Tutorial: Infant Flapper-style Cloche Hat

As I mentioned earlier, my sister is expecting her 3rd child early next month. It is a girl, meaning crafty gift inspiration overflows (I love my nephews, but my mind completely goes blank when I consider making them something!).

A simple gift that I plan to give is this little hat.

I wish I had a baby to model this.

I considered using one of my girls' dolls,

but that just looked a little creepy (the dolls are especially life-like!).

It is hard to see when it is laying flat, but when worn it takes on a bell shape,

like the ones flappers wore in the 20's!

I began with a simple knit hat.

The "sweetie" detailing had to go.

I unfolded the cuff, and cut both layers of the hat to remove the embroidery.

Next, I cut the outer fabric and inch more to create a layered effect.

I then created a lettuce-edge hem by zig-zag stitching

(while stretching the knit) along both layers of the hat.

My results aren't perfect, but the fabric ruffled, so I'm happy!

The hat could be finished at this point....

But, a bow makes everything better!

I made it using the same ruffling technique on a strip of knit.

I can't wait to see it on Piper!

How To: From Boring Knit Cap to Boutique Cloche

Unfortunately this is just a friday teaser post! I've got a tutorial all ready for this sweet little hat, but something is wrong with our internet today, and I am unable to load all of the photos.

(click to enlarge for detail)

My sister's upcoming shower for her 3rd baby (Piper Clementine will be her name!) was the catalyst behind this project. I've been keeping my eye out for adorable little girl items, and have been amazed at the prices local boutiques are asking for embellished baby hats.

On Monday, I will show you how I transformed this ordinary knit cap to a ruffly flapper-style cloche. It was simple, fast, and inexpensive - I can't wait to see it on baby Piper!

Anthropologie, Spring Windows: A Fresh Idea for My Own Front Door

Anthropologie's Spring window displays are absolutely splendid.

They immediately capture your attention...

calling you to study closer.

They evoke thoughts of warm sunshiny days,

and awaken the desire to skip off with a picnic basket

to the lake while wearing the sweetest butter-yellow sun dress.

(Or does that just happen to me? Either way, their marketing works!)

And all of this is achieved through the use of plastic bottles.

Wow.

They've even offered instructions so that we can recreate the look ourselves.

I see a spring wreath in my future!

The Key to My Heart

I have a bit of a thing with keys and locks.

I don't know when it started, but I love them.

My jewelry collection is growing, but certainly not complete. Ha!

(My girls love when I layer a key with a lock - they sit in my lap "unlocking" my heart -

its perfect for getting my littlest to sit still in church!)

Would you believe that this is my house key?!

My husband had it made for me when we moved - so thoughtful!

He knows me so well.

(He found it in the key-making dept. at Home Depot and said it was just "a few bucks".)

With Valentine's Day just around the corner,

this romantic symbol seems to be popping up everywhere.

Key art! And it would match my house. Yep, its a need.

Skeleton Key - $12.00

An excellent addition to my collection.

Petit Secret - $18.00

This would be ADORABLE hanging in my closet (great for scarves and necklaces)!

Key Hook - $24.00

I was thrilled to come across this embroidery pattern at Urban Threads.

Winter storms are headed our way over the next few days,

and working on this will be the perfect way to spend my time at home.

PDF Pattern - $1

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Valentine's Day Photos

You wanna know what's REALLY fun? Moving into your brand. new. house. and finally getting completely unpacked and settled - starting to feel like its really your home now - and THEN. one. month. later?

Having to move to a hotel because your appliances are sitting in your living room under drop cloths due to wood floors that are being demolished with a jack hammer for 2 and a half days straight. (Floors were ruined after install from all of the workers trafficking in and out to finish up before our closing, so builder agreed to replace them.)

Yep - that's what I call fun.

Thankfully, that fun is almost behind us (just a bit of trim work and touch-up paint left). Plus, everyone we've worked with has been more than accommodating, so I shouldn't complain too much.

Dust (like you would never believe!), a headache from the constant jackhammering, and a hotel-stay prevented anything crafty from happening this week.

However the absence of craft supplies from my life has just made my heart grow fonder, and I can't wait to get started again.

In the mean time, I'll leave you with pictures of my beautiful girls (if I do say so myself), taken by the ever-talented Kerri Tindle of Freckle Face Photography.

Sweet sisters.

This shot reminds me - I have done something crafty!

The jacket my daughter is wearing originally had brown buttons.

To make it a little more special, I switched them for hot pink buttons.

And, of course, I added a felt flower.

Very Valentines-y! (I'm sure that's a word)

This photo captures the ever-present gleam in her eye.

Such a creative angle - plus, the candy was the perfect motivator for big smiles!

If you live in the area, you should definitely consider Kerri for your next professional photo shoot!

I'll be back soon - hopefully with some dust-free projects to show you!

Personalized Valentine's Day Stickers

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and I couldn't be more excited! Typically I loathe how early stores begin marketing for holidays (remember Christmas in June?!), but I make an exception for Valentine's day.

Cards, flowers, candy, jewelry... what's not to love?

I've mentioned my sister's store before, but wanted to highlight it again today because her products are especially perfect for this holiday. She designs and prints personalized stickers for any and every occasion.

The following stickers are just a sampling of Autumn's Valentine's Day selection...

Wouldn't these be perfect for sealing a Valentine!

Be sure to visit her site to check out all of her products!

Autumn Leah Designs

How to - Lacy Shirt

After seeing several projects lately that used doilies, I was inspired to incorporate them into another craft:

A Lacy Shirt.

A round doily is the perfect shape to use as a stencil for

highlighting a neckline, creating an adorable bib-like effect.

Supplies included paper doilies, fabric paint, a foam brush and a t-shirt.

I purposely chose a shirt with texture (sort of waffle knit)

because I thought it would give the "lace" a distressed/vintage feel,

but I'm sure a regular cotton shirt would be just as cute.

I cut the doily in half, then cut out the center creating a bib.

I also punched out any remaining paper, so that paint could be applied throughout the design.

My next step was to apply the paint.

The best method to prevent the paint from bleeding is to tap it on (not brushing).

To create a more perfect stencil I could have applied a self-adhesive spray that would

temporarily hold the doily down, but I didn't have any and was too anxious to get started.

As soon as I finished painting, I removed the stencil and let the shirt dry.

Then after waiting a few hours (not the recommended 72!), I washed and dried it.

Ready just in time to wear to school!

I believe that I will be making one of these for myself!

(Wouldn't it make a sweet Valentine's Day shirt - with pink or red paint?)

How to - Icy Winter Wreath

All remnants of Christmas were removed days ago (Ok, fine! I'm a scrooge and took it down on Christmas day once the gift opening and celebrating were finished. I love Christmas, but once it is over, I AM DONE), except on my front door, where the evergreen wreath remained. Because of its lack of any specific holiday adornments, I could have left there it all winter, but I wanted something new:

Something ICY!

Inspired by this mini grocery sack wreath, I set to making my own version.

A foam wreath form served as the base; the icy look was created with a roll of clear wrapping paper.

I cut approximately 2.2 million strips for the wreath (ok, I'm exaggerating, it was only 1.7 mil).

Then, I proceeded to tie each strip around the foam base.

I attached them tightly, occasionally stopping to push them even closer together.

After finishing with the clear strips, I decided that it needed some depth.

Using opaque mini trash bags (same size strips as earlier) tied every inch or so,

seemed to make a difference in the visual fullness of the wreath

(if that makes any sense! Basically, I just liked it better with a little bit more white.).

My final step was to add a couple of snowflake ornaments (80% off at Hobby Lobby).

It is hard to see in the photos, but they are more apparent in real life.

(Photographing shiny objects is hard!)

Now my house is completely rid of holiday decor - and with the weather we've been having in Oklahoma, an icy winter wreath should be appropriate for quite a while!