Scrub-a-Dub-Dub

Wow, I'm amazed at how much attention a newborn takes... I feel like I've been going non stop since he was born. Some short term courses are starting at my college on Monday that I'm hoping to add.. I only need 3 more classes and then I can apply for my program! So if I get in those 3 classes, I can apply this Dec/Jan and pray that my name gets called!! In the meantime and if I don't add the classes then I will just have to wait another year.. Sigh.
Anywho, I've been working on many different projects but haven't finished anything (don't you hate that?). BUT on the plus side I sold a few things, including a scrub shirt.. which I'm in the process of making! So while dragging out that fabric, I proceeded to drag out ALL my 'scrub' fabric so I could make some for my mother-in-law so she can sell some at her work. Here is what I pulled out so far, though I know I have more...

I'll have a few scrubs up for sale in my Etsy shop soon.. be sure to check it out!! 

 www.etsy.com/shop/missakl

Stay tuned!

Ashley

Fashion District Challenge #1

Sooo... despite the recent extremely hot weather, living in LA county still has its advantages, one of them being any crafters dream, a place called Fashion District! To briefly discribe this heaven on earth, they have everything any crafter would ever need plus some at a rediculously low price. O happy day!!!

Anyways, a few days ago I went there with a couple friends.. Here is what I picked up for a whopping $25!!

Of course after a score like that, who wouldn't wanna go back and spend more?? So I had to make a deal with myself (because my inventory is really starting to build up on me, making me feel like a hoarder...) that before I can go back and buy more I have to use what I just got (except for the patterns, buttons and trim) and finish 5 other projects! So in an effort to get organized I started to make a list of all the projects I have going or want to do... So far its a page and a half :p... not to mention the 5 Halloween costumes I'm making and Christmas being just around the corner with presents that I haven't put on the list yet.. Sigh.. However I did manage to get started with this "Fashion District Challange #1" as I like to call it :) so here is what I have made so far....

Here is the back side to this dress... I was quite proud of myself because I made this one without a pattern and a small scrap of fabric! I didn't think I was going to have enough to finish it but I did!

 I also have plans for all the other stuff except for the two zebra print fabrics which I'm still trying to figure out! And for my 5 additional items I am going to finish a dollie, thank you cards, the lamp I'm making for a friend, a sign and a costume! Alas, I better get to it or else i'll never get to go to district again!! :p

Stay creative!

Ashley

Life As We Know It

O my stars, I feel absolutely horrible for having not blogged in forever (even though I don't have many followers yet..)! It has been one CRAZY month!! So let me explain.. On August 13th I got married!!

And on August 17th, I gave birth to this little guy, who stole my heart...

Lewis Aiden Rodriguez, 6lbs 9oz, 20in

And here is a picture of my little family with our amazing OBGYN...

Lewis is spoiled, he'd not even a month old yet and he has already been to Disneyland!! :P

He's kept me pretty wrapped up for the last month but I've still got in a little bit of crafting. I'm currently working on 60 some Thank you cards for the baby shower, I've been knitting a lot...

I had to make another one of these to replace the one I sold.

I've been working on this one for a while but got bored with it, and now I'm back at it. And I have another blanket that i'm crocheting that I haven't taken a pic of yet.

I also made this dress, which will be up for sale on Etsy soon but this is my copy..

And I am also making a lamp for a friend to match her daughter's nursery set, which will be my second lamp transformation blog! This is a picture of the crib blanket but you'll have to wait for the blog to see what the lamp looks like! ;)

I've also been getting ideas for Christmas! It's right around the corner so I have to start now!! Super excited to start on presents and Etsy inventory! :D Well, now that things are things are starting to fall into place I'll try and promote more. Well I'm off to work on more crafting stuff! A crafter's work is never done!

More Works in Progress....

Ever feel like you have so much in your head that you don't really know what to do with it all?? Ya, I'm feeling about that way right now because I have so much to do and so little time to do it all in! Honestly, I've been so swamped with homework that I've hardly had anytime to do anything crafty! However, every once in a while I get to the point where I absolutely NEED to do something crafty and I'll just cook up an idea in my head and begin it before I forget it. LOL. Sooooooooooooooo.. that being said, here are a few of my current works in progress...
This is the start to what I call a "Cat Castle", it's more of cat play house... but its going to be themed like a castle to go along with all the pink princess stuff I own.. ;)

Still a big time work in progress.. I'm going to be touching up the paint, making it sparkley and adding fun things to it as I find them... :p
I also had a cool idea for a couple of signs I wanna make with some scraps of wood I have... but all I've done so far is paint them white....

I also got a few more fun things I have ideas for... here is a sneak peak but I won't tell you what I'm going to do with them yet, just in case I change my mind..

I'm also in the process of making clothing tags and business cards.. And I just joined a friendship bracelet swap that I need to make 3 bracelets for. And I also have to start on some baby shower Thank You cards that I finally have the stuff and kind of have the time for. Plus next week is my fiancee birthday.. so I have a couple of things I'm going to try and cook up in time for him. Then after that it's baby time and fall school semester starts on the 14th! Eeeef! Ya its going to be crazy! I'm going to try and keep you posted as much as possible!
Til next time,
Ashley

Overdrive....

O my gosh, I feel absolutely horrible for not coming on here for quite a while! Things have been ABSOLUTELY NUTS in my neck of the woods! I started summer school 3 weeks ago and like a smarty pants I thought I could handle two courses and be able to keep up with everything else... wishful thinking Ashley...
I must be crazy.. They aren't even easy classes either.. one is a 5 week Algebra class of which I only have 2 weeks left! Woo hoo! And the other is an English class that has 4 weeks left.. Sigh. I guess I get what I signed up for. Anyways, these classes and all the homework have been keeping me busy from dawn til dusk! My day starts with math at 7 am and I don't get home from my English class until around 5. and then I have to do my homework and try and get to bed at a decent time which doesn't happen often. Such is life I suppose! I'm doing well in both classes tho which is good.
I feel so deprived of my crafting that its driving me nuts... I keep looking at my messy craft table and thinking about how I should clean it and that I have so many projects that I need to finish that are half started and all the ones that are just waiting for me to start. And then I have to smack myself and get back to whichever text I am studying. Sigh sigh sigh!
I do however have one item to share with you! Its the corset I made for my friend! I finished it and it came out adorable! Sorry the picture is kind of fuzzy, I took it with my phone in dull lighting...

I have also started a couple of things but haven't got much to show for those yet.. And I still have two of my WIPs from a previous post to finish: the christmas dress and the costume I'm making for a contest. I'm also working on a couple of blankets, some furniture items and some business cards and tags! :)
I'll share pictures as soon as I can... but I have to get on top of homework, organize and get ready for a baby! Crazy, I know.. but I PROMISE to keep you posted!
Til Next Time,
Ashley

Shirt Reconstruction

YAY! Its just about summer time! My favorite season because of all the fun things you get to do! Anyway, I've been busy lately.. I've somewhat reorganized my craft stuff (end of the season spring cleaning, lol!) and I've been trying to finish up my WIP.. Here are is a picture of the DONE bridesmaid dress...

and the backside...

I looooove the big bow in the back! :) I even added sequin to the rainbow sash.. just to make it stand out..

Cute, right? :) I also refinished my Minnie Mouse dress. I oringally made the dress in like 5 hours or so for gig we were going to. Needless to say, its was a disaster.

And here is after i redid it...

This one is for me.. for obvious reasons, but I really like the way it came out so I may try and use this same style for some dresses to sell in the near future. :)

Okay, now on to my main topic.. I recently desided to test my creativity with some deconstruction/reconstruction! Mind you, this is the first one I've ever made, so I chose the shirts I thought were cute! :p I picked both of these up at Goodwill for $1.99. I didn't like the price but I like helping out the Goodwill and it was a weekday so there wasn't any yardsales..

I look horrible in the photos, so ignore me... :p First I cut up the into pieces and put them together to make the main part of the recon shirt..

Then I added lace for the straps and a scrap of light green fabricfor the lower area..

Then I used ribbon with lace on top for the tie in the middle.

And I added lace to the top trim and glittered up the sea animals... and ta da! Final product!

My favorite part of this shirt is knowing that a little kid probably made the artwork on the original shirt.... that, and well I love the sea and everything in it so it captured my heart. :) After I look into somethings I will really have some things to share on here but I have to do a little research first. ;)

Well, 2 WIP are done and I have 3 to go!! After reading other crafters blogs, I've been totally inspired to try new things when I have a chance and the supplies to do so! One I recently read was about entering projects into the local fair! So that's exactly what I'm going to do!!! It sounds fun and even if you don't win, its a good way to get your name out there! My little craft business is kind of a baby step in the career plan I have... I can't even begin to explain it to you because its so complex. You'll just have to stay tuned and watch it all unfold. ;)

Til next time,
Ashley