Ellie Inspired Holiday Collection Blog Tour

So glad to be part of the Ellie Inspired Blog Tour to help show off the new Holiday Collection. I got to sew up Miss Merry for JubeJube and she was overjoyed, when I told her to take the dress off so she could keep it clean for Christmas..."Oh yay! That means its Christmas soon!" is what she answered as she skipped down the hall to her room.

I embelished the front bodice with pintucks. Such a simple detail but makes this dress so lovely. Instructions on pintucks are in the pattern tutorial.

The sleeves on this dress are short and as you can see its perfect for layering with a cardigan. It was just too cold to ask JubeJube to remove her cardy, I was even surprised I was able to get her outside without a heavier coat.

I was also able to sew the Holly Days Dress and the Sugar Plum Sweater Dress. Both are part of the new Holiday Collection and both turned out adorable, and right now you can get 25% off your purchase with the coupon code "PARTY" in the Ellie Inspired Etsy shop.

Take advantage of this sale to start your Holiday sewing, there are some cute PJ patterns in the shop sure to please boys and girls!

Until next time, xx.

Learning Dolls by Ruby Jean's Closet & Giveaway

Ruby Jean's Closet has got these great patterns out for learning dolls. Three different models have been designed: Marissa, Seabiscuit, and Iggy. There are even some cute little fishy friends that can be baby friendly hand toys. I do have a bundle of all 4 patterns up for grabs thanks to Ruby Jean's Closet, so don't forget to enter the rafflecopter giveaway at the end of the post.

So after making a couple of these and gifting them Amelia asked me for her very own penguin, she really loves penguins so this was perfect, and so I made Iggy dressed in girly colors. 

Not only is Iggy fun for cozy catoon watching, this penguin will also help Amelia learn to tie shoes, zip zippers, button buttons, and so much more. 

Iggy kept Amelia busy all morning, and now I have JubeJube wanting her very own Seabiscuit seahorse.

This isn't a hard pattern to follow, all explanations to create these cuddly learning dolls are so clear, but I won't lie, there are a lot of steps because of all the details involved. This is the perfect project for someone who want to practice their sewing skills from zippers to button holes, to appliqués.

Don't you think these dolls would make the perfect Christmas gift for any toddler!

So now giveaway time. This is a chance to win all 3 learning doll patterns plus the fishy friends pattern. Want another chance to win the pattern bundle, go visit my friend Ula over at Lulu & Celeste, there's a bundle up for grabs on her blog too! 

Until next time, xx.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ansley Tour Round Up

Today was the last day of the Ansley Tour and I had so much fun hosting for Christie. If you missed any of the stops here are all the links. Don't forget to take advantage of 10% off in the Blaverry Esty shop using the code "ILOVEBLAVERRY10" at checkout.

November 3rd

Felt with Love - The Crazy Tailor - Rebeka Sews - Sprouting JubeJube

November 4th

Sewing Sober - Sew Starly - Filles À Maman - Work, Pray, Sew

November 5th

Lulu & Celeste - Rebel & Malice - xoxo Grandma - Sew Cool for the Tween Scene

November 6th

Paisly Roots - Ginger House Designs - Needle & Ted - The Sewing Sparrow

November 7th

Frenchie - SewOutOfControl - Made by Sara - Daisy Chain Creations

So now that you've had a look at all the other stops along the way, go get your copy of the PDF Pattern to create something pretty for your little one, and don't forget to take a look at the other patterns in Blaverry Etsy shop, they are all created with style! 

Ansley Pattern by Blaverry

I'm so excited to be hosting a blog tour for Christie over at Blaverry Patterns. You'll want to stay tuned all week because some amazing bloggers have sewn up Christie's newest pattern, Ansley dress and top. You won't believe how many options this pattern has!

I decided I was going to make this one for Amelia. My plan was to make it out of cotton, but Amelia insisted on a fabric that was 100% unknown fibers. I picked it up anyway since it seemed to make her happy, and did the burn test when I got home to determine this beautiful fabric's composition, you can find out more about the burn test here. I would tend to think that the fabric is a rayon blend.

 

I made a simple version of the dress, with the short sleeve, no collar, and and the hi-low hem. There are buttons on the front yoke.

Saddly its getting too cold to photograph outside so we had to set up the makeshift sudio, but I did manage to get one good ouside shot before Amelia started to shake and tell me she was cold.

Here are some of the pattern details;

• Sizes range from 9 months to 14 years
• Instructions accompanied by tech drawings, pattern is intermediate level
• Measurement charts for perfect sizing in metric an imperial measurements!
• Printing instructions
• Chart indicating what pages to be printed for each option, because there are 88 pages to this pattern 
• Layer printing to print out only the size you need

I feel like I'm ahead of the game, this is the perfect dress for the Holiday Season, so guess what Amelia will be wearing Christmas Eve!

This pattern is a great buy at 8.50$ but take advantage of the coupon code, use "ILOVEBLAVERRY10"  at checkout!

Take a look at the other stops on the tour!
Until next time, xx.

November 3rd

Felt with Love - The Crazy Tailor - Rebeka Sews - Sprouting JubeJube

November 4th

Sewing Sober - Sew Starly - Filles À Maman - Work, Pray, Sew

November 5th

Lulu & Celeste - Rebel & Malice - xoxo Grandma - Sew Cool for the Tween Scene

November 6th

Paisly Roots - Ginger House Designs - Needle & Ted - The Sewing Sparrow

November 7th

Frenchie - SewOutOfControl - Made by Sara - Daisy Chain Creations

The Little Sheep Costume

So as promised here I'm posting another Halloween costume. I warned it would be from the vault...but its oh so cute! So many years ago (about 12 years) I made Sabrina a sheep costume with a paper pattern I purchased (way before PDF patterns). I changed the pattern up to add sweet little details, the joy of sewing and creating.

I added the color to the inside ear and the ribbon around the hood. And what would a sheep be without a tail? 

I love that this costume is a favorite after 12 years of wear by my girls and niece. This is one hand-me-down that is sure to please even Amelia. 

We sometimes have snow around Halloween so this little sheep will be kept nice and warm with her fleece.

I may just have time to post one last Halloween costume post before Friday, so keep an eye out!
Until next time, xx.

Sugar Plum Sweater Dress by Ellie Inspired

Last week Ellie Inspired released the baby pattern collection, Amelia showed off her Holly Days Dress here and this week its the big kids turn! I helped test the Sugar Plum Sweater Dress and its now one of JubeJube's favorite dresses! The pattern bundle is now available in their pattern shop at a very discounted price for a limited time so hurry on over to their pattern shop to take advantage of this great deal!

I used a heavier knit for this dress, I see it as the perfect fall/winter dress. 

Some of the pattern details:

• Sizes range from 1 - 16
• Designed for knit fabrics
• Sweater and dress length options
• Short and long sleeve options
• Easy to sew, and easy to follow instuctions

Don't forget to pick up your pattern bundle at a discounted price while you can, there are some great party dresses in there along with some new patterns for the boys!

Until next time, xx.

A Halloween Costume for Miss E

Some may not know this about me but I hate making Holloween costumes. It may be due to the fact that my aunt would always say to me to stop being a perfectionist, this is crafting, make it fun and fast (this coming from a woman with a pettern design and haute couture diploma). The only one that I can't refuse is my niece...she never asks me for anything and when I do make something for her I never hear her complain, and I love her to bits. So this year when my sweet E wanted a certain costume of those popular Ever After High dolls how could I saw no, especially since my sister had done all the leg work and all I had to do was sew.

So let the scavenger hunt begin to find red fabric for the cape, red and black plaid for the t-shirt, black skirt with red tulle, and accessories to make Evagelina's transformation to Cerise Hood, daughter to Red Ridding Hood.

This is the finished costume, enjoy my sister's the stunning photography, Tanya Zaleski Photocreations, throughout this post.

The t-shirt was purchase at Forever 21. This was an adult size so I did some restructuring, removing the sleeves, reshaping the armcyes, bringing in the sides and re-attaching the sleeves. The great thing about repurposing this adult t-shirt, it will be worn at least a few more times.

Going through my stash my sister found some red jersey for the hood and a floral for the cape part. In the picture of the original doll you'll notice the cape is a floral pattern, so ours doesn't match exaclty but if I tell you that the fabric had been in my stash for about 12 years, it pretty darn good.

Original image by Mattel Toys

The accessories were all things Tanya had on hand, like the belt, locket and basket. Accessories really helped complet the look.

The skirt was also repurposed, and the red tulle is actually a red tutu that Evangelina had in her wardrobe for some time. So yay, not too much sewing for me! If every Holloween costume were this easy!

I'll  have a couple of other costumes coming up on my blog if you're looking for ideas...be warned they may come from the vault.

Until next time, xx.