A new dress

I have made a new dress for a dear friend. Yes, it is another Mary De. One of these days I'll venture out to another pattern, but for a Christmas gift I'm sticking with what I know. I did use a new plate, designed by my cyber smocking friend, Shannon. Here are her instructions. I absolutely love this design!! I am so pleased with how it turned out:
I didn't have room to finish with additional 1/2 step waves in gold and green as per the plate.

Look at these great buttons!

Overall, I am quite pleased with this--it may be my favorite one yet. Sadie's birthday dress is the most sentimental, but it certainly wasn't made quite as well as this one. Practice makes perfect, though this is far from perfect. I did however, get some French seams in this. I also had to contend with an idiotic 3/4 inch selvage, on a fabric that wasn't a full 45" width to begin with. Fortunately, in this toddler size, that doesn't matter much.

Here is a shot of the inside: hand-hemmed lining and the french seam.

Sadie's Dollhouse

My first holiday gift project, completed in November, is a little fabric dollhouse for Sadie. This great pattern is from this tutorial. I just love this little house! And I'm not ashamed to admit that mine is almost piece for piece like UK Lass'. I thought hers was so perfect, mine is almost identical except for an extra window inside.

It is quite small, only 6 inches wide. I've had some trouble finding a little doll and furniture to go in it, but finally scored with a Fisher Price My First Dollhouse bed and chair. I'll post more pictures with the gift recipient after Christmas!

Yes, I'm here :)

I haven't reported in lately, but I have been doing a little sewing. This summer, I completed a quilt top for Sadie. It is based on a memory quilt from an old issue of Martha Stewart Kids.

This is the inspiration photo:

The blocks are made of our favorite clothes from her first year. I still have to back it, but that will wait until the first of the new year. I've been working on a couple of Christmas presents lately...