My Summer Projects

After Sarah and I moved into our apartment in April and I was able to set up my permanent sewing corner, I decided to really make an effort to sew more clothes this summer.

Here are some of the projects I worked on this summer:

I made this dress to wear for graduation in May.  I had been obsessing over Peter Pan collars at the time and wanted a dress with one.  This project was definitely challenging for me.  Thank goodness my mom was available to give me some good pointers..

I made this peplum top for a wedding this summer and paired it with this skirt.  With the seven weddings I had this summer, it was a nice change from my normal girly dresses I wore for all the others.

I got caught up in the pleated skirt phase after I saw this post from the Pink Peonies blog.  This was what I worked on during my boards study breaks.  It was the first piece of clothing I made without a pattern.  I love how it turned out.  

Do you remember when Taylor Swift announced her Red album?  She was wearing this gorgeous number.  I happened to stumble across similar fabric at Hobby Lobby and decided to try to copy it.  I also made this one without a pattern.  When I was all done, I was so mad at myself for not adding pockets! haha Other than that, I love it and have worn it tons since I finished it.

I'm hoping to keep working on more clothes soon! 

Speaking of Taylor Swift, who else is freaking out that her new album is coming out next Monday?!? 

Thanks for reading.

DIY Tassel Garland

So my bedroom makeover has been a very long, slow process.

I started with my coral and gray color scheme that I had since living in KC.  

And I still like it, but after a couple years of so much pink I was ready for a change.

I poured over a million different Pottery Barn pictures and decided to do a cobalt blue/white/neutral color scheme.  You've seen my new nightstand and new pillows in my previous posts, but I still needed to do something with the headboard.  After a million more Pottery Barn pictures, I decided to make the headboard neutral too. (All I did to make this headboard was cover the inside of these frames with fabric and quilt batting.)

So then I felt like it looked much more mature, but there was so much empty space going on.

Enter the tassel garland.  I have seen them all over the place, and thought it would be a great (and really cheap) way to bring some more color in.

Here's what you need:

-fabric in the color(s) of your choice

-scissors or a rotary cutter (the rotary cutter really cuts down on your time---no pun intended)

-floral wire

-twine

-wall hooks

I decided that I wanted my tassels to be 8" long with about a 2" loop.

I cut each piece to be 20"x 9".

Fold it in half.

Cut 3/4" x 8" strips.  Do not cut through the folded side.

Open the fabric strips and roll the fabric at the uncut portion.

Fold the tassel over to make a loop.

Tie the loop off with floral wire.

Cut the excess wire off.

Use an extra strip of fabric to tie around the loop to hide the wire.

Now do that for all of the tassels you want.

Lay them out in your preferred order. 

(You have no idea how much time I spent making the order look random.)

String them onto the twine.

Attach the hooks to the wall and string the garland onto the hooks.

And here it is! 

I'm still on the hunt for a different lamp and considering adding a couple of these prints above the garland too, but I'm getting closer!

Thanks for reading :)