We Love Fall!!

Some favorite pictures from Sunday. :) I know some of these aren't super clear (still figuring out my new lens) but I just love the expression on her face.

Favorite!















Love that face:







Love the background blur:



Cute expression in profile:






Peekaboo!

























(the only one I tried to edit by lightening up with windows. I could try picasa).





Silly faces:







Pretty, but maybe not as pretty as last year?















I made her dress and blogged about it here.

Feria Dress

(week five of Project Run and Play)



When we were in Spain a few years ago (don't get too jealous- it's pretty much the only exciting thing we've done) we were lucky to be there during Feria. I was in love with the fun dresses and colors and that the whole city shuts down for a week long party. I've wanted an excuse to make Ansley a dress and Halloween seemed perfect.



I made a girl's version with a cap sleeve (instead of sleeveless) and the ruffles starting at the low waist rather than at hip level like women's dresses.



The top is made from a swimsuit/dance knit. I actually drafted a sloper(!) using ikatbag's excellent tutorial. I didn't add any seam allowances to the sloper b/c I was using knit. I used one of Ansley's cap sleeve tees to eyeball the sleeves. I was going to use the back sloper for the back but I didn't do a very good job with that one/didn't know what to do with the darts that are on the sloper b/c I didn't want darts on the dress. I used the top of my back sloper for the back and followed the shape of the existing shirt.



A quick google search lead me to some inspiration pictures. I also read about circular ruffles, which lead me to The Rooster and the Hen's circular ruffle tutorial. I hand cut at least sixty circles (I quit counting after a while) to make the nine tiers of ruffles. (and every time I think "hand cut" I want a steak ha). I love how they look!! The ruffle fabric is a shiny knit from the Halloween section of Joann. I don't love how flimsy/prone to snagging it is but Ansley loved the color and I wanted knit so I wouldn't have to hem every circlee. The ruffles are sewn to a half circle skirt using this tutorial to make sure my math was okay before cutting the fabric. The skirt portion is made of a poly satin fabric. I was going to make it knit so I wouldn't have to hem it but I didn't buy enough fabric the first time around. When I went back it was gone. This probably worked out better b/c the skirt isn't as heavy.



I made the flower clip using Brynde's tutorial at the Ribbon Retreat Blog.



And some more pictures:









PS our front door is blue now.



Bye.





Linked here. :)

For My Favorite Nephew

I wasn't sure I was going to participate in the Boy's Week Challenge, but my sister asked if I'd be interested in sewing a fox costume for her son a few months ago. I searched for a pattern, hoping it would be all spelled out for me but I didn't find one. I found this hat by itsybitsyhats on etsy (sold out) and added ears to Simplicity 3582.



I also used Simplicity 3582 view d to make the jacket. I learned a new way to fully line a jacket with no hand sewing! Wahoo! I used fleece, even though the jacket is not designed for fleece b/c it was the best color I could find, thanks to help from Tricia. I finished the hat the day before Kristin posted her Fantastic Mr Fox outfits (which are fantastic!), complete with an enviable rich corduroy. Anyway, I lined the jacket with a fabric from Ikea and I omitted the cuffs (shortened the sleeves before finishing the sleeves in the most confusing step of the pattern) b/c the veggies would've been upside down on the cuffs. The darling little model is my friend's daughter who is about the same size as my nephew. And yes, Ansley can sometimes whistle!