The Promised Doll Clothes

My niece adored her doll clothes! I'm thrilled!

These items were made from pattern McCall's 5775.
Here are the pictures:

This fancy top is made from 100% cotton fabric . The pattern offered the same design in two lengths and this is the longer length - it falls to about knee length on the doll. I added the fancy ribbon on the bottom. 

These outfits were difficult to photograph! The tops are navy blue t-shirts onto which I applied the adorable Hello Kitty appliques. I purchased these appliques on our trip to Japan - too cute to pass up!  Like many doll t-shirts, they open in the back and close with Velcro. The leggings are a simple two-piece pattern with elastic at the top. Both are made from knit fabric; and surprisingly, I did not have much trouble working with the knit fabric. The cotton jersey for the t-shirts did roll a bit, but it ironed flat long enough to be worked.

My niece has two American Girl Dolls. Now they have matching trench coats! I found a yard of this teal microsuede in the remnant bin, just perfect for a leather look. These coats were not particularly difficult, but there were lots of pieces! The pattern had it styled with 3/4 length sleeves, but I lengthened them. Snap closure underneath the buttons.

And finally, another little party outfit. The top is the short version of the polka dot top above. The slacks are simple pull on slacks with a flat front and elastic in the back. Both made of cotton. I added the fancy trim along the bottom hem. 

In making these clothes, I got much better at set-in sleeves. It was fun to embellish the clothes, and in my opinion, Hobby Lobby has the best assortment of ribbon and trim of all the local stores. Better prices, too. 

The above outfit and the polka dot top were made from cotton fabric from my quilting stash. 

In addition, I bought two pairs of Ugg-like boots for the dolls, at JoAnn's.

Onward to 2011!  Many more projects await!

Some thoughts for Christmas

It is the day before Christmas....and I feel like I should write a poem all of a sudden!

The last two weeks have been very hectic; it's no wonder I have come down with a sinus infection. I'm sure I spread it around because I wouldn't stop going and doing. Since last weekend we had a college student from Japan staying with us. I hope I didn't give him this cold. I think it went well for him. We sure enjoyed having him here. Perhaps we weren't so boring to him.

This is the first year I can remember in which I failed to send Christmas cards, completely unintentionally. It was too much. I had also agreed to make a cap for a friend for Christmas, and I just couldn't. My husband is out buying the Christmas presents for the family we will see tomorrow. The quilt for my friend in Virginia sits unbound in the basement. (But, I did tell her it would be late.)

I guess my schedule with a full time job is still not under control. When I took the job, I vowed not to start anything new until after the first of the year. I still don't feel ready.

Nevertheless, the house was clean for our guest. I cooked meals two nights for our guest. I managed to send several gifts. I got all the doll clothes done, mailed and sent. Reservations for this trip to Tennessee have been made. It's not all bad.

I am thankful I am busy. I am blessed to have family to see and events to attend. I have enjoyed another great year of sewing and playing music. I have a good relationship with my spouse. I have beloved pets in my life. I do interesting work.  It's a wonderful life!

It's an annual ritual!

Depression and the winter. I think I need to find a different antidepressant. I changed a few months ago but it doesn't seem to be doing the trick.

I don't want to go to work today. I probably will anyway.

It's cold and it's dark both outside and here in this pit.

Guild Day

Yesterday was guild day and I took the day off and enjoyed some free time. It reminded me how much I miss my week days off.

I was delighted to find out my quilt, Simple Tribute, won 3rd place in the guild show in the Large Quilt category.  It's a viewer's choice award, so people who simply saw it at the show voted for it. Enough to win a ribbon!

The show was back in October. We usually give out the awards at the December meeting.

I also had a productive day at the Charity Quilts booth.

Phone call...gotta go.

No Pictures Yet

I was not as successful sewing this holiday weekend as I would have liked. I worked a lot, but did not reach my goals. I finished the second American Girl trench coat about five minutes ago.  I had hoped to complete both trench coats over the weekend *and* start quilting Ann's quilt. Didn't quite make it.  Didn't take any pictures yet, either.

Eh, it's OK.

Eight items completed, and I'd like to make 2 more. Maybe even more...but only because the pieces I've made so far don't coordinate into nice outfits.

Over the weekend, I played with my quilt guild charity quilts supplies - a guild member, D, wanted a few quilts to work on, and I prepared them for her. The tops and backs on many quilts were already paired (I had received them as such in May or June) and I picked out three projects for D. One of them was a kids quilt. When I went to package up the kids quilt top, batting and back, I was dismayed at the backing fabric. It was awful - thin, poor quality fabric in an outdated and cheap-looking kids print. I couldn't allow that! I threw that fabric away and pieced another back for the top.

Yeah, no wonder I didn't finish my doll clothes tasks!! I was working on that backing!! In my defense, this backing was mostly one piece of fabric, but it needed to be wider than 44 inches. I found a coordinating piece of fabric and sewed on strips to widen the back. I am pleased with how it turned out (and I used up more fabric - yay!!)

Another project was to pick out fabric for a different member, M, to cut in strips for a group project. It takes two coordinating colors/prints - it's a simple pattern, but makes a nice patchwork top. This has been fun matching pairs in contemporary color ways.

A third guild member wanted a hand quilting project for a relative who was willing. I found a small Trip Around the World pattern top and cut the batting and backing for her.

I still have to put together block kits and instructions for the mystery quilt project. I picked out binding for the two completed quilts I received last time. And, I need to pair a couple of more quilt sandwiches for people to pick up.

I like messing with the charity quilts supplies and projects. It appeals to the designer in me, even if it does interfere with my other goals.

Pictures soon, for real! I promise!

Happy Thanksgiving

On this chilly Thanksgiving day in Kansas City, I am staying around the house and working on my sewing. I must make great headway with my handmade Christmas Gifts this long holiday weekend. 

Ann's quilt is partially marked and layered and pinned. The inner section is will be simple diamonds using straight line quilting techniques. The quilt has three borders and I'm not sure what I'll do on them. Timing will probably have a lot to do with my design choices.

The doll clothes are coming along. I completed the first navy blue tee shirt today and I'm 95% done with the second one. I am making a muslin of the trench coat because it looks complicated and I don't have a lot of the fabric I chose for this project. The fabric is also rather expensive - a medium teal microsuede.  I found the piece in the remnant bin for half off.

I walked the dogs, I cooked two wonderful dishes for breakfast and lunch, and now I think I want a nap.  

 

Pictures soon.

Fender Bender

I got rear-ended on the way home from work today. It was a slow speed crash, nothing but my back bumper was damaged. I am fine, the other driver and his son (also in the pickup truck) are both fine. The police and traveler assistance came quickly and were professional and polite about the whole thing.  The other driver was pretty nice about it, too. It was one of those no win situations. The car in front of me stopped short. I slammed on the brakes and slid, but the ABS stopped me in time. The truck behind me was not so lucky. It was raining lightly and the road was covered with a light sheen of water. He slid right into me.

Not a bad crash, as they go, but it is still a hassle and it will probably end up costing me some money. And I'm a little shaken up.