Living with Punks

Chevron Cinch

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Here’s another version of the Relay Dress that I just had to sew up in this adorable chevron print from Girl Charlee. For the record, I am obsessed with that fabric site! I have a cart full of knits right now with a grand total of about $100…you know so I can get the free shipping ;) I can’t say enough about this pattern either…if you have a girl about a size 5, you have scored. Get the free pattern here….and if you don’t have a size 5 girl yet, just pin for later use!

I added a few inches in length on the skirt, and I’m glad I did. No need to worry about using leggings or knit shorts with this one. It’s so cool and comfortable for summer that I plan on making a few more before the season is over.

You can see my earlier version HERE where I just used knit binding around the arms and neckline, but I am in love with the ease and comfort of this fold over elastic I bought HERE. Great prices and you can get a TON of it. It works with knits and regular cotton, so I will be utilizing it in the near future for quick skirts and simple necklines.

For some reason I am stuck on the nautical look this season. Good thing little punk has changed her fave color from pink to blue recently, otherwise I’d be in for it…. you can see more nautical outfits I have made for her HERE and HERE.

Thanks for reading and until next time…

Kwik Sew 3935

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:00:00 +0000

With the advent of all the independent pattern makers that we all know and love, it’s rare that I find a commercial pattern that I feel compelled to sew up anymore. But as soon as I saw this pattern from Kwik Sew 3935, I pinned it. And then, that voice got started in my head about how much fabric I had laying around that would be perfect for this dress, so within a few hours, I bought it. Although, the voices didn’t stop….I ended up buying even more fabric online with this pattern in mind! But I digress….

This particular fabric is Lou Lout Thi by Anna Maria Horner and I kind of got obsessed with it. I think I probably have 6 or 7 yards of the stuff in different color ways around here somewhere. It’s such a wonderful mix of modern and retro. The super cute pocket is kind of hard to see though! I thought I’d get cute and center that blue flower in the center of the pocket, but it kind of gets lost! I think the next version, I sew up will either get a coordinating pocket or even a solid dress with a patterned pocket.

The dress can be worn with leggings too which makes it the perfect dress for school starting in the Fall. I realize school isn’t even out yet, and I am thinking of Back-to-School, but I can’t help myself! Little punk starts Kindergarten in August, and I’m already excited. And sad. And apprehensive. And jealous of her teacher because she gets to spend time with my girly.

These are easily worn with a pair of knit shorts underneath too!

The pattern was easy to cut and easy to sew up. But I will warn you, have your elastic ready! As you can see all that cute gathering… it’s accomplished with lots o’ elastic. I love the look it gives…very feminine. Oh, another wonderful feature of this dress is that it is easily sewn in knit! I have a ton of that laying a round from a recent purchase too, now I just need to pick one ;)

Even that cute pocket has elastic sewn into the side casing. It was super easy to sew in and to get the rest of the pocket stitched on. When I saw that part of the instructions, I was a little worried it would be a difficult task, but it was a breeze. I bought my pattern HERE, but I wouldn’t recommend it. They don’t allow you to download the pattern to your own computer. It stays on their site under your account, so anytime you want to view or print the pattern pieces, you have to login in…not a fan of that! If I buy a pattern, I want it on my computer. End of story.

You can purchase the paper pattern, or you may be able to find it digitally somewhere else! Let me know if you do!

Do you have any must-have commercial patterns that you love? Do tell!

Here are a few more things I’ve sewn up this past week in case you missed them:

Green with Envy: A DIY Cabinet Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:30:00 +0000

When I finished this project, I had to say... it came out better than I could've imagined! When I first told my husband what I was doing, and with what piece of furniture I was using, and what color I had decided on, he looked at me like I was crazy.

I’m sure, in his universe, I am still crazy… but I love this piece of furniture! The color is so cool and fresh feeling. It sets the tone for my whole house. It sits in the foyer and stores all the kids’ board games. It’s very functional and sturdy. I do have to admit there was a 50/50 chance I was going to ruin it, and if I did, my plan was to quietly dispose of it in the middle of the night. Thankfully, I didn’t have to lug it out in the dark by myself! It’s fabulous!

Here’s what it looked like before. I bought this about 7 years ago from my local furniture store. It was a great purchase when I got it, but now the colors were dated and the black was clashing with my new, fresh approach to the colors currently in my house. I’m going for a clean, tropical feel with lots of white accents. Want to know what color I used? JADITE from Sherwin Williams. And, I got inspiration for the color from a vase in my home using their color snap app

Head on over to MOMTASTIC to see how I did it and what tool I used to match the color! And just for fun, you can vote between my project and another as to whose DIY project turned out best!! Voting is in the sidebar on Momtastic

Head over NOW

This is a sponsored post. All work and creativity were performed by me.

KCW: Bubble Shorts

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 22:42:00 +0000

These shorts are so cute! I decided to make this version without the pockets, but can see how cute adding pockets would be! The pattern is from Peek-A-Boo Patterns and is the Bubble Shorts pattern.

I made the Size 5 and it only takes 1/2 yard!!! How awesome is that? I have a TON of 1/2 yard cuts laying around that I tend to purchase by the truckload. So, it’s great to be able to use those 1/2 yards up in such a cute way! The button is actually just for looks, so if you haven’t ventured into buttons yet, no worries! The elastic in the back helps the shorts slide on with ease…

Here is a view of the back….cute, yes?

They are roomy and comfortable enough for a full day of playing.

What do you think? Have you tried this pattern before? Do you have some cute fabric laying around that would be perfect for these? You can get your pattern HERE

the Anywhere Dress times 3

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:40:00 +0000

Have you been participating in Kids Clothes Week? For me, it’s a great motivator and kicks my butt into high gear to get some sewing done that I’ve either been putting off or making some pattern purchases that I’ve been procrastinating about…

Words cannot describe how much I love this dress pattern!!! It is so easy to sew up and the fit is perfect. I love all the fabric options you have with using cotton knit! I’ve got a nautical theme going on this summer for little sis, so this fabric I got from Joann’s fit right in. I chose the short sleeve version for this dress and topstitched the neckline.

For this version I used the 3/4 sleeve but omitted the sleeve cuff and just hemmed it as usual. Also, fabric from Joann’s…have you noticed they are carrying more knits that are cute? If I don’t get my knits there, I get the from Girl Charlee…great prices and selection! Click HERE to see a picture of her wearing it on Instagram!

Another 3/4 sleeve version. So, so cute! This fabric is again from Joann’s and is buttery soft. I think it was one of the more expensive selections, but it is worth it to me to have that level of comfort and lasting material.

The Anywhere Dress is so versatile and will last for years! The sizes offered in the pattern range from 12M- 12Y! Love those types of patterns, right? I promise you won’t be disappointed….. don’t forget to peruse the shop too….there are tons of patterns to choose from to jump start your summer sewing agenda!

I actually just bought the Carousel Top and will be making it with my most recent purchase of fabric from Girl Charlee.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I get a small percentage! Thanks!

Unicorn Dress that doesn’t make you gag

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:30:00 +0000

I’m assuming all you mothers of sweet little girls have the same dilemma…. Unicorns. They love them with a passion. Dream about them. Obsess about them. Randomly bring them up in conversations.

I don’t want to discourage her love of unicorns…I love that she loves them. But the fabric choices are few and far between and usually consist of garish hues of pink and purple. And those fabrics are okay in the right context, but I like to dress my girly in a modern, stylish way that is a little edgy and different. So, I did a little happy dance when I found this totally cute unicorn fabric from Girl Charlee. Not only was it $4.40/yard(!), it was black and white, which to me is the ultimate combo for sophistication. The unicorns keep it playful and actually bring the fantasy hype up a notch with that flowing mane and tail. I realize that these unicorns don’t have wings, but you see that little horn on his head? That’s all that matters, amirite?

I wish I could’ve gotten pictures of her wearing this to church Sunday, but sometimes my model goes on strike…you know coloring the sidewalk in chalk is more important than posing for mom! It is absolutely darling. It fits her like a dream. Just the right length and the elastic waist gives it a trendy look. The pattern I used was this super cute dress I found on iCandy. It is a free pattern for size 5T (score!) and took me an hour to sew up from printing the pattern to sewing the hem. Seriously, these tips for piecing together patterns makes sewing so much quicker and more enjoyable.

This is my first accomplishment for KCW (kids clothing week). I’m hoping to get a few more things done this week and will blog about them when I can….stay tuned!

TUTORIAL AND PATTERN: Cabana Shorts

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:30:00 +0000

I was contacted by the fabulous folks at Benartex to see if I would like to try out some of their fabrics. Um, Yah! Like easiest decision ever!

I perused their selections and fell in love with this line. It’s just so summery and beachy and you can’t help but smile when you look at it. Almost immediately, I had visions of a cute summer short that is quick to sew and easy to slip on and off. There’s nothing worse than trying to get shorts on a wet-skinned toddler, especially when they’ve got important things to do! Well, I guess there are worse things, but I can’t think of any right now.

When she saw that I was making her some shorts, she protested a bit. She is a skirt girl. Shorts are found few and far between in her drawer. Well, I had to get creative! I made these to have a skirt-like feel. The added ruffle just sweeps the knee and gives it just enough girli-ness to satisfy those girls that need a little extra sassiness in their wardrobe.

I have to say that she loves them. She has already worn them several times. It’s so fun to see them wearing and enjoying our creations, isn’t it?

Benartex wants to give you some of this same fabric! How sweet are they? After the tutorial, head on over and get your chance to win some!

MATERIALS FOR SIZE 5T SHORTS
2/3 yard cotton fabric
3/4” elastic
Crotch pattern piece DOWNLOAD HERE

Cut your pieces as shown above.

Keep the two 14”x18” pieces stacked on top of each other. Make sure the corners meet and are straight. You are folding the 18” side onto itself.

On the side where all the cut edges are, place the crotch pattern piece and cut off the side of the shorts. Do not cut on the folded side!

Now with the 3” x 42” strip, make a narrow hem by ironing the bottom edge up 1/4” and then again another 1/4” and stitch in place

Ruffle the strip and gather to the width of the bottom of the shorts

Pin the ruffle right sides together and stitch in place using a 1/2” seam. Finish the edge using a zig zag stitch if desired

Iron the ruffle and top stitch right along the base of the shorts piece. Repeat with other ruffle and short piece

Sew the crotch on both sides using a 1/2” seam

Now sew along the inseam, again using 1/2” seam

Fold the waistband over a 1/2” and then again an entire inch to close up the raw edge.

Stitch the top of the waistband and then again on the bottom, leaving about a 1 inch gap to insert your elastic

Once you have pushed the elastic through, pin and stitch several times to secure. Close up the gap by stitching in place

Put them on your sweetie and head to the beach! Or the lake..or the park, whatever strikes your fancy, and geography ;)

GIVEAWAY ALERT!

Don’t forget to head over to the Benartex Blog, SEW IN LOVE {with fabric}, and enter the giveaway for a FQ pack of this line of fabric. Woot!

Tips & Tricks to piecing PDF Patterns

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:30:00 +0000

Are you scared of PDF (digital) patterns? Have you struggled with them so much, that you now shy away from them? Stopped sewing all together because of it? Well, I have some tips and tricks that just might help you get back in the groove. I have to admit that I used to go back and forth over my love/hate with paper or digital. They both have their pros and cons, but I am about to share with you a way to turn the CON of digital into a PRO!

I have shaved my cutting and piecing of a digital pattern to mere minutes and want you to do the same, so let’s get started:

TIP #1 Tools, Tools, Tools

First, you must commit to good tools. You can’t be thinking that you can achieve digital pattern bliss with a pair of scissors. Invest in a rotary cutter and quilting ruler. Your life will never be the same. Serious.
Of course, you need tape, and having it in a handy dispenser just makes life easier too. Great when wrapping loads of Christmas gifts too ;)
You can get the Omnigrid Quitling Ruler HERE
You can get a Rotary Cutter HERE

I’ve also seen them at Joann’s and you can use a 40% off coupon but they turn out to be about the same price as listed on Amazon

TIP#2 Use 1” Test square

All good digital patterns will have a 1” test square box. This is so after you print your pattern, you can make sure it printed correctly. Nothing worse than piecing and cutting a pattern and then finding out your printer scaled the paper wrong and now your cute little dress is too small.

As you’ll see above, I have the first two pieces laying side-by-side.

Cut off the left strip of the right pattern piece using your quilting ruler and rotary cutter

Overlap that piece right up to the left pattern piece, matching the lines and letter symbols the designer has in place to match. Some use letters, number, or even just plain dots.

Once you have your position, tape in a few spots to secure

Your third piece will be attached to the bottom of the top left pattern piece. Use that rotary cutter and ruler! Tape into place

The next piece you will need to cut the top and left side off the paper. Align and tape.

TIP #3 Don’t spare the tape!

Once you have all the pieces aligned and attached, tape the entire pattern at the meeting points. That means every place that two pieces meet or are crossed. If you don’t do this, your pattern piece will be floppy and has the potential to distort your cutting of the material.

Tip #4 Be smart about future use!

Option 1: Keep the pieced pattern in tact and trace the size you need. This makes it simple to make different sizes all at once or if you’ve got awesome organizational skills, keep it stored for the next 8 years and pull it out when you need to trace the next size.

Click HERE for a full tutorial on how to trace patterns and cut fabric using a rotary cutter.

Option 2: Just cut out the size you need directly from that pattern you just taped together. Being as how simple it can be, you might just opt for this route as I have. Once your child has grown a bit, just reprint and use this quick way to repiece the pattern together!

Hope this little tutorial helps you be more confident with digital patterns and gets you back on a sewing roll!

Do you have any tips you’ve learned along the way with piecing digital patterns? Do tell!

In case you were wondering, this pattern I am piecing is the Anywhere Dress from Go To Patterns. I will be posting soon on the several I have made. Check it out…It is super easy and super comfy for the girls this summer! The pattern is from 12M-12Y. Nice!

Pom Pom Statement Necklace

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:50:00 +0000

Hey-o!

Man, have I been MIA, or what? I wish I had some glamorous excuse for you….like, I won the lottery and have been yachting in the Pacific, or I was picked up by HGTV and have been busily recording a TV series…

Not gonna happen.

I’ve just been busy with kids and family and basic life…. That’s all!

I did start writing DIYs for Momtastic again… and here is my newest creation!

Some super-fun neck candy!

Who doesn’t love a little fun around the neck? This girl couldn’t wait to get it around hers…

Easy and stylish, especially now with spring and summer upon us

How fun would it be to make a rainbow-themed one? Oh, I can hear the squeals now!

Head over to Momtastic for the FULL TUTORIAL

See ya soon!

2013 Fabric Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

If you are an organization freak like me, then that means you are probably into calendars too! I think it’s the structure of days and months on the wall that makes me happy…

This is a real simple way to bring two of my loves, fabric and calendars, together into one harmonious explosion of color…

Spoonflower, the online design-your-own-fabric source, holds contests every week and lucky for us, one of the weeks is to design a calendar each year in the context of a tea towel. Most designers layout their design in a fat quarter orientation, so it makes it especially simple to see the layout and find an awesome frame for it (more on that later)…

I placed mine into a frame and am hanging it up in the house. I opted to keep the glass off so the texture of the fabric shows a bit more. I purchased the frame (18x20) HERE. I couldn’t find that size locally so was forced to buy it online. The price was pretty inexpensive and I figure I can use it every year since I know the size of the calendar will be the same every year… Win-Win!

Here’s how I achieved this look:

The fat quarter come shipped like this. I ordered mine in the linen/canvas option to have a sturdier fabric. Obviously, it is wrinkled all to heck, so whip out the iron….

I actually had to use quite a bit of starch to get the creases out.

Centering the fabric and adjusting from the front and back, place the fabric onto the cardbaord. Press it down into the frame and use your fingers to adjust the fabric where needed. Make sure to tug tight to make sure none of the fabric is puckered in the front. Press the tabs down to secure. You could opt to tape the excess fabric down too.

Hang in your home and have a great year!

Here is the link to Spoonflower so you can pick out your own calendar!

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 23:48:00 +0000

Merry Christmas!

I know I've been pretty non-existent up in here these past few months, but I wanted to stop in and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!. My life has been extra busy these days, but I hope to post more once the new year has started...

See you then!

~Susan

Swoon over the Rainbow

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I’ve been on a color kick, yes?
I have to be completely honest. I ~~hated~~ did not like this quilt as I was making it! Here’s the reason: I did something I normally don’t do and used super cheap fabric for this quilt. I had the vision in my brain and headed to Joann’s, with my side kick in tow, and was determined to find all my fabrics right then and there. That’s where my problem was. I didn't leave that store until I had all the colors! There were not enough solid colors in stock to make it right, so we headed to their calico print section, which can be a problem. Those fabrics are cheap for a reason!

We painstakingly spent 2 hours in there picking out fabric. Some I actually liked, but I have to admit, I settled on some of them…like the yellow…and the orange…

Ask me how I like it now?

I love it!

I’m still am not excited about the yellow…The print is too big compared to the others and the color hue is a little off. But all the other colors are so great, I can make my brain overlook it :) I love the black polka dot in the centers tying them all together. And I’m happy that I chose it for the binding too!

The backing was basically chosen by which one of those prints still had enough on the bolt to make it up! It was between blue and yellow….so you know why I picked blue! Ha!

As far as quilts go, this one was on the easier side to put together. I got the blocks down to about only 2 hours each which I think is pretty decent considering the size of this thing :)
Have you made the Swoon Quilt? Here is the Flickr Group that got it all started for me! Check them out!

Sweat Shop Revamp

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 13:00:00 +0000

This is going to be a before and after post…without the before! I did take pictures of the sad before, but in the meantime I did something I haven’t done in a year… cleared my camera of its memory. I even checked before I did to make sure I wasn’t deleting anything I needed….guess I pay attention about as good as my kids! Ha!

My laundry room is not all that. It’s narrow and just deep enough to hold my washer/dryer and freezer all in a row. It makes for easy furniture arranging for us undecideds :)

It does sport a deep sink on the other wall that I love. It holds lots of stinky smelly athletic boy clothes…until they can be washed…which is sometimes days! I got the hubs to install a closet rod in between the cabinets for hanging clothes that can’t get ~~shrunk~~ dried in the dryer. I love it! It’s great for bathing suits in the summer too! And because it’s right over the sink, it doesn’t matter if it drips.
I got the photo poster of the three punks from Costco. It’s a 16x20 and it was CHEAP! So cheap, that I won’t feel a bit guilty when I get sick of it and want to change it up with something else :)….Although, I just can’t imagine ever getting sick of looking at those three!

For those of you who guessed as to the next two words from my Faux Metal Letter Tutorial, Alison got it right with Wash. Dry. Fold. I do like Andrea’s version though…Wash. It. Yourself.

The three punks each have their own basket now and once it’s full, they are responsible to get their own clothes put away. That is my one downfall, or shall I say one of many downfalls, of doing laundry. I DESPISE putting it away. I don’t mind sorting, washing, drying and folding…but putting away? I’d rather do something else. Like go to the dentist. Which part do you hate the most?

Still loving these Time-Zone Clocks too!

I added this oversized basket and filled it with little yellow flowers to offset the hardness of the metal letters. I love the little extra dose of cuteness. I have high hopes that it will brighten the mood whilst folding.

Have you spruced up your laundry room to make life a little more bearable? Do tell…

Colorful Chronological Clocks

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Who ever said color was out?

I battle with bright color sometimes.

I don’t want it to be too sophomoric-looking in my house. I like a sophisticated house. I’m all about sophistication…comfortable, livable sophistication, that is.

As I was in the checkout line at Target, buying 4 white clocks with these bright colors in my head, I saw the new Martha Stewart magazine…have you seen it?

How adorable with her little granddaughter, right? Martha’s totally rockin’ those skinny jeans!

I was inspired by Mandy and pinned this as soon as I saw them. I love the wood. I love the color. I love the time-zones.

Now, call it DIY fatigue or just sippin’ on the real-i-tea, I knew I was not going to get those made. The saw(s) involved, the clock thingy…it was gonna send me over the edge. (actually, she hasn’t even posted a tutorial for them yet…so, I don’t know what’s involved, but knowing Mandy it will be craptastic!)

So, I did it the easy way and couldn’t be more pleased!

Even hubs said they looked ‘cool’. He has a thing about quizzing us all about what time it is in different time zones…who knows? Well, now we will know at least know 4!

Need to know what time it is on London? Hong Kong? Totally call me and I’ll tell ya ;)

If you want to be a time-zone whiz too, just follow along:

Cheap, white clock. These were 6.99

Acrylic paint and brush

Masking tape

Vinyl Letters. Found these in the scrapbooking area.

Obvious: Paint the thing.

I didn’t tape off the face…you can just be careful. If you happen to get a bit of paint on it, this paint is very forgiving and will come off with a q-tip.

The red clock? I had to layer on three coats. The other colors, only 2!

I didn’t get real scientific with the measurements. I just ran a piece of tape across the top of the 8 and 4, just below the spot where all the hands are mounted. This helps keep your letters straight.

Find the middle letter(s) of your word. Place them right below the clock hand mechanism.

Work your way out until you have arrived at the word. Don’t give yourself an aneurism trying to spell it backwards and forwards at the same time. Trust me. It’s not worth it. Write. it. down.

Here they are hung in the Laundry Room. I love them! The kids are seriously excited to see what time it is on the other side of the world. It’s just weird to think about other people going out to dinner, or sacked out in bed, when we are just getting up!

Oh! And you can check out my Faux Metal Letters that I made for the Laundry Room HERE

Hoping to get this Laundry Room before/after up sometime next week! Wish me luck!

Faux Metal Letters

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 16:41:00 +0000

I’ve made an internal vow to myself to go through each room of my house and make it just the way I like it….and not stop until it is done. Don’t make excuses…don’t change my mind…don’t stop! So, I started with the smallest, yet saddest and highest traffic space in the casa…the laundry room. I hate my laundry room! It’s cramped and it is full of junk because it’s become the main dumping ground for things that I don’t know what to do with, like the never ending pile of mail and school papers.
Anywho, I have an awkward space above my washer and dryer. It’s too high to put any functional shelving, so I‘ve always resorted to putting up a piece of artwork. Nothing has ever worked. I’ve basically despised everything I’ve put up because a field of wildflowers just doesn’t seem to fit with folding laundry. So, I thought why not put up a catchy phrase having to do with laundry…and do it with metal letters…you know, keep it industrial…like a sweat shop ;)
I found this lovely tutorial using my favorite cardboard letters from Joann’s and knew I’d hit the jackpot…. I added a few steps for 'ya and also included a fabulous product to hang them…it’s how I’ve hung all the letters around my house…and I’ve got a a lot!

First, get your letters that you want to spell. I also included a period. I used a good brush for the black paint and then bought the cheap chip brush that the tutorial suggested. I think that is crucial because the bristles are rough and actually leave brush marks…something that traditionally would not be ideal. But, for this technique, you want brush marks!

Here is a close up of the paints I used

I found it easiest to just pour the paint right on to the letter and brush it on. Do all sides of the letter except the back. They dry fast.

Once all the letters are dry, you can begin the faux metalling :)

Dip your brush in the metallic paint and wipe some off on a paper towel.

Working quickly, make large heavy brush strokes on the letter. You can make it as light or as heavy as you want. I ended up covering my letter a couple different times using this method for a more heavy metal look.

Keep all your brush strokes going the same way. See on the bottom that the brush strokes are going north to south, just like the top of the letter. Also, make sure you get all the edges. It helps the look if all the hard edges are the metal color and not black.

These things rock my world. They don’t require you to make holes in walls. No worrying about leveling, or having to get letters lined up perfect while hanging… it can all be adjusted later.

Press two strips together and peel the backing off of one side.

Press that onto the back of the letter. When you are ready to hang, just peel off the sticker from the back and press to the wall. If you need to adjust the height level or make the letter straight, just pull the letter off the wall. The wall strip will stay attached to the wall and the letter strip will stay attached to the letter. The material on the inside of the strips will grab each other and it makes it super easy to move around until it is just right.

Here it is hanging in the laundry room…. I have 2 more words that will be going underneath…wanna guess what they will be?

Here are some more letters that I’ve made over the years…

Don’t miss the opportunity to win a 5 pattern pack from Lily Giggle this week…enter HERE

Also, have you seen the Colorful Chronological Clocks that I made for the LR too? Click HERE to take you there :)

Lily Giggle Pattern Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 02:31:00 +0000

Happy Friday to you guys! The punks have been back to school for two weeks now, and I feel like we are finally getting into the groove of daily life…i.e., reality! Today, we have Lily Giggle, our wonderful sponsor, doing an AWESOME giveaway. Read on to learn how you can win, plus get a generous discount just for hanging out here today :)

I love Lily Giggle for lots of reasons, but I think the biggest is the gigantic selection of ruffles! What says girly more than that? She also offers boy patterns too, so don’t let the flounce scare ya off if you’ve got little dudes in the house ;) All her patterns are available immediately via download, so that is fab when you are searching for something to make and boom, you got it! Her instructions are clear and concise and she gives helpful tips along the way!

CLICK THE PHOTO TO TAKE YOU TO THE PRODUCT PAGE
How cute are those? Ruffles on the little legs kills me every time! And how adorable is it layered with a simple skirt for the fall…

Speaking of cooler weather, why not adorn that crown with some frills…adorbs!

Now, this…this is fabulous. I’m wondering why I don’t have this pattern yet? Oh, I know…it’s BRAND NEW! And only $8. So stylish and functional for any girl from size 2-12

How about this little number? So sweet, right? A great way to show off some adorable fabric!

And this? I die! Rarely do I want to duplicate an outfit from head-to-toe, but this one is just too CUTE!!! Must find some pink patent boots :)

I made the Hattie Dress recently and wanted to share with you just how lovely and versatile it is:

I love how you can get funky with the ruffles! I am really into mis-matching patterns right now and love how this turned out :)… and the tie straps are the perfect length!
Now, who’s ready to win?

Enter below to be one of two readers who will a 5 pattern pack from Lily Giggle! You choose which patterns you want and they will be sent directly to your inbox.
And, if you just can’t wait and want one right NOW, just enter LWPUNKS25 and get 25% off your entire order! That makes a lot of her patterns under 6 bucks!
Like always, make sure you follow me in some way, shape manner or form to enter. You can do that through RSS, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest! Good luck and happy sewing :)

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Made: Toddler Backpack

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 02:33:00 +0000

Whew! We’ve had a busy month. We packed in as much fun as we could the last few weeks of summer and kinda went wild with our plans. The boys also celebrated their 10th birthday which has now turned into a birthday WEEK! Here is a picture I snapped at a day trip we took to Mono Hot Springs. I’m not a big camping person, but every time I go here, I have to admit… I wouldn’t mind staying…

So, back to the backpack….
We decided to put little punk in a once a week class at a local gymnastics (well, really just fun) spot in our town. She is so excited to start her own ‘school’. It’s a 3.5 hour class that gives all the moms just enough time to get their errands done and maybe…. just maybe, wish that it lasted a little longer…

The backpack pattern is from Made By Rae and is so easy to make. I ended up making my own piping using a thicker cord than the standard size. I wanted the contrast to be big and bold and pop! It took a bit more time, but is totally worth the effort. It makes such a difference when you can add that extra spice!

The fabric is a cheap home dec from Joann’s and reminds me of the Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku line. The graphic lollipops paired with the bold zebra is music to my eyes. I added a front pocket panel with a stitch down the middle to create two separate compartments for her necessities…sunglasses and chapstick and rocks…whatever the mood strikes :)

Well, we’re off to school!

Tell me, have you made the Made By Rae Backpack yet?

You can see my previous version HERE! (I guess I like zebra backpacks!)

Popover Sundress

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Have you ever sewed up the Oliver + S Popover Sundress? I’ve made several versions of this sundress every year for my daughter. It’s a fail-safe pattern and I couldn’t have come up with anything more simple and classic! Plus, you get to show off some cute fabric!

It’s a free pattern from 2 to 8 years, so whatever stage your girly is in, chances are you can whip this sundress up in a matter of a few hours. I think this makes a great base for a dress if you want to go crazy and add some elements and features to make it your own. I found the dress runs true to size, giving the wearer a roomy frock that’s easy to run and play in.

I got the fabric from Spoonflower in the cotton poplin option. It’s called Take the Detour Route and was the winner of the Urban Sightings contest. I love it! It’s soft and the color is crisp. This was my first time using fabric from Spoonflower in a garment, and it was awesome...just pricey! The poplin is soft and easy to work with and I would recommend it if you don’t mind the cost.

The working ties are easy to handle and are just the right length…not like some that are too short or too long, these are perfect.

Do you have a favorite free dress pattern? Do tell!

Peaches ‘n Cream Pie

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:00:00 +0000

This pie is divine.
It’s lighter than a cheesecake and more dense than a cream pie. It’s the perfect in-between Summer dessert.   It’s ultra-refreshing and the precise ending to a hot summer day
Topped with sweet, ripe peaches and drizzled with a peach syrup that is a cinch to make, I promise it will rock your world.

It’s like eating a cloud.   Not a stratus. Not a cirrus. A fluffy, white cumulus cloud.
When things were looking desperate and the last piece was sitting in the fridge, hubs and I decided to share it. As it dwindled down to the last few bites, our forks kinda got in a fight and neither one of us was throwing up the white flag. So, don’t say I didn’t warn you that this may or may not cause a war :)

Peaches ‘n Cream Pie
adapted from Justputzing.com
10 graham crackers (whole long pieces)
1 cube butter, melted
2- 8oz. blocks cream cheese, softened
16oz. heavy cream
2/3c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
6 ripe peaches
1/2c. sugar
juice of half lemon
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preheat oven to 350.
Crush the graham crackers in a Ziploc bag until there are no longer any chunks. Add the melted butter and stir to coat. Press firmly into a pie pan. Use the back of a spoon to get the crust up the sides and firmly on the bottom.
Place the crust into the oven and bake for about 12-15 minutes. Cool.
Whip the heavy cream until heavy peaks form. Set aside.   In a separate bowl, combine the cream cheese and beat with a mixer until creamy. Add the sugar and vanilla until well mixed. Add about a cup of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture and incorporate in. Now take all the whipped cream and fold it in to the cream cheese mixture. Fold, fold, fold until combined well.
Pour the mixture into the now cooled pie shell. Smooth out to make the top even.
Peel and slice 4 of the peaches and lay them on top of the cream cheese mixture. Place in the fridge for at least a few hours to chill.
For the sauce, cut up the remaining 2 peaches with skins still on and place in a saucepan over high heat. Stir to break the peaches up a bit. Bring what little juice there is to a simmer. Add in the 1/2 cup of sugar and stir to combine. Once it comes to a boil, reduce heat, cover and allow to cook up for about 10 minutes. Strain the peach mixture through a sieve into bowl and add the juice of half a lemon . Stir and chill in the fridge until cooled. Drizzle on top the pie when ready to serve.
Dive in and enjoy!

Fabric Acquisition of Epic Proportion

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Warning: This post is not for those with a weak stomach for consumerism ;)

I live my life in obsessive spurts. I have since I was little…my mom can vouch. In 5th grade, I ate 4 bean burritos every day for lunch for 3 months straight. Then, one day I just got sick of them and couldn’t even look at another bean burrito and moved on to something else. In my adult life, nothing has changed. I cook that way. I blog that way. I buy things that way (don’t ask me about my lamp obsession and how many I have).
Well, these past few weeks, I’ve been stuck on buying fabric. Lots and lots o’ fabric. I can’t believe the mailman keeps bringing me more! Hubs will be glad when it’s over…

I searched high and low for these Pezzy Prints. All the main on-line fabric stores have just a color here and there, but a few Etsy sellers still had all the colors, and in easy-to-buy packs. I bought these in 1/2 yard cuts. Not sure what I’m gonna make with them…keep them together? Use them separately here and there? Right now, I’m just happy seeing them in my sewing room.

Aren’t they dreamy? My life is complete.

I got my hands on 2 fat quarter bundles of the new Amy Butler fabric line, Cameo, in both color ways. Obviously, this is going to be quilt someday….gotta find the perfect pattern!

These are 1/2 yard cuts of Kumari Garden. So soft and feminine! No plans yet for these either, but I’m just now noticing some of those pezzy prints coordinate quite well with this line.

These fun prints are for a new backpack for little punk. I bought it in the cheap home dec section of Joann’s but it has a total Harajuku feel to it don’t you think?

These are one yard cuts of the new line by Michelle Engel Bencsko, called Simpatcio. The color is a little more pastel than I thought it was going to be, but I still love the print and can see one of them them becoming a great little dress

I couldn’t pass up this fabulous print from Patty Young. The line is called Heaven and Helsinki. I’m a sucker for city-scape prints and the chevron bright lights were a no brainer as a coordinating print. No plans for this yet either.

Another Joann’s purchase. I’ve been eyeing these Denise Schmidt prints for a while, but they are so darned expensive. I’m sorry, but I have a hard time paying 12.99 a yard at Joann’s. So, I waited for them to go 40% off this past week, and then used my 20% off total purchase coupon. These 9- 1/2 yard cuts only set me back about $28. Will be planning a quilt soon for these…Christmas is coming up quick!

Super soft, teeny-tiny cord that is destined to be a fall coat for the side kick, again from Joann’s.

Then I had to buy one more yard Of Scandi Chirp after I made THIS and realized how much I loved it. I couldn’t find it in any big on-line stores, so again found this on Etsy. :) I may hoard it.

That’s it! Well, not really, but I figured that’s all you could stand. ;) Now, if I could just kick in to a sewing spurt, everything will work out grand!

Have you made any fabric purchases lately? What is your favorite print right now? Tell me what I missed :)

Susan

Don’t miss out on the awesome opportunity to win Jennifer Paganelli’s new DIY home décor book, Happy Home.

Enter HERE

Giveaway: Happy Home by Jennifer Paganelli

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Good Friday y’all! I have a spectacular giveaway today from none other than the beautiful and talented creator of Sis Boom Fabrics, and recent author of Girl's World. I was honored when Jennifer contacted me to see if I would review her book and host a giveaway for my readers! Of course, I jumped at the chance and cannot WAIT to show you what’s inside!

Just looking at the cover makes me happy :)

The book has oodles of projects ranging from simple, no-sew baskets to elaborate bedroom canopies

The cheerful colors set the theme for all the projects throughout the book, just look at that pillow and quilt with the darling fringe borders….a girl after my own heart!

Here is an example of a no-sew project….this vintage banner is sure to go with any celebration. You can change it up to set the décor for any party.

Curtains, and pillows and aprons. Tablecloths, napkins and dog beds…

I fell in love with these oversized stockings…they will definitely be adorning our mantel this year!

Each section is neatly arranged into Decorate, Party, Accessorize and Dream. There is a puch on the front cover that holds all the necessary patterns for you to create any lovely you wish within the book. She also includes a section on sewing basics that includes stitch types with easy to follow illustrations.

Sound fun?

If you’d like to purchase the book, I found the best price to be HERE

If you’d like to try your chance at winning a copy of the awesome Happy Home, then enter below using the rad, time-saving, chance-increasing Rafflecopter :)

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P.S. If you want to keep up to date with Jennifer on Twitter, you can always follow her HERE, she’s a fun one to keep in touch with :)

A Huge Dose of Roygbv

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 17:07:00 +0000

I made this fun and whimsical piece of ‘art’ for my little punks recent Rainbows & Unicorns birthday party. It involves the two most important items in a little girls life: Pom poms and rainbows! What could be more perfect?

We hung it above the dessert table that was covered in rainbow colored food….it was an overdose of ROYGBV, but she loved every aspect…

I used an old hollow core door that we had laying around (don’t ask), and had hubs cut it down which made the perfect size for the arched goodness, but you could easily use a piece of nice plywood or MDF

Here’s what I did:

Piece of backing (mine was 38’w x 26’h)
Pom poms in rainbow colors (source)
Mod Podge
Brush
White pipe cleaners and hot glue gun (not pictured)

Arrange the outer color (red) in a manner that is pleasing. (mine was about 4” wide and I used 3 1/2 bags of pom poms)

Pull a handful of the pom poms away from their position and apply a generous amount of mod podge to the area

Place the pom poms back into position and press down firmly. It will take about 10 minutes before the poms are set. Continue with all the red poms, gluing and setting (no need to wait for the glue to set before moving on to the next handful)

Now continue with the next color until you are done…

Now, this next part was an after-thought as I felt it needed something below to spruce it up and what could be better than pipe cleaner clouds ;)

Just spiral the cleaners and use hot glue to attach them to the board (mod podge did not work great). Stack the pipe cleaner son top of each other to get a three-dimensional look…

That’s it!

Skirting the Issue

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 10:43:00 +0000

Have you been following along over at Simple Simon & Co. for their Skirting the Issue Series? I love the concept! A different skirt tutorial every day on their own blog and Project Run and Play to help everyone come up with ideas to sew skirts for girls of all ages and sizes in foster care.

I know sometimes when I sew, I often wish there was someone else that could benefit from all the fabric I buy! (more on that later), so it is always nice to have a place to send handmade clothing to, and where you know it will be needed and cherished!
This little skirt is my contribution…a knit apron skirt! It is pretty simple to put together and is really playful…

Come on over to Simple Simon & Co. to get the full tutorial!

I gotta Go To

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I consider Andrea from The Train to Crazy to be one of my very good bloggy buddies. We’ve been friends for years over the computer and then finally got to meet last year at the SoCal Social… Had a blast! She’s just one of those girls that you feel you could sit and talk and laugh with for hours….and never get bored!
Well, the mom of four little ones just released her very first pattern, the Go To Signature Dress pattern! I was ecstatic for her to take the leap with designing her own patterns. And let me tell you, not only can she sew….she can design! This dress has so many options. You could make a different version every day for three weeks, and still have more ways to make it…

It has 3 lengths, 7 sleeve options, 4 pocket styles, plus a hood option. She also gives you templates for elbow patches and appliques! The version I chose was the knee length dress, with cap sleeves and ribbed pockets. Once I had it finished and put it on the little punk, I couldn’t help but notice the total Hanna Andersson feel…just a well-made, carefree and innovative design that will never go out of style…

I love these pockets! They were a cinch to construct and Andrea’s instructions and step-by-step pictures are easy to follow. Little punk couldn’t wait to shove her paws into them. Remember, if you don’t like these, there are 3 other types, or leave them off all together!

I think my favorite part of the pattern is the ribbed neckline and ribbed cap sleeves. I had never constructed a neckline the way that Andrea’s pattern does, and I tell you I will probably never go back. It was easy to get right….and look at how professional it looks! Love, Love, Love!

Did I tell you the pattern goes all the way up to a size 12? 12mo-12y. When does that ever happen? It’s awesome to buy a pattern and you can sew it for years to come, and I guarantee a 12 year old WILL want to wear this dress…especially the maxi length!

…Shoot, I wish it was in my size!

Go get your own Go To Signature Dress pattern and get to work!!

There are lots of other bloggers test-driving this pattern for Andrea if you’d like to see how they made theirs too! I always love to see how others have interpreted a pattern, especially this one because there are so many possibilities…

Soubelles Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Phillips) — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 17:29:00 +0000

I’ve been enjoying the summer with my family lately. We’ve been on vacation here and there and to and fro, so I haven’t had much time for sewing AT ALL. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve been keeping up with all the goings on! These punks keep me busy!
Good thing for you is that I do have another fab giveaway for you today!

Soubelles is a newer sponsor to Living with Punks and I absolutely adore her patterns. She has quite the selection of different patterns, so you are sure to find what ever strikes your fancy! Here are a few that I love:
Ack! Isn’t it the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen? I can see it with the bow being a different fabric too! Click the picture to take you to the pattern in her shop and make sure to check out the lining!

Now, how stinkin’ adorbs is this boho top? I’m definitely going to be making this one…it would be great in a soft voile wouldn’t it? Click the picture to take you to the pattern in her shop

If you’d rather stick to bags, she has a plethora of patterns HERE. I especially like the little girl purse patterns…what little girl wouldn’t love her own?

Then there are these…how useful would these be in the any room? The pattern comes complete with a small, medium and large version to hold all the little things that need organizing!

She has pattern bundles too that will save you money when you just can’t decide on one.

Soubelles is giving away to THREE lucky readers an item of their choice from their shop…and yes, that would include a 4 pattern pack…like, duh, of course you’d pick that! Just follow the instructions in the rafflecopter giveaway box below and have at it !

For those that can’t wait you can enter PUNKSGIVEAWAY at checkout and get an additional 25% off her already low, low prices!
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