While browsing Pinterest recently I came across this lovely little jersey and lace infinity scarf, which (of course) linked directly to one of those subscription-only shopping sites. Boo.
That scarf (even without a direct link to buy) appeared to be extremely popular with my fellow pinners: it has been repinned 47 times since I pinned it myself!  I wanted one, but I thought that I could easily come up with a tutorial for something similar... and I have!

Below, you can see that I came up with two different styles based on mixing jersey and lace (mine was actually rayon, oh well), which you could easily make up with some scrap fabric or some old t-shirts. I put both of them together this morning, and they didn't take much fabric. Keep reading for a full tutorial on how to make each one, complete with pictures.

**If you'd rather buy one of these instead of making it, I have a limited number of Style #1 scarves available on my Etsy shop!**
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Style #1: 50/50 Tartan and Lace

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What you'll need:
1/4 - 1/2* yard 60'' jersey or rayon fabric, in the color of your choice
1/4 - 1/2 yard 60'' lace fabric**
Coordinating thread
Pins
Sewing Machine

*The amount of fabric you'll need will depend on how well the folks at your local fabric supplier cut straight lines. If the yardage is cut well, you'll only need 1/4 yard of each, but I usually like to buy a little more anyway. 
**The lace fabric I chose was a little stiff, which means it won't be as soft as others, but it will certainly hold its shape.
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Step 1: Cut a 9x60'' rectangle from each of your fabrics. Mine ended up being 10'' wide, so I could more easily cut along the pattern (to keep everything squared up). If you choose to go wider than 9'', of course, you'll need slightly more than 1/4 yard of each fabric.
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Don't they look great together?
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Step 2: Line up the fabrics with their right-sides together, and pin along both long (60'') edges. Sew using coordinating thread and a 5/8'' seam allowance. 
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Then turn your new fabric tube right-side out.
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Step 3: I've improved this method GREATLY from my last infinity scarf tutorial, so I'm excited to share it with you guys! 
In order to sew the ends of the scarf together without visible seams, we want to line up both sides, right sides together. 
The easiest way to do this is to turn the scarf partially inside out by cuffing the bottom like so...
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...and continuing to pull the "cuff" upwards around the fabric tube, until the ends meet at the top.
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This way, as you can see, the right sides of the tartan fabric will end up together, and the right sides of the lace will end up together, at the end of the tube/long pocket you've created.
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Step 4: Pin all the way around the edges (keeping fabrics with their respective right sides together), and leave a ~2 inch gap somewhere along the way. This gap will allow us to turn the scarf right-side out once we're done with this seam.
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Step 5: Sew around this edge (minus the gap you've left), and turn the scarf right side out. Hand-stitch the gap closed, and you're all done!
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Style #2: Tartan Scarf with Lace Connector

Next, I thought it might be fun to try my hand at making something a bit more similar to my original inspiration. The lace I chose isn't quite perfect for this style (the pattern is too big/ too spread out), but this tutorial will work just as well with other fabrics, too!

What you'll need:
1/4 - 1/2* yard 60'' jersey or rayon fabric, in the color of your choice
1/4 yard or 1 fat quarter 60'' lace fabric**
Coordinating thread
Pins
Sewing Machine

*The amount of fabric you'll need will depend on how well the folks at your local fabric supplier cut straight lines. If the yardage is cut well, you'll only need 1/4 yard of each, but I usually like to buy a little more anyway. 
**The lace fabric I chose was a little stiff, which means it won't be as soft as others, but it will certainly hold its shape.

Step 1: Cut one 18''x60'' rectangle of your main (ex. tartan) fabric (or two 9''x60'' rectangles if  you're like me and forget). Just as with my classic infinity scarf tutorial, you'll line up the fabric with right sides together and pin along the long side(s). Sew using coordinating thread and a 5/8'' seam allowance, then turn right-side out.
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Step 2: (Optional) Trim one or both edges of your lace to add texture and visual interest. I followed the pattern of the lace somewhat, but again, methinks this wasn't the best fabric that I could have used.
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Step 3: Lay the new tube of your main fabric (ex. tartan) out on your work area, and lay the lace piece on top. Match up the short sides of the lace and the top layer of the main fabric tube.
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Step 4: Pin along the edge. As you can see, I only pinned the lace to the top layer of fabric that makes up the tube.
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Step 5: Sew along this edge using coordinating thread and a 5/8'' seam allowance. Next, fold your scarf-in-progress in half, and repeat on the other end of the main-fabric tube.
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You should end up with something like this! Ta-da!
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Step 6: Now it's time to finish attaching the lace to the main fabric. Hopefully you can tell what I've done in these pictures!
Fold over the "free" side of the fabric tube at one end (again, half will be attached to the lace) and line it up with the attached portion of main fabric on the opposite side of the lace. Be sure to tuck in the seam from attaching the lace as you go. You're essentially hiding this seam and also hiding the raw edge of main fabric. Pin.
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Here are a few detail shots to help you make sense of what I just said: The left-hand side on each image is the edge that was pinned, while the right-hand side is the edge that I'd already sewn.
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Step 7: Once you've pinned the raw edge under, sew using a 1/4'' seam allowance from the edge of the main fabric. Repeat on the other end, and you're done! 
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Thank you so much for reading, and please don't hesitate to ask if you need any clarification!

- Kaitlin
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Good morning to all! Bringing you a different kind of post on this dreary October Monday.  My husband and I had another couple over for dinner on Saturday night, and I thought I'd highlight a few items from our evening and share some tips on hosting, cooking, and making a lovely little tablescape that is NOT fussy, NOT obnoxious, and not hard at all to do!

First of all, try to do as much of the prepping, cooking, table-setting as early in the day as you can.  You might think this goes without saying, but not for me.  I am often guilty of making several things that have to be done right before serving, or having two separate dishes that have to have the finishing touches at the same time, right before they hit the table.  Soon I'm a sweating, stressed mess.  Why do this to yourself if you don't have to??  Same goes with setting a pretty little table.

I have never been one for floral arrangements at a dinner party.  Seems like an old-fashioned idea, but then I realized it doesn't have to be.  And it doesn't have to be an expensive one either.  I got this out of the way very early in the afternoon on Saturday.
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I just went to Produce Junction and scoured their bouquets, avoiding things like roses, carnations, and pre-arranged mixes of different Autumn-colored flowers.  I actually hate doing things seasonally...red, yellow, and orange in the Fall, pastels in Spring, reds, greens, and metallics in Winter.  I have dinnerware with blue accents and a giant indigo serving bowl, so I figured these adorable, fresh, purple flowers would complete a great color scheme!  The bouquet cost $2.50 (!!!!), and I filled these two mason jars, and still had enough leftover for two vases which are now in my living room and bedroom.  A simple raffia bow around the mason jars adds that more subtle Autumnal touch.
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I inherited this giant dining room table and chairs from my husband; it's the table set of his childhood.  And to be honest, I hated it for a long time.  It's huge, and we live in a small apartment.  The wood is so worn out from years of use by 3 kids.  I had it covered with a tablecloth for over a year, and I somehow hated that more. It was old-fashioned.  But one day I decided to take it off, and I saw the table in a whole new light! Earthy, loved, and yes, maybe giant, but even when we have people over, nobody is cramped, and everybody has room to put their elbows up. :)
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My husband happened to have a GIANT role of burlap from Home Depot, which he bought for gardening purposes, and I simply cut rectangles out of it for placemats.  It adds a little textural element between table and plates, and is a nice natural accent.  I love sort of "rough" accents to contrast pretty things like mason jars of flowers and my amazing porcelain cake stand with little birds on it, which I used as a serving platter for this dinner.
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I didn't want to spend more than $10 dollars on this table, that was my goal.  So I was not about to shell out money for cloth napkins, which, at 26 years old, I do not own yet.  Instead I just tucked the silverware into long paper napkins and secured with a raffia bow.  A small detail that adds another subtle something to the table.
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Yes, that is ketchup in a  miniature mason jar with a small silver spoon.  I just kept the lid on for the afternoon and took it off at meal time.
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I don't have a lot of serving bowls, and the mixing bowls I usually use as serving bowls did not fit into my color theme...it wouldn't have been a huge deal, but then I remembered my large soufflé dish tucked away in the cabinet and used that instead.  I love the crisp white look, and it makes food pop.  If you ever do invest in serving dishes, like I will someday, I highly recommend simple all white!  And in the mean time, improvise and use whatever you have on hand!

As you can see, I had my side dish made way in advance, and just let it marinate in the fridge for the day, and I had my entire table set too.  I was so relaxed by the time company came, and instead of being in the kitchen whipping things up, I could enjoy appetizers and drinks like everybody else!
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Another tip for dinner parties, let your friends/family contribute! If they are awesome, like our friends Dave and Lauren are, they are happy to bring an appetizer, dessert, or wine with them.  Here you can see the remnants of dates wrapped in bacon and stuffed with blue cheese (can you say YUM?) and fresh glasses of Spanish red wine they brought to accompany the meal.  And, as you can also see, we're drinking bubbley water!  I was actually first turned onto drinking seltzer water by our friends at our last get-together, and with fresh lime juice it is surprisingly addictive! And just a little more special than serving still water.  I highly suggest grabbing a 2-liter bottle for company, and leave out a cute little bowl of cut-up lemon and lime wedges.
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In keeping with the Spanish theme set by our tapas-inspired first course, I made pork burgers with Spanish spices and stuffed with Manchego cheese, which is only one of the best cheeses ever.  But even better, I formed and stuffed the patties a couple hours before our guests arrived, put them on a baking sheet lined with parchment and covered them with plastic wrap and left them in the fridge.  Literally the only thing I had to do once dinner rolled around was cook them in my nonstick skillet!
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Instead of making French fries, or even heating up the apartment by baking frozen fries in the oven, I just bought a good bag of kettle-cooked chips and served them in my big indigo bowl.  Which leads me to another tip, don't feel like you have to make every little thing from scratch!  Use a pre-made appetizer, or buy your dessert from a great bakery, or just steam veggies for a side.  The bag of chips was basically almost gone; after all, who doesn't love crunchy, salty chips with their burgers, even if the burgers are a little more high-brow? :)
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I told my friend Lauren she could bring a Spanish red wine, but don't feel like you have to be that matchy-matchy with your wine pairing.  The old rules of red wine with red meat, white wine with fish, are basically gone.  Drink what tastes good, and what you know your friends will enjoy too!  Something else I love to do, make a big pitcher of one signature drink for the night.
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I love dessert time, not just because it's dessert, but because it's relaxed.  You can retire to your living room and put your feet up.  I love offering guests decaf coffee, a wide variety of hot teas, Baileys on ice, more wine, and even milk to go with super chocolatey desserts.  Usually friends and family are hesitant to "make me" go out of my way to get them something, but I always insist, and I usually lead by saying that I'm going to have something too, which I think makes them feel better about it!  As it turns out, both hot tea AND milk were the perfect complements to these homemade rice crispy bars with milk chocolate and peanut butter filling, and a dark chocolate top. 
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Just to up the cute entertaining factor, I bought a brown Chinese takeout box at the craft store, then lined it with wax paper and sent my friends home with two more rice crispy bars.

My husband and I make it a point to get together with Dave and Lauren for dinner about once every month or two, alternating between houses.  We're lucky that they are not picky eaters and enjoy trying new dishes from all over the globe, just like us.  It makes it easy to plan a menu and to bring things along when we go to their house.  Make it a point to get to know your guest's food habits; then you can put things on the table that you know they will just love.

I hope you enjoyed this post, and hope it has given you some ideas for hosting dinner parties of your own!

~Lauren

P.S. If you want recipes for the burgers, the dessert, the appetizer, or the southwestern black bean salad, drop us an email or leave a comment below!
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Today's post is something quick and simple for when you feel like pampering yourself. As the weather starts to get cold, I'm hoping this easy little DIY will keep dry and flaky skin at bay. The best part? I'm 99% sure you'll already have everything you need in your kitchen.

What you'll need
1 teaspoon honey (raw is best, but any kind will work) 
1 rounded teaspoon finely ground coffee (the larger the grounds, the rougher the mask will be, so adjust for your skin type)
1 rounded teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder 
1 teaspoon oil of your choice (I use coconut oil, but you could also use olive or avocado oil... I'd stay away from vegetable oil)


DIY face-scrub/mask recipes are a dime a dozen, so I thought it would be fun to whip up one of my own! I had all of these things on-hand, and have read about the benefits of each (plus, who doesn't want a face mask that smells like dessert?)

Here's why I chose these ingredients:
Honey - natural anti-microbial properties, promotes healing
Coffee - caffeine which tightens skin, antioxidant properties
Chocolate (cocoa powder) - antioxidant properties (and smells amazing!)
Oil - hydration (hydrated skin is happy skin!)


Step 1. Combine all ingredients in a small microwave-safe bowl.
Step 2. Microwave on high for 10-15 seconds (I needed to do this to soften the oil and honey types I used, but warming the concoction will also help open your pores for maximum mask efficacy!) Stir well to combine.
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Step 4: Apply to a clean face, to your desired thickness. Rub gently as you're applying to reap the benefits of the coffee exfoliation. 
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Step 5: Leave on for 5-10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water. Depending on the type of oil you used, you're good to go! (Coconut oil is a great, natural moisturizer.) I ended up washing my face again after this step, before applying makeup. 

My skin felt fresh and a little tingly! Yay caffeine! 

Enjoy!

-Kaitlin
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Infinity scarves are everywhere you look these days, and I'm sure we'll be seeing even more of them as the weather turns cool. I found this awesome fabric (I've been on a leopard print kick lately) at JoAnn's, and was excited to get to try out the product of my handiwork during a trip to Upstate New York this past week. At temperatures of 20-60 degrees, I was more than happy to break out the scarves and boots! 

With this tutorial, you can make a two-loop infinity scarf from your favorite fabric with only 3 seams. That's it! Pin and sew three times, and you're done. Here's what mine looks like (apologies for the selfie, courtesy of Instagram-- I didn't have another set of hands to help me with the finished pictures!):
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Let's get started, shall we?

What you'll need:
An 18'' x 60'' rectangle of your favorite fabric (for me, this ended up being 1/2 yard of 60'' wide fabric)
Pins
Sewing machine
Matching thread

Wait until you see how easy this is-- you'll be making them all season!

Step 1: Lay out your fabric and cut your 18x60'' rectangle (I love my rotary cutter for jobs like this)
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Step 2: Fold your fabric in half lengthwise (you will now have a 9'' x 60'' rectangle if you're looking at it from above), right sides together. Sew. This is seam #1, your longest seam.
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Step 3: Turn your scarf right-side out. You should now have a long fabric tube! Bring the ends of the tube together. When folded this way, you'll have four edges of fabric to deal with: one on the bottom, two in the middle, and one on top. Pin the middle two together, and sew, being careful to keep the "top" and "bottom" edges away from where you're sewing. This is seam #2.
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Step 4: The only really tricky part of this tutorial is this: Once you've sewn your second seam, turn the scarf inside out again. This will take a little bit of patience, because now that seam #2 is in place, half of the scarf tube will end up inside the other half.
Now, you'll see that you only have 2 edges left to sew, with right sides together (notice how we always sew with right sides together, so the seams will be hidden when it's finished).
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Step 5: Pin and sew the remaining two edges together, but be sure to leave a ~2inch gap at the end (so we have room to turn the scarf right-side out again. This is seam #3!
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Step 6: Once seam #3 is finished, turn the scarf right-side out through the hole you left, and hand-stitch the hole closed. You're all done!
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I'd love to hear about it if you give this tutorial a try, or if I can clarify anything to make it easier! Happy crafting!

- Kaitlin
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There's something inherently satisfying about making something yourself, especially if you often shell out (too much) money for someone else to do it for you. Stick it to the man! Make your own clothes (at least once in a while...)!

I bought a bunch of knit fabric with the intention of making a dress (or two), a maxi skirt, or a top. It took me weeks to decide on a wrap dress (ah, a classic cut that looks great on literally everyone... examples here, here, and here). It then took me about a week to find a pattern, since I've never used one before (except those I have drafted myself using my own clothes as guides). I found this FREE! and very simple pattern via Craftsy, by Deby Coles. The bonus of this pattern is that it comes as a series of PDFs... simply print, match up, and you're good to go!

I started by making a dress strictly by the pattern, and found that while it fit amazingly well, I wanted a cross-over top that I wouldn't have to worry about falling out of (obviously!). This is my attempt at both using and altering the pattern, and I hope it encourages you to try this out for yourself!


What I used:
Printed pattern pieces, assembled per the included instructions
- 1.5 - 3 yards of four-way stretch knit fabric, such as jersey, rayon, or blends of the two (Yardage obviously depends on desired size: I was able to use 1.5 yards for a size small, with some left over. Deby used 2 yards for a size medium, with some left over. Increasing yardage by 1/2 yard per size seems like a good estimate.)
- Coordinating thread
- Ruler or measuring tape
- Pins
- Sewing machine (preferably with a walking or even-feed foot, but it's not mandatory)

- Iron and ironing board


I started by assembling and laying out all of your pattern pieces (6 in total):
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I decided to work with the back bodice and skirt pieces first, since I needed to cut them on the fold (the pattern piece is only half of the desired shape):
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I laid out the fabric, folded in half lengthwise. It was heavy (more fabric is hanging off of the table edge), so I used "weights" to prevent it from slipping off the table. Then I put the skirt pattern piece as close to the edge of the fabric as possible. You could also use weights to hold the pattern pieces down while cutting!
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Then I just cut along the pattern. I'm a lazy pinner-- If I can get away without pinning the pattern down, I will totally do it. If you want to be really accurate though, you probably shouldn't be like me. Since I needed both a front and back for the skirt (backless skirt? oh my!), I repeated this process.
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Then I did the same thing for the back bodice piece.
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The rest of the pattern was simple, so I cut those out after unfolding the fabric (I only needed one of each piece). Next, I had some alterations in mind. The front of the bodice on my first attempt was really pretty, but it was also casual and a little too low-cut for professional wear. I decided to fix that problem on this dress by raising the shoulder straps on each of  the front of the bodice pieces by 1.5 inches by cutting that amount off of the top of the shoulders.
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When that was finished, it was time to draw the pleats. The included PDF gives great instructions on how to do this, so I just followed along using a fabric marker with disappearing ink.
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Once the pleating guidelines were drawn, I pinched the fabric like so:
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...and the same for the left bodice piece.
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I know the pins are a bit wonky, but that's okay! I'm going to use my new (and fantastically fun) walking foot, or even-feed foot. This ensures that both layers of fabric are moving under the foot/ needle at the same time (which is really helpful for stretchy or slippery fabrics). With this, I can remove the pins as I go (apparently you're supposed to always do that... who knew!), and follow the lines I drew.
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Pleating, for me, was the most difficult part of the pattern (since I'd never done it before). If you try this out and are patient, you'll be fine! Here are my finished pleats. They look a little uneven, but that's okay-- we'll sew the end into the side of the bodice anyway.
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Once both sets of pleats were finished, it was time to attach the shoulders by laying the pieces out, right (patterned) sides together, and pinning the shoulders. Since I shortened up the front of the bodice by cutting the shoulders, there was a gap in the front of the bodice. Now, I know crop-tops and/or high-low skirts are in right now, but I'm not a huge fan! I'll deal with that gap a little but later...
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Once the shoulders were sewn (using 5/8'' seam allowance), I realized that the armholes were going to need some reshaping too. I lined up the shoulder straps and bodice sides, and simply cut them to match.
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To finish the edges of the neckline and cross-over portions of the bodice front, I pinned down the raw edges 5/8'' and sewed right along the edge. Since this is a knit, it won't unravel, sooo I didn't worry about folding the hem over twice. (Not the most professional, but hey-- I'm the only one that'll ever be seeing it!)
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Almost done! Next, I lined everything up right-side together (so, inside-out) to sew the side seams. I made sure that the right hand front bodice piece was the closest to the inside, since it was the one I wanted to see when it was done. I sewed these also using a 5/8'' seam allowance and a straight stitch. Sometimes when sewing stretch fabrics (especially seams that will get a lot of use/stretch), it's recommended to use a stretch stitch or zig-zag. My fabric had a ton of give in it, and this was large enough to fit me without too much stretch, so I didn't use them.
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Here's another view of the bodice placement for sewing the sides:
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Next it was time to deal with that pesky gap along the bottom of the bodice. I thought it would be cool to add a waistband from the section of the fabric that contrasted slightly with the rest of the bodice. This would help define my waist AND make sure that the skirt could attach to the bodice evenly. I cut out a section that would fit the gap I'd left (below), and sewed it along the bottom of the bodice.
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Then I turned the bodice right-side out and...
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Next (not-pictured), I put the skirt pieces right-sides together, pinned up the sides, and sewed them using a 5/8'' seam allowance. After the bodice adventure, it wasn't that exciting! I left the bodice right-side out, and slid it into the inside-out skirt, so the waistlines matched up. As you can see, the bottom edge of the skirt was above the top of the bodice (since it would come down and hide the seam when I was finished... I hope that makes sense)!
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Once that seam was finished, I was all done! I still have to hem the skirt bottom (maybe... it's a knit so, again, it won't unravel, but it does look more professional with a finished edge). I chose not to add the sleeves, so I'll have to either put them on later (or finish the armhole edges), but I'm really happy with my work for now. And just look at that nice, contrasting waistband-- for a mistake, I'm pleased with how it turned out.
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- Kaitlin
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Every once in a while, I plan to post really simple, quick DIY projects. This is one of them!
I had a plain, beat up, old magnet board laying around since, oh, 2005. After digging through my spice drawer(s) for 10 minutes (again), I'd decided I had enough.

I've seen this done a TON for makeup, and thought: Why couldn't I hot-glue magnets to the back of my spice tins? So I did. This board recently got an upgrade from metal sheet to pretty backsplash. For a super, super quick tute, see below:
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Step 1. Gather your supplies: I literally had all of this sitting around, including these adorable magnetic spice containers from Ikea. You'll need:
                     - A metal display board (that magnets are attracted to)
                     - Peel-and-stick vinyl backing. I was lucky to find this at the dollar store a few years ago, but you can also find it at Walmart                               (usually used for lining drawers, etc.)
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Step 2. Cut the vinyl to fit your board, with enough extra around the edges to fold around the board edges. 
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Step 3. Turn the board and vinyl over, and carefully apply the vinyl to the board, by pressing it flat...
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...while you pull the paper backing away with your other hand.
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Step 4. When you're done, flip the whole thing back over, fold the edges up...
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...and wrap the corners like a present.
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Step 5. Attach the magnetic containers you'd like to use, and admire your handiwork!
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This was a quick fix that added a ton of character to the stovetop, and doubled as a backsplash. The vinyl (rather than, say, paper) is durable enough that I can slide the spices around without tearing it, and I can also wipe it down with a damp cloth if it gets a little dingy.

...I probably should have cleared off the stove and countertop before taking this picture, but hey, I cook a lot and my kitchen is always a little messy. I'm not ashamed. ;-) Enjoy!
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- Kaitlin
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As I'm sure I will mention in many a post, I live in a fairly small apartment, with another human being, so a lot of modifications need to be made in our space in order for it to be livable and happy.  For instance, as much as I may or may not want to indulge in that grown-up female urge to decorate the heck out of every square inch, I can't.  So, what is the answer?  To the walls!

I can cover every last bit of my wall space in all sorts of things if I want to.  Now, I don't want to, first of all because I have minimalist inclinations, and second of all, because I'm picky.  I don't want just any old thing that anybody is bound to have hanging up in their house, and I want to be creative to any extent that I can be creative.  And a few years ago, I discovered postcard art!

My husband and I love to travel and explore new places together, so when Doug had a birthday a couple years ago, I found a set of vintage postcards from Chicago on eBay (we had taken a trip there recently), slapped them in a frame, and bam! He loved it, and now it hangs on the wall in a home we share.  Even better, the postcard set cost about three bucks.
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All of this being said, this post isn't extravagantly DIY, more of an idea I want to share.  There are postcards out there to suit every taste, and unless it's some rare collector's edition, they are usually dirt cheap.  Here are a couple of my favorites:

From Etsy, 25 vintage English postcards for 11 bucks?  Yes please and cheerio.
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(Etsy listing photo from the shop of burstsofcreativity)


Postcards used to be art all on their own back in the day! Like this one, from another wonderful Etsy shop, pecanhillpostcards
:
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From the Victorian Era, "Love on a Balcony" is actually postmarked, 1908, sent from Danville, PA!  You can buy 'used' postcards, which I think is really cool.  Also, I smell wedding décor! Somebody out there needs to get on this, and then send me pictures of it.

There is literally no reason why I don't yet own the Postcards from Penguin:
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The photo is courtesy of Modcloth, and while they are no longer available there, you can hop on over to amazon.com and snag the set of ONE HUNDRED for $17.49.  And while you are there, you may want to check out these:
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Cant. Get over. The cuteness.

Etsy and Amazon are just a few great places to start.  Also check out eBay, not to mention vintage and thrift shops in your area.  And, unlikeliest of sources, for my recent project, I bought a pack of 5 5x7 cards inspired by vintage floral postcards from Ikea for 99 cents.  You never know where inspiration will find you.
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Mismatched frames are all that's left to buy.

Happy decorating!

~Lauren
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My husband and  I really came to enjoy wine somewhere around the time we got married, almost two years ago.  We liked the fact that it was a hobby we could share, and quite easily, because what's easier than drinking wine?  We began to learn more about it, to discuss what we liked about certain wines (bright, citrus) and what we didn't like about others (cough medicine with alcohol in it).  Despite the high snobbery level that is associated with those who enjoy wine, there are actually very few right or wrong answers when it comes to drinking it.  The only thing that is in wine is grapes, so whether or not you taste raisins, or blackberries, or coffee, or pepper, or grass, when you drink it, you're right!  Because none of that stuff is in there. Make sense?  You can train your palate to learn how to detect all the different nuances and subtleties, but nothing could be more subjective, because none of that stuff is ever actually in there! (When we were in Napa Valley for our one year anniversary and I picked up on the distinct flavor of maple bacon in a hearty bottle of red, I think I cried tears of joy.)

But perhaps the thing we like the  most about wine is the associations we have with it.  The bottles we were saving up before my wine journal idea were from our wedding night, our first Christmas as a married couple, the wine I cooked with when we got engaged, not to mention tons of other little familiarities, even as simple as, oh we drank that pinot noir when I made that steak dish you really liked.  The empty bottles in our apartment were starting to pile up and I knew I wanted to think of some way to preserve them but didn't know how.  DIY cork crafts abound on the internet, but how would saving a bunch of corks that look exactly alike also save my memories of their bottles?  I came across a few label crafts, but they were all too short term; I didn't want to stick 4 or 5 in a picture frame, I wanted to create something that I could continue to build on, forever essentially!  My husband's parents literally wall-papered a wall of their house with wine labels.  So, after carefully analyzing these two extremes, I decided to make a wine journal for my wine labels.

The typical wine journal that exists is just for writing in.  You can buy them, and you just fill in the name of the wine and your tasting notes on them.  But let's be honest; while I don't fall into the trap of buying wines for their labels, they are the most beautiful part of the bottle, besides what's inside.  Also, while I care about tasting notes to some extent, I also want to remember what was special about each wine, what I served it with, who I drank it with, who gave it to us.  Those things are more important to me than any 'tannic notes' could ever be!  That being said, below are the step-by-step instructions for making your own wine label journal!

Materials:
A photo album that holds 4x6 photographs  and has a 'memo' or notes column
6x6 squares of scrapbook paper, patterns of your choosing
Adhesives (you can see below what kind I use)
Scissors (or if you couldn't cut a straight line to save your life, like me, a paper cutter. cheap little ones will only cost you about $10, but they get the job done.)
Scrapbook labels (again, of your choosing)
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Step 1:
Heat your oven to 225 degrees, and simply stick the bottle on the middle rack.  Leave it there for anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes.  You are basically heating up and melting the glue.  You can do multiple bottles at once too.  Stick it in label up and neck of the bottle facing out; makes it easier to grab when you need it.  After the time has gone by, get the bottle out and, holding it by the neck with a pot holder, test the corners of the label with a paring knife to see which one is loosest.
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When you've found that corner, carefully wiggle the paring knife between the bottle and the label...the operative word is carefully.  I've lost a couple labels because I got too eager and ended up ripping right through the paper.  Even if it seems like the label is coming off easily, don't rush it!
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Once you get to a point where there is enough label sticking up, you can go ahead and grab onto it and slowly peel it off by hand (the label itself is not too hot to touch).
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Disclaimer: Sometimes, the labels just won't come off. I've left bottles in the oven for 30 minutes before, and they just won't come loose.  On the one hand, applaud yourself for buying a wine that is of good enough quality that the glue they used is so darn efficient. On the other hand, it's a lost cause, and you'll probably have to just toss the bottle, label and all.

Step 2:
Now that you've got your label off, you are ready to start your wine journal!  First, cut a 1-inch strip from any side of the scrapbook paper (remember, math majors, it's a square so it doesn't matter what side you cut from).  Now it will fit into a 4x6 photo slot. Trust me, you only need to cut an inch off, it will fit perfectly.  Next, you want to adhere the label to the scrapbook paper. I use these little scrapbook dots because they are so subtle.
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Note, sometimes there is enough glue still left on the back of the label that you won't even need any other type, which is nice. But sometimes it's good to reinforce it, just in case.  Press the label carefully to your scrapbook paper and voila!
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If you want you can just stop here, and fill up your photo album with your lovely labels.  The scrapbook paper I have is a variety pack with tons of patterns and colors, which is perfect.
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Or, you could do what I do and move on to...

Step 3:
If you want to do tasting notes, or 'set the scene' notes, you can buy those little scrapbook labels and fill them out with details about your bottle. This is what I did for my most recent addition.
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Just add another glue dot or two and stick it in that memo section of the photo album.  In a practical sense, you'll be able to go back through and see what you liked, what you didn't like, what paired well with that awesome pot roast or roast chicken that you make.  And in an even better sense, you'll be able to see how many great occasions in your life you've been able to toast with an equally great glass of wine. That's really what wine means to me, and I hope that it will mean the same to you!

~Lauren
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Welcome to my first DIY tutorial post! If any steps are unclear, or you'd like more information, please ask!

While browsing one of my favorite petite style blogs (ExtraPetite), I came across this clutch, and fell in love:
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At the time, Jean didn't have didn't have a tutorial available on how she made it. (She does now, though! It's an unlined version, but it still looks great.)
Unsure how to add a zipper into a lined bag, I started hunting for a great tutorial. I'm fond of telling people , "I know how to sew, but I don't know how to sew", which is another way of saying that I've figured out enough to get by, but not any true techniques. While hunting around for something that made sense to me, I landed on this lovely tutorial by Kill Them With Craftiness:
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It's gorgeous! It's awesome! However, the steps were too brief for me (a novice), and so I ended up working through it via a bit of trial and error on my own. This is not to say that I didn't really appreciate the tutorial-- I just needed more. Thus, I decided to document my steps  ad nauseum. Maybe this will help someone else out, too! So, without further ado...

My version:

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Animal Print Clutch Tutorial:

Supplies:
- Fabric in lining and exterior colors (I purchased both at Jo Ann Fabrics)
- Zipper in desired length (I used 9 inches)
- Sewing machine (mine is a Brother Project Runway Edition)*
- Zipper foot*
- Coordinating thread
- Interfacing/batting (optional, I did not use any)
*You can also hand-sew this project, it might just take a little longer.

Step 1 (images below text for each step): Cut 2 pieces of exterior fabric and lining fabric in desired size (I used 11 x 14, which holds a moleskin notebook and myriad other goodies with no problem whatsoever)
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Step 2: Lay one piece of your cut exterior fabric right (patterned) side up, and place the zipper along the top edge, facing down (facing the pattern).
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Step 3: Unzip the zipper slightly. This will allow you to turn the bag right-side out, once all of the other steps are finished. Be sure to keep the top edge of the zipper aligned with the top edge of your exterior fabric.
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Step 4: Place the lining fabric, right side up, on top of the exterior fabric and zipper.
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Step 5: Pin along the upper edge, being sure to keep your pins out of the way (so the zipper foot will run smoothly along your pinned section). You're only pinning the upper edge of the zipper to the fabric at this point. I found that it was easiest to use smaller pins for this step, but do whatever works for you!
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Step 6: Sew along the edge using your zipper foot. If you're like me, also grab a gluten-free beer while your cat supervises.
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It'll look all lovely and attached like this, when you've finished and peek between the two layers of fabric:
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Step 7: Fold your now-attached-to-zipper fabric pieces so that the zipper is exposed. (This will mean that the wrong (unpatterened) side of the exterior fabric and the right side of the interior fabric will be facing each other.) Press it flat with your hands.
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Step 8: Lay the other piece of exterior fabric down on a flat surface, right side up.
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Step 9: Place your zippered pieces on top of the next exterior fabric section, and line up the other side of the zipper fabric along the top edge. The right sides of both piece of exterior fabric should now be facing each other (giraffe to giraffe, in this case).
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Step 10: Place the other piece of lining fabric on top, just as in Step 4, lining up the top edge of the exterior fabric, zipper, and interior fabric. Pin and sew, just as before.
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Step 11: Once everything has been sewn to the zipper, flip the fabric "pages" you have just attached to the zipper "binding", such that the exterior fabrics are on top of one another, right sides together. The lining fabrics should also be facing each other, but the wrong sides should be together.
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Step 12: Pin all the way around, but be sure to leave a gap in the bottom of the lining fabric. You'll use that space to turn the bag right-side out when we're done, with the help of the opening we left in the zipper back in Step 3. (You can see the space I left between my pins on the right side of my bag, below.)
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Step 13: Sew all the way around both sides (you will have to do the exterior fabric and interior fabric sides separately, since the zipper runs down in between them), and remember to skip over the gap you left in the lining fabric.
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Step 14: Almost done! Using the gap you left in the lining fabric, turn the bag right-side out. It should look something like this:
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Step 15: Pin and sew the gap in the lining fabric now, since we're done using it.
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Step 16: Shove the lining into the pouch created by the exterior fabric, and test out the zipper a few times! Press if desired. You now have a shiny, brand new, one-of-a-kind clutch that you made all on your own. Enjoy!
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Thanks for reading!
- Kaitlin
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