Finally...

....the dresser is done.

Yesterday was Maya's big day. Her 6th birthday. I finished the dresser the night before. I found this last minute decoration idea and instantaneously knew it would be the perfect addition to her room. So of course the pom poms will have an extended stay in her room now.

It looks so cute though. Pretty girly.

The dresser was a fair amount of work. But I think at the end it was all worth it. She really loves it. Finally a pink piece of furniture in her room. Not that there isn't any pink in her room.

I had her pick the shelf liner at Target last week. Polka dots won over flowers. So Polka dots it was.

Work in progress...

So a few weeks ago one Saturday morning I went on a mission. Yard sale...
I found this beauty....


Pretty yellow... This was taken after I started painting it with primer. So I saw it in its yellow brightness. I instantaneously knew I had to have it. So hubby started to negotiate. Hmm $10.. We take it. Hubby did not quite get why we would need another changing table. But I was set. Well maybe for the next baby. no baby yet but a changing table is a good start isn't it??

Well I guess Maya had other plans. She saw it and wanted it just as much as I did. So she suggested painting it pink. After some thought I decided I'll paint it pink as a birthday presen for her and she can use it as a much needed toy chest for her big girls toys. Stuff she has to move out of the play room so it won't be easily accessible for Zoe.

And here is the beauty after painting it with primer. Excuse my messy Garage. I had to make a little room first for my project. So hopefully by early next week it will be pink. Of course I will post about it once it is done.

Ohh frustration..

... what is it? I am working on overdrive for the past few days for Maya's upcoming 6th birthday. Of course after seeing her sisters smocked sundress she just had to have one. So she picked out some fabric from my stash. Anna Maria Horner' s "Garden Party". Life and vivid colors. She already has a very distinctive taste. So as a surprise for her birthday party I want to sew her a sundress. But I have to say it has been a challenge so far. The elastic thread is just not doing what I want it to do. Or is it my machine? It keeps on jamming and it gets all tangled up. For no evident reason.
I am so ready for a new sewing machine. Too bad my birthday already passed. And Christmas is far far away. Hmmmm......

Wow. I just noticed this is my second post this morning...

Kimono Wrap II

..here is the "Kimono Wrap" for Maya. The Kimono Wrap for Zoe I made earlier last week can be found here. I made a size 6. The fabric I used is Aviary Rose by Joel Dewberry in magenta. Here are some action shots.

Oh we still have plenty of Easter Candy leftover. It is time to get rid of it. I think all this candy has started to affect my waistline. Hmm not good. Note to myself for today.... Get rid of candy..
I think next time I sew that Kimono Wrap for her I alter the shoulder and back area somewhat, so it won't drop over her shoulder. Or maybe it is just a little big and she will grow into it....

And another shot...

More weekend sewing

By the way I am not MIA. I have been just really really busy creating and completely forgot to blog about my new creations. But here is goes...
This Kimono is not really from the book "Weekend sewing". Although there is a Kimono pattern in the book. It just wasn't the right size for Zoe. So in the back of my mind I knew I had downloaded a pattern from somewhere weeks back. It is the "simple Kimono Wrap". I really like it. It came together in a breeze. Oh and I got to use my new toy. A bias tape maker. No more buying that boring packaged bias tape. It is really easy to make your own.
Well here is the result:


Well of course Zoe needed something to wear her new Kimono with. So here comes Weekend sewing into play. These pants are "Huck Finn Pants". The sewing instructions call for button and button holes in the elastic so the pants can grow with the child. To be honest I didn't bother with that. I just sewed in a half inch elastic all around the waist and called it done. I made a size 24 months. Zoe has ample room to grow in those pants and the elastic stretches wide enough.

Oh and of course some action shots....

Hmm those fingers must taste really good....

... and another action shot...

And of course after Maya saw the Kimono she just had to have one as well.

I'll post about her new Kimono tomorrow.

One of those days...

.. today was definitely one of those days.
I have been working on an outfit for Maya's birthday. Wow 6 years. Where has the time been?
Well I think I have a new BFF, the seam ripper. I couldn't get a thing right today. My fabric wouldn't gather. Seams where not straight. Etc. Uuuuffff.
By the end of today I was just covered in thread.
Off to see what tomorrow brings.
I guess I can always start from scratch.
Right???

And an outfit for Zoe

I finally made something out of my new book Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross.

Here is my version of the smocked sundress:

I have to say this was the first time sewing with elastic thread. And oh boy it took me some time to figure it out. I did exactly what Heather described in her book, ironed it and.... it did not smock for me...at all.
I was convinced I did something wrong. So off to my best friend the google bar.... Hmmmm.
I found a website that suggested winding the thread tighter around the bobbin and lengthen the stitch length. Wow, that made a difference. But still not enough smocking for my 15 months old waist. So I ended up tighten the elastic by hand. I guess not the proper way to do it but hey it worked. So after that was done the dress came together pretty easily.

Next off I tried my version of the Ruby's Bloomers. After the experience with the sundress I did the same with the elastic in the leg openings. Tightened it by hand. Well here is the result:


Those again came together pretty easily.
And here are some action shots of both.

I think the dress is pretty comfy for her. Oh by the way we were outside on the patio. It is in the upper 70's here in Florida.

And finally an action shot of the bloomers:

I made the large size (24 months). She has ample room in them. But I do think next time around I make them in the smaller size. So it wont be all crunched up under the dress.

But all in all I think the experience with the elastic thread was definitely a learning experience and so worth it.