From my Transparent Heart...

So since the new baby Emmie has been born, lets just say my life hasn’t slowed down any. Not that I figured it would, but at 12 weeks old, I am still trying to get this family of 5 on a schedule that works. It seems that the nights I plan to go home and sew, or craft, it just doesn’t end up happening. I get discouraged seeing laundry in baskets and dishes in the sink and I think well I will get these done and then I will feel better knowing its not plaguing me, but you know what happens. By the time I get it all done or as much as I can, homework done, getting clothes out for the next day, then bed times start rolling in, and once the babies are all in bed, this momma is ready herself. What does this mean for Chrissy Couture? Not sure. I did find time last week to make a cute dress, but I’ve not had a chance to photo it cutely and get it up on the blog. Also made myself some hair pretties, but yet again, I can barely find the time to actually do the fun creative things I enjoy, let alone blog all about it. I started this blog as an creative outlet when I was so depressed after my little Miss O was born. What I went through physically after she was born just made the emotional part of me fall apart. Getting into this creative area and learning to sew on my own has been so much fun. I am no way near signing up for project runway, or even trying too many adult clothes, but I enjoy dreaming one day I might be good enough to do something with this fun little “talent”. (Can I call it a talent? I am not really that great at any of it). Originally I thought I was just doing this for myself, but now that I have moved past those issues and feel better physically and emotionally, I just don’t know if its “necessary” in my life like I thought it was at one time. Sometimes I would like to just blog about life issues, being a working mom, trying to be supermom when I fail miserably….things we all can relate to, but that isn’t how I started this blog and not sure anyone would really be interested in those things. I just want to feel like I am inspiring someone. Whether it be from words, or you seeing that I can do something and you can too. Maybe its just more of my desire to work in the ministry but not seeing how that will happen. Anyway, I guess I said all of that to say blogging may be on hold for a while till I really figure out the direction I want to go. I don’t want to give it up entirely, because I have had a few people tell me how much they enjoy my blog (Which makes my day), but hearing it from 100 people would be nice…(or hey even 10) haha. Sometimes I just have to realize I can’t do everything and that is a hard concept for me to realize. Until Next time…. Keep Calm….It will all work out how its supposed to.

Florals and Polka Dot Mix Dress

So as I am sitting here waiting on my fancy IPhone 4, (yeah you heard that right) update to the new IOS 7, I thought I would blog about the dress I made for Miss O before I had the baby this summer.

It was a take on another dress I used as inspiration. I love this SweetHoney brand, but I can't afford the price tag.

So I ventured out, bought some fabric and without a pattern, just kind of "winged" it.

First I started with a bodice. I knew I didn't want it to have to zip or button, but I wanted it to be fitted. I used a tank that Miss O currently owned and fit into nicely and keeping seem allowances in mind, I traced around it and cut the bodice.

Then I attached 4 strips of panels together to make a tube and attached it to the bodice. Then I added some lace and a belt.

The finished product was not as exciting as I thought because I couldn't stop staring at the awful hem!

So as I contemplated picking it all out and resewing it, I decided to just cut straight across the bottom and add a ruffle instead. I really love the way it turned out and I think she did too.

What do you think? Not too bad of a knock off!

 

 

 

 

I also just recently bought this fabric for some girls matching dresses! So excited to work on them.

Until next time....

Keep calm and be Inspired.

 

 

Back to Reality

Testing….testing….Is this thing on? Have I lost everyone over my hiatus? I have been a little busy this summer and blogging was the last thing on my mind, although I contemplated throwing a post out there a little sooner, it just didn’t happen.

So what have I been up to that has caused me to be so busy?

Meet Miss Baby Emmalyn.

She was born in mid July from an awful c-section. My biggest baby so far. 9lbs 15oz. I never had so much pain in my other c-sections than with this one. I don’t know what happened, but I just wasn’t numb like I should have been. It was awful and I whined about it for days (and still apparently) but I did get a wonderful, healthy, sweet smiley doll out of it, so it was totally worth it.

Brother Noah and Miss O are loving her to pieces. Of course big sister is very protective of “her baby Emmie”…which I love.

I made a dress with this fabric a month or so before she was born, so keep an eye out for it in the next blog post.

Just wanted to say I am alive and out here, just went back to work and so back to reality means back to blogging apparently.

Until next time,

Keep Calm…I didn’t fall off the earth like you thought. 

Americana Ruffle Skirts + Giveaway :)

So we are on the 5 week count down on "mirena" baby. I hope in the next 5 weeks it finally hits me that we are going to be parents again. You would think these 8 months would have prepared me better, but even with just a few weeks to go, I am still in shock that we are embarking on a 3rd baby! Also, we still don't have a name.... She may end up being called Mirena in the end! (calm down, just kidding)

My pinterest boards are getting a little out of hand. I do try and mark everything I make under my Chrissy Couture board, but I still have a ton on the "want to do" list. A few weeks (month,...months?) ago, I saw this pin on pinterest.

It is the most adorable ruffle skirt. I knew immediately it would probably be too difficult but I clicked on into it and read the Mama Says Sew blog. She gives a full tutorial on how to make them. I don't know if it is really just super easy, or she did a great job explaining it, but I after I read it I thought, "hey, I can make these!" I knew I had some sort of patriotic scraps of material from a Goodwill outlet trip that I could use so I embarked on trying it out. (and really any 2-3 cohesive fabrics would be awesome, but who doesn't love a little red, white and blue?)

My first one here, turned out beautifully. I altered what she did slightly as I didn't have the same fabric she had.

Unfortunately, I still make things a little small. It was supposed to be roughly a size 2, based on a skirt Miss O already owns, but I guess one day I will learn how to correctly measure based on seam allowance. I love the colors and how it turned out. Problem is, it is a 18-24 month comfortably, so it doesn't even fit my little one.

I tried a second one here, (not even using her instructions this time, because let me tell ya, its pretty easy!) and it fits her perfect! Its about a size 2t-3t given the elastic stretch. Its hard to see in the picture but the side ruffles cascade so pretty. Probably because it is cream colored and hard to see.

I also noticed that the first one is more straight and longer and the second is more flared and round. It all really depends on how you cut your fabric strips to begin with. The only thing I found was I originally made my ruffles for my first skirt kind of small and then I was thinking..."I will never finish this skirt with all these tiny ruffles" so I doubled them and it was the perfect size. Then, it didn't take nearly as long.

Where are the pictures of my little one in these adorable skirts?

Well...... See the first one doesn't fit her (which is my favorite of the 2) and to be honest, I am really not a skirt lover on little little girls because then I have to match a top. Dresses are easier. haha. Less thinking, less time....its much easier for this momma. So since she really didn't have anything to match up the 2nd skirt to, and I had no scrap left to try and make something that matched, all you have is the finished product pictures.

Would you like one?

Comment below telling me which one you like and you could win it! Giveaway starts today June 7th and a winner will be chosen on June 12th.

Until next time....

Keep Calm and Ruffle up a skirt.......

Fat Quarter Floral Ruffle Peasant Dress

Somewhere between Mothers Day and last week I realized I didn't post the cute dress I made for Livy. I had made it the week before Mother's Day and thought that I would put her in it for my little brother's college graduation party. I opted to put her in it for Mothers Day instead and I am so glad because the weather at his "open house" was crazy cold a week or two back.

So better late than never right?

The Floral Ruffle Peasant Dress

 And what is a new dress without a new label. Remember when I made these for $6 here?

 I don't even use a "pattern" for this dress anymore, now that I have made half a dozen or so. I just used 4 fat quarters. 2 Fat Quarters are about the perfect size already for a 3T dress (because I like my dresses a little longer). I love that it saves me a step of cutting and they are only $1 each. This dress cost $4 total, and I still have some fabric left.

I used 2 fat quarters for the main part of the dress, folding them in half together and cutting crescent moon like shape for the arm holes. Then I took those same half circle pieces as a template and cut the sleeves out with the pink polka dot print. Once I sewed the sleeves in, and before I put a casing in the neck for elastic, I ran 3 gathering stitches down the floral piece and gathered it to ruffle and attached it to the dress. Then I added the elastic at the neckline and hemmed and it was done.

I love the 3 patterns mixed together. They aren't everyone's cup of tea, but thankfully this isn't for everyone. Livy loved modeling in her little dress too.

Noah wanted in on the fun. It seems we can't take a picture of one without the other these days....I also made the little flower bow from the leftovers, but you can't really appreciate or see it.

This other picture turned out cute other than his new found "wanting to give everyone bunny ears".

I think it turned out super summer cute! The weather is finally warming up in these parts. What about where you are?

Until next time....

Keep Calm and Fat Quarter it out....

P.S. Enjoy reading Chrissy Couture? I would love for you to follow along by subscribing. We also love comments too. Have a happy Friday!

The Mini Infinity Dress

So I came across this infinity dress the other day and fell in love!

I am not a green fan whatsoever, but I have to admit I love the minty color. The versatility of this dress is amazing. I am pretty modest and even with a strapless dress, or tank dress wear something over or under it. That’s why I loved this dress. It can be made to cover more or less, which in my case the more is a benefit! She gives you a quickie tutorial (diaryofamadcrafter) and links here (Sewlikemymom), which is a full tutorial. I have had a few requests of this dress since I saw it, (even want one myself) but before I dove directly into the deep, I thought I would give Livy one and see what I was getting into.

The Mini Infinity

So here is her completed dress. I just posed her 4 different ways.  

Double straps to one side. (probably my favorite way!)

 

Straps up each side. 

Strap-less. (Her little chubbiness spilling over the top) She wasn't a fan of this style.

  Just one strap up one side. This where I promised a sucker if she held still one more time!

  The material I used was a vintage stretch polyester. It had some give, but it was very thin too. Stella(my machine) and I kept having some issues sewing it though. I tried using a zig zag stitch since I read somewhere that its better to use that on stretchy fabrics, but the thread kept breaking. I don’t know if my tension is to high or or not high enough, but when it would sew fairly decent it kept bunching the fabric. I am not usually a violent person but about the 8^th time my thread broke I smacked her and told her to stop it. She straighted up a little, but I still had to deal with the bunching fabric.

Since Livy doesn’t really have a “waist” I made hers a little different. I made hers more of a tube dress first before adding the straps. It is a little more snug than I had planned so I don't know if I underestimated the level of stretch or if I measured incorrectly. 

I love how it was supposed to be a maxi dress for her….anyone notice its length?

Also since I was having so much trouble with bunching of the fabric, I tried to do shorter straps then what it suggests. It turned out fine, but next time, I will see why I need longer ones. I didn't get much of the "wrapped" effect because there wasn't much left to wrap.

What do you think?

I think making a mini is the way to go! Now I have a little practice under my belt for a real deal adult dress.

I don’t know what I love more, the dress or her cheesy expressions. OK, its her cheesy expressions.

Until Next time….

Keep Calm…..and Mini Infinity it!



A Year Already?? First Year at Sewing/Blogging.

Can you believe it has been a year to date that I started this little blog? I remember my very first post. It was short and sweet and didn't really say much. I have always been more likely to lean towards the creative nature of things than engineer, so when I took the leap, I have never looked back. Some posts have been more personal, others have just been the hilarious mis-hap that happened, or the finished product of some door wreaths or little clothes. Was it necessary? Well, probably not. Do I enjoy it though? Absewlutely! I know I have many friends that read my blog, but it thrills me when I see that 27 people in Spain viewed my blog on a certain day or week. Or 87 people from a combination of countries have visited my page in a week. It just makes my heart smile. You, reading this now, if it wasn't for you, I would probably not be motivated to try and get a post in at least once a week. (I know some weeks this is difficult for me!)

When I was posting last weeks post about the Vintage and Lace Ruffle Set, I saw a progression of where my sewing began to where it is now. It isn't a big secret that after my daughter was born, I severely went through post partum depression. I felt as though my life was just passing by and I had no creative outlet to express myself. My love and passion of photography was always put on hold from fear of not being good enough, or "doing what everyone else seems to be doing". I also wanted to learn how to sew. I took a class in high school years ago, and was horrible at it, but I wanted to try again. My mother brought me her sewing machine that she used for many years for me to just play with and see if I would really enjoy it. Firstly, it sat for almost a year before I even touched it. I was too afraid I wouldn't know what I was doing or that if I did figure it out, I wouldn't really be able to make anything cute. One night after I got home from work I was determined. I don't know what had changed in my head but I went home, put it on the kitchen table and decided I was going to start sewing. After 2 hours of trying to figure out how to thread the silly thing, numerous YouTube videos and a couple of calls to momma, I finally got it threaded. I think that night I sewed a few straight lines on some scrap material and then went to bed. The rest is history. My sweet husband went within the next week or so and got me a "sewing table" and set it all up while I was at work. I got a sweet text from him saying he believed and supported me. I never knew something so simple could mean so much to me. Even now when the kids are running wild and I am at my machine trying to punch out another beautiful creation, he will wrangle the children so I can have a little sewing therapy.

So through all of this rambling, I want you to know that I am glad you have followed along. If you are stumbling across this post for the first time, I hope you stick around. Things can and will only continue to get better from here. Here is a look at the last year very quickly.



Lets not forget our first attempt at sewing a dress..oh my how ill fitting!



Yes even the model was not a happy camper, and I do not blame her!



A Happier face, but can anyone see how the "collar" is just hanging on her shoulders barely?



Disney outfits. I can only take credit for adding some ruffles to a shirt and applique of Minnie.



This is that wonderful fabric already shirred. I just sewed up one side and it was done!

  



One of my favorites of the wreaths I made last year.





Chrissy Couture Cardigan - Featured on Sugar Bee Crafts! Now that was an exciting day!



Horrible picture quality. 10 minute Maxi Dress that only took me 2 hours!



Newspaper pattern and outfit made with my Mom while she was in town.



Hair Plopping. Still the most viewed post on my blog. Has had more hits that the Beatles....ok, not really but you get the point.

SpiderMan Cape. (even though he doesn't really wear one)

 

No Sew Wreath and Paper Flowers

 

Still Life Photography for the fair. Swooon.



First Attempt at sleeves and following a pattern.



Same pattern as above with some pattern mixing and belt.



Pattern mixing with a big BOW



Super fun Maternity Shoot with a gorgeous Momma.



Sock Monkey Tag Blanket

  

Ruffle Dress from a Woman's Shirt.



Bow Scarf

Vintage Pinafore Pattern

Un-Expecting another blessing....a Girl due in just 60 days!

Spikey Bows

Another round of Disney Outfits.

  

First successful Ruffle Pants and Top.

SpiderMan Muscle Tee

Vintage and Lace Ruffle Set.

What a Journey! And I left out quite a few posts still! I just love looking back and loving each new thing I sew more and more. Every new dress for Livy, or Every new little shirt or toy for Noah just makes me happy I can make it for them. Just last night Noah needed a "Ninja Belt" for his sword. With a strip of felt, elastic and a few zips down the machine and he was elated to have a new "ninja belt" that would hold his sword.

I hope you have enjoyed this journey and will stick around. I always LOVE hearing from you. Your thoughts, ideas, suggestions.

Until next time....

Keep Calm....and Keep Moving Forward.