Kids Couture T-shirt Tutorial

And now for a Tutorial that you all have been waiting for...with baited breath I'm sure. ;) These instructions will work for for kids shirts, adults shirts, baby clothes, baby onesies, the possibilities are limitless! They make excellent, original gifts, and special clothing items for your own children or yourself.



How to make a Child's Boutique T-shirt:

Materials needed:

Iron on transfer paper, available at your local craft or fabric store.

Iron

Scissors

Thread (A matching or contrasting color for the top stitch, and white for the bobbin)

Fabric (or fabricS) of choice

Sewing Machine

Kids T, Onesie, or desired item to embellish (purse, blanket, ect...)



1) Take your transfer paper and choice of fabric, and iron the fabric onto the transfer paper. I usually cut a small piece of fabric and iron it on, just the size I need for my design. Don't accidentally move your iron OFF of the fabric, or the transfer paper will goo your iron. Icky.


2) I like to cut out the portion that I'm working with. Consider your design to determine the size of fabric needed.

3) Generally, anything you could make a basic outline of is easy to create. You can get more detailed and do something like an animal and layer on its eyes ect. Your choice. I copied the palm tree on this fabric free hand. I like to save the paper backing when I'm done as a future stencil in my stash of design ideas. Draw your design onto the paper backing on the prepped fabric.

4) Proceed to cut out your design

5) Eat your oatmeal (or preferred lunch) while you are working. Because the kids are napping and this is your chance to eat in peace. Plus if you are like me you enjoy doing a million things at once. And if you are like me, it's generally a compulsion that can't be ignored, even if it adds stress to your life, rather than relieves it. I'm referring to multitasking, not eating. Although eating is a compulsion not to be ignored either...

6) Design ready! PEEL OFF PAPER BACKING. Ah the mature voice of experience. I've forgotten this step while distracted or doing multiple shirts, and have ended up ironing longer than needed and wondering WHY the thing won't stick? Oh Duh. (Do you like that use of verbage? Duh? Takes you back to elementary school doesn't it. Again with the maturity here.) Duh duh duh. It can't stick, the paper is still there.

7) Lay out image onto shirt however you want to place it. Centered because you like precision? Go for it. To the side because you like things a little artsy? Sure! Upside down....well...just because you're weird? Why not. I'm not stopping you. Be you. I'm not judging.

8) Iron on according to the instructions on your transfer paper. Although generally I find mine need higher heat and the regular steam setting even if it isn't recommended. But do start by following the instructions first and working from there.

Now, you don't HAVE to do this next step, but don't be scared to try. If you take your time and are careful you CAN do this. If you don't sew your design it will begin to peel after only a few washes. It is worth the time and effort.

9)Top stitch the applique to give it that finished look, and also to hold down the applique during its many washes. If you are new to sewing, take your time, take it easy, and try to sew moderately close to the edges.

The edges will probably fray a tiny bit in the future, which actually looks very cute and vintage-y. If you HATE the thought of that, you can buy a little bottle of Fray-Check at your craft store, and use it around the edges to keep them from fraying at all.

And there you have it! Your own fancy little T! Wal-Mart is an excellent place to find plain t-shirts for a low price. I bought these white ones over a year and a half ago on clearance and got an amazing deal!

Don't forget about my GIVEAWAY for this shirt in a size 4T!! It closes Tuesday night. To enter, comment on the Giveaway post, and for an extra entry mention it when you blog and link to it! (And leave me a comment so that I know you did). =)

Happy creating to you!

=)

Megan

{Chicken Salad and Addictive Fabric...but it all starts with a Pancake}

Our day began an hour earlier than usual, which seems to be the NEW usual. Sigh. The kids have been waking up early, and I have been unable to sleep anyways- a mix of insomnia and my round tummy being eternally uncomfortable. Come September it will return to normal, but until then...Sigh.

So, one sleep deprived Mommy, and two antsy kiddos equals-

And also-

The sun was shining beautifully, and a storm is supposed to be rolling in...So we headed out to my favorite fabric store EVER. I have been hunting all week for the bedding that I want to use in LaLa's room for her BIG GIRL BED! Ack! I ordered hers (you'll see it in a moment...) and decided to make a quilt for Baby MnM who is arriving in September.

Did I mention we found out the baby is a girl???

So, I purchased LaLa's bedding, and I decided to try to find some similar fabrics for the baby's quilt. They will be sharing a room. So we headed out to Country Village.

And saw this cocky rooster-


Did you see that wig he has? Hilarious.

Below is a little snapshot of what we did. Buy fabric. Chase rooster. Shop for fabric. Eat hot dog. Sit on merry-go-round horses. Enjoy sunshine.

Keepsake Cottage Fabrics is also how you spell T-R-O-U-B-L-E. Look it up. It's in the dictionary.


Here is the fabric I chose for the quilt-

YUMMY.

I L.O.V.E fabric. Oh yes. I find it addictive. It makes my mouth water. It calls to me.

I came home, put the kiddos down for a nap, and made myself lunch. I have been anticipating today's lunch since last night, when I made my mom's famous Chicken Salad. OOOOh yes. First I made some home made lemonaid, and threw in some fresh raspberries and a sliced strawberry-

Oh Chicken Salad, this photo does not do you justice.

At the grocery store they had these GIANT strawberries, and so the kids and I will be having some when they get up-


And I will be having this-

Ok, I PROMISE you all that a TWO coffee day is R.A.R.E. Promise. Cross my heart. But this week? It's just one of those weeks. Know what I mean?

Speaking of this week, my son's fever broke on Sunday, Praise God! He is healthy and well now. What a relief.

Do you all want the recipe for my chicken salad? Let me know, I'll post it if you do.

Now, about that quilt. I've never made a quilt before. Uh-oh. I am not the most patient person, so I don't get into very many projects that require exactness. Usually I just let the artist in me flow.

And? I plan to do it THIS WEEKEND. Yep. I'll post photos of my progress. Yikes! I want to be able to get more of the fabric for decorative pillows and such, and if I take all summer to do the quilt, I don't know if they will still have it all!

It looks like the storm is here, the wind is blowing, my power just flickered off and back on, and the kiddos are up!

I'm going to start figuring out that quilt...(And I might just eat some Chicken Salad for dinner too...)

=)

Megan

(P.S. If I ever seem food obsessive on my blog or when I comment on YOUR blog, I shall blame it on pregnancy. But really? I love food. FOOOOD. But you didn't hear that here.)

You asked about my glitter flowers...And a major award!

So here they are!

By the way, my husband asked me about the glitter this morning. He said "I don't get how you got glitter all over the kitchen. It is behind the fishtank, all over the counters, and it was even in the frying pan this morning, I had to clean it out before I made pancakes." Hehe. He was still smiling when he said this though.

Hmmm...I should sprinkle some in the fishes water. That would look pretty. (Don't worry, I won't risk the poor fishes life. Yes, we only have one fish in our whole tank. Apparently we do a very poor job and keeping fish alive.)

So on to the photos of the glitter flowers! I made them to attach them to some tutu's I was making. My sister in law asked me to make two fancy ones for her 8 year old daughter and her 8 month old daughter. They are for her 8 year old's birthday party. The white ones are simple ones for her daughters guests. So here they are-

This is the baby girls tutu-

More of the baby's-

I didn't put a glitter flower on the baby's tutu, it didn't seem baby safe...

This is the flower on the big girl's tutu- See the under petals? They are coated in glitter.

The buttons were already sparkly-

Here are the white flowers up close-

These are the true culprits of the glitter-spray-adhesive-attack of 2009-

So there you have it! My poor sis in law, she is going to have glitter floating around her house for weeks. No, really though, I coated them in Modge Podge post glittering to try to prevent that from happening.

{My Award}

Guess what?? I got an award!! (Hearing a quote from "A Christmas Story" playing over and over in my mind...) "A MAJOR AWARD?!?!?". Thank you Amanda from Imperfectly Beautiful!! You are too sweet. She gave me this award and said such kind things about me. She is a lovely lady, funny, beautiful, and has been a treat to get to know. I am delighted with her friendship.

So the name to the game is that I am supposed to list 5 things I am addicted to, and pass it on to 5 other bloggers I am addicted to following.

{My AdDiCtIoNs}

#1) My Family: I adore my husband and children. So much that I want more. Not more Husbands. Dear me no. More children. I love their hugs, their smell, their little bodies in my arms.

#2) Taking Photos: My dear husband gets on me for this one. He has to remind me to put down the camera and participate in whats happening. I love taking photos. Of my kids, my travels, random stuff. Life. I love photos of life. I want to capture every millisecond of my childrens lives on camera. Thank goodness for Digital. Thank goodness for Mega Memory Cards!

#3) STARBUCKS: Give a Grande-Triple-Shot-Decaf-No-Foam-7-Pump-Vanilla-Latte and I am one happy girl. If I am hot then make it a Venti-Decaf-Iced-8-Pump-Vanilla-Latte. When the Christmas season begins I have to have that Eggnog Latte. Top it off with a Blueberry Scone or Blueberry Muffin and I'm set. I LOVE STARBUCKS. You could call me a Coffee Snob. You could. But I know you won't. *Wink* I don't like other coffee joints. I love my Starbucks. And I love that anywhere I go I can order up "My" drink and get what my taste buds are anticipating. When I was in college and homesick, I went to Starbucks. It was like flashing back home because the environment there is so similar. To commemorate this addiction, please note that in the photo featured my daughter is 3 days old. Even better, I will put one on post-labor and delivery. Yes, give me my Starbucks with that Epidural please. Does it come in an IV?

Now I am asking myself why on earth I posted that photo of myself. Please note the paparazzi were taking multiple photos of me taking me completely off guard...

#4) Is a tie between {Fabric}, {Scrapbooking}, and {Christmas}. And I just cheated. I love fabric, I cannot have enough of it, and there are so many patterns out there that I want to own so badly it hurts! Scrapbooking is the same. I have SHELVES full of scrapbooking stuff. I could eat it I love it so much. And Christmas, well, do I even have to describe that?

#5) BlOgGiNg: I get lost in all your blogs. Unknowingly, I end up spending hours reading and absorbing all your beautiful ideas, funny posts, thoughtful musings, and your beautiful hearts. I love it.

So there you have it. And now, in continuation of "the longest post in the world" my five bloggy buddies I would like to award this to-

#1) Violet over at Create Beauty. I just might be partial to her, because I may perhaps be related to her. She is a true Artist, and talent flows from her fingertips. She is funny, kind, and devoted to her Savior. I {Heart} her.

#2) Shelbi over at Keeper of the Chocolates. She is a precious person. Her Etsy shop is amazing, I bought a necklace from it for my mom for Christmas. She is kind, and you can feel the love flowing from her!

#3) Carolina Mama- She is a lovely lady. She welcomed me into blogland and tweetdom, and hosted my first giveaway. I am so thankful for someone who so kindly introduced me into blogland!

#4) Grey Like Snuffie - She posts beautifully poetic spiritual insights and encouragements. I love reading he blog, it uplifts me and re-focuses me on my walk with Jesus. She is also a lovely, kind lady!

#5) Marci over at All Things Wonderful. I just 'met' her recently, and she is a delightful person. We have quite a bit in common. I really appreciate her daily life posts, and her kind spirit.

There are so many more ladies I would pass this on to! Go visit these wonderful women and send them some bloggy love.

Thank you to all of you who read my blog, and converse with me through comments and such. You fill me with such encouragement and I love this bloggy relationship! I cannot describe the thrill I get in your comments and compliments. Thank you!

I {Heart} You!

Now ending the longest-post-ever,

Megan

{{Edited to say: I'm so annoyed that the formatting got all funky at the end of this post! I tried to change it but it won't let me. Grr.}}

a glimpse into the studio

Here is a small bit of what I have been doing. Don't you just love my chandelier? Sigh. I adore it.

Hawaiian Style Onesie

Pink Toile Blanket