Monday, June 25, 2012

The Project List is GROWING!!!

So many projects... so little time!  I have been BUSY lately creating dresses, shorts and more for my little nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  I've also made new pillows for our living room couches - and outdoor pillows for our porches and the porch of my cousin!  Whew!

Here are some of the latest creations... it seems like every day I find another project that I just have to tackle... so the list IS growing... and the fun never ends!


Some 12 pieces created with Urban Zoologie, Groovy Guitars
and other coordinating fabrics.. dresses, onesies and pants
and even a burp pad!

Collar created for an Etsy customer from a
vintage linen and lace doily.

Back of collar - fastened with a snap closure
and accented with a big vintage button.
My little cousin, Harper, sporting a pink print
peasant dress I made.  Her cousin Olivia has one
just like it... and of course, American Girl Doll
has something pink, too (see below)!

American Girl doll dress for my cousin, Olivia...
made from the scraps of her pink peasant dress!
Toy Story shorts and matching shirt for Timothy.
Shirt was made with an iron-on I bought on eBay!
Dress made for my niece  Zola from scraps of my
pillow-making project - Pillow & Maxfield Gypsy
 Bandanain pink.  Pants were made from a thrift store
t-shirt. Headband is accented with yellow knit
and red tulle flowersand a yellow bumblebee button!

Matching dresses made for two little friends, ages 4 and 5.
I love this sunny yellow fabric!

Toddler t-shirt trimmed in scraps of dinosaur fabric,
which was also used for the appliques.
My little ones will look great on July 4th! 
A dress for Olivia and shorts for Owen!
July 4th onesie using ruffled fabric scraps and
a flag made of polka-dot "denim".
Back of onesie with polka-dot "denim" ruffles.
"Aubrey" bow dress for our great-niece -
got the pattern on Etsy... tons of ideas for this design!
Before - a fifty-cent Land's End knit polo from the thrift store.
After... a pair of toddler shorts with cargo pockets!
Front porch pillows in Gypsy Bandana Pink - to match our roses.
Pink in pillows to match pink Knock-out roses!
Joel Dewberry "Aviary" fabric pillow for couch
with natural linen back.
Amy Butler  Gypsy Caravan"Cat Eye" fabric pillows
with "Stainless" trim/backing
Amy Butler "Midwest Modern" Linen fabric pillows and
Gypsy Caravan pillow with corded trim.
Pillow & Maxfield "Gypsy Bandana" in red pillows with
coordinating piping.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

These Kids Make ANY Clothes Look Cute!

Take a look at Timothy and Zola in some of the coordinating outfits I made them from the Groovy Guitars fabrics.  I used a striped piece for Zola's dress and bordered it with Groovy Guitars.  Timmy got shorts and an appliqued tank.  There are other pieces in the same color family... hopefully Mom will photograph those soon for me to share!





Monday, March 26, 2012

Coming Up for Air!

I know, I know... it's been a while since my last post.  In my defense... I've.Been.Sewing!  I sewed my way through February (well, except for that week I was in bed with the flu!), and people have asked me more than once, "Do you ever sleep?"  Trust me... I do!  I've made dresses for my cousin Olivia and my niece Zola.  I've made "dump truck" shorts for nephew Timothy and cousin Owen, a onesie and a burp pad for a baby gift, and several more leggings/dress ensembles from knit shirts. 

There have been linen collars...baby bibs from vintage doilies... and crochet skull caps for Livvy to match her dresses.  I made pillowcase dresses for my nieces Kelsey and Zola... and I repurposed a denim skirt that I'm selling on Etsy!

Zola modeling her pillowcase dress
in Valori Wells Solé fabric.

Upcycled denim skirt - girls size 8 - for sale in my Etsy shop at
http://thisremindsme.etsy.com/
Oh... I also made a zebra-striped fleece shrug (lined with pink taffeta) for a February Daddy-Daughter dance ensemble!


It's been fun, busy, and WILD at times!  But when I see the children in my fashions, it's all worth every minute.  With that said, I will share photos of our great-niece Kelsey wearing four of the outfits I've made in recent weeks.  I think she is adorable... and a diva in the making!

 



I got more than 10 yards of fabric in the mail today... and more is on the way.  I've got so many ideas floating around in my head that I need to make a list to keep track (can you say "applique"?)!  Now Olivia has requested matching outfits for her red-headed American Girl Doll, so those are in the works, too!  Something tells me I will be busy well into summer!

I have several favorite Etsy shops for purchasing fabric, but my all-time favorite at the moment is a website called QuiltHome.com.  See the button for them on the left-hand sidebar of this blog.  Not only does QuiltHome.com carry dozens of the latest designer fabric lines, they offer free shipping on orders over $50, and their customer service is da bomb!  I cannot tell you how pleased I have been with this company, and I have given them a LOT of business lately!  Be sure to check their inventory before ordering anywhere else.  You will be glad you did!


Today's mail included yardage in grey, teal, black and blue... zoo animals, guitars, mod circles, polka dots, and more... plus bandana prints in reds and greens for making back-porch pillows for summer!  Geez...I'd better get this posted and start sewing!!!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Pink Is the Color of the Day!

I've been in a "pink" mood this week... work with knits and fleece in shades of mostly HOT pink!  I think the outfits are adorable and will make any little girl feel special.  The two-piece sets will be $45, and the fleece pants and jacket will be $65.  To purchase, see the listings in my Etsy Shop - This Reminds Me...
Pink Fleece "swing" jacket and pants - pants are super long,
great for a tall, skinny cutie!  We could also hem the pants to
fit a little princess who has shorter legs!

Rear view of fleece swing jacket and pants

I call this set Creamsicle!  Hues of pink, grey, white, and orange
create this adorable striped set.  The leggings have an accent strip
of white at the hem.  The ribbon ties are orange satin.

View of "Creamsicle" pants

Cute little pink/brown strip ensemble.  This top is a little
shorter than some of the other dresses... and depending
on your child, the pants might be a bit "capri," but that makes
this set an adorable "sunsuit" ensemble for any sunny day!

Pants that match brown-stripe top.

Simple pink set with multi-flowered gross-grain ribbon ties.

Pants with this set are mix-n-match versatile!

Monday, February 20, 2012

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!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

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