geranium dress(es)

As promised, I got some pictures of my girls in their Geranium dresses.  

This is my youngest daughter.  I swear she was born yesterday, and I almost cannot believe she is as big as she is.  We still baby her though, and probably always will, but just yesterday she told me she wasn't a baby anymore...

This is the first dress I made.  I decided to start small, so if it looked terrible, I wouldn't waste too much fabric, but I actually liked it and thought I'd even let her wear it to church.

I made this one with the round neckline, gathered skirt, and ruffle sleeves (those are my favorite).

Her favorite color is orange, and I love the color of this print by Sarah Jane, Wee Wander.  It's just perfect for a dress.

As it goes with children, you can't give something to one without the others wanting it too.  My middle daughter asked for a dress too.  This is actually my favorite of the three, but she likes her sister's dresses better.  I think this print is perfect for a dress too, and I love the freshness of the white (also a print by Sarah Jane, Wee Wander)

She was also my least willing model.

I made this dress exactly like the orange one.  Rounded neck, gathered skirt and flutter sleeves.  I also added lining to the skirt (the bodice is lined in the pattern, but I was afraid the white would be see through).  I just used muslin and pretty much made the pattern exactly as written, but with two layers.  I'm sure there was a better way, but this seemed to work well, without any problems, and I am new to sewing clothes, so I just did what I thought would work.

Pink for my oldest.  (Yep, Sarah Jane, Wee Wander, again...clearly I'm a bit obsessed).

After she saw her sister's dresses she really wanted one for herself.  I was a bit reluctant at first because I was afraid it was a little young for her (she's 9)...I mulled it over for a bit and finally decided that if she wants me to make her a dress, I will, and if she is willing to still look young, then I should be cheering.  Kids grow up too fast nowadays anyway.  There is nothing wrong with keeping them young.

I made this one with pleats instead of gathered and cap sleeves instead of ruffles.  I also added the cutout in the neck.  Just these little changes make it look so much more mature. 

I considered lengthening the bodice, so it would hit at her natural waistline, and then shortening the skirt...but didn't have the time or experience to make those kind of adjustments.  I would like to try it sometime though, I think it would be perfect for this age.

dresses

I'm not a clothing maker.  I wish I was, but it's really intimidating...  Somehow, though, I talked myself into trying out the Geranium dress by Rae of Made by Rae.  You know what, I love this pattern.  It is easy.  If I can do it, and make it look good (not perfect), than anyone who can sew can do it!  

I started with the orange one for my 2 year old and liked it so much I made the white one for my 4 year old.  Then my 9 year old asked for one, and we decided these would be their easter dresses.  I'll try to get better pics of them on Sunday.

out to sea zigzag II

I've had this quilt in my mind since I made a similar one for my daughter here, but I am just now getting it finished, can I just say I LOVE this quilt.  I don't know if I'll ever get sick of the zigzags, and the colors are so pretty and bold.

Fabrics are Out to Sea by Sarah Jane, and they are pretty! and the fabric is soft.  Perfect for a little one.

I quilted it on either side of the zigzag...not a lot of quilting, which keeps the quilt really soft. 

Mermaids on the back

and pink stripes for the binding

As much as I want to keep this one, I don't really need it, so I've listed it in my shop, 

I've also listed some kits if you want to make your own.

love day

 i'm kinda surprised that I haven't convinced myself that I need to make a valentines quilt.  it would be so cute with red, white, and pink.  i'll have to think about that for next year.  why not right?

my daughter and I made these fun hair clips (tutorial here) a week or so ago, and i think they turned out adorable.  fun little project to do with my daughter too.

i did adjust the size to better fit my daughters hair.  The tutorial is for tiny clippies (about 3/4 inch), but they just don't stay in my daughter hair, so we used 1 1/4-ish inch clippies.  Super cute.

happy valentines day friends.

p.s. is anyone out there playing words with friends??  i'm addicted.  my username is nettiepete if you want to play.

potholders

I have been making potholders lately!  My first attempt at potholders, and they are FUN!  I used this tutorial, because they are just too cute.  I love the houses, and I love the rounded-ness of them.

These will go to friends and neighbors and teachers for Christmas, and I'm trying to convince myself that I don't have to include goodies with them.  This is enough right??  Every year I tell myself I want to give something besides sweets, there's just so much of it at this time of year, but every year it just seems so necessary!

In her tutorial, nanette suggests making dozens of them...and I am! I may be over-doing it, but I keep thinking of someone else that I want to give something to. Plus I want some left over for myself!

drawstring bags

i mentioned that my daughter's birthday party was a couple weeks ago, so i whipped up some drawstring bags for the kids to collect their pinata goodies.  I LOVE these bags--tutorial here, they are the PERFECT little size.  Try it out, you'll love them too.

here's when my little guy told me that what i had put in the bag did not belong.

i think i like them as much as my kids! 

and don't forget, you can still purchase tickets for the raffle.

and lastly, i have listed some more charm packs (fairy tales this time) in my shop.

little bag

 big things are happening around here, my daughter lost her first tooth!  very exciting.  we decided to make a little bag to put the tooth in for the tooth fairy. 

what is it about a little bag that is so fun to put treasures in??

this bag measures about 4 inches square

i might be catching a "bag making bug".  this is really fun, and i can think of so many other uses, plus I love to see my kids toting them around.

ruffle bonnet

last thursday was nursery rhyme day at my daughter's school.  she was little bo peep. 

 i made this bonnet, and thought it turned out really cute, and it was soooo easy. i'm not really much of a maker of things other than quilts, but this was really easy.

 i used the tutorial found here, and adjusted it a bit to make it bigger.

winner

and the winner is Alisa who said, 

"Cute shop. I really like the Yellow White Stripes pillow. So bright and cheerful."  

I've sent you an email.  Thanks everyone for entering.

I'm not sure if it's summer or what, but I just haven't been feeling the quilting bug lately.  I am working on a baby quilt for a friend of mine, but I feel like I have to force my self to work on it.  I'll post it soon, it's just about there.

My daughter started school last week (my first), and I knew she wanted to wear a skirt the first day, I offered to buy her one or make one, and she actually chose a handmade one!  I was thrilled, and think it turned out really cute. 

I used the tutorial found here (really, really easy!)

turns out

I might actually enjoy applique and hexagons.   I held off for as long as I could, but I just couldn't resist how cute these little hexagons are.  I don't know that I will ever make a quilt with them, but they are so fun to add to projects.  

These hexagons made their way to a bib.

Now that my baby is 8(!) months and eating solid food, I'm finding that our bibs from the older kids are pretty much worn out.  I made couple of these several months ago as an easy quick project.  I just think they are adorable, so I whipped up a few more for the babe and a few for my shop. 

and I always love a stack of quilts, so of course I love a stack of bibs...it's like a bib sandwich.

pattern can be found here.

kidlet

i didn't put my sewing machine away completely, i had to make a Kidlet for my daughter (pattern found here). super easy and really great instructions. i can't wait to make more.
i really love all of jcasa's stuff, especially the bib--so cute.

***update***lining is another potterybarn sheet. i love those trees and owls.