A Dress a Day?

Between Vacation Bible School, play dates for four-year-old cousins, and life in general... I've had little time lately to sew.  But boy-oh-boy, am I ever ready to get back to it!  The only thing I've done lately besides some mending is to create this dress for my 9-year-old cousin, Olivia.  But I'm gearing up... the counter is piled high with pieces to repurpose... I have fabric stashed in the closet... and I just bought a stack of vintage linens at an estate sale to create dresses, collars, bibs and more!  Whew!

 

Yesterday, I printed out all of the pictures of cute outfits that I have been saving in a folder on my desktop for months!  I had 7+ pages...9 pictures per page... almost 72 ideas!  WOW! Now if I just made ONE outfit per day... I'd have them all done before Halloween!  Yeah... probably not gonna happen!  But it could.....  Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!  Stay tuned to see how I did!

What Should I Create Today?

Here is a photo of my great-niece, Zola, modeling her Valori Wells pillowcase dress.  With precious little ones like her just waiting to be dressed, who wouldn't be inspired?!

Get the tutorial for these shoes - and ideas/tutorials
for many great projects at
http://makeit-loveit.com/

There are so many options, ideas... and tutorials for creating adorable kids clothes, and I want to try them all!  Today will probably be a "pink" day - fleece leggings and a jacket... and perhaps some paisley cordury ruffles to turn a chocolate velour tee into a dress!  I want to add ruffles and skirts to leggings, create cute burp pads, and repurpose everything from vintage linens to thrift store clothing - and even leather purses!

Yes, I've found a tutorial for creating baby shoes out of old leather purses!  Not sure I will tackle this one, but they surely are cute!

It's Been a "Repurpose Vintage" Week!

Big Sister Dress from Vintage
Cutwork Pillowcase... length is
approximately 20", plus ribbon straps
$35, or $60 for both "sister" dresses

This week I've been repurposing a few of my vintage linens... creating darling dresses, a jacket, collar and a baby bib from vintage pillowcases and doilies.

The pillowcase dresses with blue embroidered cutwork and light blue grossgrain ribbon ties would be perfect for sisters... or cousins or friends close in age.  The pillowcases were matching, but one had been patched, so the result was a slightly smaller dress!

The bib is created from a double ruffle lace doily that I suspect was tatted.  The collar was a linen doily with openwork embroidery and a heavy crochet lace.  And the jacket is created from a cross-stitched linen table runner with crochet lace edging.  Since the stitching is in hues of lavendar, yellow, gold, and white, I accented this jacket with a purple button atop a snap closure.  A small piece of crochet trim covers fills in an area where the years had taken a toll on the embroidery.  I think it gives the jacket added character!

 Next week, I'm thinking reds and pinks!  Stay tuned!!!  Click on any image below for larger view or a link to my Etsy shop for purchasing!



Back of Big Sister Dress  repurposed
from vintage cutwork pillowcase

 

Cutwork detail with pale blue embroidery
on "sisters" pillowcase dresses



"Little Sister" Pillowcase Dress approximately 15" long
(plus ribbon straps)  $35, or $60 for both "sister" dresses

Back of Little Sister Pillowcase Dress



Double Ruffle Lace Doily bib
with satin ribbon ties ~ $22.50

 

Back of Lace Doily Bib



Linen and lace girl's collar
Measures 7' by 10", counting lace
$25



Snaps fasten shoulder of collar securely

Back of collar mirrors front



Collar cutwork and lace detail




Linen Bolero Jacket - Size 12M
Repurposed from Vintage Embroidered
Table Runner ~ $45



Back of Linen Bolero Jacket - Size 12M
Repurposed from Vintage Embroidered
Table Runner

Embellished Detail on Linen Bolero Jacket
Size 12M Repurposed from Vintage
Embroidered Table Runner

Button Detail on Linen Bolero Jacket
Size 12M Repurposed from Vintage
Embroidered Table Runner