Fleur Blog Hop

Hello!!!! I've returned from an unscheduled blog break to tell you about the sweet doll I made.  Making a doll has been on my craft wish list for some time.   Right before Thanksgiving I saw that Lisa from the wonderful blog Big Little was asking for pattern testers to make a Fleur.  Even though it was right before I was going away for Thanksgiving and had lots of other stuff to do, I jumped at the chance.  I thought (and still do) that it was such a special looking doll and that it would get me to check this off my list.  I was thrilled to be selected to be a pattern tester.  

Little did I know that this was the kind of pattern I needed to make my first doll.  It is very detailed for every part of the doll making - clothes (where I was most confident), embroidery, sewing the actual doll, and hair (the rest of the doll process I was less confident initially).  I really had no idea how to make a doll and the details in the pattern really answered most of my questions. 

Because I wanted to start right away and had the materials needed to make the clothes and shoes,  I sewed them first.  It was so fun. I used some liberty lifestyle for the dress and and some other unknown quilting cotton for the bloomers.  I love the little bow on the bloomers.   I couldn't wait to make the doll after I made the clothes. 

Sewing the doll was easier than I thought it would be.  Lisa gives really good instructions for stuffing the doll too which is so important.  I was very nervous to do the embroidery for the face.  But again the instructions are great and I loved how it came out.  Making the hair was so much fun too.

This project did take some time but I truly enjoyed every step.  Something I really like about the doll making process is the variety of the steps and the different skills it uses.  I am definitely hooked on making dolls.

I actually made another doll since this one.  It was a different kind of pattern.  I made a cute doll but the instructions were for someone who I think knew how to make dolls.  And the one I made came out really well.  I don't think it would have come out that well,  if I hadn't sewn the Fleur doll first.  I do plan on making more Fleur's too.  She is just so special.

If you want to purchase this pattern be sure to go to the Big Little shop here.  If you purchase before December 20th, you will receive 15% off using the code Fleur15. 

There is also a very generous giveaway where another pattern tester is generously giving away a doll she made with the Fleur pattern to a deserving child.  To get the details and enter the giveaway you can go here.

Before I go I just need to mention how much my kids love this doll.  I am always finding her all over the house because the kids are always playing with her.  Here is Stella giving her a kiss. 

three finishes

Just a quick post to show some finished projects. Sorry about the grainy I-phone photos but that is the best I can do right now.  And if you follow me on IG you have seen all these photos already :)

I made this little fox from the kit by Alicia Paulson.  I love her patterns and everything she makes so much.  I actually have bought all the kits for the animals but this is only the second one I made.  I'll give it to Luke for his birthday on Thursday.  He loves foxes.

These mittens I finished Saturday.  I should put them on Ravelry but I am very behind with that. ( I have a cowl I finished weeks ago that I didn't list and haven't even taken a picture of it).  It is from this book.  I used the Martha Stewart extra soft wool blend yarn.  I made the size small and instead of pink button eyes (they weren't working for me) I did brown little x's.  And I used my clover pom pom maker to make a really big tail.  They look a little deformed in this picture the way Stella is wearing them but they really are cute.

And these PJ's were a lot of fun to make this weekend.  At the end of the summer Janice asked me what size my daughter was and then generously mailed me two sets of fabric all cut out to make two different Oliver and S patterns (her daughter grew before she could sew  them).  Tracing patterns and cutting fabric is not my favorite part of sewing.  It was so fun just to delve right in.  These are the bedtime story pajamas from Oliver and S in a size 4.  I don't know anything about the fabric except that it is soft, cozy, and beautiful.  Stella really loves them. She is normally a three so they are large which I think is great.  She can wear them at least two years.   I've always wanted to do pajamas for the kids and now I have for one of them :)  They were super easy to sew too.  Though I think the sleeves were so easy - I took me a couple minutes to figure it out.

Today I am starting on a school days coat for Luke.  I didn't think I was into sew alongs but I am glad I am doing it now.   I think today I would have done some cleaning or something else not as fun if not for this sew a long.  Hopefully I'll be back with some coat pictures soon. 

Halloween Costumes 2013

Last year when I saw these costumes I knew I really wanted to  copy them for this Halloween. But  Luke had no interest in being a sheep.  I even had a homemade costume in the basement that I wore in the third grade that could pass for a sheep (I thought I was a bunny back when I was 8) but I had given up on the idea.  About a month ago I got Luke to agree to try it on and he loved it.  He is so in the moment.  It was great.  His costume just needed a little mending, hemming, and a tail.  And then I could focus on Little Bo Peep.

I thought about looking at that patterns I had already and trying to figure it out.  But I knew I didn't really have the time or energy to that.  I purchased Simplicity 2571 which was for four different Halloween costumes including Little Bo Peep.  I actually think the picture on the cover of the pattern doesn't give justice to the pattern.  It is really cute.   I should have taken better pictures of what I sewed so you can see it better.  Did I mention I don't have much time or energy right now?  The little pants have ruffles all around them.  The apron came out a little a big but I thought it was cute like that making Stela look more little.  I love the hat and it was really easy make like the rest of the pattern.  The dress didn't take too long.  The zipper came out okay.  I have a little gap at the top but it is a Halloween costume so I didn't sweat it.  I bought an unfinished cane on ebay and painted it white.  By the time this picture had been taken after lots of running and walking in the rain the bow wasn't looking so good and fallen down a bit.

Stella and Luke love their costumes.  What is also nice about both of these costumes is that I can put warm clothes on underneath them.  Halloween night can be real chilly here in Maine.  We had the Harvest Day costume parade last weekend.  They will also get to wear them to school.   I love the costumes getting worn in daylight at other times so all that sewing isn't just for one dark night.

I am looking forward to seeing more handmade costumes.  Are you sewing for Halloween?

Giveaway

I don't usually post giveaway's on here but I really want to win this for me and Stella.  Check it out-

http://charlaanne.typepad.com/charlaanne/2014/09/doll-giveaway.html


I love her blog and everything she makes.  

Back to School Sewing

Well I finished my "back to school" sewing last Monday but have been so busy I haven't been able to write about it until now.  I am not sure if busy is the right word.  I'm not really that busy but we have had a bunch of changes in our schedule and I just don't feel like I have gotten into a routine with them yet.  As a result there hasn't been much sewing, knitting, or any crafting since then.  But here is the sewing I did prior to that which I really enjoyed.

  I looked at lunch boxes and didn't really see any I liked that much.  Then I saw this pattern on Pinterest and had to make it.  And I wanted my kids' bags to be white.  I feel like I am mom someone could easily make fun of "She made her kids white lunch bags".  But after 7 days of school my son's bag is still clean (My daughter hasn't used hers yet).  I used an embroidery pattern my friend gave me.  It has a bunch of images and Luke and Stella picked out the images they wanted.  I was hoping they would pick the sushi but I still love how it came out.

I had my heart set on making Stella a Melly and Me toadstool back pack since before she was born (that is when I bought the book the pattern was in).  She wanted nothing to do with it.  I decided to go with the Little Things to Sew backpack because I knew it would come out.  She was pretty picky on the fabric I used too.  She picked it out.  I loved that it was on sale. I did have a hard time sewing the side panels so they weren't puckered. I'm not sure what I was doing wrong but I had to keep going.

                                                    

This outfit was my favorite part of all this sewing.  I pinned this dress a while ago.  That was my inspiration.  I used  the picnic blouse pattern and loved everything about it.  I sewed a size 3, added some trim and trimmed pockets.  I hemmed it a little longer (maybe an inch?) than was directed because I wanted it to look a little more tunic like since she was going to wear it with leggings.

The leggings are the playtime leggings and I am very happy with them. I made a size 4.  They fit great.

 Both the gingham and knit I bought online (and already forgot where).  I was pretty happy with them.  It can be a gamble buying fabric online.

I just started a smock-along and my first smocking project.  I am so excited!  I will let you know how it goes.

One afternoon last week I was in the mood to try something new so I carved a stamp.   I used this tutorial.  I found it really relaxing and plan to carve more. 

Sailboat Top and Pants

This week I have spent a lot of time thinking about back to school sewing,  shopping online and waiting for fabrics and patterns to arrive in the mail.  While waiting for things to come in the mail I needed a sewing project.  I really should have sewed the sketchbook shirt I cut out for Luke last June.  But I decided to make Stella an outfit instead.  While looking at my patterns I realized the Oliver and S Sailboat Top and Skirt pattern only went up to 3T so that made my decision easier.

I love the skirt but thought pants might be more practical.  Her preschool is at a gymnastics center and they do gymnastics each time she goes.  I figured pants would be better if I was going to have her wear this to school.

I made a size 3 for both the top and pants.  I didn't do any changes from the pattern.  I added a little lace to the top where you top stitch.  For the pants I cut the elastic to what was recomened for a size four  because I thought sometimes pants and shorts are tight around Stella's middle.  But I'll have to take it in because it is a little too big.

The top fabric is Fig Tree Butterscotch and Roses. The lace and buttons are from my stash.  The courdoroy for the pants is also from my stash.  I've had for over five years.  Some fabric I can date to before I had kids.  Actually a lot of fabric I can date like that.

I am very excited about the first day of school outfit I have planned for Stella and the lunch bags I am making the kids.  I'm still not sure about the backpack I'll be making Stella.  They start school in a week and a few days so I think I am going to start needing to set the alarm super early to get all this done. 

And a few modeled pictures ....

Puppet Theater

I don't know where to begin writing about this item.  This has definitely been one of my favorite items in Little Things to Sew (probably tied with the penguin backpack).  I have thought about making it for a long time.  The challenge really motivated me (um.. at the last minute) to finally do it.  (Sorry about the wrinkly photos - I finished it yesterday and we have been keeping it rolled up when not in use)

I have always loved the look of the theater.  We also happen to be really into puppets in our house.  We have always been doing puppet shows and often making our own puppets.  We use to drape a quilt over a gate in our home and stand behind it to do  a show.   But it was time to take down that gate a few months ago.  So we really needed something like this. 

The pattern and instructions are wonderful. I thought sewing with canvas might be tricky but it wasn't for this.   I think we may have small doorways because it is really snuggled in there but it fits. 

Everything was from my stash except for the canvas.  Even though I have so much fabric I actually had a difficult time finding a fabric that I had enough of for the house that would look okay. Finding the other fabrics and the ribbon too was a little tough.  But I love how it all came together.

I wish the Little Things to Sew cover to cover challenge would go another year.  I still want to make everything in it.  I think the art smocks and aprons should be next once I have all the back to school stuff, halloween costumes, Luke's birthday items, and Christmas sewing completed.  So maybe I'll get to them in January.




I could write a few more paragraphs about how much I love this theater.  I think it is one of my favorite things I have sewn.  And my kids are so excited about it too.  I think I need to stop typing and go play with it right now.