Sweet Cherry A-Line

I'd seen an ensemble using the cherries and polka dots somewhere in a boutique a while back. Well, I completely swiped the idea and came up with my own version. The long ribbon thing is for her hair. The A-line is Simplicity's 4927 shortened to about 2 inches above the size 3 line. Usually I shorten it up about 5 inches, but this one doesn't have a ruffle, so it needed to be a little longer.

A-line outfit

I've had this fabric for over a year and I knew it'd be great... for SOMETHING! I was finally inspired to do something with it when I decided the ribbon needed to play a bigger role than just an second-thought embellishment. It needed to be PART of the outfit. I couldn't be happier with the results!

It's not that I haven't been BUSY......

It's been ages since my last post. We have been so busy! I finally got around to getting some things posted...

Another homeschooling family and I took the kids on a couple of field trips. We've been doing a unit study on Mesopotamia and Egypt so a visit to see the King Tut Exhibit was a MUST! Here's the girls (6 and 7) getting ready to go in and watch the 3-D Mummies movie! It was fantastic!! Those Pharaohs had it made!





We also took all of the kids to the Marietta Museum of History in GA. We got to see the Confederate locomotive "The General" that was stolen by the North, then reclaimed by the South. There was also a re-enactment going on just outside, so the kids got to mingle with Civil War soldiers and the maidens of the 1800s.

Another Frannie Baby set

This set, the pink smocked set and the pink booties are all part of a commission job. This is a Frannie Baby set. It's fully lined (of course) and has the accessories to match! This kid is going to be the best-dressed in town!

Smocked top and bloomers

Pink and completely girly! Hand-smocked and hand-beaded. For some reason the bloomers aren't in the picture. They're pink, too!

Pink baby booties

I made these the other night while catching up with TiVo. I had to modify the original pattern, mostly because I don't remember where I put it :) I've made tons of these things. The ribbon just adds a girly flare! This pair is a commission job. They go with the next few posts. She wanted "very girly with lots of accessories."

Smocked shorts set for toddler

I made this for my neice as well. It's a Hallie top with shorts. I just added the ruffle, well, because ruffles are fun! I think she'll be adorable!

Another baby Bubble

My niece just celebrated her 1st birthday so I made this for her. I like the funky colors in this fabric. It's the same baby bubble pattern that I've used before (children's corner). It's super easy - as are most of their patterns.

Romper

I found this pattern at JoAnns. It's really easy and super cute. It'll be fun to wear to the park - when dresses aren't necessarily appropriate. It's a See & Sew pattern #3888. The back closure called for buttons, but I didn't want the girl to need help everytime she had to go to the bathroom, so I put velcro on the closure flaps and just added a couple of mock buttons. She didn't want to take it off, so she's wearing it today - even though it's 42 and raining. I guess we're not going anywhere, anyway!

Aren't these cute?! This is some seersucker I'd bought at Walmart for $2 a yard. The gingham is seersucker, too. I used the shorts pattern from McCalls' M5306 and just added a ruffle along the hem. Then I made the top from Simplicity 3749 and lined it, because, as mentioned previously, I hate facing. I can't wait until the girl can wear this with her friend. They'll be in tweeny heaven!

The girl picked this fabric out eons ago. It has a whimsical bug motif along the bottom. I used New Look, pattern 6493. I lined the bodice instead of using facing... I hate facing. She loves it and can't wait to go jump on the trampoline in it. According to her, it is a "floating dress".

Ruffle Skirt

This skirt is really cute, but not exactly something you can whip out in an hour. Lots of gathering and hemming - my two LEAST favorite tasks. Not hard, just tedious. Of course, it's got "6-year-old GIRL" written all over it. Sorry to say, I'll be making more soon.

Bobbie Bubble and Accessories

I was commissioned to make this for a friend. It's a Children's Corner pattern (Bobbie Bubble) and I love it! I added the draw ties under the arms for "flair". And no baby is complete without accessories. Matching hairbow and cloth booties. This is some fantastic Michael Miller fabric from Debra at Palmetto Kids. It's super soft!

Baseball PJ pants

I made the boys (my boy and a friend boy) matching baseball pants. T-ball is just around the corner!

Clothes for Kit

Although it's not EXACTLY the same (the girl was quick to point out that Kit's isn't smocked), it's EXACTLY the same FABRIC. :D

Australian Smocking Magazine Pattern - Toffee Apple

This pattern was in Australian Smocking & Embroidery, Issue 81. It's super cute and super easy. The pattern needed to be altered a little. They used facing, and I wanted it lined, and they had actual shoulder straps, and I wanted ribbon. Also, they used rick rack instead of the piping, which is REALLY cute, but I couldn't find rick rack that matched, so I was forced to make piping. I also added a machine embroidered accent to the hem of the capris.

Homemade Cakesters!

I found this FANTASTIC idea at www.bakerella.blogspot.com. If you've never been to her site, you have GOT to check it out!! She made a similar "cakester" using Red Velvet cake for V-day. I used Butter Fudge Recipe cake mix and a homemade buttercream icing recipe that I found on her site, too. It's out of this world!







Ingredients and Directions:

Cookies:
1 pkg cake mix
1/2 cup butter (softened)
2 eggs

Beat eggs and butter, then add cake mix. Spoon mixture (or to ensure uniform cookies, use a small ice cream scoop). Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

Buttercream Icing
1/2 cup butter (softened)
8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
1 t. vanilla
1 lb. confectioner's sugar
1-3 T. milk (if needed, as needed)
**For chocolate, add 1/2 cup dark powdered cocoa**

Beat butter and cream cheese, then add vanilla. Slowly add sugar and continue mixing until smooth. You'd add cocoa now if you were making the chocolate icing. You can also add milk if the icing is too dense for your liking.


Once the cookies have cooled, simply plop a dollop of icing in the middle and add the top cookie. Smoosh to perfection!

Matching Outfits

My friend and I got together yesterday and had a blast making some outfits for her daughters. They're just simple A-Line dresses with capris. We shortened the length of the dress and added a ruffle, then added a matching ruffle to the capris. I think they'll look adorable (when it finally warms up enough to wear them!). Ruffle Tip: Cut double the width of the ruffle and seam allowance, and instead of hemming it, fold the ruffle (wrong sides together) and gather BOTH raw edges, then attach ruffle to bottom of dress (and lining). Saves an enormous amount of time! No one likes hemming!

A new outfit for the boy

The girl is always gettin' new stuff, so today it was the boys' turn!

Chiffon Ballerina Skirt

If you've ever tried working with chiffon, you know it is a royal pain in the rear! I'd bought some a few months ago because it was only $1.44/yd and I figured I could certainly come up with a ballerina skirt cheaper than the $15 they charge at the ballerina store.

Attempt #1 was a disaster. I had to come up with a new plan. One that didn't involve hemming! This is what I came up with...

I just doubled the length of the skirt that I wanted and folded it over. Both ends are at the top. I serged and stitched them, then turned the seam inward, and stitched another seam again (this one for the elastic casing. I fed the elastic through and french seamed the ends together.

It turned out just like I wanted! All for about $0.40!

Book Covers

I wanted to try a new "recipe" that I found!


I don't know why I can't make this a hyperlink... you'll have to ctrl C then ctrl V...

http://www.fiber-images.com/Free_Things/Projects_Patterns/free_patterns_sewing.html

Danish Woven Hearts

I found a video for this craft idea. It uses the same familiar concept of making Danish woven heart baskets, but instead of using paper, you use fabric. I had to soak the fabric in glue/water to stiffen it. The girl wanted them to be purses, so she stitched the side seams on the machine.

Here's the link:
http://www.curbly.com/DIY-Maven/posts/5784-Curbly-Video-Podcast-How-to-make-woven-fabric-hearts-

My very first quilting attempt

I wanted to see if I could do it. That's usually how my projects come about. The boy asked for a bed for "Power Rangers" his Webkinz, so I figured I could come up with something "bed-like". I didn't use a pattern... well, I tried. Originally, this was to be a pinwheel quilt job, but those pinwheels, well, they're hard and confusing. So, this arose, instead! He loves it, and that's all that matters. I had to learn how to miter corners - need to practice.

Getting a head start on summer!

This is the "Hallie" top that I posted earlier. It's smocked with chevrons across the front. I added a ruffle to the hem to close up the lining, so this top is completely lined - the smocking back is hidden! I wanted to make some shorts to match it... they have a ruffle, too.

Here's a new pattern I tried. It's a Children's Corner pattern called "Mary De". I absolutely love it! It crosses in the back and closes with 2 buttons situated horizontally. I actually shortened the top - it's supposed to be a dress!Ahh, and more ruffle pants!

Busy smocking

Here's that dress for my daughter's friend. The smocking turned out pretty good. I really like the lace trim. It makes it look old-fashioned, and in my opinion, smocking only works one of two ways... either old-fashioned or totally retro. There's really no in between!

Another Bishop

I've been trying to get a bunch of things ready smock/hand sew so I can take them with me to Florida. This is a bishop I made for a friend's kid. It's one of the prettiest things I think I've ever made. The girl picked the fabric out herself, and I must say, for this dress, I don't think she could have picked a better print. All of the seams are in french! Ooh la la! And it has one of those fancy hidden hem things and lace trim around the collar. I'm so excited!

Trying out a new pattern... the smocked "Hallie"

I REALLY like this pattern! I can't wait to get it smocked and finished. It has a fantastic sash and a ruffle hem (which I can't add until I'm done smocking it - it'll be FULLY lined!) I added piping along the top and bottom of the smocked insert. It was my first go at it. I think it makes it look more "professional". I can't decide if I should use a coordinating gingham for the pants, or stick with the polka dot. What do you think?

Smocked bishop - completed!

In all, it probably only took about 3 hours to smock. I do it while scavenging through all of those TiVo programs that you don't really WANT to watch, but feel obligated to sit through because TiVo took the time and trouble to record it! ANYWAY... (pretend I didn't say that if you don't feel that same twang of guilt).

Pattern alteration

So, I tried out a new pattern. Simplicity 2825. It's a cute twirling dress with long sleeves... or at least it's supposed to be. Suggested fabrics included cottons, but I think this pattern would only work with a heavier fabric (cord, velveteen). I decided that it would work if the sleeves were chopped off. And as it turns out, the sleeves made PERFECT leg warmers - for my SON! He concluded that he wouldn't have to wear pants when he was out jumping on the trampoline if he was wearing his leg warmers.... brilliant! I also added a sash to break up the pattern.

A-line set

I've had this fabric a while, and I'm just now getting around to trying the ruffling thing. The girl requested "pants with ruffles"... so it inspired me to try it. I didn't cut enough off of the dress length, so it's a little long - which is really quite fine. She'll be able to wear it all summer.

Jumper

This is for a friend's kid... she picked the fabric out herself. It's fully lined. (Oh! That reminds me... I forgot to handsew the opening!) I tried using a metal snap instead of a button and elastic loop. Their hair always gets tangled up in the button! We'll see if maybe this is a better way to go!

Bow holder

Asking my daughter to find a hair bow in her "basket" was really not a fair request. That poor basket was a mess! So, I came up with this idea. I just took a hand-held mirror and stuck some braids on it, tied a ribbon to the handle, and voila! The long tails of the ribbon make for a perfect hair bow organizer! Plus, she can look at herself in the mirror - what girl doesn't love doing that?! (And judging by the fingerprints, she's already put it to use!!)

Bow Bustin'

I admit it. I have an addiction... more than one, actually. But this time I'm referring to my addiction to ribbon. I decided to put it to good use. I made every one of these bows today. It took a couple of hours, but it was well worth it!

Bishop Tutorial

Here's a tutorial Jnet and I put together on making a bishop dress. I hope it clears up the confusion that some of those pattern instructions can inflict!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=v3b9gt1.73ij2g2x&x=0&y=-o2c407&localeid=en_US