Maneous Things and a Finished U.F.O.!

Soundtrack of the day: From Now On by the Features

Holy moly! a lot has happened in a month!
Let me back up a bit and let me let you know what's been going on. :)

So a while ago I did an embroidery hoop for a craft swap I was in on Craftster.org. The theme of the swap was for the upcoming movie the Hunger Games. Of course, all of us had read the books and so I chose something out of the book to create from.
This is what I made:

It's made of lots of different scraps of fabric, many buttons and glow in the dark thread for the words. I really had a great time making it. And now it's up for sale in my shop! www.etsy/mywyldchild.com

I've also been busy working on some things for the children's section of my shop as it is back to school time! And, wouldn't you know it, my oldest is starting Kindergarten! What the heck! Where did the time go? Consequently she starts her first sport (soccer) on Tuesday. Craziness. Anywho, here's what I've just finished upcycling:



Check out the print. Friggin' adorable, right?

I finished those up and then I decided I should finish my most daunting U.F.O.: UnFinished Object.

Friends, when I first got my sewing machine about 3 years ago, one of the things I wanted to make was a dress for myself. Definitely easier said than done. I had no idea on how to really follow a pattern, how the heck to finish edges, or - more importantly - choose the right size. Believe me, I measured myself, got the pattern I thought would fit and began cutting and sewing. I was loving it. Not so much the ironing, but still. I spent hours. I sewed a few sides together wrong. I picked out stitches. I sewed the wrong facings together. I picked out more stitches. Then, blessedly and after many hours and hours, behold! A dress!

At this point, I am giddy with excitement. I have just completed one of the most awesome things I have ever had the courage to take under. Since I have no dress form (still *sigh*) I go and change into it. It feels a little loose. Not terrible. I go and check in the mirror. It is a tent. I decide to end my sudden depression by taking it off and then taking a few days off.

Finally, after more than two weeks, I pick it back up and rip out the back panel. I figured I would just cut it down a few inches on the sides. I do. Still too big. I rip out the side panels and do the same. Still too big and now my boobs just look strange and mishapen in it. There was no way I was gonna spend more hours ripping out the front paneling when I've already got the buttons and button holes on, nor the sleeves, which now don't match up to the paneling. I throw it all in a box and forget about it. For THREE whole YEARS!!!

I would look at that fabric I once loved and immediate anger would well up in me. I would always skip over it in favor of a newer, happier fabric for a new and not irritating project.

That ended yesterday when I pulled her out of the box. I was no longer angry, just sad. I definitely didn't want to tackle ripping stuff out and refitting it together. Also, I weigh less now than I did before and it would just dredge up bad memories. So, I cut my losses. And the entire top off of the dress. I followed no pattern this time and just went with what I liked and flew by the seat of my skirt, so to speak.

There were two half portions of the top left on so I ripped them out and just stitched the sides closed. That left me a lot of skirt fabric to deal with that I didn't want to pull out either. So, I added some "hidden" pockets! Who doesn't love a skirt with pockets? I stitched up the bottom section of buttons because I knew I would never undo every single one and I didn't like the little corners always separating. Then I folded over the top and made my waist band.

And I love it! My brand new high waisted, pocket skirt!





I think that's about it for today! I've been working on tons of Fall stuff, too, but that will definitely have to wait for another post ;). Have a great weekend everyone!

Have a cuppa

Song of the Day:  God's Not Dead by the Newsboys

My sweet niece is turning 5 in a week! I can't believe it! So, I think to myself, "what does she want?" There's all the Disney stuff out there, of course, but I really wanted something more individual.
Well, I'm helping my sister do her party and my niece specifically asked for a tea party. There's tons of stuff out on Pinterest that we were perusing through and came up with some pretty cute stuff, if I do say so myself.

That said, back to the gift (well, one of them anyway).  She is having a tea party. And loves jewellry (what little girl doesn't?". What does that spell?

Tea Party Jewellry! What is that, you may ask? It is miniature tea sets put together and strung up on a chain to make a necklace just like this:

This is too adorable and easy to do! So easy, in fact, that I'm going to be making one for my own 5y/o and myself to boot.

Feel free to oggle, I don't mind. :)

I also believe I will make several of these babies up to sell on my etsy shop here.

fair beginnings

Hey all!
I have a TON of stuff crafted! The Lambtown USA Craft Fair will be in full swing starting this saturday morning and I am almost ready. Just making a few last minute items and signs and I will be good to go. I'm hoping to post pictures of all of my crafty items and pictures at the fair and of all the happenings monday, so be on the lookout for awesomeness! My girls are especially excited about getting to help out with the fun.

The big theme with Lambtown is, obviously, sheep. There will be tons of handmade wool and fiber items if you all are interrested! I hope to see many of you there and can't wait to give you all an update! We will be at the May Fair Grounds in Dixon, Ca. And, if you just can't get enough, I will probably be doing another fair the weekend before Halloween in downtown Vacaville, Ca. Keep an eye out!

Setting Up Shop!

Hey there all! I know, I know. I've been gone an AWEFUL long time. It's been busy. It's been crazy. I've been both.

A big part of it, though, is because I've been a crafting maniac. Two big things have come up; I've been getting ready for the Lambtown USA craft fair on Oct. 1st in Dixon, Ca. And, two, I've set up an online shop! It's MyWyldChild and I am so happy to be able to start selling my crafty creations to you guys!

So to start my shop, I'm also doing free shipping on all of my Americana type items throu 9/11 weekend.
Also, if you're in the area, come see me in Dixon! I have a booth with two other wonderful ladies and we would love to meet you and chat!

Alrighty everyone, have a great weekend and I hope to see you soon!

Deathly Hallows Part 2

Yes. I am a Harry Potter nerd. I'm not a fanatic, just a nerd. And -yes- there is a big difference even though I'm borderline for sure. :)
I just finished up this colossal swap on craftster.org for the premier of the last Harry Potter movie that comes out tomorrow night at midnight and I am so proud of what I made for my partner! Her favorite character is Tonks and she requested a bag or purse so that is exactly what I made her. It's a messenger bag with her favorite charachter's patronus on the flap surrounded by embroidered spells and phrases from the movie and books. Her patronus is a werewolf, and patronus's being ethereal and whatnot, I used glow in the dark thread. Love it! I made it from a pattern from a book called One Yard Wonders. I think I have to make one for myself with a rabbit on the flap. ;)

I made a ton of stuff for this swap. I think my second favorite is a decorated tea tin "from" Mrs. Weasley. I put my favorite tea, Red Lavender Rooibos.

I painted and wood burned a box for her that I sewed little cushions in to protect her own "prophecy" which is simply a painted small vial on a necklace.

 I also wrote her the prophecy on paper so she can know what it says "in the bottle". It reads:

What you’ve read and what you’ve dreamed.

You’ve imagined, but yet to see.

The time draws near for one to live.

You know his story, what he will give.

Though happiness will surely come

‘Tis bittersweet, when said and done.

A thrill will fill you at the apex

And sadness follow; nothing comes next.

Truth be told, you will be fine

As long as you open up your mind.

To read those words, or watch again,

It will never truly be the end.

I also made her a t-shirt worthy of Tonks.

Along with that, i crocheted a small pumpkin to hold her Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and whipped up some acid pops made with purchased lollipops rolled in Pop Rocks - YUM! Plus, I added some recipes from the Unnofficial Harry Potter Cookbook that had a few of her favorites in there. ;)

Hope you guys like what I made! It was a ton of fun and I was happy to have such a great partner. :)

Part of your apron!

So my kiddo and her cousin absolutely love the Little Mermaid. It's pretty sweet since that was me and my sister's favorite movie when we wee growing up, too.
Well, we had all of the paraphanalia for our room: sheets, comforters, drapes, towels, etc. and when we were old enough all of our stuff got put away and basically never seen again.
I, feeling nostalgic, found the sheets and was too excited! And my niece's birthday is this weekend, so what I decided to do was make her an apron out of those sheets. It will be such a sweet surprise for both her and her mommy!

Anywho, here is my daughter modeling the "new" apron (with many gratuitous super-hero shots):

Here's a little bit of the detailing on the apron. I put little eyelit stars and wavy "waves" all around it and anywhere the pattern called for topstitching.  I used Simplicity pattern 3949.

Thanks for taking a look!

Whimsical Note Catcher

So I created this note catcher for my mom for her birthday and I absolutely love it! It's super cute, functional, space saving, and I already had everything when I got the idea to do it, so it was free!

I bought some push pins a while back and they came in these packages where they were pushed into this brown foam. I saved the foam because I thought to myself "hey! You might use that some day!" And I totally just did. Anyway, hot glued four of them together  before adding fabric over the top. I had this creamy lace and added it to the edges, pinching and twisting at the corners (If you cut at each corner, the lace will fray and look just terrible), before twisting up a ribbon to look like a flower or star and sticking a pin in it to keep it on and in shape. The hanging ribbon I just glued to the back at a length I felt appropriate. The push pins are just plain ones that I glued buttons to the top of.

If you are looking for a type of foam to do this with, I think JoAnn's has some that you can cut down to size and make a bunch out of it.

I really like this because it has a sweet vintage feel to it without being overwhelming and it's small, only 6" square, so even if your walls are covered, there should still be a little bit of space for it.

I hope you guys like this and if you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment.
Have a Happy Independence Day!