In Bloom Fabric Collection by My Mind's Eye for Riley Blake Designs

There's nothing like a fancy dress, just because.  

                                   Just one of the many perks of having a mama that sews...

This fabric is just one of many available from the In Bloom collection by My Mind's Eye for Riley Blake Designs.  This collection is a stunning mixture of both color and monochrome designs.  It features a mixture of dots, stripes and floral bouquets in gold, pink, and black colorways.  The gold even sparkles!

Photo credit: Riley Blake Designs

As soon as I saw the fabrics, I knew my oldest needed a fancy "just because" dress.  I actually didn't involve her in the design process this time because I knew the In Bloom Botanical Sparkle in Pink was exactly what she'd pick.  Of course, when she saw her dress, it was love at first sight!

I chose the Stirling Dress by Little Lizard King and sewed the bodice overlay option with keyhole back.  The back is my favorite part!  

The directions also do a great job helping you customize the sizing to achieve the perfect fit.  My pint-sized 9.75 year old wears a mixture of 4 chest, 2 waist and a 7/8 height.  Once you blend it all together though, you get a perfectly customized fit!  My daughter said she felt like a princess!

I love how the fabric looks in this dress.  While the fabric is perfect for quilts, it is amazing for clothing as well!  The possibilities are endless really.  The quality is top-notch -- very soft, minimal shrinkage in pre-wash and sews/irons perfectly.

I chose the everyday skirt version and even a "slow-motion" twirl has great volume.

Thank you Riley Blake Designs for the lovely package of fabric 💗  My daughters always love when Riley Blake mail comes! 

Gretel Fabric Collection by Amy Smart for Penny Rose Fabrics

While it's turned blustery cold (for most), I am planning for Summer.  It's my favorite!  I started with three pieces for my youngest using the Gretel fabric collection by Amy Smart for Penny Rose Fabrics.  It's a fun, cheerful collection in hues of primary colors.  Daisies and hearts can be seen throughout the collection. 

I chose a mixture of colors -- Gretel Wreath Navy, Gretel Heart Yellow, Gretel Daisy Denim, and Gretel Gingham Red.  Once my fabrics came in, I had my daughter decide what she wanted me to make.  In just a couple weeks, she turns 8 so her input is a must! 

The first pattern she chose was her very own Sorrento by Little Lizard King.  I've made her older sister 2 already and she really wanted her own.  It's such a sweet summer dress and a quick sew. 

This time, I had to try out the circle skirt and it also gave me a chance to add a pop of the red at the hem using Gretel Gingham Red.

This is her 8 year old "look"  hahaha   -- so grown up and posh.

For her second outfit, she requested shorts and a button-down tank top.  For the shorts, I sewed the Monaco Shorts by New Horizons Designs.  I love, love, love this pattern.  They are lined with the Gretel Daisy Denim  -- 1/4 yd was just enough to cut all my lining pieces! 

For the top, I modified the Monterey Romper by Little Lizard King.  She wanted something that buttoned all the way down, but she also wanted it to be able to be cinched.  Instead of adding the shorts, I stopped the side seams 2" from the bottom.  Then I simply turned up the hem 1/4" and then an additional 3/4" to make a casing.  I used the Gretel Heart Yellow to make a tie and used a plastic spring stopper to secure it on one side.  She can also wear it uncinched!

The Pout-Pout Fish Fabric Collection for Riley Blake Designs -PLUS- Free Printable Fish Bowl Pocket PDF Pattern

I am super excited to share the Pout-Pout Fish Fabric Collection now at Riley Blake Designs!!  Not only does my youngest daughter love fish, but as a Pre-K teacher, I love the Pout-Pout books!  This collection is SO super cute!  The collection comes in 3 colorways - white, aqua and blue - and also has a panel option, soft alphabet book (that I almost requested to sew for my classroom) and a quilt kit!

When my daughter and I browsed the fabrics on Riley Blake Designs' website, she fell in love with the Pout-Pout Fish Main print in Blue.  Without wanting to go full-blown costume-y, we chose a pattern with a curved bodice to give a nod to Pout-Pout's infamous frown.  Then, half jokingly, I told my daughter we should add a plastic pocket over Pout-Pout like he's in a fish bowl.

Well.... of course, she never forgot my suggestion (because kids never do).  She asked daily if I had her Pout-Pout dress done and if I had made a fish bowl pocket for him.

Ummm, I was sort of joking!  HA!!  So off to Walmart we went to look for plastic vinyl.  Then I got to work!  It was so super easy, I just had to share it will all of you.

1. Download the FREE pattern by clicking the button below.  Save it to your computer and then open it using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.  Print it out at 100% scaling.  Verify that the 1" square is accurate.
2. Cut out 1 pocket from clear mid-weight plastic vinyl.  
3. Cut a 5.5" strip of narrow double fold bias tape.  (or make you own - cut 1" tall for a finished height of 1/4" --- cut on the BIAS!!!)
4. Unfold the bias tape and fold each end under by 1/4". Keep unfolded except for the ends.
5. With the end folded under, place the right side of the bias against the top edge of the back side of the pocket.  Sew along the first crease. 
6. Refold the bias tape and bring it up and over the front.  Using wonder clips (not pins), hold in place and topstitch 1/8" from bottom edge of your bias tape. The top of your pocket is now enclosed.
7. Place pocket on skirt where desired.   (Do not use pins to hold in place).  Sew along the length of the pocket along the outer edge. To get the rounded fish bowl effect, do not sew it on flat.  Instead, place the top edges a bit closer together..  Be sure to backstitch a few times at the beginning and the end so your pocket stays secure.

The dress pattern I used is Bristol by Little Lizard King.  I made it sleeveless because that's what she loves!  For the bodice, I used the Pout-Pout Fish Swirls in Aqua and lined it with Pout-Pout Fish Swirls in White.  I also used the white as the rim of my fish bowl pocket (the bias tape in the tutorial above).

I also used some of the Pout-Pout Fish Swirls in White for some piggy-tail bows.  Sweet Red Poppy just came out with this super easy pattern, including cut files for the Cricut Maker!! The Sailor Bow Pattern comes in 4 sizes.  This is the mini size.   Grab the Sailor bow pattern here!

Thank you Riley Blake Designs for the cute fabric!!  It really sparked my creative juices.

Pinewood Acres by Penny Rose Fabrics

Penny Rose Fabrics has just released a new line called Pinewood Acres and it's full of all things outdoorsy and rustic.  Now, I know what you're thinking.... I'm neither rustic nor outdoorsy, but then I saw these cute deer antlers and thought they were so cute and could be transformed into a chic little winter dress.  I chose Pinewood Acres Antlers in Cream.

While I had visions in my head of heading to a Christmas tree farm for pictures, our weather turned quite chilly for our Southern blood (...lol) so we headed for the most outdoorsy, indoor place I could think of...


Y'all, we headed to Bass Pro Shop.  They have a gorgeous lobby that they decorate for Christmas. 

I sewed Napoli by Little Lizard King.  It's a classic babydoll bodice, fully functioning buttons (so she can do it all by herself!) and a vintage length, which really suits her.    The cotton woven helps keep the shape of the silhouette (as opposed to my rayon version here).

The repeat of the pattern made it easy to match across the placket (which makes my heart happy!).  I know some people shy away from buttonholes, but I just have to give a little shoutout to my Singer Quantum Stylist.  I created 7 perfect buttonholes in about 4 minutes time!

I couldn't resist adding pockets.  These were self-drafted (quite literally just eye-balled it...lol). I added them last minute, but I'm so glad I did!  I wish I'd had the foresight of pockets because I would have ordered Pinewood Acres Grain in Brown.  Instead, I grabbed some brown quilting cotton  (for structure) and dark brown micro-suede and then added some cream lace. 

I hope you've been inspired to step outside of your comfort zone! Thank you Penny Rose Fabrics and Riley Blake Designs for the fabric!!  My girls always wonder who the next package of happy mail is for!!

{EasyPress 2 by Cricut} A Crafter's Must-Have

*** This post contains affiliate links.  Product shown in post was sent to me for free in exchange for posting.  All thoughts are mine!! ***

10 Reasons Why the EasyPress 2 Should be at the Top of Your  Wish List

Jumbo on left, mini on right

#1  It's extremely user friendly!

• Cricut has done the best job of taking the guesswork out of crafting!  There is no guessing as to whether you are using the right temperature or pressing for the correct amount of time.  With only a few buttons to set the temperature and time, there's no learning curve.

Be sure to bookmark their INTERACTIVE PRESSING GUIDE and with a few bits of information you input, a step-by-step guide with appear, complete with pressing temperature and time.  

• Cricut also sends you a sample project for you to practice with before you use the EasyPress 2 on your own materials.  

Here is the finished Sample Project!

#2 It's transportable!

• Craft night with the girls?  Headed on vacation but want to do some iron-on in your downtime?  The EasyPress 2 is lightweight and transports easily.  Remember the sample project?  It doubles as a carrying case!!

It fits perfectly inside -- including the base!!

I had a "pressing" party with a co-worker of mine when we made t-shirts for the staff for a "Pink Out" Day for breast cancer.  She has a heat press, but was way too bulky to bring to school.  I packed up both my mini EasyPress2 and my large EasyPress 2 and we each had one to use!

#3 It's fast!!

• It heats up quickly, with the mini heating up to the maximum temperature in under 60 seconds.  The largest heats up to the maximum temperature in under 3 minutes which is a fraction of the time it takes a heat press to heat up.  

#4 It has an even heating plate.

• Ordinary irons aren't always even temperatures and of course, has steam holes throughout the base.  The EasyPress 2 has a ceramic-coated surface and two heating elements for edge-to-edge heat. Also, there's no chance of accidentally leaving the steam on. 

#5 It has a built-in timer.

• With the push of a button, you can have the EasyPress 2 count for you.  I can't tell you how many times that I'd be counting in my head with my regular iron and I'd probably only press for a fraction of the time I actually needed to.   With my EP2, I press Start and don't have to worry about it!

#6 It stores easily.

• I can't be the only crafter out there without a dedicated sewing/crafting room.  In fact, my crafting corner is literally 3 feet from my bed.  Space is limited so my items need to be able to fit on my shelf by my sewing desk.

#7 You can literally craft anywhere (where there's a plug, of course 😉)

• With the EasyPress 2 base to protect your surface, you can craft where you can!  For my blog posts, I can take pictures easier if I craft on the floor (because I'm super short...lol).  I've successfully used my EasyPress 2 on the wood floor without issue!  (Make sure the kids aren't around if you have it on the floor).  

The base has been improved from the original Easy Press to keep your surface 60% cooler.  Here's a side by side view of both bases.

Base comparison: Left is Original EasyPress, Right is EasyPress 2.  Notice how much higher the new one sits off the ground!

Side by side comparison (top view) Left is Original Easy Press, Right is EasyPress 2.  Notice the holes are much smaller on the new design.

#8 You get to pick your size!

• Bigger isn't always better if you iron-on to small items!  If you specialize in small items, pick the mini!!  It fits perfectly between the seams of a baby shirt and is SO cute in real life.  The plate is 6x7.  I used the mini for these cute animal purses.  Retails: $139.00 ON SALE TODAY $99.00
• The medium is perfect for most projects, including bags and kids shirts.  It's the same size as the original Easy Press, 9x9. Retails: $189.00 ON SALE TODAY $149.00
• The largest size is 12x10 and is for big projects.  My friend made an amazing bedskirt for her daughter using the largest!  Retails $249.00 ON SALE TODAY $199.00

Cricut.com is offering Free Economy Shipping on orders $49+. Use code FREESHIP49

#9 More temperatures, more possibilites!

• The Original EasyPress heats to just 350F while the EasyPress 2 heats to 400F. It also supports a bigger range of materials!  

#10 It's update-able!!

• Nothing is more frustrating than to buy something only to have a newer item release shortly after with updated firmware.  Cricut has included a mini USB port to be able to update the firmware on the EasyPress 2!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

Wild Bouquet Collection by Citrus & Mint for Riley Blake Designs

Y'all, it's here... it's finally boot season here in NC.  After months of 90+ degree weather, we are just starting to feel some cool weather.  I couldn't have timed this post any better as Fall literally arrived this past weekend.  While I love sewing for any season, Fall always brings an oxymoron of  rich, yet muted colors; colors of harvest and of course, boots!  Boots and dresses are my favorite combo for my two daughters.

I was thrilled when I was invited to showcase Wild Bouquet by Citrus & Mint for Riley Blake Designs.  The fabrics are so pretty and are filled with gorgeous Fall-inspired florals.  The color palette is merlot, navy, mustard and green.  There are also coordinates of pink, cream and pastel blue. 

Fat quarter bundle image as seen on Riley Blake Designs

My eyes were drawn to the Wild Bouquet Vases (Mustard) and decided to pair it with Wild Bouquet Wildflowers (Green).  I stepped a bit outside my comfort zone for this pairing, but I am so glad I did.  I had a pattern in mind when I picked these and it turned out just like it did in my head!  (The sewing was faster in my head though...lol)

I knew the Wimberley Dress by Little Lizard King was the perfect pattern to showcase these beauties.  This is the third one I've sewn (a sure sign I love the pattern!) and I went with most of the bells and whistles the pattern offers.  I haven't even sewn the extra twirly version so I knew I had to try it out.  I loved the smaller scale of the wildflower print for this twirly skirt.  None of the details of the print are lost.  P.S. With 17 feet of ruffle to hem and gather, I really spent some time admiring the print!

The sash is optional, but I love the pop of color the mustard brings here.  

  I used some scraps for a coordinating headband.  This picture also shows the print of the Wild Bouquet Vases (mustard).

Of course, Miss 7 had to test the twirlability!! She twirled herself silly!  Luckily I had the hindsight to sew up some New Haven Shorts by Little Lizard King.  Not only are they practical, but the cuffed legs are cute to boot!!

Be sure to head to Riley Blake Designs to view the entire collection.  Come back and comment with what fabrics catch your eye.  Bonus points if you have a pattern in mind too for them.