tshirt dresses, applique, and fun headbands

I've been busy the last week or so taking friends to airports, going to waterparks, shopping, meeting up with old friends..and all that fun stuff..but i did get in a little bit of time for sewing. I'm obsessed with these little tshirt dresses...mainly because i have tons of old tshirts laying around and also because it is summer and i adore dresses. OH, not to mention it is super easy to make. I also found...on blogspot...this adorable owl applique pattern. NOT ORIGINAL and I would love to give credit to whoever it is that came up with this..but now I cannot find the blog at all! But whoever it is..you are genius..so simple so cute.. love it. ALSO, I believe in headbands. lol. I believe everyone should own headbands and they can spruce up any outfit or bad hair day...hence the baby headband with owl shirt...which..i will be the first to admit..maybe that was a little overdone...butttttttt...the headband that is attached to the top of the dress in the dress pic=love. Anyways, enjoy the pics and have a lovely Tuesday!!!!

You can come as you are, all your broken pieces, and all of your scars

What a weekend! I'm constantly reminded of these little things that I can't help but believe come straight from God. He is definitely trying to teach me a lesson of some sort.

My biggest goal in life is to be pleasing to the Lord, but sometimes I think that I let things in my life get the best of me. Little things that I let turn into HUGE things that really in the end are nothing. I have to realize once and for all that I do and cannot control the actions of those around me. I can't fix everyone. And I shouldn't try. That is the hardest lesson to learn. I am definitely the type of girl that hates any kind of problem. I guess it's a little ridiculous to admit, but I'm most certainly a lollipop and rainbows kinda chick. I don't think I'm delusional though, I mean I get it...people have issues...but I have to learn to not take things so personal and just be me, work on me, and be in control of me..and let others do them...

At the end of the day, that is my biggest struggle, and it is completely ridiculous. I know the Lord is working in my life though, I love knowing that He is completely planning out my future and that He knows all. That is so comforting. I'm excited to know that even with all my insecurities and struggles, He is right there guiding my silly self. I love knowing that even though the things that are going on in my life are so little and insignificant He truly cares!

I have also been thinking lately about how satan lies to us. He makes us believe things that simply are not true, and once we allow that it is hard to reclaim that area. My thought life is something I battle with. Like I said..I let little things fester and they can easily take control of me. With that said...this post by Joyce Meyer really helps me http://www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/EverydayAnswers/FeaturedHandouts/scripturesforasoundmind.htm

I'm really trying to enjoy this summer. I'm taking a couple of online classes, but nothing really pressing, and I'm trying to relax as much as possible before I graduate because I really have no clue where I will be working or what I will be doing after that. I treasure these moments of complete carelessness. It's awesome to go to work for a few hours and then spend the rest of the afternoon sewing, crafting, or just laying in the pool. Wonderful!

Have a blessed Monday:)

Oh and b/c I said I would post a picture of the dress i made this weekend..i guess i will...not the best picture..lighting stinks...oh how I need a new digital camera...my iphone camera simply doesn't cut it.

I initially paired the dress with this belt..but changed it to wear to work..love the outcome..so easy and simple!! Wish you could see the detail on the pattern.

There is just something magical about it

Last week sometime I made a gift for my friend Rachel who is expecting baby Ava Claire in the next couple weeks. This is her first baby and she is so excited. Anyways, I made Ava a very cute (completely inexpensive) dress. I bought a newborn t-shirt from hobby lobby that was on clearance for $1.99 (deals are the best) and cut it in half to barely cover the chest part...anyways, I then took a piece of scrap fabric and attached it to make a really cute, cheap, very very easy baby shower gift. Here is the finished project.

I love making gifts like this. There is something very unique and almost personal when I make gifts like this for people. I like knowing that no one has the exact same dress (or whatever it is I am making) and that time went into creating something special for such a special time in someones life.

After finishing up Ava's gift I started thinking...hey I should be making something similar to this for myself. SO, that leads me to this weekend...and the beauty that I created last night. I have some pictures, HOWEVER, I'm going to wait until later today or tomorrow when I have an opportunity to wear the dress to post pictures...can't wait. UNTIL THEN...happy weekend everyone (or my one follower...hehe)

Dream Sewing Room

Yesterday I was blogging about my sewing room/dumpster diving adventures on my quest to an actual designated sewing space. Today I am completely jealous in love with these pictures of sewing spaces that I will hopefully one day have..in the distant distant future...but until then...a girl can dream. ENJOY!

This is my favorite!!
I love this one

Sewing Haven

My big goal lately is my sewing room. I have never really had a "real" sewing room. The apartment didn't have enough space and now that I am "back at home" there is def no room with all that is going on there. So, needless to say, I have been on somewhat of a sewing hiatus. So when C, my lovely boyfriend, moved back into town and got a place with an extra room...I jumped at the opportunity to steal it..muhahah. I kid I kid...he didn't use it in the first place for anything but storage...and there is a big walk-in closet in there for that, so it left an entire room calling my name, begging me to do something creative, therefore..that has been my goal. I'm there most of the time anyways, so it just makes sense.

I never realized how tiring organization could be. I'm really not into organizing in the first place, but I wanted to be able to easily navigate through things to make the whole "creating" process a little bit easier. The only thing I hated about sewing before was lugging out my machine, digging out the fabric, searching for the interfacing, then giving up when I was sick of searching, then having to drive to hobby lobby for whatever I couldn't find! It was just really annoying. It literally took an hour or so just to be ready to even "sew." Even if i wasn't sewing, but simply trying to make a headband..that was a process too. So that leads me to organization...ON A BUDGET! Let's make something perfectly clear hear...I typically don't do anything that doesn't involve some sort of a budget...because...I ..work..part...time...and...I...am...typically...broke. ha! Using a budget in the first place is smart! As well as clipping coupons for storage bins and large containers is always nice too.

So, to start, I planned to search at the goodwill and other thrift stores or flea markets in town for a small table that I could use as a sewing table....but the Lord completely blessed me with the perfect little table. The night C was officially to stay at his new place I went to help unpack and all that annoying fun stuff. As we were unpacking we noticed furniture by the dumpster ..I know I know how utterly disgusting to dumpster dive amazingly awesome was it that the absolute perfect table would be waiting inside the dumpster for me. So I got that sucker out and cleaned it up. It was literally in perfect condition and not too large, but not too small. Perfect!

Also, beside the dumpster there were two plastic drawer type thingies that will be perfect for storing fabric in. So I retrieved those as well. Yay! One person's junk really is another person's treasure. And ya know, I'd totally dumpster dive again for those types of goodies. Here are the pics of the plastic shelf thingies. I also used cut up cardboard to wrap the fabric around it to make it smaller and easier to organize. I found that this way of organizing was awesome...it allowed more space and I was able to color code the fabric more easily.

I also got an awesome old vintage looking lamp for the room from my sister-in-laws yard sale pile. Thank you Krystle! Yay!

Anyways, those were my organization "tips" if that is what you would call them. Basically..LOOK IN DUMPSTERS..HA! I'm joking...kinda. Clip Coupons, look at thrift stores and flea markets, and USE WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE..i.e. cardboard.

I can't wait to finish my very own little creative space and get to working on some projects. Have a lovely Wednesday! Oh, and this cutie is Chino..my sewing partner and the cutest choodle in the world.

New Blogger

Hi! I am Ashley. I am new to this whole blogging thing. I'll be honest... I am a closet blog follower. I LOVE blogs, even of people I don't know. It is a great way to get ideas or simply a way to kill time!

I thought a blog would be a great way to keep up with people as well as a way to share my sewing endevors. I love sewing. LOVE LOVE LOVE. With that said, I must also say...I'm a beginner and no where close to great at it! I am blessed with a wonderfully talented mother who loves to sew and has taught me so much. She is amazing. I tell her new ideas that I dream up and within an hour she can have a full pattern created for me or she can tell me the best way to go about it! Hopefully one day I can possess an ounce of her brilliancy! But until then, I'm just learning and trying new things. Trial and error..and my best friend...my seam ripper! I started sewing purses and totes, very basic purses and totes at that. I fell head over heels in love with Amy Butler patterns and fabrics. Now I am branching out and trying clothes, quilts, pillows, aprons, blankets, headbands and other fun accessories.

Anywho, a little about me. I just turned 23! I finished up college, or so I thought...HA...last month...however, I have on class left. So I am taking an online course this summer and I will walk across the stage and accept my diploma in August. YAY! I love school and I love learning. I go back and forth everday about this whole graduation thing, so bitter sweet. I will receive a bachelors degree in English,which I will use to do...nothing probably..i mean really..what do you do with an English degree anyways? But in the mean time i'm praying the Lord will open the right doors and put me where He wants me. 'Till then, im just having fun, enjoying summer, sewing, reading, and being very careless. Who says you really need a life plan anyways? ha! Besides school and sewing..I love shopping and I have developed a strong love for thrift store shopping! Nothing better than a 2 dollar shirt or jeans! I love fashion although I am not very "fashionable." I love vintage anything...old and rusty=beautiful.

That's about it! Yay for completing my first blog!