Historical doll clothes from Sense and Sensibility patterns (to die for!). I am so excited to finally be starting on these!
Crocheted collars. I love them. I am addicted to making them for big people, little people and dolls (even my kitties modeled some of these). I found the free pattern on Pinterest here.
I’ve been eating a lot of chocolate and haven’t slept well in about 4 nights, so my thoughts are moving almost too quick to capture today. I apologize ahead of time, I hope this post will be coherent!
Let’s talk about kids/baby clothes for a minute. I love to save my kids’ baby clothes/blankets etc. (For excellent inspiration for saving baby clothes, look at this blog post-it’s to die for! Yep, it’s in Finnish, just look at the pics 
. For me textiles are as good as (or better than) pictures. When I hold a baby outfit, I can feel and smell and think all the same things that I did when my children were wrapped in those darling fabrics. I have a fairly complex process of going through clothes when Mila outgrows them. 1. I pull out any clothes I can’t part with for a keep sake box 2. I wash/pack up the rest to pass on to our baby neice 3. When the clothes come back, I sort through them to decide what I want to cut up for quilts/crafting or re-purposing 4. I try to consign what I don’t want to keep for crafting 5. I donate what Lucy’s Consignment doesn’t want 6. I cut up the clothes for crafting purposes. Today, I finally made it to this round of step #6. Let me show you some pictures!
(problem posting this pic?)
I am going to cut these pieces into 5×5 squares. This is what I will make into a keep-sake quilt.
I changed my mind and couldn’t bear to cut this one up. It’s Italian travel/landmarks/scooter fabric. I love the colors, I love everything about this.
This is a brim from an 18-24 baby hat (Gymboree 2005 or 2006). I think it will be just darling as a detachable collar (almost to be used like a necklace) for Mila. I will probably shorten it and put some kind of pretty closure on it. I love the detailing/rickrack and fabric/colors. It’s perfect because it already has fabric stabilizer in it to make it a little stiff , it reverses to a co-ordinating fabric and it is basically the perfect shape already. *I think I am going to try and make it into a peter pan collar.* I am inspired to make some detachable collars for her after seeing The Well-digger’s Daughter on Netflix/watch it now (you must watch this one for the clothes, they are so lovely!). I also want to do a crocheted collar for her (like this).
This is the rest of that hat. Hmmmm…Im not sure what to do with it yet. It looks like a cozy for something? Or a pin cushion? Or what? Can’t decide, but it’s too pretty to throw away.
Here are leg elastics from the matching bloomers to this outfit. Look at the details! They made these with co-ordinating fabric trim. I love that. I love the love that goes into that. These type of details are missing from today’s clothes. Or maybe it’s just Mila’s size? Are clothes getting less cute/not as well made the older she gets? I think I am going to make these into hair elastics.
Gap has a new Peter Rabbit line. I would have bought all of this, if they had made it in her size:
Aren’t they just darling? Why didn’t Gap make the Peter Rabbit line in bigger sizes? Why do they assume we want to dress our three year olds like they are teenagers? I feel like emailing them! Are you seeing a color theme here? I think I am loving pink and yellow!
Guess what I ordered for myself from Boden?!?! The scallop trim shirt (in yellow) and the casual cable cardigan (in soft red/pink). I adore the fabric (both are 100% cotton) and details and colors of these two items. They look vintage inspried to me. I just hope they fit properly! I wanted the scallop trim shirt last year and was sorry when I didn’t get it. So I was super happy to see they brought it back this year.
I cut these felt Miffy heads to patch onto Mila’s dirty knees. It was a Pinterest idea of course. I am terribly obsessed with bunnies right now. Like this pillow and this wall decal and this wallpaper (I don’t think they sell this anymore) and all of this bunny stuff from Maileg. Oh and I ebayed this adorable bunny night light but what I really wanted was this expensive Miffy one. I also can’t get enough of fawns and foxes. Thank goodness for Pinterest. If I had my shop or my own children’s clothes line, it would be nothing but bunnies, fawns and foxes right now.
**Have you ever seen Olive’s Friend Pop childre’s clothes (I think I have posted about them before)? I think they are literally the cutest, vintage inspired clothes out there. Way out of my price range, but so inspirational.**
I love the colors, fabrics, details and design. If I had a shop, I would sell this. Look at the bonnet! **After a little research, I realized this company is no longer in business. Isn’t that a shame? I wish I could start a children’s clothing company with clothes like this but priced more like Gymboree!**
***PS***If you want to make some lovely vintage inspired baby clothes, you can find lovely patterns at Oliver and S.
Did I ever show the slipcover that I finished for the loveseat? It fits very nicely. The bottom hem is still unfinished and the inside seams still need some work. I actually put it on the couch to chalk line it and finish it…but of course haven’t done it.
Before and afters of the old Target play kitchen. It looks so cute now and is set up right beside my kitchen so in theory Mila can cook when I cook. We’ll see if it that actually happens.
This is the tent we made using a hula hoop and old sheets for Mila’s birthday. It has it’s very own chandelier!
Darling made this sweet swing for our living room. I was so inspired by the mali-mo blog. It is my new favorite! It is sooooo beautiful. I was inspired to do the tent, kitchen and swing after seeing them on her blog!
Homemade pizza with the 5 minute a day bread dough is easy and fabulous!
Apricot jam is so easy! You don’t need to peel them.
I tested out Posie’s chocolate birthday cake and cloudburst frosting. I was super impressed with the frosting. I don’t generally like frosting…but this was perfect!
I ordered a half yard of each of these from etsy. I am thinking of using these for the Aneela Hoey quilt (posted earlier today).
PS The Aneela Hoey fabric “A Walk in the Woods” isn’t for sale until February.
I want this next:
I just bought the apple picking dress pattern for Mila (25% off right now). I need 2 1/4 yds of something fabulous! I think I will make it in a 4T to make sure she can wear it for a while
Ohhhhh…a new crafty blog to follow for inspiration (Aneela Hoey)! Look at this quilt! I NEED to make this! So Darling!
Does anyone else feel frustrated by not having enough time to make things? I need to carve out more time for making things (other than food). I am not sure how I do that…but I will figure it out…I just have to!
PS I really love her colors in this quilt. I LOVE lots of white and pretty pastels with hints of red. Speaking of this color scheme, did you see Yvestown’s basement makeover? To die for.
German Glass glitter letters. LOVE. I think I might move the darling banner to my sewing area…but I really like the love banner above the door. Hopefully you can feel the love when you walk into our home and you feel loved when you go back out into the world too:) The only weird thing is that it looks like EVOL from outside…LOL! Oh well!
I still haven’t:
1. Posted pics of the kitchen cabinets because one door isn’t back on yet.
2. Finished the inside seams of my slipcover and put it on the loveseat to photograph/post pics.
3. Finished (or even started) the edging on my big blankie.
Which leads me to my new idea. No more big projects for a while! I need some small instant gratification projects. Like?
1. Cover the two small lampshades with material.
2. Crochet granny square pillow for the couch.
3. Crochet a granny stripe or zigzag baby blanket for Emmie.
4. Finish my bath mats (British flag and LOVE).
5. What else? And something with this:
Look how cute! A Walk in the Woods, Little Red in Whisper by Aneela Hoey. You can order a “charm pack” (42 5 inch pinked squares) in this and the coordinating fabric from the collection. What a great idea from bloomeriefabrics.com. I think Mila might need a quilt with it.
Bachelor degrees in Fiber, Textile and Weaving Arts: A program that prepares individuals creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions by constructing art works from woven or non-woven fabrics and fibrous materials. Includes instruction in weaving techniques and loom operation; non-woven techniques such as knitting, coiling, netting, and crocheting; quilting; dyeing and pigmentation; printing and other finishing techniques; pattern design; tapestry; and personal style development.
Maryland Institute College of Art has a Fiber Arts degree (in Baltimore).
…AND…
The Harbor Campus at Baltimore City Community College offers sewing classes as part of a fashion design degree. Students who wish to pursue degrees or certificates can take these classes to fulfill degree requirements, but those who are just interested in learning how to sew can also enroll in these classes.
Can you believe it? I finally started! Holy cow, I have talking about this for ages! This Ikea table is great for project-ing! There is lots of light in the front room to sew by.
I learned to make piping today! My Bernette has a zipper foot! YAY! It is my one extra foot. I made 20 yds to start!
So, as of tonight, I have made enough piping for one and cut one. Tomorrow I will see if I can get Darling to help me cut the second one while I sew. The piping is quite time consuming. And it uses quite a bit of fabric. I probably should have budgeted for more. I will have to be careful when cutting tomorrow. Not sure if I will have enough for my tiny box pleat detail at the bottom hem.
Here is my list of projects to complete the month of July so that we are ready to begin painting the kitchen cabinets on August 1. I can”t wait! I have always wanted white kitchen cabinets in every house I have lived in.
PS I have to admit I am so nervous about these slips. I am at the point in this project where I am thinking I may have lost my mind. How is this going to come together? Am I in over my head? I spent my entire day working and I am only maybe 25% done??? We need these slipcovers so badly…I don’t have a choice really. We have been living with blankets thrown over the love seats for about 6 mos. So I will just forge ahead and hope for the best. I can do this. I will do this. I am DOING this.
