Mermaid Towels & Ruffled Diaper Covers.....

I thought life was supposed to get simpler, less chaotic, and less stressful when summer vacation came around?!? Noooooo..... but that's okay. It's all good!

I've been busy...but a fun kind of busy. We've been hitting the beach a lot and loving every minute of it. I've also had a couple of purchases from my Etsy shop so that's exciting! I need to restock with some newer/different items. I have some ideas and will get working on it! Meanwhile I am grateful for the interest and the support! Thank you!

Speaking of Etsy I've been working on some mermaid towels....one was purchased before it was even put in the shop (THANK YOU my dear friend!!!) and here's another that I need to list:



I am currently working on a shorter version for our younger, smaller little mermaid-want-to-bes.

Also (not for the shop) I finished making a ruffled diaper cover for a friend that recently had a baby girl:

Excuse the wrinkle on the front!

Hopefully she'll send me an action shot so we can see the ruffles on her little toosh! :)

The diaper cover turned out pretty cute (and who doesn't love Hello Kitty?!?) I didn't have the patience to figure out the pattern on my own so I used the one on the You Can Make This website. You can find the pattern here. Good tutorial - lots of pictures and step by step instructions. The ruffles took an extra step (or two)....it was more than just gathering a few ruffles and sewing it directly onto the back of the diaper cover. However, I think the extra time it took was was well worth it. You can see the detailing of the ruffles here:

I would love to make a toddler version - shorts with a ruffle butt. Will keep you posted!

Testing a Pattern.....

Awhile back I had the opportunity to test "Natalie's Dress" a pattern designed by Dawn of Olabelhe. I really liked the design of the dress with a low back, a big beautiful bow and the option of adding crinoline to it (lacy, poofy stuff underneath) so I jumped at the chance. I made it with the crinoline and I have to admit....it wasn't hard at all. Just a bit time consuming!

Now that the pattern is available for purchase I can share the pictures with you!


Funny thing is - I did not make TWO dresses. Only one. But the dress fits both of my girls! ;)

Does the fabric look familiar? If it does it might be because it's the same fabric I used to make the crayon apron for a silent auction. Momo loves the fabric. She saw the little girl on it and said, "It's me! It's Momo!"


There definitely are some similarities! Maybe that's why I love this fabric so much myself!

The pattern is available via Olabelhe's pattern shop or You Can Make This. I give it two thumbs up!

Winner & Giveaway!

Most of you know that I'm a big fan of "You Can Make This". They recently held an "I Made This!" contest where you could submit your own photos of things you have made using patterns sold by YCMT. Well guess what? I entered four different pictures and.......

*Drum roll please........* I WON!!!!

(*Applause*Applause*Applause*Thank You!*Thank You!*)

Can you say super stoked?

So what did I win? A bundle pack of patterns worth over $100! Dress patterns, doll patterns, pillow patterns, holiday patterns, etc!

Yeah. Super-duper-stoked! So I want to share my luck with others! Not just because I won but I just realized that my one year blogging anniversary (blogiversary) has come and gone!

Can I get another "Whoo-hoo!" (Why do I write that when I don't even SAY that? Seriously?!?)

Since I won using a YCMT pattern I thought I would make something using one of their patterns to give away. How about a "Little Helper Reversible Apron" much like I made awhile ago? I had such a great response and luckily have enough of each of the fabrics to make another. Same pattern, same print. Here's a picture of it in case you missed it months ago:

It'll be hot off the machine - much like a bakery. :) I've got a ton of things to finish up this week for my daughter's birthday party so I can't even start on it till after the weekend!

Here's how you can win: Leave me a comment telling me who you would gift the apron to. Please be sure to leave your email address if it's not easily located in your Blogger profile.

That's it!

But.....if you'd like to increase your chances of winning here's what you can do: (please leave a separate comment for each:)

Extra entry #1) Become a follower of my blog. Already a follower? Just let me know!

Extra entry #2) Tweet about this giveaway. (No need to become a follower on Twitter as I've been Tweet-lazy.) You can Tweet once a day. Leave me a link to your Tweet!

You can copy and paste the following (or create your own):

Mama's a Mess is hosting a giveaway! Win a "Little Helper Reversible Apron" Enter at www.mamasamess.blogspot.com . Contest ends 2/21.

Extra entry #3) My Etsy store will be open soon (soon is a relative term, right?) so head on over there and "heart" me as one of your favorites!

Extra entry #4) Earn FIVE extra entries by blogging about this giveaway! Post about it on your blog and link back to this thread. Let me know where to find it on your blog! Be sure to comment five extra times for five extra chances to win!

Contest is open to US & Canada residents only (sorry other International friends!) One winner will be chosen at midnight E.S.T. on Sunday, February 21st via Random.org. Winner will be announced here on this blog as well as be sent an email notification. Response is required within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected.

Thanks so much for celebrating with me!

GOOD LUCK!

Edited to add: My dear Canadian friends....I have opened up the contest to you as well! :) Thanks for your support!

Reversible Little Helper Apron

It's been awhile since I've been able to post about a project I've completed. Wait. It's actually been awhile since I've posted PERIOD! Where has the time gone?

Anyways! Yesterday I made a reversible apron for one of Momo's best friend's who recently turned three. I know that she loves to help her mom with chores with laundry being one of them. Using the reversible crayon apron pattern from You Can Make This I made the apron but instead of inserting crayons into the pockets I put in clothes pins. Had I more time I would've decorated the pins like this.

The pattern was very easy to follow - so all you beginner sewers out there don't be afraid to give it a try! The hardest part I had with it was choosing my fabric! :)

Taking a great risk of Momo claiming the apron to be hers I had her model it for me so I could take some pictures:

Here it is in reverse:

I love how it all turned out!

Birthday Skirts

Happy (Belated) Birthday Kailani!

Yesterday was Kailani's 7th birthday. Where has the time gone? I acted a bit sad when I woke her up telling her I couldn't believe she was seven already. Her reply? "Don't worry mom, I won't be eight for a very long time." :)

It just so happens that one of her best friends has a birthday two days before hers. Since I have a loaner sewing machine I decided to sew her something special. When planning on what to make Kailani actually said, "Mom, I want you to make me something too." How can I say no to that? Matching skirts for two birthday BFFs it would be!

With not much time to complete a skirt I chose my pattern carefully. I opted for Olabelhe's "Kirstin Skirt" which I bought off of the You Can Make This website. I then went to the fabric store and left with fabric I had no intention of buying. It was not what I had in mind but it worked out great! The skirt turned out to be quite magical. For the overlay I used a moon and stars batik print that had flecks of gold in it and pink/purple/blue/green batik for the underskirt:

I love the construction of the waistband with the rows of elastic in the back. You can also tie the sash in front or in back.

Happy Birthday Girls! I hope you love your skirts! (Thanks for the perfect opportunity to sew something!)

ETA: Just to clarify - I did not make Momo's skirt. I am hoping to post a picture of Kailani and her BFF in their matching skirts but do not have permission yet to do so.

Wordless Wednesday: Craft Hope

Momo's, Kailani's & Craft Hope's

My "Wordless Wednesday" today is a little bit wordful. :)

Back in February I posted about "Craft Hope." In their own words this is who they are:

"Craft Hope is a faith-based, love inspired project designed to share handmade crafts with those less fortunate. It is our hope to combine our love for crafting and desire to help others into a project to make a difference around the world."

I found out about them a little too late to help out with their first project but I am happy to say that I am able to help out with their second.

For their current project they are asking for donations of handmade dolls to give to the Casa Bernabe orphanage in Mangua, Nicaragua. This orphanage houses boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 18. Many of the children have come from abusive backgrounds and almost all of them arrive at the orphanage with nothing. Donating the dolls will not only give the children something of their very own but it will also allow the children to develop the nurturing instincts that they are born with but have been deprived of themselves.

While Craft Hope provided several links to free patterns/tutorials online I decided to go with a pattern from the You Can Make This website. I was a bit undecided so I let Kailani help me choose. Together we decided on the "Doodle Girl Doll." A simple pattern that requires only a quarter yard of fabric. Plus, I liked the fact that the hair on the doll was made from fabric vs. yarn. While I think the yarn hair is really cute quite honestly I didn't want to have to deal with it.

Can anyone guess what the problem is when making a doll? If your guess was "you have two girls" you are right. I knew that I would have to make them one too. That's okay. I figured I would test out the pattern on theirs. I let them both choose which fabric they wanted as well as the eye and hair color then went to work.

I think they turned out pretty cute. There are a few changes that I made to the pattern but overall is was very easy to do. The dolls have already brought a lot of joy to our house - hopefully it will bring some joy to the orphanage in Nicaragua!

If you are interested in helping out with this project you still have time. The deadline to send in a doll(s) is June 13th. Click on the logo for more information. Help if you can!

For more Wordless Wednesday click here.

Bibs & Blankets Update & New Deadline

First off let me apologize for not updating until now.

The most important thing everyone needs to know is the deadline change. The new deadline is June 1st (versus July 1st). We recently found out that we will be leaving N.C. about a month earlier than expected. Lots of scrambling on my end to get everything in order before we leave! Even with the deadline change I hope all of you that have volunteered to help can still help!

As far as where I am in this whole process: in addition to sewing other things I promise that I have still been working on the bibs! My personal goal is to make 100 bibs and a few blankets. I've got about 50 in progress - think of it as an assembly line of sorts. Some are bibs waiting to be snapped; others are waiting to be sewn; some fabric waiting to be cut, etc. I'm trying my best to avoid buying any fabric and using what I already have! While I've been meaning to try out different bib patterns I have still continued to use the free one offered at Chickpea Sewing Studio. So simple yet so cute!



I haven't made any blankets yet but did you know that You Can Make This is now offering a free tutorial for three different styles of receiving blankets? Here's the link to take you to the free download! (Edited to add: if you'd like this free download you have to sign up for a free account. I encourage you to do it! YCMT is one of my most favorite places to buy patterns and to simply be inspired! Don't worry - they will not spam your mailbox!)

If you've already completed your bibs or blankets please feel free to send them my way. Leave me a comment with your email address and I will happily give you my mailing address. Thank you so much for participating and helping out!

PS - Did you happen to stumble on my site and you have no clue what I'm talking about? Please see my older post regarding this project here. Hope you can help!