Dress making update - Sew NOT cheap!

So, the making of the plethera of dresses has been stalled because my SERGER BROKE!  More specifically, my lower looper thingymabober (technical term!).  To make matters worse, after checking around the internet, I find a ton of these parts at between 11 and 23 dollars, however, the part for MY particular model is, at its LOWEST....$33 dollars!  Sew NOT cheap!

I'm SEW bummed that part of the side cash I'm going to make for these dressis is going to be used to cover for the money I had to spend on this part!  However......(glass half full approach....)  It COULD have been a part that wasn't replacable without replacing the whole machine.....coule be worse!

So, as far as the dresses are concerned.....to be continued!

"God will take care of me....."

Dress #1...Pt 2!

I did the finishing stitches on lil "l" 's first dress!

I opted for one pocket instead of two....and added a rosette with a button at the waist!

Couldn't decide which button to use though....

haven't gotten pics with the dress on lil "L" yet...i'll add them soon!

Dress # 1, MAYBE....

Ok, I finished Dress #1....a dress for the younger "L". .....sorta maybe.....I liked it, until my bubby decided he didn't ......now I'm unsure of whether it looks good or not.  I'm going to have to have my friend look at it and if she doesn't like it, I'll take it apart, no biggie........but Here it is (I'll post better pics tomorrow, IF she likes it...)

Here is the fabric I have for lil "L".  

Watermellon Seeds, and...

Aqua/White polka dots

Close up of the front...

Little further away.....

REALLY far away...hehe

Close up of the back...

and a distant pic....

Tomorrow I'll add pics of it ON her.....IF her mom likes it! ...>What do YOU think?

(might add polka dot pockets!)

UPDATE:  She likes it!  My friend has given the go ahead, so now it's time to do all the fancy stitching and add the pockets. 

Update #2....I have the second dress cut out for lil "L"....I hope to have them both finished tomrrow!

8 dresses , 4 girls, and 8 more doll dresses!

My friend has commissioned some dresses(well, jumpers) from me for her 4 gorgeous daughters.

She want's two dresses per child and, if there is leftover fabric, matching doll dresses (16 total) 

She did something AWESOME that has gotten me excited and my creative juices rolling...

She gave me "full creative liscence"!!!!!  She created a monster!  WHOOP WHOOP!

So, here is the fabric she handed me:

Here is the ribbon and thread she purchased:

#1

This is the fabric for "L" (leaving names out to preserve privacy)

She chose a muted Tan and a bright orange.

This daughter is too old for girly girl dresses, but to young

for revealing or too tight dresses.

This one will be a challenge

#2

This is the fabric for "K". She is an older young lady.  Her dresses

need to be lovely, modest, and fun! I have ideas brewing

for her dresses and am TOTALLY excited!

#3

This fabric is for "R".  She is an adorably beautiful little girl

with a funky personality. Her dresses can be slightly "little girlish"

but not too much.  I also have my ideas for hers, WAY geeked!

#4

Last, but DEFINITALY not least is the other "L" 's

fabric.  This little beauty is a ball of energy! She chose the

blue polka-dots and the watermellon seeds...and YES...I

have a vision of what to do for this one....CAN'T WAIT!

I'll post follow-ups as I finish them!  The challenge is finding enough fabric for two girl dresses AND matching doll dresses with just 3yards per fabric(6yd total per child) yet still keep them cute and original!

Upcyled Skirt / Dress Tutorial

I was given an adorable little "dress" for my daughters.  It, however,  wasn't something I would have let my daughters wear.  I just couldn't see getting rid of such a beautiful item.  I knew it could become something new, useful and even more beautiful!

Here is the pic of the dress "before" transformation:

Pretty, eh?  So, what did I do?  I CUT IT IN HALF!

If you look closely, you'll see that I lifted up the bottom ruffle and cut it where it wouldn't show. The fabric I was working with was a lycra which doesnt fray, but it would still be smart and look better if at this time the under layer that was cut was got a serger run-through. AND....this is what I came up with:

I did shorten the straps as well because it was just too low. Next, it was time to deal with the bottom half, and, once again..I reverted to my love of denim upcycling!

I grabbed a jean mini skirt that a well intentioned person gave my daughter and merged the two! (it's important to note here that if I had had my serger out, this would have been a much sturdier and cleaner merger! It's not too late though....!) Then turn it over and top stitch just a smidge onto the denim edge. AND....:

A cute and flirty skirt!..... here is a pic of them together:

Now, it should be said here, that the outfit was NOT complete for my daughter....but, with a little black t-shirt.....

(pay no attention to the adorable doggie behind the dress!)

THEN....add a cute long sleeve denim shrug....and VOILA!....

An adorable and funky outfit!  Ok, ladies....challenge time...Get out those tiny dresses and CUT EM UP.....and show me what ya get!!!!!!!!!!