Sewing For Fall

Here it is, outfit/item #2 in the Sewing For Fall series I'm doing. At the end of the series like to have at least 8 pieces made for Ella's Fall wardrobe, a few tops, dresses, bottoms, accessories and maybe even a sweater. This simple peasant dress is similar to the cap sleeved tunic  (item #1), but with a full sleeve and elastic casing around the neck and arms. I didn't use a pattern for this dress, but again it's similar to this free tutorial and this pattern.

I think that it'll look darling with leggings, and I love the combo of polka dots and the funky strawberry print. (I can't find the names of the fabric, but they were ordered online. If anyone recognizes what they are please email me or leave a comment with the names.)

Since this is the second top/dress, I'll be doing a pair of bottoms next. I've been thinking about working with knit/jersey fabric on the next project, and leggings seem like a good addition to Elle's fall wardrobe. I've never really sewn with those types of fabrics, but I've been seeing a lot of great tutorials using jersey/knits. 

Are you doing any sewing for fall? Please share!

{products I love- lipstick}

Most of what I share here on the blog is craft/sewing/project related. Rarely do I mention things I love, my style, or any real personal likes/dislikes. Well, I love makeup/beauty products and fashion, and I thought it would be fun to share one of my favorite beauty items with you. Hopefully it encourages you to step out of your regular makeup routine and try something new, red lipstick! (I promise it's not that scary). 

black + white striped shirt, red lips and tortoise shades

This summer I'm loving red lipstick! It's a classic look and makes any outfit feel finished and pulled together. You can use it to play up vintage or modern fashion senses; it really is a versatile staple!

My go to shade this summer has been Lady Bug my MAC. It's a lustre formula so it's the perfect combo of matte and gloss. A ever so slight sheen that wears beautifully. It has a slight (I mean slight) orange tint which I prefer to the deeper reds, again, great for summer (but perfect for year round!). 

I know a lot of people are worried about pulling red lipstick off. The key is really to get a shade that compliments your skin tone, I'd suggest going to the MAC counter and trying a few shades on. Once you play around with a few shades you'll immediately be able to tell which gives you the "street walker" look and which is the perfect match. 

Also, keep in mind that when wearing red lipstick you should keep your other makeup subtle. You want to play up your lips, so don't do a heavy eye makeup, keep everything else light. I like simple black liquid eyeliner + mascara, and a touch of bronzer when I decide to do a red lip.

So step outside of your comfort zone and try some red lipstick! Once you find the "perfect match" you'll swear by it! Promise!

MAC Lady Bug lustre lipstick

{my week -in photos-}

Garden Bloom Felt Crown

Superhero Playcape

New Haircut!!!

Blue Dress + Flats

Pillow Bed

Embroidery

New Headband for Ella {but I couldn't help myself}

<3

Homemade Meatballs

Cousins!

Hope everyone has a great Friday! This week I'm linking up to InstaFriday over at Life Rearranged. :)

{play crowns!!!}

Often for me new projects come out of necessity. I'm constantly sewing for my little one, gifts for others, myself, for friends little ones, etc. I often try new ideas and try to put my own spin on classics. These play crowns came from the need for a birthday gift for a special soon to be 3 year old. I thought that she'd enjoy dressing up and pretend playing while wearing a unique accessory. The response I got was so sweet, I was encouraged to put a few up in the shop (HERE is the listing). So, if your little one wants a sweet dress up/imaginative play item they can have one too! 

Don't fret, boy crowns coming soon! 

Ella is modeling it here, but it has a nice cased elastic at the back so it's sure to fit them for years. Size wise, I'd say it fits 12 months to adult. (I can stretch it over my head). If you'd like to see a few other angles you can check out more pics of it HERE.

Hope everyone has a great Thursday!

{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!

{Ella's New Photo Yearly Tradition}

Below is a a super sweet idea I got from Pinterest (of course, right?!).  I just took one of the pictures from her one year photo shoot and using Photoshop I added a short description of Ella's likes/dislikes at age 1. Click on the picture to get it full sized for a better look at the text. What a great way to remember all the little things about each age, and a fun way to look back and see how much our little ones change.

{sewing for others- the color keeper}

Man, July is one VERY busy month as far as birthdays are concerned. Family alone we have 3 (including mine!!) and there are numerous friends who's birthday's fall this month as well. For a very special three year old friend (Happy Birthday Zoie!) I sewed up a special birthday gift. I call it the Color Keeper! This special tote holds 2 coloring books and 22 crayons for easy toting around and safe crayon keeping. Take a look:

I drafted my own pattern for this project, really I just winged the measurements from a standard coloring book, adding seam allowances, crayon pockets, and handles. Overall, it was an easy project and didn't give me any headaches (rarely does that happen when I'm working without a pattern!) 

I put two pearl snaps on each top corner to keep the tote closed. Originally, I wanted to use velcro but I was a little short on my measuring and my seam allowances so there wasn't enough room for a velcro strip, instead I opted for the snaps, which work great!

22 individual pockets for crayons, and two larger pockets (one on each side) for coloring books. 

I put two sturdy, double re-inforced handles on it for easy carrying, and I think it just turned out so darling! I hope the birthday girl likes it!

{Ella's 1 Year Portraits}

This post is going to be picture heavy, but the cuteness overload will be worth it. :) I recently took Ella June's 1 year portraits. I wanted to go for classic, simple, and outdoors. At my baby shower I received a beautiful halter tutu dress made by Christa from Mustard Seed Fabric & Furniture which I knew that I'd be photographing Ella in it for her 1 year pics. 

While I did minor in Fine Art Photography in college, i'm no professional photographer. It's always just been a fun hobby for me. In case anyone is curious, I used a Nikon D60 camera for these photos, and they were post processed in Photoshop using Florabella actions. 

Daddy and Ella. 

Isn't she a beauty? Gosh, every day I thank God for her. She really is the most precious child. 

Oh, and here's one that dad took during out shoot. 

Mama and Ella June.

{Big Top Circus Themed Birthday Invitation}

Just wanted to share another invite I designed recently for a circus themed birthday party. Isn't it cute? If you're interested in using the design for a party of your own contact me via email {abstractgraceinfo@gmail.com} and I can personalize it for you for $5.00 {via paypal}. You can view other invites I've designed here and here.

Happy Saturday!

All names, dates, times, numbers, and addresses have been changed, so don't try crashing the party. :)

{4th of July Pin Tutorial}

Today I have a fun tutorial to share with you, just in time for this weekend's holiday. It's the  "4th of July Pin" tutorial, and it's so easy they're no excuses not to make one. 

Step 1: Cut out strips of fabric approx 1/2 inch wide. There is no real exact science to this, so if some are wider or narrower, no big deal. I used 4 different 4th of July themed fabrics, but you could use just one or two. Use whatever you have on hand.

Note: I used pinking shears to cut my strips, but you can use regular if you'd like. Pinking shears help keep the fabric from fraying, but I've done this with regular scissors and the pin actually looks really cute with slightly frayed edges. 

After you cut out your pieces you'll have a big pile of strips. I cut 5 strips from each of my fabrics, for a total of 20 strips, so if you're using just one then cut 20, 2 fabrics cut 10 of each, etc...

Step 2: Pinch the center of your strip and sew with a needle and thread through the fold, as pictured above. Just keep folding your fabrics and putting them on your needle. You'll have a big bunch of fabrics on your needle like the picture below. (Click on the pic, and if you look closely in the middle you'll see the needle.)

Push the needle back and forth through the center of the fabric bunch a few times to really secure them all together. Knot off your thread. 

Step 3: Use hot glue to affix a pin back to the back of your pin. 

Now flip over and admire your work, you're done!

I do have to give a big thank you to Christa from Mustard Seed Fabric & Furniture for sharing how to make these with me. She sported one at our Thursday Night Market last week, and was kind enough to give me the details on how she made it. Thanks Christa!