polkadotbug

One for Me and One for You

I’ve been busy making a few aprons.  I thought I’d shoot for the mommy & me apron sets.  I did this for more than one reason.  First, because it’s really adorable and I currently have girl that still wants to be like me and second, because we’ve had a few requests.  I love to make the children’s aprons, but folks out there keep requesting adult sizes. 

Unfortunately Molly does not like to model.  How does everyone do it?  Every blog I go to has these adorable children in even more adorable clothing doing exactly what their mother asked of them. Poses and all.  I can’t even explain what Molly begins doing as soon as we put her in something I made.  That’s all I know is that it involves random body spasms, ridiculous faces, and overall chaos.

Like this.

So we had to succumb to taking the pictures without people wearing the aprons.  This is too bad because aprons look best when they are on.  Anyways, you get the drift.  They’re completely reversible aprons that match in girl and mom sizes in fun prints.

 

Here’s mommy with no me.

Look Out Elementary School

Well, there’s the big girl standing in front of her school this morning.  She did so well.  It seems like it wasn’t that long ago that I was pregnant with her and now she’s already in school!  I only cried a little bit, so I was proud of myself too.

Besides preparing to send Molly off to school, I have been chugging away at crafting things for the Art Festival coming up.  I thought I would see how much stuff I could get out of one yard of fabric.  I think I did pretty well. 

I started with a Buffalo Bonnet and matching fleece lined bib.

 

I finished by squeezing out one pair of reversible pants and a little matching purse.  I love this Kokka print with the big bold flowers.  They look just like the flowers that Molly draws with the huge centers.  The reverse side of the pants is Anna Maria Horner, from her Garden Party collection.

Let’s hear it for the boys!  I even went out on a limb and churned out a lounge pants/bib combo that’s made for a boy.  I didn’t do so hot finding designer fabric that I thought would be great for a boy, so I went to Joann’s. I got a neat dinosaur print and this puppy/dog house print.  I thought it was cute.  It is so different than anything I am used to working with so I did feel a tad strange.  These pants are also reversible with a very comfy gray knit on the other side. 

Hope everyone got the kids off to school without a hitch!

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P.S.  If anyone out there is interested in food (who isn’t?!) and wants to take part in a little challenge, my husband won last month’s Paper Chef food blogging competition and this month’s is underway now – the ingredients and rules are here.

Experimenting Again

I’ve tried yet another reversible dress style and actually really enjoy it.  This newest style reminds me more of a jumper. I made button holes in the front and then just pulled the strap through and knotted it.  I saw a similar jumper like this (pants thought) in a catalog and decided to give it a whirl on a dress.  It was my first time actually implementing button holes to an article of clothing so it was a very new experience for me. 

I love that I keep coming up with new ways of making a dress that don’t involve a zipper.  Zippers frighten me.  Maybe I will get to that point some day. 

This size dress was a tad big on Abby, maybe more 24 monthish, but still super cute.  The best part is that is also fits Molly as a tank top.  How cute over a shirt with a pair of jeans?! This article of clothing can serve multiple purposes and last several years. So long as my stitching doesn’t fall out!

Here’s the reverse side.  This is how Abby wants to be ALL of the time now. On her feet.  Any day now she will be taking off on her own.  She still won’t crawl though.   Our little munchkin will turn 1 next Thursday. 

Last thing for the night… I covered a few lampshades with some glorious fabric in response to the excellent reception my first lampshade got.  Let me tell you I get a headache trying to pick which fabrics to use.  I love them all so much.  This stuff is seriously stressful for me.  That and the fact that I have to make so many dumb mistakes before I get it right.  I am thinking of putting a few on Etsy and seeing how it goes.

What do ya think?

Do Drink and Sew

I finally sat back down at the sewing machine tonight and actually finished a project!  Everything has still been packed up since we returned from our trip last weekend.  I really haven't been super motivated lately but this felt great to be productive again.  I even conquered a new dress style.  I saw something similar and really enjoyed it so I decided to give it a shot.  And once again it's a reversible dress in Heather Bailey fabrics.  Shocking. 

It's just like my classic reversible dress but it ties in the back instead of on the shoulders.  I must say that I don't know how to do the top trim where the ribbon slips through.  It came out a little sloppy.  Cute, but sloppy.  Good thing that the friend of mine who requested it hasn't a clue about sewing so she won't know the difference!  It bugs the crap out of me though.  I'd really like to know how to do it better. 

I also must share that I had a little help with my motivation tonight. 

Andrew prepared a fresh, icy, and delicious mojito for me.  What can be better than a refreshing ice cold mojito while you sew??  Answer: a refreshing ice cold mojito sitting pretty on Amy Butler fabric.  Fantastic!  It was even made with freshly picked mint from our herb garden.  I have it made.  That's all I've got for now.

Pants! For Boys!

 

Well, I have finally branched out!  This is my very first creation made especially for boys.  Reversible pants in green and brown stripes and plaid.  Let me tell you that you definitely have to look a little harder when trying to find fabrics suitable for baby boys.  Or maybe it's just me because the girly things really catch my eye. The two fabrics match a little better than they do in the picture, the color is a little bit off.  I plan to get a few of these made for the Indie Market.  I felt terrible at the first show when people stood in front of the table with baby boys.  Maybe I'll feel a little better if I have at least one option! 

The pants are quite easy to construct.  This was only my second pair that I've made and it didn't take long at all.  Well, once I corrected my first mess up that is.  If I didn't catch my mistake when I did, I would have ended up with pants that had two different legs instead of pants that were reversible.

Clown pants?  Maybe that's next.

Here's the other side:

   

Who wants to make a reversible dress?

Well everyone, I have finished the reversible dress tutorial!  You can find it here.  I hope that I have made it clear and easy to follow.  I am certainly no pro at making dresses (who knows if my techniques are even right), but I have made quite a few of this kind and they turn out incredibly cute.  I would really appreciate feedback if the tutorial has been helpful to you, or even if it hasn't.  I am definitely willing to answer any questions you may have if you get stumped along the way.  I hope you don't get stumped though! 

I am now thinking of a new reversible dress that I would like to give a shot.  I will definitely share once I get a chance to try it.  I think I see a reversible pants tutorial in the future as well.  The possibilities are endless!  I seem to be gravitated towards this whole reversible thing.  Maybe it's because I don't have a serger and I like the look of the finished reversible clothing.  That and the fact that you get 2 choices out of one product!

Ok, get dress making and let me know how it goes!

Here We Go...

How exciting!  This is the beginning of my very own site/blog.  I figure I would start it off with the reversible dress because it seems to be a great topic of interest.    This is the newest, inside and out, made with some recently arrived Heather Bailey fabric.  Mmmmm...

My good friend (crazy friend) Caren and I started a blog together, gigglepigs.blogspot.com, that we have been having lots of fun with.  She's a bag-making machine.  We've been very inspiring to each other, I think, and there's nothing better than having someone to share this all with.  My first reversible dress made its debut at gigglepigs, and that one dress has turned into many others and they will be coming with me to our first fair!   I am very anxiously awaiting this Saturday for the Buffalo Indie Market.  There is so much excitement and so many nerves at the same time. I plan to keep my blog with Caren and use this one more for my creations and perhaps a few tutorials.  Soon I'll begin putting a tutorial together for the reversible dress I make, so please check back.  I would love to help all you other crafty folks out there make your own reversible dresses!  I think it's so great that everyone is getting into this!

My bonnets that began this new adventure for me are still my favorites.  Is there anything cuter than a baby girl in a fashionable, modern bonnet?!  I don't think so, especially because I have an adorable 8-month old baby girl who looks great in one!  I think I've found something that truly makes me happy. The incredibly beautiful fabric choices out there make this even more exciting and addictive!  Hopefully I will begin to stock my Etsy shop soon.  Then all we need is to convert our walk-up attic into a work shop for me so I can move my mess out of our dining room!