Cute as a Button

Honey is grand thief when it comes to stealing her brother and sister's hearts.  After making a pillow case and pajama pants, in her "Cute as a Button" sewing school, Ellery decided Honey needed her own pair of matching pants.  I've loved watching Ellery gain confidence in this class.  It is only 1 hour a week, but well worth it, and it seems enough for her to be learning some real skills on the sewing machine.

On any given night you will find Honey Fat strutting around, belly out, in her pajama pants, certain she is as old as her siblings, all the while Ellery is glowing in pure pride and joy.

This is the stuff life is made of.

Budding Seamstress

For Ellery's 7th birthday in May she received her own sewing machine and two gift cards to JoAnns Fabric. I took her to pick out a pattern and material 3 months ago. She chose a little dress and teal, sequined material. Sometimes I really struggle to keep myself out of the decision making process. I didn't have her vision, but she had an eye.

Cutting the pattern and material were not as glorious as she envisioned. But anytime she got to use her machine she was in raptures. The dress we were making was for her upcoming piano recital.

We finished cutting and the sleeves, only to have me thrown back on bedrest. The sewing machine was put away, and we pulled out an equally sparkly, Christmas dress from Mimi for the recital.

Three days ago, Ellery and I decided it was high time we finished off this dress. We pulled back out her sewing machine and got to work. Unfortunately, the pattern she chose was a little too difficult for her to be completely independent on. But she loved it, so helped her work through the directions. (And to be honest, many times sewing patterns trick me up, they can be quite complicated or at least convoluted in their descriptions.)

She insisted on wearing the bodice while finishing the skirt. The end result was darling, and just in time for her next piano recital. We finished this morning about an hour before her recital started!

After the recital, I took Ellery out to lunch and then we did a little grocery shopping at Costco. It was wonderful because at least four random strangers stopped Ellery and commented on her beautiful dress. What a boost. I was so proud of her.

Handmade Receiving Blankets

Callista is doing it all here! Pressing the presser foot and guiding the material.

In anticipation of an upcoming family vacation, we decided to take advantage of the "Give a Day. Get a Disney Day." All members of your family, six and over, can sign up to participate in a local service opportunity and receive a free pass. We decided to help out the local United Way chapter by making 9 receiving blankets.

The children had a wonderful time choosing fabric at the fabric stores, and then picking a decorative stitch, and thread colors of their choice to sew on the blankets, after I finished the edge. Even 5 year-old cousin Mark was enthralled for 30 minutes while we worked on his blanket.

They pushed the down on the "foot" and guided the fabric. It was a perfect opportunity for a first experience using the machine. They really couldn't go wrong with no seams and straight stitching. They developed confidence and had a great sense of accomplishment. This was a wonderful experience for the children in skill building and service. Great idea by Disney. (Not to mention it will save us some money.)

Noelle, Callista, Markie, and Ellery holding their blankets.

We actually ended up making 10 blankets. Mark made an extra for his brand new baby brother. He was beaming. So proud! This is Mark's blanket. All the children's turned out equally as precious.

By the way, here is a sewing tip for any budding seamstresses...

I have this fabulous presser foot called a Shell Hemmer. If you have a Bernina it is #69. It is absolutely the best foot I have. I love it and use it constantly. It saves me huge amounts of time ironing and measuring and hemming. In one swoop it turns the fabric under and finishes the edge. It does require practice to perfect, but once you figure it out, priceless!

One dress down. One to go. One day left.

This didn't turn out as my favorite dress by far. I will post pictures of Ellery wearing it. It is pretty cute on her. I opted for a different style and color for Callista, because I wasn't crazy about this one.

Brainstorming Christmas Dresses

Here are my ideas for Christmas dresses. I like the idea of doing something soft and flowy. I haven't ever made the girls a dress like that. I will have to run the ideas by them and check the fabric store.

I love the sleeves and satin embellishments on this one. I think in a different color, maybe cream or red?

What struck me about this dress, were the long flowing sleeves and the crocheted detailing. Classic but stylish. I also love the neck and soft pleats. I don't know how to crochet.

I love the bright red of this dress. Also I have always wanted to do a bubble skirt. Never have. The girls adore rhinestones. This one will most likely be their favorite.

Care to opine?

First Sewing Lessons and The Boxcar Children

I am going to do a string of homeschool posts...since I have a backlog of pictures and ideas!

My girls have been watching me sew since the time they were babies. Both beg to learn. For homeschooling we just finished reading The Boxcar Children. The book was charming and engaging for both Ellery and Callista. I love the old fashioned values of hardwork, honesty, and self-reliance the children exhibit. At one point Jesse and Violet, the two sisters in the book, make a "stocking" teddy bear for their little brother Benny.

Certainly they ended up covered in jeweled stickers and with sparkly earrings...what real teddy bear isn't?

A perfect opportunity presented itself for giving the girls their first sewing lessons. After rummaging through Daddy's sock drawer, and procuring the perfect rainbow assortment of threads and buttons the girls stuffed the socks with rice and made these darling little teddy bears.

It was great hand-eye coordination training and more importantly they loved it and built self-confidence in the process.

To conclude our unit on The Boxcar Children, the girls made this great mural. We went through the book and remembered all the wonderful things the children were surrounded by in their little boxcar home.
I love, love, love this!

Mothers Day

Not much can compare to being the mother of three precious little children. Only being a wife to my husband surpasses the joy I find in my children.

After hours of sewing on rosettes, the dresses finally came to fruition in time for Mothers Day. Here are a few shots....If only we had not run out of bark....it would have been a perfect backdrop!

Talk about a ray of sunshine...this little one sparkles in everything she does...and sometimes blazes :)
Thankfully our little neighbor Jeddy poked his head into our yard...the only way I got true smiles from the kids.

We spent Mothers Day up at the Full Circle Ranch with my own wonderful mother. We basked in Spring perfection with a lazy picnic under the willow tree.

Gates are such great photo ops and provide endless fun for the grandkids.

So ready for Summer...Our beautiful Ellery...

Oh and check out how the dresses compare to the ones I copied....not too bad I think. In fact, my kids make far cuter models and compensate for any shortcomings in the dresses :) Callista's retailed for $102 and Ellery's for $253. I made them for $23 a piece (and a lot of love). Not bad.

Easter Dress Update

Here are some pictures of how the dresses are coming.

Ellery's still needs a zipper, and all the roses on the bottom. It is so time consuming making the roses, I am putting it off until I finish Callista's. My fingers were raw after making all those flowers and hand sewing them onto the collar. Multiply the collar 15x...it is going to be a project!


Pip's is coming along. The bodice is finished, all I have left is the skirt. It will probably just take a couple more hours.

I told Brent, if only I could make a practice dress, the next would be perfect. Because I don't follow a pattern for many parts of the dress there is a lot of trial and error involved. On these dresses I changed the neck line,added collars, adding roses on bottom and switching to an invisible zipper, altered ties, and changed the way they did the lining. The basic pattern I am using is Simplicity 2767. I begged Callista to let me do the bubble skirt on her dress, like the peach one below, but she wanted nothing to do with it.

Easter Dresses

2006 Easter Dress

I am ready to tackle my next project, coming on fast. Easter dresses.

2007 Easter Dresses

I love sewing for my girls. Sorry, boy things just don't do it for me. But I love ruffles, fluff and ribbons!

Ruffles Galore in the Petticoat Dresses for Easter 2007

I am currently designing the girls dresses for Easter this year. Thankfully, my mother-in-law filled in for me last year and mailed them beautiful dresses. I was interrupted mid-sewing by the early birth of little Emmy. I think that was a legitimate excuse for non-completion! She was so sweet, she knew I wanted white and found them gorgeous white dresses.

2008 Easter Dresses from Mimi

I start by scouting out dresses at all the stores. I look at gymboree, gap, and nordstroms. So far I am leaning towards a version of a dress similar to this, available at nordstroms.

I love the ruffles and soft texture of the organza. However, it is usually pretty chilly around here at Easter. I end up making these beautiful sleeveless dresses and they get covered by sweaters, or shirts underneath.

2007 Easter Dress

My goal is a dress they can wear without covering. Although 3 years ago I made little coats to go over their dresses...that is always an option.

Jackets and Hats 2006

2006

I also really like the one below. The stiff satin and the pleated organza.


Is this one darling just because the little girl is sooo cute? I love it!

We'll see...let me know any ideas....which are your favorites?

How to Make Your Own Children's Nativity Costumes

Holidays are ripe with family traditions. Two favorites include making a homemade gift for a sibling on each side of the family, and reenacting the glorious events surrounding the birth of the Savior on Christmas Eve. This year, both came together in a gift for my brother-in-law and his family. I made them a set of Children's Nativity Costumes.

Two years ago I made an adult and children's set for my mother. It was expensive and labor and time intensive. The results were gratifying, but I wasn't feeling ready to try the feat again any time soon.

This year my brother-in-laws wife mentioned if I might be able to make them some costumes... I guffawed inside...she doesn't sew much...I don't think she really understood what she was asking. My plans were different for their present.

But I also love to give people something they really want. I was torn. Then came my brilliant plan. (Hopefully you aren't reading this Christy, it will spoil the surprise!) Create my own simplified patterns, using pillowcases.

I made the most adorable simple Christmas dresses for my girls this year, using the pillowcase concept. (I didn't actually use pillowcases, but the idea.)

Doing this I was able to create a full set of 6 costumes and a Nativity Pageant script, for under $30 and not an unreasonable time commitment.

Children's Nativity Costumes

Various Pillowcases with colors and prints fitting for the characters
(Shop for these at a discount store like TJ Maxx or Ross.
I got 6 sets for $5 each and a brown bed skirt for $3)
Artificial Shearling (Available at a fabric store)
Sewing Machine
Thread
Ribbon/Trims (If desired)
Scissors

How To:
I will go through step by step my angel costume. Repeat for all the desired costumes eg. Shepherds, Joseph, Mary, Wise Men, King, Innkeepers...

1. Fold your pillowcase in half lengthwise (hotdog way...spoken like a true school teacher).

2. Cut armholes on edge side. The open end of the pillowcase is on the bottom. You are cutting on the top.
3. Unfold pillowcase. You should now have two identical armholes.
4. Cut off the top edge of the pillowcase (the closed side). Cut along fold. You will use this piece to make ties.
5. If desired sew trim along the bottom of pillowcase. I just used some wire ribbon from the craft store I got for really cheap.
6. Cut a slit on each side of the pillowcase. This allows for more movement when on. It also allows an adult to actually wear the costume (it is short of course, but the idea is clear).7. Turn edge over twice and sew a 3/8 inch seam (this will hide any unfinished edges). Your finished slit should look similar to the one below. I make my slits about 6 inches.8. Fold the tie piece you cut in Step 4, in half lengthwise (hotdog). Sew along one end and the edge. Leave one end open to turn inside out.
9. Use a pencil and turn the tie right side out.
10. Sew open end shut. Iron flat.
11. Fold the edge of the armholes over twice. Sew 3/8 inch seam.
12. Fold over the top of the costume twice. This time creating a casing about 1 1/2 inches to thread the ties through. Sew along edge. Repeat on the back.
13. Thread ties through. Tack the tie in place in the center by stitching a few times.
14. Tack a ribbon in place on the back of the costume to tie the waste. Cut another piece of ribbon for a halo/headband.
15. Try your angel costume on a perfect angel.I had to make this darling sheep costume after listening to the talk given by President Henry B. Eyring at the Christmas Fireside given by the leaders of our church earlier this month.
His thoughts on how the precious little lambs followed the Shepherds to honor the baby Jesus, the infinite sacrifice...a powerful message for each of us.To make this simply cut a small piece of shearling and sew over the edge. Sew a strand of ribbon on both side and attach a tail.
I will wait until after Christmas to post pictures of the other costumes...so I don't totally wreck the surprise for Christy if she reads this!