30 Days of Free Patterns

Guess what???? Kathleen over at Grosgrain is hosting a whole 30 days of free patterns!!!!!!!!


How amazing is that? These patterns are coming from all kinds of talented sewers and you sure won't want to miss it!

Today I'm here resharing the Runaways Pattern, but you seriously need to check out the other stuff (which is amazing)...

The Pretty Little Flower Girl

In my previous post, I mentioned how I had made that dress for a wedding we went to over the weekend. Now I'm going to share a little bit about the rest of that event :)

The wedding was for the couple that I did the engagement session for. It was in Destin, FL, which is a beautiful area. The weather was perfect and everything was beautiful.

My daughter was the flower girl and I was so happy the bride let me make her dress! We went to JoAnn's together and I let her pick out the colors and all. Then I got to sewing.

I just made it up as I went and I love how it turned out. I also made the little flowers for her hair and the shoes came from Target.

My daughter did such a good job at being a flower girl! It made me very proud. She was very cooperative and did fantastic for the pictures and all. She's used to modeling for me so much she's become a natural :)

After the wedding, her and the ring bearer went right into making sand castles. I mean, you can't go to a beach wedding and not make sand castles!

My hubby was also a groomsman in the wedding (second in from the right).

And here are just a few more pics from the wedding and the reception:

Good times were had by all. I just love weddings!

A Dress for Mommy

We had a wedding to go to this past weekend and I had really wanted to try making a dress for myself. I had bought this pattern a few weeks ago during JoAnn's $1 Simplicity Pattern sale and figured I could easily modify it for maternity. I wasn't able to have anyone snap some pics of it there, so I used my camera tripod and timer yesterday for the first time! It must have been quite a scene trying to watch me do that! lol. I think I found a better place in the garage for shots now. So, from now on, "my" clothing shots might not be very creative, but at least I will get pics of them :)


It turns out to be a pretty easy sew. Like most store bought patterns, I had to reread some of the directions and stare at the pics at times to make sure I understood what to do, but it went together very well.

After sewing it, I don't even know if I would have needed to modify it for my belly in the first place. It has a lot of room. I ended up having to take it in 4 inches on the side. The only thing I did was add more room up front for my protruding belly, but the material I had was stretchy so maybe not so necessary. And since a few of you asked:
"Was wondering, did you do the slit down the back also?"
I did, but it was so long, I was able to sew it more than half way up my back (so it would be above the bra line) and still easily slip it on with no problem. I used a little hook at the top to hold it. It has the option to use a zipper, but I was not in the mood to try that.

I don't think I would use this material again either. It was a shirting material. I bought it because I wanted a material that wasn't see through and had some stretch. But, I would recommend buying a fabric with a nice drape. I think it would lay better. I am happy with it though :) It's my first dress I have made for myself with a pattern. I have decided that using patterns isn't all that bad actually. I like the fit a lot better, that's for sure. Plus, I don't usually waste a project. I am working on more maternity things and I can't wait to share them! My hubby said my daughter has enough clothes right now and I should focus on myself a bit. I agree :)

I hope you all had a wonderful Resurrection Day on Sunday! Love, Jess

A Visit from I {heart} nap time

Hi friends! I’m Jamielyn and you can usually find me blogging over at I {heart} nap time. I started this blog about a year and half ago as a creative outlet during a little bliss in my day called nap time.

I’m married to my favorite guy and have a 2 year old named Carson and a six month old girl named Emmalyn. They keep me pretty busy… but the giggles, snuggles and pudgy peanut butter hands make it all worth it!

I stumbled upon Happy Together a few months ago and completely adore Jessica and her cute blog. I feel honored to be guest posting on her blog today.

Today I’m going to share with you a few of my favorite things. One of my favorite things to do MAKEOVERS! I love to take something old and make it new again. You can view a list of all my DIY Projects here. These 3 are probably my favorite though!

Black and White Striped Table

Desk Makeover
I found this desk on craigslist for $30 bucks! We added some bead board scraps from our kitchen makeover and painted it all black. Now it is used as my crafting table!

We also did a complete Kitchen Makeover a year ago. It was a lot of work, but definitely so worth it!

I also love doing all sorts of craft projects for around the home and my 2 little kids. Here is a Picture Display I made for my sons first Birthday.

Here is my sweet Emmalyn. Isn’t she adorable? I refinished this doll bed for her “girly” photo shoot!

I also love baking and featuring some of my favorite recipes.

These Mini Cheesecakes are always a hit.

I love making headbands, jewelry and clothing for my little girl. Let me tell you…I LOVE having a little girl. They are SO much fun! :)

Thanks Jessica and Happy Together readers for having me today. I’d love to have you come by and visit I{heart} nap time any time. I love meeting new blogging friends. :)

-Jamielyn

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Thanks girl! It's always fun seeing others creative genius :)

-Jess

Napkin Pillow Covers

As you all know, I love Anthropologie. Last summer, when we actually lived near one, I scooped up some nautical napkins in their clearance section. I wasn't quite sure what I would do with them at first, but then I knew they need to become pillows.

The real big ones were the first ones I made, a few months ago actually. They already had that rope trim on them and happened to be the exact size I needed to cover the pillow. How cool is that? So I just sewed them together and added a zipper on one of the ends. Easy peasy.

I just did the map ones yesterday. I had only bought one napkin, so I had to just use a part of it in the middle. I surrounded it with some fabric I had in my stash and then surrounded that with more white linen I had.

I made the back so I could just slip the pillow in. Again, super easy. Now I feel like our pillow section is pretty complete and it's another thing checked off of my super duper long things I want/need to make list :) Have you made anything this week that has been on your list for a long time?

A Springy Tote for Cozy Sews vs. Cozy Knits

Shannon from Luvinthemommyhood started up a fun little thing a while back called Cozy Sews vs. Cozy Knits. She always has great guests sharing tutorials for sewing and knitting, awesome giveaways, and fun roundups.

It's my turn today and I'm on team Cozy Sews with a tutorial for this Springy Tote. Head on over to check it out if you like and see what team you might be on :)

A Wacky Hat Day

I just love the little preschool that my daughter goes to. It's been so great for her (and me as well). They have these fun days every now and then and yesterday was wacky hat day.

I grabbed a cheap $1 foam visor from JoAnn's and let my daughter go at it with the decorating.

I think she made a fabulous wacky hat. Definitely one of a kind! lol

Hairbow Winners & an Engagement Session

First up, the winners of the hairbows from raina sunshine:

1. Filipa Sompy
"So cute! They look like present bows."

2. Becky
"Beautiful bows! I have one boy, two girls and another baby girl on the way. Our house LOVES bows, well the majority of us do ;)"

3. Seaweed and Raine
"Oh these are SO cute!!! I have a little niece turning 1 in a couple of weeks who would L-O-V-E these!!! There are a few that I think are just the best - might be hard to decide ;)"

Congrats you three! If Becky & Seaweed and Raine could please let me know your email address, I will pass it onto Allison :) Thank you to all who entered!

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Now for some fun happy pictures :) A few weeks ago, I was honored to take some engagement/family pics for some friends of ours. They are getting married soon and wanted to have some fun pics to share at the reception. Just a little bit of background: We met Drew and his son Nic in VA (he's a Coastie). Then he came here to flight school with Nic and fiance (whom is such an amazing girl!). We then came here to flight school to be reunited. Such fun! And, more than likely, we will be reunited again sometime. So here is me dabbling around with photography and having fun with a cool little family.

Here is to love and happy families! Congrats you guys! Can't wait to see you at the wedding!