Apple Picking Dress

Hello friends! I am SO EXCITED to show off one of the new Fall Oliver & S patterns today. I was a pattern tester for this dress and I just fell in love with it. I've been dying to share it!

So here it is - worn by my very favorite little model!:

My happy little model likes her new dress!

Couldn't you just eat her up?

This pattern is called the Apple Picking Dress

The fabric I used is called "Delilah" by Tanya Whelan. I think the white polka dots on blue, with the dropped waist style, give the dress kind of a retro look.

It was fun to pick out buttons too. I think buttons can add SO MUCH to a garment. These buttons have just a hint of blue in the inner circle.

Delilah was modelling the dress on the old walkway in front of our house. Oh that walkway was getting old and was SO ugly. Construction is going on now - we took out the walkway and are putting in a front patio. A nice place for us to sit and relax while we watch our kids ride bikes in the cul de sac. My sweet husband is calling it our "partio"!

I need to sew a new outfit for Delilah so she can show off the new construction!

I have a tutorial in the works for the curtains I made for our new little nursery. I just need to hang them and take their picture and hope they look as nice actually up as they do slung across the back of my sewing chair!

Thanks for stopping by!

Janimal

Modelling Post

Gorgeous Delilah sat still long enough for me to put her gorgeous curls up into pigtails. And graciously agreed to model her pretty Sunday Brunch Jacket (previously posted the jacket HERE).



I had toyed with the idea of sewing a cuff on the bottom of her jeans with matching fabric. Hmmmm. I had really liked this jacket on the hanger when I finished it, but I must say, it looks even better on my cutiepie model. Not that I could be biased at all.

You know how in catalogs the models tend to be looking off camera at something? Well, here's Delilah's catalog shot....



And well, since it's almost Valentines Day -- KISSES!



Delilah wore this jacket to Sunday Brunch! What it was made for! Then a matinee performance of The Wizard Of Oz, which was wonderful.

The Sunday Brunch Jacket pattern is by Oliver and S. The fabric is a soft corduroy Nest by Valori Wells, purchased at Whipstitch Fabrics.

Thanks for stopping by! One of these days, I promise to show you the finished camo dress. I haven't managed to figure out how to wear it - I'm not good at accessorizing myself.
I have a few other finished projects too, so hopefully there is at least one more blog post for this week. I hope you'll stop back by.

Take care,
Janimal

Delilah's New Jacket AND Her Fabric Obsession

Delilah has a new fancy jacket and a love of fabric!

First, check out Delilah's new Sunday Brunch Jacket (pattern by Oliver and S)

The fabric is lovely and soft, Paisley Corduroy in Autumn Nest by Valori Wells (purchased from Whipstitch Fabrics). I just love it. I want to make a skirt or pants to match, but I think using the same fabric will just be too much. So I must find a nice solid that coordinates I think. Hmmmmm. Any suggestions?

It took me far too long to choose these wooden buttons! Do you guys agonize over buttons like I do?

This jacket was SO much easier to make than I thought it would be! Seriously, the instructions are so clear and the result so polished looking. I am dead chuffed! I just think it will look great on Delilah. I'll post pics of her wearing it when I can.

Now, I actually had another project in mind before starting the jacket, and got out a lovely piece of voile fabric (Paisley Jungle by Kaffe Fassett, purchased from Intown Quilters). I pressed it and prepared to lay out my pattern pieces to make Delilah a nice light tunic top for Spring.

Delilah had other ideas. She swiped it!

She did agree it would look cute on her.

Perhaps as a Sari?

Perhaps more stylish as a top?

She wore it as an OBI belt for a little while.

In the end, she just kept the fabric.

It found a new home in her room. At bedtime she might grab it and run around the room with it flowing behind her. Or we'll each take the corners and flap it up and down as she giggles. She says it's HER fabric, and I must say, I think the kid has taste.

So, my kid likes fabric. Just like her Momma! Although I think it would make a cute top for her, I really like that she decided to just claim some fabric for her own.

Thanks for stopping by!

(Progress on my camo dress is forthcoming!)

Later skater,

Janimal

P.S.

I am aware that pictures of my toddler aren't as charming to other people as they are to me. But hey, it's MY blog after all, and I want to show off her cuteness!

Cat In The Hat Dress

I like to make dresses for you!

I like to make them in the zoo!

I like to take your picture too!

I like to sew, oh yes I do!

OK - so that wasn't great, but who can compare to the amazing Dr Seuss?!?!

Delilah is a fan:

Delilah is decked out in a dress (pattern Madison by Bonnie Blue Designs) made with love by her Momma (ahem, me) from whimsical Dr Seuss Cat in the Hat print from Robert Kaufman.

Totally cute, right?!

I think the simple dress pattern without any other embellishment shows off the fabric, but doesn't overpower the kid wearing it.

When I first saw the Dr Seuss fabric was coming, I preordered some, not knowing WHAT to do with it. Then I received an invitation to a Dr Seuss art exhibit at a local gallery! PERFECT!

Our little lady struck a pose at the entrance to the gallery. Classy!

Delilah was a big hit at the gallery, of course! She was very well behaved in a bouncy two year old sort of way, and she was noticed for the dress, but adored for her cuteness. (Where this kid got those luscious eyelashes I have no idea.) The art, by the way was AMAZING. Dr Seuss, Theodor Geisel, was one talented dude.

We managed to choose a small Dr Seuss print to purchase and bring home. Gosh we did feel important buying ART from a GALLERY! Like grownup people! All that fanciness was a lot for us, so we departed the gallery in our finery and went out for burgers and fries.

Thanks for stopping by,

Later skater,

Janimal

Top From Sew Liberated Book

Hello friends! I am working on a tutorial for you - just need to get my little template scanned and uploaded. In the meantime, let me show you a little something I just sewed up for Delilah and the pattern/book it came from!



My cooperative little model even struck a pose for me! Right before bedtime too!
(Fabric is by Kokka - and now I see the the LUCKY word upside down, but the PEACE word is right side up. I think perhaps I should have made the LUCKY word right side up instead - it seems more noticeable. Hmmm...the back is the same as the front, so perhaps I'll turn it around and see the placement there. It's still oriented that way but perhaps the PEACE will be more centered than LUCKY - ah well!)

This hippy little peasant top was SO fast to sew up. I finished it and couldn't wait to see how it fit Delilah so put it on right away. Next time she wears it probably won't be with her fleecy cupcake pajama bottoms.

The pattern is from this book: Sew Liberated by Meg McElwee.




(wow, bad flash from my camera on the book)

My fabulous husband bought me this book from Whipstitch Fabrics (he knows I love that store) for Hanukkah. What a good boy!

Ok, one more picture of her gorgeousness...



This top pattern actually is included in sizes for Mom AND daughter. Is it bad I am tempted to be all matchy matchy with my kid?!?! I really like the gathered detail on the arm. It was SO easy and fast to make. It gets me excited to try other patterns from the book - like the bags or the cover skirt.




Thanks for stopping by, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Janimal

Edit: I made the Small, which was listed as size 2-3, with the description saying they fit large to be grown into. This was apparently an errata and the Medium is actually 2-3. So this wasn't a very big shirt. Next time I'll make the Medium!

Delilah's New Shopping Jacket

Delilah got a new jacket! This was SO much fun to sew.

It's a little big. But since she is 2, I can still make her wear it. HA!



Alas the size 2T is more like a 3 or 4! I even waaay shortened the sleeves. But she wore it anyway. I suppose she can wear it next year...


We've discovered a new place for photo-taking. The toy department at Target. She's always in a good mood there.



She's so cute I just could eat her up.


I really like the assymetrical back hem to the front. You know when you pick up a kid and their clothes ride up? That extra length on the back can hang out and still cover her tushy.

She's concentrating very hard on the dancing Mickey Mouse on display. Which was sold out. So we did not come home with an animatronic dancing mouse for $69.99. Score!

The pattern is Burda 9780. The outer shell is a soft cotton sateen I got on clearance from http://www.someartfabric.com/ and the lining is a pink interlock knit I purchased at Discover Sewing. (I bought my sewing machine from Discover.) I was a bit scared of working with a knit but it was totally cool.

I think this pattern looks more complicated than it really is. Honestly it was pretty simple, and I would recommend it for beginners. I found this pattern by browsing on http://www.patternreview.com/ (and if you are interested, my review of this jacket is posted on there too, HERE)

I know some people sew *a little* but are a bit intimidated by patterns. I was for a LONG time. But you know, now that I am working with patterns, they aren't so bad after all! I bought some at a sale recently for $.25 apiece. I may not ever make anything from them, but just reading them can be educational.

Now if i can just get over my intimidation with set-in sleeves.

Another one of these jackets is cut and ready to be sewn. (In dreamy soft City Weekend Interlock knit and some gorgeous toadstool fabric by Alexander Henry. Check us out soon in a Target near you!

Thanks for stopping by!

Janimal

P.S.
I always read about people making a muslin first. Basically making a pattern out of muslin or other cheap fabric before trying it with something you like. For me, I also am hesitant to cut into my pretty fabrics for a first time with a pattern. I have purchased some cheap fabrics for this purpose, but now I don't want to sew with them. My sewing time (and I bet yours too) is too short to work with fabrics I don't like. I was thrilled to find the nice cotton print for this jacket on clearance, because it was inexpensive like a muslin but still a wearable piece. I'll keep looking for good stuff on clearance, but I have decided to get over my hesitation to cut the good stuff. I want to sew with good fabric. If I mess it up, so be it. So anyone want my crappy clearance stuff?!! I have some yucky polyester for yooooou!!!

Delilah The Artist!

Delilah the SERIOUS ARTIST!

We needed a new picture for the wall. So on a recent sunny day, Delilah got the job done.





An open mouth is a sign of serious concentration, y'all.

Oh the use of color! A budding artistic genius! Is it too early to discuss the pros and cons of being an art major?

Please take note of Daddy's sexy socks and sandals combo. Simma down ladies!

Unfortunately right after this picture was taken, rain started to fall. :-(

Now how good does this look on our dining room wall?!

Later skaters,

Janimal