Ella Tunic & Matching Bottoms

I saw an adorable tunic on a popular big name store's website last year and fell in love...until I saw the price.  I'm sure it was conservative compared to other boutique tops, but not for this Thrifty Thelma.  Whenever I see something cute that's beyond my budget, I've just GOT to MAKE it!!

So, I got my notebook, my measuring tape, and my scissors and made my own pattern similar to the design I saw online but with my own sassy flare. ;) Problem was...I only had a pattern size to fit Baby G at the time and I had no idea how and where and by how much to make it any bigger so that I could offer it as an OBBK outfit.   Until I found an adaptable pattern on Etsy!  Don't you just LOVE Etsy??!!  I get the best pattern downloads there!

Now I can FINALLY offer my favorite tunic and matching bottoms to you!

Here's what you need to know...

The fabrics on the left directly coordinate with the ones in Baby G's original outfit.  

The turquoise will be used in place of the teal.  

The multi-color will be in place of the birds. 

The pink will be used in place of the, well, pink.  ;)
The slit in the collar of the tunic will not be there.  I'm taking it out because it was showing a little too much cleavage.  Haha!

If you'd like one, you have until March 15, 2014 to order.

Sizes are available in 3m to 8y.  

3m -3t are $45 each

4t - 8y are $55 each

Comment below or email me directly to order.  

Chevron Quilt

A few months ago, I had all these adorable flannel receiving blankets from Baby G's swaddling days that I didn't want to get rid of, mainly because of their cuteness factor.  But I had no idea what I wanted to do with them...until I saw a fabulous chevron quilt on Etsy!  Then my wheels began a'turnin...

So, I got out a notebook and pencil and sketched out my design and coded all the fabrics so that I knew exactly what fabric went where.  

Then I cut those cute little blankets into 5" blocks, cut them in half diagonally, and arranged them in the order I needed to sew them. 

Since I took my sweet time and only worked on it on lazy Sunday afternoons (hey, talent-building is considered a wholesome Sunday activity, right??) it took me a few months to get the top layer done.

After I sewed all the blocks into strips and the strips into the top layer, I laid out my backing fabric, then two layers of quilt batting, then the top quilt layer and cut everything to size.  (One reason I'm not big fan of quilts is that they're always so thin.  I like a big, snugly, chunky blanket...hence the two layers of quilt batting.)
So, next I pinned it and sewed up the edges to keep it all in place.

 Then I ditch-stitched chevron seams, slapped on a satin blanket binding, and that baby was DONE!

 Really, the last few steps, after putting all the blocks together, only took me a few hours (days, considering this was done in my spare time).

So, now Baby G has her own Toddler Bed Size Quilt!  :D

A neighbor friend and I are currently starting her own Upcycled Receiving Blanket Chevron Quilt for her daughter.  I'll try to make a tutorial in the process of it all then post it on here.  :D