Ruffled-up duvet

This was one project that I never really thought I would finish.  I'm embarrassed to admit that I bought the fabric and started this project almost two years ago.  Yikes!  Time flies when you're...procrastinating?  While keeping up with my spring cleaning initiative, this was the mother of all spring cleaning projects.  It's been eating up space in my sewing room, and it's been on my to-do list for an eternity.  If you don't believe me, take a peek at this post, in which I posted a teaser photo of my beloved yellow ruffles and implied that I would finish it soon.  (Maybe I wasn't right about the "soon" part, but better late than never!)  So without further ado, I present my labor of love: the ruffled-up duvet cover.

 

I was inspired by this duvet cover from Urban Outfitters and in a moment of ambitious insanity, I decided to copy it.  I hit up a major bedding sale, where I purchased a bunch of sets of sheets for around $20.   What a steal!  And two years later, I finally have my duvet, and I'm thrilled and relieved!  I'm also thrilled that I'm now (more or less) caught up on my started-and-then-abandoned projects.  So now it's time to start something new and exciting!  And in case you didn't notice from the first photo, this duvet cover is puggle-approved.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, and I hope to be back with more soon!  Thanks for stopping by!

Tunic: take two

Today, I woke up with an inexorable urge to go shopping.  I'm not sure if it was the sunshine, the fact that I'm finally done with this round of auditions, or if it is just one of those days; but whatever the reason, I couldn't shake the urge.  So I ordered this pair of loafers in kelly green (at $15 I just couldn't not order them!) but since they won't be here for a few days, I ventured into my box of castoff clothing and picked something to re-vamp.  So I started with this fixer-upper:

I bought this button-down tunic at Target a few years ago because I loved the print.  To be honest, I'm not even sure I tried it on in the store.  If I would have, I probably would have known that it was a super awkward length for me, and that I was never really going to wear it.  So to solve this problem, I chopped off the bottom, added a little bit of ruffle trim (how can you go wrong with ruffles?) and turned the navy belt into a removable bow pin.  Here is how it turned out:

This project was super easy and it really hit the spot today.  I had been keeping an eye out for a project to use this ruffle trim on, and I love the way it looks with the print on the shirt.  I'd call this re-fashion a success!

I hope you all are also getting a bit of the sunshine we're getting in Pennsylvania today, it's beautiful!  Today finally feels like spring.  I'm going to go enjoy it in my new top!  Thanks for stopping by and happy Wednesday! 

Projects of Past, Present and Future

Since I didn't have much time to devote to actual sewing today, I decided to do a different kind of post:  I'm going to share a project I've already completed, a project that is still in progress, and a project I hope to make soon.

Project of the Past:
This apron was one of my fist "real" projects (which means I completed it by myself, and the end result actually looked like an apron.)  I completed it in 2009. 

When I first showed an interest in fabric (and quickly thereafter discovered JoAnn Fabrics) I found this fruit-printed cotton and just had to have it.  Around the same time (divine intervention?) I found this wonderful book, and it was a match made in heaven.  The apron pattern came straight from the book, and was a complete success.

Project of the Present:
This project is one that I have been working on for what feels like an eternity.  In fact, I'm not going to reveal exactly what it is, because when I eventually do finish it (read: if I ever finish it) I  want the big reveal to be a surprise!  So this is all you're getting:

Some of you may recognize this as "that wad of fabric" that you've seen in my last couple of apartments.  I will finish it eventually!

Project of the Future:
I came across this tutorial this afternoon when I was perusing the web today, and I just love the shape of it!  And I have some adorable fabrics upstairs that are screaming to be used for this project.  I'll keep y'all posted!

Thanks for stopping by!

Ooh la lavender

While I'm still trying to work through my scrap pile, and I was also in the mood for another mini project, I decided to spend the afternoon making some sachets for my sister.  In an effort to combat the dreary Pennsylvania winter day we had today, I chose some cheerful scraps from my stash and set to work.  Overall, it was my favorite kind of project: cute, easy and fast!

I filled them with dried lavender, and doubled up on the fabric (so none of the lavender flowers would get wild and start poking out!)  I added some embellishments to each one just to make them a little more interesting (although I didn't intend to put those rosettes on the hounds-tooth sachet, but I had a little whoopsie with the green trim and I had to put on a little something extra.  I'm okay with it!)

I really do love the scent of lavender.

I'm gearing up to tackle some of my larger half-done projects (although to say that some of them are half completed is quite optimistic) so I'll keep you all posted!  Happy Friday the 13th!