Aprons!

I've made a few aprons in the last few days. One for myself, which was the first one I made. This apron is to hold a calculator, some paper, and pens while I work at a Garden Centre starting on Sunday (until the end of July).

The next one I made was the pink and green toddler's apron for D, who insisted I make one for her, too! Hers is reversible (I suppose mine is, too), with 2 pockets on one side, and no pockets on the other.

The red, white and seafoam one with initial was made this afternoon for a birthday gift. I hope she likes it!

2 years-a retrospective on Delilah

Delilah at 3 days.
Delilah at 1 year and 6 days
Delilah this morning, 1 day shy of 2 years.

Two years ago, on May 9, 2008 at 11:11 AM, Delilah was born, after a long and arduous birth. 9lbs and 4 oz, she was a big baby with a big personality. She took to nursing like a champ, rarely cried, and was an all-around happy baby.

One year ago, my daughter was just walking. She started at 11 months, but really got her confidence about a month later. She used sign language to tell us what she wanted. She used the potty. She had just gotten her dog Harley (and lost Tyler).

She didn't have much hair. She was charming, and smart. She was beautiful.

And she still is. Now she's 2! She's got a little bit more hair, she's a lot taller, and she is just as charming as ever. She doesn't talk much, but has a large American Sign Language vocabulary. She is able to communicate very effectively. She is totally diaper free and has been for almost 2 months. She's about 34 inches tall, weighs 23.5 pounds, and has a skinny little waist. She's got the prettiest dark blue eyes that shift to greyish blue sometimes. I can't believe she's 2 already! It seems like just a few months ago, we were bringing home a newborn.

Happy Birthday, Delilah!

Molly #3!

Are you tired of looking at photos of Molly Monkeys???

This Molly was made for a friend's baby. I LOVE the fabric in her skirt! And I'm quite proud of the hand embroidery I did!

Molly Monkey #2!

Molly #2 now has red mary jane shoes with an opalescent grey button on each.

D saw Molly #2 before I could hide her away and now has claimed BOTH of them as hers.

I now have 2 more on the go-both of which I will have to keep hidden from my daughter. ;) More pictures will come!

Molly Monkey #1

After a few days of on and off again sewing, I finally finished the Molly Monkey I was sewing for D's upcoming 2nd birthday. She was really easy and fun to make. The hardest part was choosing the fabrics! I'm not in love with the beret; I might replace it with a bow.

I have another one on the go, too-a black narrow-wale corduroy with grey face. It's all cut out, it's face is embroidered and sewn on. I have to sew the limbs onto the body and stuff it, then she's done, too.

Edited to add: if you like Molly, head over to my Etsy shop and check out the other things I make!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BerryMac

New Look #6954

Yet another dress finished for the commission. This is New Look #6954, View A, Size Small. The dress is made from a cotton/poly broadcloth in a rusty orange colour. The original pattern didn't have the flower embellishment, but there was a View B overdress that had 2 flowers on the skirt. I took one of those flowers and placed in on the bodice of my dress, and added an adorable orange button with vintage-y flowers stamped on it. The cream fabric is a cream-on-cream dahlia print. I like it.

This dress took me only a few hours to make. I started it yesterday and completed it this morning. I am not 100% finished, but the only thing remaining is to sew on the hook and eye closure. I will do that as soon as I find my hook and eyes. ;)

This pattern was a little frustrating. I disliked the way they instructed I attach the sleeves, and the zipper instructions were confusing. So I did them my way. In addition, the sleeves aren't gathered enough at the top of the shoulder where it attaches to the dress. If I were to make this dress again, I would use the sleeves from the next size up to add volume in the shoulders. I realize that the pattern doesn't really have gathered sleeves, so it's not a problem with the pattern.

Rainy Days = Sewing Days

With a daughter (and a dog) who LOVES to be outside, from morning until night, sewing all day just isn't possible. I got practically nothing done all last week due to the nice weather.

Today I woke to overcast skies and intermittent showers. Yay! Normally I wouldn't be happy about that, but I really have been itching to get at the sewing projects again. I have several things on the back burner, and need to get more done on the commission work.

I still have 2 dresses to make, then possibly another 2 in pillowcase style. I got one kid's tie done and might do another. I also have 2 more tie orders that need to get finished-they are cut out but not sewn.

On top of all that, I have some sewing for ME that I'd like to get done. I started the "Maternity or Not Frock" (definitely NOT) and a tube top that I'll be making. I'd love to make some summery skirts, too. I have a couple pairs of shorts, but I really like skirts for the summer. I find as I get older, I prefer to dress in a more modest manner, and one more suitable for my age. Just because I have the legs of a 20 year old, doesn't mean I need to show them!!! I do wear longer shorts that have a hem closer to my knee. I have some shorter shorts but don't know if I will wear them that much.

I've been working on the Etsy shop. I need to get my items re-photographed with better lighting and consistency. I also need to plan what items I will be featuring in my shop, and plan for expansion. I love making zippered pouches and they are relatively inexpensive. The best part about them is that they don't take a lot of fabric, so I can make them with scraps from other projects and turn little pieces of fabric into gorgeous accessories.

New Etsy Items

So with all the sewing I've been doing, I've decided to re-start my Etsy store. I've gotten a couple ties added (child and adult size), as well as a silk zippered pouch for makeup/money/whatever. I'll be adding stuff as I go.

I am hoping to get some business doing commissioned work, but custom Etsy orders would be great, too. I will be adding more and more items to the shop as I go, so check in often to see new stuff!

Completed Projects

Here are two of the finished commissioned projects. The buttons on the dress make it perfect. And the vintage hand-embroidered lace trim circa 1940's is amazing.

The child size bow tie turned out well, and has 2 snaps for adjustment (and so Tisha doesn't have to tie the bow each time). I'll try to make the bow perfect so she can just use it that way.

Delilah loved the bow tie. I might have to make her one.

Tie One On

Bow ties are classic and contemporary, all at the same time. Dress them up or dress them down-the possibilities are endless.

To its devotees the bow tie suggests iconoclasm of an Old World sort, a fusty adherence to a contrarian point of view. The bow tie hints at intellectualism, real or feigned, and sometimes suggests technical acumen, perhaps because it is so hard to tie. Bow ties are worn by magicians, country doctors, lawyers and professors and by people hoping to look like the above. But perhaps most of all, wearing a bow tie is a way of broadcasting an aggressive lack of concern for what other people think."

—Warren St John, The New York Times I've recently gotten several bow tie orders. The first was for a child size, for use in the photo shoot that my friend is holding. I also have 3 adult orders in different colours. I am hoping to get some more orders, as they are fun to make, and not as involved as clothing. I might have to spread more into accessories for a change of pace. I use silk-it's available in a wonderful array of shimmery, beautiful colours. From black to red, purple, green...the solid colours are amazing. I'm still searching for a source of patterned/polka dot silk. I might also check out the taffeta selection at Len's Mill. The best part of a bow tie is that it's unexpected. Obviously, a bow tie is the norm with tuxedos, but with a regular sports coat or even just a button up shirt and jeans? It's a great way to show a bit of personality. I decided to put the bow ties on sale at my Etsy shop. Here's a link: