Preschool Gear

My little who just started preschool. 

At my husband's request. ahem. 

This entitled me to do a little sewing spoiling. 

She needed a little lunch sack.

Fabric is Moda's Santorini by Tula Pink and pattern is here but instead of interfacing I did batting and insul-bright.

She needed a little pillow to rest her head during nap time.

She needed a Princess and the Pea nap mat!

Fabric is Moda's Soiree by Tula Pink and pattern is here but we did modify a few things.

 

I also used doubled low loft polyester batting to give it extra padding... it is a nap mat after all. 

However, it was the biggest pain ever. 

Skipped stitches, broken thread, bulkiness... 

I'll stick to the dreamy cotton batting.

 

I embroidered her name. 

Everything's better with your name prefaced by Princess, right?

 And of course the little green button "pea."

The version of "The Princess and the Pea" we have explicitly states that there were 10 mattresses, 10 more mattresses and 20 blankets on top of that pea! 

One perfect honey bun with 40 strips made my little who love it even more! 

Oh the fabric "spoilage" is so fun! 

Rainbow

So, the husband was doing dishes and casually mentions, "I'd get you a maid if I could afford it."

Me, "Really? That be great."

Husband: "Yeah. That way she could do all the quilting around here."

STINKER! Not such a subtle hint to stop sewing and clean the kitchen... ha!

So with all that time that I wasn't cleaning house, I finished the rainbow quilt. :)

This was soooo therapeutic! 

I really never knew why people made scrap quilts (not all from the same jelly roll/charm pack/layer cake/etc.). 

I have a very small stash of fabric compared to most quilters who sew from a stash of fabric that occupies a wall of shelves lined with beautiful fabric. 

But I'm getting there slowly. hehe.

I really enjoyed the process of making something cohesive and beautiful out of "random scraps" like this.

I recommend it!

Bound and backed with the cheerful rainbow stripe and big circles from the Celebrate Seuss fabric line. 

In the shop.

Rough Terrain

Now available at an Etsy shop near you...

Halloween 2011 Costumes

After much sewing, more sewing, shopping, sewing, painting, and more sewing...

The costumes for this year's Halloween:

Jolly Holiday Mary Poppins and Bert.

The dress with added ruffled lace trim and satin ribbon. Dreamy.

(oh yes, I used bridal lace. I thought the lady cutting it was going to die when she heard I was making a Halloween costume out of it.)

The hat with flowers and tulle.

The 4 layers of skirt with ruffled lace trim and lots of little satin bows.

Bert with straw hat, painted (by me) suit coat, and bright blue bow tie.

The bamboo cane, of course. 

Little suit pants and the all important blue socks. 

My husband thought the socks were too much. 

I thought he should have thanked me for not getting him white shoes. 

HAHA!

And one last walking photo, just for good measure.

That kid is so happy it makes me happy just to think about him. :)

Rapunzel Costume

Made a Rapunzel costume.

"My flower" is modelling it for me.

Used eyelets for the lacing holes in the faux corset.

 The back with invisible zipper closure. 

The front lacing, lace, and ribbon embellished sleeves. 

I think the sleeves were the biggest "pain" to making this costume.

The whole front.

I love the light and dark purple combo. 

I also need to convince my daughter that purple is her color. 

I like her in it better than pink. 

Unfortunately, the current order of her favorite colors goes: 

1 - pink

2 - purple

3 - purple-y pink

Wow, I would never have guessed that my girl would, well, be a girly girl. 

Too bad for her that this costume is for one of her best friends (who I made Minnie Mouse last year). 

She's been wearing it all morning and quoting scenes from Tangled and making me be the wicked Mother (why do i have to be the bad one?) and dad be Eugene. :)

Trespassing with Fandango

Oh, yes I did! I HAD to though! Okay, so maybe it wasn't THAT necessary... But it was fun and made my day slightly adventurous... pathetic, I know.
The golf course is right across the street from us and it just looked so pleasant today.
This new quilt friend is all half square triangles in Fandango by Kate Spain for Moda.
It measures 49" x 59" and is in the shop with more pictures.
These little flags of beautiful fabric are just sooo cheerful I love them.

On a side note, have you ever discovered you are covered in what my husband has termed "thigh dandruff"??
Well, apparently knit pants are great for collecting the little fuzzies that fall off of all the pinked edges of Moda's precut fabrics.
Not to worry...
It just means I'm having a great day!

Sewing Frenzy

Fall Harvest Table Topper in Gobble Gobble by Sandy Gervais for Moda - Appliqued Leaves!!

Baby, toddler, or lap quilt in Hushabye by Tula Pink for Moda - LOVE nested boxes!

My husband is doing some dental CE this weekend...

oh, I definitely have a PILE of sewing plans to keep me busy during his absence.

Up first and done are these two now posted in the shop and everything!

Onward through the list I go!!

New Skirt for the Girl - and more to come!

So this last weekend I made this little skirt.
Pattern found here.
But I did a "double" elastic waistband with 2 thin pieces of elastic separated by a quarter inch in the casing.
This makes it very comfortable and soft around the middle.
Even my little who likes this one! Yay! More to come... I've been busy sewing!

Toddler Birthday Present

Made this sweet set for a friend's brithday today... just in the nick of time.
Ever one to be last minute about these things.
I love all the ruffles and accessories.
I put them on my little who to see how they fit...
now she's holding the bag of presents and says, "MINE!"
She especially likes that oven mitt.
Can you blame her?
I'll be making her a set next to alleviate any hard feelings about it all.
So if you need a set, it's McCall's M6049.
Happy Saturday Sewing!!

Easter Dress Maybe

I now like Amy Butler fabric.
I know, it's about time.
Funny thing about it is that I usually like each print individually but trying to pick some that work together...
let's just say she doesn't make it as easy as Moda.

So I was thinking Easter Dress when I put this one together last night (patternless as usual)...
can I just say, SOOOOOOOO easy!
Maybe I'll make my next post a tutorial on this one.
Have a fabulous day and make something great!

Part 2 of the alligator dress

The second dress.
Much better fit, and I'm slightly humored that it's still a "knot" dress...
but those buttons my mom bought with the fabric were a necessity!
I love them!
Still have the best mom.

And didn't my little who do a great job at modeling this one?
Look at that baby attitude!
Ahh, she makes it so much fun.

Back in the Swing

I'm finally back from vacation.
Back to my little apartment, my mountain of laundry and dishes, and back to my loving sewing machines!
Today I made this cute little wrap dress for a humanitarian effort (thanks mom for signing me up) and now I get to make one for the little girl wearing it :o)
She liked it and called it her "alligator dress" (don't ask, I have no idea where she comes up with these things).
I'll definitely be doing a little pattern modification as it is quite a large 3T.
Well, that's it for Monday... maybe...

First Knot Dress

Yesterday I was completely excited to get a project done that had been planned for what seems like forever!

A knot dress for the little who.

I'm sure you've seen these ALL over Etsy.

At $40+ each I would feel beyond guilty if I bought one (when I have a serger and sewing machine... haha!) so I bought this fabric 5 months ago thinking I would do it.

Well, my mother-in-law is getting remarried this next Saturday so it finally gave me the motivation to make the little who a new cute dress...

I think it turned out fabulously (especially as I like to "wing it" without a real pattern).

So can you tell I haven't even ironed it out yet with the giant crease down the middle in the front?

I was using that as my midline to match everything up... haha!

The little who LOVED LOVED LOVED wearing it.

And the back, with the knot tied sash.

What a sash!

I love the flair of this fabric (Urban Couture by BasicGrey for Moda), the giant pleats in the skirt, the contrast band, and the knots!

Oh those cute knots!

I knew she needed one of these.

Now to go make a matching headband and flower with the leftovers.

A little early

Not only is it a little early to be posting today but I'm a little premature in making a little spring dress for my little "who" this year. I whipped this up last night after I put her to bed. It's very easy - straps, bodice front and back with lining, skirt front and back with ruffle... She actually wanted to wear it this morning which is always the best reward for making something!