It's Getting Spooky Around Here . . .

Yes, it's getting spooky around here because the American Girl dolls aren't the only dolls who throw a Halloween party. More than one Halloween doll party is . . . kind of spooky! Oh well, can't leave Barbie out of the fun. She's too awesome for that.

Just a quick note: my shop is in vacation mode for a few days, but will reopen next week. And then it's time to start sewing some Christmas things. Or, at least start thinking about it . . .

Queens of the Nile . . .

Costumes are in progress . . . Just need to finish the cape for Ivy/Cleopatra and then add some bling!

Girls In White Dresses

Before I switch the thread in my serger from white to black for Halloween sewing, I thought I'd make something for my shop:

It's a simple white Regency-styled dress made with Caroline in mind and since I have so much ribbon, I  thought it could use a few different colored sashes. Although the blue is my favorite . . . It goes so well with those cute blue shoes that come with Caroline's birthday dress.

But like I said, Halloween is coming. And some of the dolls who live here will need some new costumes. Someone will definitely be Cleopatra (made in miniature after my daughter's costume) and someone might possibly be Goldilocks, if--and that's a big if--I'm on top of things and little boys around here take some good naps.

As for the shop, I'm hoping to add a Jack O'Lantern based on McKenna's costume from last year, another of my traditional witch costumes, and if the Halloween stars truly align, some sort of ghost bride or corpse's bride--I have an old (and really, really small--yikes!) wedding dress that I bought at a thrift store years ago. I think it needs to be cut up and transformed into something spooky . . .

A Sad Tale

Instead of having a great "en forreau" dress for my shop, or even a pattern review of the Thimbles and Acorn pattern I tried, all I have is a sad tale.

This is my borrowed Felicity--don't let that smile on her face fool you. She is only half dressed. I should have been smart and tried this pattern out first by sewing a muslin. But I hate sewing muslins--especially for dolls. No, I cut right into the fun 18th-century cotton print and started sewing . . .

Things were going well until the pleats in the back--that is, the actual "en forreau" part:

I'm not going to lie, those pleats were tricky. And while trying to get them just right, I unpicked a seam that was the gown's undoing. I ripped a big hole in the fabric with my seam ripper. Grrr.

So this dress is scrapped for now. And borrowed Felicity is returning to her home. So no more "en forreau" gowns for awhile. The pattern is great and the design is really appealing, but I'm giving it a rest for now. Besides, an "en forreau" gown is also known as a "robe a l'anglaise" (English gown), so maybe Felicity's patriot conscience wouldn't allow for such things.  Although, the style is French and French fashion has always been the rage, so . . . maybe.

Oh well, on to another dress--a lavender dress perfect for Caroline. And with no sophisticated pleating in the back, I'm sure I won't have another sad tale to tell. Bye Felicity . . .

Up Next . . .

I've kept myself busy lately sewing a few non-dolly things--I finally learned how to miter a corner properly (yay!) and I also just finished making a dress-up for my daughter. This is huge because I haven't made a dress-up in years. (I also haven't sewn anything that isn't doll-sized from a pattern in a looong time either.) She wanted a pioneer dress complete with apron and bonnet to play in. Maybe I can talk her into being Laura from Little House On the Prairie for Halloween too this year . . .

But while I was mitering corners and thinking about pioneer-wear, I was making plans for my shop as well. My next project is going way back in time (pre-pioneer) to try out a pattern I've had my eye on for  awhile. So, I ordered some lovely prints from a fantastic Etsy shop Nauvoo Quilting Co. and can't wait to get started.

I also have plans for some cornsilk blue polka-dot fabric and this pattern. For Kirsten. Because it's still her year and she needs more dresses, of course!

1812 . . .

Feedsack Dress . . .

What's Been Going On Around Here . . .

While waiting for the arrival of our new little one, I spent a few weeks in March wrapping up custom orders for my Etsy shop. Then I deep cleaned my sewing machines and my sewing room. I put everything away and sent my scissors away to be sharpened. I thought I was done sewing for awhile.

But then I got bored. And antsy. So I decided that our Kirsten doll needed some new dresses (because sewing more doll clothes right before the birth of a new baby is completely logical, right?)

I found the prettiest robin egg blue print at my favorite quilting store and used it to make a version of Kirsten's work dress:

I also made a version of Kirsten's blue checked dress and embroidered apron. The apron was a perfect last-minute project. I really was too big and round to sit comfortably at my sewing machine, so sitting on the couch to embroider was perfectly fun:

Now that our little guy is here safe and sound, (and my scissors are newly sharpened) I'm looking forward to sewing again for my shop. I have a pile of cute feedsack reproduction fabrics waiting:

Feedsack dresses are so cheerful and perfect for summer--whether your doll lives in the Depression-era or not. I also have my eye on some really cool patterns I want to try, but am debating whether I really need Marie-Grace to properly model what I have in mind. I just might . . .

I also started a Facebook page. But I am a complete Facebook newbie, so it is still a work in progress . . .

In the works . . .

I just finished these cute pillow covers for my sister. She brought me the fabric almost a month ago, but I was so busy sewing doll clothes, I didn't get around to them. So when I finally sat down and whipped them out in a half-hour, I felt guilty. Especially since my sister is CRAZY about Christmas and started decorating her house two weeks ago. Sorry, sister. Come and get your pillow covers--they are ready and cute!

Speaking of sisters, I have another sister who had a little boy in August. I'm working frantically on his Christmas stocking. I wanted to have it done by Thanksgiving, but I am only halfway finished with it. (see above reason.) I've made stockings from Bucilla felt stocking kits for both of my kids and my new nephew's big brother. My aunt did the same thing years ago for all of us cousins, and I wanted to keep the tradition alive. But man, these stockings take a long time. Hopefully my baby nephew will have his stocking by Christmas Eve . . .

Meanwhile, I have some new fabric intended for some new things in my shop:

And look who I borrowed for some modeling:

The dolls don't really like it when Elizabeth comes to town because she gets all of the attention. Maybe I'll keep her hidden so Abby forgets that she's here . . .

Abby Sews Her First Doll Dress

On the last day of school, I set up a little sewing station for Abby. Besides setting up my old White sewing machine (which doesn't really work--oh well), I set out a bin of doll patterns, some project books, and made a sewing kit with scissors, pins, a measuring tape, needles, thread, and a seam ripper. Abby was really excited to start sewing.

She wanted to make a Kit-style 1930s dress for her doll Julie. So she picked out the 1930s Signature Dress Pattern from BunnyBear. We then went shopping for 1930s fabric at a local quilt store. Lucky for us, all the 1930s fabric was on sale that day! Abby was delighted that the bolts of fabric were labeled as "Feed sack" prints--just like the story about Kit's aunt who makes her a dress from a feed sack. She picked out a yellow print for Julie and a pink print for Ivy.

I cut out the pattern and the fabric. I really thought that I would be doing most of the sewing, but Abby surprised me with how steady and straight her seams were--in fact, she kept batting my hands away as she sewed saying "I can do it." And she could. She sewed all of the straight seams and even topstitched the cuffs. The only thing I did was serge the edges and sew the collar onto the bodice. I also sewed the velcro closure in back. The pattern called for snaps, but sewing snaps can be so tedious, you know?


When the dress was finished, Abby was so proud of herself. I was too. It was fun to see her so pleased with something she made.

She immediately had to put the dress on Julie . . .

She said that Julie loves the dress.


Later on we found just the right shoes to match. And for her official blog photo shoot, Julie looks pretty cute--just like a little girl in her first feed sack dress should.



I thought this little project would be enough for awhile, but Abby is already asking if she can make Ivy's dress yet. The fabric is all cut and ready, so Ivy will have a 30s dress in no time at all too.

It all just makes me so happy.

By the way, that pattern was perfect for a beginner sewer. The only problem is that there are so many cute designs to choose from. I'm thinking that Julie and Ivy will also need the matching apron. You know, for preserving fruit and stuff. Depression style.