Happy (belated) Halloween!

Happy Belated Halloween!

Three costume swaps and a night of trick-or-treating sure have made October pretty fun. The costume sewing swaps are always my favorite swaps of the year because there is so much variety when it comes to costumes. Just like I did last year, I participated in three costume sewing swaps this year: AG Playthings, AG Dollhouse, and AG Over 18.

AG Over 18 swapped first:

Steampunk Dorothy (also my 1st entry for the Doll Wardroobe Fasion Design Challenge)

From me to LizzieBees

Firefly's Jayne Cobb and Doctor Who's TARDIS

From BeanBunny to me

Then AG Playthings swapped:

Pumpkin

From me to Kizzie

The 11th Doctor (Matt Smith) from Doctor Who

From LissaRae to me

And then finally AG Dollhouse swapped:

An 1820's N'Awlins dress for Cecile

From me to Amy

A blue princess dress for Molly

From Kizzie to me.

You can see my album here for my pictures of all of these outfits.

Kizzie and I have swapped back and forth before, so I thought it was funny that we were swapping yet again. Check out her blog!

Check out Liz's cute Etsy shop!

BeanBunny's blog and website is full of crafts and tutorials!

And finally, check out Amy's Esty shop too!

Vote for me!

Steampunk Dorothy

Check out my entry to the Doll Wardrobe Blog's Fashion Design Challenge:
http://dwfashiondesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/10/blog-post_3150.html


I sent this outfit out as my costume swap for my AG Over 18 LiveJournal group. I included a basket and a dog too, but they didn't make it to the pictures. 

To vote, you can either e-mail them at the bottom of the outfit post, or you can comment on the outfit post itself.

Outfit #2 is going on right now, and I just submitted my design idea to them on Friday. The second outfit is coming along nicely, and I'm super excited to see my vision come together.

So, vote for me please! Voting ends November 9th!

Knock knock! Who's there?

Boo!

It's that time of year again! It's Fall which means Halloween and costume/fall sewing swaps!
This year it also brings the Doll Wardrobe Blog's Inaugural Fashion Design Challenge Contest. There are two outfits and three rounds for each outfit: Design, In Process, Complete.
The first outfit is done, and since I used it as a Costume Swap outfit, it shipped out last week. I'm looking forward to the recipient getting it and I hope they like it as much as I enjoyed making it. I'll post pictures once the contest entries are posted and/or the recipients posts pictures of it.

Last month my machine crashed. After talking to Brother Customer Service we determined it was probably the motherboard. I was sad that my machine was out of commission, but since it's prime sewing season for me, I did not have the time nor the patience to have it repaired. So, I sat it to the side and called my dear hubby while he was at work. We looked online and before the day was done, a new and improved machine was ordered. Since I was in the middle of a project and even though it would only be a couple of days before my new one arrived, my mom loaned me her sewing machine. I was able to get a piece done for my outfit while waiting for my new machine, and once my new machine arrived I was in heaven!

While playing with my new machine and trying out all of the new stitches, I also played with my new alphanumeric font. Check it out!

Oh, and speaking on costume swaps, here's the first of three swaps I received.
Firefly's Jayne and Doctor Who's TARDIS:

For reference, here's Jayne:

and info on the Blue Sun Corp. 

Next Monday I'll be shipping out the outfits for the second and third swaps. The one for the third swap is already done, but the second one is still on the sewing table. I need to hurry up and finish it this week since I have a Scrapbooking Crop for a Cure this weekend. 

Sew, until next time....

Heading home to SC

**Scheduled post**

At this moment I should be on the tarmac waiting to takeoff towards the east coast. Home to my sweetie, my boys, and my parents. My time in Denver has been short, but it has been wonderful seeing my Seester and her hubby. Mom and I arrived on Thursday and she headed home on Sunday.

We spent Thursday sightseeing with my seester. My seester had to work on Friday, so Mom and I went sightseeing in Golden with her hubby after we had breakfast at Snooze (YUM!). Friday night was dinner at TAG (YUM!). Saturday was a short hike at Lookout Mountain, followed by watching the UGA game at Mellow Mushroom (with a ton of other UGA fans).

Sunday we took Mom to the airport and my seester and I spent the day doing absolutely nothing while her hubby was at work. My seester is not one to sit still, so it was a nice break to see her take a break. Once her hubby got home my seester and I decided that we would check Pinterest for dinner ideas, and instead opted for an easy dinner, but a Pinterest dessert. We made mini apple pies in apple shells. Yum!

Yesterday was quiet. My Seester and her hubby both had to work, so I spent the day with my three nephew puppies and once everybody got home from work we went to AG Denver and dinner.

My loot: McKenna, Kit's Reporter Set, Addy's Accessories, Denver tee, all of the Treasure Totes, and some McKenna posters to share.

While I'm sad to leave my Seester, I leave knowing she is the happiest I have seen her in years, and I will see her in a few months for either the holidays or her reception.

Until next time.......

Leaving, on a jet plane....

This is a scheduled post. I'm setting it to post when my plane takes off. :)

I'm leaving the heat and humidity of Charleston for a few days and am heading out to cooler weather in Denver, Colorado.
My mom and I are going to visit my sister and her husband (they finally got married Friday, July 13th).

So cute! He's leaning over for this picture, he's actually like a full foot taller than she is.

I can't believe how much my little sister has grown up. Makes me feel old some days. 

Yes, they are silly. :) Even all of that silliness can't hind my sister's wonderful, "does anything you want it to" hair and the cute feather hair clip she made.

For our birthdays last year she came out here to visit, so now it's my turn to go visit her. This will be my second time to Denver (the first was moving her there) and my mom's first time. .We are both so excited to see my sister, and my sister is ecstatic to see us.

Today, my Etsy shop is being featured on Karen, Mom of Three's blog. Since I am out of town today through the 11th, I didn't want to put my shop in Vacation Mode (which means you could see my shop, but not my listings), I am offering Free Shipping on order placed while I'm gone, and I will ship them all on the 12th. Just use the code FREESHIP at the checkout.

Also, be sure to check out The Doll Wardrobe blog. I'm participating in their Fashion Design Challenge Contest. The first round of pictures are due tomorrow, but I went ahead and submitted mine yesterday. I'm excited to see all of the designs that other seamstresses are going to be working on. There are two outfits, and three rounds per outfit, so it's going on until November. I've already got my fingers crossed to win, but even if I don't I'm looking forward to the fun of competing.

I am taking my laptop to Denver, so I will try to update with pictures every day. If not, I'll probably end up bombarding you guys with them once I get back.

I went to the AG Boutique when I was in Denver in 2010, and I'm hoping for a trip to it while I'm out there this time. If so, I will try to get pictures of everything, including the new historical character, Caroline!

-Until next time........

Promenade on Etsy

I remembered to post this everywhere but here. Check out the finished Promenade dress!
*Please excuse the pictures, it was raining, so I had to take the pictures inside.

*No flash, but brightened on the computer.

*Flash

*Flash, side view. A very full skirt, and it even has enough room for a crinoline.

*Flash. The back of the dress buttons closed.

*No flash. Check out those super cute and super functional buttons!

*No flash. Check out the cute Basque waistline and the cute lace.

Love the outfit? Want to make it yours (or gift it to somebody)? Check it out on my Etsy shop!

Sneak peek #2

The kids went back to school, so that means that the Promenade dress is almost done.....

Caroline - 1812

American Girl announced the name and year of their newest Historical character, Caroline Abbot, a couple of months ago. Well, the big box bookstores already put out there contest information about her this week, so American Girl went ahead and posted her picture and some more information on her on their Facebook page.

Introducing Caroline Abbot, of Sackets Harbor, New York, on the shores of Lake Ontario as the War of 1812 begins

While she is beautiful, I was really hoping for a redhead Irish lass with curly hair. Well, I got the curly hair correct.

As I look her dress (and slightly cringe at the pink), I see a slight lack of imagination, but at the same time I appreciate them a real everyday dress. Mentally, I'm already frankenpatterning (yep, a seamstress technical term for mixing pattern pieces from different outfits/designers/brands) outfits to sew for her.

When will she be joining my collection? It won't be any time soon since there are other dolls I plan of adding to my collection before they retire.

I'm still working on my current project for the 1850's N'awlins girls, Marie-Grace and Cecile. I'm using some fabric I got from my grandma a couple of months ago (she made some super cute little girl aprons with it), and the Doll Duds Promenade pattern. My hands are acting up again, so this dress is moving along slower than I had hoping. So much pinning and gathering.... But in the end, it will be so worth it! :)

Here's a preview:

As the summer winds to a close, I'm trying to get some projects done before I'm swamped with homework. I hated doing homework in school, and now that I have three boys in school, I hate doing homework three times as much now as I did then! LOL! :)

So, off to the sewing desk for as long as I can today. :)

Josefina love!

I cannot believe how long it took me to get back into my sewing groove. It sure felt longer than it was, but it was still too long.
Today I listed three, count them three, new outfits in my Etsy shop. All for Josefina from 1824 New Mexico. Sewing for Josefina this time around was inspired by the Historical Sew Along on AG Playthings. The two camisas I started back in May, and then with the end of the school year, the craziness of the summer, and house hunting has pushed my sewing to the back burner and thrown off my sewing mojo. My scrapbooking/papercrafting mojo was fine, but I think that is because I don't scrapbook as much at home as I do when I'm at crops on Friday nights.

Anyways, on to the outfits!

Listing here: 1824 regency inspired dress

Listing here: 1824 camisa and skirt set

Listing here: 1824 camisa and skirt set

The next project is already on the cutting table. Keep an eye out for lots of ruffles!

New stuff from a bad blogger

It' been a month since I've made a post. Wow! Well, the end of the school year was a lot more chaotic than I expected it to be, but now that the summer is here, I should have more time to spend at my sewing desk, which means I will have to make more time to sit at my computer to list on Etsy and post my creations here.

Right after my last blog post, I finished a second Colonial dress for Felicity and Elizabeth. I really like how the pink accents the background of the green.

I'm really loving my new camera (even though I've yet to read the instruction manual still), and have been having fun trying new techniques and such.

Excellent close up with a blurred background for the win!

One of my favorite pictures of my PM Felicity. It's nice to see a picture of her where her eyes aren't so neon.

This is one of the pocket slits, a first for me. However, the picture came out blurry, and I didn't realize it until I was uploading the pictures later that night. 

I'm not sure why I didn't post this before, but this is a dress I made for a Sew Along back in March. it's made using the Heritage Wrap Dress pattern. Modeled by my new Rebecca.

The fabric I used for the wrap dress is also in the works as a skirt for Josefina. Josefina is the historical doll in the current Sew Along on AGPT. I'm working on two versions of her Harvest Outfit. One camisa is done and the other camisa only has the embroidery done on the bodice. The skirts will whip together quickly, so keep an eye for them in my Etsy shop.

Country girl

Country girl by jenifer-arnette-hill-underwood featuring western boots

Silk tunic
$40 - mapleclothing.com

Current/Elliott skinny fit jeans
$200 - net-a-porter.com

Ariat western boots
$10 - sheplers.com

Jimmy Choo hobo shoulder bag
$1,596 - bluefly.com

Straw cowgirl hat
$35 - sheplers.com

A dress for Felicity

I've been participating in the historical Sew Along's on AG Playthings. We are working through the historical dolls in chronological order. I shared my highly modified Vogue pattern for Kaya back in January/February. For March/April, the theme is Felicity and Elizabeth. I finished this dress last Wednesday and it is currently for sale on Etsy.

Yesterday I started another Colonial dress and it's already close to being finished. I was able to spend the entire day in my craft room yesterday. I got a few things organized in my sewing section and a few things labeled in my scrapbooking section. My craft room is almost photo ready.

Between projects I've been working on cleaning and repairing a few dolls. This has been my first venture into working on porcelain dolls.

My hands have been doing better for the most part. My nerve study went well last week according to the neurologist, and my hand doctor and I will go over the results on Tuesday. So far it looks like I won't need surgery! I've been doing physical therapy twice a week for a few weeks and I'm really seeing an improvement. I also received Cortizone shots a few weeks ago and after the initial few days of pain, I'm feeling better too.

So today I'm planning to spend the day in my craft room again. I love lazy weekends!

-Until next time...

1940's dress

So, the last picture I posted was of an in-progress Civil war era dress for Addy. Well, the dress is finished, but there was a change of plan along the way. In the effort to conserve the piece of fabric that I had and make the most of it, I used a different pattern for the skirt and forgot that it was shorter than the original, and I added the growth tucks in before I check the length of it against the doll. Since I didn't have enough fabric left to cut another skirt, I sat it aside the dress aside for a few days while I thought of a solution. Looking at some 1940's fashions I found one that looked a lot like the dress I was working on, and BAM! my inspiration was back.

The dress was done for a few days before I got the chance to get the pictures of it, and it was hanging with the other clothes for a few more days before I got the chance to upload it to m y cmputer, and then it was a few more days until I was able to list it on Etsy.

So,  since beginning therapy for my hands and wrists, I've been trying to sew more since the pain I have in my hands has decreased. I've found that I am still having to take frequent breaks, but the breaks are lasting as long, which I'm very glad of.

So, my current project? A spring Colonial day dress with peplums. The top is done and the peplums are on. Now the main skirt needs to be gathered and attached so I can add the final touches to it. 

I have Physical Therapy tomorrow, so we'll see if I feel up to sewing tomorrow. My nerve study is scheduled for Thursday, and more PT on Friday, so I am going to try my best to get the dress finished on Wednesday.

Until next time...

Started treatment today.

This post is not easy for me to write. Both physically and mentally. My hands hurt and I'm stubborn.

I have arthritis in both hands and carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists. I've been putting off medical treatment for a few years and dealing with it on my own. I take an anti-inflammatory every day.  I take a prescribed muscle relaxer as needed. I sleep with padded braces on my hands. I wear a brace on my right wrist on some days. I use spring handled scissors when I'm cutting fabric. I've done all of this as a way to baby my hands and put off the inevitable: surgery.

So, this week I had appointments to see a Physical Therapist and a Hand Specialist/Surgeon. The Physical Therapist praised my efforts of what I've been doing, but reminded me to stretch and showed me some stretches to do. I saw the Hand Specialist today and he agreed with the Physical Therapist and we talked about some options. Surgery is most likely going to happen, but I want to put it off as long as I can since with three young boys I have no time to take off. So, I received a cortizone shot in each wrist. The pain and numbness were supposed to last 2-3 hours, and white the numbness is mostly gone right now, the pain is still there. Within 24-48 hours I should be feeling a lot better. If this goes well, my hands and wrists should be feeling well for about 4 to 6 months.

I'm so excited that I want to sit down at my sewing desk all weekend long. Sadly, I have to take it easy for a few days while the cortizone gets in my system. So, my plans are to sit down at my craft table next week.

My craft table has been moved around and my craft space reorganized, so I'm itching to get back to crafting. I picked up a box of vintage fabrics recently and I have a Colonial dress cut out, so both projects have me chomping at the crafting bit. 

I'm sorry for my blog absence. Now that my hands should be feeling better soon, I should be back to sewing/blogging regularly.

-Until next time...

Newest Addy Creation

Straight from the sewing table:
This is a sneak peek of another Civil War Era dress I am making for AG Addy. Round collar, faux closure front (will have decorative buttons), short gathered sleeves with gathered cuffs, and a full skirt complete with growth tucks.
Tonight is the first time I've sat at my sewing table in a week. Organizing the AGPT spring sewing swap took up last week and the weekend. Now that everybody is happily sewing their assignments, and things around the house have calmed down, I can get back to my sewing. This poor dress has been waiting for me to gather the sleeves and skirt so I can get it done.
If all goes according to plan, I'll be working on a Colonial outfit or two after this dress is done.

Civil War Era Dresses

Hey Bloggers!

I'm sorry that it has been two weeks since I've updated. It has been busy around here. The dress that I was working on in the last post was finished and sold the next day. It was only on Etsy for 2 hours! A quick sale like that makes for a very happy seamstress. :)
Here is how it turned out:

Since it sold so quickly, I used the same pattern and made another dress that was listed on the 19th and it sold the next day. I changed up the ribbon placement.
Here it how it turned out:

I bought a new pattern, the Heritage Wrap Dress pattern from Liberty Jane. I'm working on leading a Sew Along on AG Dollhouse with it starting on March 1st. Yesterday I finished and listed this dress:
***images***

Here is the listing: Spring Green Wrap Top Dress

Now I am working on another Civil War Era dress using a different pattern from the same person that made the pattern I used for the first two dresses.