Disney Outfits 2011

Our Disney trip this year was at a different time. We usually go to the World in September or October. However, we had been to DisneyLand in April, so Sept of 2010, was not enough time between trips. A great deal for Free Dining showed up and we decided that we would try winter in Disney. Winter in Florida is unpredictable. You could have 80 degree days or 30 degrees day. DH and I honeymooned in Disney in December and two days were nice and 2 days were freezing!

So, I planned outfits for Sara Beth that could be worn with or without shirts underneath. I also had jeans, leggins or tights for each outfit. This first outfit is a Bambi outfit. I loved this material, it was designed off of Thomas Kinkades paintings. I made a Simply Sweet top using CarlaC's pattern. I appliqued one leg of her jeans with a mickey head made of the bambi material. The top to wear underneath was a portrait peasant top.

This outfit was actually repurposed! I made this dress years ago. It was a long tedious process as there are over 25 squares that are embroidered with different Disney characters. The dress was getting to small, and the bodice had been made from a Disney hankie and faded pretty badly. So, I removed the old bodice and the old bias tape from the bottom and added a new bodice and bias tape to match. Voila! Now she can get a few more years out of it!

Can you tell I love CarlaC's patterns? Simply sweet again! I used a Pillowcase square to make the bodice and the bright, cute mickey fabric I found at Walmart! I appliqued the jeans to match.

Oh my! An outfit not made from a CarlaC pattern...aka The Scientific Seamstress! This is a Feliz. It is a german pattern and I love it! There are some great sew-a-longs online to help you through, as german patterns seem to have very little directions! I love this print as it is another Thomas Kinkade fabric. I found the large Snow White online and the coordinating fabric at Hobby Lobby. The top underneath was a CarlaC portrait peasant top.

Another Feliz. Love this pattern! This is a tink dress made from really pretty fabric I found at Walmart as a creative cut. In fact, right at the moment, this same fabric is on clearance at my walmart for $1.97 for 2 yards!

This is another German pattern called a Vida. I have used this pattern before and I love how easy it goes together and how many options there are to bling it up! I found this awesome Lion King fabric on ebay and had to have it! It made the cutest vida!

Since the weather would be iffy, I decided she need a jacket. I found this cute, black hoodie at Target on clearance and added a mickey head applique to the back. Note I do not have an embroidery machine, so all applique is done freehand with a regular sewing machine!

The only thing I made for myself! I appliqued a mickey head on the back of a nice hoodie my dd gave me for Christmas.

Not only was this trip happening at a different time of the year, but I was going to meet some friends from the Disboards I have never met in real life! The disbotiquers are a great group of women(and Tom) who have been online together for years! It was so exciting to get to meet a great many of them! So, we had some matchy shirts for our meet!

We really did enjoy our trip, however the weather was in the 70's-80's all week! All dresses were worn without any shirts underneath and we didn't get to wear our new hoodies! Oh well! They all go plenty of use after Disney at home where the temperatures were in the 30's and 40's!

My next update will be some great crayon totes!

Catch up!

Seems like I try to stay on top of things in the summer, then the school year comes and I never have time to update! I am going to try to make a schedule for myself to keep up with this year. Sort of a school year resolution!

Here are some projects I completed last fall. I started a job as a preschool teacher assistant, and was promoted to Teacher after half a year. I am looking forward to working with 3 year olds again this coming year!

I made a few shirts for myself for work. I really need something that was comfortable, but also nice enough to wear to work. This first one was a Butterick pattern. I didn't love the pattern itself, but I loved the way the top came out.

This is a CarlaC pattern, the Shana Tunic. I loved how easy it went together. And I love this great fall fabric I had found at Hobby Lobby.

Another Shana tunic! Once you do one, you will want to do more! This is a great top for preschool! Hello Kitty Halloween fabric. The kids loved it! And again, very comfy and pretty!

Ashley wanted a top too. The pattern is simplicity, and it wasn't bad, it was the fabric that threw me! It was all crinkly and very hard to cut to a pattern. However, it came out great and she loved it!

Another Shana tunic! This one was for my MIL for Christmas. Fabric is from Hobby Lobby.

A portrait peasant from CarlaC! This is one of her original patterns. Very versatile. Made a quick dress/nightgown for Sara beth. Her AG dolls even got matchy ones...perhaps one day I will find the picture of them!

I found this great cradle at Goodwill for $3! I recovered it and made a pillow and a blanket. Sara Beth's AG dolls sleep well in their new bed! Only room for 2, so hopefully she doesn't get any ideas about needing another one!

Well, this is all for now. Next installment will be an update on Disney outfits from our trip in Jan/Feb 2011.

Finally Back into the Groove!

I finally have found the time to get some sewing done! After moving to Oregon than back across the US to Virginia, I am finally set up in the basement and sewing!

The first item I made is a shirt for myself. It is a commercial pattern, Butterick B5046. This is the first commercial pattern I have used in a while. I like the ones from youcanmakethis.com and I like the Studio Tantrum patterns. I remembered why I don't like Butterick! It had many directions that were incorrect or confusing. I became friends with my seem ripper again! But, once I read and reread and watched a great video on slip stitching I got it done. I really like it and now that I worked out all the kinks, I may make a dress version!

The next think I whipped up was a pair of shorts. I did use the same butterick pattern only because I looked through it and saw it was your basic pant pattern. 4 pieces sewn together! I have been hoarding this pretty material from Hobby Lobby and finally used most of it up. The shorts are comfy.

Sara Beth was next. I moved back to my favorite patterns! This is the Precious Dress by CarlaC that can be found on youcanmakethis.com. I used a really cute eyelet material that came from Hobby Lobby. Sara Beth has had 2 other items made from this material. Mom bought the bolt and she gave it to me! I love mom! And I love this material. Sara Beth likes puffy sleeves, so we did puffy sleeves, collar and ties. This will probably be the last time I can use this size. One great think about CarlaC's patterns is that they come in many sizes and you print off the size you need when you need it!

Now, Sara Beth can't have a pretty dress without Kirsten having a matching one! Since we were leaving to North Carolina to visit family and friends that afternoon I had to whip up Kirsten's dress quickly. I fore go the sleeves, collar and ties so I could make it quickly. It only took about an hour from cut to finish. That is including time I tore apart my sewing area to find hook and loop tape! But, voila! Sara Beth and Kirsten have matching dresses. Sara Beth has commissioned me to make another doll dress for her itty bitty twin!

Trip to California!

I haven't posted many outfits lately! Too many things going on. I did want to share some photos of things I made for a trip to California! While living in Oregon for 2 months, we went on a tour of of the west coast. We visited Sacramento, San Diego, La Jolla, Ahaheim (Disney, of course), San Francisco and the Redwood forest! What a trip! Since most of our stuff was still in storage I didn't get to make too many outfits, but I was able to get a few done!

First, is a Vida for the San Diego Zoo! I used some leftover material from a blanket my mom had made and some safari material found at Walmart. It came out so cute!

The only other outfits I made were 2 pant sets. Both are the easy fit pants. The first outfit has a tshirt from Target that I embellished. The second outfit I used the Molly Peasant. I only had about 3 days to whip all the outfits up so they were as involved as some of my others have been!

New Vidas and a Precious dress!

Finally got something finished for our trip and was able to convince Sara Beth to take some pictures. First is her Alice in Wonderland dress. I used the Precious dress from CarlaC for the dress itself and I made my own pattern for the apron. The bow is from CarlaC too...a freebie on Youcanmakethis.com. She will wear this for the 1900 Park Fare Breakfast.

The princess vida was a test run as it was the first time I used this pattern. A fellow disser made a tutorial that I followed and made this one of the easiest dress patterns I have ever used! Of course, it came out so cute I felt it could be used as a Disney Dress. The other day Sara Beth informs me that 5 year olds are too old for princesses. WHAT! She is only 5. Maybe it is because the next Vida I made was a Hanna Montana dress and she is in love with her! So here are her new Vidas!

Long Time Gone

I have been so busy, I haven't had much time to post anything. I have completed a skort, a pair of shorts, an outfit and 2 dresses! Now to get them photographed and posted! I have one photographed already. this dress was from a Simplicity pattern. The material is from Joanns. I love the material because it was sparkly. In fact, I just ordered more of the stripe material for a dress I am working on!

Colonial Willamsburg Dress

I was hoping to get a good picture of Sara Beth in this dress, but we were so busy! I finished the whole dress only days before we left...you know I hate zippers! But, alas, it got done and she looked adorable in it. I didn't get the hat done so we bought one in one of the little stores there!