Parade! Yay?

I took my kids to our city celebration parade this morning. It's the first parade for both of my kids. I don't remember going to many parades growing up... I thought it would be fun for them!

I left in pretty good time, but I forgot to grab the shade for Pretty's part of the double stroller. I also forgot my camera, so these are from my phone. 

I parked in a neighborhood, and walked to try and meet up with a friend of mine. I never did get to her, because it was too far to walk to where she was from where I parked. So we stopped on the side of the parade route and sat alone.

And about 5 minutes into the parade, Hero asked to go home. . . then made this face for the rest of the time.

I had snacks and water for them, and Hero just played with his action figures he had brought. This is the only reason we lasted as long as we did. Pretty seemed to like it a bit more. She loves to wave at people, so it was awesome. Plus, she was a fan of the little flags that were given out. Hero rejected his, and Pretty was good with two!

In the end, we had to leave before the parade was over because Hero needed a bathroom and Pretty was tired of being confined. Luckily, we found the porta-potties in time, and Pretty fell asleep. This was the best part of the whole experience.

Today's adventure leads me to believe that the reason I don't remember going to parades when I was young is because my parents knew already what I discovered today: parades are boring. Next year, I'll hope to sleep in instead!

Winner! Winner!

Having recently entered an alarming amount of giveaways, trying to win a Silhouette machine, the numbers of comments can get into the thousands on the first day! Compared to that, 40 might seem small. . . but 40 comments is a record number for this little blog, and I'm thrilled!! I know I'm not giving stuff away on every post, but I'd love to keep getting comments, and it's even better when your email address is linked to your profile, because then I can reply to you personally in email! Now, who wouldn't want that?

Now, without further ado, random.org has chosen!!

 And number 19 is:

Congrats, Talina!! Looks like you get to personalize your little girl's stuff all you want!! Send me an email by Monday night to claim your prize and I'll get you in contact with Sarah! (If she doesn't make the deadline, I'll pick a new winner on Tuesday.)

Happy Memorial Day Weekend, everybody!!


(On a side note, I totally learned how to copy/paste the two pictures just barely using this tutorial. Awesome. I love learning new things!!)

Wrap Around Bib (and snap) Tutorial

Before Pretty was born, a good friend of mine gave me 2 big bibs for at my shower. Besides being super cute, they were good sized and fastened with a snap. I love it when baby things are done up with snaps, they are so easy!

Anyway, they were perfect, and I always meant to get more, or make some more myself. I just asked my friend where she got them and it turns out she got them at a one time boutique. She found the website for the boutique show, but it hasn't been updated in a year... and the maker of the bibs doesn't seem to sell them anymore. So I went ahead and traced the bib and made this trio for my cousin, whose baby girl should be coming any day now!

They have washcloth backing, so they are cute and functional.

I made a pattern for them that you can download, and put together this tutorial for you to make these too. They sew up super fast. I was only planning on making 2, but still had time and supplies... why have 2 when you can have 3?!

Supplies (per bib):

• Bib Pattern piece
• 1 fat quarter for front (you can get two bibs per fat quarter)
• 12x12 washcloth, or terrycloth, or the like...
• extra wide, double fold biased tape
• pearly snap closure
• snap tool
• hammer
• coordinating thread
• common sewing supplies

First, print off the pattern piece and match up the edges where the stars are. Don't overlap the stars, just the lines, and tape it together.

It doesn't matter which direction you make the neck piece face, my originals go the other way than the ones I made (snapping on the left shoulder instead of the right). Either way, cut out one from the fat quarter and one from your washcloth. My washcloths came in a pack of 18 for $2 at WalMart on sale. If you are using washcloths, you will have to piece it together a bit.

Cut out the body and as high as you can up the neck curve.

Overlap the washcloth by 1/2 and cut out the remaining part of the pattern.

Pin and sew together on a half inch line. Remember to make the seam face toward the inside.

Lay the washcloth with the seam up, trim off the overhangs from the seam. Lay the seam open.

Lay the front of the bib over the washcloth with the right side facing up.

Pin the two together and sew all the way around as close to the edge as you can. There is no turning, so don't leave any opening.

It should look like this:

Next is the biased tape. If you want to know how to put it on properly, Homemade by Jill has a great how-to near the end of this tutorial. I cheated this time and just sandwiched the biased tape around the two layers and pinned it on. Start at the tip of the neck curve and go all the way around. When you get back to the beginning, leave it unpinned and cut it roughly an inch longer than you would need.

Sew the biased tape on, close to the inner edge of the tape. Make sure that you are sewing through the back as well (this is where doing it the "right way" is good for, making sure that back side is secure).

When you get near to the end, fold over the extra amount,

and pin it so it overlaps the starting edge. Sew to the end, backstitch to line up with the starting sew line. Turn piece and backstitch in line with the start.

The finished line should look like this. Basically make it all secure.

The last step is to attach the snap closure. Remember my first time putting a snap in? Rather than repeat that nightmare, I went and bought a snap tool, and also had a person at JoAnn's show me how to use it, just to make sure I knew what I was doing.

Any snap tool or snap pack that you buy will have pictures on the back for you to follow, but I thought, where I had such issues my first time, I'd show you all how I do it now.

First, on the body part, use the spiky circle with the hole. The snap marks on the pattern are a rough estimate spot, so don't stress about being right on.

Poke it through both layers from the back side.

Place the male part of the snap on top of the spikes. See the snap tool in the bottom corner? It has that hole in the center to make sure  you don't smash the snap flat!

Place the snap tool over the snap.

Use a hammer, it only takes 2 good hits, and it's secure!

On the tip of the neck curve, place the pearly top (with the spikes) on the front side of the bib.

Poke the spikes through.

Center the female part of the snap over the spikes. Follow the picture on your packaging carefully to make sure you have the right side up (I , of course, had to do two tries the first time, ruining a pearly top...).

Notice that I have the snap on top of the bib this time, that's because I've also cracked the pearly top before! Use the bib as padding to protect that cute pearly top, use the snap tool and hammer it on.

And the snap is on!!

Which means the bib is completed!!

You can't even see where I pieced together the washcloth!

Pretty was not in the mood for pictures, but this at least shows how big it is.

It was such a quick project, and now that I know how to properly and easily put snaps in, I love using them!! Happy sewing all!!

My Greek Princess

First, thank you so much for all the compliments about my dress! I wanted to email you all back, but some of you don't have your email attached to your profile, so I couldn't. I hope you understand how much I love your comments and compliments!

Now, what you have all been waiting for since I teased you about it over a week ago!

I had a picture in my head of how I wanted this dress to look, and it worked out perfectly!! This was my first experience with pleating fabric (if you don't count having to iron the pleats from my uniform skirt all through school). It was a slow process at first, but in the end, well worth the effort! It's not hard, just requires patience.

After pleating two entire widths (one for the front, one for the back) of bridal satin, (left over from making my SIL's wedding dress a few years ago) I used New Look 6903 for the pattern and sewed it just as directed. I basted the pleated pieces along the neck, arms and sides before I started to sew to keep the pleats together. I added a sash to hold in the pleats and keep Pretty from looking like a total marshmallow.

I also added a lining of purple that is only connected at the arm holes and neckline.

It makes me think of Greek mythology, and I love it (I really wanted to name her Helen, as in Helen of Troy, but was vetoed by Jake). It fits her big enough and long enough that she will be able to wear it for a while.

Pretty is a fan too. After taking these pictures, I took the dress off and she fought me to keep it on, then cried when I put it up! I was also very pleased to see that when she drooled on it, it didn't darken the purple color. The only thing I have to worry about is when I wash it, will the pleats come out? I'm pretty sure they won't, but I'll keep you posted.

This makes me happy!

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Taking a Risk.

For some time now I have hoped to be as awesome as some of my favorite craft blogs and create and sell my own patterns. While I'm still working on my skills at making clothing patterns, I have discovered that I have a talent for making toy patterns. I know that it's unbecoming to compliment ones self, but I also know that it is a great thing to have confidence. And isn't that what this blog is all about? Giving confidence to try new things, at the risk of failure?

So, I've done it. Decided to take the plunge and start my own shop! Introducing:

I struggled with the name. I didn't like the long sound of "Craft with Confidence Shop". So after ruling out "The Smiling Shrub" (based on translations of the last name), and Jake's suggestion of "The Bookworm" (wa?), Jake asked me what "Vivian" meant. "Vivian" means "lively". Done and done.

It's not much to look at right now, with there only being one item for sell... but that brings me to my second announcement. Introducing:

I have made a PDF pattern. At the beginning of the day, I didn't know how to create a PDF file. After downloading several programs, bugging my BIL about it, and getting a bit frustrated, I finally figured out I could do it directly from my Word program. DOH!

I have to say, it's pretty awesome. Tons of pictures, same detailed step by step you are used to from my tutorials, easy to follow. Plus, I decided that I would include a Limited Production Licence with the pattern. You can make and sell up to 10 with the purchase of the pattern. If you want to sell more, we need to talk and do another agreement (and I need to figure out what to do. . . because I still have no idea what I'm doing here!!)

Eventually I will make sock items to sell, and more patterns. Slowly, slowly.

There you go. I'm diving in, just hoping and praying that I don't fail. I would love any feedback you might have on my shop, like what items you would like to see or . . . I don't know anything you have to say!

CONFIDENCE!!

(woah, that totally makes me think of Mad Eye in Harry Potter, "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" and yes, I am a nerd)

A Fondant First

Alright. First off. I want to apologize for not posting at all regularly since returning from Taiwan. I have been sewing and crocheting, but all the things I'm working on are all still being worked on, or they were so small that I didn't take pictures of them to share. Sorry about that. But here's good news, I have a fun post today. And I'm finishing up a project in the next few days. Bear with me. I promise to try and pick the pace up a bit!

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Guess what I did?! I made a fondant cake all by myself!! (chest puffed with *humble* pride!) Pretty turned one last week, so it was the perfect excuse to finally try what I have wanted to for years. To really work with fondant and make a pretty cake.

What finally pushed me into action was discovering Make It Love It's Make-a-Cake Series. The tutorials made it seem so easy. Time consuming, yes, but doable. So I went to the store and bought myself some new toys.

 

1. Wilton rolling mat. 2. Rolling pin with thickness rings. 3. normal metal ruler. 4. special frosting spatula. 5. flower cut outs. 6. pre-mixed gum paste. 7. fondant smoother.

Made a huge mess.

not pictured is the large amount of cornstarch on my pants and shirt...

Which eventually resulted in this display.

I made a "dive cake" for Pretty to enjoy (and cupcakes with the extra batter). Turns out she's a bit prissy and wouldn't even touch it! Jake put a bit of the frosting on her tongue to entice her; instead, she made a face and tried to grab the frosting out of her mouth and fling it away. She would rather eat a bell pepper than anything sweet. So, sadly, after the party, this cake looked the same. No awesome messy baby pictures for her.

The loops of the bow were made from gum paste the flowers and the one from fondant.

But the main part of my work was on the big cake. I love the way it turned out, but I also know that there is a lot of room for improvement. I learned a whole lot during this process.

First: When she said that it's a good idea to make stuff ahead of time, she wasn't kidding. I did make the cakes before hand (using her tips and they turned out AWESOME. So moist!). But I waited until right before I needed it to mix up the fondant. And while I'm talking about it, making fondant was a very satisfying experience! When else do you get to smear your counter with Crisco on purpose and play with melted marshmallows and powdered sugar?! But let me tell you, my abs are sore from the kneading!! A bit beside the point of, I should have made this the day before.

Second:  The recipe makes a lot of fondant! And you don't need very much because it should be rolled thin. I rolled mine way too thick for both the main cake covering and the cut outs. I might try to half the recipe next time. I had so much left over, with no purpose, that ended up in the trash.

Third: The gum paste was awesome to work with! I loved it. It is important to have the Crisco sitting right there to help you keep it pliable. It does dry out pretty quickly. It also doesn't taste very good, even though my niece gobbled up the curls one by one!

Fourth: I know I need to work on getting the cornstarch off the gum paste and fondant for a cleaner prettier look. But I ran out of time and wasn't sure how to go about it when it didn't just brush off. (any suggestions?)

Fifth: I probably should have read the instructions a bit more carefully before going to the store. I didn't realize I would need white chocolate chips to secure the flowers to the sticks. I ended up using green candy melts I had on hand. They worked great, but it was a bit messy looking.

In the end, I loved it! I will definitely try it again, with all my new knowledge. And I will also use the tutorials I found at Make It and Love It, because they were awesome! The family party was a hit, and how could you not love to be celebrating such an adorable little girl?!