Sock Hop Halloween

The final Halloween costumes are listed in my shop:

Yep, it's a Sock Hop Halloween! I am super excited about these two sets. I used a MyAngieGirl pattern (found at Pixie Faire) called "The 4-Way Wardrobe" and I am so impressed with it. If I didn't have real-people Halloween sewing to do, I would spend my whole month making poodle skirt sets and trying out all the cute little animal silhouette options! 

Remember to check out my Instagram feed for upcoming listings and projects. My user name is sewedhermind. Here's to a fun month of Halloween sewing!

Maryellen . . . and a Ghostbride!

There are two new listings in my shop:

I'm excited to share my first Maryellen offering: a 1950's blouse and gingham skirt. The blouse has working buttons and a cute ribbon sash. Also listed is an awesome costume: the Ghostbride! I've been wanting make something like this for awhile. I love zombie bride costumes or a good corpse's bride. But those are kind of scary. And how does one make an American Girl doll look scary? So I came up with a Ghostbride costume--it's flowy and eerie and spooky. It comes with a veil, bouquet, and trick-or-treating bucket. Halloween here we come!

Also, I am now on Instagram. Check out my projects and upcoming listings--my username is sewedhermind :)

Meet Rhonda

There's a new listing in my shop:

It's a "meet" dress for Rhonda, Caroline's friend. It's made out of burgundy kona cotton and is just the type of style Rhonda would wear, at least it is in our re-creating of Caroline's world :)

Summer-style dresses are also on sale in my shop--both the knit dresses and halter dresses are discounted. Next up, clothes for Maryellen and Halloween!

Meet Lydia

There's a new listing in my shop! It's a "meet" dress inspired by the portrait of Caroline's cousin Lydia. With Caroline's archival this year, my daughter and I thought it would be fun to recreate some dresses and accessories from the illustrated version of Caroline's book series and paper doll set--we're just not ready to see Caroline go! And why not make two of almost everything so I can share in my shop?

So now that Lydia has a basic dress, Rhonda is next. We plan on making quite few fun things over the next months. Also stay tuned for some Maryellen items and of course the annual Halloween costume…or two!

"Halter Ego"

I have two more halter dresses listed in my shop:

Perfect for hot summer days! Also, I've had some inquiries about custom work, so just a reminder: yes! I love to make custom orders :)

"Saturday in the park . . ."

". . . I think it was the Fourth of July.
People dancing.
People laughing.
A man selling ice cream .  . ."

Oh boy, this Chicago song gets stuck in my mind all the time! Not because I'm a Chicago fan, but because this song plays on one of the mini records that comes with Julie's sound accessory set--my daughter's all-time favorite Julie item. And out of all the mini records that come with the set, my daughter plays this Chicago song over and over and over . . . So naturally when thinking about something Fourth-of-July-ish to put in my shop, I thought of this song--and sewing a few 1970's dresses seemed the obvious thing to do :)

So here they are--new listings in my shop:

For the brown dress I tried a new pattern--the awesome Flossie Potter "Halter Ego" pattern found at Pixie Faire. I love this pattern! I can't wait to make more. The second dress is another of my go-to dance dresses, but this time with a little belt variation. Both dresses come with a cheerful orange ribbon. I really love these two prints--a lot of orange going on, but perfect for a hot summer day in 1974!

Another Outfit for Josefina

I've just listed another dress and shawl in my shop:

These outfits for Josefina have been fun to make--I like pulling threads out of the linen to make the shawl's fringe, and trying different stitches on my sewing machine to make the embroidery. Next up are some fun 70's fabrics! Perfect for summer . . .

Sewing for Josefina

There's a new listing in my shop:

It's a dress and shawl made for Josefina. I sometimes forget how much fun it is to sew for Josefina. In fact, I already have another dress and shawl in completely different colors cut out and ready to sew . . .

Stay tuned!

Miss Molly

There's a new listing my shop:

Good golly it's Miss Molly! I've been wanting to make a version of Molly's school jumper and blouse from her "Pretty Clothes" patterns forever. So I finally did. And I borrowed my mom's Molly doll to model--she's pretty cute! This pattern was really fun--I love the pleats in the skirt.

Also, several older listings in my shop have reduced prices. And I'm offering FREE SHIPPING to my 100th customer just for fun! I recently noticed that my shop has made 99 sales--wow! So why not celebrate? Shipping will be refunded after the order is made.

I have a few more things on my cutting table--something for Josefina, maybe Kirsten, some 1970s fabrics, and one thing more for Caroline. Then I'm off to buy patterns and fabric for the rumored upcoming 1950s Americal Girl. Oh my gosh, sewing 1950s--style dresses and clothes? Yes, please!

Inspired by Grace

I've listed four new items in my shop--knit dresses inspired by Grace, the Girl of the Year 2015:

I used a Liberty Jane pattern found at Pixie Faire--the "Taylor Regatta Dress" by Bonjour Teaspoon. I also made the matching girl-sized dress for my daughter and it turned really cute. It's a great pattern!

Since this is our Grace doll's debut in my shop, I wanted to use colors inspired by her French theme. So Bonjour Grace! Welcome to the shop :)

Caroline in Blue

I have a new listing in my shop:

It's a blue dress for Caroline--which really is such a good color on her. I used the last of the fabric I had saved from one of my daughter's pioneer dress-ups. But instead of making a little pioneer dress out of it, I thought it should be a dress for Caroline. So there you have it--Caroline in blue! It's the perfect dress to wear while standing at the water's edge watching the ships sail by. 

Pink or Blue?

I have two listings in my shop:

They are both mid-1800s-style dresses modeled by Marie-Grace. I found just the right size cameo charms to sew at the necklines. I love cameos . . . I also felt inspired by Beforever Addy's new color palette to sew something blue and black. And since the cameo charms came two to a package, I made a pink dress too!

I still have this cute set and this Regency outfit available. More listings are coming soon :)

Comfy and Cute

I have a new listing in my shop:

It's another Liberty Jane "Piccadilly Sweater" in a cute white jersey that is sprinkled with bright sparkly stars. Also included is the pair of gray leggings. Doesn't Charlotte look comfy and cute? This time I finished the back according to the pattern with a button and loop closure. And those leggings are so easy to make, they might just become my new go-to pattern when little girls I know need doll clothes.

Meet Penny

We have a new doll and according to my daughter, her name is Penelope Anderson--or Penny for short. Penny came for Christmas and I have big plans for her new career as a model in my shop. In fact, today is her big debut. She's wearing a cute sweatshirt and mini-skirt that I just listed in my shop:

I used the Liberty Jane "Piccadilly" pattern for the top and the Liberty Jane mini-skirt pattern for the skirt. I've made versions of the mini-skirt before for my daughter and some of her friends--it's a great pattern (although it's snug! I add a 1/4-inch to each side seam so it's easier for girls to pull up over their doll's hips.) The sweatshirt, or "Piccadilly Sweater" is another fantastic pattern. I made one for Penny to keep along with the skater skirt that came with the pattern bundle:

I loved how the sweater was finished in the back with a loop and button closure. I changed that for the listing in my shop to make it a bit easier to take on and off. I also had just enough black pleather from my son's Anakin Skywalker Halloween costume to make the skirt. It's cute, but Liberty Jane skirts are little! I know the fit is supposed to be fashionable--and the fit is great--but this skirt is very snug and very short. I've pulled it down a little bit on Penny.

But I'm excited to have Penny and to try new patterns. My daughter and I LOVE Pixie Faire Doll Clothes Patterns where you can buy Liberty Jane patterns. I think Penny needs this peacoat next--maybe in a bright green? That would look pretty with her bright-as-a-penny hair . . .

Calico Corner

There's another new listing my shop:

It's no secret that I love making versions of Kirsten's school dress--maybe I should have named my shop "Calico Corner." I really like this little print and added a bright red sash just for fun. I think the color red makes anything look better, but that's because it's my favorite color:)

Hello There

Hello again! After a long break, I have finally listed something new in my shop:

It's a Regency-style dress and Spencer jacket--perfect for Valentine's Day. I'm also excited to list some more items soon. I have missed my little Etsy shop! After major Halloween costume sewing (including Snow White and Sleeping Beauty costumes for the dolls), my sad serger needed repairs in November. Then again in December. Then again in January. But things are good now and my serger is happy . . . so far. That serger of mine has become indispensable to my sewing, but sure can be nasty when it's not working right!

But now that we're back on track, I have fun plans for my shop--stay tuned! And thanks for stopping by:)