Father/Daughter dance

Last Saturday was Sydney's first Father/Daughter dance. I think Chad was way more excited about it than Sydney was. It was loud and dark in the cafeteria and Sydney doesn't like either of those things. She was ready to go after about 30 minutes. But here is her dress. I chose a satin batiste in cornflower blue. The pattern is from AS&E. It is called Garden Party. I added half and inch to the back just to give her more room when giving Daddy big hugs on the dance floor. She said she felt like a princess wearing it. The bow in her hair is a 3 inch double satin ribbon in cornflower blue also. Both from Farmhouse Fabrics. 

I did a very simple 5 step trellis for the smocking and used sapphire seed beads. Loved the simplicity of it.

Chad ended up having a tie that perfectly matched her. They were just cute as can be going out on their "date".

At the dance they had another proud father take this picture. I wished I could have gone and just snapped pictures of them.

But, I had better things to do...I had to smell my sweet baby's head and give soft kisses to her forehead. I was in heaven.

Baby Sage is here

Well, Tuesday morning at 8:03 am baby Sage Piper was born. She is the cutest thing I have ever seen. Well, other than Sydney, of course! She weighed in at 7 pounds even and was 19 inches long. Tiny and sweet!Here is Sydey showing her off. She is one very proud big sister.

Coming home outfit ended up being the white swiss flannel gown by Grace Knott. The weather was a little cool and she was just swimming in anything else I brought.

Here we are leaving the hospital room.

She is the best baby. She eats and sleeps so well. I have gotten more sleep in the past couple of days than I did the last month I was pregnant with her. She has to be awakened just to eat. Four hour stretches are not uncommon. We feel so blessed and are really enjoying all of us home and just cuddling with the newest sweetness in the world. Life is indeed good!

I need to recover so I can go make something sweet and little bitty for her to wear. I am thinking either another Grace Knott gown or maybe a very tiny bishop.
I have been asked if she looks like Sydney, and she does. She has the same cute button nose and lips. Her coloring looks paler than Sydney and her hair is much lighter. It will be fun to see if it changes. Her eyes are very pale too.
Have a great day. I will be spending the next couple of weeks just smelling that sweet round head and playing with cute baby toes.

Baby Bubble Buggy

I love these little diaper shirts and cover. The pattern is Creations by Michie's Diaper shirt and Cover. It is a wonderful way to do a little shadow work on a sweet baby outfit. This one is a size 3 months. I made it out of scraps of white and pink broadcloth. Talk about easy laundry! No ironing needed. The bias binding is a floral lawn.

My one wheel looks a little wonky. But for some reason, I sort of like the imperfection of it so I didn't go back and and redo it. Would you have?


I am getting down to the wire here. I have 7 days left before I check into the hospital. I have two more things I have to get done. One for the baby and one for Sydney. I sure hope this baby doesn't decide any surprises and wants to make an appearance early or I am in big trouble.
Okay, back to smocking!

Coming home outfit

Okay, I think I have my mind made up. This is the one I will bring home my new baby in. It is Old Fashioned Baby's Emma smocked dress. I love the sweet lace and soft pink color of the baby pink pique.

I am in love with the delicate look of these sleeves. Aren't they just the sweetest thing ever?

Here is the yoke embroidery and the smocking. It really didn't take that long to do it. It is so small. I loved doing those sweet bullions. I used floche for all the smocking. I love doing bullions with floche. They end up so smooth and perfect every time.

This pattern went together so well. I can see making more of these sweet dresses. It just makes me smile to look at it. I am getting so excited!!!

Valentine's Inspirations

Well, yesterday I put away all those Christmas decorations. Sydney helped and complained about having to put them away the whole time. She doesn't see why we have to put them all away. I can't wait until she grows up and go over to her house at Easter and Santa is going to be beside the chocolate bunny. I can see it now. The child is all about Santa and Christmas.
So, while looking for inspiration today I looked back over some Valentine's outfits I have done for Sydney in the past. I thought I would share these with you. Along with some other ideas that would work for that sweet holiday. In other words, I am procrastinating...

This is one of my favorite patterns. It is such a quick smocking project with the small patches but it is so sweet on. I think I have used this Children's Corner pattern for every holiday there is. I just love it.


My sweet girl likes to do the princess poses. I don't quite remember which one this is, I think it is Belle's pose, but it turned off really cold for Valentines last year so this dress was in a very fun wild corduroy. There are lots of hearts in different colors. I think I got it at Hancock's Fabrics. I love this style of dress on little girls. It isn't babyish but still looks like a little girl.


This is a quick jumper out of some quilter's cotton. The weather was really cold and I was afraid my little one would freeze but I had to use those cute heart pockets so this was one year's Valentine's outfit. So I put her in a turtleneck and thick tights. She loved the dress and she wore a huge coat over it, but was very happy at her Valentine's party.


Here is a better shot of those cute pockets and the bright fabric. Aren't they adorable? I may have to use them again on something else. This is Bonnie Blue's Lydia pattern. I love the swing style of the jumper.


Even a simple yoke dress could work for a Valentine's Day party. This one is Collar's yoke dress. I enlarged the collar to get that monogram on it. I think I had to add an inch to it.


Here are some sister bishops that have little hearts in the design and they would be so cute too. Adorable cute pink floral, what could be better?


Okay, so what to do this year? I tried asking Sydney, but she was distracted by coloring so I guess I am on my own on that one. Maybe a machine embroidery this year would work. I have seen some really cute ones lately. With my countdown being at 20 days until baby comes I need quick and fast for this outfit.

Hopefully, I got your wheels going on Valentine's day too. It is right around the corner.

Warm and cozy

Because this crazy weather this year has me making one thing in lawn and the next in flannel, it is flannel time again. So, I have this wonderfully soft pink flannel and decided on a quick daygown from Collar's Layette. This went together and completed in less than an hour. I used a floral lawn for the bias binding and to cover the buttons. I will have to remember this when I am going to a baby shower next time, it would be a wonderful gift and so many options.
I will say that it does seem large though. Not something my baby will be wearing coming home, that's for sure. It looks more like a 3 month size, at least.


Also, I have finished up a newborn diaper cover. I love the look of these. The cute pink bow and flowers on the booty make it so sweet. I love doing shadow work and this was so fast. This pattern is called Double seat panties. I can see lots of cute variations that could work for these. Also, the fact that the pattern goes from newborn to size 6 makes it a great one.


Here is a little sneak peek at what I have been working on lately. I am thinking this might end up being my coming home outfit for our baby. It is just too sweet not to get lots of pictures in. I need to get busy working on all these UFO's I have since I will be going to the hospital in 22 days now. I know these last few weeks are going to fly by.


Okay, back to work now.

New Year and a plan

Hello 2011!!! I have so much planned for this year starting with a countdown to the delivery date. Yes, I have an exact date to expect my sweet baby girl to arrive. So, that being said I am on a speed sewing quest. I have piles of things cut out and outfits in various stages of completion. Which is totally unlike me! I don't like UFO's and rarely have any. I like to work on something and then move it on out of the sewing room and start on the next project. I feel a sense of accomplishment that way. So this newfound chaos I am blaming on the baby hormones. I am going in 100 directions all at once and not getting anywhere fast. So frustrating!
So, this year my New Year's Resolutions are as follows:
1. Do as many sister outfits as I can. (Yes, this one is a total fun one!)
2. Lose the baby weight. Really, honestly, I am not too worried about this one. I love to workout and have already got the jogging stroller picked out. I can't wait for the go ahead to start walking again. I miss that time to clear my head and breath the fresh air.
3. Join some women's groups and make some friends. I think SAGA in my area will have a new member and Junior Women's of Orlando will also be getting a fiesty new active member in the coming months. I need some girlfriends! I miss my friends from Williamsburg so much. There is just something about getting together with friends for a cause that I really like and miss.
4. I would also like to get to a sewing class or school this year. Don't know if that one will happen, but it sure is a goal.

So, what are your New Year's Resolutions this year?