Hoffman Challenge Dress Finished

I sent off my finished dress for the Hoffman Challenge today. I have to say; I'm not a very patient person. I won't know anything til the end of August on how I did or if I won, which is kind of frustrating. It's definitely worse than waiting to see what ribbons I get when going to the fair. I just heaved a giant sigh. Let the waiting begin.

Sorry this pic is on the blurry side. Must have got too close. Anyway, I asked Laura over at Ellie Inspired if I could use her pattern "Alice Blue" for the contest; she was so gracious and said yes of course. If this dress wins, that will be a big coup for her patterns!

I had a hard time picking out the buttons, I'm such a perfectionist sometimes. But especially for this dress! Since they are iridescent, they pick up all the colors of the dress. I did change from ties to a belt for this dress. That didn't come in the "Alice Blue" pattern, but I think it looks nice with the belt and little princesses don't have a ouch in the middle of their back wearing a belt. After all, when you make princess dress, you want the princess to be comfortable wearing it. I made a size 5. Don't have anyone in particular to give it to, but I may want to hang on to this dress for awhile and enjoy it.

I have another dress to share with you tomorrow. I just need to finish the hem and sew a sash for it. It's it fuchsia and yellow. I saw it on Pinterest and was so taken with it, I just had to stitch it up. Of course I think mine is better, cuz mine has bling on it! The original was hanging in a shop window. Now to get busy with the rest of the fair sewing. Turn in day is August 21, not very much time.

Happy smocking everyone!

Sneak Peak

Smocking is finished on my Hoffman Challenge dress. I used Sulky thread to do the smocking. I'm so glad I had Thread Heaven, it made smocking with rayon thread much easier.

Here's the embroidered portrait collar for the dress. Now to trace off pattern pieces and get the dress cut out. I need to get it sewn together and send off. After that, it's on to get things done for the fair.

I've helping a lady, Susan, with her granddaughter's christening gown. She lives in California and we've been corresponding through email, Facebook and by phone. I think she will do fine even being a novic smocker.

Happy smocking everyone!

And She Loves Them

Miss Princess loves her new dresses! We were all very happy! She tried them on at the store so I could take a couple pics to share with everyone. This one I think was her favorite. Gramma said Miss Princess danced and twirled around and said she felt like a princess. I could just hug her!

Miss Princess was a great sport in putting up with me and all the ladies I worked with today having her model the dresses. I can tell she is a very quiet girl. Makes me feel all the better that she felt like a princess putting on a dress I stitched! I told both Miss Princess and Gramma I would definitely be making more dresses for her.

Happy smocking everyone!

Sweet Cinnamon

Sounds like a dessert right? Well, this is a delicious dress if I do say so myself and I do!

The pics just do on do this this dress justice, it's definitely one you have to see in person to get the full impact. I've had a wonderful time sewing on my vacation. Maybe I can get in a little more before the end of the day.

I used AS&E issue 65 "Sweet Cinnamon" smock plate. I've stitched than one before and I love it! For the dress pattern, I again used Gail Doane's book "Sew Cute Couture". The dress doesn't show up so well on a white background. But I'm hoping the recipient will be happy with it.

Decided at the last minute to add lace to the neckline.

So after adding lace, I decided that a belt in the back was not a good choice, so over to Hancocks I went to purchase some organza for ties.

This was some organza lace from my stash. I'm happy I had a lace stash to go to!  You can see my toes in the pic :). This dress and the previous one are going to a new friend's granddaughter. They are coming tomorrow to pick them up from work. I meet the best people working at a fabric store.

Happy smocking everyone!

"Dream Fairies" Dress

Smock plate from AS&E issue 34 "The Dream Fairies"

Dress pattern from Gail Doane's book "Sew Cute Couture" 

I finished smocking the dress front about 4-5 months ago. It seems like the only time I get to sew is on my days off. I'm having such a nice time on vacation getting time to sew. I've been staying up late at night and sewing until 3 am. The fabric is from Hancock Fabrics. Not sure if it's available anymore. It's not at my store any longer. The print I used for the piping was some I had in my stash from another dress I made awhile ago.

Here's a back view. It's a larger dress than what I usually sew, a size 8. Now to let the new friend I'm making if for know that her granddaughter has a new princess dress.

This morning a friend of mine was having a garage sale and had put out LOADS of fabric she no longer wants. Well you're probably the same as me. Tell me about a garage sale with fabric and I'm there. I recognized many pieces from a few years ago that I think I probably cut for her. Some we now longer carry, but I just had to have.

I have another dress waiting to be sewn up. All the pattern pieces are now cut out. Hoping I will have another one to share with you all tomorrow!

Here's to many more dresses!

Happy smocking everyone.

More Summer Dresses

Can't believe it's been so long since I'm posted. I've been a very busy girl the last couple weeks. I'll tell you about that in a little bit. First of all, I'm pretty proud of myself. The fabric for this dress was from the flatfolds at Hancock Fabrics ($2 per yard)!

The pattern I used was a NewLook. No they don't have anything smocked, but I converted both front and back. Any front button jumper/sundress will work great. I used the entire 45" width. I measured down about 3" from the center front, added in seam allowances and cut straight across. Did the same for the back of the dress. So you can turn an a-line jumper into a gathered dress. The smocking does blend in more than I really wanted, but whatever little I give this to won't care in the slightest.

The smock plate is from issue 87 AS&E "Summer Blossoms". I exchanged the bullion daisies for red 1/4" buttons and added some bullion leaves. I wanted to give this dress a more "back to school" flavor. I will need to change out the original butterfly collar for a peter pan collar and of course I need to change the sleeves to puff sleeves. And let's not forget this dress needs a belt instead of ties. I purchased some lemon gingham check for piping, but not sure if I will stay with that decision. The more I think about it, I may change and use a tan gingham. I'm thinking I should put this dress in the "Back to School" dress group at the fair. I'm very happy with how it's turning out so far.

Now for some fun news. I've finished the smocking on my dress for the Hoffman Challenge. Yeah! No, I'm not going to post a pic of the smocking yet, but it's pretty and there is bling. I need to get that dress finished in the next few weeks and sent out. Since the smocking is done, I shouldn't have any problems finishing it. I do need to get going on the embroidered collar though.

Next bit of fun news is I'm going to test another pattern for Laura at Ellie Inspired. I had the best time helping her out for the Alice Blue pattern. I just don't know what Laura's going to come up with. And I can't wait to get the info and start working on it.

After work tomorrow, I will be on vacation through next Monday! Need to spend some time with the sewing machine. Lord knows I have plenty of things to choose from to sew up. More than I'm wanting to admit to.

Happy smocking everyone!

From My Friend Miranda

My Friend, Miranda's daughter, Miss E is too cute in this dress. Mom says she gets compliments all over town. I'm happy mom has her wearing the dresses I make for her. Let me say that not everyone lets their daughters wear stuff I've made for them. No more for them, I'll give to those who appreciate my stuff. Anyway, this blond cutie is easy to sew for. As long as it's pretty, she wants to wear it. So of course, I have to make more princess clothes for her.

Next on my list of smocking/sewing is the dress for the Hoffman Challenge and of course, sewing for the fair. Not getting very far on the fair stuff, but I did finally purchase the Hoffman Challenge fabric and it's beautiful! I got it pleated up last night (finished a different dress front yesterday during my lunch break) and started smocking. I'm using Sulky thread for the smocking. I'm actually surprised that it's not that bad for smocking. I'm using three strands and it looks like two. I've got to go pick up some crystals to add to the smocking. After all, every girl's got to have bling in her life. Makes your personality that much sparklier.

The smock plate and pattern is from AS&E. Can't remember the issue right now. I showed the completed dress here on Jan's Smocking a couple months ago. Well, I'm off to smock and then to the bead shop and then to work.

Happy smocking everyone!