~Like A Bee In A Flower Garden~

Have you ever wondered what a bumblebee is thinking whenever it comes across a beautiful flower garden?

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Can you imagine what it (he..she...) is thinking with all those beautiful colors and scents?  "Oooh...look at that beautiful yellow!   Oooh....oh, I like the smell of this pink one over here.   Ooooh...that red one is calling my name!" That's why they flit from here to there constantly not knowing where to land first and how long to stay there!!

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Well, that's the way I'm feeling these days.  Like a bumblebee in a flower garden.  Well, not with flowers but much more important things!  I spent a gosh awful amount of time cleaning and packing and purging over the last year, which ended up being really good exercise in disguise.  My energy level has picked up somewhat and the desire to move onto bigger and better things has kicked in.  So guess what??  My creative mojo is coming back!  Well, I've made things for the grandbabies but that doesn't really count.  I'm finally getting back in the mood to start sewing and being creative for myself.  It's been awhile.  But the problem is.....

where to start!  Well, actually, where to land and stay awhile.  :/  I've already started on a  few of these projects.  Yeah, did you catch that?  "Started on a few of these projects".  Like this one.  I love to crochet but hadn't done it in awhile until I came across these patterns earlier in the summer.  I bought alot of soft, pima cotton yarn (mostly from the UK) and I love how it feels.  The one on the far left is called African Flower...coasters and placemats maybe?  The one in the middle is a heart...wouldn't this make an adorable banner?  And then the medallions are from an 1893 pattern....more coasters!

 

I've been coveting some sling bag purses that Dawn from The Feathered Nest has made and decided to make one for myself.  There couldn't be a more beautiful combination....canvas muslin, ticking fabric, vintage laces and trims.  Well, I had so much fun making it that I decided to make some more to put in my Etsy store.  They're almost done!

 

And then there's this.  I am over the moon in love with this Pam Kitty Morning fabric!!  While watching TV in the evenings, I am working on some cute little things that are going in my Etsy store soon.  But more about those later. ;)

 

I love the colors of Fall and have some fabric pieces that I want to use.  Maybe a table runner?  I've got this book that I've been getting some ideas from but not quite sure yet on what to make.

 

With all the hand sewing I do from my comfy recliner, I wanted a small, portable storage box for thread, needles, scissors, etc.  So I need to cover this little gift box in some fabric and pretty trims.  Can't decide exactly how to finish it though but, once it's completed, I'll show you.  What should be at the top of my sewing "to-do" list are these projects....

 

I started this quilt project way back when my youngest daughter was about 18 years of age.  That was over...ahem...ten years ago!!  With moving out here several years back, health issues and such, well, I had forgotten aobut it.  Until I came across it in the top of my closet last winter.  Yeah, pathetic huh?  The squares are a bit tricky (for me anyway) to put together and I've been dragging my feet about getting it done but I promised her I would have it finished this winter.

And last, but not least by any means, is this felt stocking kit for Little Bubba.  I started a tradition of making each of my grandchildren a Christmas stocking, which stay at my house for little goodies that Santa brings for them.  Yeah, Santa still comes to my house.  Next year, I have to make one for Peaches.  She's too little right now to know any better so I've got some time to get one purchased and made for her.  I'm so glad that I started this as the children anticipate them being hung on the stair railing and love looking at the intricate details on their special stockings.

 

See?  I feel like a bee in a flower garden!  Sigh...I am so thankful that God blessed me with the ability and desire to be creative but sometimes it can be a curse.  LOL  So many things I want to make!!  I haven't even shown you what I made Monkey for her birthday and I've got one more thing to get finsihed and in the mail.  Busy, busy, busy!!

 

Until next time.....

 

p.s.  I told you that several of these projects will end up in my Etsy store so if there's anything you would be interested in purchasing, let me know.  I'll give you more details and put it at the top of my list! After all, Christmas is just around the corner.  Can you believe it?

~A Christmas Project or Two~

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that I was busy working on some doll clothes for one of my granddaughters for Christmas.  I finally got them done, well, all but one anyway. :/  And I said that I would share with you what I've been up to....

Little Monkey got an American Girl type doll for Christmas and mama wanted me to make some outfits for her.  Monkey takes ballet and we thought that she would love for her doll to practice ballet with her.

A little tutu skirt made with several layers of fine tulle and a glittery tulle type fabric on top.

She has to have a little shirt to go with the tutu skirt, so I made this onesy type shirt in a pretty pale pink t-shirt fabric.

 Elastic trim at the neck and then a matching flower trim to make it a bit more feminine looking.

There are four little snaps in the back to close it up and some more elastic trim in the leg openings.

No little practice outfit is complete without a matching tutu-style hair clip to top it all off.  If you look real hard, you can see a pink button in the center of the hair clip.

Now she needs are some ballet slippers and maybe some tights.

Monkey goes to a school where she is required to wear a uniform.  When we were thumbing through the variety of patterns, we came across the uniform one and knew this would be perfect.  Mama had an extra uniform and so she sent it to me to use.

The bodice is just a bit different than Monkey's uniform and now that I know how these doll patterns work, I can revise it easily.  Little pleats go all the way around the skirt.

The straps are permanently attached in the back and there is a Velcro strip closure.  Makes dressing the doll so much easier.

The little cotton blouse is so cute!  Four little buttons down the front are decorative only as there is a Velcro strip for opening and closing the blouse.

The peter pan collar is trimmed with a cute little lace trim.

And a nice little pleat in the back completes the look.

I made another matching hair clip with some leftover fabric by creating a little bow.

I think Monkey is going to be so tickled for her doll to have a uniform just like hers.  I had so much fun making the outfit and am seriously considering making doll uniforms to sell in my Etsy shop.   The hardest part would be finding fabric that matched but I think I've found a source.  What do you think?  If you had a little girl or granddaughter who had to wear a school uniform, would you buy a matching doll's uniform?  I'd really like your input on this.  Heck, I may even make other doll dresses if there was enough interest! :)  Seriously, I'd really like to know what you think.

These are just a couple of the doll outfits that I made.  I made some baby doll jammies and doll diapers, too.  In the next few days, I'm going to do a tutorial on my version of the doll diaper, which I found to be much easier.

Hope you are continuing to enjoy your Christmas holiday ~

Participating in these blog parties:

                         Just Something I Whipped Up @ The Girl Creative
                         We Did it Wednesday @ Sew Much Ado
                         Sunday Blog Love @ Cherished Treasures
                         Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

~Vintage Style Aprons for the Holidays~

I have a selling blog for the items that I create and sell in my Etsy shop but it is a work in progress at this time.  I have decided to wait until the first of the year to get back to work on that.  Until then, I will be posting about them here on this blog.  I have several vintage style aprons that are perfect for the upcoming holidays and figured I had better hurry up and get them on the site.  Time is running out!!

                            

This is my Pilgrim Harvest apron with a collage of all things that remind us of Thanksgiving.  I especially love the pilgrims with the "give thanks" phrase.

   

I make all my own bias trim using a coordinating print fabric.  This one is made with a soft burgundy and cream-colored dots.  It is used on the scalloped pinafore....

            

and large roomy pockets, which are typical of a vintage style apron and also along the hemline (you can't see it in these photos...sorry).

                           

The pinafore crisscrosses in the back and buttons at the waist.
I have only one available, at this time, and it comes in Medium.

                          

I love not only the style of this little apron but also the fabric.  It doesn't have the typical red and green Christmas colors but rather touches of winter blue, deep red and silvery white.

Little peppermint snowmen with their blue scarves.  I used a deep red with silver speckles for 

the coordinating bias trim.

                           

Scalloped hems and bias trim everywhere...how cute is that??

                           

What I love about this apron is that it can be worn all thru Christmas and the winter season.  Do you agree?  This apron comes in Medium but can be made in other sizes with a one to two week wait.

 This is my gingerbread apron all decked out with gingerbread chefs ready to help with making their gingerbread houses.

 White rickrack with decorative red stitching trims the top of the bodice, extra large pocket and right above the ruffle at the bottom of the skirt.

  Wear this apron for your Christmas baking, cookie exchange, Christmas party...and what else?  This particular apron is a Small but other sizes are available.  There is a one to two week wait to complete your order.  If you are interested in these aprons or any other items I have, you can see them HERE.

Do you even wear an apron?  Do you especially wear one during the holidays or other special events during the year?  I love the vintage style aprons but what do you think about them?

Hope you are having a beautiful Autumn day where you are ~

NOTE:  Goin' to some blog parties at...

                                       Laurie Anna's Farmhouse Friday

                                       Homemaker on a Dime's Creative Bloggers' Party

~Aunt Grace's Floral Vintage Style Apron~

Since starting my new blog, I have not talked much about my online shop.  I make and sell items...vintage style aprons, camera purses, tote bags, doggy clothing and accessories and anything else I have a mind to add to my store.  I have an Etsy store as well as a blog...Dawggone Cute Creations...but have put the the blog on the shelf for a while until I set aside the time to finish the reconstruction on it.

Recently, I got an order to make an apron that I call Aunt Grace's Floral Apron.  I don't have an aunt named Grace.  I don't know anyone named Grace other than a couple of little girls in my church.  I named the apron after the fabric.  Pretty original, huh? :)  I wanted to show you my latest project.

Seam binding is very commonly used on vintage aprons to finish out most of the seams. Very pretty but not that easy to apply if you don't know what you are doing.  Ruffles on the bodice make this apron look so dainty and feminine.

I make all my own seam binding to coordinate with the fabric I am using.  This binding is in a yellow floral print.  I love the small white flowers on the blue fabric.  A little flower button and yellow ribbon complete the look on the bodice.

Deep pockets are also common on vintage aprons.  To hold little items of necessity..maybe a few bobby pins, a few scraps of paper with notes scribbled on them, a small toy, a hanky or maybe small things that need to be put away when one has the time.

The apron strings are long so as to fit a waist of almost any size.  The shoulder strings have two buttonholes to make adjusting a little simpler.  They can be worn straight, as shown, or crisscrossed.  Whichever is more comfortable.

All of the items I make have, of course, the name tag but also a little silver dog charm.  My signature.  I have several different ones that I use.

I love vintage aprons.  They speak so much of the housewives from generations ago.  I'm glad they are making a comeback.   Alot of vintage things are coming back into vogue.  Even though I was very young during this era, seeing the styles, story books and decorating from my childhood days brings back some memories and such a sweet feeling of nostalgia.  What's your take on this "new" style?

Okay, time to do my commercial:   In case you are interested, this particular apron style comes in small, medium and large. I also have this fabric available in a pretty shade of green if blue is not your color.  If you want to know more about this apron or some of the other things I sell, you can contact me or just check out what I have in my Etsy store.  The end.

Hope your autumn day is beautiful where you are ~