I'm Still Here . . .

Seems I've been "sew" busy that there hasn't been much time for updating my blog!  I've intended to several times and something always gets in the way :)

These flower girl dresses were some of my most recent projects.

Personally, I love Wintertime and snow,

but I do enjoy a little sunshine on occasion! Seems that lately we've all had nothing but cold temperatures, rain and snow so I thought I'd share a few "warmer" things. In case you're wondering, yes - those are pillowcase dresses that Sara and Anna are wearing and they are made from actual pillowcases. Now, I'm usually not a big fan of the pillowcase dress (although I've seen some cute ones) because I always enjoy a challenge, and well, they just aren't very challenging to me. These are even more rare (for me) because they are made from a pillowcase. Occasionally someone will ask me to take a perfectly good garment apart and make something else from it - I just can't! It's not my nature to destroy something that is perfectly good and useful, even if it is to make something else.

A couple of years ago while on a family trip to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge I found these linen pillowcases with a crocheted edging on clearance for $2.50 in a quilt shop. I must've been in a destructive mood that day, because I immediately thought they would be perfect for pillowcase dresses. They were constructed with seems on all three sides (instead of having been cut on the fold of the fabric) so I was able to remove seams and create a casing for the gold silk ribbon shoulder ties. I removed enough of the side seams to allow for an armseye. The good thing about this is that after my girls have outgrown them as dresses, I can remove my casing seam and sew all the openings closed again, and they can use them for pillowcases (I just love when you get your money's worth!)

Whew!

I hope that everyone had the merriest of Christmases! I'm still trying to catch my breath, as this has been the busiest Christmas season EVER for me. I haven't had a chance to post alot since Thanksgiving, but I did want to share these cute pj's. They were made using the Children's Corner Lettie pattern. The main fabric is a multi-dot on pink and it is trimmed with lime microcheck. The pocket (not included in the pattern) is monogrammed in lime as well. I made a matching nightshirt (Maggie's Classics) for baby sister of the same fabric combinations, but (oops) forgot to take a picture of it! I'm sure both of these little girls looked just precious on Christmas morning in their matching monogrammed pj's.

You can tell when it's fall in the south . . .

Labor day weekend is not just a three-day weekend - it's the kickoff of the college football season. Now here in Alabama, the hot question is "Are you an Alabama or Auburn fan?" I've lived in this state all of my life, and I feel safe to say that I'm probably in the minority - I'm not a fan of either team, I'm happy for whomever wins.

This baby bubble (by Chery Williams) is smocked with "Tiger Cubs" by Ellen McCarn and was made for a sweet little boy's very first Auburn football game.

My favorite christening gown

A few months ago, I completed this beautiful christening gown. This is probably my most favorite christening gown - EVER. It is designed by Sarah Howard Stone and has 12 teardrop shaped panels - 6 are made of puffing, entredeaux and lace insertion; six are left plain to allow for hand embroidery if desired. It also features a round yoke with puffing, entredeaux and lace insertion. I made a bonnet to match using the same puffing, entredeaux and lace sequence as the gown. I remember looking at it on a hanger and thinking how beautiful it would be on the sweet baby who would later be wearing it. For some reason daygowns, christening gowns and baby things in general just don't look very pretty on a hanger.

Well, here he is - isn't he just precious!!

Thank Heaven for Little Girls . . .

I've been doing a LOT of baby sewing lately. Seems that my days (and sometimes nights) have been consumed with daygowns, christening gowns, sweet little bonnets and other baby stuff. This is just a sampling of some of the baby girl daygowns that I've finished lately. I love the basic front-button daygown - there are so many options for changing up the front. I love adding some simple pintucks and hand embroidery, but I also love the addition of lace insertion. Sleeves can be straight, have elastic added at the wrist, or (my personal favorite) smocked at the wrist. I always add an inverted center back pleat to give a little more fullness on this style of daygown.

Boy's Diaper Set

I guess that over the years I've grown so accustomed to making little "girly" things, that I just love the opportunity to do something for little boys. I'm always amazed at the cute things that can be done for little boys.

This was my "practice run" at this little diaper set. I paired the side/shoulder button shirt with a basic diaper cover. I think it turned out really nicely (don't look too closely though - the train doesn't have any wheels at this point!)