Amy O. Game Day Dresses

I've been busy at work with my new project... Game Day Dresses!
I just wanted to share a little of what I have created so far and encourage you to check out the addition to the Dots & Damask website.

My Logo:

Some of the designs:

Click here to check out the rest!
And keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.
(I also have some Green & Orange designs in the works for FAMU fans!) 

Candy Corn & Black Cats

Is is weird that I wish has had a little girl JUST so I could sew cute dresses all the time? Well I know its not my time yet, but thankfully for me I have a niece. I just wanted to share this reversible pillowcase dress (and matching headbands) I whipped up this evening. I've had the idea for a month or so, the fabric for a week or so, and I've finally found the time to sew :) She can be a Candy Corn one day and then have a festive Halloween Black Cat Dress the next. 

Shades of Grey

The aspiring fashion designer within me is kind of obsessed with the show Project Runway. I would love the chance to go on that show (along with Craft Wars - my other tv obsession!!). So I was watching Project Runway a few weeks ago and saw this grey dress and knew I had to make it. The design was totally my style. So I went and got fabric right away... but didn't actually get to the sewing until this weekend.

From the current season of Project Runway, Fabio Costa's dress and my inspiration

I decided to make my design just a tad different. I started by sketching the design. Then I made a simple pattern for the bodice pieces and started sewing away.

The final product (the details don't show up in the pictures very well).
But I have to admit... its a pretty AWESOME dress which I can't wait to wear!

Bathroom Finale

The (almost) finished product!
My little weekend decorating project turned into an almost complete bathroom redo, including new flooring, vanity, lighting, and paint. I'm kind of obsessed with grey right now, and yellow makes such a good compliment in my opinion... so that, along with chevron print, was where my inspiration came from.

I was able to reuse a mirror that I already had and just added a little yellow paint for an accent. I also made a pleated shade for the window and added some chevron fabric on the shower curtain for an extra accent.

All the little details are my favorite, specifically the awesome light fixture over the shower! I scored that fixture from Lowe's for only $30. Nothing you would normally see in a bathroom, but its totally me :) 

Still needs a few finishing touches but I wanted to share the redo since I know you've been waiting.

Under Construction

Last week I decided I would finally have a free weekend to do my bathroom face-lift of painting and new accessories... and then... like a lot of my projects it turned into a little more than I originally planned :) I like to take an idea and run with it to the extreme. And it didn't help that my husband actually encouraged this project! So a simple face-lift led to some demolition and a bigger bathroom redo...

So my little weekend project wasn't able to be finished... yet.

CAPM

Lots of things have been keeping me busy and away from my sewing room the past few weeks, one of which I thought I'd share. The past month I have been studying for a project management certification. On Monday I sat for the exam... And passed! I am officially a Certified Associate of Project Management. Hopefully now that the studying is done it will free up some sewing time for me and projects to share with you.

Craft Closet Re-org

This action item has been on my to-do list for quite some time, so today I decided it was time to clean my craft room closet. I promise, it hasn't been this bad for that long, but I've been bad about stuffing it full so my sewing room would be clean :) Not the best strategy (I know). Pretty much all off the organizational stuff is from Target, although I've been collecting it over time. This week I found all of the pink & grey cardboard boxes and the shoe organizers in the $ spot, which kept the cost down for this project. 

I decided to maximize the space I would remove the closet doors. This way I would be able to get to the containers that are in the corners of the closet more easily. I intend to have the hubby hang a curtain for me :) 

I have this simple little black shelf right outside the closet doors and wanted to tie it in to the closet design so I added the last of the cardboard boxes and revamped my thread display. I thought by displaying my larger spools and embroidery thread on a 2-tier platter it would add a nice touch.
What do you think?

DIY Suitcase Dog Bed

A few months ago I saw a suitcase dog bed on Pinterest and decided it would make the perfect addition to my Mid-Century Modern living room design. So I went searching for an old suitcase. I scored this one for only $8 from Good Finds! Tonight I finally got around to completing my dog bed. Here's what I did:

Supplies

Old Suitcase

Fabric

Old Pillow

Legs & Hardware

Craft Paint

TOTAL COST = $36

First I started with the easy part - Added a pop of yellow paint to the unfinished wood legs

Then I needed to deconstruct parts of the suitcase. I didn't need to keep all the added bulky pockets so I unscrewed some out and cut out the ones that were stitched. Next I measured my top lining fabric.

I ironed down the top edges for a finished look. Then using measrurements from the suitcase's interior height, I calculated how far in I would need to pin the corners together to stitch the corners in place, then sewed.

Zoey seemed to figure out what I was working on before I was finished :) 

I decided to go with a minky fabric for the pillow because my dogs LOVE soft fuzzy blankets and beds. I was able to reuse an old pillow for the dog bed pillow stuffing. I simply sewed up a basic pillow case using the minky fabric and stuffed the pillow inside. 

I'm all about personalization so I wanted to include the dogs names into the dog bed, which I embroidered. I originally was going to make 2 beds (one for each) but I haven't found another suitcase yet and decided they could share. They share everything anyways! So I created a long pocket that I stitched in half so each dog could store some toys or bones or whatever they decided to hide. 

Hot glue will do just the trick for this project. I glued in the top lining. 

Added the finishing touches (once dried)

I think they like it!

Here is Gizmo enjoying his new cozy bed...

But I think Zoey might claim it as her's. She's currently in it now.

And the best part is it can be closed when not in use, and it will be easy to wash the pillowcase if it gets dirty. 

1...2...3...Lace Refashion

Last weekend while driving around doing errands, I was intrigued by Goodwill's 50% off furniture sign and decided to stop. I didn't find any furniture but did score this amazing lace dress. I'm not sure if amazing is actually the best word to describe this dress but I knew it had some potential. At $5.99 I just couldn't pass it up, but I wanted to reuse as much as the dress as possible! I was able to get THREE new looks out of it and I must say I am pretty proud of this transformation!
Read below to see the steps I took to complete this refashion. 

I will reuse the zipper for the first skirt so first I unzipped it so it stays attached to the portion I am saving.
Cut off the top bodice and save for later. Cut off the bottom and save for later.

Serge the ends of top and bottom hem

Pen a finished edge and sew

Viola! Skirt one complete.

For the bottom of the original dress I wanted to reuse the scallop edge as the bottom of a new skirt. I also had the lime pencil skirt from a thrift store find and decided it would make a great base for the second skirt. 

Remove the lining of both skirts

The lime skirt had a slit in the back that I no longer needed so I stitched it up.

Cut off the top of the pencil skirt, remove the little zipper piece that was left and stitch up the zipper opening. 

Stuff the lime lining into the lace and pin in place. Cut off the top edge to make it straight and serge the ends.

Pin and sew top edge.

I wanted this to be an elastic waisted skirt so I pinned the elastic in place and started sewing, gently pulling the elastic tight while sewing. I ended up with 4 bands of elastic. 

Add a little ribbon waist tie and skirt two is complete :) This one is my favorite.

Now for reusing the bodice piece. That lace shawl had to go!

I actually used the back of the dress as the front of my bolero. I started by removing the zipper, lining and shawl. 

Then decided a contrasting collar would be a nice touch. Using some scrap yellow linen I had, I made the pieces for the collar. 

1. Pin and cut collar wings x2 and color back

2. Stitch inside out (leaving opening to turn)

3. Turn right side out

4. Sew the 3 pieces together

Pin color in place and stitch on

This dress was a great transformation into 3 new looks!