The Dora Dress By Genniewren

I was so grateful and happy to be able to test 

Genine Allan's new pattern for girls.

The "Dora" dress pattern is beautiful!!

This dress or jumper pattern

comes with a several different options

for design flexibility and creativity.

You can use several different fabrics in the skirt.

The ruffle is attached on top of the skirt

and can be sewn with a regular rolled hem

or a serged rolled hem finish.

The back is closed with buttons,

and I indulged in my passion for rick rack

on the bodice.

The skirt is very full...

which makes it perfect for twirling!

All of which makes for a very happy Ahnalin!

The pattern offers an option without the ruffle,

and you can add a darling apron as well!

And there is even a matching 18" doll dress

pattern available!!

You can purchase the girls pattern,

which includes girls sizes 1-16 in one Ebook PDF.

 HERE

Or you can purchase the girls AND doll pattern

for a special bundle price 

HERE.

I love Genine's patterns.

Her instructions are very clear

and always fit perfectly. 

This is her first pattern for girls,

but her patterns for 18" dolls are legendary!

I was thrilled to test her 

"Harriet" sailor dress pattern this summer.

You can see that post 

HERE

Thank you for allowing me

to test again for you Genine.

Your patterns are lovely and 

you know what little girls love.

Happy Sewing!

Sivje

Viola, Alice And A Little Play Dress

Last week I was blessed to test some darling patterns by two other

designers. I find this little world of indie pattern designers is rather cozy 

and I have so enjoyed being a part of the testing process. 

This pattern is called "Viola" and is a fun sundress and top pattern by

German designer Karin Simmering.

Karin has a fresh and lovely approach to Childrens  Fashion 

that really captures my imagination. 

You really should check out her website for these beautiful

patterns. They are written in German but the photos

are very clear and easy to understand. 

And pattern pieces are included in the E-book in many sizes.

I will post photos tomorrow of Ahnalin wearing this outfit. 

She LOVES it!!

This is the back view of "Viola". 

I think it will be perfect for summer.

The other pattern I got to test this week is 

a "Topsy Turvy" doll! 

I have wanted one of these dolls since I was a little girl. 

So when designer Shelly Houseman

showed photos of her "Alice/ Red Queen" doll

 on Sewing Mamas

a few weeks ago, I HAD to have one for myself!

However, do you see WHO is holding MY doll?

Yes, she pilfered my new dolly that made with my own hands.

Oh I love that little doll face!

Both of them!

I hand embroidered the faces and hair detail. 

It was so fun!

And just who is hiding under Alice's skirts?

Yes! That would be the Red Queen!! 

Ahnalin does not really like her in the story,

but she likes her as a dolly because of all the red.

It seems that she is adding red as a favorite color.

So move over Pink!

If you love this little dolly pattern,

check Shelly's blog.
She will be adding this pattern to her Etsy shop soon.

And since I got my serger out of the shop on 

Tuesday, I have been getting reacquainted with it.

Ahnalin, my sensory challenged girl, prefers to 

wear dresses every day. 

And she wants them to be soft. 

So, more play dresses are in the works.

They go together so fast and wash up so well.

And I should probably tell you that I do not

use a pattern for these little play dresses. 

They are just so easy and quick.

And to have a little fun, I made open sleeves trimmed

in "FOE".

FOE is "Fold-Over-Elastic". 

I LOVE this stuff!

I purchase FOE from Sewzannes and Fabric Hound.

Now I have to tell you that it is killing me that the side seam stripes under

the sleeve do not match up.

I had not used my serger for quite some time before it went into 

the shop for repairs,

and then was in the shop for a long time.

So I was out of  practice with the differential feed.

That is my story!

And PEEK!

Yes, those would be matching bike 

shorts under the dress.

Remember, we are talking about the "Monkey Girl" here,

so panties must be covered up for wild monkey bar activity!

Oh, and I thought you all may like to know that 

Ahnalin did not break any heads or bones this week! 

YAY!!

And just because I like to show off my girly,

here are a few more pics of her royal highness

Princess Monkey Girl!!

She found a dead baby bird in the yard last week

and insisted that we have a funeral for it.

She preached a sermon, said some 

Bible verses, 

prayed,

and sang a song.

Her choice of song is rather befuddling for a funeral though.

She sang "Joy To The World". 

It was very sweet and somber and 

my heart was so touched by her empathy. 

And here she is with her brand new 1/4 size violin and 

her best friend Megan.

They are giving us a lovely concert.

Oh my!

Aren't they darling together???

I have been battling migraines this week, so I am a bit

behind on some things. 

I need to get more things posted, I know.

Next up is India's Senior Ball!

It is NEXT SATURDAY!!

We went shopping for fabric today and could not find what we were 

looking for, so we will hit up a few more stores on Saturday.

And yes, I am aware that will only leave me 1 week to sew 

this gown.

The theme of the Senior Ball is 

BOLLYWOOD!!

How perfect for a girl like my India!!

So, like last years "Dream Dress" production,

I will be posting a play-by-play of this years 

ball gown creation. 

Now, if only I can find the perfect fabric!!

In His Grace,

Sivje

More News From Yaya's Apron Testers!

Is this cute or what???

Jenny Fish of Sew Pretty Dresses

sewed up the 18" dolly size of the Yaya's Apron. 

I bet you know a little girl who would love to have 

an apron and one to match for her favorite dolly.

This is Holly and her girls.

I love their model poses!

These girls looks like fun!

Holly's little daughter is wearing the child medium.

And here is Laurie's Yaya's Apron.

I love the calico she chose.

It reminds me of the flour sacks of the 1930s.

Laurie is an amazing sewist and smocker.

Check out her blog

SewNSo's Sewing Journal for great

sewing tips and smocking lessons.

And look at this one!

Jolene lined this one and made her own bias tape.
 

This is just gorgeous!

I am in love!!!

I am so grateful for my fabulous testers and

editor.

They are catching all my crazy mistakes so that 

the Yaya's Apron will be ready for you all in just a few days.

Thank you for looking at all the pretty Yaya's Aprons my friends

are sewing up.

A Few Tester Teasers

The results from the Yaya's Apron pattern testers are starting to roll in!

And I am SOOOOO excited!!

This one was made by my friend Jerry,

known on sewing forums as Niener.

She made up a Misses size Yaya apron and did something special with the back tie.

Notice that lovely big bow? 

I just love it!!

Angel sewed this apron using the "Girlfriends Method".

Aren't they gorgeous?

Angel was impressed with how frugal this pattern is.

This little pile is all that was left from two, 

one yard cuts of fabric.

And this one was made by Jolene.

I love the colors she chose.

And her model is so adorable!!

She made the child size small which fits

sizes 2-4.

This is my favorite picture!

Love that rear view!

I am busy making pattern revisions

and corrections and 

hope to have the pattern ready to

sell this week!

Stay tuned!!!

Yaya's Apron is on it's way to the Testers!!

 Yes! Finally!

The Yaya's Apron pattern is FINALLY sent off to my fabulous testers!

I love the testing process. 

I have been so blessed to have been a tester for a few other pattern designers and now this is my second pattern to be tested by others.

It is fun to be a part of the creative process.

And yet, I find having others read through my work and sew from my patterns is very helpful.
Testers have fresh eyes. 

And I am so excited about the sewists testing this pattern.
I will post pics of their pretties as they come in.
Let me tell you, they are talented and creative ladies!

They have not lived with a pattern for night and day,dreaming about the drafting program conspiring against me,or wondering why the entire pattern has disappeared off my hard drive.Fortunately those were bad dreams and not true!

Well, the drafting program does have control issues, I think. 

 So, you may want to get a little pile of supplies ready to go.
For each basic apron you will need a yard of fabric, and two packs of bias tape. I hope to have the pattern ready for sale next week.

Now, I am off to my parents house with Ahnalin for a few days in Nevada.
India is on a mission trip in the wilds of central California.
And Don has lots of music to work on here at home.  Here are a few pics of my girls this weekend.
So, um...yeah. I DID NOT GET THE SMOCKED DRESS FINISHED!
I was totally crazy working on the pattern.
And it was snowing.
So, I decided that neither Ahnalin, nor I, would die if I did not get the beautiful, very light batiste dress finished.
She wore her St. Patrick's Day dress. I only made it 2 weeks ago. Really, I am fine. Well, I had to convince myself it was ok, but Ahnalin was happy. 

Here is India and her friend Jordan.Jordan was baptized on Easter Sunday!
Jordy Pops, we are so proud of you!
Ahnalin got to meet a baby alpaca at the High Hand Nursery.
We ate Easter brunch there. YUMMY!
The alpaca thought Ahnalin was YUMMY! And bright and early yesterday morning, India, her boyfriend Kevin, the church high school youth group and a bunch of crazy adult leaders left for a mission trip in Fresno.
It was soooooo cold, but at least it was not snowing right then.
However, it still snowed here yesterday.

Here is my Ahnalin with me at the church's Easter Egg hunt on Saturday.

It was FREEZING!!!

I am sorry that I can't get many pictures on here right now. 

I think even my computer is wanting a break!

I pray you all have a beautiful week.

Next post will hopefully have pictures of Yaya' s Aprons

sewn by my testers!!!!

Thank you for your enthusiasm and excitement! 

Sivje

A "Little" Yaya Apron Update

Yes! Yaya's Apron will include a pattern for 18" dolls!

Ok I know I am tooting my own horn,

but isn't this little apron cute????

So Don and I have been busy working on getting the

Yaya Apron pattern ready to go out to testers, 

and we are getting closer by the minute.

The instructions are all done.

The sizes are all done.

And now we are just dealing with getting 

all the pattern pieces oriented properly 

in the drawing program so that they print correctly in PDF format.

So, there is a light at the end of the tunnel here!

Thank you all for your encouragement and patience.

I am so grateful for you all.

Oh, and just to "toot" a little more,

I set up a Facebook Fan page.

The link is over on the right hand side.

And now for a little India and Ahnalin update...

They are BOTH going to school tomorrow!!

No one has a fever tonight!

WOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!

If I seem a little batty, it is because I have been 

nursemaid for two sick kids for over a few weeks

and I am getting a bit twitchy.

So, Mama needs a few minutes of brain space to remember 

what Easter week is all about. 

Now, I need to get back to my smocking!

Happy Sewing and Blessed Holy Week to you all.

Miss Mary Valentine

Today was the Valentine party at Kindergarten.

So, of course, Ahnalin NEEDED a new dress. 

Really.

 You see,

I love vintage valentines.

A lot!

And I fell in love with this fabric "With Love" by Sharon Evans Yenter
for In The Beginning Fabrics.

 It reminds me of those sweet valentines.

And I bought it at my favorite local fabric store,
Fabrics on Mill Street.

And I was thrilled to be a pattern tester for Samantha Caffee of the Handmade Dress.

This is my test of her new pattern "Miss Mary".

Isn't it darling?

Ahnalin thought so.
But because it was pretty darn cold here this morning,
she wore it with a long sleeved top and tights.

What a sweet little valentine!


And on a different topic,
I just passed my one year Blogiversary on Sunday.

I forgot to post!

And even though I did not start my hit counter until last May,
I am almost at 25,000 hits since then.

So, that means I need to come up with a fabulous giveaway to celebrate!

Stay tuned!

As soon as I decide what it is, I will do another giveaway post!

Love to you all.

Sivje
----------------------------------------------

Saturday update!!
The Miss Mary pattern in PDF format is now available
from The Handmade Dress.
Samantha said that if you want the printed version, it will be
available for shipment on Monday, Feb. 22nd.
You can purchase it here.

You will love this beautiful pattern.

Christmas Sewing and a Gaggle of Yayas

Everyone is getting "Yaya's Aprons" for Christmas this year. However, when my niece came up this weekend for a visit, I broke down and gave the girls their aprons early.

After all, they are all great-granddaughters of the original "Yaya".

I sized down the apron for Ahnalin. This size will fit a size 5 very loosely,

and will probably fit until she is about 8 or 9.

I figure I will need to make a smaller size as well to fit maybe 2-4.

As we have been baking, the Christmas music has been playing, one album after another,

Ahnalin grabbed her Nana for a little impromptu dancing.

 However, Nana was not wearing her apron at the time.

They had style, grace and flair!

India was manning, or "girling" the Kitchen Aid mixer.

My three chefs are pretty proud of their matching aprons.

They actually baked three kinds of cookies.
However, I have no photographic proof as I forgot to take those pictures!
They baked Raspberry Thumbprints, Peanut Butter Blossoms, and Gingerbread cookies.
I promise you that they tasted great!


One of our family traditions every year is new jammies on Christmas Eve.
Since the girls know this is part of the deal,
 I started letting them be involved in the design process.



Ahnalin wanted pink flannel with snowmen and a big ruffly skirt.

India loves Volkswagen Bugs, so I found this darling cotton knit and we both fell in love.

I kind of messed up on the embroidery. Well, actually, I walked away from the machine and it

ate up the fabric! Thankfully I was able to salvage the top.

This little blanket was for a friend whose baby is due 3 days after Christmas.

I love the Minkee fabric and the knit from Chez Ami.

The fabrics sew up so beautifully and are so soft!

I ended up sewing wayyyyyyy more aprons than I had originally planned.

None have yet made it onto my Etsy site, as they all seemed to sell before I got them finished!

The plan is that next week I will finish the writing on the Yaya Apron pattern,

 so that I can get it out to testers.

The sewing machine is put away for a few days.

The project for today was making Spanikopita for Christmas!

No sewing machine was needed for this project.

But oh, how yummy!!

I have to get ready now. Don and I have to be at the church in an hour.

We have 2 Christmas services tonight and 4 tomorrow.

We LOVE serving at the Christmas Eve services.

In case I do not check in again before Christmas,

I want you all to know that I so appreciate you all!

I pray that you feel the Love of Jesus this year.

I pray that you reach out to others in Peace.

And I pray that you have Joy in your hearts.

In His Grace,

Sivje