{Sewing For Fall - Cap Sleeve Tunic + Headband}

We've been lucky this year in Northern California to have a mild summer. Temps here can reach into the 100's for weeks at a time. Instead of blistering heat we've been treated to temps in the 80's and low 90's most of the summer. I'm hoping this mild weather transitions into Fall earlier than normal this year. In preparation for the next season I've been sewing up a few things for Ella. I've decided I'd like to make a majority of her pieces this Fall and buy her just basics/staples. Below is the first completed item in the Fall wardrobe, a cap sleeve tunic and headband. 

I was brave and didn't use a pattern for the top. In my braveness I had to cut and resew the sleeves twice, frustrating yes, but I guess thats what you get for "winging" it. It's your basic peasant top except that I cut the sleeves a tad shorter to make them capped, and I omitted the elastic from them. This top is more like a tunic as is hits Ella below the hip. It'll be perfect with tights and leggings or over jeans. 

If you want to make one and don't want to wing it, this pattern and this pattern are similar.  The headband is just a mismatch of felt flowers glued to an elastic headband (you could also use 1/4" elastic. 

I think the whole thing turned out so cute! I've since refined my non pattern using skills and whipped up a few other pieces for fall. I'll share those soon!

{abstract grace: for the holidays! and a giveaway!}

Here are some new items sure to get you in the Christmas spirit! Quantities are limited, so get them while you can. I ship next day on most my items, and often ship same day if ordered before 12pm.

And...we're doing another giveaway with Rags To Stitches. Alissa is doing 14 days of giveaways on her blog, and i'll be participating starting TODAY!!! So, head on over to Rags to Stitches Boutique for all the info on how to enter and to see what awesome items from Abstract Grace you can win.

Here are some pics of items from the new Holiday line available here:

Candy Cane Korker Bow Clip

 HoHoHo & Noel Jingle Bell Holiday Hair Clips (Shown in Green)

 HoHoHo & Noel Jingle Bell Holiday Hair Clips (Shown in Silver)

 Holly Jolly Polka Dot Korker Bow Clip

 Plaid & Gold Korker Bow Clip

 Plaid & Stripes Button Bow Clips

Happy Holidays!

{props props and more props}

You're probably asking what that hideous styrofoam head is doing below. I picked it up at a garage sale for free over a year ago. It made it's way over 300 miles during our move earlier this summer, {try explaining to your husband why you must have the styrofoam head come with you, ha!}, and I knew i'd have a use for it eventually. 

With the boutique i'm a part of coming up, I immediately thought that this would be great for modeling my hair clips and headbands on my table. I had some pink tissue paper {just plain tissue for gift bags} lying around and my trusty Mod Podged, so I made like I was 5 years old again doing paper mache, and covered my styrofoam head. 

Please excuse the horrible 'before' photo, it was dark, gloomy and raining when I took this. Bad natural light means a crummy photo, but it was amazing weather!

What a transformation! Slightly shiny, new, bright, cheery, and most importantly useful. Can you tell that these two photos {'after' and 'in action'} we're taken on the day following the storm? Sunny skies, good natural light, much nicer photos. :)

Here it is modeling one of my Junebug Headbands. It's perfect! I'll be sure to post a pic of it in my table display next month. 

{crocheted hair bow clips}

I've been crocheting a lot lately. It's one of those things I find hard to resist doing once the weather starts turning, and the days get cooler. To me there's just something that equates crocheting and fall/winter weather.

Cheerful yellow crocheted bow hair clips. And isn't that cake stand from yesterday's post cheery as well? I've made a little bunch of these for the boutique next month and whatever is left will make it's way into the shop. If none are left, don't worry i'll make some more and add them. I'm thinking rich fall colors would be perfect for the season. 

{cachabons & vintage}

I've been waiting patiently for nearly a month for a small package to arrive. These little cachabons are all the way from China, and aren't they amazing! The muted but vivid colors, the size {they're so tiny tiny}, they're just perfect! I got them from this amazing Etsy shop. Seriously this shop has the BEST stuff for jewelry and hair clip making ever, plus they are reasonably priced. The only negative, the turnaround time is rather long, but hey...it's coming from overseas after all.

I'll be adding these little beauties to some clips with other vintage trims, and bows. Remember my recent score at the thrift store? I have plans for those vintage notions, big plans. When i'm done I'll have 6 pairs of the cutest clips ever. I wont be posting them in the shop until after my boutique in November. So whatever {if anything} is left I'll put them up for sale then. And of course I'll be sharing the finished product with you all when they're completed!

{giveaway!}

Some fun and exciting news for you all! Abstract Grace has teamed up with the fabulous blog Rags To Stitches Boutique for AG's first ever giveaway! Rags To Stitches Boutique is hosting the giveaway for us so be sure to check out all the lovely things there have over there as well. The giveaway runs Today {9/8} thru next Tuesday {9/14}. There are a variety of ways to enter and the winner gets a set of personalized name bead hair clips made by yours truly! Head on over to Rags To Stitches Boutique for all the details! Good Luck!

You could win these....{personalized of course!}