Flower Power

I have wanted to make myself a dress for awhile now. Following Celie's Pants blog I was inspired. Her and a few fellow bloggers challenged each other to create a skirt using a large print fabric. I could not decide on a skirt so I opted for a dress in a linen flower print fabric someone had given me sometime ago.

I started by making a muslin. I made the necessary alterations to the pattern and then put the dress together. I have to say for making my first muslin I need lots of practice in the alteration department.

After putting it all together I tried it on and found it way too big. I had to take the sides (complete with hidden zipper) apart and take about 2 inches off of each side. I may have made the sides a little too tight, but I will live with it (I am not doing the zipper again.) The bust still needs work . The lining I added seems to work fine, though the linen print is still too baggy in this area. I feel like I am 7 and wearing dressing up in my mother's dress for play. Maybe it is just because the linen distorts some while working with it.
All in all I am pleased with the results.

Sew Nana

I though my Nana could use a couple of new shirts. rather than take her out to purchase them I chose to make them myself. I have to say that the first one looked fabulous on her when we went out to eat last Friday.

The following shirt was made using her favorite color, orange. I have not seen her in it yet.

Sew Sam

For Christmas 2007 I wanted to make my sister Sam something special. I am always replacing buttons on her jackets so, I thought I would make her a jacket that (hopefully) the buttons will not fall off of. she loves it. Above is a photo of the front. Below is one from the back. and after that a closer pic of the lapel.

Wedding dress

When Sam asked me to make her wedding dress. I was thrilled. I was ready to go out and help her pick out a pattern and fabric in an instant. Instead Sam suprised me by saying that she knew what she wanted. "I have some pictures" she said.

Needless to say there were no patterns avaliable for the kind of dress that she wanted. I fudged it, She loved it. It was a great time and a great day.

Below are two photos taken when I entered her dress into the Rochester Fair. I got a ribbon (Yeah!)

Twilight bedroom

Because Faith does not want to share her bedroom again, Faith and Andrea switched rooms. With Andrea and all her toys in the bigger bedroom We were able to turn the playroom into a bedroom for our next exchange student.

I thought Faith's new room needed a teenage make over. Since she read, lives and breathes Twilight ( I have read them, and I must say I now have OCD(obsessive Cullen Disorder) ) I went with this theme.

I think it is coming along nice. Faith and I spent a weekend painting the ceiling, and woodwork white and the walls a dark blue. After finishing this I drew and painted "Twilight" in big letter on one wall. Next I took several quotes from the twilight books and painted them randomly on the walls. I am not done with this part yet. It should take me a couple of more weeks to finish it up.

Faith also got a new bed. because her room is now so small we changes the captains bed in for a loft bed. she sleeps about a foot from the ceiling, but the floor space underneath is much better.

I still have to make curtains and would like to get a desk for her to study at and possibly a bean bag chair to lounge on .

my sisters new hat

Orange Hat

We went to Saratoga Springs NY for Easter weekend. While there I got a photo of my sister in a different hat.

This painting will be given to her Thursday night at an open house she is having for her new voice studio. I hope it will bring some fun color to her nice neutral wall colors of moss green and beige.

This is "Saratoga Springs Easter" ready for the large foil wrapped chocolate horse.

1965 Girls Dress

The pattern for this dress was purchased while on a family vacation in Philadelphia almost 2 years ago.

I have finally gotten around to putting it together for my 8 year old.

I think it came out well. She likes it!

Solo Ballet

Andreas completed solo dress front and back.

Rhinestone details- Next time I will use real rhinestones. The fake plastic ones do not sparkle from the stage.

Andrea is working on her first solo ballet dance. She started practicing in September and will be performing at two competitions in March. While she is practicing I am making her dance costume. After failing to find an appropriate pattern I incorporated several different ones to complete her costume. She will be wearing a long sleeve mock turtle neck leotard with an attached handkerchief skirt. I have completed the sewing portion and only have to put rhinestone embellishment's on. I used seed beads to keep the zipper in place .