Baby Shower Gifts

I plan to give these two gifts at a double baby shower on Tuesday. One is a pink smocked bib and the other is a ready to smock dress (the mom-to-be can smock and has three sons so far).

I know they will enjoy their little girly gifts!

My Stars! Blue & Yellow Pajamas

My daughter had to wear PJs to school the last day before Christmas break, so she picked these fabrics out for her "Polar Express" day at school. They do have a yellow cuff on the hem of the pants, sleeves, and the yellow pockets (her fave color). She also wore them on Christmas Eve. Nothing feels better than new PJs on Christmas Eve, right?

Fabric Strip Crocheted Bowls

My sister, probably a year ago, gave me the bowl in the middle and several balls of the fabric strips. She has trouble with her wrists, and after making the back one, she decided she didn't have the "stamina" to make two more. I made the one on the right last night and the oval one on the left this morning (sorry, no patterns). I really enjoyed this project. They are all about 12 inches across, so they are rather large, heavy duty, and thick. This was fun and my girls have both requested one for their room. I'll do them when my hands recover. It is tiring to the hands to work with the fabric strips, but WOW what a neat project. I know my sis will like them!

New Haircuts and New Dresses

I have had this fabric for several months, but was scared to cut it -- today I took the plunge and made these two dresses. It is a very soft corduroy that cost an arm and a leg. I am pleased with the way the dresses turned out -- and they look good with the new haircuts we got today too. They have a pretty brown microcheck as the lining, and an invisible zipper back closure.

Striped Christmas Skirts

These Christmas skirts are too cute! I started by measuring my daughters' waists and then added about 10-14 inches to that measurement to know the width of the skirt. I then measured from their waist to their knees to get the length. No pattern, just a straight skirt with a waistband. The black trim is that eyelash crochet thread -- I just made a chain stitch and zig zagged it onto the seam area where I joined the ruffle. I LOVE these and wish I were quirky enough to pull one off myself!

I think they will look good with any black, white, red, or green shirt they have already in the closet.

Well, now that that it out of my system, I guess I'll have to work on work stuff a while. bah humbug, just when I started having fun.

Circles Mary De smocked top - Finished

Finished this up tonight. Mary De dress in size 8 shortened to be a top. Front view on teh left, back view on the right. We already had the pants in the closet. I thought I should go with a simple geometric on the top since she is getting bigger now, and the fabric is busy enough anyway. She LOVES it and can't wait to wear it to school Tuesday...she said she can't wear it tomorrow because she has art and doesn't want to risk getting markers or paint on it. I guess she does like it!

I'm smocking!

I just got inspired the other night and am making a "Mary De" top out out of a neat black and white fabric. Here's the sneek peek:

Halloween Shirts

I wonder if this pair of shirts may need an orange or black microcheck ruffle on the bottom? Any advice out there?

Bible Covers

We will have promotion Sunday at church next week where the church presents a bible to all of the new third graders. I made this array of bible covers with little ribbon bookmarks for the kids. (Thanks for the pattern Tracy!) Won't they be cool?

John Deere Adult Bib/Apron

My Aunt asked me to make this for a friend of hers. I think it is cute.

Dressy Barette Holders

Mom & I teamed up and made these pretty barette holders for the girls. You clip their barettes to the ribbons that are hanging down. The flowers on the belts weren't fastened at the point when this picture was taken, but they are now hanging on the wall full of their hairbows!

Hibiscus Floral Print Dress with Belt

I fell in love with this hibiscus fabric and for some reason if I love a piece of fabric, I have a hard time making something with it unless it is just the right thing...I think I did this fabric justice. My daughter loves this twirling dress. The dress is Butterick 4718 with sleeves from Simplicity 4658. One other alteration is that I lined the bodice...I am so "over" facing pieces. The dresss fits a little loose and long, but that is good since she will probably only wear it twice more this summer.

Flowers & Plaid Top & Capris

The top of this one is made from McCall's 5798 View A and the bottoms are Simplicity 3749 View C. LOVE LOVE LOVE this cutie patootie outfit on this cutie patootie kid!

Flower Splash Dress

This is Simplicity 4658 with a lined bodice instead of using the facing. I also added three inches to the length. She LOVES it and can't wait to wear it a couple of times before the fall hits. It is very loose fitting so she will have at least one thing to wear this spring!

Red White & Blue Tiered Dresses

Made these with some designing help from my friend Tracy -- the girls LOVE them -- they looked good for our 4th of July vacation...I didn't pose them for this picture -- I merely asked them to "try to look normal and quit doing crazy stuff please"...ha! My older daughter is wearing McCall's 5798, and my younger one is wearing McCalls 4814

Ready to Smock Bishop = Black Microcheck

I hadn't done one of these in a long time...and now I remember why I like making them so much -- they're so cute! -- this one is for Kim to smock for Palmetto Kids.

Our First Eggs

Our baby chicks aren't ready to lay eggs yet, but a friend dropped off 6 full grown laying hens so we now have eggs -- 3 the first day and three yesterday -- so here is a photo of our first three eggs! and the coop, which is a little further along now.

Green Seersucker Ruffled Top

This is SO CUTE! Fully lined and summery fun top for my daughter -- LOVE IT!

Ruffeled Top & Jeans Recon -- Modeled

Here is how the Ruffled top and Jeans Recon post from June 19th turned out looking on my "darling" -- LOVE THE TONGUE!

June Jammies 2

Here is another of the Jammies I made a couple of posts ago, this is adorable SuperGirl fabric that I thought I was out of, but found last week!

Pillowcase tops

The girls will be sporting these new tops this week at Myrtle Beach, the small one on the barbie is for their younger cousin, but they thought the model was cute!

My friend Tracy and I whipped up 4 of these assembly line style using a pattern and, of course, adding length, but I can't seem top put my hands on the pattern right now...anyway, a pillowcase top...bandana fabric...Texas here we come!

Another Ruffled top & jeans recon

Let my youngest pick her own fabric for her ruffled top and reconstructed jeans. "Thank you" goes to Claire for ripping a hole in the knee and passing them to us...they were perfect. I actually ran out of the butterfly & floral fabric before I got the ruffle on the bottom, but I think it looks even better with the stacked ruffles on the pants It really didn't take much more effort...Top is Simplicity 3749 View B (with a ruffle added). Major alteration is that I lined the top insted of the facing and bias strips for the armpits...makes for a more professional look and also (usually) makes it iron free!

June Jammies

Made these two pajama sets today -- my girls picked their own fabrics and they LOVE this pattern with the "triangles at the top." They think they are like grownup pajamas -- Butterick 4383 View D

My New Hobby

My husband and dad built me a chicken coop and here are the 6 ladies that live in this luxury. They are about 8 or 10 weeks old

New Pajamas

I made these last night (and added the fringe tonight) for my daughter to go to her dance studio sleepover -- she kinda "designed" them herself -- the dance studio's colors are blue and hot pink so she wanted them to look like this to win the pajamas contest -- I used Butterick 4383 View D for this one -- I just added about two inches in length to the shirt and shorts -- the shirt will tend to show tummy if I cut to the pattern lines.

Has anyone ever tried to make wrap pants?

It looks easy and they don't look so bad on the model...I wonder if I could pull them off?

http://laupre.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/easy-breezy-wrap-pants-tutorial/

Sparkly Pink American Girl Doll Dress

I used pattern Simplicity 4364 View C (without the Jacket) and made this dress. My daughter is going to a birthdayt party tomorrow so this is what she is giving her friend -- If I can pry it out of her hands! It is made from a nice sparkly pink fabric. So girly!!

Daisy Dreams Dresses

All-Bran Muffins

If you've never made the Original All Bran Muffins -- you need to buy a box of this cereal and go home and make them - I'm not kidding, they are moist and delicious!

Big Girl Sundress

This blog entry is about the dress on my old daughter. This was made using McCalls 5574 view C -- I think it has a big girl look. It even has some gathering worked into the "bust." I loved making it because it doesn't even have any zippers.

My younger daughter's dress is blogged here

3 Tiered Spring Skirts

I made these using Simplicity 4206 View C and sewed View E (the shorts) underneath to turn this skirt into a skort -- if you want more directions on how to accomplish this click here for how I described it. The girls LOVE these and plan to wear them out to dinner tonight -- aren't these the funnest fabrics you've ever seen!?!

Ruffled shirt & Jeans

Reconstructed some jeans that had started tearing at the bottom by cutting them off at capri length and adding a ruffle.

Made this shirt as an adaptation of Simplicity 3749 View B. Adapted because I lined the entire top instead of using a facing...and added the ruffle. This was fun, quick, and my daughter LOVES it!

Three Angel Sleeved Bishops

Ready to smock for my smockaholic friend Kim! Enjoy!

I'm Officially Published!!!

My Remote Control Organizer is on page 118 of this book with my very own name right under it...how cool. It is available by Lark Publishing or I can get it for you at a 40% discount they tell me - I got my own copy in the mail yesterday. I think I have three other complementary copies on the way to me, but we'll see if that ever happens. You can see the finished product stuck somewhere in my craft cabinet in my bedroom or at this link

Free Sample

Free sample of Total Cereal:
http://freesample.totalcereal.com/TotalCranCrunch/Default.aspx

Make Baby Leg Warmers

Make your own Baby Leg Warmers -- because you know you have been dying to own some!

http://everythingyourmamamade.com/2008/01/21/make-your-own-baby-leg-warmers/

This was too cute not to share!

Artful Bras

http://www.quiltersofsc.org/artfullbras/artfullbras.htm

Check out these artful bras that these ladies created for breast cancer awareness -- cool huh?

Bunnies & Baskets Mary De Jumper Dress

Here is the dress -- everything but the hem. My favorite part is the bunny that is turned to the back...he's cute!

Bunnies & Baskets

I smocked this over the past two weeks -- starting back to work is interfering with my sewing addiction! Cute bunnies, one turned backwards...bullion eggs in the baskets and french knot daffodills beside the bunnies. This will be turned into a Mary De style dress for a friend's 3 year old granddaughter

Not Really Chicken Pot Pie

In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter.
Blend in ½ cu flour, salt & pepper.
Gradually stir in 3 cups of chicken broth (3 cups of boiling water and 4 bullion cubes works).
Cook, stirring constantly until smooth and thickened.
Stir in chicken (cooked, deboned & chopped) & vegetables (I used a bag of broccoli stir fry).
Simmer a while – stirring occasionally - great leftover too.

Serve over homemade bisquick biscuits – so very good!