First Day of School outfit, Bitter Sweet

We are still in the middle of summer but I have been busy, busy sewing up miss Sweet pea's school clothes. (As to why this blog is so quite, I am sewing so much that I really have not taken a break to blog.) While I have dreamed of sewing Sweet pea's schools clothes for quite some time I still am sad to think that the time has already come. Where has the years gone?? 

Now while I have this huge list of things to sew (Many being Oliver and S that Sweet pea has requested herself) choosing the first day outfit is very important to both of us. My good friend Theresa, of Grammies Dolls, just released her first two patterns on her own and I was so lucky to be able to test both of them. Sarah and I both have been a huge fan of Theresa's patterns from Ellie Inspired for a while. The top is the Sweet Sophyes shirt and the shorts are the Lil Elizabeth Shorts.  

I love the classic style of each of these patterns and they are super quick to sew. Sarah and I chose fabrics form Moda's Mistletoe Lanes line. I used cotton lace to trim the blouse on each side of the button placket and the bottom hem of the sleeves. I trimmed the shorts with the same lace tied into a sweet little bow. The shorts have these lovely pleats on both sides of the fronts. I love that this set looks great with the shirt tucked in or not. 

With school getting ready to start we are trying new hair styles as well. Of course any things with braids is a win her Sweet pea's book so we have tried lots of these out. This one is my favorite so far. I really am enjoying that she is letting me fix her hair now. I have waited so long for this! 

A close up of the sweet shorts, I have another pair on my list for this year to sew.   

Lots of lace trims for my princess and I. 

Well Miss Sweet pea says she is ready and so excited to start school, I am sure I am not. *sigh* I guess I better get ready! 

Happy Sewing!!! 

Sharon 

She finally Wants Shorts!

My Sweet pea only wants to wear dresses. All winter long she could not figure out why on earth I would not let her out to play in the snow in just a dress and stockings. She thinks they are so much cooler to wear in the hot weather as well....that is until she realized in the hot, humid air that you just can't slide down the slide in just a skirt or dress with out getting stuck on the slide the whole way down. (If you can picture this in your head it was extremely funny!) So she finally requested some shorts for play ground wear! 

I decided to make the Picnic shorts from Oliver + S since I have not sewn them once yet. I had bought the pattern about two years ago on sale over half off but it was the bigger sizes, she can always grow into them right?! These are a size 5 in pink twill, a bit big but not bad looking at all. She loves the construction of the front, it lets her run and climb as easily as the dresses and skirts does. I love the constructions on these inside and out! Such a clever sew, I should not have been so surprised.

The top is Oliver + S free Ruffle halter top, yep it's a free pattern! This top went together super quick. I did finish the edges of the ruffles on the serger with a rolled hem but it really didn't take much longer to make it. The fabric is a seersucker that I have had on hand for a few years now. Sweet pea loves this top too as much as her shorts.

Besides the top having these beautiful cascading ruffles it has this breezy open back, I think this is the part of the top that Sweet pea likes so well.

I did top stitch the shorts in a coordinating thread, I got this idea from MC in the flicker group at Oliver +S. I adore all of her sewing!

These shorts are play ground approved personally by Sweet pea herself. : )

Happy Sewing!!

Sharon

I Blinked and Then He was Two

My little baby boy is turning two this next week. It's so hard to believe that two years has almost pasted since this little prince was born. I was just holding my baby it seems like yesterday. 

He is my out doors boy so I thought how fitting to have his birthday outfit using the firefly fabric from Wee Wanderings. I just adore this fabric line!  We are having a "Camp Out" birthday theme for his as well. There is nothing that this boy loves more than being outside eating roasted hot dogs. Well, he does love to chase the fireflies as well. ; )

Daddy and I(mostly daddy) just built the kids this fort that we put back in the woods a bit from old pallets. Lonnie even reused the nails from the pallets as well. Such a clever man. Prince C is uses it the most. It's perfect to go with his camp out theme I think.

As you can see it's a great place to play and hide.

The run down on his outfit, the top is the Sketchbook shirt form Oliver + S and the shorts are form their Field trip cargo pants. The shorts are sewn a stretch twill. I not so sure I will use the stretch twill again for this pattern due to the cargo pockets stretching a bit. They do look fine but it wasn't the most fun to sew. Both top and bottoms are 18m size, both are big on him but at least I know they fit for a while. He really wears about a size 12m still. I do think he does look so cute it though. : )


Well his party is Saturday and I have some more things to get in order!


Happy Sewing!


Sharon

So Clever Charlotte!

 I sew mostly from Oliver + S patterns but another pattern I so love is the Finch top and shorts from Clever Charlotte. This is such an easy pattern and there are so many ways to change it up. This top is made in a 3T for my ever growing Sweet pea, I made it a 4T in length so she can layer it this winter and still wear it this coming summer. She is has been getting so tall!

 She totally loves the bow on this one! I made the bow with the hook and loop tape on the back so that the bow can be taken off easily. I did this for dear hubby who hates the bow on this top when he tries to buckle Sweet pea in her car seat. Problem solved!

 I added some pretty velvet ribbon to this pair, made just like the brown twill ones from Nicole's tutorial. They are finished off with some metal heart buttons.

 I also made Sweet pea a lace White top with pin tucks throughout the fabric. The fabric is light weight so I added a pink kona cotton for the lining fabric as to make the top a very pale pink color. (Pink is her favorite color right now!)I left the bow off this top and instead added a big button for a more "grown" look to it.

 I love the back on this top too, it's a racer back so very comfortable for summer time. I also made this top a 3T with the 4T length to layering for this winter and wear for the next summer too. Now onto some school sewing for Mr. J next and if I am very lucky maybe some good sleep too. ;)

Sharon

Dressy Finch Shorts!

Have you herd of the Clever Charlotte patterns yet? If not you should go check them out over here! I first found them through Flicker. After seeing the black pair here and this cute pair here I just had to order this pattern for Sweet pea, well grandma and grandpa did for her birthday. :)

 I did make these using the tutorial for Nicole's blog, what a very clever woman she is!  

I love the pleats, the cuffs and the button details! By adding the velvet ribbon to the shorts it makes them very dressy to wear out on the town. (and yes we are still in diapers....)

 They is such great details in such a little pair of shorts but they are very easy to sew! If button holes scare these are the shorts for you, there are none to make at all. The instructions are easy and simple to follow and have stunning results.

Sweet pea just loves them too!! She was begging me to finish them last night but it till this morning to finish them up. They are a stretch twill and are super soft so very comfortable for her to wear. (they started out as maternity pants but with the heat and the baby due any time I thought she could use these shorts more than I needed the pants!)

 After making this pair for little one I think I'll have to start a black pair next. You know Sweet pea just doesn't have enough closes. ;)

In case your wondering, yes I made the top too. :) It was a dress last year on her but makes a wonderful top this year. It is an easy McCall's pattern that I just added the ruffles too. She has a matching dress too with ruffled bottom bloomers. The fabric is Nicey Jane, some of my favorite spring time summer fabrics. :)

Happy Sewing!!

Sharon

Summer Time Sewing

 I know, I know I said that I was almost done with my sewing for a bit but how could I not make Sweet pea these cute little shorts? They go wonderfully with her Swing Set top and it is one of her favorite colors too. The shorts are the Oliver + S Puppet Show patten. It's now a PDF pattern on their web site.

 She is so happy lately when ever I make something new for her to wear too. (See that face?!?) I guess all the baby and boy sewing made her think twice about what I sew for her. ;)

"It's this big mama!" She seen a little orange kitten and boy does she love kittens.

 I love this sweet little face. :) Yep, I will probably still make a few more things for her for this summer. How could I say no to this face?

I have to share my 6 year's old photo you too, Mr G. He is just about ready to graduate from K5 this week. I can' believe that he has grown so much. I was just looking at some of his baby sleepers today and my how small was he. Where did the time go??

Have a Great Weekend!!

Sharon

An Easter Sneak Peak!

 I finished up Sweet pea's Easter dress and couldn't wait to show it off! This year dress was made from the Oliver + S pattern the Bubble Dress but with a few changes to dress it up some.

 The bodice was made by the pattern with some added ribbon for the waist line to dress it up some. I did the skirt different though. I made the skirt full by cutting two pieces of fabric full width and sewing them together-a pain to gather ;)- and put a full slip lining under it with tulle to puff the skirt up a bit more. The tulle was alot fun to gather as well, lol. I had to work that part on my dinning room table. I finished it with two rows of ribbon a the bottom of the skirt.

 I did finish the two younger boys' shorts for their outfit too. I used a light weight cord the sketchbook pattern for O+S. I did a pin tuck down the entire pleat to dress it up some more. I was very hesitant on making shorts but glad I am now. Thank you O+S forums gals!!  

 I just love the stitching detail on these! Now only to finish the oldest boy's shorts then onto dress shirts. :)

 Happy Sewing!!

Sharon

Pin Wheel Fun

 Another outfit made with my little fabric stash I received in the mail last week! I love the pin wheel print, it's so much fun. I added a cute big pin wheel applique to the top to match the pin whiles in the print.

 The top is Clever Charlotte's finch top and the bottoms are altered Puppet show shorts from O+S. I do love that short pattern!

I made the shorts wiht a flat front and added tabs the bottom bias strip, and the bias strip I added about a 1/2" when I had cut it to make it wider when finished. It was agereat way to add some length for my growing girl.

I couldn't resit adding this photo, Sweet pea was really poseing for me!! That hardly ever happens anymore. What a sweetie she can be. :)  I see this makeing it to a frame on the wall.

I made my own pattern for the appique if anyone would like a tutorial on just let me know, I could get one up next week.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Sharon