Teacher's Pet Cardi, Simple Tee and Poppy Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!! CLOSED.

I took a while to make this next giveaway because I wanted to create a complete set with documented patterns which always takes longer. I hope to make a couple more Teacher's Pet pieces down the road. They have a preppy, yet eclectic feel.


In the meantime, I've been fortunate enough to have a couple wonderful guests share their pieces on Grosgrain.


Lily was fabulous during this shoot. I think the apples had something to do with it. Her exact words were, "I used to not like apples but these are the best apples I've ever had." I'll have to include fruit more often in my photos.


Lily has started kindergarten this past week. I found this antique school desk at a local Salvation Army. Her teacher recommended having a stationary place for her to do her homework. (Yeah, kindergarteners have homework!)




We only had the dining room table which didn't seem very personal to me. So the desk served two great purposes! I might repaint the bottom. Any color suggestions?


I liked the blue, mustard and white color pairing. All Teacher's Pet pieces will have these colors throughout.





The skirt is a simple pattern. With a straight waistband in the front and a adjustable elastic band in the back.


But of course the icing on the cake is the giant linen poppy affixed to the side. The poppy is removable and can be worn close to the shoulder as a boutonnière.


If you'd like I could write a tutorial on how to make these fabulous poppies!


I also want to thank April Spinetti who introduced me to a great fabric store in the Lancaster area with a generous selection of knits.


Without her I wouldn't have found fabric for the cardi or tee. I even found a swiss dot plum knit! Beat that JoAnn's. I'm constantly underwhelmed by the selection of knits at all the local chains.


The Goodville Fabric Outlet not only had an endless selection of knits in almost any color but they were CHEAP. And they had something I had never seen before....sweater material on bolts. They didn't have quite as much as that but it certainly peaked my interest.



It's too bad the store is a little over an hour from my home. I just have to make some reasons to go to Lancaster. There's never a shortage....outlet shopping, cheese, friends and family:)


The cardi is gathered at the neckline into four pleats. The result is a trapeze look. I also used large eye popping buttons to compliment the white strips in the tee.


I really debated on what fabric to use for the tee. Along with the swiss dot plum knits, I also found navy swiss dot knits. I can very close to using that for this outfit but in the end I liked the punchiness that the stripes offered to the outfit.

I was able to use my serger to finish off the edges of the knits which was so great. It's easy and never frays. The only problem I've had is changing threads. So many times I settle for using a white thread on a colored fabric because the thought of rethreading the machine is just too much to handle.



I've heard of these wonderful air jet things on the very expensive sergers. I like to say 'it's like cameras". You really have to settle for what you can afford. If it's over $1,000 I have to pass. But wouldn't it be nice? Just once in a while.


I found these kid beads at Claires in bunches of five for a great deal. One in every color. And the mustard tights were from Urban Outfitters.


You probably would never be able to tell but I moved the "studio" down to our really scary basement. It's so strange to have all these lights and backdrop in the middle of cobwebs, concrete and dankness.


I originally had it upstairs in our sewing/office/exercise/ guest room. Obviously we had space issues. Finally I bit the bullet and moved everything downstairs. And I think despite the occasional gross out, it was the right decision.


I had wanted to take these photos out in a field or woods with the desk but with the heat wave we've been experiencing I couldn't imagine asking Lily to wear this fall outfit. It's good for temperatures in the 60s which should be happening sometime soon.


I usually dread fall and winter and the crisp air that accompanies them but oddly this year I find myself craving it. Perhaps it's because recently the heat seems to be making me sick.


But I'm also really looking forward to Halloween and costumes and have a couple ideas in the works already. Last year will be difficult to top. I certainly can't promise anything. I suppose it will depend on my energy level which is so erratic these days.

Like I said earlier if you would like a tutorial on how to make the boutonniere poppies just let me know. There are about twelve tiers of petals. It was more time consuming than difficult. I think they look great on adults!


If you don't have the time to make one for yourself you should check out this fabulous creator of linen poppies. At emersonmade.

So classy. Think new england, j.crew. Great for weddings too. I'm so jealous of her house, her life. Let's say mine could use a maid-for-hire once in a while. At least someone to put away all this clean laundry!


Speaking of laundry. I know this is totally unrelated but it's against township ordinances to hang our laundry in our yard. Isn't that strange.


I guess I can see why it might be an eye sore if you were hanging them from one window to another but the look of fresh laundry hanging in the fresh summer air seems like a pleasing memory.


I've never had the pleasure of air drying my laundry. I assume it's something I couldn't find the time for but I do remember my mother doing it when I was very small. Then one year a nest of bees settled in our laundry poles and stung my father as he tried to evacuate them. That was the end of freshly aired laundry in my house/ life.

Finally, I know posting my winners has gotten backed up. I have to get on Brian's case tomorrow and hopefully they will be announced by Monday. So please check back then. Whenever a picture is taken off the top list of current giveaways then a winner has been announced.


I would say this cardi, tee and skirt would fit a 3T-5T.


As usual, if you would like a chance to win this cardi, tee and skirt just link back to this post.


If you have any questions see the "questions and answers" link to the right. If you use blogger just use the "create a link" link at the bottom of this post. If you don't use blogger, that's fine too. Just create a link on your page as you normally would and I will see it using Technorati.


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