Easter Parade

Happy Easter Sunday. Many blessings to you and yours. Easter Sunday is kind of quiet for us. No one but my husband and I home and no plans on deck. I'm okay with it. Would love to have all the kids home but sometimes quiet is good too.

Big changes will appear here in the next few days. New design coming your way. I'm really excited about it.

Ok, on to what you came here for. Don't these pastels just scream Easter Parade?

Swiss Voile from Farmhouse Fabrics

I found this Swiss Voile windowpane check when I was at Sewing At the Beach in January.  Farmhouse Fabrics had a booth there. I spotted this fabric and loved it. I had to tote it around, put it back, come back to it and finally took the plunge. I love the color, the windowpane check, love everything about it. I will admit it was pricey. But once again, for these little ones it only takes a tad over a yard. I wasn't making a prom dress with five yards. All that aside, I love it.  Brother's is from Imperial broadcloth and pique also from Farmhouse. The color isn't an exact match but a nice compliment.

Brother's is made from Imperial broadcloth and pique also from Farmhouse. The color isn't an exact match but a nice compliment. Nugget is almost three so it was time for a sailor outfit.

For the shirt, I used Children's Corner Basics for Boys I. Since it wasn't going to be a button on I lengthened the shirt. The shorts are once again Children's Corner Parker's Pants. If you do not have this pattern I suggest you get it. I have used it to death and while my daughter was home she cut out 8 pairs of shorts for her two kids.

I love the pique stripes on the shirt. I may have to do a tutorial on how I did that.

I used one of these and lots of starch. I recently told a friend that I use almost as much starch as I do thread.

Little Girl's dress from the Swiss voile, with a satin batiste collar. That pink shadow underneath is the slip.

Grammie's Attic

The slip is a happy accident. I had purchased a pink and a white slip from Grammie's Attic to go under LG's birthday dress. Momma didn't like the petticoat slip under the bishop. I felt this dress just had to have it or it would hang kind of limply from so much fullness. I had intended to use the white one but could not lay my hands on it. That left the pink. Slipped it under there and loved it. I love that little shadow of pink that shows through the aqualine colored voile. It is a very sheer fabric and has to have a slip under it.

Children's Corner

I used Children's Corner Bessie for her dress. A first time for me. Love it.

The satin batiste collar is trimmed with entredeux and tatting. I smocked the dress with rayon floss. Must have had a weak moment of madness there. I love the little bit of shine again the texture of the fabric, so I used the same floss for the collar embroidery. In retrospect I should have shifted those side bouguets forward a smidge. Something I didn't realize until the collar was on.

More antique mother of pearl buttons from The Old Fashioned Baby. In this photo they look more yellow than they are in person.

Doesn't this sleeve just make you want to squee? I love tiny puffed sleeves on little ones. I had intended to pipe the sleeve band but forgot. Either way, I love this tiny sleeve.

They will be just as sweet from behind as they walk sweetly into church. (I know, who are we kidding?) I don't often smock the back of a garment but just felt compelled this time.

Momma sent quick phone pics from this morning. Too sweet.

I truly hope you and your loved ones had a blessed Easter holiday. Have a bite of a chocolate bunny to celebrate.

Bunnies and Bows

Its time for the Easter Bunny! As promised here are the big kid's Easter frocks. These were a lot of fun and I enjoyed making them. Except for the seersucker for Wildman's shorts, this was all from stash. How cool is that? Don't worry I made up for it with the little kids.

First for Princess, fabric is Swiss pique. I've used it before for a *Freezing play dress. It is a dream fabric. I didn't realize it when I made that play dress but the more you handle it the softer it gets. The previous dress was a down and dirty so I didn't realize how yummy it would get as I handled it so much.

Children's Corner Inc.

Pattern is Children's Corner Lee. Amazingly enough, I didn't have this pattern in the larger sizes.

Smocking design is "Yummy Bunnies" from Creative Needle Magazine Feb 2008. This magazine is long out of print but many issues are available on both eBay and Etsy. In this particular issue there are two bunny plates. I have stitched them both.

I have wanted to make this dress for a couple of years. The only thing I would change is I would stitch the bunnies closer together than the 35 pleats apart as called for in the design. Other than that, I love the dress. Collar is Spechler-Vogel pique and all is piped with whip stitch piping.

The design in the magazine stated that the belt was from CC Anne. If it is, it was not with my pattern, so I drafted my own. I should have taken a photo of the belt pieces before I inserted them, I whacked off about 6 inches from each one. Not sure what I was thinking when I cut them out. Wasted piping. Oh well.

I used some antique mother of pearl buttons I have had for years. I bought them from Jeannie B at The Old Fashioned Baby. I love them and longed to find the right project. I think they fit the bill perfectly.

She loved it and it fit well. You can't ask for more. Growing into a big girl. She is almost six years old.

On to brother. For Wildman, a monogrammed shirt of Imperial broadcloth and khaki striped seersucker shorts.

Ginger Snaps Designs

I used Cameron by Ginger Snaps Designs for the shirt and my go to CC Parker's Pants for the shorts. The shorts were lengthened by 1/2". A size 4 still fits in the waist but Wildman has long legs.

Monogram is Francisco font from Apex Designs. It stitches beautifully and is elegant without being too girly. Collar and sleeves are trimmed with seersucker piping. I used the alternative to setting in sleeves with a pleat on the sleeve cap instead of easing. I don't like it. Buuuuuut it was after midnight and I was tired so I ran with it. Live and learn.

Getting a photo of this boy is next to impossible. This is the look you get when you implore him to be still.

This was as good as Mimi could get. I love his khaki colored saddle oxfords. I wish I had captured a photo of the moment we discovered he had rolled his knee socks down to his ankles, maw maw style. This was discovered as we browsed the Coach and Tory Burch stores. Geez Louise!  Wildman is 4 and half. I fear this may be momma's last year for knee socks and short pants. She would have loved to have put him in a jon-jon. That ship has sailed.

He was very happy to see the Easter Bunny,

Happy boy.

Tomorrow will feature the little ones Easter finery.

Easter Egg Hunters Part 2

The big kids were coming here for spring break as well as to attend Beauty and the Beast at the Fox. While they were here Momma decided to take them to the UA Easter Egg Hunt.

I have to admit, I had never been to an organized Easter Egg Hunt unless you want to call the ones we did with the kids in the back yard organized. The alumnae association did a great job.

I have had this Fabric Finders bunny pique in the closet for a few years. I initially had intended to use it for the Lucy challenge I spoke of yesterday. I just couldn't make it come together in my mind and was also afraid LG's momma wouldn't like it. I used CC Sara's Skort. A first for me. It went together so easy though it did make me a little sad to realize Princess is big enough to wear skirts now. I would rather she still be in a size 24 mos Lucy like her cousin.

The ruffle and shorts were made from a "hunk" of black/white gingham that was just barely big enough to squeeze the shorts from.  You can't tell but the pleated ruffle is pieced together.  T shirt is machine embroidered with Flower Letters from Fun Stitch. Excuse the dark, shadowy photos, this was late at night and the lighting in my sewing room is not conducive to photography.

As I said, I had no black gingham left for a pair of shorts plus it was stinking cold here that day. I had purchased him a pair of khaki shorts but it was too cold. He has an embroidered t-shirt with a cute carrot totin' truck from Planet Appliqué. Actually I made this shirt twice. Bless his heart he dumped an entire cup of coffee (cold, thank goodness) on himself trying to protect his basket from a perceived interloper. He loved the truck so much, Mimi quickly made him another one and zipped it off in the mail.

This was on the way out the door. They had fun before having to say a sad goodbye to return home. They are growing up too fast.

Easter Bunny has Come and Gone!

Do you see this poor tired bunny? That is this bunny right here! I mailed the little's Easter finery yesterday. Before I show them to you let me tell you a story-

I race into the UPS Store yesterday morning before a meeting, with not only Easter garments carefully wrapped but also a bag of "Easter Bunny" for momma to slip into their baskets. This is a UPS location very near my home and I will admit that I am there too often. Nothing against regular mail but sometimes I trust UPS more or let's be honest, on more than one occasion I have not had time to get the box ready myself and they will do it for me. All that being said, I walk in 👣👣👣

and the clerk who looks about as old as this sweet young man greets me with a warm hello followed up with "I bet you have Easter dresses that need to get there on time!" Said with a knowing smirk I might add. If I were his momma I might have washed his mouth out with soap! Don't go pointing out the obvious young man! I think I may have a reputation. Oh well someone has to don't you think? I will do this in a few posts but here is the first.

I had the crazy idea to make two sets of Easter outfits this year. Ones for Easter Bunny pics/Church and ones to wear for fun to school/daycare/Easter Egg Hunt. What the heck was I thinking?

I kind of know where the thought came from. Our SAGA chapter decided to do a Children's Corner pattern challenge using Lucy and/or Johnny and I wanted to participate. That is where this garment that started it all came from.  This is CC Lucy using a color block method I had seen on another website. The bunny appliqué is from Planet Appliqué.

My inspiration was these shorts came from The Beaufort Bonnet Company.  If my memory serves me right, big IF there, they have offered these in seersucker in the past. I went diving into the stash closet and came out with some seersucker and got to work. 

 I traced, chopped and added seam allowances to the front and back pieces and put them back together again. The biggest challenge was making sure I cut out corresponding mirrored pieces when cutting out the garment. Added piping, of course, covered buttons and we were good to go.

It fit to perfection. I made an 24 mos coupled with a purchased top from RagsLand.

Brother had an embroidered t-shirt to match (minus the bow) and a pair of CC Parker's Pants shorts. Judging by the loot in that basket, I think they had a good time.

Look for the big kid's outfits tomorrow.

No Longer Hopping

That bunny is no longer hopping, he is a speed racer and I am way behind!!

And what possessed me to use rayon floss? Must be outta my mind!

Bad phone pic but almost finished with smocking.

No time to chat.

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail

They are missing their bow yet, but they are smocked and blocking on the ironing board.  My husband walks in the room and says, "why are they brown?" I guess he missed out on chocolate bunnies as a child.

The fabric is Swiss pique that I have am squeeeeezing this dress from. I had plenty but used a large chunk here. It is all good, there just won't be any scraps left and I am a-ok with that.

See?

This is the type of irritation I am dealing with. Went to pick up my blue marking pen and couldn't figure out why I couldn't lift it off of the ironing board. It had melted AND cooled to the iron resulting in the two becoming one. I had to reheat the iron to get it off. No wonder why it takes me three times as long to accomplish anything.

Here is what I am working on. Hurry, hurry the Easter Bunny is coming.

Hang With Me

Yes, I realize this photo is from Christmas. There is a new computer with new software that must learned. So hang in there. Changes are coming. No, I have not forgotten you or the countless friends who lovingly and some not so lovingly have mentioned my absence. As I have said before, it is tough to sit at this desk and sew at the same time. Which I have done massive amounts of in that absence. You may notice that someone is missing in the above photo and that is because Little Girl was having none of it.

As you can see here, it has not gotten any easier to get a kodak moment with all four of them.

Be watching this space for more sewing ( I am frantically working on Easter)  and antics of these four munchkins.

Keep Stitching.