Madison is 2 Months Old

It's been a while since I blogged - a lot going on, but I'm still sewing and should have some things up soon. In the meantime, enjoy this video of my adorable granddaughter.

Sewing Pattern for Girls Top Update

I am still working on the girl's top but have made some significant changes.
I am not using the aqua and white fabric after all. I have switched over to an adorable floral print and want to bring in some contrast fabric for the sleeves and maybe as an insert in the middle, similar to the original drawing, but no drawstring.
Check back for the finished top. I have also decided to add shorts and make this a set. Hopefully, I'll have it finished tonight and will have pictures up shortly.

To see the progress from the beginning, click here.

Fabric for Girls Top, Part 3

Here's the fabric for the top I am making.
This photo shows how the red rickrack will look against the aqua/white fabric.

Part 1 here
Part 2 here

Making a Pattern, Part 2

I have revised my plan for this top.
Instead of the insert, I want to add a border/flounce with some white eyelet. I'm keeping the longer length.
I have some beautiful aqua and white cotton fabric and I cannot get enough of the red/aqua color combo, so I think I will use some red rickrack for accent to bring in more red. The black squiggly lines you see in the drawing are supposed to be rickrack.
Coming next: cutting out the pattern

See Part 1 here.

Pattern Design for Girl's Top

Here's one example of how my design process starts. With a drawing like this.

I liked the blue top I made for this outfit so, using the same basic pattern, I want to make this top longer with an insert. I'm thinking about using either some kind of lace or decorative thing or maybe a contrast fabric.
My plan is to make some capri pants to go along and I'm thinking of using a ruffle at the hem, so it may be the same fabric on the ruffle and the insert. Check back to see how this project is coming along.

Soda Can Pop Top Belt

I know I like to recycle but this soda-pop-top belt takes recycling to a whole new level.

Curious Girl was inspired by an article in Budget Living Magazine, which is now out of print.
She used over 100 pop tops.

Very clever.

Curious Girl
Complete instructions on how she made it here.

Baby Girl's Dress

I have just finished sewing this dress for Madison. I found the fabric a while back. I've been saving it for something and this summery sweet dress was just the thing.

I love the tiny floral print in pink and blue and, because the dress is fully lined, it hangs beautifully.

I handmade the 3 ruffles across the bodice along with the fabric bow. Sleeveless, zipper back with hook and eye.
I put in an extra-long hem to allow for growing.
So sweet!

7/25/08 Edit: I used this same fabric to make this cute little top and this one.

Embroidered Tea Towel Tour

I found this on Sublime Stitching's blog.

A tea towel was sent out, chain-letter style, to 12 stitchers to add their embroidery.

I just love things like this.

Ruffles AND Polka Dots

This was a fun outfit to make. I had both of the fabrics and when I saw them together, I just thought they would work perfectly for something - and this is what I came up with.
I saw a picture of a similar top to this in a Japanese craft book and it looked pretty simple to make.

The top has polka dot ties that match the polka dot ruffles. This was my first time making my own bias and a little bit of a challenge.

I love the little ruffled jeans shorts little girls wear - so I thought I would add some matching fabric to a pair of Oshkosh jeans that I cut off to make shorts.

What do you think?

Batik Fabric

I made this dress with a beautiful, purple dragonfly Batik print cotton fabric. I wish I could tell you where it came from but it was just part of my stash and I can't remember.

I added a ruffle to the pocket and the ribbon around the yoke to pick up the paler color of the butterflies.

I can't wait to see Madison wearing it.

Top and Shorts,

My mother had some fabric that she no longer needed, so of course I volunteered to take some off her hands.
I used the fabric to sew this 2-piece outfit. There's actually 3 different fabrics used here: the top, the shorts and applique and the ruffle/bow. I added the button because I love buttons.

Baby Bib with Felt Fish Applique

I just finished this cute little bib. My daughter loves fish motifs so I thought I would put a fish on their for her.

Handmade Cards by Pepperina Press

I just love the cards in this shop.

These Bird Notes thank-you cards are from original artwork.

It's worth the trip to their shop just to look, but their prices are so reasonable you may not be able to resist the temptation to purchase!

Pepperina Press
Bird Note Thank You Cards: Package of 8 cards & envelopes: $8

Polka Dots and Flowers

Here is the latest outfit I just finished sewing for Madison. It's a 2-piece outfit, 100% cotton with a dress that can be worn separately or with the matching shorts.

I LOVE polka dots and any chance to use them. I love mixing patterns and I kind of like the way this one turned out.

I would love to see what you're making!

Thrifting

Ah, thrifting.
Have you ever experienced that strange phenomenon where something you need just pops up somwhere?

I have been thinking about how much I would like to own an ironing ham because I sew small things, but they are expensive, so I've done without.

Today I found this brand new Dritz ham at a thrift shop. Wool one side, cotton duck on the other. What more could I ask for. Oh, yeah - it was $1.50.
'Nuff said.

Sewing & Customizing

Although I like to make my own patterns, I also like combining bits of separate patterns to make the piece I'm sewing look like I want. In this dress, I combined two store-bought patterns to get the bodice and skirt I wanted for the dress, then I altered the neckline on the bodice to square it out rather than have a rounded neckline.
I then added the criss-cross embroidery pattern on the machine and hand-embroidered the flowers and butterflies. This is what makes customized clothes so special and one-of-a-kind.
If you've done similar things, I'd love to hear from you.

Baby Sun Dress & Bonnet

I'm going to be a grandmother!
I get to make sweet little baby things for a little baby girl!
Better get busy.

This is the first project for Madison: a baby sun dress, bonnet and bloomers set. Very bright, very cute and such fun(and easy) to make.
It's Herby's (my significant other) favorite. Someone made a comment on flickr that they liked it because it wasn't the usual "girly pink". How true.

Blogging from the Second Floor

Welcome to my blog.
Here I'll share inspiration, crafts, art and other discoveries, with an emphasis on baby and children's things.
I'll try to promote independent artists and shops as much as possible and I will always try to provide a link for credit.
I depend on your comments and input.
Please feel free to send me your stuff to post about: art work, craft projects, books, chidren's clothing, your blog, a URL...
If you want to see something on my blog please let me know.
I will be posting from my home - here's a picture of my house taken in the fall. I blog from the 2nd floor.
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