[KAREN]

Prayers for skillful healing hands for your husband’s medical team and for his speedy recovery. Would you mind giving us his name so that we can pray using it?

[KAREN]

Hi Everyone! Happy Autumn/Spring!

Needlewoman, I have added trim to just the front of lots of things and it was fine. On the first Class Picnic that I made (haven’t blogged yet) I added a little flower button and embroidered leaves to the front yoke. On the second Class Picnic blouse I added two square buttons to the front. On a recent peasant blouse I added a little ribbon tag to the inside of the back neckline to indicate the back of the blouse. You can’t see it when the child has it on. Many things in ‘ready-to-wear’ are embellished only in the front or more heavily in the front of the garment.

I have been so busy at school and at home that I haven’t blogged or been active on any blogs or forums. I miss it! I have been sewing, though. In fact, I have made several O+S outfits including Lazy Days Skirts, Butterfly Skirt, Class Picnic Blouses, and a Croquet Dress. Several of the outfits were in the black and white monochrome theme. I am anxious to blog about them and post them to the Flicker group.

Currently, I have a Black & White Butterfly Skirt that needs a blouse, a white Ice Cream Blouse half finished, and black fabric washed and ready to make a Firefly Jacket. I want to join the Swingset Skirt sew-along but I am not sure what fabric to use, yet. (I would like to sew from my considerable stash, if possible.)

There is a new sewing magazine coming! It is called Classic Sewing and will be published by Hoffman Media. http://www.victoriamag.com/introducing-classic-sewing-magazine/
I am anxious to see it. I have missed the Australian Smocking magazines, Creative Needle, and Sew Beautiful. I have subscribed.

Happy sewing!

[KAREN]

So sorry, Cybele! I have done that, too.

[KAREN]

Good luck with the quilt, Heidi! I took your advise and didn’the re-cut the class picnic blouse. It was a size 5 and I have been sewing size 4 in O+S for both Chloe and Kaya. I made the blouse shorter by putting tucks above the fancy work of the hem. It came out cute. I also made a sort from another pic I had. I am hoping that this outfit will fit Chloe.

I have another Lazy Days skirt cut for Kayla using three fabrics and width added for a fuller skirt. I bought a white Izod shirt to go with it that I will hand embroider and change out the buttons.

I am going to make something for me! I have planned an apron, two tea cozies, and two hot pads out of pretty fabrics. I usually save the really nice materials for others but this time I decided I would cut them for me! An adult apron with a full skirt and bib takes so much fabric. I am so used to cutting out things for little people under size 8 that I was amazed at how much I used!

I hope you all have a lovely day/evening!

[KAREN]

Good Morning/Good Evening!

Justsewit, will you post pictures somewhere of the pink smocked dress? I would so love to see it! Good luck on the patterns for your son. I admire those of you who make clothing for the older boys and the men in your lives. My little forays into that type of sewing have been unsuccessful and I no longer try.

Katybellabug, I adore the little fox dress! You did a wonderful job and I am sure that you received many, many compliments on it!

Heidi, I love your winged badminton skirts! They are darling!

I didn’t get anything pleated or ready to sew on our little vacation but I have sewn since our return. I made a little sundress, bonnet, and bib set for a friend’s little granddaughter. I have also blogged about the Very Hungry Caterpillar Ice Cream Dress I made Chloe last March (butterfliesandfaeries.blogspot.com). There are so many posts I have to catch up on!

There will be a little time to sew this afternoon. I have a skirt and a blouse cut out. I cut the Class Picnic Blouse out months ago but didn’t sew it up. Now it is too small for my friend’s granddaughter (Emma) and too big for Chloe. Phoey! I am going to try to re-cut it to fit either Chloe or Kayla. The skirt will be easy to adjust to fit either one of them. I am hoping to make some school clothes to help out both these families.

Have a wonderful day/evening!

[KAREN]

Sandra, the Birthday Party Dress sounds so pretty. Will you show pictures in the Flicker account? I have a Flicker account but have forgotten my user name and password and how to use it. I am hoping my daughter will have time to figure it out and to reteach me this weekend.

Justsewit, you are almost finished with the pink smocked dress! Will she wear it for tomorrow? Will you show pictures, please? I feel for you about the white dress. It has happened to me. It takes longer to smock a row than it does to un-smock it!

My husband and I have taken a little holiday the past couple of days so no new sewing but I did manage to get little Kayla’s three pieces for this holiday weekend blogged before I left. It was scheduled to be posted this morning at http://butterfliesandfaeries.blogs pot.com/2015/07/olivers-lazy-days-skirt-for-kaylas.html . The pieces included a little Lazy Days Skirt made out of a fabric I just love.

Have a wonderful day/evening sewing everyone!

[KAREN]

Justsewit, I am so sorry about little Buddy! Poor Noah. We have two little lap dogs (Shih Tzu) and would be beside ourselves if anything happened to them. Our Jasmine (white and gray) had breast cancer surgery a little over two weeks ago that was more extensive than expected. The vet said that she “bought us some time”. When she goes, Jade (all gray with a white spot on chest) will be bereft. We all will be.

[KAREN]

Thank you for the explanation, Justsewit. I am sure it will be a wonderful experience for all the children. Enjoy the end of term break! How long are the children out of school?

Heidi, your day sounds like fun. My son spent quite a bit of his last few weeks of high school making wooden swords and shields for a theatrical production.

[KAREN]

Thank you! I purchased a couple of the discontinued paper patterns, too! One of them was the Ice Cream dress in the next size range I needed. Yippee!

[KAREN]

Hi! I am not at home at the moment and cannot access that pattern but I checked pictures on my blog of the dress I made a couple of years ago and it looks like you do indeed cut two of the back main fabric and two of the lining fabric because I think that there is a seam up the back of the dress. The front is cut on the fold but not the back. I hope that I have helped! If I am incorrect, I hope someone will jump in and let you know.

[KAREN]

So glad that things are working out for your nephew, Justsewit!

What does ‘going on a camp’ mean? Does that mean a field trip or a camping trip with several overnights. I am sorry about the communication issue. That can be a sore point!

Good luck to Noah! You may be making costumes soon!

[KAREN]

Justsewit, The little white dress sounds so pretty. I can’t wait to see photos! My collection of AS&E isn’t as extensive as yours. I am missing most of the issues prior to #21 with just four exceptions. I think that I am going to try to find #18 as that little picture of the romper in the Index has charmed me. You certainly will be busy for the next couple of weeks! I will be sending you good energy vibes to get through it all!!

Katybellabug, I just went ’round to check your blog and see your pretties! You did a great job with making everything possible from the pattern. Thank you for the info on the skort. That is something I want to make for Chloe for school.

I have gotten a ‘wild hair’ to make another little blouse for Kayla to wear with the skirt I made yesterday. This one could be worn to school, making the skirt more usable. I also have cut out a Children’s Corner ‘Hilary’ for her this morning. I have no idea why that seemed so important to me to do when I got up! This dress and blouse are not on my list of things to make her!

[KAREN]

I looked up both of your smocking plates, Justsewit, and I love them both. Have you started the smocking on the bonnet? What size dress are you making? You must be very fast at smocking and embroidery to have plans to do so many smocked things by Sunday. You inspire me!

If you have AS&E#18 ( I don’t have this one), there is a charming set of smocked baby overalls with little puffed sleeved blouses in sizes 3,6,& 12 months called “Bubble and Squeak”. Issue #84 “Tiffany” has a darling little BSY dress with puffed bound sleeves that just happens to be pink in 6, 12, & 18 months. 😉

I finished the Lazy Days skirt and a little top to go with it today. I want to make something for the little one to wear in her hair with it and maybe a pair of shorts, too, before I give it to Kayla. She is a tall sweetie (39 inches, or 99cm) but she won’t be three until August. She wears size 4 or 6 in RTW depending on style, etc.

Rest well for those in the States and have a great day for those of you in Australia!

[KAREN]

You all are in my prayers, too! Poor baby with chicken pox!

Justsewit, your nephew is in my prayers, too. So sorry about his luggage and phone. Has the luggage turned up yet?

[KAREN]

Oh, Sarvi, I am so sorry about the length of the Bubble dress. I think short dresses are adorable on little girls but I understand the very strict dress code. I hope that she can wear the dress at other times. Did the zipper work out on the Fairy Tale?

Justsewit, I can’t wait to see the smocked goodies you have planned! I tried to find that plate in my AS&E Index for the girls at FrancesSuzanne but missed the ‘Living Dolls’. Did you leave them a note about the plate? I have some smocking to make as gifts this summer, too. I just love that classic look! I will need to get something pleated up to work on when we go out of town for a couple of days.

I haven’t sewn in the past couple of days but I have plans to do so today. I need to work on a little outfit for another teacher-friend’s little girl for the 4th of July weekend. I believe that I will make a Lazy Day’s skirt. I made one recently for little Chloe and it looked adorable on her. (I need to post that one! It is for the 4th, as well.)

I did get my very first Ice Cream dress posted on my blog today. It was made for Chloe for Dr. Suess Day in March. http://butterfliesandfaeries.blogspot.com/2015/06/olivers-ice-cream-dress-for-dr-suess-day.html