Shopping for Kids Clothes

The truth is, I do not have to shop much for my son because my mother and father in-law spoil him rotten ( ina a good way) in the clthing department.

When I was pregnant and could not wait to start buying I stocked up on Ralph Lauren stuff at TJ Maxx and Marshall's. I also frequented a consignment shop near my home that was FANTASTIC for getting Ralph Lauren which I LOVE for little boys!!!

I also love Zulily for some great deals...you just have to be on top of it.

These days, if I want something special for my boy, or want something special for one of my adorable nieces, or if I need an extra special gift...I make it!

Yes Friends, I am The Pickle Tree on etsy.

So whenever I am looking for a gift or something special....I turn to the sewing/ embroidery machine!

You can too....or if not, you can ask me to!

Christmas Pillowcase Dress

Perfectly Plush Minky Snowman Pinafore

Reversible Auburn/Thanksgiving turkey romper



Alabama Pinafore



Just go to The Pickle Tree on etsy.

http://www.thepickletree.etsy.com/

Join Kelly over at Kelly's Korner for some more GREAT shopping ideas!

AND TGIF!



Upcycled Concert "T"

My sister handed me a shirt last time I was in Alabama and said, "turn this into a pillow".

I said OK.

I could make pillows in my sleep.

I did not think much more about it until I needed a project to use up my bobbin thread because I needed to switch out my bobbin thread to black and when I thought black, I thought of the T-shirt and so I grabbed it and got started.

My mind works in mysterious ways.

WHEN it is working at all that is, so I think my mind was on vacation when I got started on this because I really did not take very good pictures.

Truth be told, I did not get overly involved, because I really did not have a vision of HOW STINKING CUTE it would turn out!

 So as you can see( or really you can't actually see, work with me here) I cut the top and bottom off of the shirt. Essentially leaving the main artwork of the T-shirt with some blank black canvas on each side of the art. I then cut the bottom of the T-shirt into 4 long strips.

I baste stitched(some would call this a gathering stitch) down the middle of the strips on a VERY low tension setting. Once this is done, you can pull the bobbin thread on each end, and it "gathers" the ruffle for you. I was taught this method by and old pal of mine way back when (shout out to Tami Stanford) and I think of her every time I do it! It makes it so easy.

 Then, I pinned the ruffles in place and ran a stitch down the center over my gathering stitch to secure it. Some would say that you should remove the original basting stitch at this point, but the ruffles were so tight that I could not get to it.

 I backed it with some coordinating fabric that I had, that I knew my sister liked. I love the way the green matched the "Poison" logo. I suppose that I COULD have used the back of the T-shirt for the backing, but I wanted to add some structure and the stretchy knit of a T-shirt would have been less than ideal for the sham style back that I chose.

(AKA...I cut the top off the art on the back of the shirt by mistake) 

I wanted her to be able to get the insert out easily for washing.

I would like to take a moment to point out that I could hardly go to sleep that night because "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" and "Talk Dirty To Me" lyrics kept running through my head!

But it was totally worth it because I LOVE the way it turned out!

I am already eye-ing some beloved T-shirts that might need to be upcycled.

What a great way to showcase some favorite T's that you no longer wear.

Oh...and BONUS, I never counted on loving the way the T-shirt ruffles feel. GREAT texture!


***Once I saw how cute this turned out, I just KNEW that I had to share it on Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style***

Pretty Little Things

 My sister makes jewelry...

 you know the stuff...

 all that cool hand stamped metal.

 She is pretty freaking talented.

 She did a show at "Soul Spa" at Saint Luke's this past weekend.

 She was a hit!

 You should go "like" her on facebook.

 Or go love on her at her etsy shop!

 With Christmas just around the corner....

 You will be glad you did!

4th of July/ Camping Adventure/ Birthday Party EXTRAVAGANZA! -3 part series continued

3rd Birthday Party! SO proud of my BIG BOY!

Finally- the last part of "the series". It only took me a month and 1/2 to get it all in! WHEW!
In case you missed part 1 or part 2, you can see them here or here.

A quick background...we joined a park at Lake Allatoona called Cushing Park. It was founded back in the 50's as a retreat exclusive to Delta employees and their families. A few years ago they opened it up to the public. We were looking for a place to store our boat, so we joined. They have a pool, campgrounds, cabins, boat slips, boat houses, bath houses..all kinds of cool stuff. STRAIGHT OUT OF THE 50's. Well, except for the boat slips and docks. Those are updated and actually super nice!
Anyway- July is HOT for a kids birthday party, so as soon as we joined, I knew that I would just do Jack's party there at the pool and rent a pavillion. Worked out PERFECTLY! I rented a couple of cabins starting the weekend of the 4th and we stayed the entire week right on through to Jack's party the next Saturday.

It was a camping themed party- so this banner welcomed everyone!

It says happy campers and I tell a little about how I made it here.

 You can see little hints of Delta and airplanes and such all around the Park, like this cute little airplane on the playground! Always a hit on the small fry circuit.

 Rayna and Gavin

 Aunt Jarah and Aleah

 You can see Tiffany here in the background. It is a gated park which is nice, but can get kind of complicated for a party. She and Brad, her husband manned the gate and let the guests in. Thanks to Brad and Tiff...wouldn't have been much of a party without the guests!

Big D had downed a tree in our back yard a few weeks before the party, so I had him make us some "stumps" for the party table!

 Nick and Caroline, our awesome neighbors!

 We had a jeep pinata. Jack LOVES pinatas. Whenver we go to a birthday party, he asks ahead of time if he will get a turn to swing at the pinata!

 Grace posing with the pinata

 Our neighbor, Christopher, really did a number on it!

Jack had already opened one of his gifts. A monster truck, his new obsession!

 The goodies! Everyone's favorite part of a pinata!

 Our friends Jim and Julie were there with their girls!

 KK taking a picture of Uncle Josh taking a picture of her

Uncle Josh taking a picture of KK taking a picture of him

 Baby Raynor

 Rials

Sophie likes her sucker

 No camping party is complete without smores on a stick, right?

Peanuts were a crowd favorite.

All good campers eat hot dogs, right?

My friend Rayna got the stickers for the tops of the party favors. Animal crackers for the littles and trail mix for the bigger kids!

 The cake.....The cake could be it's own post!

 It was a tree stump to go along with the theme. "Jack is 3!!" is "carved" into the tree.

 The campground is on top complete with a jeep, tent, and campfire.

 So cool. I love the critters. This cake was made by my very talented neighbor. If you live in the Atlanta area and need a cake, you should check her out!

 The coolest part about the cake was that Jack ADORED it! Once he saw it, he pretty much stayed right beside it. He just stood and admired it and asked everyone to look at it!

 It was SUPER cool when we cut it open. I loved the camping theme, but I wanted to add some color. SO we did! It tasted great!

 Blowing out the candles! Make wish buddy!

 We had given him his birthday present the night before the party on his REAL birthday. He gets a knife each year from his daddy. This year it was an engraved swiss army knife.

 His big present was his very own, very first bike!

 I think he likes it!

 We opened the rest of the gifts once we got home from camp.

There was just way too much action at the party for unwrapping gifts! He got lots of cool monster trucks and he LOVES them all!

The whole party was a success!

Happy Birthday Jack- mommy and daddy love you very much!