cute doll garland

My niece K (formerly known as Baby K) is turning 3.
I always sew something for her birthday and this year is no exception:
I made her a doll garland for her birthday.

For her 1st birthday I made her a soft doll fabric book,
for her 2nd birthday I made a baby doll diaper bag with all the necessities.

As she is now a "big girl", it was fun to sew something doll related but different.

I followed this tutorial from Charla Anne,
and I was also inspired by this doll garland by Girls inspired.

I chose to use 5 different skin colors felt for my dolls.
They also wear 5 different dresses, but the fabrics all come the same collection
and have the same pinks. They have the same eyes and lip colors, I skipped the cheeks.
I added lace, buttons, ric-rac, apron and applique to embellish the dresses.
I think it turned out really cute,
I hope K enjoys them as much as I did.

Miss C. was with me when I was making them and was inspired to make one for one of her girlfriends.
She did her own embroidery for the face,
I only stitched the hands, feet and head as the pieces are really small.
She sewed the rest on her own machine
(yes she received her first real sewing machine for Christmas)

It turned out really cute and her friend was very pleased!

Happy sewing!

croque-monsieur: some serious comfort food

After a couple days of warmer weather,

we are back in the snow and the cold.

Everybody at home is ready for some TLC,

and some comfort food.

To me, it means Croque-monsieur,

a French take on grilled cheese.

Don't you feel better just looking at it?

The only things that needs to be prepared is the bechamel sauce.

I make mine with 1.5 Tbsp of butter, 3 Tbsp of flour, 1 cup of milk and some salt.

It takes a few minutes to cook in a saucepan, but it is the required sauce.

Then I just layered Swiss cheese and ham inside 2 slices of sauced bread,

I grilled them in a panini press, we do not have the traditional French press.

Of course, if you are a vegetarian like me,

it is totally OK to skip the ham!

To make it more grown-up, healthier and less decadent,

I serve it with a salad and may (or not) only one half!

It makes me feel ready for another snow day!

Happy day!

planting some flowers

This winter (which is technically over) has been long,
we are all so looking forward to some real spring weather.
On Saturday, it was finally warm,
and I was motivated to add some spring touches to the backyard.

Since it is supposed to snow again tomorrow,
I was carefully to only put pansies on the shed wall (which can be put inside the shed)
and a few herbs (can be brought into the kitchen in case of hard weather)

A couple of years ago, I made over this part of the back yard (you can all about it here)
and it still look pretty good.

Now if we could get some warmer weather,
we could finally get on with the cherry blossom,
so far we are at "the green buds phase" according to the national park.

I could not finish this post without a real good spring picture,
 it is not from around here, but my parents' garden in France:

Happy day!

baby boy bib

Earlier this week, I became an aunt for the second time

and toddler K became a big sister to baby brother S.

My favorite way to welcome a new baby is with a pretty bib.

I was inspired by Nana company's bibs, Amy has so many cute examples.

I kept it very simple, with just 2 quilting cottons and a chenille for the back.

I added a touch of hand embroidery with a little S on the snail.

This one is different from the previous bibs I made,
it is fun to try new designs and ideas on such a simple thing.

(baby K, animal alphabet, little bear)

Welcome baby S!

Happy sewing!

quilt progress

Today was another snow, so I did what quilters do on a snow day,

I quilted! (most works/schools were closed this morning)

Well after walking the dog in the snow and shoveling of course!

(the snow melted off the road during the afternoon, so back to work tomorrow!)

 I have pieced about 2/3 of the quilt,

a huge improvement over last week blocks.

The rest might have to wait for another snow day (not!)

The squares are about 6 inch, so it is going well.

The pattern is easy to follow, my color choices make it more challenging,

but it is closer to Brick master's music box,

and it is more fun!

Happy St Paddy's day,

no green here, just white fluffy stuff!

Happy sewing!

undergarments for dolls

Because of the sensitive nature of theses pictures,

today there will be a "no Boys" policy,

yes we will be showing underwear for dolls!

We have 2 AG dolls (Kaya and Saige), and 3 Mrs Alexander dolls,

 and only saige came with some panties.

I have purchased a few pairs over the years,

but more were needed.

I have been keeping old but great looking tank tops from Miss C. in the hope to re-purpose them into
some doll clothing, and they are perfect for underwear.

For this training bras-panties set, I used a tank top with "a star is born" French writing.

For the bottom, I copied Saige's underwear, I cut it a little larger on the seat

as I found it a little snug on the back.

I used some lingerie elastic to finish all the edges,

it is one piece with 2 side seams.

For the top, I just shortened the pattern of the strap top from Liberty Jane Patterns.

For this other set of matching training bra and panties,

I used some green knit fabric that I had around.

The bottom was made the same way than the previous one.

The top was made by shortening the tank top pattern of Liberty Jane patterns,

and lowering the neck line.

I used some more lingerie elastic at the bottom of the bra.

With another tank top (one of Miss C's favorite)

I sewed a soft night gown, perfect for a hot summer night 

(it will happen some day, this winter will end!)

This time I lengthened the strap top pattern,

and stitched half of the back.

In another fabric, it could make a cute summer dress.

Miss C. is very pleased with the new undergarments for her dolls.
I must admit, it was totally necessary!

Happy sewing!

modern quilt

With all the snow we have been having,

it has been hard to sew and/or quilt,

there is not much heat in my sewing room,

and it is just too cold to work there.

I managed to start working on a quilt,

a modern quilt with only 4 colors: black, white, gray and orange.

I am making it for Brick Master,

at 13 he is a cool teen.

He actually asked for something with a houndstooth pattern

like on his little music box.

So I have using this pattern from V and Co.

It will be queen size, so it is going to take me a while!

Happy sewing!

Sharing at Freshly Pieced

sewing kit

My mom and I like to give each other sewing inspired presents,
like the dress form I made last year for her
or the embroidered little black dress from my mom that is above my dresser.

This year for her birthday,
 I decided to go a very literal way and
to make a little sewing kit.

A few years ago, I made her a very sweet needle book,



so I knew my mom did not "need" something like this again,
even if there is a place for a few pins and needles
in this sewing kit.

I followed this tutorial from Lots of pink here!
For the outside and binding, I chose some quilting cotton,

but for the inside I used our favorite: linen and Liberty of London.
(here are few examples of our passion: fabric basket, library bag)

The linen is a quilting linen (it has some cotton in it,
and it holds its shape much better than regular linen)
I used it before on my new Christmas tree skirt.

It makes a very cute sewing kit,
perfect for going on vacation.

Bon anniversaire Maman!

Happy sewing!

new lingerie pouches

After sewing a little pouch for Miss C.'s best friend,

I decided to make a few more to give to my girlfriends for Valentine's day.

The little pouches would be the perfect size for a little week end get away lingerie bag.

Here is the first one I made:

the fabric is the same that I used for my laptop cover,

it is a home decor fabric with a little lace added.

I still followed this French tutorial.

The pouch is lined with a quilting cotton, pretty in pink would be a good description,

making it perfect for a little lingerie bag,

which is why I chose a pink elastic and little mouse button.

I thought this little lingerie bag was perfect but may be a little too small.

So I made a new pattern, instead of being about 8 1/2 X  17

it is 11 X 24.

So here the same design but larger:

it is made of linen, with a lavender ribbon

and a beautiful satin ribbon for closure.

Beautiful, right?

Simple and so elegant....

I interfaced the linen so it would keep its shape

and may be not wrinkle so fast!

The inside fabric is a quilting cotton,

I chose this specific one because I already made a little zipper pouch for my friend for Christmas,

it is cute and cheesy when things go together!

The wide purple ribbon is stitched between the outside fabric and the lining for the top half.

It stitched on the outside for the bottom half.

I made another smaller pouch with a much cooler fabric,

my friend is so young, I am not even sure she ever used cassette tapes....

But it turned out so cute,

even Miss C. thought so

(and she definitively not idea what those are!)

I interfaced the quilting cotton, it is just too "soft" otherwise.

I hope my friends enjoy them,

they were fun to make,

may be I should make one more, for me to keep....

Unfortunately my girlfriends will not receive their gift today,
because it looks like that outside:

Yep we are snowed in...

Happy sewing!
and
Happy valentine's day!

little pouch: a new design

Miss C.'s best friend turned 10 a few weeks ago.

While her birthday wish was the "one direction" movie,

I thought I could add a personal touch to her Bday wishes.

So I made her a cute little pouch.

Yes, another one, I love making and giving them as presents,

but this time, I went with a different design, and no zipper!

I followed this French tutorial from l'atelier de plume de lin.

Instead of drawing on the fabric, I made a pattern so that I can make more of them.

The dimensions I used are based on the size of a piece of printing paper, well 2,

about 8 1/2 by 17.

Because of my fabric choices, I felt it was unnecessary to decorate the top.

To close the pouch, I used a hair elastic instead of a string or ribbon,

I have been using them for a lot of my lingerie bags,

I find them very convenient.

The pouch turned out really cute

and it is perfect to hold some nail polishes, little/big girl's favorite.

(and yes Miss C.'s best friend also received the movie she was wishing for!)

Happy sewing!

blogganniversary and a dolly dress form

Today marks this little blog 4th anniversary.
I am pleased to see where it has taken me:
I have "met" many people and made new friends.

I have been doing some blog cleaning and found a post I started in early 2010
about a doll dress form, I guess I totally forgot about it!
It seems very appropriate right now as there is a beautiful dress form in Isabelle's studio,
I am sure many girls are interested but few can purchased this expensive furniture/accessories set.

Miss C. received Saige for Christmas from her grandparents.
As artists, they both can switch from painting to sewing.
Miss C. has been using her doll sewing machine and little bookcase for many years.

This dress form has been on my sewing room all this time,
displaying a Middle Age inspired dress
that I worked on way before the movie "Brave" was released.

While I will miss it in my sewing space,

I feel Miss C. is ready to really enjoy it.

Well enough talking, let's get down to doing!

So here is what I started with:

a 5/8 inch rod

a 5 x 7 inch plaque from Micheals (less than $1)

a finial from Lowes (may be a little large!)

some leftover muslin/cotton

stuffing

I started with cutting the rod to 15 inch 

(shorter might be better may be just 12 inch instead),

 and priming the wood.

Then I found the middle of the base, drilled a hole and attached the base to the rode.

I took one of the dolls, measuring her and making a pattern of her body.

I stuffed it with poly before putting on the rod.

Once it was on the rod, I stuffed it so more

and secure the opening with some glue

so it would not move on the rod.

I finally screwed in the painted finial.

And there it is, with Saige, ready for some sewing fun.

Happy sewing!