Perfectly Piggy for Madison

Yes! 

We love Olivia the Pig!

And I just finished this little dream dress for

Madison.

She requested a red dress with a smocked

Olivia the Pig on it. 

Well, there is no smock plate for Olivia.

So I smocked it free hand. 

She also requested that Olivia be wearing 

her red formal gown, 

have a pearl necklace and red bows on her ears.

She wanted her name on the front too.

The dress had to be red with red and white

polka dotted piping, a full twirly skirt

and a big bow in the back.

 

The smocking kept washing out with the flash

and the fabric is really a darker red.

Oh, and what pattern did I use to sew the dress?

I didn't use one.

I knew I wanted the smocking to be curved to the waist

and I just drafted a pattern based on Madison's 

measurements.

Oh...can you just see the buttons on the cuffs?

Why yes, those would be Swarovski crystal buttons.

The red crystals on the smocking are as well.

And tulle is sewn to the underskirt to pouf it out!

It looks all crooked but it is actually straight. 

I promise!

Here is the dress I created for Madison last year.

She requested Tinkerbell!

 

And this was the dress I made her in 2008

when she requested pink with princesses.

Happy Birthday Madison!

I hope your day is as lovely and wonderful as you are.

Today I Am Thankful- And Giveaway Winner!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Today I am thankful for:

My family

My Freedom

My friends

My husband's job

The men and woman who

protect and serve our country

Food on the table

My new home (!!!!!!!!)

Cars that work

No hospital visits this month!!

My sewing machine

My computer (Yep!)

Wool socks!

The Ocean

Finding my Christmas china (YAY!!!)

Children that l love (even when they are having a major fit!)

And most of all for my Jesus who

loves me unconditionally,

even when I feel like I 

am being a bad mama.  

(Yes, this is tied to the child having a big fit today)

And without further ado.........

The winner of the Yaya's Christmas Apron is...

Holly M!!

(AKA dhm78)

who said:

I don't know how to twitter, Sivje I can bearly facebook!

Congrats Holly!!!

Please email me your mailing address and what size 

apron you want!!!

Thank you all for entering!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

(oh and I should have also said that I am thankful for my

exclamation point!!!!!!)

First Night In Our New House

Impressive, isn't it!

Ok, not really, but this was our little family Saturday evening

in our new house in Santa Rosa.

We had planned on loading a moving truck

on Saturday morning and driving over

and then unloading.

But a REALLY BIG STORM hit Grass Valley.

So we decided that it would be too much of a mess

to pack the truck in the snow.

So we just took sleeping bags and blow up

mattresses and camped out.

I am not sure what that white spot on the wall is,

but my camera got wet so maybe that

was on the lens.

So, what you see here is the living/ dining room.

The white thing on the side is the banister.

Yes, there is a super cute little orange velvet chair sitting there.

Stay tuned to that because I am 

going to slipcover that soon.

I got it for $14.99 at the Salvation Army Thrift Store 

a few weeks ago. 

I drove around with it in the back of my van for weeks 

until I could unload it at our new house.

Don and the kids are cuddled up watching
"Pete's Dragon", which the girls

ended up hating. Hm. I always liked

that one, but this was the first time they saw it.

Yes, that is my smocking board in the background. 

In the next few days I will be posting pics

of the "Olivia the Pig" smocked dress I am 

making for a client. 

I sat on the floor of our new house smocking.

Bliss!!

What? We all look like drowned rats, you say?

Why yes we do!

Between the snow and pouring rain that day we were 

just glad to be inside in our cozy but empty new home.

My friend Sheri brought us a yummy hot meal

to celebrate our first night in our new home.

It was so good and we were so grateful!

See my new kitchen?

It is not huge and amazing

like my inlaws kitchen, 

but I nearly cried as I unpacked.

It is perfect for the 4 of us!
Perfect!

And since we do not have our beds delivered yet,

Ahnalin asked if she could set up her 

ladybug tent in her room and sleep in that.

Well, why not? 

She had a blast!

So, tomorrow, we pack phase one of the moving van.

We are back and forth all week between Santa Rosa and

Grass Valley.

The final phase of the move will not happen until the middle 

of December because the girls are still in school until then.

I am still busy sewing amidst the packing and moving.

If you have not entered the Yaya's Apron Giveaway yet,

you can do that here.

I will announce the winner Thanksgiving morning!

We appreciate any and all prayers regarding our move

and job stuff. 

Happy Sewing.

Aprons for Christmas -A Giveaway!

Christmas Aprons!

Preparation for the holidays means lots

and lots of time spent in the kitchen.

And so you simply MUST have a darling, 

festive apron!

And, it would be even more fun if your 

little ones have matching aprons!

The Yaya's Apron pattern provides

5 sizes in one Ebook.

Because, little ones get messy!

And don't you think their dollies need aprons to match?

The dolly size fits an 18" doll.

You can even wear an apron over your pajamas

and feel well put together!

(yes, you are seeing Ahnalin in PJs from Target! 

Sigh.... I am busy with customs and packing to move so 

I had to buy her some pjs......)

Last year I  made matching aprons 

for India, Ahnalin, and my niece Emma

for our cookie baking day. 

It was snowing outside and I could not get the girls

out of their jammies,

so they just put the aprons over the top and started baking.

I even embroidered their names on them!

The Yaya's Apron front has a nice open space

for embroidery. 

So, why am I reminding you of 

all the fun things about my Yaya's Apron pattern?

Well.........

I don't want you to forget that you can make your own

Yaya's Aprons for yourself,

your friends, 

your family,

or even to sell.

You can purchase the Ebook

from my Etsy store here

or by clicking on the box at the upper right of my blog.

The Ebook is $9.95 and 

provides a misses (one size fits most) size,

3 children's sizes and a dolly size!

And now for the Giveaway......

How do you get to receive a colorful, 

festive and fun Yaya's Apron 

in the size of your choice from me?

You can have 5 entries, 

so leave a comment for each separately.

1. Leave a comment about your favorite apron memory.

2. Become a follower or tell me if you are one.

3. Become a friend of Sivjegoose on Facebook.

4. Follow me on Twitter and post this giveaway.

5. Post about this giveaway on your blog or on your Facebook page.

The winner will receive a Christmas Yaya's Apron in the size of their choice,

made by me!

I am busy packing for our move, 

and sewing a custom smocked dress for a client so I am going

to give you until Wednesday night to enter.

I will draw the winner and on Thanksgiving morning!!

And next week, I will list some aprons on my Etsy store

if you just want to purchase a Christmas Yaya's Apron.

Happy Sewing Everyone!

A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes

Do you see that little face? 

This little tiny India was just 3 years old on her 

first trip to Disneyland in 1995.

India fell in love with Disneyland,

and everything about it on that trip.

She used to say 

"When I grow up, I want to LIVE in Disneyland."

Well GUESS WHAT!!

She gets to do just that!!

Well, maybe not exactly LIVE there,

BUT.....

in January, she will be starting at the Disney College Program

in Anaheim!!

She got the call last week and sent her acceptance

just a few hours later!

So, what will India be doing at the Disney College Program?

Well, her actual job at Disneyland during the program will be

"Attraction Hostess". 

Translation: She will most likely be making sure that 

guests are tall enough for the ride, 

making sure they are buckled safely and following instructions,

and maybe even pushing the buttons to start the fun!!

In addition, she will be taking classes for credit and

taking part in seminars facilitated

by various vice presidents of the Disney companies.

She will live in dorms there with other DCPers, 

and having the time of her life!

We are so proud of our girl for getting into this 

fabulous program!!

Now.....back to my packing......

Hearts For Hannah

Oh how I love to be a part

of the miracle that takes place when a child

joins a family through adoption.

And I was blessed to pray for a little girl in China named

Hannah, who will be 

joining her loving family very soon.

You can read all about here on her mother, 

Shecki's blog.

 

One of the most special times in any Internationally Adoptive 

Family's journey is that moment when they

arrive in the airport with their

new child.

They are joyously greeted by awaiting family members

and friends.

In many cases, the child becomes an American 

citizen when they go through Immigration in the airport.

And so it is a beautiful tradition for the newly adopted child

to be dressed in patriotic clothing.

Hannah's mommy asked that I make her 

a smocked dress that would celebrate this exciting day!

I chose the smock plate by Creative Keepsakes

called "Love My Country".

 

The smock plate is actually designed for 

an insert or yoke dress but I was able

to adapt it for a bishop style quite easily. 

I simply back smocked in a wave pattern

instead of the normal cable that would have been used for an insert.

I also had to pay special attention to the sleeve seams

which were a bit bulkier than the rest.

 

I chose Imperial Broadcloth

because I love how beautifully it holds its shape

and looks crisp even when it has been smashed in a suitcase.

I ordered all my supplies from 

a wonderful shop called

Bessie Mary

and was so pleased with how perfectly 

everything arrived. 

Oh, and one more note.

Every time I sew something for a client,

friend or family member,

I pray for them as I stitch. 

So it is an even bigger blessing for me!

Hannah, I can not wait to see pictures of you in your mommy's arms!

Little Red Riding Hood And Other Halloweeny Things

Ahnalin loves Little Red Riding Hood.

Well, to be more specific,

she loves the character of Little Red

from the Stephen Sondheim Broadway Musical

"Into The Woods".

So, she chose to dress up as Little Red

for Halloween.

Now, I must admit to having big plans

for a darling Bavarian style dress

and blouse to be worn under

the "Riding Hood". 

Really. 

But, if you look closely,

you will see the blouse and bloomer skirt I made

her last December...

 and the apron I made for her 

Alice in Wonderland costume for last halloween.

The "Red Riding Hood" is the only new item

that I made for her this Halloween.

And true to my usual self, I made

it so that she could wear it as an actual garment.

I used McCalls M4567 and 

sewed it out of red fleece 

and then lined it in red/white gingham.

And I used the vintage Norwegian embroidered

ribbon again, matching the blouse from last year.

While I was trying to get a photo of Ahnalin 

pretending to be afraid of the Big Bad Wolf,

she was skipping up and down the steps.....

singing.......

"Into the woods

and out of the woods

and home before dark!"

And for my mom.....

a few more pictures of us at the Fall Family Festival

at

Twin Cities.

Sorry this is blurry. 

I asked another mom to take this pic of Ahnalin and me

on the hayride at the FFF.

India decided to wear her

Queen Katharine of Aragon

from the Madrigal Dinner last year.

Ahnalin got to pet a miniature horse.

And she got to ride a big horse!

And she got to hug her cousin Anna, 

who was also dressed as Little Red Riding Hood!

We got to hear Daddy (AKA Don, AKA the Hot Rockin Hubby)

sing with the Denny Russell Band one more time.

And we saw the cutest little tiny cowpoke

dancing to the country music.

Oh, and do you remember that little pumpkin

with no stem?

Well Daddy helped Ahnalin to carve it on Saturday night.

And after the pumpkin carving, we all snuggled

in to watch 

"It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown".

So, Halloween was fun!

I am sorry I have been so remiss in posting.

We are trying to deal with all the details

of moving.

We are hoping we have found the right house

and that we will get to move soon. 

We are so grateful for your prayers.

Please keep them coming!

So, other than a few customs,

not much sewing has taken place lately.

I hope to remedy that soon!

On Thursday,

I will show a darling custom smocked dress

I have been working on for a client.

Happy Sewing and Happy Fall.