A Fun Swap

In the last couple of years, I've become obsessed with Waldorf inspired dolls. Obsessed. I love that they are homemade. I love that they are all natural. I love that each one is a little piece of art. Kind of like quilts, don't you think?

I don't love that they are pricey (like quilts). So at first I tried to make one. Or I did make one. She's lovely, and my daughter actually plays with her. But I discovered that I really don't like making dolls. Actually, I discovered that I really don't like hand-sewing.

Waldorf Inspired Doll - Little Amigo Pattern from Growing Up Sew Liberated

So, recently, to get around both having to make a doll, and having to pay for one, I did a private swap with a mama. I made her some pillows. She sent me a gorgeous Bamboletta Little Buddy.

Bamboletta Little Buddy

My swap partner was the best 'customer.' She asked for bright and modern. She told me she wasn't afraid of colour. That was it. I was free to make whatever I wanted. Here's what I came up with.

The first was a simple string pillow. I used Ashley's tutorial.

The second was a simple bright and low volume hst pillow. It feels so good to actually use some of my hoarded Denyse Schmidt fabric.

Finally, I used a pattern from Amanda Jean Norberg for my last pillow. The pattern in Math Facts and it is in the Winter 2012 issue of quilty magazine.

Math Facts by Amanda Jean Norberg

Isn't the barter system wonderful? 

Easter Dresses Wrap-Up

I really can't believe that I am posting photos of my girls' Easter Dresses in May. May! Yikes. I am so sorry. I really don't know where the time goes. Or I do. It goes to ballet and highland dance lessons. Soccer.  Teaching Kindergarten two afternoons a week. Making dinner. Avoiding cleaning the house. Hugging three beautiful kids. Life is wonderful and busy. I just can't seem to blog about it. But I want to.

Nicey Jane Party Dress

Even though I was sewing buttons on Sunday morning before Mass, I managed to finish both girls' dresses just in time. For my youngest, I used the Party Dress free pattern and tutorial from the Cottage Home. I made this dress once before (the Easter Dress from last year that my daughter refused to wear and we now can't talk about), and it really is a fun pattern. This time I used 5 different fabrics for a less matchy, matchy look.

The Party Dress by Cottage Home

Overall, I think the dress turned out beautifully. I had to make the sash from two different fabrics (I wanted the two dresses to coordinate, but I only had a teeny bit left of the pink stripe). Next time, I won't make the bodice the way in the tutorial...I like the construction method of the Geranium Dress better. And I think I would make the skirt a wee bit less full. It is a heavy dress for a 2-year old.

Dress Stats:

Pattern: The Party Dress (Free Pattern/Tutorial) by the Cottage Home

Size: 2

Bodice Fabric: Unknown dot from a swap (I only had a FQ).

Sash Fabrics: Running Stitch, Lush by Patty Young, Love U by Deb Strain

Skirt Fabric: Picnic Bouquet, Nicey Jane by Heather Bailey

For Picky Pants' (she might have a new blog name), I made the ever popular Geranium Dress from Made by Rae. I've made this pattern a few times, so it went together nice and easy. Picky Pants wanted a red sash, but no bow, so I sewed some grosgrain ribbon where the two fabrics meet.

Nicey Jane Geranium Dress

And, this year, she actually wore her dress to church. She just didn't take her jacket off. And proceeded to take the dress off as soon as we got home. But she proudly announce, "I WORE it Mom." I really need to rethink sewing anything for her. Her little sister was much more agreeable. In fact, she wore it all day long and dripped chocolate all over it. All over it. Thank goodness for the washing machine.

Dress Stats:

Pattern: Geranium Dress by Made by Rae

Size: 5 (added a few inches to length)

Bodice Fabric: Running Stitch, Lush by Patty Young

Skirt Fabric:  Picnic Bouquet, Nicey Jane by Heather Bailey

And no, I don't have any pictures of them together. I haven't been able to bribe Picky Pants into wearing her dress again. And I really couldn't wait another month to blog about them.