Strawberry Dress

Some time back, maybe in March, I was walking through the mall with my husband and spotted this dress in the window of Janie and Jack.  I thought it was a cute design, and just the inspiration I needed to finally make Emilee a new dress.  It's been a long time since I've had an idea and the energy to see it through!

I had the perfect piece of fabric already on hand that I'd been saving for just such a moment of inspiration.  It has sweet strawberries all over and is a heavy cotton weave.  It hangs so pretty.  I added white eyelet and a pique sash.  Here is my version!

 This dress includes my very first zipper.  I decided to get really crazy and go for a hidden zipper, and I am very happy I did!  It was easier than I thought it would be and looks very polished.

 I think she likes it!

Little Bunny Fu Fu

 Emilee got a new coat this week.  Made in the same fashion as the blue bird coat, only this time we decided on a bunny with a white fluffy tail.

She really likes the tail.  I hope it holds up!

 Gordon is still trying to convince me to mass market these things, sure I will make him his fortune.  Alas, it would appear I only have eyes for my own little ones these days.  I love sewing for them, and then enjoying watching them wear the items and love them.  Not to mention endless compliments everywhere we go. But the thought of putting the time into one and then letting it go is not appealing to me.  Even for a little cash.

Anyway, we already love this cuddler and are looking forward to more non rainy spring days so we can sport it all over town!

the red toille dress

Let me start by saying, that either I'm an incredible seamstress, or. . . maybe I have some sizing issues to work out.  I'll let you be the judge!  Back in 2009, I made this darling dress for Emilee just in time for Valentines day!  It was a little boxy around her middle, but I figured a little growth room is good, and by no means was it ridiculous!

 and because I planned ahead, and put in a nice 4 inch hem, I let it down the next year, when she was almost 2, and she got a little extra wear out of it!  Isn't she a doll?

 And here's my dolly today!  In the same dress I made for her two years ago, and while it's getting a bit shorter, it still fits her like a charm, only 6 weeks away from her third birthday.

So I'll let you be the judge.  I am either a genius, or I need some lessons in sizing!!!

the wonderful wool

Do you love wool?  I do.  Except when it's scratchy on my neck.  But otherwise, I love it.  Recently, upon trying to dress Emilee for church, we discovered that she is getting mighty tall for many of her dresses.  And the ones that did fit were summery.  That same afternoon, I bumped into this beautiful piece of wool Grammy gave me a while back and thought, "it's time."  So, with no further adieu:  the wonderful wool jumper.  Designed on a scrap of paper bag and made with only geometry, and no pattern.  It's amazing what you can do with a little know-how.

 The skirt is a "circle skirt" so Emilee likes to fluff it out into a big circle!

 So cute!  And so fun!  And so warm and wooly!

a new dress for Easter

I have been eying patterns from this company for a long time. They are so cute! But, every time I go to shell out the $15.99 for the one I want, I just can't do it! So, I've just looked, and not done any. Then, last week, I was in need of a distraction. With the house so clean, there just wasn't much to do, and I needed a project! So, I decided to try and make this cute dress:

Only I didn't have a pattern, so, I made my own! I had no idea I was so tricky. Here is how it turned out. . .
A shameless copy, don't you think? I have always said I'm not that creative, just a really good copy cat, and this just proved that point to me once again.

Sweet little boxed pleats. . .

Miss Emilee is much pleased, and was happy to oblige wearing her cute new dress for Easter day. I'm definitely going to try making my own patterns again, it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be, and very satisfying!

Happy Easter Everyone!

Twinkle Twins

Emilee and her cousin Carolyn were too cute today in their matching "square dresses" as Carolyn calls them (for the square pattern on the fabric). Love it. . . Oh, and yes, that is the same dress I made Emilee for LAST fall. I added the bloomers this year so she wouldn't be scandalous, but other than the length it still fits great! Too bad I didn't put in a giant hem to let down.

And one other night last week they were at it again. . . in their matching jammies.

Two little pink elephants on parade. . .

Sunday Splendor

Emilee will be modeling her new mama creation at church today. It turned out lovely!

the Scooty and the Cutie

Do you know what a pedal-less bike is? We got one for Chandler for Christmas, and we always enjoy watching him sail around the neighborhood on his "scooty" bike. He can fly along almost as fast as the big guys, and he loves it! Here is a little sampling.

And, the cutie. Here is Emilee in her latest "mama-designed one of a kind." When I saw the fabric it called to me like a siren and insisted that I make it into a dress for a little girl who looks lovely in turquoise. So I did.Gordon asked me Sunday afternoon if I was going to start making a new dress for her to wear to church every week, and I must admit I thought that it sounded like quite a bit of fun. But I will try to restrain myself. Maybe.

cute is never out of season

While Gordon was out of town this week, I took some scraps I had and made this most darling coat for Emilee. It's sized to fit her next fall, so it's a little big still. I made it out of a piece of quilt that I had chopped off a Queen sized coverlet to make it fit a twin, and I'm so glad I did, because not only I, but Emilee thinks it's the cutest thing ever. This is the first thing I've made that I've seen true appreciation for (from her that is). She loves it! She won't let me take it off her and she even asks to wear it. She'll point to it and do her sign for more. It's perhaps one of the most satisfying feelings I've ever had finishing a project. And all it cost me was a package of snaps and some time.

Not to mention that it's the cutest thing ever. Even if summer is quickly approaching, now I have a good reason to welcome the cold weather again next fall (and maybe I'll just roll those sleeves up for blustery spring days now)! Hurray for cute!

my latest creation

Here is my latest creation for Emilee. I started this one right after Christmas, and finished it just in time for a post-valentines day debut. . .

Here is the smocking up close
Aunt Keren's favorite part are the bloomers. . .
And red shoes courtesy of a valentine delivery from Grammy. Thanks Grammy!
And if I do say so myself, I think it was worth it. My favorite I've done so far.

Have you ever seen such a sweet little valentine?

Fall Fashion Show

Who doesn't love a new season? All the clothes you haven't worn for so long. . . and maybe some new ones? I just finished Emilee's new dress, and this one actually fits! Well, almost. It's perhaps a little boxy still, but she'll probably get to wear it here in a few weeks anyway. This one has smocking on the front and the back. She looks so sweet in it!

Smocking on the front
and the back
Fashion show!
Rolling down the catwalk. . .
And cute new tights with built in shoes to match. We are ready for fall! Love it!I love playing dress up with my dolly!

a new skill

I have spent the last few weeks working on a new dress for Emilee. It's way huge, and I'm thinking Easter 2010 is probably when it will make its debut, but I wanted to work on something that wasn't too tiny for my first try.

It is hand smocked and I am so excited that I finally have an excuse to learn this skill I have been wanting to try for so long. You can't smock for boys, it's totally sissy. But you can totally smock for girls! Smocking in case you have no idea what I'm talking about are all those teeny tiny pleats across the front. Then you embroider across the top and the embroidery creates the design and holds it together.

This pattern was lots of fun with smocking on the sleeves as well. I had such a great time doing it, I'm predicting many a smocked dress for my little peanut. Maybe even one that will fit her next time! :) Here are some photos.

Here it is modeled on a live person. (Come on people, I had to see it on a real body and not a hanger!!! It looks totally different!) And he, uh, I mean, "they" were a very cooperative model, who thought putting on a dress was a completely hilarious experience. He, I mean "they" ran around laughing hysterically and squealing "I a girl!" in a funny high voice. It was a crack up. I could hardly get it off of him. I mean them.

Ta Da!