Ruffle Skirt

Are you ready for yet another post about skirts??

Didn't think so.

But here I go again. Oh, happy day.

This time I made a skirt for Avery following the Simple Skirt Tutorial, then added 4 layers of ruffles with small bits of fabric that I bought at Hobby Lobby years ago.

It was fairly easy to make, although the ruffles tried my patience. And they are most definitely not sewed on totally straight.

But that's ok! My goal is never perfection!

Happy Friday!

What We've Been Up To

So you won't be seeing a "What I Wore Wednesday" post from me today, because mostly I've been in my gardening grungies and it's not a pretty sight. Think 10 year old shorts, tanks with paint splotches, and worn out flip flops. 

Really, no one needs to see that.

While I've been digging in my yard, the kiddos have been in their glory...learning how to "poop" worms (disgusting), playing in their homemade playground, riding bikes, and digging in the dirt, and getting as dirty as humanly possible.

Did I ever mention that hubs made this awesome playground for them? From scratch. Out of stuff we had laying around the garage. I'll have to show you the details sometime.

Baby V is trying out the baby swing for the first time. And loving it!

Here is the slide that comes out of the tree. Hubs built a ladder up the side of the tree, and Jack is finally big enough to climb it. So fun!

I spray painted furniture for the porch. I can't wait until my roses are in full bloom! Sigh, I love springtime!

Hubs and I planted the tiny little garden last night...

Here's what's on the menu:

Lettuce, several varieties

Spinach

Grape tomatoes

Basil

Italian Parsley

Green beans

Red potatoes

Cucumbers

Bell peppers

It has been so much fun working outside, but this girl is sore and tired!

Am I getting old or what??

Spring Mantel

This is my friend & neighbor Chandra's dining room fireplace mantel that I "spring-ified" recently. Here is a "before"shot of it:

It's very large and dark, so we lightened it up quite a bit using thrift-store white ceramics and some greens and baskets.

I like to keep mantels simple. Because of the brick background, it looks best to keep patterns and colors to a minimal and add texture with baskets and greenery.

It is ready for Spring - just like me! :)

The Market Skirt

Here is a skirt I made for Avery following the Market Skirt Tutorial on the Made blog.

The fabric is so summery and so yummy! Now if only the weather would warm up...we are ready for summer!

You can see Avery's goofy personality in these pictures...she loves to pose!

The tank is Old Navy from a yard sale and the shoes are also Old Navy.

What I Wore Wednesday: Thrift Store Style

Here's my latest "What I Wore Wednesday" post, linking up to the Pleated Poppy...

Thursday:

Green top: Plato's Closet (Anthropologie)

White Jacket: Ross

Jeans: Goodwill (Ann Taylor Loft)

Shoes: Goodwill

 Saturday:

White top: Goodwill (Old Navy)

Purple cardi: Goodwill (New York & Co)

Skinny jeans: Forever 21

Boots: Goodwill (new from Target)

 Sunday:

Yellow top: Plato's Closet consignment

Jacket: Forever 21

Pants: Banana Republic Outlet

Shoes: Goodwill

Loves these shoes I found at Goodwill! A ruffled shoe is a very good thing, in my opinion.

 Tuesday:

Black top: Forever 21

Pink military jacket: Ann Taylor Loft

Jeans: Goodwill (Ann Taylor Loft)

Scarf: Goodwill

Shoes: Gap Outlet

Let's Talk Simple Skirts

Ever since I found Dana's website called Made, I've been slightly obsessed with sewing. Skirts, in particular.

Dana has super-simple tutorials on her site - no patterns needed! This is perfect for people like me who can't follow patterns.

Or who just don't have the patience for them. Or are just too dumb to follow them.

Her tutorials have step-by-step instructions and pictures for every step. So helpful.

I followed Dana's Simple Skirt Tutorial and added a ruffle to the bottom of this skirt. The skirt fabric was leftover from the shirt embellishment project I showed in this post.

It doesn't take much fabric at all and it's very easy to make! I made some summer skirts for Avery that I'll show you soon.

If you don't have a sewing machine and have been thinking about getting one (ahem, Janelle!), you really should take the plunge and do it! I've had my machine for less than 2 years and I've had so much fun creating with it!

 

How Does Your Garden Grow?

In the past, I have always been kinda terrified of designing my flower beds and trying new things in the garden. Not sure why. I think I'm just afraid I'll mess it up and then all the neighbors will roll their eyes and wonder what I was thinking!

People tell me all the time that they are afraid to decorate rooms in their homes. They are afraid to put nail holes in their walls. Or they are so overwhelmed, they don't know where to start.

Well, now I totally understand that feeling!

But today, I decided enough was enough! I'm just going to start digging, and planting, and trying new stuff!

I used to have a big garden at our previous house and really miss growing veggies. So I decided I'd like to make a small plot this year. After waiting for the husband to dig it out for me and with rain in the forecast, today I decided to just do it myself.

This morning while baby was taking a nap (it feels like she sleeps 90% of the day!), Avery, Jack, and I got out the shovels and rakes and buckets and went to work.

This is my worm-obsessed little girl who was having so much fun looking for creepy-crawlies.

We dug out a little area of grass where I'll plant the garden. Don't let this picture fool you - I did most of the digging!

Looking for worms...

I'm looking forward to working outside this year and really overcoming my fear of messing it up! So thankful for the sunshine and semi-warm weather today! Summer - I am ready for you!!

What are you planting in your garden this year?

What I Wore Wednesday

Here is my "What I Wore Wednesday" post for the week, linking up to the Pleated Poppy...

Thanks so much for all your encouraging comments about my *thrift store* clothes! I really am flattered when someone says they like my style - because I feel like I don't know what I'm doing most days! I like to mix and match and try different things together that weren't necessarily meant to go together.

Thursday:

Black tank: Target

White crocheted top: Goodwill (Old Navy) - I love unique pieces like this!

Purple cardi: Goodwill (New York & Co)

Jeans: Goodwill (Ann Taylor Loft)

Shoes: Walmart

Saturday:

Black longsleeve top: Target

Jacket: Plato's Closet consignment (Forever 21)

Jeans: Goodwill (Ann Taylor Loft)

Shoes: Ross

Sunday:

Purple tank with shell embellishment: Goodwill (new from Target)

Lavender cardi: Ann Taylor Loft

Skirt: Goodwill (new from Target)

Shoes: Goodwill

Belt: Goodwill

Monday:

Striped top: Goodwill (Kenneth Cole)

Yellow top: Goodwill (Target)

Pants: Target

Shoes: Ross

 

Tuesday:

White tunic: Ross

Jeans: Goodwill (Ann Taylor Loft)

Shoes: Goodwill

Belt: I tied a scarf around my waist