An Old Fashion Christmas

I can't get enough of Christmas dresses for Sweet pea! I was given some fabric from a woman at church a few weeks ago, this was a print that I though said Christmas to me. I made the pattern my self, (it took a week of planning to make the pattern).

 I did like the button loops on the back of her birthday so I wanted to make them on this dress. I just added two more for six in all. The front bodice comes down, like a swoop, fully lined. There is a big bow tie in the back.

 At the end of the sleeves and the bottom of the dress is a pretty ruffle. The dress goes just about all the way down to the floor. I wanted it to look like an old fashion Christmas dress.

 Later tonight I hope to finish her bonnet to match. Have a great weekend!
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Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 I love this time of the year! It is a time to spend with family and friends. A time to thank God for all He has done for us and how good He has been to us. I am so thankful for my husband and children. I couldn't imagine my life without any of them. I hope everyone today is enjoying it with family and friends too.

New Shoes

I made my little girl a little sweet pair of shoes. I used left over fabric from her Scottie dog dress and pleated skirt. The shoes are also pleated. They have soft bottoms so they are much better for her to walk in them around the house.

I found the tutorial for the Pleated Mary Jane shoes over at Shwin and Shwin. I made button holes on mine instead of the loop like she made on hers. She shows how to make several different versions of them too. They have many wonderful tutorials for little ones! I am want to try the all out. :)

She just loves them! She was swirling her feet in little circles looking at her new shoes. I think I am going to make a couple of more pairs to match her other outfits.

The stocking were hung with care...

I have been so busy this past couple of weeks with sewing projects! I finished on Friday Sweet pea's stocking for Christmas. I wanted to make her stocking to look like it was for a girl but still match the boys' stockings so I found red and green fabric that has a gold metallic paint on them that make them shimmer in the Christmas lights.

Here is my hubby's and one son's stocking. My mom made them a few years ago. Sadly she isn't able to sew any more

so that is why I made Sweet pea's and not her. :( My mom could sew anything! That is how I learned how to sew, in fact she and my dad bought my sewing machine for me for Christmas one year when I was a teenager.
And the other two stockings, we also have a matching tree skirt and table runner for the dinning room.

(and yes I did cut her stocking out facing the wrong way, lol, I didn't realize it until I completely finished it. I pieced quilted the thing so I wasn't about to start over again. I think it does look neat facing a different direction since she is the only girl.)

1st Birthday Dress

Last night I started and finished Sweet pea's birthday dress. Her first birthday isn't until January but I am so excited that I couldn't wait to make her dress, or the decorations! (We had three boys before Sweet pea so this is the first pink birthday party we get to have.)

I got the fabric for the dress on my birthday this past month from hobby lobby. It looked just perfect for a 1st birthday dress for Sweet pea.

The pattern I got from a tutorial for Cottage Mama that was on U Create . The pattern was very easy to follow and very clear. I wish all patterns were that way!

A very princess dress for my little princess. Next I am going to make a birthday bib and a birthday hat to match. I have so many ideas for the banner that I am not sure which one to make yet but I still have some time. ;)

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Pleats and Lace

This is one of my favorite dresses I have made Sweet pea so far. The fabric was sent to me by my grandmother, I just love the print! I put lace the whole way around the top and the bottom. Paired with the pleats makes a wonderfully girly look! This dress has a zipper in the back of it, I haven't done many zippers yet so I am happy with the way it came out. Practice makes perfect!

Now to only finish her birthday dress, all I need is the buttons then I am done. I can't wait!

Merry Christmas! Pictures

Today we took the pictures for our family Christmas card. The kids wiggled looked everywhere but at the camera but we finally got some good shots. On the Christmas cards the pictures are spectra (I think that's how it is spelled?) It looks really neat.
My hubby and boys, my hubby was very tired of taking photos here. ;)
My hubby and middle son were being silly here, love it! I got their shirts and hats from Gymboree.

Me and Sweet pea, with her dress I made her. My little Christmas gift, isn't she just sweet?!

refashion sweater dress

I have seen lots of very cute sweater dresses for sale this winter, all about $30-$40, too much for my budget. So I went to my closet and found this sweater I never wear, maybe two to three times in 10 years. The strips remind me of Charlie and Lola from playhouse Disney. Just love it!

To start out I went to Sweet pea's closet and grab a dress of her to size the sweater into a dress. I made this dress one size bigger for her seeing she is growing very quickly and winter hasn't even really started yet.

Step 1: lay the dress on top of the sweater.

step 2: cut away the excess sleeves, sides and bottom of the sweeter off. Remember to include your seam allowance. Also leave 1" on the sleeves and the bottom to turn under to hem.

step 3: pin together the sides and bottom of the sleeves and stitch together, match right sides together. (the sweater is inside out) Then hem the sleeves and the bottom of the new dress. When I did this it gave a flare to the sleeves and the bottom of the dress, I just love it because I it makes it look a bit more girlier.

Step 4: On Sweet pea's the collar was a bit too big so I took it in at the front seams a 1/2" on the two seams. Be sure to follow the original seam lines starting out right next to the seam at the bottom of the sleeve and then gradually coming out and 1/2" at the top.

Step 5: Then take the left over strip from the bottom of the sweater to make a bow for the top of your new dress. I measured how big I wanted my bow and then cut the strip to size. Then stitch up the two ends together making a circle cuff with the seam in the back, this will be the main part of the bow. Take more of the same strip, about 5", and bring together the sides long way, stitch up the long way of the strip,turn to form a long tub. This will make the thin strip that goes around the bow.

Step 6: With a needle and thread in hand, make a running stitch up the middle of the main part of the bow, pulling the string tight and sew in place.

Next take the skinny tub, wrap it around the middle of the main part of the bow with the seam in the back. Stitch in place. the back should look something like this. Then attach to the dress in the top left collar.

With the sleeves that I had cut off I made Sweet pea a matching hat with a bow on the side.

Now with all that money I saved I can go shopping for more fabric! :)

Isn't she just a cutie?!

Puppies, Booties and Hats

I made Sweet pea a matching rap around shirt to match her pleated skirt a couple of days ago. It is a busy print, I love it, totally girly. I made the bias tape too. It was from left overs from her Christmas dress jacket. I hate to waist anything.

I also finished the dress, hat and booties for my friend's baby too. I made her a dress like Sweet pea's Scottie dog dress and a hat too. I also made a matching pair of baby booties.

They are so cute and little. It makes me miss my little one being so tiny, my baby is growing up. sniff, sniff.(that's me crying) I will post the pattern for the booties later this week.

It's finished!

I have been wanting to make a fall table runner for about two months now so yesterday I had finally started it. It was a lot of fun to sew! The strips were sewn down to the backing as the strips were sewn together. I think it is just so neat! (It is the small things that make me happy!) I found the tutorial over at Diary of a Quilter . I do have to say, I see me making more of these in my future! It was a lot of fun to make, I already said that didn't I. I just get so excited making things, first I had a pile of fabric strips and next thing you know it is a beautiful table runner. :) My hubby must think I am nuts. ;)

Here is the back, I just love the feel of the quilting on it.

Here is a sneek peak at Sweet pea's stocking. My mom made all of our stocking a couple of years ago, before Sweet pea was born and now she can't sew anymore so she sent me the pattern book to make her stocking. The book is from quilt in a day, Stockings & Small Quilts. I can't wait to make it!

First Thanksgiving dress

This being Sweet pea's first Thanksgiving I was thinking that she needed a Thanksgiving dress so I whipped up this little peasant dress for her. I got the idea form over at Johnny in a Dress .

She made her daughter the two cutest little dresses with matching headbands to go with them. I made Sweet pea's the same but I added a 4" ruffle at the bottom of the dress and made a apron th go on top. Both were very easy to make and supper cute.

Now to only finish my fall table runner. I have been meaning to start on it for over a month now. Fall is almost over but we can enjoy it for Thanksgiving still. I will post it on here later today as soon as I am done making it.

Have a wonderful day!
Sharon