Reversible Jumper II

My cousin asked me to make another reversible dress like Sadie's for a gift. I bought more of the same cute floral fabric, but backed this one in pink--here it is hanging with Sadie's green version. It is amazing how the floral looks different with the two different underlays, though it is hard to tell in these pictures.



This is the finished product, with the little bloomers:

It is a little cleaner than the first version (I guess most second versions are), though the ric rac isn't any more even than the first try--maybe less so even though I tried to re-sew it in several spots. Oh well--the effect is still there.

Check out this cute variegated ric-rac! I love it with this. The reverse is white which looks cute with the pink dot.

And, since I had some fabric left over, here is another pair of shoes for the lucky owner of the dress. Sadie got a pair too :)

I'm still here

I'm still here, and now that I'm on summer break I hope I can get back to some sewing. As simple as Sadie's dedication dress seems to be, I've hit quite a stumbling block. The pretty scalloped sleeves and hem don't lend themselves very well to tatted edging. Plus, I'll never be able to tat enough to trim the hem--I've already missed my June window. Maybe I can get it done by October.

Meanwhile, I've decided to go ahead with other things--If I wait for the dedication dress I may never get anything else done! The next thing I want to do is this memory quilt made with some of Sadie's clothes from her first year. I'm trying to go through our closets anyway. Maybe a soft t-shirt quilt for me, too.

I've Been Tagged.

I feel like I have officially arrived in Blogdom! I've been tagged by Shannon. More about her later.

I'm supposed to pick up the nearest book, turn to page 123, and post the 6th, 7th, and 8th sentences.

LOL, the nearest book to me happens to be my 7th Grade Science Book--Teacher Edition. The 123rd page contains the most dull and irrelevant material in the whole book. There is some pretty good stuff about genetics, human physiology, Newton's laws of Motion, etc. but this page happens to be about Floods as part of the precipitation section in the Atmosphere Unit.

"High water is not the only hazard in a flood. Floods can knock

down electrical poles and wires. Downed electical poles can leave

dangerous live wires hanging loose and cause power outages."

Had I been in another room, the material would have been out of a L.M. Montgomery book or a Frances book, or some such.

Nevertheless, this is the cutest tag I've seen, and thanks to Shannon for thinking of me. Anyone who has made it to my little blog probably knows all about her already. She is one of the most talented sewers I've seen, and I've been greatly inspired by the clothing she makes, especially those for her daughter. And her smocking?? Perfection!

So, I hope the following people don't mind if I tag them because that's one of the rules of this game--tag 5 people and acknowledge your tagger (and I'm cheating a bit because I already have links to them):

1. Dana Great smocking ideas, and great taste in books and movies.
2. Michelle She posted a great shoe tutorial that I'm thankful for
3. Amie A kindred spirit, sewer and smocker with a daughter named Sadie!
4. Andria Should win a blogging Pulitzer. I wish we could be IRL friends!
5. Joanna There is nothing she can't do--such quality work!!

My posting has been slow, because I won't allow myself to start any new projects until Sadie's dedication dress is done. I've hit a bit of a snag, because while I thought the dress was super simple, the sweet scallops won't work well with the tatted edging I'm working on. Which by the way I've completed all of about 6 inches. Too many birthdays to plan for and celebrate lately.

Sadie's Birthday

Sadie turned ONE on Monday, April 21st!! As you can see, she really enjoyed her cake :)

Here she is, showing some love to her Birthday Presents.

And of course, she wore her Handsmocked/sewn by Mommy Birthday Dress. She was the perfect little hostess and charmed all of her party guests, as she has charmed us every day of the last year. What a Little Blessing!

My very first smocking project

I thought I would show you my first smocking project.


I took a smocking class when Mason was 3, I was not yet pregnant with #2. Even though Mason was just about too old for smocked clothing, I had high hopes for a second child--never dreaming it would be a girl.


For my class project, I began smocking an insert. I used the unisex ecru thread. This was in the spring, and I didn't complete my project until I became pregnant later that summer. Even then, the insert didn't get completed until after Sadie was born the following spring. (In my defense, she was 3 weeks early) I did find out very early on that she was a girl, and added just the palest pink 6 cable flowers to the pattern. It is by Ellen McCarn.





Unfortunately, the baby bubble it went into was way beyond my sewing skills, so my mother-in-law had it sewn for us. That bubble pattern is STILL beyond my skill-level, but I'm getting closer!!















It was completed shortly after Sadie was born last year, and she wore it for her 3 month portrait.

Mary Grace

I have a new project! With the help of the fine ladies at Elegant Stitches, my local shop, I found this pretty pattern for Sadie's dedication dress. "Mary Grace" by Bonnie Blue Designs. It is just what I wanted--simple construction with embellishment options. I'll start tatting tonight!

Tatting

I can tat.

I've always been pretty proud of this--I treated myself to lessons one year for my birthday shortly after I got married. It was the one craft I couldn't "get" just by reading instructions out of a book. I never did anything more ambitious than a handful of bookmarks and ornaments for relatives. I haven't tatted since before my kids were born, so I didn't get those tatted booties made for them like I intended. And the baby is almost one, so she won't get them either. :(

So, I'm determined to include some tatted edging in a dress or two for Sadie.

I would gladly take any suggestions from any of you dear readers who occasionally drive-by this blog. Do any good projects come to mind? Particular dress patterns? Edging pictures or patterns that you have seen?

A couple of things I'm thinking of: an Angel-sleeve Bishop, and a Dedication gown. The Dedication Dress presents a couple of challenges: It doesn't have to be a formal gown, because Sadie will be over a year old. But it does have to be completed in a couple of months, because the church where we were married and where my son was dedicated will be closing at the end of June. I'd like to do something with some tatted edging and some embroidery. Ecru on white? White on white? Some pink? (remember, it doesn't have to be formal) Insertion or just edging? Oh, and keep in mind I still haven't sewn anything with a sleeve!!