Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Tammi Tries It!: Grooovy T-Shirt Dress

When I first started sewing, I scoured the internet for hours and hours looking for cool and interesting tutorials. I am not a dress girl by any stretch of the imagination, but when I came across the tutorial for this Groooovy T-shirt Dress by Amynotsomuch on Youtube, I knew I had to try it. I'd just bought a gazillion t-shirts from Goodwill so I had plenty to choose from. The dress consisted of a form fitting tank for the top portion and two large t-shirts for the skirt. One plain and one with a funky fresh graphic.


I love skulls, so of course this tee with the multi-colored overlapping skulls practically grabbed me as I passed by the rack.




And the manic robotic boomboxes with the crazy eyes and even crazier teeth called to me, too.


These angry purple and grey skulls with the matching harlequin background was too amazing to ignore.


The tutorial was super easy and I made three in two days! And even though I've only worn them once since then, I still take them down every now and again to admire my handiwork.

Keep It Funky!
Tammi

Monday, July 8, 2013

My Sweet, Sweet Serger

I've lusted after a serger almost as long as I've been sewing. If you don't know what a serger (or an overlock machine) is, it's a type of sewing machine that trims the seam and wraps it in a complicated web of thread to keep it from fraying and for a more professional looking finish. And depending on your machine, it can also do different types of hems. To learn more about sergers, take a quick peek here.

Baby Girl in her natural habitat/Beautiful serged seam (which you can't really see 'cause it's white on white but trust me, it's beautiful!)


After much research and deliberation, I chose the Brother 1034D as the newest member of the Sew Sew Funky family.  It was reasonably priced and all the reviews I found on Amazon and Pattern Review were positive.  Even Mimi G listed it as a solid, reliable machine. I was a bit intimidated by the complicated look of it, but it's actually super easy to thread.  There's step by step instructions in the owner's manual and there are color coded guides on the machine itself.  I love, love, love my new serger and can't wait to really put her to work!

Keep It Funky!
Tammi







Monday, June 17, 2013

Sew Sew Showoff!: Paris Themed Pillowcases




Every person has a dream vacation spot. For some reason, I've always had this strange fascination with Australia and plan on making my way down under some day. My BFF's dream spot is Paris. She's always talking about it and even plans on learning some French so she won't feel like a complete goober when she takes her leap over the Big Pond.  So, as her birthday approached, I actually put some thought into her gift and decided to make her some Paris themed pillowcases.  I even came up with a cheesy line about Paris, pillowcases and dreams but thankfully I kept that one to myself. :-)  

They turned out even better than I imagined! I purchased the Paris Fun fabric from HisandHersFabrics on Etsy and the polka dot fabric from Joann Fabrics.  And a special thank you to the lady who helped me decide that the polka dots were the best option for the border. I swear, Joann's has the nicest people shopping there!

My BFF loved her pillowcases and plans on taking them with her when she finally dons her beret and sets off on her journey. Maybe I can get her to take pictures of the pillowcases at different Paris landmarks like school kids do with stuffed toys? Ha! Probably not, but I can dream, can't I?


Keep It Funky!
Tammi

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Sew Sew Random!: Crazy Photoshop

Courtesy of Everett Hiller

During my random browsing of the wonderful World Wide Interweb, I came across this website, Twisted Sifter, which seems to be a blog about damn near everything and whose objective is to: educate, entertain and inspire each and every day. And let me tell you, I was definitely entertained as I read/looked at their post about this super awesome graphic designer named Everett Hiller who photoshops celebs into his holiday party pics. 

Ok, I will be the first to admit, I am not a Photoshop expert. Honestly, all I know how to do is crop pictures in that mothersucker so needless to say, I'm easily fooled by photoshopped pictures. But seriously, this guy is amazing, 'cause I really thought Barack was chillin' in somebody's kitchen! And doesn't Ryan Gosling (looking super dorky, by the way) look like he's really there?! 

Check out all Everett's holiday pics here: http://imgur.com/a/s6dgU/all#52  You won't be disappointed.

Keep It Funky!
Tammi

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Tammi Tries It! - Onesie Dress



For baby Kinley

This is the year of the baby. Actually, the last couple of years have been the years of the baby. Must be something in the water 'cause I think about 85% of my girlfriends have either had babies in the last year or are knocked up at this moment in time. All this to say, I've made quite a few baby items in the last few months.

So I was so excited when I found this Onesie dress tutorial because one of my good friends just had a beautiful, round headed baby girl named Kinley. Stephanie over at Barefoot In The Kitchen put together a super easy tutorial. Not only was it really simple but it was super quick, too! I whipped up two in like an hour!
She's a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll!
My only issue was the ruffle bottom. I've only tried ruffles once or twice and they ended up looking a hot ass mess.  And I know practice makes perfect but I just don't have the patience to try to perfect the ruffle. Whenever a pattern calls for one, I change it to the easy peasy pleat. Which is what I did for this tutorial and it still turned out super cute!  And Kin-Kin wears them so well. How can you not love that little face?!

She's trying to hypnotize you with her eyes!


Keep It Funky!
Tammi


Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Sew Sew Showoff!: Bachelorette Party Wet Bags

Vegas bound, baby!

I'm posting this for no other reason then to say: "Lookie what I made!" :-) A bride-to-be wanted some fun bridesmaids gifts for her bachelorette party and ordered 18 wet bags in funky fresh fabric. Hope they have an awesome time in Vegas!

Keep It Funky!
Tammi

Monday, February 18, 2013

Tammi Tries It! - Reversible Jumbo Tote


Courtesy of  Craft Passion

I am a complete and utter tutorial junkie. I've got a million bookmarked on my computer and a million more printed out and organized in binders. So, one day after coming home from the grocery store and shoving more plastic/paper bags underneath my already junky sink (see below), I decided no more!

I'd bookmarked this awesome tutorial for a reversible tote bag over at Craft Passion and obviously it was time I made some. Joanne of Craft Passion found some really cool fabric at Ikea so I decided to give their fabric section a try.  



And I'm so glad I did. I came across this Ullabella fabric of four colorful women sun bathing and immediately fell in love! And for only $4.99 a yard, it was a steal.  I had a couple of snafus (which is par for the course with me) but my seam ripper is my BFF and I finished up my tote just in time to go grocery shopping. All the cashiers at Trader Joe's loved my bag. And why wouldn't they? My shopping tote is amazeballs!  

Keep It Funky!
Tammi