My Little Owl : :

This was the scene last Friday after school when my little girl came home to find that her owl costume was finally finished!



Since I have been so busy packing and not feeling well, when it was announced that our local Trick or Treating would be postponed several days because of Hurricane Sandy, I decided to take advantage of those extra days. I was thrilled and relieved when the costume started coming together just as I had planned! And even more, that she LOVES it!!



My daughter picked out all the colors that make up her costume. We used a little of my new Floressence Trellis Tulip in a very bright pink for the bodice and lots of Pure Elements, felt, and fabric scraps for all those colorful feathers. My owl wings are similar to these that I've seen on Prudent Baby and a few other blogs, but I didn't follow a specific tutorial. I used one of my daughter's dresses to measure the length from thumb to thumb, used brown felt for the wing structure, and planned for them to tie on with the dress, rather than around the neck. The owl headband is made the same way I make my Birthday Crowns, which she wanted instead of a mask so she could get her face painted.



Here's a blurry, but good look at the back, with her brothers -- an Army Ranger and a very happy Gothic character!

I wasn't sure I could compete with last year's Little Red costume, which was so fun for me to make! But having her input and for this one turn out just as she wanted, was even better! I am a little bummed that I didn't get as great of pictures as last year, but the weather went from being dark and rainy, to really cold. I'm certain I'll see lots more of this costume throughout the year, so that's alright.



It's packed away now with her other dress-up play things, or I would have taken a few more photos to share this morning. Right now we are waiting to hear when we can officially close and begin to move into our first home. We had thought that would be this week and weekend, but that's not going to happen. Hopefully it will be soon before the snow comes!! Wish us luck and have a great Monday!
♥ Maureen

p.s. I'll add a few extra photos to my flickr, for those of you who might be interested in making something similar yourself!

A Dress for Penny : :

When one of my most favorite people asked me to make a little dress and crown set for one of her most favorite people, of course I said yes! A sweet little girl named Penny just become a big sister, and I was summoned to make something special just for her. I was extra excited when the request was for me to make another one of my friend Lindsay's adorable Charlotte Apron Dresses. It was such a pleasure the first time around!



So yesterday, ignoring all my qayg wips and birthday crown orders, I spend my sewing time making this gift set for Penny.

It finally gave me a reason to try out Art Gallery Fabric for garment sewing. Everyone is always saying what a nice drape and hand it has for sewing clothes -- it's true! The PIMA cotton is so lovely and soft, and that Emerald color, so vibrant. I need more! My friend also loved the Domestic Bliss fabrics I used on my last dress, so I used some more of those for this apron, too.



I used two prints from my gorgeous stack of Chicopee fabrics, as well! This wonderful Fuchsia for the bodice.

The combo of the fuchsia pinks and the aqua teals is so, so pretty!



And, this sweet aqua floral for the straps. I love a good, small floral print like this and those tiny, little hearts!



Of course, I had to make a Penny crown to match!



I really hope she loves it!



Happy Wednesday, all! ♥,  Maureen

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A Handmade Dress {and GIVEAWAY} : :

The Cottage Mama Charlotte Apron Dress pattern 

Review and Giveaway!

My friend Lindsay, The Cottage Mama just released a super cute new batch of children's sewing patterns! When she asked me to be a part of her sewing tour, I had a little reservation all because I have never made a dress before, but decided to just go for it and say yes! Oh, I'm so, SO glad I did! I decided on the Charlotte Apron Dress, it is just too cute not to make, and so Lindsay sent the patten my way!

Lindsay's pattern was so well written! As someone who doesn't typically like to follow patterns AND as someone who is so new to sewing garments, the pattern guided me though each step with ease and comfort. I didn't have one snag along the way. I would highly recommend this pattern to someone who is just beginning, all the way up to you clothing experts who could whip one of these up in an hour or so!

I made this little dress for my niece Sylvia, who will be one this week. She is a little pettite, but I chose to make a size 12 months, since she already has a birthday dress for this year. I think she'll get a lot of use out of this. And of course, will look adorable!! I can't wait to see a photo of her wearing it!

One of my favorite parts of this dress is this sweet ruffle detail around the apron!



The fabrics that make up this dress are -- a Joel Dewberry Heirloom print for the main fabric, Domestic Bliss by Liz Scott (Moda) for the apron and straps, and for the Ruffle detail, an Apple of My Eye print by Riley Blake Designs. The buttons are from Riley Blake, as well!

Be sure to check out the rest of the amazing outfits that are sure to be shown off during The Cottage Mama's Pattern blog tour! Here's the line -up --

Week 1: 
Stef from Girl. Inspired (Charlotte Pattern)
Jessica from Me Sew Crazy (Ruby Pattern)
Christina from 2LittleHooligans (Run Around Pattern)
Jess from Craftiness is not Optional (Ruby Pattern)

Week 2:
Maureen from Maureen Cracknell Handmade (Charlotte Pattern)
Liz and Elizabeth from Simple Simon (Run Around Pattern)
Andrea from The Train to Crazy (Ruby Pattern)
Destri from The Mother Huddle (Ruby Pattern)
Beverly from Flamingo Toes (Charlotte Pattern)

Week 3:
Shannon from Luvinthemommyhood (Ruby Pattern)
Mama Reita / Amy from Positively Splendid (Charlotte Pattern)
Susan from Living with Punks (Ruby Pattern)



Now how would you like a chance at winning yourself a copy of this adorable Charlotte Apron Dress Pattern, The Ruby Ruffle Dress, or the Run Around Romper?!

Enter to Win!

Here's how,
 
1. Simply leave a comment here in this post letting me know which of these three new Cottage Mama Patterns you would most like to stitch up? (one entry)

Enter now through Wednesday night, June 20th. Mr. Random will pick the winner and I will announce their name in a new post here on the blog.
 
* Note * If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you should you win!
                                         

Good Luck everyone!!! Happy Monday!

Rainy Day Sewing : :

Yesterday was the best sewing day I have had in awhile! It rained all afternoon and the kids didn't mind one bit. We all worked on our own inside projects, which of course for me meant sewing!

I finished up my niece Sylvia's birthday crown and decided rather than making her a pillow, I would try to make her a little dress. YES!



Did you see, I joined in The Cottage Mama Pattern ~Blog Tour~ that my friend Lindsay, The Cottage Mama, is hosting all month to launch her three new amazing sewing patterns, The Ruby Ruffle Dress, Charlotte Apron Dress and the Run Around Romper. Now you're probably thinking, "What, Maureen you don't sew clothes??" And, you'd be right! I have only ever made one skirt for my daughter. But once I saw the Charlotte Apron Dress, I just had to make it! This was both my opportunity and the push I needed.

I had planned on making a dress for Haila, but like I mentioned the other week -- all the half yd fabric stashing I have done throughout these last two years hasn't been good when it comes to backing quilts and now for garment sewing. So, I decided the perfect answer was to try my dress-making skills out on a special outfit for my little, soon-to-be one years old niece Sylvia.

I'll be sharing more on Monday with a Pattern Giveaway!! But here's a little peek. I wanted to make something fun and colorful. Little Sylvia does live in Hawaii after all, lucky kid!!



I learned so much making this dress! First, that I can actually do this -- that's a big one! Lindsay's instructions were so well written that there wasn't a single point during the making when I thought or yelled out, "Wait...what???" And, I got to try out the Gathering Stitch on my Janome, which is amazing!



and another, beautiful leafy stitch detail as a top-stitch on each strap.



I think this pattern was such a success, that I may have finally caught the "clothes sewing bug" and I'm pretty sure my daughter's on board!

I also received some happy fabric mail recently -- have you see LillyBelle by Bari J. for Art Gallery Fabrics? It's the first stack of fat quarters that I get to turn into a tutorial for The Fat Quarter Gang. I'm so excited! This is the Cool Sunrise palette -- it's so pretty!



Just look at how perfectly my favorite Garden Rocket print goes with my Blogger Bundle, Sweet Summer Dreams, that I put together for Pink Castle Fabrics. I love it! This WILL become a quilt, just as soon as I can get some yardage of this Garden Rocket in turquoise.



Today the sun in shining bright! Happy Wednesday, Friends!   ♥ Maureen