More sewing items

I have been pretty busy this summer sewing for the kids and for others. The business has taken off but not as much as I would of liked. It keeps me busy when I don't have things for the kids to do, but I would like it to be a little more. But enough of that...I thought I would share some more pictures of things I have done this summer! Remember you can visit my store on etsy or Like my page on facebook, Ruffles and Bow ties...and remember I would love to make your next outfits :)

Pink polkadot tie dress (fully lined)

Little mermaid Tie dress fully lined

Tag blankie with embroidered name



Lounge pants in flannel




Ladybug tie dress fully lined. Made 3 of these for matching set for siblings with matching headbands




More flannel lounge pants



My newest style...Knot dress..in Nebraska print for football season!

Sewing Pictures

I promised awhile back that I would post pictures of items I have been working on...I know I am slow! Anyways, below are some of the items I have done the past couple of months. Most of these you can find at my esty shop, Ruffles and Bow Ties.

This is a group of sibling matching outfits I made a friend. 2 girl pillowcase/tie dresses and a boys JonJon. They are adorable!

This is a ruffle top I created for my daughter. I also made a sibling set of 3 of these but they were dresses.

Minnie Pillowcase/Tie dress I made my daughter for our trip to Disney this past Spring. She loves it!

Baby gift set I made a Sorority sister as a gift. It included the ladybug burp cloth and bib...

And this adorable Ladybug Tag Blankie! It was so soft and adorable!

Custom Firetruck baby gift set which included a burp cloth and bib.

Ruffle and Bow Ties

Once again it has been awhile since I have posted anything to the blog! I find I don't have much time during the day to get on the computer. I am still looking for great deals and using my coupons, so I haven't stopped! I promise I will begin soon and try and keep more up to date with things!

But my time isn't spent on the couch watching TV (show me a SAHM who can spend her days doing just that!). I have been sewing A LOT. I have completed some orders for clothing for friend's and I have even sold a few items online. Yep, that's right I opened a store on etsy.com. I was really reluctant at first but I took the time and set it up. Within a week I got my first order. My store isn't popular yet so I don't have a ton of traffic, but it's there. I post items to the store when I can but most of the things I make are custom orders anyways. I have had a number of people ask me to open a Facebook page so they don't have to deal with the etsy portion of buying items. I have to say I haven't gotten there yet. For friends I will make anything they want, but I don't think I am ready for a bunch of orders at once...which I am scared FB will do. So for right now I am just on etsy.com. So come by and visit, take a look and browse and let me know if you need anything!!

Random thoughts on my mind

I haven't posted much in awhile. I have been slacking none the less. I am back though and going to try and keep up with this blog. But I haven't stopped looking for great deals and saving money! In fact earlier this week I was thinking about how much money I spend on books. My husband (and kids) gave me a NOOK a last Christmas and I love it. I have downloaded a ton of books in that time frame and spend some good money (although they are cheaper then the actual book prices!). The kids give me a gift card for most occasions b/c they think I don't have to pay for the books (but they haven't figured out I pay for the gift cards!) So I was on B&N a couple of months ago adding a new gift card to my account and noticed I can purchase the books online and it will upload directly to my NOOK. I knew this before but just never put two and two together. So today I wanted a new book to start reading, so I headed over to ebates.com and clicked on Barnes and Nobles. By doing this I am now getting 4% back on my book purchase. So now I can add up my savings and take those savings to get me a new gift card!!! YAY saving money!

I also wanted to share a new coupon site I found (actually heard about it on GMA and finally had time to sit and check it out this afternoon, and I know what your thinking "Great another coupon site for me to keep up with!"). Couponsherpa.com is GREAT! They have printable grocery coupons, store coupons, restaurant coupons, as well as coupon codes to use online! It's great! Head on over there and check it out yourself and let me know what you think!

I had a little extra time after church today to get online and print out some Target coupons (they just added some new ones so make sure you check them out!) and it got me thinking. I read on all these coupon sites and money saving blogs their opinions on coupons. I have read many times that some women don't throw away their coupons. If they are about to expire they run out and use it, to them it's like money! Then there are others that say it's OK to throw them away, don't buy something you don't need just to use the coupon. So I wanted to know what is your take on this? I myself throw a ton of coupons away! I only buy items if we desperately need them (and have a coupon most of the time!), if they are on sale and I have a coupon (whether we need it or not!), or if I can stack coupons together and save double. I will never just use a coupon b/c it is expiring. So please, share with me your feelings!

I have started to sew a lot more. I have made some people a few items and come to realize that I can make some extra money on the side! Which I love! I am really enjoying the satisfaction of started from nothing, creating an item and seeing it complete! It is really a wonderful experience! I find that I am more relaxed because I have an outlet during the day, it's really great! When I get some extra time I will post some pictures of some of the creations I have been working on! So check back soon!

OK, so that was a bunch of random thoughts currently going through my mind right now. Thought most of it was relevant, so I wanted to share. I promise in the coming weeks I will begin to post more often. I have come to a deal with myself that I only want to post deals that I am interested in! So I won't be posting everything I see!!! DEAL!?!?

Sewing Baby items

When I started sewing in the fall I came up with a bib pattern that I liked, long enough to cover everything yet small enough that my son could wear it when teething. I sewed him a couple of bibs and loved them, got tons of compliments and people telling me they wanted some! So this week my new task was to start making some bibs and take a hand at making some burp rags. I went in my scraps and started cutting out bibs. I have 2 people I am sewing for who are expecting girls this June and Septemeber and one that just had one. I am having a blast sewing these! I found some really cute material at the store Monday that I bought and I can't wait until I have finished everything!

My question to you is, what do you buy, if anything, handmade for your kids? I have shared with you everything that I enjoy making for my 3 kids and for friends kids, share with me what you like to make. I visit the site etsy.com often to find new ideas to sew the kids, in fact thats where I got the idea for the girls Easter dresses. I often wonder though, are people making money off that site selling what they make? I would love to be able to create items and sell them and make a profit, but can you? I have made a few things here and there for friends and they have given me a couple dollars but nothing big. Should I be charging more? What do you think?

When I am done with the bibs and burp rags I will post some pictures of the completed sets as well as some dresses I am also making the newborns!

I have gotten some inquires about patterns, in the next couple of day I will post about patterns. I tend to not use them but I would love to share with you my ideas! So stay posted!!

Easter Sewing

Last year my son was born on Good Friday, so my girls wore their matching dresses and I didn't have to worry about my son matching with them. I can remember though the whole 2 months before my due date stressing about if he decided to come early what he was going to wear. I scoured the internet looking for matching outfits for my 3 kids, then would of been 9, 4 and newborn. It was next to impossible. I remember thinking, I could pay an arm and a leg for someone to make matching outfits, but then why? They wouldn't wear them enough to get the money out of it, and there was a big possibility that little man wouldn't be here.

So instead I went and bought, close to matching, outfits for the 3 kids. I ended up getting their pictures taken a month later in the outfits, but in the end it didn't really matter. So I have told you the story already about why I wanted to learn to sew and this was one of the reasons why. Now I have saved our family a ton of money so far just sewing the girls outfits for our trips and birthday presents for friends. Now I have saved  us close to $80 on Easter outfits!

I made my son a couple of JonJons to wear on our vacation this month, so he already had a bunch made. 2 of them wear great colors for Easter, pastel blue and light green. I took these 2 to the cloth store and found a matching print with the green one. I bought (too much) almost 3 yards of fabric for $16. With that material I made both girls dresses and matching hair clips! The kids looked great on Easter morning and we got so many compliments that day at church I was so happy. It was great!

I have really started to enjoy this sewing thing. The kids like having unique outfits and my oldest has even gotten into designing her own. It's really fun!

**I will post a picture tomorrow of the 3 outfits!

Pillowcase Dresses

Over the summer I saw online a picture of a pillowcase dress and thought it was the cutest and most simple dress in the world. When I started my adventure in sewing I decided I was going to start with the pillowcase dresses for my 2 daughters. I was right, it was by far the most simple dress in the world. And dumb me even went out and wasted money on a simple pattern. As my sewing gets better and I dare to do more things, I find myself turning to the Internet for ideas and suggestions. I have found so many different pillowcase dress ideas and tips, and have even found where I don't have to use a pattern at all! Since my first pillowcase dress I have sewn 2 for birthday presents, and 3 for my youngest daughter.



Hawaiian print pillowcase dress for 2 year old birthday girl!

 I have gathered a ton of information on sewing pillowcase dresses. These are great dresses for girls during spring and summer and even in the fall with a shirt underneath. If you are venturing in making this adorable dress I have below the simplest instructions for you! I have compiled this information from a ton of websites and developed an easy to follow directions!

Simple (and generic) measurements:
Dress lengths: 6 - 9 months 14 inches; 12 months 15.5 inches; 18 months 17.5 inches; 2T 19.5 inches; 3T 21 inches; 4T 22 inches; 5/6 24 inches; 7/8 26 inches
(take a quick measurement of your daughter to make sure this is close to being correct!)
Dress widths: 6 - 18 months, 15 inches; 2T - 4T, 16 - 20 inches; 5 - 6, 21 - 24 inches
(Again, measure around your daughters chest to make sure this measurement would be comfortable on her!)
Armholes: 6month to 2T down 3 inches, in 1.5 inches; 3T - 4T down 4 inches, in 2 inches; 4 to 5 down 5 or 6 inches, in 2 inches; size 6 down 7 or 8 inches, in 2 inches
(I have used other dresses or tank tops as a pattern to make armholes plenty of times. If you are afraid of this step use a pattern!)

Cinderella pillowcase dress for a 4 year old birthday girl!

OK, so find you material you would like to make the dress. In my example I am going to pretend I am making a 2T dress. I am going to cut 2 pieces of material 19.5 inches by 20 inches (I would probably just round and make it 20 by 20!). Then I am going to cut the arm holes at the top of the dress 3 inches down and in 1.5 inches. This is it for the cutting! Next I am going to straight stitch up the sides of the dress. Next I would take some double fold bias tape (get a color that matches your material) and sew the arm holes. This is wear you can be creative, I have used material for the bias tape on some dresses, I have sewn it so that half is outside the armhole and you can see it. Have fun with it!! After the armholes, you need to do the neck. I use single fold 1 inch bias tape to make the casting so I can insert the ribbon. Once the top is done I hem the dress and your almost done! The next step you can be creative with as well, you can either get some ribbon for the next or you can make your own tie. If you choose to make it using material I cut mine 3 inches by 44 inches. I steam the material in half lengthwise, open it up and fold the ends to the middle. Then sew it up, this will make a 44 inches long tie by .75 inches wide. This will tie on one shoulder instead of 2.

I know those directions were not written for the novice. I will write another post in the future with pictures and detailed instructions. I hope these measurement and quick directions will get you started!

Enjoy sewing and please share your creations with me!!

My New Love of Sewing

This page is my place to share all my new experiences with sewing. I grew up with my mom sewing everything from our clothes, to my doll clothes, to curtains and pillows. You name it she sewed it. There was nothing she couldn't do with that machine. My mom tried for years to teach me to sew and I had no desire to learn. I always made her make me everything I wanted, even my prom dress! When I was younger I got a Cabbage Patch Kid sewing macine for Christmas, I guess her attempt to get me interested so I could sew with her. Didn't work! So, last spring I had my 3rd child, our first boy. For years now I have been dressing our 2 girls in matching clothes for every holiday, every vacation and sometimes just to hang out around the house. Once we had our son, I didn't change! I wanted all 3 kids to match! This task of buying a 10 year old, 5 year old and newborn matching outfits is hard! You can spend tons of money on outfits they are only going to wear a few times! I wasn't going to give up...so my idea, learn to sew! My mom thought I was nuts! Infact she doesn't really so much anymore for a number of reasons being it takes up a lot of time, the cost of material has gone up so much and patterns themselves cost a fortune! But nothing was going to stop me, I was going to learn to sew and sew all 3 kids matching outfits!
I bought my material, found the patterns I wanted and bought them got my mom's sewing machine and I was ready. My mom gave me a couple of lessons on the basics and she walked me through making one of the dresses for the girls. After that I was on my own! Needless to say with a couple of hiccups along the way, I finished all 3 outfits, and they looked great! The kids got professional pictures done in them and our baby even wore his to a wedding! They looked great, and the best part is I love sewing now!
Since this venture, my parents bought me a sewing machine for Christmas, which I got on Black Friday at a steal! I made the baby 7 sleepers which we gave him for Christmas, I made our oldest 5 pairs of lounge pants we gave her for Christmas and our youngest daugter for 7 new dresses with matching bows all made by me for Christmas! I love this sewing thing. I buy everything on sale, and those that aren't on sale I use a coupon. I shop the clearance and for major deals. In the end everything I make is A LOT cheaper then going to the store and buying an outfit new! I have made 2 rompers for girl twins for their first birthday, a dress for a 2 year old for her birthday gift and currently making a Jon Jon for a 1 year old for his birthday. So not only amd I saving a ton of money but I'm having fun creating all these new things!
I am going to continue to sew and create new items and as I do I will share them on here! Please share your items and tricks and tips and new creations with me! I am always ready to try new things!!!