thinking spring

after all the snow storm drama...spring is in my mind.

im really looking forward for the warm weather that i even sewed a couple of spring/summer pieces for ME!

i had a few fabrics that were just laying around. & i finally decided to use them.

for the first fabric, i had a BRIGHT floral print. it was white cotton with really bright flowers on them. i bought it on sale & was planning to make belle a top with it.

then i realized....does she really need another top?! she has a lot of clothes!

but i also have been wanting floral shorts.

but waiiiiiit..the super bright flowers was too much for me (should've taken a picture of it).

if it was a bit darker, then it'd be perfect.

then a lightbulb moment......FABRIC DYE!

i got teal liquid dye & got experimenting.

i also dyed a few of my white shirts & one of belle's...didn't want my dye to go to waste!

the outcome for belle's white shirt.

now that color is.....more me!

so after dyeing & washing, i cut a simple shorts pattern with elastic.

sewed it up & i was happy! it's easy..cause there was no pockets or anything.

just elastic on the waist.

looks like boxers, but it's not short when i have it on, so i feel comfortable wearing it out.

for the second,

i've been eyeing bloomer shorts for awhile....

i've seen them on fashion shows & the more i see, the more it grows on me.

i tried searching for them at stores but have no luck.

& the ones online are way too expensive.

i see them for $60 & up. for shorts!? no way.

then i looked up to see if anyone had a bloomer shorts tutorial.

luckily, one of my favorite bloggers, verypurpleperson made a pair & explained how she did them.

she basically used a simple elastic shorts pattern then added elastic shirring on the hem.

wow why didn't i think of that!?

i used the same pattern as the teal floral shorts & added 1.5 inches to the hem.

i used my leftover navy blue cotton fabric that i used for school (right before belle was born!)

there are no pockets so the bloomer shorts project was easy. i like easy!

& for the 3rd piece...

i had so much elastic shirring left from the bloomers.

i wanted to use it & found another fabric i bought awhile ago on sale for $2 a yard!

i had no idea what do with it when i bought it...only got it cause it was $2!!

so i decided to make the easiest dress with elastic thread...

this is easy. if you can sew straight stitches, then you can soooo do this.

i took the fabric, put it around my bust & added more inches for ease. cut it into one long rectangle.

sew the rectangle into a tube, narrow hem the top & bottom.

use the elastic thread on your bobbin then sew straight lines across your bust.

i just sewed & sewed. then i would try it on to see when to stop until i was happy with the fit.

i'm thinking of making another one in another print. as a top. maybe with straps if i'm not lazy.

cause it's so easy (love that word!)

& lastly, for belle....a backpack!

thanks to dora, she's been wanting a backpack for awhile.

when she sees other kids with backpacks, she asks to try them on.

i went searching online...& i saw the purple backpack dora has on amazon.

i was about to get it but then i stumbled across this toddler backpack pattern by made by rae.

and then i saw this fabric.....

it is soooooo belle!! all these cute girly animals dancing & playing instruments.

it screams B E L L E! & guess what? it was on sale. it's meant to be.

got the fabric & pattern.

when she went to bed on saturday, i stayed up late to finish it.

her reaction was so cute.

she immediately wore it & showed it off to everyone at home.

when we were leaving for church...she grabbed the backpack, wore it & nothing was inside.

so i put diapers & wet wipes. haha

only thing is...the fabric is not so stiff. so when i put things in there it doesn't hold its shape like you see. it just sags like all backpacks. but it's still cute!

phewwww. what a long post!