creative little daisy

Two very different frocks

I made myself a couple of dresses and I have to say, I think photographing them was harder than sewing.



This is my least favorite of the two. I've worn it once, on a breezy day resulting in a couple of near misses on the church steps, so before I wear it again I need to  figure out an anti-flashing remedy. The pattern is Butterick 5046 (fast and easy). For me it was neither fast nor easy. I think it could have been, but there were some confusing steps that sent the quick part right out the window.  I'm sure there has to be an easier way of attaching the inset to the bodice and then the skirt but I don't think I'll be making this one again to figure it out. It's not a very flattering fit for a string bean.



This one (Vogue 8351), I'd probably make 10 of if I could find reasonably priced, decent looking, knit fabric. This is a poly- spandex knit from Hancock fabrics- $4.99 on sale.  It was my first  attempt sewing knit and just like everyone says, it's not as hard as you think. I'm not sure why I was so worried. I started  it the day before Bayleigh was born and finished it yesterday. Does that qualify as quick? When I tried it on last night, Casey looked at me and sounding rather surprised said did you make that? It looks like something you'd pay like... 65 dollars for.  I'm taking that as a compliment. Alyssa laughed and said, no you wouldn't. I'm  notoriously cheap when it comes to clothes and she's right, I definitely wouldn't have paid $65 for it, but I do love it.

(edited to add) Shannon mentioned in her comment that she'd like to see more pictures of Bayleigh. Well, you know we proud nanas are always eager to share pictures, so that's no problem Shannon. I take lots of pictures of the rapidly growing sweetie-pie, you can see them on my flickr page. Click here or there's a link in the sidebar to the left.

How I've been keeping myself busy

While we wait...

Making blankets,

and itty-bitty dresses

with matching shoes.

Lots of people have asked where to find the patterns for the shoes and dress. They are linked in the post, just click the word shoes (above) for the shoe pattern, and itty-bitty dresses for the dress pattern. Whenever a word is a different color in my posts, it means it is a link to another page- usually with more information about what I am discussing in the post.

Oh yea, one more thing- Rae has started an itsy-bitsy baby dress flickr group, if you use her pattern to make the dress, be sure to join the group and share a photo. 

Loungey

I made some lounge pants from a sheet. A super soft sheet. Now I think I should go find some more sheets, or else I'll be wearing these everyday. I'm not completely happy with the fit. What is up patterns and high waisted pants? I do not wear my pants pulled up like Steve Urkel, but the major pattern companies seem to think I should. I made these from New Look 6060 specifically because the pattern jacket stated that they are worn 1 1/2 inch below the waist- they didn't say where the crotch would fall if they were worn 1 1/2 inch below the waist though. I ended up cutting about an inch off the top and they still ride higher than I wanted. Any suggestions on the best way to alter a pattern to lower the rise?

Tweet, tweet

Because I love birds and aqua and red and linen....

and because you know she'll be spending lots of time at Nana's house...

I had to make a pretty place for her to dream her sweet little dreams that goes with my decor.

I think it looks right at home here. The mobile that came with the bassinet had little white bears. They were easily replaced with tweet little birds, made from the Bird Ornament pattern in Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts. The fabulous bird fabric is by Kristen Doran Design, it's called Mollybirds.  I've had it for quite a while but could never think of a good enough reason to cut it, until now.

OK Miss Bayleigh Caroline,  Nana's ready when you are.

Welcoming spring...

More feathering. This little girl is certainly going to have a sweet place to lay her head, but I'm sure much of her dreaming will be done while being held and adored. I'm getting all excited and filled with butterflies in anticipation of nuzzling that sweet baby's head against my neck, feeling her warm breath on my chest as I hold her and watch her dream her baby dreams.... It's really getting close, I'm going to be someone's nana (I'm thinking I like nana) Mitch a papa, our baby girl is going to be a mama. I can feel our lives changing direction, entering a new stage, a good one. I feel spring time in our lives, sweet new beginnings, just as welcome as the blanket of jasmine blooms growing along the fence

and the songbirds nesting outside my window

Spring is all around, inside and out, and it feels good.

Big, Bad Binding... you don't scare me anymore!

Applying binding has long been my least favorite, most dreaded sewing task. I went to great lengths to find shortcuts to make it easier or better yet, to completely avoid it. I don't know how it happened, like the kid learning to ride a bike w/o training wheels, I just looked up, and had sewn on a binding without a bit of cursing or seam ripping and it looked good. It was the baby quilt I made for Bayleigh. I hand finished it, something I never do, and even with that, it looked good. Probably a fluke I told myself. You'll never be able to do it again, but guess what? I did it again! Not once, but twice and there were curves involved.

None of the usual puckers.

Look, mitered corners even! My fingers hurt really bad, but that hand finishing looks pretty good, don't ya think? I'm feeling all big and bad, like a binding conquering tough girl.

I drew a name from the comments on the last post and the winner was Lisa. Lisa, I'll get something in the mail to you soon.  Thanks everyone who voted for Alyssa!

I'm like a grandma bird

feathering the nest

making ready- soft and flowery and oh-so-girly ready

for our sweet little baby bird

Bayleigh

I must get back to feathering...

I made a prom dress

For my desk chair

Inspired by this fancy, dressed-up chair.

More of the same quilt used for the seat portion was used  to make a cushion cover for this chair, also in my sewing room.

It's happening...

I'm morphing into a grandma. Here's the proof:

If this isn't a granny smock, I don't know what is.

I used this apron, that really was a grandma smock, as a pattern.

It belonged to my great-grandma, Mamie. I wonder how many biscuits were made wearing this apron, how many bushels of peas were shelled, how many chickens fed... It's getting pretty sheer from many washings over many years, so I made one of my own. I'll hang this one on a hook so I can see and enjoy it, but retire it from everyday use and maybe one day give both to my granddaughter, one day when my own grandma smock has seen many days of wear and washings, but probably not so many biscuits or chickens. Surely I won't morph that much.

Happy Friday after Valentine's Day!!

I made this little apron for Alyssa. It's a dishtowel, with some ruffles and ric-rac and a heart made from felt. I enjoy making aprons, but the cute ones aren't always so practical. Alyssa told me she wears the apron I made her for Christmas when she washes dishes to keep her ever growing belly from getting wet, so I wanted to make this one absorbent. Cute and practical.

I'll get a picture of the soon-to-be mama wearing her apron later today, for now, you get me ... and Toby and Lucky. (Toby is the dark spot by my leg)