Handmade WARDROBE // Dove, Hacked

my top: Megan Nielsen Dove blouse, hacked with cap sleeves in a polka dot lyocell linen from Joann Fabrics

Penny’s top: self-drafted

my jeans: Megan Nielsen Patterns Dawn jeans

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Eeeeeeeeek! I’m so excited to finally share this one! If you haven’t heard, Meg recently re-released her Dove blouse pattern in her extended sizing, as well as in Curve sizes! With the re-release, I created two hack tutorials -one of them being this sleeveless/ little cap sleeve version. I looooove it. Probably my favorite woven blouse in my closet right now. You can find the hack tutorial (as well as the other hack for a rounded neckline) on Meg’s blog - Design Diary.

Also, how cute is Penn’y matching outfit this time?! I saw someone on Instagram (ack, I can’t remember who!), make a similar little dress/top in this fabric with tan colored gauze bloomer shorts to go with it, and it was so cute! Penny already had some thrifted bloomers in the same color, so it was fate <3.

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Handmade wardrobe // solee

my top: DIY Solee top, instructions by Nataile Ebaugh

Penny’s top: DIY using the same method, just no elastic at the waist

fabric: rayon cotton voile from Blackbird Fabrics (no longer available)

straps: velvet ribbon from Mood Fabrics

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So, funny thing : my top originally started out looking like Penny’s - loose and wide and floaty at the hem. I already had it finished and everything. But then I saw Natalie post her DIY Solee top on Instagram (and Star’s version, too!), which was a similar style, just with elastic at the waist too. And I fell in love. I decided I NEEDED THIS to have elastic at the waist. But I already had this cut and finished at an almost- cropped length, not enough to turn up the hem even more to add in the elastic. So instead, I simply took some scrap strips of fabric and made a separate casing that I stitched to the inside of the top, and then threaded the waist elastic through that. Voila! It worked!

It worked out fine for me in the end, but if you want to do it the easy way, Natalie has step by step instructions in her Instagram stories.

P.S - I love how mine turned out, but I’m OBSESSED with hiw cute Penny’s is. This is one of my favorite styles to make her, and its also one of the easiest since its just a rectangular piece of fabric with some elastic. Easy peasy!

Mommy and Me // matching dots

my dress: Megan Nielsen Darling Ranges dress, lengthened to maxi length

my shoes, Penny’s shoes, Penny’s dress : Old Navy

Both our jackets: H&M (mine is old, here is Penny’s)

Penny’s fanny pack: Target (girls, not toddler. I had to alter the waist strap. And I cut off the glittery bunny ears)

So this is not a new handmade mommy an me post. In fact, almost everything is RTW, except for my Darling Ranges maxi dress which I made years ago. You can see my past posts about it here and here. But Our matching polka dots were way too good to not share them here, too!

Black & White

You guys, I bought another polka dot top. 

I definitely have a problem. An addiction. I literally can’t help myself. Does anyone know if there is a support group out there for people like me? PDAA? That’s ‘polka dot addicts anonymous’, for those of you wondering. 

top: Jcrew, Buffalo Exchange

skirt: American Apparel

tote: c/o Haberdash Vintage

headband: Anthropologie

flats: Jeffrey Campbell, Buffalo Exchange

DIY Polka Dot Shorts

I’ve seen so many of these DIYs around the web lately. And I’m a polka dot addict, so I couldn’t resist. 

This one is pretty easy, folks. Here’s what you need:

- a pair of old or thrifted shorts

- ruler

- chalk or fabric pencil

- fabric paint

- small dabber or pencil eraser

First, mark where your polka dots will go. Starting at the corner, and using your fabric chalk or pencil, make small dots an inch apart. 

Then get to dabbing! I used a small foam dabber made for stenciling, but an eraser at the end of a pencil will work just as well. Lightly dab your dabber in your paint, making sure to get rid of an excess, and dab over your marks. That’s it! Depending on the colors you are working with, you may need to go over them again, once they are dry, if they are too sheer. 

You can see more of my final product in tomorrows outfit post.

Wedding Wednesday- Polka Dots

Its no secret that I love me some polka dots. And it’ll be a safe bet that I will be sneaking some in to my wedding. Probably just in some details though. Some ideas? well of course…..

Polka Dot Pom by PomLove

Flower girl dress by Liitle Pink Hanger

Straws by Cupcake Social

There is also this polka dot dress on Modcloth that would make an adorable bridesmaids dress, but the site seems to not be working for me right now. Maybe I’ll sneak it in later. 

EBEW: Polka Dots (and Leopard)

March 8th, 2011

blouse: thrifted, cardigan: Victoria’s Secret, skirt: handmade by me!, tights: Target, shoes: c/o Big Buddha

ebew polka dots: Who says you can’t wear polka dots and leopard print together? Not me, thats for sure. When I found out the next EBEW was polka dots, I knew it would be perfect projects for the two different polka dot fabrics I had bought. Problem is, I never got around to making the blouse, just the skirt. But thats ok - I love leopard and polka dots together too! I’m craaaaaaaazy like that, ya know.

Oh, and the shoes? they are the black versions of these oxfords sent to my by the wonderful people at Big Buddha. Love love love.