We still have quite a quite a few sizes in the Leopard Rose shoes in stock and available for immediate shipment!  In fact, we are rushing back ordered inventory to be here by next week, instead of March 23!  The over-sized Magnolia clip is in stock as well!  

I don't know what it is, but lately I am dreaming of a getaway.  Maybe it's the combination of Mia going through an exceptionally needy phase combined with growing all the needs of the business.  Whatever it is, it leaves me feeling one tantrum, tear or need away from a breakdown.  Do you know the feeling?  So, lately, I have been thinking maybe the remedy is a few days away some where.  A lovely lake, some sun lit woods, a beach, a glistening body of water... any or all of the above.  The kids have suddenly been pleading for Disney Land.  That sounds like fun, too and certainly magical memories, but I fear it might be more exhausting than I can handle.  Have you been to Disney with your children?  Was itrelaxing, exhausting or a bit of both?  Do you have any spring break plans?  Where is a nice, relaxing place to take a 4 and a 7 year old?

After working in a frenzy over the launch of our spring styles {thank you to everyone who made it such an enormous success!!} I finally had time to photograph a Joyfolie DIY original that my daughter Mia and I created together.  A long time ago I made this blog post with an almond lace bolero by Top Shop.  I have always loved that concept, and with Mia as my helper, we created a lacey little bolero/caplet with a similar feel.  You do not need hardly any sewing experience--I promise!  But what you do need is a sewing machine and basic knowledge of how to use it.   

For materials, you will need:

t-shirt in your child's size {or close to it}
3 yards of 3" wide lace
matching thread
matching ribbon, 34" long {not shown}

  

tools:

sewing machine

fabric scissors

I used cream lace because it's a classic choice, but I think an unusual color would be especially striking.  For example, I saw a mustard lace that was a really great color and would make a vibrant piece, especially for photos.

So, step one, fold your t-shirt in half and trim to a cropped shape, as shown:

Next, trim the sides, so they are a cropped shape.  Honestly, I think I might have trimmed in a little too much in my example.  Keep in mind, the lace has a raw edge, so you could always trim in more when you are finished.

Next, take your lace trim, starting at the collar and pin it all the way around and trim it.

 

Repeat this process with a second and third layer of lace, pinning front the front and all the way across to the other side:

 This is how the three layers look in the back when they are pinned:
 

One they are pinned, sew them into place in a straight or a zigzag stitch on your machine.  {I preferred the extra detail of the zigzag.}  After the sewing of the first three layers is finished, add another one to two layers of lace in the back only, depending on how short you trimmed the jacket.  Sew into place:

Finally {sorry, I forgot to photograph this step} take your 34" piece of ribbon, center it in the middle of the back, then sew it into place across the collar using a zigzag stitch again, leaving excess on either side, so you can tie the jacket on.

The completed little lace "jacket" looks like this:

I found this on Pinterest via Houzz's Paint Chips DIY; isn't it amazing!  The beautiful molding makes such a common place material a true showcase.   I loved our old home in Michigan.  It was 110 years old, wide plank wood floors, high ceilings, rounded archways... That was a time of pre-business and pre-kids, so I could spend my whole weekend repainting furniture and thinking up crazy decorating ideas.  I remember struggling to hang a silk scarf I bought in Hong Kong from two dowels in the living room when I realized I have a definite affinity for unusual/repurposed decorating over the conventional.  This is just perfect!

What has inspired you recently?

Amelie shoes, Cala cream dress, magnolia clip and lots more coming this Thursday at 9 pm CST on our site! {Additional details and photos added shortly!}

Just a quick note: here at Joyfolie we don't do too many giveaways, but this one had too many friends and favorites to pass up! Also, just a quick note that we release 4 new styles of shoes--yes, including the Genevieve!-- this Thursday at 9 pm CST! =================================================================================

Are you ready for this?! Pick Your Plum's - Pick Your Prize Giveaway. Yes, that means if you win, you PICK your prize from amazon.com. To help spread the word about this amazing promotion, Pick Your Plum has teamed up with 10 incredible websites. Let's be honest, most of you probably know about most of them because they are a few of my all time favorites. These are definitely sites worth getting cozy with.

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If you aren't already faithful followers of these sites, take a peek, and fall in love. Here are direct links: Pick Your Plum, Skip to my Lou, Joy Folie, Make it and Love it, Discount Queens, Sugar Doodle, How Does She, Gracylu Originals, Oh So Posh Photography, Kara's Party Ideas, and College Fashion.

Good Luck!!!

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*This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability. The sponsor, Pick Your Plum, will ship all prizes within 7 days of giveaway end. The prizes have no monetary/cash value. Giveaway starts Monday, Feb 13th at 8 pm EST and ends Monday, Feb 20th at 8 pm EST. Once the giveaway ends, Rafflecopter will randomly select winners. Winners will be contacted within 24 hours by email. The Rafflecopter widget will be updated with winners names.

So, I spent a good portion of yesterday working on a Joyfolie DIY, but at the end my little model was unwilling to pose for pictures.  So, I guess it's a work in progress.  I love Valentine's, though, and could spent all day on Pinterest looking at DIY's.  I couldn't pass up reposting these adorable felt hearts by Purl Soho.  How cute are they?!  And so super simple.

Happy Valentine's Day!  Do you have anything romantic planned?  Robert and I have nothing planned as of yet.