The Hip Bohemian Overall [Dungaree] Dress

This "overhalls" (as my late German farmer grandpa would have said) dress has been a long time coming! We bought this Oshkosh B'Gosh Dungaree dress at a Goodwill in 2013. 

You can see most of the dress as it was originally in the collage below. (McClellan Singing Sisters were performing for a "Hillbilly Jamboree - otherwise, we don't typically dress that way to sing!)

One day I was really inspired by some of the light washed denim items I'd seen and wanted to bring this dress out of its farmer-ness. I prepared a Rubbermaid storage tub with water and bleach and put it in to soak and made two big mistakes.

#1. I didn't realize I was using concentrated bleach instead of the cheap stuff.

#2. I left it in the tub for WAY too long.

You may say a third mistake was bleaching it at all, and perhaps you would be correct.

The large amount of concentrated bleach had broken down the fabric and caused several of the metal buttons/clasps to rust. It also hadn't bleached evenly and instead of a light-washed denim overall dress to pair with a grungy t-shirt and sneakers, I had this.

It had several rust spots on the back side which I attempted to disguise using fabric paint (a poor choice). To add insult to injury, I was impatient! Instead of waiting until I had another color on hand, I painted bright red geometric triangles. ...and instantly hated it.

I tried finding appliques or other paint ideas but nothing could salvage this mess. Several times I made up my mind to throw it away or re-donate it but Jewel stopped me. I'd all but given up hope of ever making this more than just a painful learning experience until this past Sunday.

I stopped by JoAnn's after church to buy extra-thick black belt elastic (for a project coming soon) and on my way to the checkout counter I saw these new iron-on appliques that were perfect. They were $6.99 each for a package of 3, but I had two 50% off any one item coupons so I basically got a package free!

With some very careful arranging, I was able to cover up each of the red eyesores on the back and the main rust spot on the front. And while applique on the front did its job, it looked a bit lonely and out of place... which gave me another idea.

My boyfriend's family recently made a trip to San Antonio and brought me back a few gifts. One was this cute little coin purse.

I decided it would made a very cute pocket applique to help pull the front together. Sewing through two layers of (thinner) denim and the elaborate embroidery wasn't easy but it came together slowly.

The headband is from Nicaragua, gifted to me by my brother-in-law's family. The tiny-people-dancing brooch is from Peru, given to me by my dear friend Hannah who lives as a missionary in Iquitos.

It needed one final touch so I went through our stash of lace and trims and found a 1970's bright red polyester floral trim originally from our Grandmother's stash to add to the hemline. 

I am so happy with how this DIY project FINALLY came out! While Jewel walked me through using her sewing machine again, I did all the actually cutting and sewing myself! (Which is why it doesn't look as perfect :) but that's okay. It fits with the quirky, hippie feel I ended up with!) 

I purchased the woven leather shoes in Nicaragua in 2015 - US size 8.5 is hard to find in Nicaraguan artisan shops!

The colorful Mexican purse was another souvenir from my boyfriend's Texas trip.

Cost Breakdown (not including bleach or thread)

Thrifted Dungaree Dress: USD $3.99

Iron-on appliques: USD $13.98

Red floral trim: free!

Embroidered coin purse-turned-applique: also free!

Total spent out of pocket: USD $17.97

Gluten Free Lasagna (Grain Free Option!)

Everyone has their favorite lasagna recipe and their little tricks or secrets to make it "just right". Today I'm sharing mine with you! 

Something you have to understand; when I cook, I tend to just throw ingredients together and hope it tastes good. But lately I've been making an effort to make notes and write down what I do so I can share it with you - (once the kinks have been worked out of course.)

That being said, this lasagna recipe is very customizable! Use gluten free lasagna noodles, use wheat lasagna noodle, use cooked spaghetti squash in place of the noodles! It's your choice! (Side note; if you're going for a lower calorie/carb option definitely go with the spaghetti squash. 20 calories per 1 cup and low in carb count too!)

Banana Bread 🍌 (gluten free!)

It took a few tries but I think I've worked out the kinks in my banana bread. I've adapted the recipe I grew up eating to be gluten free - (yay!). 🐵🍌

Samantha's Scrumptious Carrot Cake (made gluten free!)

The wheat version of this recipe was given to me (somewhat reluctantly) by our oldest sister Samantha. She makes the most AMAZING carrot cake. (Even if you HATE carrot cake, you have to admit there is something about hers.)

But alas, wheat and I are no longer friends. So I set out to make this cake free of gluten and dare I say... I think I succeeded??

Kiomi Dress in Everday Style by Lotta Jansdotter

Two things about this project make me excited!

First: it is knits month in the stashbusting group and this dress was made with a knit fabric!
(More on that later)
Second: this is the first project I've sewn from my new book Everyday Style by Lotta Jansdotter. Fran, a fellow member in the Sewalong & Sewing contests group, brought it to our attention and I thank her for doing that! I have a good feeling that the patterns in this book will get a lot of use!

When I received my copy of Everyday Style in the mail,  I started mulling over ideas for the various sewing projects that I now had access to, and asked Kimberly if there was a project she would like/wear. 

One of them was the Kiomi Dress...excitedly I said, "Go find some fabric"! 

I enjoy sewing for my sisters and I don't do it enough so I was happy to be able to get something stitched up for her!

Gluten Free Coconut Oatmeal Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars(?) I need a catchy name.

Whatever you call them, they are delicious!

I didn't have to do a lot of adjusting to this recipe from Averie Cooks that you can find HERE.

1 large egg

1/2 cup [1 stick] butter, room temperature

1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 cup old-fashioned whole rolled oats (not instant or quick cook)

1/2 cup gluten free all purpose flour

1/2 cup coconut flour

1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut

1/2 cup chopped walnuts 

2 tablespoons gelled chia seeds

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 heaping cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or large mixing bowl and electric mixer) combine the egg, butter, sugars, vanilla, and beat on medium-high speed until creamed and well combined, about 4 minutes.

Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the oats, flour, coconut, walnuts, baking soda, chia seeds salt to taste, and beat on low speed until just combined, about 1 minute.

Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the chocolate chips, and beat on low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds.

Using a 1/4-cup measure, or your hands, form approximately 12 equal-sized mounds of dough.

Place mounds on a large plate or tray, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. (I'll be honest I'm not sure it was an entire 2 hours... Probably more like 45-60 minutes.) But Averie Cooks recommends not baking with un-chilled dough because cookies will bake thinner, flatter, and be more prone to spreading.

Preheat oven to 350F, place dough mounds on nonstick baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart and bake for about 11  until edges have set and tops are just set, even if slightly undercooked, pale, and glossy in the center; don't over-bake! Cookies firm up as they cool. Allow cookies to cool on wire rack before serving. (Or eat one right out of the oven with a glass of whole milk. That's what my family and I did.)

Gluten Free Deliciousness + Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe!

I know what this looks like; Jewberly Emiris is jumping on the gluten free fad-wagon late. But it's not that, honest! About 2 years ago our sister Tiffany was diagnosed with gluten sensitivity and it really opened our eyes to the issues gluten causes if your body doesn't quite agree with it. 

 It's been suggested that eliminating harmful gluten (wheat, barley & rye) from our diets could help improve our overall health. As a result, Jewel & I (Kimberly) have been eating gluten free because of some of our health issues.

When we made the change, we knew we didn't want to do it with boxed this and pre-packaged that. Instead I've been substituting organic coconut flour or almond flour in some recipes, introducing quinoa as a new grain, and trying to make everything (from scratch) from minimally or unprocessed all-natural, healthy ingredients as much as possible.

With all being said, we've decided to start a gluten free recipe section on our blog! These are actual recipes (normally containing gluten) that I have personally prepared BUT made adjustments to so they are free of the harmful gluten.

First off... Chocolate No Bake Cheesecake with a Gluten Free Double Chocolate Cookie Crust!

I adapted this recipe from this Salted Double-Chocolate Olive Oil Cookie recipe and this Fudge Brownie No-Bake Cheesecake recipe.

For the crust:

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/3 cup cacao powder (or you can use Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate & Cocoa Powder)

1/3 cup packed almond flour

1/3 cup coconut flour

1/2 cup red palm & coconut shortening (I used Nutiva brand, it's organic, vegan and Non-GMO plus it tastes great!)

2 tablespoons salted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar (light or dark)

1 egg

1 tablespoon pure, good quality vanilla extract

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips + 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips (or whatever combination you prefer)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix together cocoas, flours - set aside. Cream together sugars, butter and shortening. Mix in egg and vanilla. Add dry ingredients in parts, mixing continually. Mix in chocolate chips. 

Press into the bottom of a greased springform pan (batter will be somewhat sticky, using a silicone spatula to spread may be the easiest.) You will have a little cookie batter left over - that's totally fine! Make them into cookies and bake for 3 minutes, then rotate the pan 180 degrees and bake another 3 minutes. 

Bake the crust for 12 minutes - it seems short but don't over bake the crust! It will firm up as it cools. (I actually put mine in the freezer for a few minutes when it wasn't quite cool.) 

While the crust is baking/cooling... for the filling:

12 ounces cream cheese, softened (1 1/2 8 oz. packages

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 cups real whipped cream (1 cup of heavy whipping cream makes 2 cups whipped cream)

Beat together cream cheese, sugar and butter in large bowl on medium speed until smooth and creamy. (I actually just used a spatula but a mixer would be must easier and quicker).

In a small bowl add chocolate chips and heat in microwave for 30 second intervals. Stirring in between until chocolate is completely smooth and melted. Set aside to cool. Slowly add in cooled, melted chocolate chips, stirring until well blended. Fold in whipped cream until blended.

Spread on top of cooled brownies. Place in the refrigerator until firm, 60-90 minutes.

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Final note: Jewberly Emiris is not sponsored by nor compensated in any way 
by any of the products mentioned.

Mid-Century Sheets into Simplicity 1099 Skirt

What most people think when they see a set of sheets at a thrift store "Eww! Who in the world would buy used sheets??"

What Kimberly and I think "Hmmm. That's a nice print I wonder if there is enough fabric to make a skirt out of?"

That's exactly what we thought, when we found this mid-century full size sheet set at our favorite thrift store. We looked at each other and I put them in the basket.

The pattern Kimberly chose (Simplicity 1099) called for 7 5/8th yards of fabric and we got it out of $1 sheet set! If that's not a Thrift Store Score I don't know what is! Haha

Sewing this skirt has shown me something about my sewing preferences. Because of our long hair I prefer using buttons instead of hook and loops for the waistband closure. I've actually started making notes on different patterns to make the waistband longer to make space for a button and buttonhole.

Shhhh...Changes were made from the pattern

- Used a button instead of hooks and loops for the waistband closure.

- Cut two inches off of the length (Still included the 5' hem)

- Self-drafted a lining! My first time doing one and it worked! :)

 From the stash: 

- Full size sheet set for skirt fabric (Bought last month)

- 2 yards White Knit for lining (Gifted from my Grandmother's stash, last month)

- Button (Gifted from my Grandmother's stash, last month)

- Thread

Happy Saturday!

-'- Jewel

Fabric busted on this project: 9 7/8 yards (9.0297 m)

Fabric busted since March 1st, 2015: 47 5/8 yards. (43.5483 m)

See Jewel's pledge and get more information on the 2015 Stashbusting Sewalong HERE

We would love to hear from you! Say a quick "hello" in the comments before you go!

Tickled Pink Dress

When I came home over Easter, I brought just a carry-on suitcase to cut down on traveling costs. I was only home for a few days but still managed to run out of things to wear. Jewel & I are very different body shapes, (especially on top) but she prompted me to try on her cherry dress. Wonder of wonders, it fit!

She had always said she didn't want to make me a dress until I was home so she could fit it just right. But when we found out this pattern fit perfectly, she sewed one for me! 

Needless to say, I was just TICKLED PINK.

I think I was seven or eight the very first time I read The Chronicles Of Narnia. This week I've been rereading them for probably the hundredth time. The Horse & His Boy is still my favorite, but I have a new found appreciation for The Magician's Nephew (my photo shoot co-star.)

Jewel made this dress from the Simplicity 1419 Lissette pattern, the same as her Berry Cute Cherry Dress. 

This chair is one of three given to me by a friend. He was cleaning the garage and yard of an elderly woman when she asked him to bring the chairs to Goodwill. Knowing my love of vintage, he asked if he could give them to someone he knew instead. I was very, very excited.

~ Kimberly

Sewn in April of 2015.

Fabric busted on this project: 2 3/8 yards (2.286 m)

Fabric busted since March 1st, 2015: 29 1/4 yards. (26.7462 m)

See Jewel's pledge and get more information on the 2015 Stashbusting Sewalong HERE

July 4th Attire

First off, I want to say Happy Independence Day! I know it's a couple days late. 

We celebrated yesterday because I got home from my three week trip Sunday morning at 12:40am! :)

Here's what we wore to the cook-out! 

Joe B. skater skirt (Gordman's - $12.99)

Jockey Person To Person black tank (gift)

Nicaragua leather & copper wire bracelet (market - C$40 [US$1.47]

Lacy headband (Shopko Hometown - $2.38)

Last week, I had an entirely different outfit planned out to wear to the cook-out. When Friday rolled around, I realized I wanted to wear something more patriotic and not the outfit I had in my head.

I didn't want to go shopping...the other option was sew something. Except, I was in Texas at Samantha's...but wait she has a sewing machine and the basic supplies! Yay!

All I needed was the materials. 

Samantha and I went to Hancock (on Friday) during their 4th of July sale and bought what I needed. 

I choose Simplicity 1133 frankly because it's a "Super Jiffy" pattern, its one piece, and no zippers. 

The pattern was an odd length on me and I thought the solution was making it longer...uhh...yep. Nope. That's wasn't right. 

Although, it doesn't look horrible as a dress. You can tell something is off and it felt like an overly covering apron. :-/ Not what I want to wear to a cook out with hamburgers and hot dogs. Lol

The real solution was making it shorter than the pattern was.

I pinned the bottom up to a good length, counted how many squares it was, cut it and double rolled hemmed it. 

Now that's what I had in my head to look like!

After I got off the initial shock of "I sewed this on Friday, flew home Saturday, changed it and wore it on Sunday"...I actually really liked the way it turned out! It's a comfortable shirt to wear, too!

Blouse: Simplicity 1133 | Fabric: Hancock Fabrics

Shorts: Levi's (Thrifted)

Sandals: Payless Shoe Source

Tank Top: Gordman's
Shorts: DIY Bleach Shorts
Earrings: Gift

Happy(?) Monday!

-'- Jewel

Thrift Store Score - Diet Scale

While I was home for Christmas in January, I went with Jewel, TaMera, Mom & Dad to one of their favorite thrift stores: The Bargain Box.

I came across this vintage diet scale that I snatched up for $1.

 I'm planning to just use it as a regular food scale, (I doubt any dieting will be involved).

Hasta luego!

~Kimberly

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Thrift Store Scores - Raindrop Salt n' Pepper Shakers

Back in January 2014, (before Jewel started Thrift Store Score Tuesdays) we were in the town of Wahoo, Nebraska. We were going to the Nebraska Bridal Outlet Store looking for a wedding dress for Tiffany. She found a gorgeous one and across the street we also found a thrift store!

We found these adorable salt and pepper shakers (made in Japan). Their little faces captured Jewel's attention immediately but she let me buy them!

I need to help write posts more often… I'll try!
Talk to you soon (hopefully)!

~ Kimberly

Thrift Store Score - Navy Knit Fabric (To Two Skirts!)

I found this navy knit at the sack sale where everything, TaMera and I bought ended up being a nickel. (We stuffed that $3 sack!)

On the tag it said there was 1 1/4 yards of fabric at 60" wide.

Well, it was off by almost 2 3/4 yards! It was closer to 5 yards!! 

What a fun surprise and one I didn't keep to myself!

I sewed  McCall's M6706 skirt D, for me. 

The skirt is super comfortable!

Also, at the sack sale I found a navy 7 inch zipper and it was exactly what the pattern called for! Another item from the stash busted!

It pairs great with my yellow gingham blouse!
(You can read about that HERE)

 

I decided to sew Kimberly a skirt and surprise her by mailing it!

Because, I forgot to get her measurements during Christmas break...I chose a safe route with Simplicity 1201, a pull-on knit skirt.

I went with skirt A.
It looked more forgiving than the other options

The most expensive part of the skirt was the elastic, which I found on clearance for a dollar! :D
I think the skirt cost like $3.06 and that's including the pattern! (Bought on one of my 99 cent pattern sale runs)

Happy Tuesday!
-'- Jewel

Fabric busted on the skirts: 4 3/8 yds. (4.0005 m)

Fabric busted since 03/01/15: 10 5/8 yds. (8.8011 m)

See my pledge and get more information on the 2015 Stashbusting Sewalong HERE

I Heart Sweatshirts / Wears

Kimberly and I had a photo shoot, back in January, before she left for college. Our outfits work great for a Valentines post! :)

sweatshirt: old navy  /  scarf: handmade gift  /  jeans: (gap) scout dry goods  /  boots: shoe sensation 

sweatshirt: ross dress for less  /  scarf: handmade gift  /  jeans: old navy  /  boots: shoe sensation



Happy Valentines Day!

-'- Jewel

Photography: Jewel & Kimberly