Two Custom Posie Dolls

I had a chance to make two dolls for a friend to give her daughters for Christmas this year.  We worked to customize them to resemble her daughters and to use fabrics with each girls' favorite colors.  Now that it's after Christmas, I think it's safe to show them to you.  Poor pictures aside I think they turned out pretty cute.

Email me anytime if you ever want to customize a doll like this: ladyfacemakes@gmail.com

Two Charlie Dresses

I've been meaning to take the time to make these dresses for a while but finally made it happen this past week.

The pattern is the Charlie Dress by Mingo and Grace.  I made the size 5 and 18 months so they would last longer but in hindsight could've gotten away just fine with the size 4T and 12 months since the bodice is intentionally loose.  

I love this fabric, it's from Joann's but it's not as flimsy as I was expecting it to be.  I really want to go get more to make myself a top. 

I had one yard of the fabric for Abby's dress and had to piece the ruffle/flounce part but I don't think it's too obvious, even though I obviously cut that part differently than the top (to make it all fit!).  She loves that it spins, I just think she looks adorable! 

I cut the patterns one day last week while the kids were at school, then sewed them the next day in between making cookies and cake and more cookies.

They sewed up pretty quickly even though the bias taped edges drove me nuts, as usual. The dress closes with a simple loop and button, which is super fast and easy.  

Anyway, it's nice to have another pattern from my extensive collection actually turn into usable and adorable pieces of clothing!

The September Tunic

Wait...I finished something?! Yep I did.  I know!  I'm surprised too! Ha.  

I've had this purple linen-y version of The September Tunic cut out for a while.  It was a quick sew that ended up being pretty fancy, by Abby's expression. 

It was the buttonholes that did me in.  More just my loathing of them, so it sat on my table for a month, at least, all sewn up, until I finally got up the nerve to do the buttonholes this morning. 

I used 7 buttons that Abby picked out and as you can clearly see, I still need all the practice I can get with buttonholes, but I'm happy with it, especially that it's done, being worn and enjoyed.

Abby loves it and immediately asked, "Does this make me a princess now?" So cute.  And of course I said yes.

I think I'll make a dress of this next.  The neckline was a little annoying, but it looks better on her than I imagined.  I was also worried that the pouf of the sleeves wouldn't be evened out by the bottom, but it looks great.  As usual, I worried about nothing.  This kid makes everything I make look extra incredible!


HAPPY WEEKEND!!!

Abby's Meow quilt

Last week I finished Abby's quilt!

I wanted to get this done for her birthday (back in April...) but it just didn't happen, and that's okay.  

I used Aneela Hooey's Meow Quilt pattern and made 12 blocks, using several fabrics from Lizzy House's Catnap collection, mainly for the background and several of the individual blocks. And yes, I need a legit camera.  And to not take pictures of my feet.  Apologies.

It is the perfect size for her little Ikea toddler bed but at the rate she is growing it will be too short way too soon (did I mention she learned to ride her bike without training wheels this week? Yeah.). I backed it in a light pink old flat sheet we had in the linen closet that never got any use.  

I used an Art Gallery Elements (I think?) print in a bright pink to bind it.  And did I tell you what she said when I unceremoniously showed it to her?

She goes, "that's nice mom. But I really actually wanted a giraffe quilt with dark blue on the back." 

Ha!! So anyway, I know she likes it, but her tastes are changing and fast! Next time I won't take so long to get something made for her! The baby LOVES it though so it will absolutely get used a lot, even if not by the intended recipient.  Aren't kids hysterical?!

Thanks for reading!!

Oliver + S Playtime Dresses

As a follow up to my post about the Oliver + S Playtime Leggings, I also made each of the ladies a playtime dress.

For Sam (11 months old now) I made a 12-18 month size.  I shortened the sleeves and hemmed the skirt to where I wanted it. Actually I didn't measure, just ironed an approximately even distance all the way around, folded the raw end into the hem, and stitched it around.  That's how I do hems.  Hope for the best and plow forwards. 

She'll be able to wear it for a while, which I consider a bonus.  It has buttons, which caught me off guard since this is a knit pattern (fabric from Wanderlust fabrics), but the buttonhole making practice was good for me and of course it turned out just fine, it's an Oliver + S pattern!  They always work out.

For Abby's I sewed up the size 5 and it's clearly a little large in the shoulders.  I used the bottom of one of my old shirts that became too short after I disregarded the washing instructions...oops.  It has a bit of a hi-lo hem that I like.

I can also see this one transitioning into a tunic really well when she gets taller, so that's another bonus.  The mustard was from Girl Charlee a while back, and is thicker than is probably ideal for this, or at least for the thin jersey that I used for the skirt, but that's alright.  

There's also cool facing instructions that give the neckline and buttonhole parts some strength, and I found the topstitching templates great as well.  I always learn something new with these patterns and they ALWAYS turn out looking really well done.  

Abby's already worn hers a handful of times since I finished it, so that's a win despite it's imperfections!

Playtime leggings and baby toes

I finally made a pair of playtime leggings from the Oliver + S pattern of the same name.  I made them for Sam from an old maternity dress I wasn't feeling anymore.

I learned where the stretch stitch is on my machine, and used the existing hem of the dress for the cuffs of the leggings to save some time. 

These fit her really well, and turned out the best of any other leggings pattern I've made so far.  

She's starting to walk already, I'm in love with her chunky legs trying to walk around, it's so cute.  

I also made each of the girls a playtime dress (the accompanying pattern to the leggings) that both turned out really well, to be shared soon! 

wip Wednesday

Hello! I haven't linked up to a wip Wednesday in an eternity, but it's good to be back.

I'm trying to get two projects finished this week.  Both are at the quilting stage and if we didn't have the owner of our house coming for an inspection tomorrow I'd to it tonight, but now I have to clean (I hate renting!!).

First is this tiny baby quilt that will go in my Etsy shop.  I loved putting this together and see myself doing more solids and simple prints in the future.  I think this is much more representative of my "quilting style" than lots of my previous projects have been even though it's a pretty basic combination.  

Second is this quilt for Abby, you might remember from my posts about the blocks, but it's taken me forever to go from quilt top to basted quilt sandwich.  I hate basting and our living room is barely big enough for it, so I'm easily nudged into procrastination when it comes to this step.  I'm pretty excited for it to finally be done and for her to use it! 

Yay summer!!!

It's summer. We've been busy but with good things, and I inadvertently neglected this space.  Oops.  

So, I dropped the kids off at their summer school program this morning and was flabbergasted to have all this free time on my hands (2.5 hours a day, 3 days a week for the next 6 weeks!). What?! It's going to be good.  

Well, yesterday I made a couple t-shirts using the free plantain tee pattern from Deer and Doe.  It's excellent.     

The fabrics are from Wanderlust Fabrics, and they are excellent too.  

I'll be making a million more of these soon.  The neckline sits really well, I love it.  And the pattern is free!!! So great. 

Sew with me spring (and summer)

It's no secret I have a lot of patterns.  I have women's patterns, kid's patterns, bag patterns, baby shoe patterns, and then some more patterns. 

So I'm making a goal: at least one pattern per week. 

I thought it'd be fun to share this with you guys, and maybe you'll even want to sew with me through the spring and summer!   

I'll follow the pattern, and then let you know what I liked, didn't like, adjustments I made, and if I'll be using it again, along with where you can get the pattern if you want your own copy. 

I'm working on a calendar of my plans this weekend, along with links for you to buy the patterns on Sunday so you can follow along if you want to!

I'll share my results each Monday, starting this coming Monday, and give you a heads up on what's coming next. Now, I'm giving myself a one pattern minimum, but not limiting to one.  

I'm going to start with The Everyday Skirt by Liesl and Co.  I've had this cut out and sitting around for a while, but no time to get it sewn up. If you want to sew with me you can purchase your own copy here.

*And just to be clear, I came up with this on my own (not that it's a new idea) and am just sharing because I thought y'all would enjoy following along, and it keeps me honest.  All opinions are mine and I'm not compensated or affiliated with anything...and so on :) 

HAPPY SEWING!

Meow quilt progress

Abby's birthday is sneaking closer every second and is now only about 2 weeks away! 

I've finished 4 more blocks for her quilt, making a total of 6. That's only halfway, so I've got some work to do.  I spent some time this afternoon cutting out the rest of the block pieces so it'll just be a matter of sewing them together next.  

I said before how fast they are and they really are.  The longest part is the cutting.  I'm hoping I can sew these up tonight with a bit of Veronica Mars to keep me company.  

I've never seen the show before now and am a little into the first season now. Pretty fun to watch! And totally reminds me of high school (though I was waaayyyyy less dramatic) and a little bit of Twin Peaks, but much less creepy.  So that'll be fun.  

Next week is Bens spring break, and though he does need to work, it will be excellent to have the tiniest respite from the full time regular chaos.  Happy almost Friday!! 

More cat blocks

It's been slower progress than I'd like but things have been busy.  

Here are the next few cat blocks I have finished for Abby's meow quilt for her birthday.  I finished the top and now just need to do the rest. 

Fingers crossed I have an amazing week and can finish it this weekend, her birthday is this Wednesday!

You can call me Matt

"Mom, just call me Matt"

Um....and just like that he's practically grown up.  He will be 5 years old soon and the attitude growth has just showed up in the last week and a half. 

No longer does he believe that 100% of whatever I say must be true because nothing beats what Mom says.  We're at about 89% which is still awesome, but I can see that he's starting to come into his own, and the sparks of becoming an independent person are there, just flickering behind his gorgeous eyes.

One of the girls he has preschool with told me that he looks really nice when he smiles (after he was out of earshot of course), and it made my mom heart grin because she's totally right. 

I don't seem to do as much sewing for this man child as I do for the girls and there's a reason for that.  If I make something he doesn't like, he won't wear it.  No fighting about it, it'll just get lost at the bottom of the drawer never to see the light of day again, until it's too late...and he's too big for it.

So I'm particular about what patterns I try for him since he is our only boy (so far).  He saw me making two Bimaa Sweaters for Abby, and requested one with a red hood. 

And so it was done.  Probably not as quickly as he wanted, but he is always so grateful and excited anyway.  I love making things for him.  

The Nessie Top

This might be the quickest turn around I've ever had between buying a pattern and using it.  Less than a week, I think? Anyway.

The Nessie Top, from Craftiness Is Not Optional, is just as amazing as anything Jess has made.  The part that took the longest was tracing and cutting the pattern in 4 different sizes.

I had only a small amount of the teal floral and wanted to stretch it. I'm still holding onto small pieces to use as pockets in another project. 

I sewed up two shirts lickety split last Wednesday night using the color blocked option and long sleeves in the 4T and 12-18 month size.  Yes, Sam is only 6 months olds and already wears 12-18 month clothes... 

Abby wore hers all day and loves it, almost as much as I do.  I'm quite pleased with how these turned out plan to cut out some more very soon!

Lest we forget that I do have a son, I have something cut and waiting to sew up for him also.  I haven't found as many boy patterns that I like that I think he will wear so I'm hoping this one goes well...