Saturday, January 3, 2015

BABY DRESSES, HAIR BOWS, AND AN INTERESTING FABRIC STORE STORY


It's late Saturday afternoon and I have a few minutes while hubby takes down the outside Christmas lights so I thought I'd catch up my blog journal.  It's a nice feeling having Christmas all done and stored away for another year and moving into a new year.  Though my house looks strangely bare or something, lol.  I think I have had some sort of "decor" up between my Fall for a couple of  months and then my Christmas for a couple more, that I have practically forgotten how it usually is.  But I am enjoying it.  I've have spent most of the week at my machine creating little baby girl outfits.  Sooo much fun I can't lie.  I've never really done much actual "baby" dresses and such before as there weren't really many patterns to be had when Melody was a baby.  I started making things for her when she was around 9 months or so.  So the things I have been making are all SOO tiny it is a little harder and more fiddly then I would usually like.  The arm holes are just SOO little!  I am making the 0-3 month size so that she can use then in May - hopefully through August or so, and I don't want them to be too big to use.  Then by the time it's warm again she'd be too big for the clothes.  Melody picked out some fabric and sent it to me and then I am using some of my stash as well.  It takes very little fabric to make a baby dress, or rompers, or little bloomers and bows.  And speaking of bows.....Oh my goodness is THAT ever fun.  If I were ever so inclined (which I doubt will ever happen!) to start an etsy shop I'd want to include hair bows for sure.  When Melody was little she was sooo bald.  Seriously (kind of like Sam!) she had almost no hair at all at a year old.  And that hair that she did have was pure white and soo hard to see, lol.  Even by 2 not a whole lot there.  I was FOREVER trying to put bows or ribbons in her hair in some way.  I think I have mentioned before that I am a definite "wanna be" hairdresser, and I couldn't wait for the days to do her hair.  It finally happened, but took forever.  I am telling you all this to tell you that I would have done ANYTHING to have known how to make all the hair bows and bands etc. that I know how to now.  But back in those days there was no such thing as google and tutorials.  What they have done for lives huh? Anyway, I have watched MANY such tutorials, and I have a whole supply of inexpensive goodies and ribbons needed to make the bows and bands and I have a feeling this little girl will have more then she'd ever really need.  I am glad they are soo popular today and that Melody likes them too or this grandma wouldn't be getting to enjoy this so.  Let me show you this weeks work...

I ADDED A DRESS TO THE LITTLE BLOOMERS I HAD ALREADY MADE (WHICH I WILL PROBABLY EVENTUALLY DO FOR ALL OF THE BLOOMERS) AND MADE A DIFFERENT HAIR BOW AS WELL.  THIS ONE WAS MADE OUT OF RIBBON...IT WAS SOO MUCH EASIER TO MAKE ONE OF THOSE THEN I THOUGHT.  CAN'T SEE THIS VERY WELL I KNOW BUT THE DRESS HAS LITTLE PLEATS ON THE FRONT OF IT, AND I ADDED ON THE LITTLE STAR BUTTONS FOR FUN.  IT ZIPS UP THE BACK.  THE NECK AND THE ARM HOLES ARE DONE WITH BIAS TAPE

AGAIN, JUST WITH THE MATCHING FABRIC BOW

THIS LITTLE SUN SUIT IS ADORABLE BUT IT WAS HONESTLY KIND OF "FIDDLY" TO MAKE.  THE STRAPS TOOK FOREVER TO TURN INSIDE OUT.  IT CALLED FOR SNAPS ON THE FRONT BUT I THOUGHT BUTTONS WERE CUTER.  I WANTED TO ADD GRIPPER SNAPS TO THE CROTCH TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR CHANGING DIAPERS, BUT WITH THE WAY THE ELASTIC WAS ON THE LEGS AND THE TINY CROTCH SEAM IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE SO I JUST SEWED IT SHUT LIKE IT SAID TO DO.

I TRIED TO SHOW A CLOSE UP OF THE DECORATIVE STITCH I USED ON THE STRAPS AND FRONT OF THE ROMPER, BUT YOU STILL CAN'T SEE IT VERY WELL.

THIS WAS FABRIC I HAD AND I LOVE IT!  SUCH A CUTE PATTERN TOO.  THE ARM HOLES ON THIS WERE SOMEWHAT OF A NIGHTMARE THOUGH I JUST CAN'T LIE.  THE BOW ON THIS HEADBAND WAS MADE WITH SILK RIBBON AND WAS WHAT THEY CALL A BOUTIQUE BOW...SOO CUTE!

AND JUST A HEAD PIECE TO WEAR WITH ALMOST ANYTHING.  I AM THINKING SHE WILL NEED PLAIN ONES IN ALMOST EVERY COLOR, DON'T YOU THINK? LOL  A BOUTIQUE BOW AND THEN I JUST GLUED THE LITTLE EMBELLISHMENT TO THE CENTER.  THESE BOWS ARE MADE WITH HOT GLUE WHICH I AM GETTING BETTER WITH.  FIGURE IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE MY FRIEND IF I AM GOING TO BE MAKING BOWS FOR A WHILE, LOL
I am going to try not to get TOO side tracked with dresses, rompers, bloomers, and hair bows as I still want to make nightgowns, and bibs to add to the already finished blankets and burp cloths.  And of course we haven't really even gotten started on the nursery.  I will make the quilt, crib sheets, crib skirt and curtains, and maybe a pillow and an embroidered picture or too.  I think you know what I am going to be busy on now for a few months, lol.

The local quilt shop, the Calico House, is going out of business.  Today was their first day of selling off their inventory with 40 - 75 percent off of everything in the store.  OF COURSE I had to go by the sale and see what I might want.  OH MY GOODNESS is all I can say....I arrived 5 minutes before the store was to open and found sooo many cars in the parking lot there was NO WHERE to park, and a line of cars circling to look for one.  And! sooo many ladies waiting to get into the store the line was wrapped around the ENTIRE building.  Honestly I just couldn't believe it.  I drove away figuring the back of that line would probably not be getting into the store anytime too soon.  The store would have to be limiting how many they would let in at a time I was very sure.  So I went back home, did some more chores, went out to lunch and a movie with hubby, and then figured that surely enough time had passed I could go back by the store and see if there was anything left.  Well believe it or not there was STILL a line, though no where near as long as it had been this morning when they opened. I got in it with hubby figuring when we got into the store he could go straight to the cut table and I would look around and then join him.  Seems like a good plan right?  Well. 35 minutes later we finally entered the store.  I began looking and hubby went to find the end of the cutting line.  A few minutes later he joined me with a panic look on his face and said, "Deb, they are saying the line will take AT LEAST 3  hours to get through.  Are we sure we want to do this?"  I looked at the pile I had in my hand and wanted to say, "Of course we do...now get in the line please."  But I just couldn't...and said, "Oh no way, of course not.  I will try again one day next week and maybe it won't be nearly as bad and something will be left I will want."  Sooo for now I have not bought anything from that tremendous sale.  It is secretly killing me, lol.  I did say to hubby on the way home how surprised I am that there are SOOO many women with a passion for fabric like mine.

Well guess that's it for now.  I do have a couple of irresistible pictures of Vinny, Luke, and Sam to share.  Hope you are all enjoying your week-ends, and the start of this new year.  We are still enjoying uncharacteristic cold weather (for us anyway) here in California, but heard that it is to heat up almost to 80 next Tues.  Ah California, you got to love it.  Blessings to you all, Debbie

PLAY US A TUNE VINNY!

GRANDMA'S HANDSOME LITTLE MEN!

SOO PRECIOUS!

ENJOYING THEIR DRESS UP OUTFITS FROM GRANDPA AND GRANDMA


10 comments:

  1. Can't believe you are already back "at it" and creating such cute things for that little girl. I have been stalking some of the sales for items for a little girl due in Feb and have found some really cute things. I can only imagine how nerve wracking it must be to work on something so tiny. Happy new year!

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  2. I just love those little outfits they are going to be adorable on that little girl when she comes. I love all of that material. The bows are just fantastic. I do wish I could sew a bit better, I felt so ripped off this year buying pajamas for the kids. You made such cute ones.
    I think the kids pictures are just wonderful. Oh my gosh, that fabric store must just be crazy to have that many people wanting to buy stuff. That is incredible. I feel sorry for the poor people that work there.
    Really you are going to be up to 80 next week? We are still going to be cold though not as cold as it is now. I was kind of looking forward to a break. Californian that I am. :)
    Well have a lovely Sunday Debbie. I loved your pictures.

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  3. I made dresses for DD when she was growing up ... but nothing until she was 2 or so. Those itty bitty newborn dresses are so tiny ... I think I would have lost my mind. You are a better woman than I am, my friend. Those little outfits you made are just too adorable for words!

    I think I would have told DH to go find somewhere to hang out (a coffee shop, a store he would like to check out, etc.) while I stood in line. He knows to bring a book to read when we go fabric shopping. Although truth be told, I'm not sure that I would have stood in line for THREE HOURS! Yikes!

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  4. Three hours? Unbelievable! No fabric is worth that! My favorite little outfit is the pink with cherries...so cute! Are you ever going to take up sewing for dolls? =D

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  5. No way I would have waited 3 hours either. Wow! Hopefully there will be some left there for you in a day or two.

    I love that last picture. So adorable.

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  6. Wow, those little fellas are adorable and look like they could be quite a handful. Lol. That cherry sunsuit is so darling! Love that boutique bow too. I always use a long pencil with eraser to turn straps inside out---not that I've sewn anything in forever! My grandson's Dalmation and fire engine pajamas are still waiting...

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  7. You must be in your glory with all that girly sewing!! Baby girls clothes are precious, aren't they? And your headbands are the perfect finishing touches to those darling outfits!

    Three hours for discount fabric? Eek!!

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  8. So fun to see the girl outfits! I'm back to blogging after a long break so it was good to catch up with you.

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  9. Those little guys are growing up so fast and are just adorable. You got to be having a great time making all those adorable little dresses....kind of adds to the excitement of waiting for the little one.....three hour wait....yikes!! I know there was a sale and all but that was pretty insane, I hope your able to get what you want later this week

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  10. Love the pictures of your little men -- so, so precious!! And oh special making baby clothes for your daughter's daughter! You did a great job on all those tiny clothes. I have enough trouble with regular armholes, can't imagine an armhole for a newborn!!

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!