My Friend Susan

This is not one of my creations, but would be something I would totally do. It belongs to a good friend, Susan. A few months ago she found me on Facebook and asked if I would help her with her grandbaby's blessing dress. Well, I of course, had to say yes. Through many emails, a surprise phone call and some trial and error; she finished her first smocking project. I have to say she did fantastic! She has given me permission to post photos for all to see. I'm so very proud of her and the wonderful dress she made. 

 

 

Susan used "Gloria" AS&E issue 50 

 

 

 Aren't the bullions beautiful?!

 

 

Here's the happy family with darling princess baby modeling her gown. Susan says she now hooked on smocking and is starting to work on items for future grandbabies. She has a side business on Etsy making cute clothes for American Girl dolls. She is planning on adding smocked doll dresses to her offerings to customers. Here's links to her Etsy page and her blog. I'm so happy to call her friend!

 

ETSY www.ItsSewSusan.Etsy.com
BLOG www.ItsSewSusan.Wordpress.com

Happy Smocking!

 

National Sewing Month

 

"The Little Seamstress" AS&E issue 69. Perfect dress to be stitching up during National Sewing Month, don't ya think?

 

 

The fabric I got in trade from a friend of mine. The only thing I had to purchase was buttons. And those I got on sale! Way to go me! I also decided to make extra white piping. I seem to be using lots of the stuff lately. So I ended up stitching up almost six yards of white piping.  

 

 

 You probably noticed an extra close spaced button. The reason I stitched it on is because the mom of the princess who is getting this dress is no so much of a sewist, more of a crafter. I didn't want her to be searching for an extra button if she needed one. I'm thinking that I should move it to just above the hem band. I don't want to move it anywhere princess will feel it and be uncomfortable. We'll see what the princess' mom says tomorrow when I give it to her.

So is everyone busy sewing during National Sewing Month? I'm getting lots of smocked dress fronts done. I'm going to be doing more pattern testing for Laura at Ellie Inspired. Pink will be involved, but that's all I'm going to tell you right now.

Happy smocking!

 

 

A Dress For Ahnalin

 

I think Miss Ahnalin looks divine in the dress I made for her! Makes me kind of wish my daughter was still of the age to make smocked stuff for. Alas, they grow up too quickly. I will just have to settle for making things for friends little princesses.

Speaking of friends daughters, my favorite checker at the grocery store told her daughter asked if she could wear her dress everyday. Mom said no, we do have to wash it. I told her I would make her more dresses. What better endorsement could I ask for.

 

I went to a baby shower Sunday and yes I did take smocked baby items. I didn't get the shoes quite finished, but did give a couple of dresses, a bonnet, some hair bows and a bunch of socks decorated with smocking. Can I brag and say mine was the prettiest gift? The only other person who sewed anything was great gramma-to-be. Almost makes me feel like sewing is a dieing art. I love when I hear of a customer who is going to teach her daughter or granddaughter to sew. But especially love it when we have a young sewist at Hancock's where I work, sign up to get her own mailer to use the coupons. Those girls don't come along very often.

Adorable Heirlooms on Facebook is having a Stash Challenge. If you haven't liked her page yet, go do it and get involved. Whoever makes the most items from their stash will win a gift card to use on the website. I'd say I better get sewing!

Happy smocking everyone!

 

What Do I Name This Post?

Anyone else get tired of picking names for their blog posts? I know I do. I'm not a writer, I'm a smocker and a sewist. Anyway, on to smocking.

 

 

Here's some pics of one of my fair entries. I made this dress for my friend, Sivje, to give to Princess Ahnalin.

 

 

Here's a close-up of the smocking and you can see the crystals I added in. I used a smock plate from issue 26 "Titania". I had wanted there to be puffing in between the rows of smocking, but didn't add extra rows between. It still turned out beautiful.

 

 

Sorry the sash is wonky. I had just got home from collecting my items from the fair, but I wanted to post some pics for you. Fabric is from Hancocks. And I did use any AS&E pattern.

 

This is a little jacket to go with a dress. I tea-stained the white fabric using P&G Tips tea. I think I should have photographed it with a white hanger.

 

 

 I am going to brag on myself a little bit. Here's a pic with all my ribbons and plaques. This is the first year the fair has had a wooden plaque made to give to recipient. Past years it's just been a piece of printed cardstock. The plaque is the "Clothing and Textile Award". The purple ribbon goes with it.

I'm pretty happy with myself. As you can see off to the left side of this pic, I'm already to smocking another dress. I'm going to stitch the cover dress from issue 99. It's such a sweet dress!

Happy smocking!

 



Cinderella

First of all, I have to say thank you to everyone who left such sweet, lovely comments on my last post. I appreciate every one of them. You are a kind bunch of gals! Here's what I finished today to share with all of you.

Yes there is another hanger in the pic just behind the Cinderella dress. The first set of pics I took looked blurry. This didn't turn out so bad, but I realize I forgot to remove the other hanger.

I can't remember what pattern out of AS&E that I used, but you can use any that fits the princess you are sewing for. Just remember to add in seam allowances above and below the insert and also on the front bodice. I can see that my collar isn't as perfect as I want it to be. But I think I'm the only one who is going to care about that.

I think next time I should use a different collar, but since this dress is going to be for dress up, it doesn't matter as much. I went to get buttons this evening and chatted with my friend who's getting the dress for her daughter. I said maybe she won't have to get a separate costume for her daughter this year for Halloween. Just add a tiara and some sparkly princess shoes and you're ready to go.

I got the fabric at Hancocks and on the insert stitched in beads and also used some blending filament.

I finished smocking an insert a couple days ago for an xmas dress to give to my hairdresser's granddaughter who I just found out has a form of epilepsy. She is a quiet, shy girl and I feel happy to make dresses for her. It's a red print with snowflakes on it. Hopefully I will have it finished this weekend and be able to share another creation with you.

Happy smocking!

Ribbons, Ribbons, Ribbons

Yep, ribbons galore at the fair!

In this pic, mine is the white smocked doll dress in the center. Ribbon was for "Best of Division" Doll Clothes. The first place ribbon is covered up. At the right of my dress is a crocheted victorian doll. I chatted with the lady who made her.  She got a special award. Isn't she beautiful?! And at the bottom of the pic is some black bobbin lace. I have to say I think those can make bobbin lace are amazing. I don't think I could keep all those bobbins straight. I would always be wondering "now where am I at again".

This dress won "Best of Division" Special Occasion Sewing. Also got a special award. For what exactly, I don't know. I'll probably find out when I pic up my stuff. There were a couple of puckers on the scalloped hem. Maybe the judges were overwhelmed with all the beads I stitched in, not sure. I'll post a better photo after I pick it up in a couple weeks. But I'm not about to argue with the judges. I'll take the ribbons and run! I used an AS&E pattern originally designed by Gail Doane. I just love her designs.

Here's my fish dress with a "Best of Division" Casual Sewing. First place ribbon for "Simple Dress" is covered up. Simple dress to the judges meant no zippers or button openings, just elastic.

Here's the ensemble I entered in the "Ensemble" Casual Sewing and received a blue ribbon. The jacket is from an eyelet I tea-stained to match the dress.

And here's my "Casual Dress" sewing with a blue ribbon for my red button dress. This dress was one of my more favorite ones I entered. Although, I do love all my creations.

Second place "Party Dress" Special Occasion Sewing. You can't see them very well, but I did add crystals into the smocking. Again, I will post better pics after pick up day.

This dress is for my friend at Goosegirl Sews. Hope Miss Ahnalin will like it.

Second place "Any Item of Merit" Casual Sewing. On this jumper I designed the smock plate myself because I couldn't find any published design I was happy with.

First place "Blouse" Casual Sewing. I love the lady bugs on this blouse. I'm happy they hung the blouse with the buttons down the back. Sometimes the volunteers aren't sure what is the back or front of a garment.

First place "Any Item of Merit" Special Occasion Sewing. I have to say, I really hate how this bonnet is displayed. But I do know that the ladies who do the displays for the fair have tons of work to do. So on that note they are forgiven. Maybe next time I need to bring it on a doll that is for display only.

This quilt was made by my best friend, Marie. She got second place on her quilt. Yay Marie!

I'd love to read what the judges said about some of my entries. I received a package in the mail a couple days ago from Hoffman Fabrics. It was my prize of 7 yds of fabric. There were 1 yard cuts in two coord. groups. I will definitely be making something from those beautiful prints. I also received a signed letter from the president of Hoffman Fabrics, which I didn't expect. I have been wearing a special pin sent out to all participants of the challenge. Proceeds from this year's challenge went to the Alzheimer's Foundation. Next year's proceeds are going to the Humane Society. Even though I'm not thrilled with next year's fabric, I may have to do something anyway. Who knows, I might win again. That would be kind of funny I think.

Happy smocking everyone and please enter in your local fair if possible. It's so much fun and everyone that attends loves seeing all the lovely entries. If you don't want to enter, at least go see all the wonderful items displayed.

Access Issues

I have to apologize to everyone for not being able to see my blog. I've had trouble accessing my google account. Since I was finishing up things for the fair the past 5 days, I didn't have time to fight with google to reinstate in blog page. I turned in 9 entries to the fair this afternoon and came home to fix my page. I was very frustrated to have it go down. Such are the joys of the computer lives we lead. Thanks goodness for facebook. I would have been out the loop on everything. Well, I'm back up and running again. Yay! I will have many items to share with you from the fair Friday. Hopefully with ribbons hanging on everyone of them!

Until then, happy smocking everyone!