Wednesday, May 6, 2015

A Little Whimsy

Remember that fabric I showed you from
www.fabricworm.com a while back?
 
 
This is what I made out of it!
I used Creations by Michie Pattern #132,
the Sunsuit/Sundress pattern.
You can get the pattern here:
 
I just added the little ruffle,
because I had the coordinating fabric and wanted to use it. 


I just happened to have the ric rac on hand
in the perfect color!
 

And I made little bloomers to match!
Looking at this picture, I probably should have tried to match the dots on the seams,
but they will be under the dress, so it's okay.


This was a fun Sunday project!
Can't wait to see our sweet Peaches wearing this outfit!
 
Happy Sewing!

Monday, May 4, 2015

Mary Had a Little Lamb

This is not my prettiest smocking job,
but there is a reason I'm showing this dress to you.
I know my back smocking is too tight,
so don't judge. :)
But...
 
I started this dress 21 years ago!!!
For real.
I have identical twin nieces who are 22,
and I was planning to make two of these dresses
for their 2nd birthdays, with different plates.
I got most of the smocking done on both dresses,
then it seems I just stopped!
They have been in a plastic baggie waiting to be finished
for 21 years.
 
I finished one of them last week!
 
 
The pattern I used is Erin/Lindsey by Yvonne Denise.
An oldie, but goodie.
still carries the pattern.
 
The plate is Mary's Little Lamb,
by Gwen Milner.
I love all of Gwen's designs.
I wish she was still designing!
 

I think Georgia Kate will look like a little doll in this classic dress.
And that's the main point of this post.
Classic smocking doesn't go out of style.
Twenty one years later, it still works.
And it will work in another twenty.
 
Happy Sewing!!!

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Babes in Blue

These babies are wiggly!
It's hard to get great photos of these two sweeties.
Though Reid looks like he's about to hop away,
this one is pretty cute. :)
 

Georgia Kate, Mumsie, Poppies and Reid
(with a mouth full of jelly beans!)...


Hope your Easter was happy!

Friday, April 3, 2015

Blue Easter Dress

Georgia Kate's Easter dress...
 

No smocking for Easter this year!
I showed Brittany a few ideas for Easter,
and this is what she wanted for our sweet Georgia Kate.
The dress pattern is Lee, by Children's Corner.
I made it out of blue Imperial broadcloth.
Though I know this isn't an "heirloom" fabric,
it is much more practical for my daughter, who doesn't love to iron.


I made the collar detachable, thinking I can make another collar for the dress.
The collar is attached using clear plastic snaps at the shoulder seams, center front, and back.

 
I hope you are finished, or close to finished,
 with your Easter sewing!

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Sweet White Gown

The Houston Ballet hosts a fabulous shopping event
every year in November called the Nutcracker Market.
Vendors from all over the country compete
to get into this show.
My friends, Cindy and Sharon, and I,
used to go to this event together every year,
until it became so crazy crowded that we gave up on going.
Maybe next year.
 
Anyway...long before my precious grandchildren were born, I spotted this little dress at the Nutcracker Market
and had to have it for a future grandbaby.
It has been hanging in my closet until today,
when I gave it to Georgia Kate.
 
 
I thought it was a dress, but my daughter
thinks it is a nightgown.
Either way, I love it!!!
 
It is by Designs by Beverly.
I just looked online and it looks like she is still in business!
I don't see this exact gown, but her things are so pretty!



Look at the detail on the sleeve. So sweet!
 

I didn't make this one, but I sure love it. :)

Friday, March 13, 2015

Pretty Pink Floral

It's Spring Break!
The weather has been cool and dreary which is just fine with me!
 I'm spending this week finishing up half finished projects
and starting some new ones.
I started this little dress a few months ago,
 and finally hemmed it last night.
I used an old Yvonne Denise pattern, "Erin Lindsey".

I just made up the smocking. I kept it very simple.



I tried to pick up the various shades of pink in the fabric, along with the yellow.

I think Miss Georgia Kate will wear this dress often. 
A little white blouse could be worn underneath, or not.
Happy Sewing!

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Rodeo Time!

It's rodeo time in Texas!
Reid wore big boy cowboy clothes this year,
but Georgia Kate needed something to wear
with the red boots her daddy bought her!
I made this little jumper for her out of navy twill.
 

 
I copied a picture I found online for the horse.


Our little cowboy and cowgirl...

 Yee Haw!

Monday, February 16, 2015

She's Wearing the Dress :)

Thought you would enjoy this picture of our precious Georgia Kate
wearing the dress Mumsie made for her.
(See post from January 3, 2015)
 
 
I love her so much I can hardly stand it!

Saturday, January 31, 2015

A Spring Bubble

Just finished up another spring outfit for Georgia Kate!
For this one I used Blair, by Children's Corner, without the smocked insert.
 
 
I think the ecru cotton lace (not sure what it's called!!!) looks nice with this fabric.
I tried many different colors of buttons, and settled on these light green ones.
 
 
Back to my sewing room!
 
I hope you are making something fun!

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Mother Goose

I've been working on a couple of things for our little Peach for spring.
Last spring, I found this adorable storybook line of fabric.
I just think it's so old fashioned and sweet. It makes me smile!
This is what I made!
 
 


The back...


I lined the top in a coordinating fabric from the same line,
and made piping out of the lining fabric.


The pattern is a PDF pattern I got on Etsy.com:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/65781699/instant-download-mayah-reversible?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=mayah+reversible+pinafore+and+bloomers&ga_search_type=all&ga

Sometimes it's fun to make something quick and easy!
 
Happy Sewing, friends!

Friday, January 9, 2015

SO CUTE Fabric!

 
about a fun online fabric store she found.
 
Her little pile of fabric was SO CUTE that, of course, I had to check it out.
Oh my goodness! They have such adorable fabric!
Now I have my own SO CUTE pile of new fabric!
 
This is what came in the mail for me yesterday:
 



Please note the adorable little sticker they sent with the order!
It's the little things...


Can't wait to figure out what to make for a certain special little girl in my family.
 
Happy Sewing!

Monday, January 5, 2015

Be My Valentine

I had some cream and red corduroy scraps left over from the cape and bonnets!
 

I wanted to make a Valentine's Day jumper for my precious Valentine!
 
 
I didn't have quite enough of the red or cream corduroy to do what I was first thinking.
 
So I wiggled some pieces around, and thought about it, and this is what I made!
 
 Front:

 
I added a little strip of red corduroy at the bottom,
because I didn't have quite enough of the cream colored corduroy.
 

And...the back!
I didn't have enough red for the back bodice, so I used cream!
I added the little red tabs so that the bodice could be tightened a bit.

 
It was so much fun to make, and cuter than it might have been
had I not had to figure out how to squeeze out enough fabric.
I ordered a little cream colored long sleeved t-shirt for her to wear underneath.

And, of course, her little red Mary Janes will be perfect with it! :)
 
Happy Sewing!!!






Saturday, January 3, 2015

One thing leads to another...

The red cape looked adorable with Georgia Kate's Christmas dress!
So... now that Christmas is over 
she needed a couple of other dresses to wear with her cape!
I found this pretty cream colored fabric with red roses on it.
I started smocking not really knowing what I was going to smock,
and just decided to keep it pretty simple since the fabric makes a statement by itself.
I just stuck with a red geometric, and added a touch of green to the borders.
The pattern I used is Lee, by Children's Corner, which I've had since my girls were little.
I added some length, since dresses are a bit longer now than they were 25-30 years ago.



And you know that "one thing leads to another" thing?
Well, she had to have some new red Mary Janes to go with her red dress!

Oh my gosh!!!
I absolutely love having this little baby doll to sew for!!!!
I hope you are making something fun!!!!

Friday, January 2, 2015

Little Red Riding Hood/Bonnet

So...we decided that our little peach needed a red cape this year.
And here it is!
 
 
 
The color is a little off in the first two photos,
but you can see the color in the other photos.
 I have been debating about whether to share this cape and bonnet
for a couple of reasons.
One is, I know some of you will want to know what pattern I used.
I didn't have a pattern for a cape, and I looked and looked for one.
I found a vintage cape pattern that was close to what I wanted,
so I bought it, and made some changes.
After sewing it, I want to make a couple of additional changes.
All that to say, I'm hoping to make my own cape pattern
and have it ready for next fall!
Not 100% sure I can make that happen, but I'm going to try.
To be honest, I don't have any experience in grading patterns to different sizes.
If any of you can point me in the right direction to figure that out, please do!
 
The cape is made of red pinwale corduroy,
and lined with red Imperial broadcloth,
so it is lightweight for our central Texas weather.
 
The cape did not have a hood, so I made a bonnet to match!

 
And while I was at it, I made a cream colored one too.


My daughter had purchased a few bonnets from a certain bonnet company.
We love their bonnets. They are $52 each.
I decided to make my own pattern and I totally copied their bonnets.
I am never sure exactly what all the "rules" are,
but I'm pretty sure it's okay for me to copy the bonnet for my own use.
 
This company also sells capes, which sell for $105- $124.
We did not buy one. :)
 
So now, prepare yourself for some serious cuteness, please...
 



She knew she was so cute,
and she just turned her little hands out
 and started prancing down the street!
 


 
I hope our Little Red Riding Hood makes you smile! :)
 
 
 

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!
We had a fun New Year's Eve with our two favorites!
 



Wishing all of you all wonderful things in 2015!
I have so loved my time off from school.
I've been busy sewing...
I'll post a few things in the next few days! :)