Fall is in the air

Tropical storm Lee came through and brought some much needed rain as well as the most amazing temperatures. We have had highs in the mid 60's to 70's this week. Absolutely wonderful! Makes me want to get out all my fall clothes, boots, cardigans, sweaters.

(all photos from Pinterest- checkout my boards!)

One of my goals is to lose enough weight by Christmas so I can get a rockin pair of boots like the ones above. See... right now my calves are too large for boots. I have a pair of dressy ones but they are really really snug.

Shoes!!!!

My new spring shoes. Megan from Whatever bought these and I thought they were so cute. They were from Payless.

I fell in love with these at Stein Mart. I kept going back to them. The rosettes owned me.

I got these at the thrift store for $1! I probably would have never chosen them in the store but they are so cute on.

My preppy Chaps lovin self came out in these loafers from Payless. So cute. I got them dirty at the ballpark last night.

Ruffle pants and Turtle shirt

I made an outfit for my great-niece and great- nephew. For Emma I made ruffle pants. I then cut out a flower shape of each out of the materials I used for the pants and made a flower for the top. I also added ric-rac to the neck.

For Gabe I made some cordoroy pants. I then cut the turtle out of the cordoroy and then used a piece of yellow cordoroy fabric to make the shell.

I am linking to Funky Junk's Saturday Night Special.

WFMW_Frugal Fashions

For today's Works For Me Wednesday I am sharing how being on clothing store mailing lists helps you find bargains. Lane Bryant sent out a pamphlet and it had a coupon for $15 off any $15 item. I was able to buy the two shirts above for $3.22 with tax. Even if you do not wear plus size clothing you can register to be on the mailing lists of stores like this. They usually send out a coupon like this twice a year. They had dress socks for $7.99 and jewelry. I found the shirts on the clearance rack. The white blouse was reduced to $20 and had an additional 40% off- making it $12.00. The green t-shirt was marked down to $9.99 with an additional 40% off- making it $6.00. I then used the $15 coupon. Wow, $3.22 for two tops! Check out more WFMW posts on Kristen's blog.

Patchwork scarf made from pillow sham

I had two pillow shams that were in our camper. Since we sold the camper I didn't need the pillow shams anymore. I also picked up a white knubby baby blanket at a garage sale. I used these to make this scarf. All I had to do was cut the pillow sham in 5" strips. I sewed three of the strips together to get the length scarf that I wanted. It was a quilted sham so the scarf is quilted and will be very warm.

I cut the white knubby blanket in strips and sewed it to the quilted piece so it will be reversible.

I love it! All shabby chic and sweet looking.

Below is the quilt that I bought for $1.00.

This is one of the shams that I bought for $7 on the clearance rack at Marshalls. To see them in the camper go here.

A Walk Down Memory Lane

We pulled a Rubbermaid box down from the attic to sort through it. It contained old clothing items that I have made over the years. It was like walking in the past seeing them again and smelling them. I made the above for Caitlyn's 50's birthday party. She had a black cardigan with a monogrammed "C" on it.

This is my first cheer leading uniform. I was 8 when I wore it. Both my girls played in it when they were near that age.

I have wondered where this is. It is a sheet that I have traced the kids hands on each year on their birthday. I put the date and name of the child. I planned to embroidery each one in bright colors and use it each birthday. We have missed many years but still have a lot from the first few years. I think we will start this back up and just keep adding to it. Maybe one day it will have grand kids on it.

If you look closely you will see the pencil drawing of their hands waiting to be embroidered.

Cameron's first Easter romper. I did a shadow embroidery collar for it.
Blurry, sorry. This was Caitlyn's dress and Ashley had a matching dress that was even more blurrier. Ashley's dress was geometric smocking, not the "ABC" pattern.
I made these two on commission from a friend. She paid me, in other words. She chose the fabric and told me to smock what I wanted on them. Then, she handed them down to another friend. Then, that friend handed them down to me for Caitlyn to wear.


Caitlyn's Christmas dress. I made a matching dress for her American Girl doll.

Ashley's Easter dress when she was about 6 or 7.

Caitlyn's dress. Birdhouses were very popular that year.

Caitlyn's Easter dress.

Two bishops. The pink does not have the neck binding yet.

Three bishops. Two need neck bindings and to be hemmed. I have 9 bishops that I was in the process of making to sell that are either complete or almost complete. I decided not to try to do a business when I got pregnant again. I had a 3 year old and a 21 month old, so it was all put aside.

Cameron's Christmas outfit when he was 11 months old in 1994. Hence the style- 90's. I know, but it really was in style then.

Ashley's Easter dress when she was around 4 or 5. I butted each of those narrow lace strips together and you zig zag them together with a tiny stitch. Never again! I actually called the pattern writer in Birmingham to ask a question because the pattern wasn't clear. Her name was on the pattern so I called information to find her number and got her HOME phone number. I could be a detective. I bet she hated me, but I had gone to buy the material and lace and it ended up costing $75- back in 1994/1995. My husband was already hyperventilating, so I had to make the dress after that, I could not let it defeat me.

I made this for Caitlyn for beach photos. Ashley had a matching dress but in a different style.

The front is has embroidery. You can barely see my custom tags that say "Heirlooms by Holly"

Ashley's 4th birthday dress. It had a wide sash. I did shadow embroidery on the collar.

Caitlyn's Easter dress. I made a matching dress for Kit, the American Girl doll that she had.

Some unfinished smocked socks.

A baby pillow with shadow embroidery on the edge.

Unfinished purses for little girls.

Smocked inserts for little boy rompers.

Baby bonnets.