Baby Girl Gingham Smocked Dress

Last week, I spent the weekend with my siblings at a family reunion on the Oregon Coast. It was so much fun!  I also got to spend a day with this beauty: my 7 month old granddaughter who is one of the happiest babies I know!

For this dress, I started with more of that yellow & white gingham fabric which I inherited from my mother. It just never seems to run out.  I smocked this dress using white embroidery floss and accenting with purple floss that I stitched into flowers with soft green floss for leaves.  Smocking is tough!  Anyone have any smocking advice?  I've read that if you smock using gingham, it's easier.  My older sister suggested making the dress first and then smocking it afterward.  Here's my thoughts on the matter- maybe it's easier for some people but for me, NO, it was not.  So, this is it, I'm not smocking another thing ever or at least not again until I loose my memory and forget that I made this vow. Despite my smocking woes, this dress still turned out pretty cute... especially on this sweet little girl! 

In one week's time this little trooper flew internationally, crossed the country, made several 3 1/2 hour drives and through it all, she kept smiling.  By this time, I'm guessing this cutie was thinking "Yea, they let me out of my car seat!"

Yes, that's me getting a little loving before this granddaughter had to get back into her car seat and drive over three hours again back to her home. So grateful for family! - xoxo Grandma

Pattern: Simplicity #7239 - cira 1975

Fabric:   yellow & white cotton gingham, white cotton for the collar and the interfacing.

Linked:  The Dedicated House, Nap Time Creations

GUEST POST At Mother's Niche Making a Lace Sundress Refashioned From a Skirt

Hi, today I'm over at Mother's Niche with details on how to make this white lace sundress. For my fabric, I refashioned an adult skirt.  Please join me HERE.  Below are a few extra photos of that sundress - I know you want to make one so hop on over and let me know what you think.

 

xoxo Grandma

Refashioned Pillowcases

I refashioned two identical pillowcases, one as a dress and the other as a skirt.  The skirt was super simple.  Now, where are my granddaughters now that the skirt and sundress are finished?  I think I need to book a trip to see one of them... if only I had more vacation time - sigh!

Have you tried either of these sewing projects?  When I first saw this skirt on Pinterest, I knew I had to try this because I recognized that pillowcase, I had two folded in my linen closet. When I went to the website, I wasn't impressed! There wasn't a tutorial on how to make this, so I had to figure it out on my own. Last week, I found a video tutorial on how to make this kind of skirt.  Simple Simon and Company called this a paperbag skirt.  

I'm excited because this Thursday evening, I'm planning on going to the sew-along to help make skirts for girl's who are in foster care. If you're interested in joining me, you can find all the details HERE - doesn't this sounds like fun?  -  xoxo Grandma

More Doll Sandals - From a Wallet & an Eyeglass Case

For Christmas, I gave my husband a new leather wallet.  The other day, his old wallet was in our donation pile.  A little while later, I was cleaning a drawer and found an eyeglass case.  That too was going into my donation piles until inspiration hit me, why not make more doll sandals from these two items?  Do you want to make more doll sandals too? Follow along as I walk you through the steps as pictured above.

LEOPARD SANDALS:

1. Gather together the following supplies:  Leather wallet, eyeglass case, 1/4" wide ribbon, glue sticks, elastic thread, scissors, heavy cardboard, tacky glue and two rhinestone brads.
2. Trace your dolls feet and cut out a pattern from cardboard, allowing about 1/8" extra to the dolls feet pattern.   You'll need two cardboard pieces per shoe. Use that cardboard to cut out the eyeglass case - remember you'll need a right foot and a left foot so don't forget to flip that pattern over when you cut out your second piece from the eyeglass case.
3. Use an emery board to sand the sharp edges of edges of the cardboard.  Caution:  you'll want to do this step over a garbage can or outside because it's a little messy!
4. Measure the arch of the dolls foot to see how much ribbon you'll need per shoe.  Cut the ribbon to size making sure to add at least 1" extra to tuck under the cardboard patterns. You'll also need about 1 1/2" of ribbon for the back of each sandal.  Wrap the size of your doll's ankles with the elastic thread.  Tie a knot to make a circle with the elastic thread.  With this smaller piece of ribbon, wrap one piece of the elastic thread inside the ribbon.  Glue the ribbons in place on both sandals.  Now using the tacky glue, glue on the second cardboard which has been covered with the back side of the eyeglass case.  (Pretend that you're sandwiching the ribbon between the cardboard.)  Until the glue dries, I use binder clips to apply pressure.
5. Use either hot glue or tacky to attach trim onto the edges of the sandals.  I used some 1/4" rhinestone trim.  Lastly, I added two rhinestones to each outer side of the sandals, directly onto the ribbon.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

LEATHER SANDALS:

      6.  Open the leather wallet.  Using a cardboard pattern (see step 2 and step 3 above, cut 2  pieces of leather per sandal.  Again, do not forget to flip your pattern so you have a right and a left sandal.  If you have a cutting board and rotary cutter these are perfect tools to use to cut all the following pieces: 

•      Two 1/2" wide straps back straps
•      Two 1" wide toe straps
•      Two 1/2" wide strips to cover the edge of the sandals

      7.  Attach the rhinestone brad into the outside toe straps about 1" from the edge of the strap. I used a tack to punch a hole through the strap and then separated the brad on the inside of the sandal.  Glue the other strap in place by trying it on your doll's foot. Glue the toe straps to both sides of the cardboard. Sandwich together another cardboard and apply pressure until the glue dries.

      8.  Using hot glue, attach the leather stripes to the edges of the sandals.

A girl can never have too many sandals - right?  Now, which pair should she wear with her new summer outfit? - xoxo Grandma

Shared at:  The Dedicated House, Nap-Time Creations, Crafty Allie, 2 Crochet Hooks, Creating My Way to Success

Favorite Blogs - Blog Award

A couple of weeks ago, I received an e-mail from 2 Crochet Hooks announcing that their blog was awarding my blog the 2014 Blog Award. I didn't know what this award was so after reading their blog, I learned that this award was suggested by Melissa Baker at Forgetting Mess Pausing Time, member manager at the Better Blogging Network.  I felt very honored to know that someone out there in the internet world likes my ramblings about my creations.

So, I thought I'd join in the fun with 2 Crochet Hooks - because who doesn't love those that make you special - right? So, I'm going to nominate 6 blogs that I enjoy.

1.  Sews n Bows, Amy is realistically-funny!  I love smiling as I read about her creations, blunders and business budget plus I just love her constant support and encouraging words as I've learned my way around the blogging world!

2.  Kid Approved - Olga is one sewing wonder.  She comes up with darling projects & she has a great sense of humor like in this post - you won't believe what happened to her!

3.  Skirt Fixation - Audrey sponsors a contest called Challenge Create Adult Edition which I like to keep my eye on as I'm venturing out and sewing a few things for myself.

4.  Creating My Way to Success - Jill has a wonderful collection of 500+ clothes upcycling projects and since I love refashioning, this is a perfect place of inspiration for me. 

5.  Nap-time Creations -  Emily is the kind of person you wish was your next door neighbor only she's living far far away, just like my children. She features fun recipes, great sewing projects and this time of year; has a summer fun series - that's inspiring.

6.  While She Was Sleeping - I enjoy reading about Jenya's creations, HERE is of my favorite posts of hers. Once you read that post, you'll know why I enjoy this blog. 

I hope that I've introduced you to a new blog today!  - Go get inspired and then get off the internet and create something wonderful!   xoxo Grandma

Linked to: 2 Crochet Hooks

Happy Summer Treat Bag - a Free Printable

What's more summery than watermelon?  Print out the header for this full color Happy Summer! treat bag HERE.  Fill a baggie with treats and staple the header onto the top of the baggie. Have a great 4th of July weekend! - xoxo Grandma

Linked at:  Nap-time Creations

The Joy of Pop-up Books

When my grandchildren visit, we read a lot of books. Their favorite, of course, are my pop-up books - no surprise there! The older grandchildren loved reading about Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland.  All of these books are illustrated and engineered by Robert Sabuda.  

One fun thing that my grandchildren really liked about "Alice in Wonderland" is looking through the hole that Alice fell into while following the white rabbit.  

They love "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" because of it's hot air balloon and the emerald glasses which are included in this book. 

"Peter Pan" has pirates, pixie dust and London. What child doesn't like those elements in a story?  When I read about the magic pixie dust, you should have heard the questions I got to answer... yup, pixie dust would sure be fun for a far-away grandmother to use.

All these books are a little long to read as bedtime stories (unless you're in no rush to put your kids to bed), but we had fun breaking it up and reading half of each book a few nights in a row.  

I hope you enjoy reading to your little ones - in three days I'll get to read to my grandchildren again!  Do you have a favorite book you like to read to your children or grandchildren? - xoxo Grandma

Linky parties:  Paisley Roots, Nap-Time Creations