Polka Dot Tiny Dancer

Just before Christmas, I made my little 2 year old a corduroy jumper out of this cute black and white fabric.  My first idea was to find a herringbone… but I could not find one after looking for 2 seconds and found this instead.  She wore it for Christmas with a red cardigan, but yesterday we pulled it out again with “stripey tights” and her little green shrug.

And then she demonstrated her sweet dance moves.

I like to call her Elaine Benes when she dances.

Stay tuned for what I did with the leftover fabric.

Oh and it’s the same pattern as this one from last year.  (She looks so little then!!!!)

2011 Goals

I do have some goals for 2011, in addition to being better about taking pictures and posting my “creations”…

the thing is, right now I really don’t have the time to put the effort into making this a networking blog.  So, for now, I will only have about 10 readers.  (Hi!!!)  And that’s fine.  I still like to chronicle my thoughts, inspirations, and things I have made.

So:

1.  I would really like to improve my photography skills.  Let’s be honest, right now they are lacking.  As in, I do not have any photography skills.  I am getting a birthday present this weekend which should help… a nice camera!  And, I have learned a little bit about how to edit photos, which should help.  I really want to be able to take pictures of the girls that really capture who they are.

2.  Figure out how to use my new serger!  I found it on Craigslist a couple of months ago for an amazing price and had to beat down a few other people to get it.  My occasionally competitive nature won out and I went home with this beauty!!  That I have yet to figure out how to thread… I’ve been too busy sewing things on the machine I DO know how to use.    So, I need to take a break to learn my new machine.

3.  Make an awesome dress of my own design, and start to design my own clothes a bit more.  My sister is getting married in April, and I would like to make a dress for that occasion.  But, I want it to look nice, since it is a wedding after all, and the reception is at my house so I will be a little bit of a hostess, and also I will be in pictures.  I have an idea in my head, and I hope I can make it come to life.  I would love to learn how make patterns, but I don’t know that I am quite there yet.  At any rate, I hope to be able to design my own clothes or at least add some creativity into store bought patterns.

4.  Start to reflect my love of design (particularly interior design) on my blog.  This means sharing the befores and afters of “finishing” and settling into our house, figuring out how to decorate and what looks best, making decisions, and sharing inspiration.  I’m new at this, and still learning, but it’s something I really enjoy.  So, I think I will write about that too.

So, I hope to be able to post a little more regularly here incorporating all those things.  I mean, I still have a full-time job, and 2 little girls, and a house to clean and dinner to cook, and laundry that never ends… so let’s be real.  I hope to post when I can!!

Yes I do still sew… and occasionally take pictures

So, my biggest problem is that I never remember to take pictures of my completed projects.  Or, I wear something I made and then the baby spits up on it.

So, I have taken pictures of only 2 items I’ve made for fall / winter 2010.

You know how when you find an item of clothing that fits you perfectly and you love it, you want to get it in every color?  I feel that way about the pattern for this top:

(and I didn’t say they were good pictures…)

I based this very loosely on this pattern, but changed it quite a bit– simplified it, really.  No sleeves, so inset / yoke, no ruffles, raised the neckline… it’s really a pretty simple top, but when it’s in a bright fun pattern it still stands out.  A top of this style is especially great for me now because I still have a little baby tummy, and I can hide it.    Lots of options, including using different fabrics, adding a ruffle along the top or 3/4 sleeves, making it tunic length and belting it, etc.  Let’s just say I have already made a second one, and I have fabric to make 2 more…

For a change away from simple tops, I made this skirt, which was my own design:

It’s a simple lightweight corduroy pleated skirt with a waist band.  I lined it with a cheap fun turquoise fabric.

The only problem is that waist ended up a little too big.  I took it in a little bit, but this is a recurring theme among skirts I made.

So, although I have quite a few other items in my fall / winter “collection” this year, I have been slacking on the photography.  Hopefully I’ll get around to it, one of these days…