5 more modern quilt Blocks designed by Tula Pink

 

I skipped the triangle section, opting instead for the easier blocks from the rectangle chapter of the book, because they looked easier.  I even skipped number 59 for now because of all the small pieces.  What a wimp!

Snow queen Gown for my first Disney princess doll

I made a snow queen gown based on the movie Frozen for B's Elsa doll:

It is modeled here by Belle.  Bella's comment on seeing it was, "Belle doesn't wear that dress!"

Here is the back.

 

 

The cape is detachable, and fastens on with snaps.

 

 

Why make an Elsa dress for an Elsa doll?

 

Here is the dress Elsa wears in the movie...

 

 

 

And here is what the doll reimagined as a toddler wears:

 

 

It's a cute dress, but a far cry from the movie version. 

 

I think mine comes a little closer without being too adult: I left out the slit and the v shaped bodice.  Hopefully B. will like it.

 

 

 



20 modern quilt blocks on the wall

From the rectangle section of Tula Pink's City Sampler: 100 Modern Quilt Blocks.  Still not sure about my palette of colors, but it's too late to go back now.

Doll dress with sleeve

Adding a sleeve to a pattern designed to fit a dress for a 15 " doll with no sleeve is a pain in the butt. This was my practice for the Elsa dress: I promised to make a matching Elsa dress set for Bella and her doll.  I think I am making progress with the sleeve:

The other sleeve was a bit messy, though and it's too tight in the back. Now I know to make the back even longer. 

 

Dolly has a new blue satin-y dress.   Cotton is so much easier to sew, but it doesn't shimmer like this!

Bella's Yellow dress

Bella's mom sent me this photo of her peacing out on memorial day. 

Her doll has a matching dress but was wisely not invited to the pool party.

A tail for Ariel

 

A few months ago, I promised 4 year old Bella that I would make a tail for her Ariel doll.  Today, I finally had time to devout to this task. 

 

I love a challenge but I don't know if this is something I would want to take on again: small stretchy fabric pieces, one less so than the other.  It is far from perfect: baggy, with some imperfect seams.  The perfectionist part of me wants to redo it, but the more sensible (and exhausted) part knows that it's good enough for Bella to play with.  I hope she likes it!

 

 

I couldn't have Ariel going around topless, so I made her a little tube top:

 purple, but fabric instead of shells.

 

 

The extra bagginess means that Ariel can sit down and move around when she is wearing her tail. :)

Four more funky blocks from Tula Pink's City Sampler: 100 Modern Quilt Blocks:

Four plus four makes eight blocks:

 

 (Quilting math is the only math I like.)

 

This color combo is not one I would normally pick, but I loved the floral fabric, and had to find colors to go with it.  I wanted to do some solids, but could not find a solid to match the medium blue flower.  So it's a very busy bunch of quilt blocks!

 

Yesterday I also made Alton Brown's baked macaroni and cheese, but I didn't think you'd like a picture of that, even though it took longer to make than 2 quilt blocks.  It was delicious, and my dad and I ate way too much.  Inspired by my mom's hog farm roots, I added ham.  My favorite part is the crunchy top - isn't it everyone's? 

 

4 funky quilt blocks from Tula Pink's City Sampler: 100 Modern Quilt Blocks, displayed on my fancy-schmancy new quilt board.  (My dad helped me put it together.  The board, not the blocks.)



Two pictures with Bella and her doll, wearing the dresses I made for them before shortening the shoulder length. (Mom wanted the dresses long so she could wear them next year.)

Bella and Belle in their green dresses.

 

 

Bella and Belle in their blue dresses.

 

Girl and Doll Summer Dresses take 2.

Same patterns as previous posts; different fabrics.   I love a strong floral print with a '60's vibe, but I know that not everyone else does.  Hopefully, Bella won't mind this, even if she doesn't love the fabric as much as I do. 

I am eagerly awaiting my model / recipient.  I've only basted across the top of both dresses to hold the shoulder seams and am looking forward to completing the projects entirely.

Dresses for Bella and Belle

I made matching dresses for the 4 year old daughter of a friend (Bella) and her "My First Disney Princess" doll Belle.

The girl dress was made from McCall's pattern 4817, view E.  This was the easiest view, but I accidently sewed the self-made lining to the front of the dress before gathering the skirt or sewing the zipper on: oops!  Luckily, this didn't cause too much of a problem.

The doll dress was trickier to make.  First of all, I had a problem with finding a pattern: there are tons of 18 in doll dress patterns out there, but I had trouble locating any for this smaller doll.  Finally, I found a simple pattern on Etsy, by Susan Bischoff: "Libby" for Disney's Toddler Princess.

It was very easy to use, with clear instructions, but it's been a long time since I've sewed such tiny seams - what a pain!  But I love when it all comes together: I can see that I've accomplished something tangible if imperfect .

Bella's mom requested another girl-sized dress, which I am currently finishing.  I also am trying to draft sleeves for the doll dress pattern, which I am finding to be a challenge - but an interesting one.

Making Things.

This is not a fancy blog.  It is a blog where I will post things I make.  I like to sew; I like to bake; I like to do kid-friendly crafts (with kids); I like to make sentences with semicolons.  I am not a professional at any of these things, and I am willing to run with an idea even if it doesn't work out.  You will probably find pictures of mistakes.  Some of the things I make you may find interesting; some you may not. 


My mother taught me how to sew and bake and appreciated creative work and play.  She died two years ago, and I still miss her everyday.  Making "things" helps me to feel connected to her.  So maybe this will also a blog about grief-work.  If it evolves into that, this kind of grief-work will be accomplished more by my hands than my words.