Want A Sneak Peek???

Thought you all might like a little sneak peek at what I have been up to. I am almost done with my samples. Just one more to go. Phew, this has been quite the sewing marathon. I cannot tell you what a wonderful response this skirt has gotten. So, I have decided to add this pattern to my first collection.

Here it is.... "Kirstin's Hopscotch Skirt"....I have to admit I REALLY LOVE THIS ONE!!!! OMG, I want one for myself! I made it up in more of HB's Fresh Cut and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this Fabric!!! I may have to schlepp back up to Richmond to get more to make myself a skirt too.

Actually there is a cute story as to how this skirt got it's name. One of my closest GF's who lives in Denver saw it on my blog and she instantly called me and said "I want a bunch of these skirts for summer. They are perfect!" Pure genius, these would work for "Us Mama's Too" so when I am drafting the pattern I may just have to make a "mommy version"...maybe!!! Needless to say it's named Kirstin because that's my friends name. She is just tickled that I named the skirt after her. Plus, she has promised not to come after royalties money from me when I am rich and famous : ). What a friend!

Crazy Cats in Hot Air Balloons???

I've had this fabric for ages. It's actually some vintage bark cloth I got from my grandma's attic. It's been sitting in my stash for ages and today I remembered it and decided to play with it. I really love the bright colors and the adorable print. Cats in hot air balloons??? Crazy, but Abby loves it!!! When she saw it, it was love at first sight. I just made a simple sleeveless sundress because it's all I had fabric for and with the print being so large I didn't want to add to much or it would take away from how cute it is on it's own. I have a feeling this one is going to be a favorite this summer.

Weekend Sewing

Here is just one of the things I sewed up over the weekend. It's just your basic peasant type dress but I had a lot of fun playing with lots of different fabrics in this one. All very sweet romantic floral prints in soft shades, perfect for spring and summer. I even made Abby a little head scarf. At first she hated it and said she would look like a baby in it but when I told her that head scarfs were all the rage with 5 year old girls she quickly changed her mind. One she saw how cute it looked she asked for more, girls!

Abby's Spring Coat in Euro Bunny

After seeing the adorable coat Mary made for Liesl I knew I had to get the Indydo Junction "Teatime coat"pattern and make one up for Abby. I put it together yesterday and put the finishing touches on it this morning. I decided to use up some of my Euro bunny and accent the entire thing with red with white polka dots. The pattern didn't call for lining the coat but I did it anyway. I just think it's easier than fiddling with all the facings and such plus now the coat has a lot more body and a nicer weight to it. I really love the way it turned out and Abby loves it too.

Using Up Some Vintage Treasures

I had this really pretty vintage fabric and I decided to play around a bit more with the design I drafted the other day for Abby's B'day dress. This time I left out the godets, and I think I like it better this way. However, you know me. I can't do anything plain and simple so this time I added rouching on the sides so the top skirt gathers up a bit to show off the skirt underneath. I also had a lot of fun with the bodice adding bits and pieces of vintage lace, trim and ribbon to make it "pop". Abby insisted on wearing my pearls because she said it was a "pearl kinda dress" OMG what have I created??? anyway, here are a few shots so you can see my latest.

She's "5"!!!!

Abby turned 5 this week, and in honor of her big day I decided to make her a special Birthday dress. I drafted the pattern myself and I think I really like the lines of it, although I am not really crazy about the fabrics I used this time, it's a little too "bubble gummy" for my taste, But it's Abby's day and she wanted something with cupcakes on it so I used Walmart fabrics to make my "muslin" and she really loves it. Hey, cupcakes and glitter...how can you go wrong? I am anxious to play around with this design some more using nicer fabrics and see what I can come up with.

A Little Valentines Day Project

Preparations have begun for Valentines Day at our house. All the special little things that come out this time of year have started to make there way out into view. This year I am adding some more special things including this little quilt that I just finished up the other day. I really love the way it turned out and it was my first ever attempt at Free Motion Quilting. A technique that I had been itching to try and I finally did it. I have a few more goodies I want to make. I'd better get cracking. I only have a few days left.

Argh!!! It's A Choir Gown

It's okay...I can take it! I know it looks like a choir gown. But I wanted to give this Otto a try. It's the "Otilla" from 6/07. It's adorable...but it has no shape whatsoever and looks like a tent on her. Oh well, no big loss. I used cheapo Walmart fabric rather than anything I treasured just in case it was a flop...and it was IMO. But it was fun to make and Abby likes it. I think I may make something a little more fitted for her actual V'Day dress.

Guess Who???

okay, lets see who can figure out who I was thinking of when I created this outfit.....

OMG...Abby and I had a magical afternoon. We went to Colonial Williamsburg for our photoshoot and had the best time together. I told her we were going to a secret garden hidden away and she was completely enchanted. She had so much fun discovering hidden hideaways and pretty little gardens. Afterwards we walked into town and went to the old fashioned candy shop where she picked out a big red lollipop!!! You should have seen her face. I actually should have taken a picture because it was priceless. Everyone was completely enchanted by her today and she was the subject of many people's photos and videos and she loved every minute of it. Anyway, have you figured it out yet???

Nibble, Nibble At My House

Okay, today's creation is my version of Gretel. Hansel decided to go off on his own and explore the forest and wasn't available for the photo shoot! Anyway, it was a bit too cold out today to be modeling so we opted for staying in close to the fire. Fitting, I suppose. Anyway, Gretel was very pleased with her dress! Oddly, I'm finding this a great way to add an interesting twist to our homeschooling with making Abby a dress and then sharing these great stories with the my kids. Then I get to have fun too! They got a big kick out of hearing Hansel & Gretel today and I even made Abby a little cupcake purse to carry her bread crumbs in. Blah, blah, blah...anyway her is today's Fairy Tale creation.

Storybook Princess

I just loved all of your ideas for which outfit I should do next in my "Fairy Tales" self-challenge. I loved the idea of all the princesses, The Princess and the Pea & Rapunzel. So, I decided to just make a "Storybook Princess" dress for Abby. I couldn't stop thinking about it last night and couldn't wait to get started on it this morning. I took some ideas from dresses I have seen in period movies and went from there. I used a beautiful pale orchid baby cord paired with some sheer fabric I had picked off the Walmart $1 table a while ago. I was always so curious to see what I would do with that fabric. It was so pretty and unusual. I just new it would come in handy someday. The dress has an empire waist, and an inset of the sheer fabric in the bodice to add a pretty effect. Big puffy sleeves and a delicate trim with tiny rosebuds and a bit of shimmer. The skirt is double layered with the sheer fabric underneath and showing in the front. Plus a white petticoat underneath.

Into The Woods

I had this idea of wanting to make some fun outfits for Abby based upon classic Fairy Tales. First up...Little Red Riding Hood. Abby just loves this story so she requested that we make this outfit first. I had some yummy forest green no-wale cord which made up into a sweet little twirl skirt, red and white gingham bloomers and top. Paired with a long sleeved white T and red tights. Then of course the cape, made from baby soft red cord and lined with white fleece. Abby fell in love with it from the moment she saw it and is now playing LRR with her brother...who of course is the BBW. Hmmm, I wonder which Fairy Tale I should do next...suggestions? Please challenge me with something fun!

Henry's Baby

As you know I have absolutely fallen in love with making dolls of late. The kids have been so fascinated watching me create them and seeing these little people come to life. Henry especially, so of course I had to make him his own "baby." All day yesterday Henry watched as his little buddy came to life and he was so excited. This morning I woke up early to make his clothes so that I could give him to Henry as soon as he woke up. I decided to put him in soft flannel jammies and make him a "gummi" just like Henry's. Now for those of you who don't know Henry is a true little "Linus" and he drags his green blankie around with him everywhere. For some odd reason for which we have absolutely no idea why, Henry calls his blanket "Gummi", hmmm...???? But he also calls my Dyson "Gummi" go figure? It must mean something he just absolutley loves because those are his two favorite things!

This morning when I gave Henry his doll he was over the moon! This is what being a mom is all about. Making magic for your kids!!!

Dawn