Strapless Dress using Pre-smocked Fabric

Happy Memorial Day everybody!  We're starting the weekend out right prepping for picnic down by the lake.  Smoked sausage, grilled veggies, watermelon, and......a new dress!

I needed a super simple project just to get my toes wet.  Something that would take less than 30 minutes, that would be amenable to a messy and unorganized sewing room AND that wouldn't require too much thought.  This was the PERFECT project.

I picked up some of that pre-smocked fabric at Jo-Ann's.  I didn't check the price ($19/yard??) but I did look at the flyer after I left and it's on sale this weekend (grrr).  Whatever, time is money, right?  

I knew the girls would love this pink flamingo fabric and I loved the preppy navy & pink combo.

All I did was hem the bottom (double fold 1/2" hem) then fold it in half, right sides together and sew it closed.

I had every intention of using extra fabric from the bottom to create straps but Eleanor liked the length AND wanted it strapless.  But you can see she is holding it up, yes?  

She measured 21" across the bust.  I cut it 19" wide thinking that would be snug enough given a roughly 1/4-1/2" seam when I closed it.  It was still loose.  So, cut your fabric a good solid 3ish inches less than the bust measurement and that should be snug enough to stay up sans straps.

It's cute, right?  Perfect for running around our tiny city yard!

Happy Memorial Day.  Go hug a veteran or a soldier, would you?

I'll be hugging my vet.....T.I.G.H.T.

Sometimes it's the easy things....

Do you ever wake up in the morning and wonder, "what the ?!*<@# am I going to do with the kids today? Okay, well, in a less perverse way anyway?  I do.  Especially since they've been out of school since the end of March (moving stinks) and camp hasn't started yet because the normal families are still in school.  

I took the girls to a tot hour at the Garfield Conservatory the other morning.  (We love that place.) 

I had this revelation while there that it really doesn't take that much to entertain these guys.  All it takes is a spray water bottle and some plants.......

Some dirt....

shovels, buckets and fake bugs (don't be afraid of a lil dirt peeps).....

So, my fair readers, do YOU have any EASY ways of keeping the kiddos entertained during summer that you'd like to share?  

::Tutorial:: Quickie Stenciled Onesies

Looking for some cute onesies for your bebe or for a gift?  Here you go, friends.

We recently stumbled upon fabric paint--fabulous, easy, quick!  

(The quicker and easier, the better, yes?) 

Supplies

--stencils

--fabric paint

--small brush

--onesies or t-shirts

Start by putting a piece of cardboard or anything flat & weighted under the top piece of the onesie.  This will give you a nice, flat surface.

Here are the stencils we chose--this was for baby Coleman so we had to encourage soccer, yes?

Place your stencil on the onesie. 

(We used a stencil with adhesive but you could just as easily go the freezer paper route.)

Pull your stencil away from the onesie.  

We did this right after painting; we did not wait for it to dry.

Seriously--remember when we said quick?  We meant it.

Maybe he'll be into hoops?

Or perhaps baseball?

Either way, he'll be precious in his new onesies!