Fashion Archives - girl. Inspired.

My Favorite Things for Spring – gold earrings, miracle lip balm, and more!

March 18, 2020 by girlinspired 5 Comments

In an effort to focus on the positive today and make space for a bit of joy, I’m excited to share a few of my favorite things for spring. Below you will find links and information to some of my favorite products and online retailers (who will greatly benefit from your support during a time when we are spending more time at home and with our families.) I’ve also included some great spring recipes and craft projects to keep you celebrating the season!

*this post contains affiliate links and/or gifted items. This in no way impacts my honest opinion shared here.

Gold Earrings

I received my first two pairs of sparkling gold earrings from Aurate New York and I am in love. I can’t get over the cute style of these tribal bar earrings with a piece that goes in front of the earlobe and then connects up with another piece from behind – SO FUN! The tiny heart hoops are so versatile, too. Their designs are unique and the packaging is obviously as important to Aurate as it is to me.

I’m saving up for one of their cuff earrings, too, because stacking earrings is the latest hot trend and there are just so many cute choices! Aurate combines sustainable sourcing and production of all of their jewelry right here in the U.S. with durable, high quality materials to stand the test of time.

Lip Enhancing Lipbalm

I discovered this lip balm after a miraculous (and rare!) facial at Beauty Blend Studio. I have never had such supple, moisturized lips. My teen daughter and I have started using this stuff nightly and there is absolutely nothing like it. Want the plump lip look without the expensive, invasive Botox? You’ve got to try this lip enhancement complex!

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Since I am obsessed with Glennon Doyle and all the good in the world that she represents, I have her newly released book, Untamed, ready to crack open. Glennon makes me laugh, makes me cry, and reminds me that there is a lot of beautiful, wonderful, brave people in our world, even when things seem scary and hard. Cannot WAIT to read this one.

Succulents

It’s succulent planting time! About this time every year, I dig in to my old succulent planters and spruce them up – pulling out dead leaves, trimming back long and lanky strands, propagating leaves and trimmed plants, and filling in holes with fresh new succulents. As soon as it’s safe to gather with friends again, I have a date with some besties to plant up fresh succulent wreaths for the spring. Do you have a succulent garden growing?

Golden Milk

I’ve added this Golden Milk recipe into my daily routine. I noticed that Starbucks has even jumped on the turmeric trend, but I like my recipe best. Golden Milk is a warm comforting blend of turmeric, ginger, spices, honey, and milk (any kind of milk) for a yummy, immune-boosting blend of flavors.

Glitter Easter Egg Decorations

Easter is just around the corner and nothing is so nostalgic as playing with Easter egg decorations. This year, I have a huge container of plastic eggs that are supposed to be dyeable. I want to do some pastel colors and then add glitter like the ones I did a few years ago.

Lemon Cream Cheese Cookie Bars

My lemon tree is LOADED with lemons, so I’m baking up all the lemon things. My family never gets tired of Lemon Cream Cheese Bars – give them a try and you’ll see why.

Comfy Pants

My Jax joggers and my trusty leggings are my favorite clothes to wear this spring; they make up my home uniform. I don’t want to wear anything else. They are so super comfy and I have gathered up quite the collection of cute prints and patterns. If you need some new comfy pants in your life, shop for available joggers or leggings online here or shoot me your contact info and I’ll help you find what you’re looking for!

Personalized Mugs

Drinking my morning coffee or golden milk out of the cutest mug that my cousin gifted me is making me all kinds of happy. I love supporting small businesses and if you’d like to, too, you can personalize a mug for your bestie or yourself here at Gossby.

So there you are! I hope you’ll find shopping, cooking, and crafting inspiration from my favorite things this Spring!

8 Reasons to LOVE Cricut EasyPress

November 3, 2017 by girlinspired Leave a Comment

How much do you love using heat transfer vinyl/iron-on vinyl? It’s one of my favorite crafting supplies – I have whipped out throw pillows, graphic tees, monograms, accented bags, and the list goes on. Heat transfer vinyl is so much fun to use in conjunction with my Cricut cutting machines. And NOW, Cricut has come out with yet another product to make things even easier! Today I’m going to give you 8 more reasons why I (and you!) love iron-on vinyl with the Cricut EasyPress.

If you’ve used iron-on vinyl for projects in the past, you may have stumbled on my least favorite part of the process – the actual ironing on of the product. Particularly since we now have a variety of vinyl types to use – glitter, foil, standard lite, etc., it can be tricky knowing just how high to heat our iron and just how long to wiggle it around all over the project. After all the design work, the last thing I want is to mess up my cut images during the transfer process OR not iron them on securely and have them peel off later. Enter the EasyPress!

The EasyPress is a nifty little machine that has a flat, even surface for pressing heat transfer vinyl. It sits in a handy little caddy, and you simply plug it in. Adjust the settings to the temperature needed for your particular product and surface you’re adhering to. The machine makes a beep when it’s hot and ready to use – and it only takes a few seconds to heat.

Gather your supplies and cut out your designs. I cut two different designs – each with four layers of heat transfer vinyl – and I used a variety of vinyl types to get a sense for how the EasyPress adjusts. After you’ve cut all your design layers and weeded out the negative space, it’s time to iron them on!

This step couldn’t be easier. Work on a hard surface (I used my desktop) and lay down a fluffy towel beneath your project. I was ironing my designs onto some pre-made 100% cotton tote bags for my girls. Give the surface a little swipe with the heat press to warm up the foundation layer. Then lie the first design in place. Set the clock to the number of seconds indicated on the settings chart and place the heat press over the design. Press down (not too hard, just lean on the handle a little) and hit the go button to start the clock. When the time is up, the EasyPress beeps and you can move on to the next section. This feature – just the clock alone – makes this little tool amazing! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve lost track of counting while I’m trying to transfer an iron-on. Not anymore!

Then, you just keep stacking your layers. Adjust any settings in between. I had to adjust the temperature and time for switches between standard/foil/glitter vinyls. The machine adjust quickly and the transfer worked perfectly every single time. What’s not to love??

8 REASONS TO LOVE CRICUT EASYPRESS:

Cute, sleek design – it looks good in my craft room and stores easily.
Heat-safe caddy – No need to worry about burning my work surface – the caddy it sits in provides heat resistant protection and a secure nesting place.
Digital temperature dial – Easily adjust temperature for products being used. Heats up extremely quick and evenly.
Digital clock – the clock is adjustable and it counts down for you! Never miscount or worry about getting distracted!
Surface area – the large square surface area heats evenly and covers larger portions of my projects than a standard iron.
Recommended Settings reference chart – it comes with a handy chart that tells you the temperature and time settings for all materials and if you misplace it, you can find the settings chart online, here.
Affordable – The EasyPress is priced right for a crafter – it seems safer, affordable, and easier to use than a professional heat press.
Professional Results – no more guessing how long or how hot to use your household iron. Get professional, lasting results with the EasyPress!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

DIY Graphic Tees with Cricut

February 9, 2017 by girlinspired 1 Comment

Are you looking for a simple, quick, and AWESOME craft project? Might I suggest pulling out your Cricut and whipping up some DIY Graphic Tees! I wanted to add some pizazz to a few plain tees, so I grabbed my favorite cutting machine and some sparkly iron-on material and created three adorable t-shirts in less than an hour!

Aren’t these seriously the cutest thing? Making graphic tees yourself is so simple, you have to try it. I found all of my images in the Cricut Design Space software. Once I chose the designs I wanted, I expanded them to the size I thought best fit each tee and then flipped them to the mirror image before cutting. Once the image gets sent to the Cricut machine, you simply let the machine do the work to cut a perfect image. Weed out the extra material from the background transfer film and then place it onto a freshly ironed shirt. Use a press cloth and iron (follow the package instructions) for 25-30 seconds. Repeat on the inside of the garment and then allow it to cool completely. Once it’s cool, carefully peel off the transfer film and ta-da! Your graphic tee appears before your eyes! I like to give it one last press to make sure the film is ironed on tight and that’s all there is to it! I’ve made graphic tees in the past and the images go through the wash and dryer just fine, too!

Watch this video to see just how easy it is!

So much fun, right? So go grab your Cricut machine and your iron-on film and make a pile of your own!

For more information on how to find the clothing we used for these graphic tees and photos, please join our Facebook group here:

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

Petite Princess Sewing Pattern

September 21, 2016 by girlinspired 4 Comments

Sewing Friends!! I am so excited to share with you this individual pattern, the Petite Princess Sewing Pattern. This dress was originally designed for my collaboration with 5&10 Designs, which has now closed up shop. However, I wanted to continue offering this beautiful dress pattern and I’m thrilled to announce that it’s ready to go!

I know there are many little girls that are begging for dreamy princess costumes for Halloween or you have their most fantastic fantasy birthday parties coming up! I’m still setting up shop here on the site, but you can purchase this PDF pattern through my Etsy Shop, here or if you’re on a desktop, you can purchase the pattern directly through my onsite shop, here!!

This dress has pretty cap sleeves and trim around the hem and waistline. It closes with fabric-covered buttons up the back, which can be changed out for any buttons or even teeny tiny fabric-covered buttons! The ankle-length skirt has ribbon pick-ups in the front and back that lift it up over the built-in pettiskirt. It also has a lining that keeps scratchy tulle off your little one’s skin. This dress is one she’ll never forget. My little one STILL pulls her princess gowns down out of the closet and twirls around in them.

The pattern comes in sizes 12 months, 18 months, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. It includes both standard and metric measurements. There are 36 pages of step-by-step colored pictures to take you through the process of constructing such a masterpiece. Although the dress design includes the built-in pettiskirt and lining, there are also instructions to make the dress without and instead wear it over a separate pettiskirt, such as this tutu. I would recommend this sewing pattern for seamstresses with at least some basic sewing experience – none of the individual steps are particularly difficult, but this is a lengthy pattern and there is a lot of material to manipulate!! But it’s so worth the effort because – PRINCESS!

Here is another version of this dress – please note that the sleeves on this particular dress are a bit different than the cap sleeves that are included in the pattern. This purple version here is worn over a separate pettiskirt – see? Same stunning effect!

Bombshell Swimsuit – a pattern review-

April 22, 2016 by girlinspired 1 Comment

A quiet blog usually means we are B.U.S.Y. – which is pretty much life, huh? We spent the last couple weeks in Maui and it was just the unplugged, family fun that we all needed to power through the end of the school year. I spent the week before we left sewing for myself, something that I haven’t found as much time for in the last few months. Packing for a tropical beach vacation can be quite easy – as long as you have a great swimsuit and a few easy things to throw over it, you’re set. I, unfortunately, was in need of a new swimsuit. I had heard about the Bombshell Swimsuit sewing pattern and decided to give it a go. I figured nothing could be worse than swimsuit shopping, am I right?!

So…I sewed the suit. And I wore the suit. All day, every day of my trip. I’m not even sure where to begin raving about this pattern. I’M POSTING PICTURES OF MYSELF IN A SWIMSUIT ON THE INTERNET! Doesn’t that say it all? You guys – this is a must-sew for ALL body types. The classic 1950’s silhouette is super flattering plus modest plus sexy. From where I’m standing, it’s the trifecta of swimsuit styles. As the pattern maker describes it: “With flattering ruched seams, a booty encasing seat and a skirt-like front, the Bombshell swimsuit hugs your curves while providing full (but sexy) coverage.”

This was pretty much my uniform my whole vacation. I felt comfortable and stylish and pretty damn proud of myself for sewing my own swimsuit. SO much better than trying to find something that fits my exact shape on the store rack!

I purchased the sewing pattern through Closet Case Patterns – it was an instant pdf download and printed out without any trouble. There are a couple different styles – I went with the halter top for something new, though my other swimsuit (store-bought) has the “gathered bust maillot” top available as one of the other pattern variations and I looooove that style. (planning on sewing up the alternate variation asap!) She also provides very detailed and well-photographed step-by-step information in a sewalong on her blog – so check that out if you’re struggling with a step.

I used a combination of serger and sewing machine for the suit, but you can absolutely get by with just a sewing machine. In fact, I did most of the finishing with the sewing machine and mostly did basting with the serger. I did appreciate the quick and extra reinforcement of serging the final side seams together and attaching the bodice to the bottom, but other than that, I’ll probably skip the serger all together next time.

I did not ruche along the back center seam of the seat, but I think I’ll give it a try on the next go-around. The back is fine without the ruching – just simple. It made it quicker to sew without that step and less intimidating on the first try. The back of the swimsuit provides full coverage – the fabric stays put and it’s totally comfortable – no riding up, no tight elastic. Although the instructions for sewing in the elastic around the leg holes looked complicated, I found it easy to follow with both the pattern and my fabric in front of me at the sewing machine.

The gathered side seams and the front “skirt” panel just makes this swimsuit! It’s so stylish and modest in just the right places. You end up with three layers of fabric over your stomach, which is especially nice when you’re over the age of, say, had a baby or three. The halter top/bust portion came together easily also. There is elastic sewn with a slight tension down each side of the bust pieces and this helps everything stay put. I did rip some cup liners out of a super old swimsuit and added them to this halter version, even though it wasn’t included in the pattern. A little lining makes me feel more comfortable – I just did a quick stitch around the perimeter of the cup to sew it onto the inside of the lining piece before sewing together the lining and the main fabric of each bust piece.

As you can see, the suit was good for swimming, beach strolls, and cradling cute kiddos poolside. Alrighty! So, nothing but glowing recommendations for this pattern.

PATTERN: Closet Case Files Bombshell Swimsuit

FABRIC: paisley lycra from Joann Fabric & Craft, polyester thread, ball point needles

MACHINES: Baby Lock Aventura Sewing Machine & Baby Lock Evolution Serger

Have fun!

Christmas Outfit Inspiration

November 26, 2015 by girlinspired 6 Comments

These girls of mine take my breath away. I know I’ve said it before, but it brings me so much joy to see their excitement as I design, sew, and photograph homemade garments specifically for each of them. They wait patiently as their sisters take turns and know that they will be in the spotlight in due time. As part of my work with Jo-Ann, I was given the task to create something around a “Winter Chill” theme and as I perused the store, Christmas outfits came to life in my mind. Warm, furry coats and sparkly dresses in pink and gold. Something different and so beautiful. I’ve finished this first outfit and I don’t know if it was her beaming smile or the way the morning light hit my camera as I rushed to take pictures before a busy day, but these pictures are positively glowing.
I saw this amazing fabric in my store and quickly stitched up a simple dress. I must sound like a broken record, but the 5&10 Volume 1 pattern came in oh-so-handy once again. The simple bodice with big gold buttons up the back and pretty little cap sleeves give a reliable, well-fitting result. I did a simple gathered skirt. After I had sewn it together, the skirt was looking really too puffy – this fabric is thick and very structured – probably a bit much for a gathered skirt. I pressed the gathers really well and that did the trick. I love the result. With a slim gold belt, the dress has great structure to complement the fancy jacquard print. You can also find the fabric online – it’s David Tutera Metallic Jacquard Fabric in Rose.

The dress is gorgeous under this furry coat. She looks like a winter wonderland dream, does she not? I hope she never stops crinkling her cute little nose when she giggles.