Baby Mania!

I have been baby crafting up a storm...and there is not an end in sight yet! I had baby shower that I was supposed to attend last month and I could not make it. I had decided to make all of the gifts. Well, I finally finished all of the gifts and handed off the presents today! There were quite a few though...so maybe that is at least something of a reason (excuse) for my delay. I am going to spread the presents out over a couple of posts.

I can't decide which to show first...so I think I will go with my favorite (though it is tempting to save it for the last post). This project started with a pair of booties (acutally they were requested by a relative of the mother). I used the basic premise of a Simplicity pattern, but I adapted the pattern to make it a Mary Jane style, with a lining and with elastic for the strap. I love baby booties...they are just too darn cute.

(Sorry for the photo quality...my camera and I are not on speaking terms right now!)

Well, I decided that I couldn't just make baby booties...they needed to coordinate with an outfit. I LOVE elastic thread now (thanks to Dana of MADE) and so of course, I thought it would be great to use the Summer Vacation Dress concept for a matching top. However, I am embarassed to admit, I made this top a total of 3 (yes, really) times. The concept is super easy and once I figured out the sizing...it was easy peazy...however getting there was quite a process. Dana's pattern does not include sizing for newborns..but there are basic instructions for adapting. Well, my adapting skills need some work. I don't have a newborn...and only have a couple of newborn onsie's on hand. My unsuccessful attempts ended up being too small; however these have made great doll clothes for my daughter. I am still not completely confident that the sizing is correct, but I definitely think it is close.

I used the star fabric from the booties for the bias tape for the shoulders/arms and the polka dot fabric also from the booties.

Of course, the outfit would not be complete without a pair of bloomers. I used an old pattern that I had for my daughter for sizing of the bloomers. However, I decided to continue with the elastic thread (it is addictive!) for the waistband and legs instead of the traditional casing in these areas.

I used the fabric from the bottom of the booties for the bottom of the outfit!

So here is the outfit together! I love anything newborn...it is so little...just for that alone it is adorable! I was pretty happy with the finished project though!

Several other projects will be forthcoming...and plans for even more in the very near future as well!



Linking to:

Current Projects!!

I stumbled upon MADE after via the So You Think You are Crafty blog/competition. I was immediately smitten with her blog and her creations. When I saw her Summer Vacation Dress and Shortie pattern, I knew that I had to buy it. I thought that I would start with just the basic dress. I used fabric that I had leftover from my teacher gift wallhanging. I had planned on this being my "test" pattern. However, I fell in LOVE sooo much with the pattern and the dress, I ended up deciding to use one of the more elborate patterns. It was really a quick pattern and I am definitely addicted to using elastic thread now. I would have never thought I could have sewn with it or that it would be so easy to use. So DO-ABLE!

Dana also provided all of us with a wonderful FREE pattern in the Warhol dress. I modified mine slightly. She designed the pattern to have a tie at the side of the collar of the dress. I think that this is adorable...however, I wanted try it without the tie. The pattern is fabulous...but my first attempt was not quite the intended effect that I wanted. I needed to have gathered the dress at the collar bit more to make the dress fit correctly on the shoulders. Additionally, my attempt at omitting the tie on the collar proved not to be the wisest of decisions. Overall though, a great play dress! I can't wait to make another!!

On a side note...the fabric is retro - taken from my mom's sash. It is directly out of the 80's or early 90's. I am pretty sure that my sister and I had something fashioned out of that fabric back in the day!

Christmas in July

As I am looking back over my projects, there are a few Christmas projects that I wanted to detail. When is a better time for looking at Christmas projects than July!! Ha! Ha! However, I am trying to go in some sort of order, so hence the reason for the craziness (and I am seriously thinking to myself that I really should start on some of this Christmas projects now..).

As I have been reviewing my projects, I have found there have been several projects that I have not photographed. I don't know why, but I like to have pictures as a reminder of what I have done. I can use this to critique past work and tweak to improve the next time around.

One of those projects that I failed to photograph include crocheting 16 miniature stockings last Christmas. I did this for my son's kindergarten class. For Christmas parties, everyone sends treats, so I thought it would be great to make these miniature stockings to hold the treats but could then also be used as an ornament. When I got done, I swore that I would NEVER do this again...however...I thought they were cute once done and so I might be inclined to try it again. I had printed off this pattern several years ago and can't find the exact site again, but this site is a close match to the stocking pattern that I used. They have even added mini teddy bears to the stockings. Adorable!!

A couple of the Christmas projects that I did photograph last year are pictured below. In trying to decide what to give my son's teacher for Christmas, I decided upon a wall/door hanging. She loves bees and so I decided to use them for the theme. I desperately searched for a wall hanging tutorial, but could not find anything that I felt was fitting. I decided to use a Disappearing 9's quilt pattern for the wall hanging. I used this tutorial. This was my first attempt at any sort of quilting. It looks a bit wonky...which I didn't realize until after the gift was given and looking back at photos. I added a border to the quilt and also added some tabs when attaching the binding to add a dowel rod and ribbon to create the wall hanging. I do not have an embroidery machine, so I had a friend embroider Mrs. (Teacher's Name)'s Busy Bees. Overall, for my first attempt, I was happy with the end result.

Another project that I decided to tackle (waiting until Christmas Eve to make this brilliant decision) was a pillowcase dress for my daughter. I decided that she must have festive outfit and so took the kids to Hobby Lobby to pick out some fabric. I also purchased a shirt and fabric for my son to applique a "Christmasy" design on his shirt...however that did not get completed. Below is a less than ideal picture of the pillowcase dress. Those are large Christmas cupcakes on the fabric...just too cute! I know that it will certainly be large enough for her to wear this Christmas as well...which is why the pillowcase dresses are so great. I used this tutorial as my guide for this dress.

Up next....reviews of some current projects!! Yea!!!

A few more projects....

So, I am still reviewing some of my projects from last year. One of my favorites, which my daughter is still able to wear this year, is the twirl skirt. I based the panels of the skirt from this tutorial, however I also added a band to attach the panels to the skirt (from the apron skirt described here). I felt that the band on the skirt added volume - or more of a twirl effect. I also opted not to add pockets and a ruffle to the bottom of the skirt as the tutorial suggested. I just adore this skirt though!! So cute!!

Another "test" outfit I made last year is a combo of the apron skirt (without the apron) and a peasant top. I do not love the fabrics...but it was a test outfit after all. I still have some many ideas of how I want to use this peasant top pattern....so many possibilies...just a matter of getting to those ideas!!