DRESSING UP THE GRANDKIDS!

Well here we are to Friday already!  I have had my usual Mel withdrawals, but not a lot of time to linger in them as I have been busy making some dress up clothes and Halloween outfits for some of the grands.   My youngest son's oldest daughter Capri asked me a few weeks back if I might make some repairs to her princess dress that had several holes in it.  After examining it, I told her I felt that it was really beyond repair, and it was much too small for her as well so I would just make her a new one.  Well, after putting our heads together and coming up with colors and styles etc., I set out to see what I could do.  I will admit that it took me quite a while to find a pattern that first I liked, and then that came in her size.  Then I waited to be able to use the 50 percent off coupon I had for the fabric ~ those princess dresses are soo full and call for LOTS of fabric ~ but this week I finally had everything I needed and got to work.  I'd love to say it just whipped together, but for some reason I just had problem after problem with it, lol.  Partly it was silky, flimsy fabric choices and not being sure what settings I needed to use on my new machine etc., and partly I was just not focused or something as I did a fair amount of ripping out.  However I FINALLY got it looking the way I wanted it to.  I also went ahead and bought her a couple of yards of tulle so that she could drape it around herself for a shawl.  Considering tulle is only ninety seven cents a yard, and required NO sewing, it really can't be beat.  To finish it off I decided to give her the necklace that I wore to her parents wedding.  I haven't worn it since then, and I have a couple of others kind of like it, and what is the point of it just sitting in my drawer never being enjoyed, when Capri LOVES it?  I am just not really much of a jewelry kind of gal, and if I do wear it, it is generally not costume jewelry.  Anyway, I will show you the dress, though these pictures just are not very good.  The color of the dress is a very pretty gold, and it just doesn't look like in these photos.

YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE LONG GOLD TULLE BEHIND IT FOR HER SHAWL, AND THE SPARKLY BAND AT THE EMPIRE SEAM I KNOW SHE WILL LOVE.  I MADE A MATCHING HEADBAND OUT OF THIS TOO.  

LITTLE CLOSER LOOK AT THE NECKLACE

LOVED THE SLEEVE!  I PUT A DECORATIVE STITCH OF HEARTS AROUND THE NECK TOO

And then my granddaughter Lindsey has decided to be Minnie Mouse for Halloween.  She wanted to wear a red tutu for her costume.  I have always wanted to know how to make one of those so I volunteered to make her one. Back to my trusty tutorials I went.  Looked easy enough, but honestly, I can't say I enjoyed it, haha.  Cutting six yards of tulle that was sixty inches wide into strips that were 3 inches wide, by 30 inches long just took me forever!  As I looked at more tutorials I found out that MOST women making tutu's buy the tulle in 3 inch wide rolls....soo much easier, haha.  Anyway, then you tie all those strips onto an piece of elastic the size of her waist.  I added a bow in the front the colors of Minnie Mouse, and it is really pretty cute.  I have a feeling it may be too big around but I can easily fix that!  If it had been too small we would have been stuck.  But it only cost me about six dollars to make, so you can't really beat that!

I have sooo many things I want to make and do before Christmas that I might have to make a schedule and then stick to it.  I think next week I am going to get started on making some new Christmas stockings for my oldest son's family, and for Melody's.  And some of them are getting Christmas jammies, and on and on the list goes.  How grateful I am for my new machine, and the time the Lord has blessed me with to use it!  I am looking forward to a restful week-end however, and sure hope you all have one too!  Blessings to you all, Debbie

HOW CUTE IS LITTLE VINCENT HERE?

AND LUKE IS GETTING SOME CEREAL FOR THE FIRST TIME...HE LOVED IT!