18
Jan

Little Girls Valentine’s Day Dress Tutorial

My daughter Savannah had this super-cute Valentine’s Day shirt last year that I bought from BabyGap:

I love this shirt!  It’s just so perfect for Valentine’s Day, but that sad thing is that she only really wore it for a couple weeks last year. She went through a major growth spurt and it seemed like overnight the shirt was too short – total bummer!!  Do you find that happens a lot – the shirts don’t get too tight, they just get too short?  That always seems to be our problem around The Cottage Home.

In thinking about what I wanted my little miss to wear for this Valentine’s Day, I kept thinking about that shirt from last year, but it was 12-18 month and she is now in 2T.  Well, I am certainly not interested in buying her anything new this year because I am really trying to make do with what we already have (not to mention, she will probably hit another growth spurt :-).  So I got an idea!!!  I’ll turn this cutie little shirt from last year into a dress for this year!

Little Girls Valentine’s Day Dress Tutorial
Supplies:
1 shirt (a size too small)
Fabric for skirt (four fat quarters or four squares (10″x10″)
Fabric for Ruffle (two 2″x44″ strips sewn together)
Fabric for Waistband – (one 5″x44″ strip of fabric)
Ribbon – 44″ long
Sewing Machine
Scissors
Thread
Serger (not necessary, but nice if you have one)
Directions:
Start out with a child’s size shirt (preferably one size too small)
For the bottom of the dress, I used four fat quarters, but you could also cut four squares (10″x10″)
Cut the fabric for the waistband.  I just used the width of my ruler (to make this easy).  The fabric should be about 5″x44″.
Cut your ribbon (44″ long) that you will be attaching to your waistband.
Cut the strips for the ruffle that will go at the bottom of the dress.  These strips should be 2″x44″ – you will need to cut two and sew them together.  You will end up with a LONG strip that is 2″x88″ long.
Now that you have all of your pieces cut – press all of them so they will be nice and easy to work with.  I have to admit…..ironing may be one of my favorite parts of sewing…….but more about that another time.
Fold your waistband fabric in half (right sides together).
Now sew or serge your waistband fabric – 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Turn your waistband right-side out.
Once turned right-side out press the waistband with the seam running down the middle.
Fold a corner of the waistband under to make the edges look nice.
Pin your ribbon down the center of the waistband and fold the end of the ribbon inside the waistband.
Stitch both ends closed – 1/4 inch seam allowance.  Then stitch down each side of the ribbon (as close to the edge as possible to secure in place.
Now for the fabric ruffle.  Serge the edges of the fabric with a rolled-edge or 3-thread over-lock stitch.  If you don’t have a serger, do a tight zig-zag stitch on your sewing machine to finish the edge.  Remember you sewed two strips together before you even began so that you have a 2″x88″ strip.
Now do a gathering stitch straight down the center of your ruffle strip.  To do this, set your sewing machine on the longest stitch possible.  Start your stitching and DO NOT back-stitch at the beginning or the end (otherwise you won’t be able to gather your fabric).
This is what it will look like after you run your gathering stitch.
Gather your ruffle by pulling on one of the loose threads.  Gather up the fabric until it fits the length of the bottom of the skirt.  Just play with it, until you feel like it looks right.
Start to pin your ruffle and again, just play with the gather until it fits the length of the skirt.
Pin your entire ruffle in place along the bottom of the skirt.
Stitch your ruffle in place by sewing down the center of the ruffle.
Now that your ruffle is sewn in place, place the right sides of your fabric together and stitch the skirt closed (1/2 seam allowance).
Press your skirt seams open.  Then run another gathering stitch across the top of the skirt.
Gather the top of the skirt until it is the same width as the bottom of the shirt.
Pin the top of the skirt to the bottom of the shirt – right sides together.  Stitch in place (1/2 inch seam allowance).
Then press the seam between the shirt and the skirt and top-stitch.  Top-stitching is just another added layer of stitching near the top of a seam to increase durability and flatten the seam.  I love top-stitching – especially when it comes to toddler clothes!!
Here’s what your dress will look like after top-stitching.  You can call it quits here, but I wanted to add some more girly-ness!
Now it’s time to add the waistband.  We are only going to stitch down the front part – we will leave the back part open.  Pin your waistband in place (in between the skirt and shirt).
Stitch down both sides (as close to the edge as possible).  Then press for added crispness.
Ta Da!!  Here is your repurposed Valentine’s Day shirt turned into a cutie little Valentine’s Day dress.  I love how it turned out – so girly and cute!  My model was not available (she is in bed right now), so my 2-year old mannequin will have to do (she is VERY cooperative).
Here’s what the back looks like – you can do a knot or a bow – either works!
Ruffle Detail
Finished Valentine’s Day Dress
Cottage Mama’s Note:  This is a great way to re-use any shirt that may have gotten too short for your kiddo.  You can add a little fabric and just lengthen the shirt or add more and make it into a dress.  Also consider using other store-bought trims if you don’t feel like making the bottom ruffle.
16
Jan

Mary Jane’s Farm Magazine

Have you heard of Mary Jane’s Farm magazine?  Well, I had never heard of this lovely publication until a few weeks ago.  Maybe I am just out of the loop and all of you have been reading and subscribing to this magazine for years, but where has this been my whole life?  It is wonderful!

My mother-in-law gave me a fantastic gift for Christmas; tons of magazines!!  These weren’t just any magazines, these were magazines I had never heard of or never read (due to the fact that they were a little out of my regular budget), but they were all covering topics that she knew I was interested in – thank you Gigi!!

Mary Jane’s Farm magazine is a mix of everything I love all in one publication; cooking, home and garden, women’s topics, organic living, life with children, and this list goes on.  So if you are like me, and hadn’t heard of this magazine, I highly suggest you check it out.  Click here to find out more information about Mary Jane’s Farm magazine.

13
Jan

Little Girls Kitchen Apron Tutorial

My daughter, Savannah Rose, received a darling little kitchen for Christmas this year from her Gigi and Grumpy (my husbands parents).  But what kitchen would be complete without a cute little apron to wear while you are cooking?  I decided I had to make my little lady an apron to match her new favorite toy.  Here is the “how to” for my version of a Little Girls Apron:

Little Girl’s Apron Tutorial
Supplies:
Fabric
-1/4 yard for main apron (or two fat-quarters would work)
-1/4 yard of contrasting colors for flower detail
-1/6 yard for sash
Rotary Cutter, Ruler and Mat
Serger (not a must, but nice if you have one)
Sewing Machine
Thread
Straight Pins
Iron
Directions:
Cut one yard of fabric in half.
Then cut that half yard in half – thus giving yourself 1/4 of a yard.
Place right sides together.
Serge (or sew) three of the sides together – 1/2 inch seam allowance.

Once you have sewn on three sides, turn main apron right-side out and press.

Now it’s time to cut the sash.  I just used the width of my cutting ruler to make it easy.

Now lay the right side of the sash and the right side of the apron together.  Sew – 1/2 inch seam allowance across the top of the apron.

Now, use your iron and press a 1/2 inch fold on both sides of the sash.

Fold over and stitch the sash together (1/4 inch seam allowance).  This will catch the front and the back of the sash over the main apron.

Finish the edges of the sash by either serging or using a zig-zag stitch on your sewing machine.

Here is the main apron with the attached sash.  Now it’s time for the fun part!!

Cut 2 strips of fabric (1 of each fabric) about 2 inches wide. Then cut each strip in half, giving you 4 strips of fabric (2 of each fabric).

Press your 4 strips of fabric.  Then finish the edges of the fabric by either serging or zig-zag stitch around the entire perimeter.

Here are your completed, serged strips of fabric.

Now to gather your fabric to make your flower design, set you sewing machine on its basic straight stitch, but make it as long as possible.  Do not back-stitch at the beginning or the end.  Stitch the entire length of the fabric strip down the middle and then pull one end of the thread to gather.

Now this is where you get creative.  Place your gathered strips of fabric in any formation you choose.  I chose to do a flower, but you could just do straight ruffles – whatever you like.  Pin your design in place and stitch down the center of each strip (this time make sure you back-stitch) to hold your design in place.

And there you have it – a cutie little apron for your little lady.  That’s my little Savannah on the phone (for some reason she keeps calling Santa – I think she wants him to come back….”Hello, Santa?…..where are you?”)

12
Jan

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe – YUM!

Yesterday my daughter Savannah and I were playing with her Melissa and Doug wooden cookie set in her new play kitchen.  The Cottage Grandma (my Mom) sent her this adorable set  – have you seen it?  It is so much fun – it comes with a cookie sheet, cookies, toppings for the cookies, a play knife, a play spatula, and long cookie tin (think slice and bake) – all made out of wood!  The cookies have velcro on both sides, so you can velcro on your topping, velcro it onto the cookie sheet, or put all the cookies together and practice your slicing.  So much fun!!

So why am I telling you all this?  Well as we were playing “cookies”, I remembered how much fun we had baking Christmas cookies (remember that post).  I asked her if she would like to make real cookies and she said, “yes, yes, yes!!” and so we did.  We made real chocolate chip cookies and boy were they good.  So here is my favorite recipe for chocolate chip cookies straight from the Barefoot Contessa herself (Ina Garten) out of her “Parties” cookbook!

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes about 30 cookies
Ingredients:
1/2 pound butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 extra-large eggs at room temperature
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1.5 cups chopped walnuts
1.25 pounds semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Add the vanilla, then the eggs, one at a time, and mix well.  Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt and add to the butter with the mixer on a low speed, mixing only until combined.  Fold in the walnuts and chocolate chips.

Drop the dough on a baking sheet line with parchment paper (I use a regular spoon for this).  Bake for exactly 15 minutes (the cookies will seem underdone).  Remove from oven and let cool slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.  Enjoy!

Cottage Mama’s Note:  The Barefoot Contessa actually uses chocolate chunks – personally I prefer chocolate chips.  If you don’t have a fancy electric mixer, just use a hand mixer – no problem!!
12
Jan

Oh So Girly

Michelle over at Someday Crafts had a wonderful post about the shop “Oh So Girly” and I really think you must head over to her shop and check it out.  “Oh So Girly” sells adorable bows and hair-clips, watch faces with beautiful braclets, diaper keeps and crayon rolls for AMAZINGLY low prices – not to mention low shipping costs.

If you are looking to purchase something for an upcoming baby shower, a diaper keeper would be a wonderful gift and at only $5.00 – you can’t really beat it!  Here are some pictures of some other items for sale from “Oh So Girly”:

Brown & Pink Bow – $1.00
Pink Hair Clip Set – $1.00
Diaper Keeper – $5.00
  Crayon Roll – $8.00
Interchangeable Watch Face with Beaded Band – $12.00
Cottage Mama’s Note: Michelle at Someday Crafts is doing a giveaway for “Oh So Girly” so if you would like the chance to win some goodies, head over to Michelle’s blog and check it out!!
11
Jan

Big Girl Room – Freshcut by Heather Bailey

I realized that I never really posted much about the little girls room that I designed for my daughter, Savannah Rose.  When we found out we were having another girl (sweet Matilda Jane), we decided that Matilda would get the nursery and Savannah would get a new “big girl room” (though she wasn’t too much of a big girl only being 16-months at the time).  So I thought I would share some more pictures with you of the things that I made for her room.

All of the fabric used (besides the polka-dot quilt backing) is Heather Bailey’s Freshcut.  These are all my own original designs (though I did use some clip-art templates for my fabric artwork), so if there is anything you would like a tutorial on, I would be happy to share my “how-to” with you as well – just leave me a comment!

Art Work, Quilt, Applique “S” pillow, and Floor Pillow
Quilt – Twin Size

Applique “S” Pillow, Fun Small Pillow with Yo-Yo accent
Fabric Coved Lamp Shade with Fabric Yo-Yo Accent

Close-up of Lamp Shade

Elephant Fabric Art Work – Fabric Covered Photo Mat

Little Chick Art Work – Fabric Covered Photo Mat

Lion and Whale Fabric Art Work – Fabric Covered Photo Mat

Twin Size Quilt on Crib

Rocking Chair with “S” Applique Pillow

Floor Pillow

Window Valence

Cottage Mama’s Note: I used clip-art templates from Martha Stewart’s website.  I enlarged them to my desired sized and broke them down into separate pieces to create my fabric artwork.  Click here to find the templates.  Again, if you would like any instruction or tips on how to make these items, please don’t hesitate to leave me a comment!
11
Jan

Baptism Gift Tutorial

Yesterday we celebrated my good friend Lara’s son, Luca’s, baptism into the Catholic Church.  It was a beautiful celebration with good food and great friends and family.

I wanted to make little Luca something for his special day.  I thought about making some clothing or stuffed animal, but I really wanted it to be a baptism gift.  I decided to make him a little baptism plaque that could be displayed on a shelf in his room with a sweet bible verse.  I used Ephisians 4:5 – One Lord, one faith, one baptism.  I also tried my best to match his current room decor which is dark brown and green.

If you are looking for a baptism gift for a little one in your life, give this little plaque a try.  You can incorporate any bible verse or blessing you like and it will be a gift they can look back on for many years to come!

Baptism Gift Tutorial
Supplies:
1 wooden plaque (any size or shape)
1 bottle acrylic paint
1 paint brush
Scrapbooking paper
Mod Podge
1 sponge paint brush
Scissors
Start with a blank wooden plaque.  You can buy these at Joann’s, Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, ect.  They come in all shapes and sizes – pick one that you feel comfortable decorating.
Next you are going to paint your unfinished wooden plaque.  Pick a color of acrylic paint that will compliment the decorative papers you have chosen to use.  In this case, I chose a cream color.
Paint your wooden plaque.  I like to use a piece of wax paper underneath, so that it does not bleed through onto any other surfaces and is very easy to remove once dry.  Make sure you paint the entire front and sides and use even brush strokes.
Once you have finished painting your plaque, allow it to dry to about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, while your paint is drying.  Cut out your decorative papers.  You can cut them out yourself or you can buy pre-made cut-outs at your local scrapbooking store.  I have a handy Cricut cutting machine that helped me cut these shapes out.  Click here for more information on the Cricut cutting machines. 
Once your papers are cut out and your plaque is dry, Mod Podge your papers onto the plaque.  Follow the instructions on your Mod Podge bottle to complete this step.  Mod Podge makes layering paper really fun so play with your layout prior to using your Mod Podge.  Then allow your plaque to dry for another 30 minutes – 1 hour.
Little Luca’s Baptism Plaque
Cottage Mama’s Note: You can use this idea for gifts other than baptism.  Perhaps you would like to show your Mom how much she means to you on Mother’s Day – print out a quote and use that on the plaque.  Or maybe you are just looking to add some decor to your child’s room – use this idea to Mod Podge words such as Princess or whatever matches your child’s decor.
10
Jan

Seams to Me – Mary Engelbreit Purse!

For my birthday this past summer I received the sewing book, Seams to Me by Anna Maria Horner.  I love this book – it is full of fresh, unique projects for the home sewer!  The book starts with some really nice basic instruction for everything from home decor, personal style and fashion, sewing for children and much, much more!

Anna’s instructions are very easy to follow, so if you are a new sewer you could easily sew from this book with no trouble at all.  The book also contains actual pattern pieces too (not just pictures) which is SO helpful.  Some sewing books these days have pictures of the patterns and ask you to blow them up by 200%-400%.  Personally, I don’t bother much with these books because then all the pattern pieces print on separate paper, you have to tape them together, and then cut them out.  I don’t know about you, but that takes WAY too much time for this busy Cottage Mama.

Here are some more pictures of a purse that I made for my mother-in-law from a pattern out of this book.  She loves Mary Engelbreit so I used her designer fabric “Recipe for Friendship”.  I was very pleased with how it turned out and I think my mother-in-law liked it too!

Completed Purse
Purse Interior with Pockets
Braided Fabric Handle
Cottage Mama’s Note:  Anna Maria Horner also has her own line of fabrics – click here to find out more about this wonderful designer!
8
Jan

Crock Pot Recipe: Jamaican Jerk Pork Chops

Yesterday afternoon I was digging through my freezer and pantry trying to figure out what to make for dinner.  My family is trying to be very budget conscious lately so I have been trying to make the most out of whatever ingredients we have on-hand rather than making another trip to the grocery store.

So, this is what I came up with – Jamaican Jerk Pork Chops.  The Cottage Mama’s Mama had made a version of this for me when she was here after I had my second daughter, Matilda.  She always makes the most delicious food when she stays here after I have a baby – reason enough to have another one (just kidding)!  Her recipe was done on the stove-top and used some pineapple, so her jerk pork chops were my inspiration for this recipe.

Crock Pot:  Jamaican Jerk Pork Chops
Ingredients:
5 pork loin chops (frozen or fresh..doesn’t matter)
1/2 cup frozen corn
1 can black beans, drained
1 cup tri-colored bell pepper strips (I used frozen, but fresh would work well too).
1/2 onion, sliced
Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
Directions:
It doesn’t get much easier than this – add all ingredients to your crock-pot, sprinkle liberally with Jamaican Jerk seasoning and cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Enjoy!
Cottage Mama’s Note:  I served this with Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice – Wholegrain Vegetable Medley (only takes 90 seconds to cook!) or it would be great with regular brown rice.  I buy tri-colored bell pepper strips in the frozen foods section of Trader Joe’s – I always have one or two bags on-hand.
7
Jan

Pantry Cooking: Asian Peanut Noodles

I’m a huge fan of pantry cooking.  I keep many things in my cabinets that can be used with or without fresh ingredients.  I think having a well-stocked pantry is essential for any home.  If you happen to have a night where you haven’t really thought about dinner or it’s the end of the week and you’ve run out of fresh ingredients, you can head to your pantry and get creative if you have the right things on hand.

One of my favorite pantry dishes is Asian Peanut Noodles.  This dish is created from ingredients you would normally have on hand and can be “dolled-up” if you happen to have some additional fresh ingredients.  This is one of my favorite dishes to make when my husband is at his brew club meetings and it’s just me alone with my huge bowl of peanut noodles – SO good!!

Asian Peanut Noodles
Ingredients:
1 lb. spaghetti
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1 glove garlic, chopped

1 teaspoon asian chili sauce (more or less depending on how spicy you like things)
Pasta cooking water

Ingredients

Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions.
In a mixing bowl add all of the rest of the ingredients.
As you pasta begins to boil, spoon in some of the pasta cooking water into the bowl with all of your other ingredients.  You will probably use about 1/2 cup total, but keep adding the water until you reach your desired consistency (see picture above).
 Asian Peanut Noodles
Drain pasta, mix with sauce and enjoy!!

Cottage Mama’s Note: If I were really going to plan on making this dish (rather than just throwing it together last minute), I would make sure to add two green onions (sliced), 1 carrot (grated), 1 cup snap peas, a handful of cilantro (chopped), and a sprinkling of sesame seeds.