think everyone else thought I thought I looked good :)

Anyway... Enough of the rambling back-story...

I want to tell you all a secret about fashion school... VERY FEW PEOPLE WEAR TRENDY OR NAME BRAND CLOTHING! There, I said it. Does that surprise you? I didn't really notice this until I had been out of school for a few years was and trying to keep up with the ever changing trends. Granted, a big reason was we were all poor students trying to support ourselves.  But it was also because of the many creative  people we associated with. Everyone was trying to be unique, to have their own style, to be their own person. I mean, that makes sense right? How many designers do you know who try really hard to look like someone else? ZERO! It's all about being you. wearing what you like despite what others think, say, or wear. I finally have the self confidence needed to not care about what others think. If it is a t-shirt and diamonds studs day, or if I want to dress up for a simple BBQ, then so be it! (I do need to mention that fit and color make a huge difference in looking your best, but that is a topic for another time!) For now, just be you, wear what you want. Throw a colorful outfit together and see how it makes you feel!

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Fit Your Body to Look Your Best

I was watching Studio 5 the other day and came across a segment that I thought was so important for every woman to know. It was all about the right fit for clothes and accessories. So many have the wrong idea when it comes to what it means to be the right size. Every brand and designer is different and has different patterns from which they make multiple items of clothing. It is up to us to try on as many sizes as we can from many brands or designers to make sure we get the perfect fit. And even after all of that, tailoring is still needed for some to get it just right. But don't get discouraged, clothes are made for the masses, it is up to us to make them unique to us. Take a minute to review these tips, it's easier than you think to look your best! Pin It

Flower Girls

A few months ago I was approached by a close friend who asked if I could make flower girl dresses for her her two little girls. This was a very fancy destination wedding and the girls needed to be up to par with the rest of the bridal party. Aren't they the cutest girls ever! 

4th Of July Tutus

When I was young my mom and my aunt always dressed me, my siblings, and my cousins in matching outfits for our 4th of July family reunion. Some were cuter than others, but we still remember them and what a great time we all had together. This year, My cousin and I decided to carry on the tradition and dress our little girls in matching outfits. It was a lot of fun and really easy to create. The total outfit cost about $3.70 for the onesie and materials. Not to shabby!

It's a little hard to see, but the onesie just has a star cut out of felt that was hand stitched with white thread. We put little triangles of tulle behind it to give it texture and a navy button to tie together the read, white, and blue theme. The headband is just a piece of white elastic with two pieces of tulle tied into bows with a pearl button hotglued in the middle. The tutu is 1.5 yards of tulle cut into strips and tied around a piece of elastic. Super easy and full of impact!

Monthly Picture ribbon

Here is my little girls first month picture! The idea is to see how she changes and grows compared to the crib and the ribbon. This is an idea we got from my cousin Ashley. She uses a pennant with the number of months on it, and sits in their very cool green highchair. I decided to do a birthday ribbon. I used squares of tissue paper and glued it using a pencil like I used to do in elementary school. I thought it gave it a lot of texture and fun color. I can't wait to keep recording these monthly milestones and seeing how she grows and changes.

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Wet/dry bags

As I have mentioned in past posts, I am going to be using cloth diapers. One thing you need is a wet bag to keep them in before you get to washing them. There are a lot of really cute ones online, but I figured I could make one just as cute for a lot less. I was able to use everything from my own stash so I didn't need to buy anything new. My pregnancy brain is really bad right now so I was unable to make up my own instructions and it was much easier to follow someone else. I followed a tutorial from A Lemon Squeezy Home that was very easy to follow and turns out great. I did make mine bigger then the tutorial suggests so it would hold more. I was also able to make it to match the color scheme of the nursery. I am very excited to start using them, mostly because that would mean my little one would be here already!

Spring time, Spring time, All around

I love spring! I always feel more rejuvenated and happy as winter slowly melts away. I love the tulips and daffodils that shoot out of the ground. I love the fact that it can snow in the morning and be melted and sunny by late afternoon. And believe it or not I also love spring cleaning. But, being a girl I especially love all the new spring dresses! I have always loved getting a new Easter dress as a little girl, and when I got older, getting a new dress for Sweethearts, Prom, & Spring fling. My mom always made my dresses, and we had fun designing the patterns and finding the perfect fabric. It totally stressed my mom out, but I contribute most of my love of design and sewing to those experiences. When I was in fashion design school I made my own wedding dress and I felt so proud of what I had accomplished. I always felt proud to wear those dresses and I still have a hard time parting with them because they made me feel so good when I wore them.

Over the years I have helped out other young girls feels the same way as they attend dances, weddings, graduation ceremonies and other important events. They have learned that you don't have to design and make a dress from scratch to get the look you want and to feel great, you just need a good seamstress and friend. Altering or redesigning something is the best and most cost effective way to create your own look. This dress was way too short. I unpicked the hem and it still wasn't long enough. The top of the dress has fabric flowers out of different types of purple fabric. We were able to find a corresponding fabric to add as a trim and make it just a few inches longer.



This girl wanted a fun new dress to wear to a wedding, so I custom made this dress from a commercial pattern. Now she has a dress that fits her perfectly and she looks great!

This dress was for a graduation party. It started out with just tiny straps. were able to find matching fabric to make thicker straps and a cap sleeve. It made a huge difference in the overall look of the dress.

So what if you find a dress but maybe you hate the straps. What if its too short or too long? Maybe you just wanted a certain color to brighten up your wardrobe. For all of these reasons and many more, I am here for you. Let your imagination go wild, or let me help you get started.

Embelished onesies

TWO BABIES! My sister in law just gave birth to twins today! I can't believe they are finally here to join our family. I am so glad that my little one will have playmates her same age.

I saw this iron on a few months ago that said 1 0f 2 and 2 of 2. I thought it was a perfect start to create fun and personal onesies for the twins. they were so easy, I might just have to make more for myself!

Nursing cover tutorial

Here is how to make these simple, but practical nursing covers.

Supplies you will need: 1yd of fabric, 2 D rings 1.5 in., 16 in. of boning, matching or contrasting thread, and any buttons or extra trims you want to add.

To get started: Cut your main piece @ 27in. by 35in., (the short side goes along the selvage) The long strap @ 25in. by 4in., and the short strap @ 6in. by 2in.

Start by pressing a 1/4in. hem on the sides and bottom, then turn it again another 3/4in. and press. Sew the hem closed @ 1/2in. and press again.

Fold both the long and short strap in half with right sides together and sew 1/4in. seam. Turn inside out and press with the seam going down the back.

Long strap: fold one end inside itself 1/2in and press. Top stitch 1/4in. on all three sides and press.

Short strap: Put D rings half way down and fold in half. Top stitch 1/4in. on all three sides to secure rings.

Going back to your main piece, turn down 1/4in hem and then 1in. and press. Measure 8.5 in. from each side and pin. sew down hem just between pins. This is your casing for the boning. Slide boning in the casing.Next, pin the long strap on the right side and the short strap on the left as if you were wearing it. Pin them so the right sides are facing out and so they are as close to the boning as possible. Finish sewing rest of the casing closed.
To finish, bring up both straps to the top, and secure either by just sewing the length of the straps, or top stitch across the entire top of the casing.

Finally, press everything really well; every seam, ever wrinkle and use lots of steam.

Then comes the fun part, embellishing! Be creative with this part, you can make every one unique and fit different personalities. My favorite is to make these fabric flowers, or yo-yo's with fun buttons. To see how to make the fabric flowers follow the past post. I also used a thick thread on a large stitch to add a little interest.
And there you have a fun, personal and unique nursing cover! These are a great shower gift if you already have one or don't necessarily need one. :)
FINAL TIP: When you make anything, pressing is really important. If you press every step and do a finishing press, your project will stay nice longer and every seam, pleat, or dart will be permanent no matter how many times you wash it.

Happy Sewing!

Nursing covers

Being pregnant has shifted my project focus drastically. I also have about 6 friends & 3 family members who are or have been pregnant in the last year so I have been looking at new crafts and sewing projects, one of which is a nursing cover. I made this one for a friend and am planing on making a few more for other friends as well. I tend to make things up as I go so I have a hard time taking pictures of each step and recording my process. However, I have many more to make so now that I know what I'm doing I can more easily make a step by step tutorial for you in the near future.

It's really fun being able to make each one unique and special to fit everyone's style and personality, like this one with flowers and unique buttons. This particular design only takes one yard of fabric, one set of D rings, and 18 in. of boning. All this cost around $10 (depending on the price of your fabric) so it is much cheaper to make one than buying one from pretty much anywhere. You could also add ribbon or rickrack around the edges, use contrasting thread or even add pockets on the inside. There are so many possibilities!

Blog Signature

I just learned how to make a post signature! I followed the instructions from thecutestblogontheblock.com under secrets. I think its cute and it wasn't too hard! Yea for me!

Car Seat Covers

Last Friday I had my two good friends, Chera and Rachel who also happen to be expecting, over for a craft night. We decided to make car seat covers. Chera made hers reversible which is a great idea! She has a more fun pattern on one side and a more subdued color pallet on the other. I'll have to get a pic from her when its done because it's very clever. Rachel and I are both having girls, and without know it, we got the same fabric just different color schemes! We had a lot of fun and they turned out great! Here is mine all finished. I decided to have an opening down the front to give me more options. It was a small pain getting the placket just right so there is a small tuck if you look close, but over all I love it! I don't have a car seat yet so it was hard to get a great picture, but I think you get the idea.

Chera and Rachel have never really sewed anything before and they were able to make this project. This is a great project for those who want to learn how to sew but are unsure of their skills (without the placket and extra buttons of course). It teaches a lot of basic skills that you can use in many other projects.

Happy sewing!!!

Fun Fall Wreath

This is my first attempt and making a wreath! It was so much easier than I thought it would be. I just bought a wreath base, one fall bunch of silk flowers and about a dollars worth of ribbon. I took all the leaves, pine cones, and flowers off the steams. I set everything out and arranged it how I liked it first. I decided I didn't like the leaves so I just used the flowers, pine cones, and berries. I then just hot glued each piece to the wreath base and tied a bow to add some whimsy. Super easy and it only cost me about $8! I now have a fun fall wreath to hang on my front door, I love it! If you have ever thought about doing your own, I say go for it, I believe in you. This is something everyone can pull of and make it look good!

Happy fall decorating!

Cloth Diapers

Ever since we have found out we are pregnant I have been talking to friends and family about cloth diapers. I know some of you are thinking I'm crazy, and I don't know what I'm talking about because this is my first, but I have thought about it a lot. Matt and I have even done the math on the cost of disposables compared to cloth, and how they are much better for the environment and will cut down on trash. We know that there will be times that a disposable diaper is necessary however, I believe every time I use a cloth diaper I will be saving money. I even found a whole crowd of people who make their own and I've found the water proof and diaper flannel fabrics for a great price. I have gotten really excited about it in the last few weeks. It made me think about why I originally went to school for fashion design in the first place. I new if I learned how to sew and how to use a lot of types of fabrics, I could make a lot of things for my family. Not only would I be able to save money, but I would be more self reliant, and maybe even make some extra money. With the new arrival of our little one I figured that cloth diapers are my start.

Please Stay tuned....

I will be posting my version of how to make cloth diapers as soon as I get the fabric and a few things sorted out. Pregnancy sickness has really put a wrench in my crafting/ alterations mode lately and I am playing catch up at the moment.

If any of you are interested, the PUL fabric for the waterproof layer and the diaper flannel are both on fabric.com. There are plenty of patterns at Hancock fabrics as well as free downloads online you just have to look for the one that fits you best.

Hi, My Name is Lisa & I'm a Lame Blogger....

So I have totally left this blog in the dust with all of summers eventfulness. I have done quite a few projects but Haven't taken the time to post them. Now that summer is slowly coming to a close I will have more time to blog....

I do have some exciting news, I am finally finished with my Fashion Design and Merchandising degree from SLCC!!! It took me about twice as long as it should have, but I am done and ready to take on any project headed my way!

Thanks to all of you who follow me and pass this blog on to others! You are all the best!

I promise more exciting things to come!

Cute Dancewear pics!!

Here are a few examples of my basic dance wear items. I made these specifically for my niece and used her favorite colors. I have made many leotards and shorts to specific specifications of color and style. Here are some of her favorites.

This has a fun snakeskin patterned white spandex with turquoise bottom half.

super sparkly gold headband

Hot pink shorts close up

Fun pink and white tutu

cute matching hot pink shorts and polka dot leo with chocolate brown bottom half.

Raw Couture 2009

This post is way overdue!!!

These are pictures taken during the dress rehearsal of SLCC Raw Couture 2009. The entire show was based on different decades from the 1920's to the 1980's. I was inspired by the 1930's flowy, and drapy designs, but I transformed them into designs for modern ballet costumes. The fabric I used includes chocolate brown stretch velvet for the leotards and hand painted silk burnout for all the dresses and drapy elements. I used a gold tulle for accents and volume.

Illustrations and Sketches

Here is a sample of some of my favorite sketches and Illustrations.

Here are the three illustrations for my board for Raw Couture. Because the fabric was so intricate, and my illustration skills are not quite up to par for this type of project, I scanned a section of fabric on to the computer and used photo shop to fill in the different sections.
Here is a sample of flats I drew for my Illustration class. The are part of a larger line of ballet and lyrical costumes. I designed the tulle to have an embroidered diamond shape with pearl beads placed in a diagonal all through the design.
These are a few sketches I drew up for my dance studio. I made the simple empire waist dress with spanky shorts for a little seven year old class for our Christmas recital. I plan to make all of these sooner or later.

Pretty pictures get a face lift!

I realized the other day that I have so many talented and crafty friends that not only seem to find the best finds and DI, but then are able to turn them into the best home decor items with a little extra help. I thought I would try my hand at this concept. I decided to start easy with picture frames and this is what I came up with. Matt just helped me put these up in my sewing room and it really helps make my room more inspiring and pretty.

This post will be linked to Domestically Speaking as a part of the Wednesday paint party so check them out to see all kinds of paint projects.