Just a Heads up!

Three super quick things (and a smattering of randomness which is sooo like me) before a halloween post that I am VERY excited for. I thought I would share some of my fav. photos taken on the beach in Italy because a post with out pictures is hardly a proper post at all :)

The Bali Break Tunic was missing Page 5, so sorry about this. It is uploaded and ready to go! You can find it HERE I need to be better about checking those. Thank you for bringing it to my attention :) Hope it didn't cause too much of a headache.

Secondly, I receive lots of emails with query's about my header (which fingers crossed will be updated soon). I totally wish I could claim that the dress in the photo was made by me but it is from Anthropologie purchased last winter for my mommy daughter photo shoot {a little glimpse can be seen HERE} with one of my favorite photographers Leah Miller {she squeezed Evie and I in while I flew out for 2 days for a photo shoot I was on :)}. I also get asked where the location is. It is in Lehi, UT at the coolest abandoned house ever. Funny story, the police totally drove up right after this shoot and thank heavens I was nursing Evie and just acted like I had pulled off to do JUST that. The police officer actually said "We just have to check because some crazy photographers have been taking pictures here for some reason" HAAAA! It is a great location if you are in UT. I snuck back there for the maternity shoot for my wonderful friend:

and her gorgeous daughter whom I want Sawyer to marry sooooo bad.

Back to the dress, I did replicate it in purple and will try to make a tutorial.

Thirdly, and possibly most importantly, Evie would like to know when wearing pants/ or underroos as hats is going to catch on because honestly she looks like this several times a day:

Can't wait to share the Halloween tutorial with you!

Cheers,

Kelly

"I am Batman... until I am Superman" Reversible cape tutorial

My boys LOVE dressing up. Our costumes get serious use. Usually they are in and out and in and out, over and over. What makes this process a lot easier is their reversible Superman to Batman cape. I first made it for Sawyer and his best friend Fischer when they were about 9 months... yeah I know jumpin' the gun just a tich ha! We had a birthday party this weekend for our twin friends Zara and Felix. I didn't want to bring any of the cheapy toys you can get here on the island and our birthday present supply has run dry so I thought why not make Felix one of the cool capes and share with you how I make them at the same time!

I know there are tons of cape tutorials so I am not thinkin' I am all original, but just in case for those new to sewing there are some fun little tricks in here that are good to know :)

about a half a yard both of blue fabric and black fabric

red, black and yellow felt cut in the superhero symbol shapes

{I was short yellow felt so I used some yellow fabric}

scissors

sewing machine

straight pins

the cool old Batman theme song stuck in your head

"Batman na na na na na na na na..... Batman"

Happy Soldier Dress: A yellow tutorial for MADE

I am THRILLED to be a part of MADE's yellow celebration. I have been in heaven checking MADE everyday to see the fabulous, sunny, bright tutorials created by so many fantastic crafters and seamstresses. For my turn I was excited to have an excuse to make a pinafore I had been thinking about since returning from Rome for a little lady I know. I saw these little "military" pinafores all over the place there (or HERE at Zara) and thought "hmmm I bet I could make one" (isn't that always the way with us crafty ladies ha!) So, here it is the Happy Soldier Dress:

The pattern for the Happy Soldier pinafore can be found HERE, it is for size 4T and can easily be enlarged or reduced to meet your needs.

Sneaking in before the MADE post....

because they are just too cute not to post. This is Evie on our last night in Italy. It was the tinsiest bit cold so I jumped at the chance to put her in an outfit I bought her before she was born (and well before I knew we would be living in a hot climate year round)

We sure do love her, even if she does spend the majority of her outside time chewing on rocks!

As much as I love Timor I have to admit it was hard to come back. I really miss thinking up an idea and being able to jump in the car and in one stop have everything I need, as opposed to scouring every "store" (or stand on the side of the road" and finding something sort of like what I need but not really. I do love it here and we are so blessed to be here in hundreds of ways. I knew the onset of fall would be tough for me. I just have to remind myself that if and when there is a major snow storm in DC I will be thrilled to be building sand castles and eating ice cream. Thanks for letting me sulk a bit and please someone eat a candy corn and mallow pumpkin for me.

Cheers!

Kelly

Dare to Design: My Dress Design for Shabby Apple Dresses

Is it odd that I am literally shaking as I type this? I don't know why I am so nervous to share this. Maybe because it took me FOR-EV-ER to figure this pattern out and then make the dress. Maybe it is because I am worried that it's cuteness won't translate to film? In any event I wanted to share the dress I made inspired by Shabby Apple Dresses (click on the hyper link to view their fabulous collection) I call it the "Bustling City" dress.

My wedding dress had a big bustle and I love it so much I never wanted to spread it out (much to my photographers dismay). Since then I have REALLY wanted a dress with a bustle, a practical bustle. This one isn't huge and doesn't make my bum look enormous. It is just a fun detail on the back, an area that is usually boring.

I love highish defined waists (hide my momma tummy) and clean straight skirts so I tried to do that in the front

It hits right above the knee so it is nice and modest for my embassy functions

And of course those who know me know I am OBSESSED with collars so this one had to be fun and pleated like crazy.

Does it help that I had my gorgeous friend Nicola model it? Oh I think it does ha!

Oh and it has a little side zipper. That thing turned out to be the bane of my existence. I couldn't find my zipper foot (still) so I took the dress with me to Rome. My mother in law couldn't find her zipper foot so the two of us struggled and tore out and resewed it I don't know how many times ha! I really love the finished product and even though I am sure I won't win (guaranteed the gorgeous little lady behind the fabulousness that is Grosgrain will whip something up and crush me, she is just AMAZING) I couldn't let another year go by with out trying. AND if nothing else I am so excited to wear it to something fancy pantsie and be able to say "Oh thanks, I made it!" if I receive any compliments :) So let me know what you think. I am so nervous it is silly. Oh and I thought I would include one shot of me wearing it... you know just for kicks and giggles.

Cheers!

Kelly

PS I am working like a made women on a project I am SOOOO excited about for MADE's yellow month. The post will be up Thursday woo hoo!

The Bali Break Tunic: Little Girls Shirt tutorial

I know we just got back from a vacation but I am already looking forward to Thanksgiving in Bali! Since it is blazing hot here I am missing all the gorgeous fall foliage and cool breezes. I didn't want to miss out on the amazing colors in fashion though and tried to come up with a compromise, something Evie could wear in Bali and not die of heat but still let me pretend it is fall ha! I came up with her Bali Break Tunic.

The pattern for her tunic can be found HERE and if you would like to see how to make the awesome little belt around her waist you can check it out at I Am Momma Hear Me Roar. I LOVED that tutorial. I mixed it up a tiny bit by making a flower two colors and really liked how it turned out. This is a super easy little shirt and I think it would look great in rich fall colors (I just don't have any in stock ha!) I also think I will pair it with her little denim vest from our family pictures to make it look more casual. How ever you wear it here is how you make it!

Tin Can Luminaries

I LOVE luminaries. I do not how ever really love the idea of fire in a paper bag. It always seemed a little wrong to me. I was mentioning this juxtaposition of feelings to one of my friends from London and she told me about the tin can luminaries she made while growing up. I thought this sounded like the cutest thing EVER! I made her give me all the details and am so excited to share it with you. I am very sad I couldn't do a better job with the pictures. After SCOURING the house I couldn't find my tripod anywhere grrrrrrrrrr. So, as I warned my night photography stinks, they are soooo cute and my pictures do not do them justice, try them, I swear you will love it!

What you will need:

An empty metal can (my boys eat Olives like there is NO tomorrow so I have lots of those lying around, but ANY can will do and I think it would be super cute to do them in lots of odd sizes. I am totally doing tuna cans for halloween with just polka dot holes... wow this was a long aside)

A small nail

A large nail

A hammer

A freezer

A printed template or drawing of Halloween items (I found mine on Martha Stewart.com)

Cello tape

Play "It's the Great Pumpkin" Charlie Brown special to occupy cuties and get you in the spirit

Let us begin: