Another little girl to sew for!

My twin brother and his wife had a little girl (their first baby) a couple of weeks ago. Yea! another little girl to sew for! At their request, I made this plastic bag keeper for the baby's room. I thought Far Far Away would be a gentle introduction to princesses!

Phoebe bag

I made this purse for my mom for her upcoming birthday.  I love the fabric so much I want to keep it for myself, though!   The exterior is Sketchbook Garden in Slate Isso Ecco & Heart from Hawthorne Threads and the interior is a super soft brushed cotton.  I might just have to make another one for me!  I used the free pattern from artsty craft babe http://artsycraftybabe.typepad.com/tutorials/phoebe_bag.pdf

Fitted Skirt

In the last few months, J.'s requests for clothes changed from pink to purple and just lately from as-twirly-as-possible to as-tight-as-possible (*gasp* visions of future negotiations regarding "appropriate" clothing are flashing before my eyes!). 

I had one knit in my stash so whipped up this skirt for her. She was super excited when she put it on -- it was "exactly what she wanted" (despite being neither pink nor purple) but apparently the knit was too stretchy and within minutes it was not tight enough for her liking.  She hasn't worn it since *sigh*.  Oh well, it probably cost a buck took all of about 30 minutes to make.

Alice Birthday party

We didn't actually act out the movie (which, I realized the day before, is what J. planned to do!!) nor did I go overboard with the theme but it did seem to be enough for J. 

I made her an Alice dress from a butterick pattern for a Dorothy dress.  She was so thrilled with it that she's only taken it off to have it washed since then.  And her BFF has requested the same one from her grandma. 

I had a bit of trouble with the collar but otherwise am happy with it.


 
 
The girls made shrinky dink charms to add to the bracelets they fished out of "Alice's Pool of Tears" for charm bracelets.  They also "caught" kerchiefs, which were not quite in keeping with the theme but were super cute.

I made tissue paper pom poms using Martha's tutorial and they were fantastic!  So easy (and cheap!) and add a great pop of colour.  I bought mismatched tea cups at a local thrift store and sent them home with the girls after the party. The dollar store fake flowers were supposed to be given away too but I forgot. Ooops!

Birthday skirt

I gave J. the skirt early  because she was going to her year end celebration and, at 4pm (the party started at 6) decided she wanted something special to wear.  I haven't yet finished the top to go with it!

I used the tea party ruffle skirt tutorial at Craft Gossip and the pictures don't do it justice - it's super cute!  I would definately make this again.  The only change I would make is to make the bottom ruffle a bit fuller to balance it out.
 http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-tea-party-ruffle-skirt-for-girls/2010/06/08/

Teacher gifts

This year I wanted to involve my daughter again in making gifts for her teachers.  I made the coffee cozies (using the tutorial from house on hill road http://houseonhillroad.typepad.com/coffeecozy.pdf ) and J. sewed the buttons on.  She loved them all except the one made of Michael Miller Feeling Groovy, which is my favourite.  I ordered that fabric when she was in her everything-purple-all-the-time phase but she took an instant and intense strong dislike to it. Oh well, my gain!

I wrapped them using Create Studios Petal pusher pockets, which were so easy, so cute and so impressive! http://createstudio.blogspot.com/2009/11/petal-pusher-pockets.html

Girls clothes pt 2

I also made K. a halter top from the tutorial at http://www.thegreenwife.com/tutorials/toddler-halter-top-tutorial/

Her reaction when I tried to put it on her was "I don't need that apron" but once I got it on her, she wore it happily for the day.  I think the next time I make it, I will make the neck a little lower and narrower but it's so cute!  I just want to kiss her pudgy shoulders when she's wearing it.

Girls clothes

I finally made a jumper that J. likes (although probably not as much as I do!)

Feeling of accomplishment

I finally used "Design it Yourself Clothes" and made MYSELF a skirt this weekend.  And today I put in an invisible zipper and made my own bias tape to finish the bottom.

K's quilt top finished!

and I love it!  It's not perfect by any means (don't look too closely at my mitred corners) but I love how the colours and the white turned out.  And it looks great with her new wall colour and the Ikea rug we picked up on the weekend.  I'm very excited to finally be decorating K's room.  I realized if I want to choose what goes in, I had to do it quick!  K takes after J and has a mind of her own!