A Good Monday Afternoon!

Yes, it was! 

I finished this outfit.

Lucky Aubrey (and Aubrey was her name)!!!

This is my second success!

Finally!

Many start-overs and discards

came before these last two outfits.

Trying to find my style.

I don't necessarily like to putz much.

But, I do like those extra little touches.

Details.

For instance...

double row of stitching on hems.

No particular reason...

I just like the way it looks.

Aubrey (and Aubrey was her name)

is very much in love with her new hat.

 

 It is a pattern from Fabs at Fig and Me.

(if you have time, you really should take a look at her blog...

she makes amazing dolls and clothes and more!)

My big night of television is tonight.

I guess I should figure out what's

for supper before then, hey?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

A Good Monday Morning!

It is Monday morning.  I must say, it is rather nice to wake up without a groan on Monday mornings...has something to do with the fact that I don't need to go to work. 

Because I am retired.  I may have mentioned that before.  ~grin~ 

It has been a productive Monday morning.  

I finished knitting the larger size hat I showed in my last post.  I added stitches and rows, so it is a better fit...doesn't need to be stretched to cover the head.

And, here is a peek at the blouse I'm working on...

I am very happy with how my neck edge turned out.  I cut a bias strip and sewed it on with Naomi Janome and then turned it over and hand stitched it on the inside.  Same as the other top I made.  I think it looks very...well...finished.  ~grin~

OH!  And, see the hat ties?  I made them my way this time...much easier.  The crochet hook is not (yet) my friend.  I think these work just as well. 

Time to go potty Curly Sue (friend's dog that I visit every day around this time) and then it's lunchtime!  More sewing to follow before the big night of television.

Hope you are having a good Monday, too!



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

It's All In The Details...

I am so happy to show you this outfit.  I finished it just now...and I am so pleased that it turned out just as I had pictured it in my head.  This is my first creation...well, not really my creation.  The pattern was given in the book, "Making Waldorf Dolls"...and I added to it.  To suit my need for more...to satisfy my creative brain...to find what works for me...my style.  To fill in the details.

A simple top with raglan sleeves...modified to have a neckline edge with a bias strip...tucks rather than elastic around the neckline.  Tucks on the sleeves...top-stitched for more detail...a double line of sewing on the hem.  Pants shortened to be pantaloons with elastic around the leg edges...with the same tucks...and the same top-stitching.  All seams serged by Serger Sue.

I know it is soon to be winter, but I had this fabric that I wanted to use for Aubrey (and Aubrey was her name). 

And, the distraction I mentioned in this morning's post?  This hat...

Isn't it fun??  It is not quite done, though.  I need to weave in a few ends and make the tie for the other side.  It is a pattern by Fabs at Fig and Me.  Future hats will be a bit larger.  If Aubrey had a big head of hair as so many of the Waldorf dolls seem to, this hat would not fit.     

And, that's all I have for today.  Tomorrow is my day to do some sewing on Christmas gifts.




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Temper, Temper!!

I was all set to sew up a storm today.  I cut out a pattern...pajamas for Aubrey (and Aubrey was her name)...as a trial pair.  To see how things went together, to size them, and all that good stuff.  Very cute pajamas, too...pink with green stripes flannel.   

Course, I haven't used Serger Sue much at all since she arrived in June.  I started with a trial run and things looked okay.  Not perfect, but okay.  You know how temperamental sergers can be!  But, I went forward...sewed the pajamas, all the while thinking it was good that they were for Aubrey.  Things were okay with the pattern, but the serging didn't look right.  I became fairly frustrated and quit once I had the pajama top done.  

Tonight, when I should have gone to bed, I decided to see if I could figure out what was going on with Serger Sue.  Nothing looked right...and I know diddly about fixing the tension.  But then, one of the threads broke, so I thought...ah-ha...I'll rethread Serger Sue and perhaps that will fix the problem.  Well.  Apparently Serger Sue did not like being set aside when I had company and had a temper tantrum!  She unthreaded herself from one of the thread guides.  Well, no wonder the tension wasn't right!

I spent a very long time rethreading Serger Sue.  What a pain it can be to thread a serger!  But, now that I have done it, rethreading won't be so bad from here on in.  (Course, changing colors is simple...I tie the new color threads to the current ones and pull them through all the guides...easy peasy!!!)

Once I had her threaded, I tested her out...and YAY!  We're back in business!  whew!

I think Serger Sue and Naomi Janome are happy to be on the sewing table...together again. 

Okay, so I am tired.  And, apparently thinking I am pretty funny.

All's well.  Good night. 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Getting It Done...

After losing last week to headaches, I was really looking forward to getting some things done this week.  Luckily, no headaches have descended upon me, so I have been fairly productive yesterday and today.   

  I finished this little quilt...

and listed it in my Etsy shop here.  I rather enjoy making little quilts...they are quick to make and  it's (almost) instant gratification.  Also because, ya know, they're so dang cute.

I started working with the new doll dress pattern that I purchased from Bonnie at mybonbonboutique.  I made a dress for Aubrey (my 14" Waldorf doll).  I thought blue would go well with her hair...

Isn't that just too cute?  The dress is a medium, and just a tad big for Aubrey, but she's so happy to finally have a dress that she has not noticed.   (I've got the dress snugged up quite a bit in back, so it looks as if it fits her better than it actually does.)

(Please excuse her hair...Kaylynn was playing with her and got a bit rough, methinks.  Aubrey definitely needs a new hairdo.)



And, I made this for sister Joyce to gift someone...

Do you know that, with all the Kleenex cozies I've made, I don't have one for myself?  Isn't that funny?  I have made over 100 of these things (I'll bet the number is closer to 200)!   And still, not one for me!  ~grin~ 

I'm not sure what I'll be working on for the next few days, but I have my list in plain sight, so I will keep focused.  

Kaylynn is coming for an overnight this weekend.   That makes me very happy.   

What are you up to this week?





"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

And So The Adventure Begins...

Not only is this the start of a new week, it is the official start of my new business.  (I've alluded to this before - here - but never actually spelled it out for you.)

What, you ask?

Isn't it exciting enough that I am retired?

Well, yes.

A big, emphatic, YES!

However, one must have goals and plans and things to do.

What, you ask?

I don't have enough to do?

Well, yes.

A (not quite so) big, emphatic, YES!  

But, one must follow the path that opens up before one.

Do you not agree?

(lots of questions in this post!)

One must use one's talents.

One must do fun and exciting things.  

One must do what one is led to do.  

Therefore.  I have - with God's help - decided that I am going to make a business of making doll clothes.  Let's call it, "The Chocolate Puppy".

YAY! 

Remember when I received Aubrey from Cathy?  (Her blog is here and her facebook page is here.) 

Since then (2010), I have been fascinated by the Waldorf-inspired dolls.  I have closely followed Cathy's business and stalked been fascinated by others who also make these wonderful dolls. 

It was when I was sorting woolens a few months ago, that I had that EUREKA moment!  That it hit me.  What lovely pieces of wool...ohmy...wouldn't these make lovely hooded capes for dolls?  ohmy.  YES!

And, I was off and running...so many ideas...so many plans.  I am inspired and motivated.

In my retirement, I am going to work at something I love!  Though, truth be known, I don't actually consider this work.    

One step at a time, though...I don't want to get too far ahead of myself.   

First up, then, is to make some carrycots and sleeping bags and pillows and blankets.

Are you with me?

Okay.

So, this a.m., I was cutting fabric for a carrycot and was all set to start sewing when I realized that I didn't have enough fabric for the binding.  oops!  What now?  (ohplease...lol...I didn't really say/think that.)  What I did was this...I went to my jar of leftover bindings.

And, lo and behold!, there was a nice little roll of binding in the fabric I needed...ready to rock and roll!

I knew I was saving those leftovers for something!

Besides the fact that they look darn cute in the jar on my shelf. 



Hope your Monday is as fun as mine is!!!


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Topping It Off...

Several hours after I made

Aubrey's summer outfit,

(see the post below)
I decided that she needed

a reversible bonnet.

So, I made one for her.

She is very happy with it...

As am I.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

She was NAKED!!

And Aubrey was her name

A not so very ordinary a girl, or name

Bread, 1973

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was enjoying the early morning quiet...

sipping my juice and reading blogs.

The quiet didn't last long...
I began to hear the sounds

of thumping and bumping,

grunting and muttering

coming from my bedroom.

Since Tag and Kisa were
both in my eyesight,

I was mystified.

When I walked into my bedroom,
I immediately saw what was going on...
the source of all the noise.

There was Aubrey,

rolling around on the sewing table...

 kicking her feet and
pounding her fists.
A tantrum, for sure.

And, she was naked as a jaybird!

"I am hot, hot, hot!",

she complained.

"Please, Mama!

Please make some 
summer clothes for me.

All I have are these jeans

and this green shirt."

(nice as they are,

I did have to admit that she needed

a summer outfit)

She kicked her feet on the table

and whined,

"If you don't make a summer outfit for me, 

I will remain naked!

Cuz, Mama...I am HOT!"


I took Aubrey in my arms
and whispered in her ear, 
"I am happy to make you a new outfit."


And so, I did.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And, here we are...
standing in the doorway of 
my new adventure.
My retirement.

Making clothes for Aubrey

and her many friends.

 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Best-Laid Plans...and all that...

You see, I was planning on finishing my Curio quilt top and backing on these 4 days I've had off.  But it just ain't gonna happen.  Too many distractions and interruptions and new projects and several other excuses reasons.  Criminey!

It's okay, though...it will get done very soon.  I actually sat down to sew today but it is very cold and windy outside and this apartment is drafty...I can feel the draft through the window...and Naomi Janome is cold and my scissors are cold...doesn't really help my cold hands at all.  So.  I will stay out of my cold bedroom.  I actually had the quilt top done on Saturday, and then several hours later, I noticed that one row was totally messed up.  Block A is supposed to alternate with Block B...not be next to another Block A!!!    So, I reverse sewed it and put it back together the correct way.  

Here's a photo of the layout...

Remember (in my previous post), I wrote that knitting is my therapy?  Well, I took some time to knit a doll sweater yesterday!  My dear blogging friend, Cathy, sent me some patterns, so I sat down and tried one out.  I made this sweet little sweater for my Waldorf-inspired doll, made and given to me by Cathy.  It was a very simple pattern...and fun to knit all in one piece.  

Here it is on Aubrey (and Aubrey was her name)...perfect fit!

I may knit more of these and try to sell them.  Win/win!  (therapy/$$)

When I am nearing completion (well, sometimes way before that) of my current project, I start giving serious thought to the next one.  Will it be something new or something I have on my list?  ohboy.  Does this happen to you?  It happened to me on Saturday...one of my many distractions.  ~grin~  I have had this fabric for over a year...Echo by Lotta Jansdotter...and am really excited about working with it.

 
It is my next project...and I know what I am going to do with it...YAY!  No thinking involved with this one...a simple patchwork quilt!  

Hope you're having a good Monday!




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Sleeping Bags.

A little bit of sewing...

This is the size large sleeping bag,

which measures 12 x 17 1/2 inches.

Aubrey is a 14 inch doll,

so she has plenty of room.

  

This is the size small sleeping bag, 

which measures 8 x 12 inches.

I have no other dolls,

so nothing to put in it.

That's all I have for tonight.

Time for 'Dancing With the Stars'!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

A New Adventure.

Remember when Cathy

from Quilting on Turtle Hill

sent Aubrey to me?

That most precious of dolls?

Well, a few weeks ago,

Cathy asked if I'd be interested in making

carrycots and doll quilts.

She doesn't have time,

but her customers are asking.

She would send them to my etsy shop.

Who could say no to that?

So.

Here's my first completed set.

A carrycot measuring 10 x 16 and with 5" sides...

quilted, with handles for carrying.

A mattress measuring 12 x 17.

A pillow and pillowcase measuring 5 x 8.

A little quiltie measuring 12.75 x 12.75.

I'll be listing it in my etsy shop tomorrow.

I hope to make these, as well as separate doll quilts...

and keep up with my own stuff.

I am very excited to see where this takes me!
It's a new adventure!

New Clothes!

Not for me...I made new clothes for Kaylynn's baby doll.  Poor thing, she had nothing but pajamas.  Saw this cute ladybug fabric at Hobby Lobby and had to get it for just this purpose.  Okay, sometimes I like ladybugs on fabric.  (see yesterday's post if you have no clue what significance that has.)  The denim is a bit of what I had left from a laundry bag I made for a coworker. 

Here she is with Aubrey, her new friend.  Look at their clothes...they bear a marked similarity in construction, don't you think?  That's because I totally copied Cathy's (the one who made Aubrey.  Of Quilting on Turtle Hill) work.  Cuz she's my friend.  Thanks, Cathy!

Tag is anxious to go out.  

I need to make lunch.

Hope you are having a great day.