Pink and orange dress

My model is not feeling so model-y this morning! So this is what you get...

A cute little number with shirring at the top and in the middle. My top shirring elastic on a regular thread spool (in the thread section) was not as tight as the middle elastic from a different section. I had to cut the top and still have to shape it a bit.

I'm just glad that DH was able to fix my bobbin problems a month ago. saved me $90. I was to scared to try shirring when I was under the "get it all sewn for the fun fair" time crunch. But now, if I bust a bobbin, I have the time to get it fixed. And it didn't bust.

Here's a picture for nanny. Rafael has his first loose tooth! We get several reports daily and he now only eats apples if you cut them up for him. We found his tooth fairy bag that he sewed last year. Much excitement.


One more thing, i got a blog award the other day from Two Little Seeds. Thanks for the award! I'm going to play along later. Have to wait for DH to help me figure out a few things in transferring buttons from another blog. Go check it out.

thanks for looking,
Amanda

bit of this and a clutch

I noticed my readership was up over the weekend. it's usually quiet here. So I'm blaming my followers and people who've dropped by from the giveaway. So thank you, welcome back.

It's been HOOOOOTTTTTT here. Kids in the sprinkler, going to the sailing club (it's always cooler by the lake) and lots of fruit. My sewing room is a sauna now. It's in the attic. I use any excuse to come downstairs to get things. Time to put in the A/C.

My weekend sewing consisted of a few wardrobe things for Neve. Nothing spectacular, just a making some tank tops smaller and adding a skirt on the bottom. Next up is to make some biker shorts to go underneath.


here's another ruffle clutch with key holder.


Here it is opened. oooh,

I have another in mind with some buttons.

And I have a sheep fleece on the lawn. yep, I bought a sheep fleece. A dirty, smelly, what am i gonna do with it sheep fleece straight of the sheep's back. Yep. What was I thinking? I have to read up a bit on how to wash it. I want to use it for stuffing when I start making more softies. anybody know how to wash a fleece without getting too close to it? har har

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

Pom Pom skirts with flowers

I'm still working on the house, so I only have the photos of my pom pom skirts to show you. The photos are not what I was hoping to get, but here you go...
Here are all the little maids in a row. i wish I could have kept the smiling faces on instead of blurring them. They were so eager to put the skirts on and walked down the hall holding hands. So cute. I'm hoping to make some of these for the dramatic play area in our parenting centre.

After making a few, I decided to change it up a bit and add other things.
The pink one is a love theme with felt hearts and mini ribbon rose buds inside. And the heart ribbons... so matchy and lovey.
The purple one has flower petals and leaves inside. I just used some fabric flowers I had from years ago and folded them with a stitch to hold the petals down.


I also added extra ribbons and a way to adjust the waistband compared to this great tutorial on oh so happy together
Here's a glimpse of the ribbon at the back

I sewed the elastic to the end of the ribbon so you can stretch it out...

And tie it up to the correct fit for the wee one. I'd rather have it too loose on the top with the option of tightening it, than to have to abandon the skirt because it is too tight in the future.


Thanks for looking,
Amanda

two tutus

I've been admiring these tutus at Treasures for Tots
So this week, when I went to Michael's I picked up some tulle. Today when Angelina Ballerina came on, Neve ran for her princess dancing dress. I knew then that I had to make the tutu right away.


I love how easy it was. The worst part was the tulle hooking on all my little hangnails from my winter dry hands problem.
(BTW, Burt's Bees cuticle cream really helps, but I can't find what pocket I put it in.)


I wrapped the tulle around a mimi muffin tin and only cut one side of it so that the tulle measured 10 inches when put on the elastic. i wanted a longer tutu rather than the traditional shorter one.

After she tried it on and danced a bit, there was a request for one for dolly. so here it is


This doll has been nicknamed "Bride of Chuckie" as she is motorized and energized. she talks, asks for bottle, blankie, bear and plays peekaboo and makes raspberry sounds. yeah, not so fun when there is no one to play with her. Turn her off and walk away kid.


So, this is step one for the tutu. I'm going to embellish it with ribbons and maybe some jewels. I'll show you the final one when it gets done.

Happy weekend!

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

Lauren's dress

We stayed in the city an extra day and I got to sew! I brought this fabric with me from Toronto to make this dress for my niece. I want to make another for her younger sister, but don't know if time will let me while I'm here. With the cold breeze today, she wouldn't get to wear it this year.


Another one with shirring on the top. This one was so much easier for a few reasons.
1. the edged bottom. I didn't have to cut, iron and sew. Already done! Score!!


2. I used my mother's grown up serger for the edges, instead of ironing and hemming. It is set on roll hems, but after detangling and changing the threads, I decided that it was the look I was going for anyway! wink

3. I only used 2 pieces, which I sewed together before I shirred the top.



4.I made the straps a different way to allow for growth and keep on ability. I sewed the straps in the back a little closer to the middle. Hopefully, this will help avoid the flashdance look.


I would have liked to have my little model demonstrate this dress for you, but she passed out about 2 hours ago. I have no idea if she will wake before morning. We have been keeping very late nights here. Maybe she'll catch up.

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

little polka dot fringe

I whipped up this little number today while the kids played in the air conditioning. Is it hot where you are? Crazy man.



Anyhow, the top of the dress is a t-shirt that DH's cousin in Portugal gave us from her daughter. THe image was painted by her friend, so I wanted to do something with it, rather than wait until Neve was big enough to wear it.

I hemmed the sides and put a little ruffle on the bottom.


The dress was deemed "not pinny enough" Doesn't spin when she turns, but she wore it the rest of the day none-the-less. Please excuse the blurry photo, messy hair and dirty popsicle face. She was in a hurry.

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

purple dress

We spent the day yesterday at the park with friends. one little girl was wearing a dress that was shirred on the top. I've had my eye on this technique for some time now, so I challenged myself to make one for Neve. The girl's parents didn't believe I could do it. Or should I say, were in awe that I said I could. haha.(nudge, wink)


I scored big time at a yard sale this past weekend in the fabric dept. Mostly quilting prints, but nice for little dresses also. So I paired the little purple flower print with a nice lilac linen I scored a few yard sales ago.
To shir the top, you use elastic thread and loosely load your bobbin. I marked out the appropriate spacing before I started shirring. Once you start, the fabric bunches, so it's harder to measure anything. If you have a husband in the room who can step on the stretched fabric for you as you pin other things, it helps. thanks hon.


After I sewed sections on, I serged them to keep the edges neat. the bottom band has a little gather in it also. the straps are made of the linen and just tied on the top. In order to get her to pose for the pictures, I bribed her with the goofy glasses. Nice thing about digital, they get instant gratification and ham it up even more the next photo.


Rafael decided to get in on the action as he was painting rocks. A nice dull afternoon activity. Especially the rock picking expedition before hand.


Thanks for looking,
Amanda