Advent calendar

I really meant to finish this Advent calendar earlier. Really. Yesterday morning, I got up and realized this was it: crunch time. So I downscaled the project somewhat to finish and hang it on time for the countdown to start.

I had planned to embroider the days on each stocking and pouch. Maybe I'll find the time after this weekend. At least for a couple of them. The mini stockings are ornaments I bought a couple of years ago and never used. I just made the green goodie pouches, the labels and found cute ornament hooks to hang them on the long saddle stitched red ribbon. And in case you are wondering, the faux brick wall is in my kitchen. Some days I love it, somedays I don't. I can't decide.

Each little stocking and pouch contains a small toy or a sweet. It will be a real treat for our little bug because rarely ever have candy in the house.

Once the "overseas" list is wrapped up I will have a couple of days with a slower pace before the homestretch to Christmas.

Featured on 

I forgot to tell you I was guest posting yesterday. Check out the tutorial @ Crystal's Craft Spot to make  this cute heart shaped ornament. 

Tutus for sweeties...

Check out my little angel.. or is it a ballerina? Or even a fairy? Who knows. She wanted a tutu to go with those little wings. How could I say no when I have spent two days in tulle and satin.

 I used Heidi's ( HoneyBear Lane) tutorial again, but sticking closer to the model this time around. Once I finished hers, little bug was happy to model the cherry red tutu I made for her cousin, miss L. who is 3 1/2 and looooves princess stuff. So I added a hint of pink. 

The apple green tutu is for miss M. (2 years old in a couple of weeks), her other cousin. I went for a hint of blue on this one as the green was a bit too overbearing. It is smaller and still has a couple of pins so no tryouts. I love how they both turned out. I can't wait to see photos of  my nieces strutting their stuff in red and green... It's so much fun to make dress up clothes for little girls. And so much fun to watch them play in them.

 See it here  

Featured !

My witchy broth was featured on 504 Main  and my pumpkin on Under the Table and dreaming
 .. I'm feeling tickled pink and dreamy !

  

Honeycomb pillow

There, it is finished ! 

Ok, I'll admit: Turning the honeycomb into a pillow was no picnic. The fabric I chose is a bit stretchy and made things even more challenging. I've learned my lesson for the next time : once it is done it needs to be sewn on stabilizer. But hey, it didn't turn out too bad. 

See the tutorial for honeycomb tucks here

Tutorial - Deco honeycomb tucks

This is how you can make this happen :

* On the backside of your fabric, trace evenly spaced parallel lines - Here every 2"

* Trace perpendicular lines with the same spacing

* To get started and check you like the spacing, at the grid intersection, pinch your fabric every other square, alternate for the next row

* If you are satisfied with the appearance it's time to start stitching each pinch 

Here I pinched 1/4" on either side of the lines

Depending of your fabric and the desired effect you will have to change the spacing

Here is a close-up of the result

See what I did with it in a future post !

Update - see the finished project here

Update : 

I've been featured

 See it here 


See it here

Tutorial - Doll Kimono - Part 2

You can find the first part of the tutorial along with the supply list here

* Use an existing piece of doll clothing to evaluate the length / width of fabric needed

* Fold the fabric as shown so that the top 2 flaps overlap enough for closure of the kimono

* Place again the existing doll top on your fabric and trace the side adding extra for sewing allowance/ loose fit
* Mark the center of the back and the position of the sleeve on the top of the back
* Clip off the sides with pinking scissors (including what will be the end of the sleeves)
* Clip off a shallow V on the back using the marks on the back 

 

* Cut the 2 fronts to form the V-neck collar

* Stitch the arms and sides

* Hem the sleeves

* Apply bias tape all around (no pictures sorry - they all came out blurry) 

 * Using a seam reaper, open a little section of the side seam at waist height to insert the belt (Bias tape stitched together)

And there is Princess Fiona modeling the result

And the pink version of the same design

Tutorial - Doll Kimono - Part 1

The second part (kimono top) is available here

This is how to make a cute kimono outfit for a 13" Tall Les Cheries doll. You could use the same method for a taller doll with of course more fabric.

You will need:

Doll outfit for size

- 1 fat quarter

- Coordinating thread

- Pinking scissors
- Measuring tape

- Fabric marking crayon
- Elastic band

- Bias tape

- Sewing machine

* Cut off the selvage

* Fold your fat quarter in 2 lengthwise and lay the doll's pants on top

Those pants are about 2 inches wide but tight fitting on the doll so I chose to add 1 inch to the finished width to achieve the kimono pant effect.

* Cut 2 strips 3 inches wide each and fold them in half right sides together

* Lay the pants on top of the fabric strip again and trace the outline with fabric marking crayon
* Cut the fabric with pinking scissors leaving 3/8 allowance around the outline

* Sew the inside seams of each pant leg wrong side together
* Hem the bottoms
* Sew the outside seams of each pant leg wrong side together
* Turn the legs over and sew the 2 legs together

Almost there
* Hem the waist leaving a channel wide enough to put elastic through it - Leave about 1/2 inch (1cm) unstitched, preferably in the back
* Measure the waist of the doll and cut a piece of elastic band about 1/2 inch shorter than your measurement.
* Thread the elastic in the waist channel (I use a safety pin to guide the elastic through)
* Stitch the ends of the elastic together and finish the waist seam

You are done !

Update:

First tutorial - First feature !! Awesome feeling