Just A Little Something I've Been Working On. . .

After making all those "Olivia's", I was itching to make something a little different. I wanted to go back to where I began and create something with a bit of a vintage feel but that was still wearable. I started with a Babydoll dress for the silhouette and added lots and lots of details. Then I added the sweet little pantaloons and the hat (my Victoria's Bonnet"). Now, before you ask, no, I am not planning on turning this into a pattern. This is just something I did for fun! With Abby turning eight today I know my days are dwindling to make things like this for her to wear. My plan is to take her out and take some extra special photos and I will be sure to share them with you. I still have a lot of hand sewing to do on this one including sewing on a ton of little covered buttons down the entire back of the dress. I can't wait to see this on her, but it will have to wait. Currently she is at the Zoo with her Dad and brothers to celebrate her b'day. I stayed behind to prepare for her birthday celebration this evening.

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To answer a few questions asked by Laurie:

1. What type of fabric did you use? Believe it or not this entire outfit is made from a very soft and nice quality muslin. It's extra soft and after it was washed it had the soft wispy feel that I wanted. So, I decided to use it.

2. What about the flowers on the hat? Those were also made from the same muslin and they are really easy to make. Almost no sewing is required at all. If you like, I would be happy to show you all how to make them? As for the other little organdy flowers on the hat,  those were purchased at JA. Then I just added a beautiful white satin ribbon where the brim meets the body of the hat and then added a bow. Honestly, it was really easy and took less than an hour or so to make.

3. What about the pleated trim? That I did all by hand. I started with a really long strip of fabric that was 1 1/2" wide for around the neck and the sleeves. Then I used my serger to add a rolled hem to it. Then I just started pleating and pleating and pleating. The trim around the bottom of the dress is 2 1/2" wide but done the same way.

4. What muslin did you use? I think, but I'm not sure that the muslin is from Spechler-Vogel. However, I can't promise that's correct. I just had some yardage in my stash that I've had for a while and I "think" that's where it came from??? it's really super soft and airy similar to Batiste or Imperial broadcloth. I'm thinking of making Abby some nightgowns for this summer because it seams like it would be super comfy and cool.


Dawn

Eight

Abby was 6 months old in this photo. 

Dearest Abigail,

Today is your eighth Birthday. I've spent the early morning hours going through hundreds and hundreds of photos of you and reminiscing about these wonderful years you've been in our lives. I'll never forget that moment when I went for my "big" ultrasound and my Dr. told me you were a girl! I was so excited, I couldn't wait to dress you up and have tea parties with you and have an amazing mother-daughter bond that I had dreamt about my whole life. I spent the next few months preparing for your arrival and shopping for "pink"! Oh, my goodness pink pink pink! I can't tell you how much fun that was. After having two boys and only being able to buy boy things it was heavenly to finally be able to fill your closet with the prettiest things I could find. From the moment you were born you have been one very well dressed little girl! But way beyond that you have brought us endless joy. Your big heart, wicked sense of humor, and unending supply of the biggest smiles. You have filled all of our lives with more happiness than you will ever know. Spending everyday at home with you has been a dream come true. I love your creative spirit, which is so much like mine. Your amazing love for animals, story-telling, artistic endeavors, silliness, and never ending imagination. We are so much alike and it has been pure pleasure watching you grow up. I just wish it would slow down. You are turning into such an amazing young lady and even though it's so much fun to watch you grow  I can't help but want to stop time and just keep you like this a little longer. Something, I'm sure most moms feel. Today, your Birthday wish was no surprise to us. A day at the National Zoo in Washington D.C.. A place where you will be amongst your most favorite things. . . your animals friends! I have never known a child who has so much love and compassion for all animals and I know that one day you will go on to great things in the animal kingdom. Everyday you tell us about your plans to save endangered animals and work to save their environments and I know you will. I am so looking forward to today and everyday I have with you. You are my inspiration and the entire reason for Olabelhe, without you none of this would exsist! Thank you so much for all the happiness you bring to our lives! We love you more than you will ever know. Happy Birthday!

Mommy

"PlayDate" at Pat's

Yesterday I played "Hookie" and I went up to Richmond to spend the day with Pat at Chadwick's. As always we had a wonderful time and I was surrounded by inspiration. Pat's fabric collection has grown by leaps and bounds since I visited her last. Wall to wall loveliness in every color of the rainbow. Honestly, it's a bit overwhelming and I was like a kid in a candy shoppe. After taking it all in I decided to play with this gorgeous and very happy daisy print. How can you not smile when you see this??? It "told" me it wanted to be an "Olivia" which actually really surprised me because I wasn't planning on making yet another of these, but they are so much fun to make I thought "What the heck!" I  went into Pat's back room and set up shop and within a few minutes my machine was humming away. Pat and I visited and I got to meet with some of her guests and we talked and talked about sewing. Truly a treat. I had this one finished before lunch. We spent the rest of the day chatting and I looked through old issues of Sew Beautiful as well as Australian Smocking. Sadly, the day ended too quickly but not before I managed to pick out a few more fabrics that wanted to come home with me to be made into something extra special. "Olivia" will most likely become available next week. I just have to get a little more feedback and take Abby out for a photo shoot to get the cover photo and it will be ready to go to print!!! Hang on it's just a few more days. Until then you can begin to think about how you want to make your "Olivia's" and start picking out fabrics. Oh, if you are interested in these fabrics just give Pat a call and I'm sure she will be happy to take care of you!

Thanks so much for a wonderful day Pat!!! I'll be back to visit soon to "play" some more.

Dawn

Look How Gorgeous!

Can you believe this! I just sent the test pattern to Jeannine yesterday and she has already made up an adorable "Olivia". Of course because she and I collaborated on this project she is my main tester! I have to admit I was really nervous/excited to see what she had to say about the pattern and well I just let you pop over to her blog to read what she had to say about it! We are both just tickled about the results of this design and we know you will be too. Be patient just a little longer, I have to tweek a few minor things but honestly, I  think I got this one just right.

Dawn

Olivia Update

I wanted to give you all an update on Miss Olivia. I have received an unbelievable amount of email from so many of you asking all kinds of questions about this dress. Therefore, I am going to try to answer some of your questions here so that if anybody else was wondering some of the same things I could reach more people at once here. Now, please don't misunderstand. I absolutely LOVE getting emails and phone calls from you but because you are all so anxious for this dress responding to all those emails and calls tends to slow me down and I am trying really hard to get this dress to you ASAP!!! 

So. . . .

Q ~ When is Olivia going to be released and will it be in time for Easter? 

A ~ I am just about done with the pattern. The pattern pieces are all drafted, instructions written, illustrations drawn and photo tutorial completed. I just have to do a few more things before I will feel comfortable releasing it. As for the release date I am hoping to release it in the second week of March, barring any disasters. So, you will have it in plenty of time for making Easter dresses!!!

Q ~ What sizes will this dress come in?

A ~ This pattern will include sizes 3-8

Q ~ Do you need testers for this dress?

A ~ I am so touched that so many of you volunteered to test "Olivia" for me but, I already have my testers all lined up and they are super anxious to play with this dress and give it a test drive.

Q ~ How much fabric will I need to make this dress?

A ~ Many of you have already started planning your "Olivia" and want to start shopping for fabric. As always I am pretty generous with my yardage amounts and I can tell you for sizes 3-5 you will need 2 1/2 yards and for sizes 6-8 you will need 3 yards of fabric. Of course if you are planning to use a variety of fabrics you will have to adjust your amounts.

Q ~ Does "Olivia" have a built in crinoline?

A ~ No, this dress does not. However, if you wanted to you could easily add one by using the instructions from one of my other designs that include a crinoline like "Miranda", "Natalie", or "Gabriella".

I hope this helps a little. I have just been overwhelmed by the amazing response to this dress and I am so appreciative that you all love it so much!

Dawn

Euro Sugar Rush!

Ole returned home last night after his trip to Germany. The kids and I are just thrilled to have him home. As always he returned with a suitcase full of Euro treasures most of which are edible. Tons of chocolates including the new maxi size Kinder Eggs which we had never seen before, a mountain of Ritter Sport bars in so many varieties, giant Bounty bars, Milka, and of course a ton of GummiBears. he also smuggled in a few bottles of Euro orange Fanta which we all just love. It's nothing like the American version it's much lighter in taste kinda more like Orangina. Needless to say we are savoring every sip. I can't remember the last time we had this much sugar in the house, but what the heck this only happens every few years.

Ole also surprised Abby with a sister for Diddlina! Meet Diddltina, apparently one of the very last special edition Diddl's in Europe and possibly the world. She was found in a toy shop on a back shelf all alone in Austria! Needless to say, he couldn't resist and she was instantly adopted and came home to be with her sister. Diddlina is over the moon to have her twin sister with her and the two of them have already been into lots of mischief this morning and Abby hasn't stopped smiling. I am sure you will be hearing and seeing a lot more of them here.

The other big surprise was a stuffed "Gummibear" for Henry. If you have never seen this video on YouTube you are in for a "treat". My kids discovered this a few years ago and it has been a long time favorite especially with Henry. So, he was thrilled when he discovered a plush version in Ole's suitcase.
So today I am sure we are going to be bouncing off the walls, both because of the sugar but mostly because we are all so happy to have Ole back home!!!

Here's a link to the YouTube Gummibear video...you have been warned, this may bring on complete silliness and it will get stuck in your head!

Dawn

Hot Off The Press

I told you I am somewhat obsessed with making "Olivia's". Here is this mornings version. This time I decided to use a contrasting fabric for the center band and I trimmed it out with hot pink ribbon with black saddle stitching and added the sweet little bows to the back for interest and to make it a little bit different. Yes, I know, I still have to sew the hot pink buttons on the back of the dress but I was anxious to have Abby try it on and I can easily sew the buttons on later. I also added a pretty fabric flower to make the front more interesting. To be honest . . . I am not totally sure if I like this dress or not. One minute I think it's cute, the next minute I wonder if it's a train wreck. I'm still undecided. I personally like the last one I showed you much more. But, I wanted to show you yet another idea of what you will be able to do with this new design. You can use 1, 2, or even 3 prints if you wanted to. It all depends on what you like and the look you are going for.

Dawn

Olivia, The Trouble Maker!

I think I finally have this little dress figured out. After making the first two I discovered a few things which really bothered me about the original design. It was pulling in places where it shouldn't pull and although it was pretty minor it really bothered me. So, for the past few days I have been making lots of variations of this little dress until I figured out a way to solve the problem. This time, I think I finally got it right and after a few sleepless nights of thinking about how I could tweek it, get it to stop pulling and maintain the integrity of the original dress that everyone, including myself liked so much. I was determined to get it right. It fits Abby perfectly, she loves it and I am finally happy with how the dress fits. Now, I can finally come up for air and take a little break. However, tomorrow I want to start working on putting the pattern together, but maybe I will make one or two more just to be sure. Plus, I have to say these are really fun to make and they go together pretty quickly as well. I should know, I have a pile of them here that I have made over the past few days.

Even after I thought I had finished the dress I was still feeling like it was missing something, so I played around with the idea of adding some red rick-rack to this sweet little dress and here are the results. Sorry about the less than perfect photo, but I did this last night after the sun had gone down and had to use artificial light. I am very pleased with the addition and love the way the dress looks now. What do you think? Amazing what a little rick-rack can do!

Dawn