Beach cover-up or fancy tunic style blouse

Front view with gathered fancy belt

















Back view

I rarely sew anything for myself. I don't have much time to make things for me. I just love making stuff for other people but this one I just might have to keep.

My mom brought me a great suggestion of making beautiful beach cover-ups. Rather than wearing a terry-cloth towel cover-up at the beach, that let's face it looks flattering on nobody, I could design a beautiful beach cover-up.

After a couple different trials I have come up with a favorite.

I serged this entire cover-up on the serger except for attaching the casing for the fancy belt. I had to use the sewing machine because my serger does not have a cover-stitch setting. I suppose I could have flat-locked it but I really haven't practiced that technique enough to try it on this fabric yet.

However, I had a lot of fun making this cover-up because I taught myself a new technique on my serger that may appear on future projects.

I used a three thread rolled hem on the scarf type fabric because it seems to work well. The big difference on this was I wanted to give the edges of the fabric "body" to look more luxurious. Illustrated in the arm and around the bottom hem The fabric looks like it stands out a bit and waves in and out. I won't share my secret but I love the texture it gives for a new look.

My husband looked at this last night while I was sealing the seams with Fray check and said, "Uh, do you realize that it is see-through? It is pretty, but what is it?"

I laughed and replied, "a cover-up."

What do you think?

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Swinging at ten and a half months

Kaylee is putting the toy curling Irons in the swing for a ride.



Looks like both curling irons are going for a ride in the swing.







Oops!



She was so excited when I put her in the swing. Thank heaven she is just 16 pounds and can still use the swing if she wants a ride.



There's my smiling darling.



She loves to go swinging.



Trying to get back in the swing.




I guess I better help her before she hurts herself.








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Barbie gets a smokin hot swimsuit

I have been working diligently on some new designs and techniques that are just not coming together at the moment. So, I thought I would take a little break with a quick diversion which would surprise my daughter in the morning.

I looked through my scraps and found a smoking hot little animal print scrap just large enough to make a bikini swimsuit for Barbie. I did not use any type of pattern whatsoever so this is a one of a kind original. I serged this little swimsuit for Barbie sized dolls.The bottom of the swimsuit is just a simple A-line style skirt and the top is a scrunched bikini top.  It is serged with a three thread rolled hem. I used a scrap of Velcro for the closure so my three year old could put the swimsuit on Barbie without my assistance. Now that I completed something, I will get back to work on my other puzzling project.

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Kaylee at the Little Mermaid styling salon table

Sitting in the styling chair ready to fix her hair.



She grabs the fun tools on the salon table.



Look at this. Smiling at her reflection in the mirror.







Ariel in the mirror says, "Do you want to fix your hair with the scissors, the brush, or the curling iron?"



Kaylee picked up the curling iron and showed Ariel which one.







Wow, this mommy time is fun.







I should use this on my hair.



Look how pretty I look mom!




Curling her hair, or maybe it is going in her ear. I really can't tell.




She is just tall enough to stand up and play here too.

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St Patrick's Day Parade

My Irish girl wannabee at the St Patrick's day parade downtown St Louis on Market Street



Having dinner at Cunetto's- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Messy Eater

My modeling daughter

Sophia helped me create some photos to display the new scarves I am adding to my Etsy site.  Above is a red marble in a rayon fabric

This scarf has varying shades of blue with gold polka dots.

This is Sophia's favorite jewelry patterned scarf.  She wanted a mini scarf of her own and a matching hairbow which was her surprise for helping me out by being my model since I don't have a dressmaker's form or a display bust yet to merchandise clothing.

This is a brown and tan pattern in a rayon fabric.

All the ring scarves made above were sewn on a serger and can be slipped right over your head.  Add them to your plain blouse, dress, or T-shirt to dress up your outfit or pull together your look.   Each is unique. Dimensions and fabrics will be included on each on the Etsy site.

Ring Scarves - my new love

Sophia took this photo of the scarf.  I think I need a dressmaker's form to display fun stuff.

Sophia proudly displaying a new scarf.

Here is another view.

Since I was a small girl I have always had a "love" of accessories.  Jewelry and belts and scarves and as of lately hairbows for my sweet girls.  They just add an extra level of sparkle to an outfit. Not only do they add sparkle but they can also tie any outfit together.  I made these ring scarves on the Serger in minutes, yes, I said minutes.  I used a three thread overlock stitch to create these lovely fashion accessories. You can dress up any T-shirt or work blouse or plain dress with these. There is no worries about how to tie them because you do not need to tie them to keep them on.  Slip them on over your head as you run out the door to work or a fancy event.

I have a climber. Now I am really in trouble.

we went to our friend's house the other day and Kaylee decided to climb their steps all by herself. I caught her on the third step.

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My silly girl

We took Sophia shopping.  She chose a dress. I actually went to the store for Kaylee but didn't find anything. However, Sophia was able to convince me I should buy this sundress for her.



She insisted on wearing or even though it was freezing outside. Obviously, we had to add some leggings and a turtleneck to wear it to church today.



She held a fashion show for my husband and I.




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Hamburger helper

I stopped by the drive- thru and picked ip some hamburgers because we had a bunch of errands to do. I know I shouldn't feed my kids hamburgers but sometimes there is just no other way to get everything done.


Kaylee took her hamburger out of the wrapper all by herself.


She is pulling it all apart here in the pictures.


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