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

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Back to it : :

Last night I finally changed that broken needle and got back to it! My finger is still sore, my pride -- possibly a little sorer! But when there's so much sewing to be done, it's best to just dive right back in, with projects that are both simple and familiar.

Remember that Summerlove Spring Bird Pillow? I made another and it was just a quick and rewarding as that first one. I do love simple sewing projects!







Next, I started another Charlotte Apron Dress for my little girl. My only rule was wanting to use some of my new Robert Kaufman Essex Linen as the main dress fabric, and then I let her choose the rest. She did amazing!! I thought she would go in a completely different direction, so she really showed me! First choosing two of my Yuwa fabrics that she has loved since the day they arrived here, then two coordinating Pure Element Solids, and finally the soft pink flannel. She did so, so good!!



Since this was my second go at this dress pattern, I wanted to have a little fun by adding in a few extra little somethings along the way. First, I added a sweet little stitch to the apron ruffle detail with some of my Auriful Lana Wool thread in this pretty coral color.



and then I tried another new stitch on my Janome -- This great little loop-dee-loop stitch, I love it!



Last night I finished up the skirt, but before I move on to the bodice today I have birthday crowns to make!!

How about you, what are working on this week?? I'd love to hear about it! ♥ Maureen 

p.s. My Charlotte Apron Pattern Dress Giveaway continues HERE!!

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