I could not help myself...

I had extra fabric and just had to make Ellie one of those apple dresses! I used a cute stripe fabric as her reversed side, it turned out really cute. However, when I asked her to model it for me, she refused... (for a while, but at least she's wearing it now!) I made this back in March and it's just now getting warm enough for her to wear it.

Squirrel Anyone?

I bought a Lotta Jansdotter book with birthday money a while back. I was standing at this really cool store we have here in Lexington called The Black Market, and the art major in me geeked out. I've always loved her stuff, but what I loved it even more is that she published a book about all the techniques she uses.

When it came time for me to put up some curtains in Ellie's room, I thought I would try my hand at one of the techniques. So, armed with my trusty book in hand, I started my project. It took me a few weeks to decide to use a squirrel, but once I settled on the little critter, it just seemed perfect. Plus, Ellie has a cute squirrel picture already hanging in her room.

I drew the squirrel and cut it out of a stencil sheet and off I went stenceling randomly on the curtain fabric. I used the same paint as the yellow stripe in Ellie's room. It was really quite easy once it was all said and done. Now they are hanging cheerfully in her room!

Fall Outfit

I made little matching outfits for Ellie and her cousin Avery back in the Fall. I have this fantastic reversible sundress pattern that is super-easy to sew up. The pants are also another easy one that can go boy or girl.

Sister Outfits

These are some matching outfits that I made for a friend with three girls. The big sister outfits, and the infant outfit are pictured.

Some Sassy Smocking

I wanted to make something for Ellie that was reaaaaaally cute. I thought a bishop would be sassy, so I went for it. Now, this was before I had to start chasing Ellie around all the time, so I had the energy for some serious smocking. I selected my fabric (it was a tapestry from Target), cut out my stuff from a pattern, and borrowed my friend Julie's pleater. Now as for pleating, it's one of those things that if you don't do it often enough, it will make you want to go scream outside in your undies in the middle of winter. It's quite frustrating, but necessary if you want to smock. SO, once everything was pleated, I started smocking the dress. I'm not sure how long it took me, but with geometric smocking (no little cute characters) it's always faster than you thought it would be. I finished the angel sleeves off with a rolled hem on my surger and voila! Ellie had a cute summer outfit.

Keep on sewing!
Anna

Diaper Bags

Well, when I found out I was having a girl (now, my almost 2 year old) the first thing I made was a diaper bag. I took a look at my Vera Bradly bag and wanted to make something similar. So, I used it as my pattern. Now, this was in my pre-pattern days... where I was a sewing renegade and didn't bother to use patterns. I loathed them, to many words and weird directions. But the first time I made an outfit for Ellie without a pattern it took so long that I thought I would shoot myself. So, I started using patterns with the birth of my daughter. And I still don't like most of them.

Back to the diaper bag. I decided I wanted a quilted fabric, but the stuff I found at my local stores left much to be desired. So, I just took on the task of quilting it myself. This took me two evening sewing sessions (I had to break it down), because I thought I was going to drive my car off the next bridge I crossed trying to machine quilt for the first time. I swore I would never quilt any more fabric again... ever! But I finished my bag and it was so cute that I didn't care how awful quilting the fabric was.

I should have learned my lesson with my first bag, but nooooo. My sister in law asked me to make her little girl's diaper bag and, of course, I said "yes!" It's like giving birth, you sort of forget how difficult it all is and convince yourself you want more babies because "the end result is worth it." Well the end result IS worth it, but you still go bonkers during the process. So, I went bonkers making Katy's (sis in law) bag, but it turned out better than Ellie's, so that makes it totally worthwhile. Plus, now Katy has one of the only two quilted bags I will ever machine quilt. Pretty special.

So, I can honestly tell you that I probably won't be quilting ANY MORE of these bags... ever ever. But they turned out cute and Ellie's bag is still going strong after almost 2 years.

Keep on sewing!
Anna

My Bag

Katy's Bag

It's been too darn long!

Ok everyone who reads this blog... probably no one since I haven't posted since NOVEMBER. Anyway. I'm going to start posting some pictures of stuff I've made soon, so get ready!

Yep, that was it. My big news. Are you ready yet??