My Friend Dolls Mandy and Becky

Ok, so are these not some of the cutest dolls you have ever seen? I personally did not have a My Friend Doll growing up (I think they were before my time) but I do love them! I ordered these girls off of ebay and their friend Jenny is on the way! The blonde (Mandy) is for my niece Chy for Christmas and the brunette(Jenny not shown) will be for my daughter. Sunshine told me she wanted a doll that had brown hair like her, and even though her hair isn't that dark, I wanna make her happy! So the red head is mine...you know...for trying cloths on and such... Anyway I also got the four seasons book that comes with 4 patterns. The patterns are super easy to follow and there are a million different ways to change up the outfits. This is the first out fit I made them. Hopefully there will be much more before Christmas comes! Oh, and maybe some shoes!

Halloween Costumes

So me and my sister got together and made Mermaids! She is just beginning to sew some thing and we jumped into this costume thing without paying to much attention. Well we almost drowned! Boy, the pattern was a lot harder then I imaged it would be. She did a really awesome job and Thank You Mom for helping us!!! My sister then went on to make a cape for her other daughter! You go girl! Doo-Dah went as a skeleton since he would wear anything on his head! I would have liked to have made him one like Jill but the one I got him looked so cute!!

Pumpkins and Halloween outfits

Every year I always look forward to going and getting our pumpkin (almost as much as I love roasting and eating pumpkin seeds ALMOST). My only regret is not making the outfits before October! They turned out so cute I want to see them in them more! I made Sunshine's dress with this simplicity pattern, and Doo-Dah's shirt was made with Simplicity 2627. Both the patterns were super easy and I actually pulled Doo-Dah's together in an hour or so. Am defiantly going to use the patterns to make them some different outfits. I love it when patterns go on sale for 99 cents. In fact I couldn't imagine buying them full price. I guess that is why I haven't ordered my Oliver+S pattern's :/ . I have decided that they will defiantly be my Christmas present to myself. Oh and for those who didn't know they are publishing a book, Little Things to Sew! It's actually quite funny since it comes out in March I guess I have my birthday present lined up too!

Fall Jacket #2

Finished Big Sisters jacket. Another pattern from one of my favorite books (Sewing Cloths Kids Love). The pattern wasn't as hard as I imagined.I had literally been waiting for fall to make her this jacket and I had purchased the materials before knowing what I was going to make with them. I love when things all come together like that! I'm not quite sure what kind of snaps/button I should use. I'm sure I will find the perfect snap though. Luckily Sunshine loves it and as you can see I went ahead and embroidered a little sunshine on it for her :)  I made it fully reversible but like her brothers I really like the cords.

Fall Jacket #1

Sorry it's been awhile since my last post. We finally got settled in here in Texas and boy it feels good to be back at the home state :) Any way although my sewing space is still a complete disaster I have been trying to keep up the sewing. Today I finished Doo-Dah's Jacket. Its pretty lightweight, which I figured would be perfect for most of the Texas winter. I am on a big cord kick right now so both him and his sister are getting corduroy jackets. Hopefully sisters will be posted soon as well. I used Simplicity 2526 pattern for it and I must say I really like the way it turned out. I took a few steps extra to line it and make it fully reversible. So here's the pics:

First Shirt

I sewed my first shirt today. It was pretty easy except I had a little trouble with the collar. Still not sure if I got it right but it seems to look pretty good. Also the shirt turned out to be a little big but I ran out of brown thread so I will have to wait to try and fix that. I made it using the Burda pattern I had mentioned in the shorts post but this time remembered to take a picture of it! I had really just been looking for an excuse to embroider a mustache on something. I plan on writing Oscar Mike under it with a fabric marker as well (kind of a family joke). Anyway I would call it a success! i will have to eventually learn how to make button holes but till then I do have a way around it :)

Men's Shirt = Girl's Dress

What a sweet little accent!

Inspired by Dana Made It, who could resist a men's dress shirt turned into a dainty girl's summer dress. I saw this shirt (sorry forgot to take a before shot) at the thrift store on half-price Monday for $1.99. With all of the pretty flowers I figured it would be a good candidate to refashion. I read the Made tutorial and was off. I used a simple a-line dress pattern and added a few details (the waist and the lace sleeves). I couldn't remove the pockets and they added a lot of bulk to the top. I would suggest trying to find a shirt with easy to remove or less bulky pockets but all in all it was a pretty fun and easy project.

Wee Wonderfuls Book!!

I am so excited about this book. Although it is another item I have to wait to purchase since we are moving this month, I look forward to buying it :)  I absolutely love the pattern I got from her and can't wait to see all her other projects! Like I had said before the pattern was so easy to follow and the doll turned out so lovely! If this is anything like her other work it will be a great book to add to the collection!!!

A Gift for the Artist

Embroidered inside pocket "Its whats on the inside that counts!"

With a elastic pencil/pen/marker holder for drawing pencils and such.

This is actually the from the same pattern as the Ponyo bag I made my daughter. It is out of one of my favorite sewing books "One Yard Wonders." I love this book because I am always buy fabric with no project in mind :) The instructions to make this bag are so easy to follow and although it is actually in the children section of the book it is suitable for anyone. I even like the suggested strap length for me!  Any way She is always drawing the coolest stuff so I thought maybe she would like a bag to carry around her sketchbook and such. Another project Texas bound. Hope you like it sis!

Burda Board Shorts=Love Them!!

So I have been trying really hard to make my son some cloths. I found this wonderful linen fabric that was just screaming beach shorts! I finally found a pattern that I liked and they turned out rather nice. Now I just need to take the boy to the beach and get some pictures of him in them. The pattern was very nice. It also came with some pants and a zippered long/short sleeve shirt pattern. Can't wait to make him more!! I think personal burda is more my style of little boys cloths. They actually have quite a lot of patterns too! Although I am still wanting my Oliver+S patterns I will pass the time till after we move with these. I also got one to make him so overalls but that seems like much more of a project!

Second Bag

So I enjoyed making Ponyo Bag so much I thought I would try another pattern. This is the Folklore Bag out of One Yard Wonders. First off I cut the fabric upside down not thinking the larger side was the bottom. Other then the upside down temple and I don't like how wide the straps are I guess it turned out well. It was going to be a gift to my little sister but I'm not sure if she will like it. Going to make her messenger bag tomorrow.

Oliver + S

So Oliver+S makes lovely patters that I want so very bad to buy. My favorite is the ice cream social dress above. It can be made into a really cute shirt as well! They also have some really nice patterns for little boys clothes. Only downfall is each pattern is $15.95 plus shipping.....Maybe after the move I can fork out for a few of these... I usually buy my patterns when they go on sale for $1.99/.99 or in books where you get a bunch for what you pay for.

Ponyo Bag

So my daughter's favorite (wants to watch about 5 times a day) movie is Ponyo. I had this hot pink duck cloth reminet sitting around begging to be made into a messenger bag, Put the two together and you have Ponyo Bag  lined with black and white poka dots how sweet!

Spoiled Dog

 Step 1 

I embroidered what I wanted on her collar on a scarp of material.

Step 2
Cut it into a strip the size you want the collar then sew it to another piece of material. I folded mine so the edges would look nice (seams in the middle). Then I sewed the pieces together.
Step 3
Fit and add Velcro to the collar. If you wanted a more sturdy collar you could use a parachute latch and also you could put a ring on it if you wanted to walk the dog with the leash. Winchester takes her walk on a harness so this is purely decorative.

Because Winchester really needs a embroidered collar... It is really nice looking on her :)

Embroidering A Pink Dog

 

I haven't done embroidery since I was very little but thought I would give it another go round. It seems like a good way to add a little bit more custom to the things I make! Of course my first project had to be a pink dog...what else is a mother to do :) I think I will make it a nice pillow for my lovely daughter's bed.

Finished :)

Will be sending it to Texas shortly!!!! Cant wait to see her in it! Must have pictures immediately!!

Sneak Peek

This is a not finished skirt I made for my little niece Chy. It's pretty Wild, think she will like it? Its going to have a zebra yoke and waistband when finished.

Addicted to skirt making????

Ok, so I can't stop making my daughter clothes!>?$@ She has enough skirts and dresses. She is going to outgrow them before she has a chance to get good use out of them! So why can't I stop making them??? This particular skirt was inspired by "Carefree Clothes for Girls". Most of the clothes in the book are drapery, cotton pieces airing on the side of simplicity which as you should know really isn't Hattie's thing. I wasn't really sure if she would go for this either (since it isn't pink) but I figured maybe I can add some mermaids to it or I donno glue something pink to it somewhere but she seems to like it ok. I already have visions of a blue cotton skirt with beautiful silver thread... I guess I could kinda use some skirts....