Trashed Toddler Play Table to Beautiful Toddler Bed and Learning Center

Did ya guess this was mine?!  I love it so much!  I can hardly wait till Eme is old enough to use it as a bed. :)  But, it's already a great play table for him... he doesn't get that that the chalk is for drawing, not eating though!  We're working on that! haha!

This first week's challenge was so much fun!  I went straight to the DI and was SUPER lucky to find a majorly trashed toddler play table!  It sparked a very fun (and soon to be needed) project!  So, without further ado; I give you: The (Trashed) Toddler Play Table to Beautiful Toddler Bed By Night and Learning Center By Day!

To begin this make over, I spray painted the table and little stool a pretty light blue.  I also removed the (very ugly) rope drawer pulls and plugged the holes with wood filler.  After it had dried, I (ok my hubby) attached the pretty new drawer handles I had picked out.  (Thanks babe!)

To make this work as a bed, I had to make a mattress.  I did this by stuffing two body pillows into a mattress form that I made using thrifted sheets.  Velcro makes for easy removal and cleaning of the mattress form.  I also used thrifted sheets to make the bedding set and a thrifted pillow to make the "E" accent pillow. The star is corduroy that I had in my stash.

To make the learning center, I painted one side of the table top with chalkboard paint and glued a map of The United States on the other.  (I plan to homeschool, so I figure this will be a fun, easy way to get started with geography early.  Plus it makes for a nice "train" background, don't you think??) :) 

I love this new little bed/playtable!!  And I love that it saves a TON of space!!  The fact that the mattress can also be a soft base for playing isn't a bad thing either!  No cracked heads = a very good thing! The possibilities for play on this table are endless!  Legos? check.  Trains? Check.  Painting? why not?  Really, it's just the perfect space and size for my little monkey!

Gah!! Guess What?!

**I'm giving away one of my Koala Bear Hats!!  Click here to enter!**


Andrea from The Train to Crazy included this little skirt:

in her Make It Wear It, Women's Fashion Competition!!  I feel so honored!  I'm in super cute company. :)

Guess what?  You guys can vote for your favorite!  Head over now and check 'em out, get inspired and don't forget to vote!

A Little Dress

**I'm giving away one of my Koala Bear Hats!!  Click here to enter!**

This is a trial/muslin of a pattern I'm working on.  This is the first "go" and there are some obvious problems, but still, all in all, I think it'll be pretty cute once I get the kinks worked out. :)

(Do you recognize the fabric?  I know I said that I was going to make a skirt out of it, but there's a TON of fabric, so I decided to use some of it on this little dress.  I'll still be making a skirt at some point!)

The neck line is rather large, but, I plan to add a casing and ribbon to it so that it is cinch down-able.  The arms are longer then I want them to be, so, I'll be shortening those the next time.  Also, you'll probably have noticed that the under arm seam is a bit wonky.  Here have a look:

That will need to be fixed as well.  This is why I do muslins people!  So that I get the kinks out before I destroy the nice pretty fabric that I have planned for the final dress.  Not that this fabric isn't nice and pretty... ;) 

The last detail that needs some fixing is that I plan on making this dress bubble just a bit, not like big and puffy, just a little bit ruffle-y.  (Does that make sense at all?  It looks good in my head...)  So, that means I need to make the outer layer a bit wider at the bottom then the inner layer.  I'll share more as this process unfolds it's self.

Designing is FUN!! :)



I'll be linking up to the parties on my side bar! :)

Valentine's "Wreath" Tutorial

**Looking for the Linky Party?  Scroll down, it's next! :)** 
**I'm giving away one of my Koala Bear Hats!!  Click here to enter!**


Welcome to this week's tutorial!  In thinking about what to share with you all this week, I realized that I have NO Valentine's Day decorations.  None.  Zip.  Zero.  Nada. 

To fix this little over site, I decided that it was high time I made my self a wreath.  However, I had this fun little frame that I had spray painted red a few weeks ago, inspiration struck and I went with it (though the hubster totally doesn't get it.  O-well.)

I give you the:

 Tutorial.

You will need:

One old picture frame spray painted red.  It can be as large as you would like.  I used a small one, but if you wanted to do a large one, I think it would look very pretty.  Just adjust the size of your heart to fit the frame. :)

Some pink fabric scraps large enough to cut out your hearts.

a sewing needle

matching thread

eyelet lace four times the length that you want your wreath to hang

satin ribbon

Now, I don't have any pictures of me spray painting the frame, but, I'm thinking that you guys can handle that part with out my help. ;)  Have it sprayed and ready to go.



 (Like my band aid?  I *highly* recommend only using a rotary cutter as it is intended to be used.  *Don't* try carving an eraser with one.  You might get cut.  Just sayin'.)



Ta-Dah!  My new Valentine's Day "Wreath" hack.  What do you think, fun no?

I'll be linking this "wreath" up to the linky's on the right. :)

The Desert Rose Skirt

**I'm giving away one of my Koala Bear Hats!!  Click here to enter!**

**Edited to add:  GUESS WHAT?!   Andrea from The Train to Crazy included this little skirt in her top 10 Make It Wear It Women's Fashion Contest!!!!  Holy Cow!!!!!  I feel so honored!  And guess what else?!  YOU can vote for your favorite!!! :)  So, head over there now and vote!!**
I started this skirt last June.  Yeah.  A LOOONG time ago.  It's been sitting in my "in progress" pile for a while.  I hit a design wall and couldn't decide whether I wanted to make it a bubble hem or just a regular straight hem.  Does that ever happen to you?  You just can't make your mind so you don't?  haha. 

So, it sat... and sat... and sat.. Until yesterday, when I decided I just wanted to finish it and would do a regular hem to get it off my table.

Here's it's big debut!

You might recognize the fabric.  It's from the vintage sheet that I used to make the flower on my flower cuff.  I LOVE the fabric and I think that this skirt shows it off nicely.

Isn't the crocheted lace pretty?  I think it it the perfect complement to the fabric.  It adds to it's vintage appeal. :)  NOTE:  I DID NOT crochet that lace.  It's from Joann's.

I think I need this shirt:

And this sweater:

                           

To complete the outfit. (Both from Anthropolgie.)  What do you think?



Pretty no?  Design wise it's just a long rectangle with an elasticized waist.  Easy Peasy. :)

I'll be linking this project to the loverly linky parties on my side bar.

Oh and another side note.  I just discovered the wonders of Pioneer Woman's Actions.  I'll be posting on this soon. :)

Flower Cuff Tutorial

**I'm giving away one of my Koala Bear Hats!!  Click here to enter!**

**Looking for the Linky Party?  Scroll down!**

Good morning all!! I'm so excited to share this week's tutorial with you! Remember my Green Sweater Purse? Well, I had a few scraps left over and thought they would contribute nicely to a pretty cuff/bracelet. This was so super easy to make and looks so pretty on. I used a vintage sheet to make the flower and the lining, so this project is a complete refashion!


You will need:

Scraps of a sweater large enough to fit around your wrist
Scraps to make a flower/rosette
Matching thread
Sewing machine
Hand sewing needle
Pins
Scissors


Let's get started!

Isn't it so much fun?!  I love it.  I thought about adding a large bead to the center of the flower, but, I want to keep it baby friendly so that if my son wants to play with it he can.  But, I think a pretty bead would look really pretty on it.  Just some food for thought. ;)

I'll be linking up to the fabulous linky parties on the right! 

My Quilted Bear Booth! (And a shelf/candelabre re-do.)

 It's open!  It's open!  Ok, it's been open for like three weeks, but, I'm just now getting around to announcing it. :)  Things seem to be going well with it.  If you live in Utah, feel free to stop by the Ogden Quilted Bear to check it out in person.  My booth number is T-9.   

Here is a close up of the top.

 Lovely hat goodness.

Dino and Shrek hats.  Do you like the shelf and hat hook/candelabre?  Here's what they looked like before I re-did them:

Granted, not the best picture ever.  I was too excited to get started that I got side tracked from taking anymore pics.  Sorry!  I will say that I have discovered a new and SUPER fun hobby.  I'm working on some chairs and another shelf currently.  I have to say I really, RA-HEALLY love the way the candelabre (turned hat hook) turned out!  Notice how nasty it looked before and how pretty it is after.  Yup.  Super happy with the result!

Wish me luck on my next re-do (and with my booth!)

p.s.  If you are interested in a hat and can't get to my booth, I will happily make and send one directly to you home.  :)  I even make blankets and babymits to match!  Just email me at LittleEme@hotmail.com .

I'm linking to: