The Wonderland Dress: PRNP SIgnature Entry

Today is S's 4th birthday.  I must admit I got a bit teary-eyed when we sang happy birthday.  How did that little tiny baby that we brought home get so big?  Anyway, we celebrated with a Mad Hatter Tea Party for S and all her friends.  It was well worth all the hard work and planning to make her day special.

This is our interpretation of Alice in Wonderland.  The apron was made from Carefree Clothes for Girls in linen and a target liberty floral print that Kristin of Skirt as Top so generously included with a fabric swap we made a few months ago.  Thanks Kristin.  I hope I did the fabric justice.

The dress is a luxurious purplish-blue velveteen.  I'm proud to say that I  drafted the pattern myself.  The bodice was based on a fitted tee and the skirt is composed of two widths of fabric, box-pleated and slightly gathered.  The most difficult part was the sleeves.  I knew I wanted slim sleeves with fitted shoulders.  Originally, I    had envisioned wrist lenght sleeves with white french cuffs, but when we went to try it on S she complained that the sleeves were too tight.  So I cut off the sleeves to just above the elbow  and added a slight inward curve.  The peter pan collar has one sparkly diamond button and each sleeve has the same button on top of the curve. 

The dress is short (a deliberate decison cause I love that look) and high waisted.  I added a glitter belt that I made out of a rtibbon.  The outfit is completed with sparkly shoes and a matching headband.

Mismatching buttons in the back.  Yes, they sell mismatching buttons in packets now.

I'm entering this outfit onto the Project Run & Play because I love it that much.  Wish me luck:).

Happy New Year!

Well, it's not too late to say happy lunar new year, otherwise known as Chinese new year. So far in January, I've been obsessively planning this little girl's 4th birthday.

These invitations were inspired by some I found on Etsy--they were $4 per invite so I thought I'd better make my own.

I did manage to squeeze in some sewing.  I made the this diaper bag for my friend in :San Diego who is expecting her second baby any day now.  The pattern is from Amy Butler's Little Stitches For Little Ones.  This is the 6th version of this bag that I've made for various expectant friends.

It's a big and roomy bag.  Here's a look at the inside:

It has 4 elasticized pockets for diapers and such.  I omitted  the central divider just cause the bag doesn't really need it.  I did add a key fob though.

  I hope to be back soon with birthday party photos.  Wish me luck!

Teacher Presents and Pajama Day

Yeah, I know, not a very creative title.  I've been laid low by a cold that is seriously sapping my crafting energy.  I did, however manage to make handmade christmas presents for s's teachers.

I made these bags from home dec fabric I had laying around.  The pattern is the sweetheart shopper by Keyka Lou.  I simplified the pattern by ommitting the lining and button closure.  It's more of a grocery tote than a handbag as I was going for cute but functional. 

The last day of school before winter break was Pajama Day.  I asked S the night before which PJ she wanted to wear and she told me she wanted the purple one with the princesses on it.  Apparently, while I was moving my fabric stash to their new home, she had spotted some purple princess fabric that I  had purchased a while ago, probably to appease her so I could shop in peace.  And so it was that I found myself making pajamas at 9:00pm the night before they were supposed to debut.

The bottoms are from a simplicity pattern in size 2.  It was a perfect fit except for the length but that was all the fabric I had to work with.  The top is the The Sweet Little Dress by Leila and Ben.  I used a fold over elastic for the collar.  The sleeves and hem are serged using a rolled hem.  It was over and done with in a couple of hours.

S was super excited about her new jammies.  She wore them all day and that night.  The next morning she woke up and very sincerely thanked me for her princess jammies.   

The Mallory Cowl done in Butterball wool

One of the things I love about Portland is the thriving farmer's market scene.  There seems to be one in every neighborhood and more popping up all the time.  Even out in the 'burbs where we live the farmer's market is a great place to while away a summer's morning.  And although I do appreciate the local produce I am really there for the few craft stalls scattered amongst the fruits and vegetables.

Towards the end of the season last summer I came across a stall with a few knitted items, but what caught my attention was a woman sitting at a spinning wheel spinning her own yarn.  After talking to her for a few minutes I left with a skein of yarn that she had spun herself.  The sheep, she told me. was named butterball.  In case I needed more of the same type of yarn,  I would just need to let her know the name of the sheep and she would be able to match the yarn.

Tbis is the cowl I made out of Butterball's wool.  The pattern is the Mallory Cowl by luvinthemommyhood.

I must say I've been a bit burnt out on sewing for an unappreciative audience.  My last few projects for s has been complete failures.  The hot pink sailor pants and shirt are languishing in s's drawer even as we speak.  The sane is true of the gray velour hoodie and the yoga top.  I am consoling myself with the thought that all those items will grow with her and her penchant for frilly pink ruffly things will end someday soon.

In the meantime, I've moved my sewing space and now have my own dedicated room!  I can close the door and make a mess and not have to worry about little feet stepping on pins.