Sewing and Family

This is a very busy and somewhat stressful week in my house, but I wanted to hop on here and share a few things. I have my 12-year-old nephew visiting because he was staying with my parents, but my mom is having surgery on her heart tomorrow, so we are watching him while my parents are in the hospital. As a result, I have not had much time to share things or make things. Here are a few things I have sewn lately.

I made Hazel a fun pillow case dress with fairy pockets. I hoped to make one for her doll as well, but I didn't have enough fabric. Oh, well. There are tutorials for these dresses all over. Here is one on Sew Like My Mom: Easiest Pillowcase Dress Ever.

Hazel has been wanting a mermaid tale for her dolls (well actually she wants a couple in different colors). I have been playing with patterns including one I found at Peek-a-boo Pattern Shop: Dressing Up Dolly: Mermaid Tail. She had a pattern for a 15-inch doll, so I made my own. I also am making a green one using a method someone showed me that sells them professionally. It is not done, so I won't share pictures yet.

I will post a pattern and tutorial for the mermaid tale once I have the pattern finalized to what I like best. Sharing Saturday will still be happening, so stay tuned!

Dress-Up Dresses Resized--A Quick Fix

I only buy Hazel Disney costumes when they are on clearance or sale (post-Halloween). We have most of the princesses dresses now, but she has outgrown some. I should add that dress could also be a nightgown that looks like a dress. I figure if it looks like it we might as well use it as a dress up. (See the Ariel dress for an example.)

Last week Hazel wanted to put on her Snow White dress, but it was too small (especially over clothes). Now a month ago or so, I bought a pattern to make princess dress up aprons. I loved the idea since she wouldn't outgrow them  so fast. I of course have not had the time to start them yet. But taking that idea, I cut the back seam of her Snow White dress and added in ribbons at the waist and a piece of elastic for the top. I also finished the edges with my serger. I should have used less elastic, but wanted to make sure it would be comfortable on her with clothes underneath.

Then of course she didn't want to dress like Snow White anymore and brought me her Ariel "dress" which if I remember correctly is a 2T and she in now a 4 to 5T. This was a bit different since it has side seams and the back was very fancy. I cut the side seam up to the bottom of the sleeve on one side and put two ribbons in.

Again I finished the edges on my serger. Now she can still wear these two dresses that she has outgrown. 

And best of all I didn't have to spend money on new ones. I had all the supplies I used so it was very easy to do and cheap (much better than buying on clearance for $10-$20 in a bigger size).

And of course by the time I finished both dresses, she had moved onto playing something else. Here is a wonderful picture of her dressed up. She said she was the minister and was very excited to go to church every day. I sent the picture to our minister and let him know I wasn't sure what she is trying to say about his style.

He thought it was great and she should sell minister costumes.

More Mo Willems--Summer Virtual Book Club

We had so much fun reading Mo Willems books, that I have to say we were inspired to do several different crafts. It was hard to choose just one book. You may remember on Monday we shared our Piggie and Elephant masks, which of course can work with any of the Piggie and Elephant books. Hazel's favorites seems to be Elephants Cannot Dance and I Will Surprise My Friend.

Well we read Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed. This story is about a naked mole rat who likes to wear clothes. The other naked mole rats tease him and are horrified at the idea of him wearing clothes. They go talk to the oldest and wisest naked mole rat who calls a meeting to announce that any of them should be allowed to wear clothes if they want and then it no longer matters whether they are clothed or not. 

Enlarged Naked Mole Rat

Well I thought of magnetic paper dolls with this story. (It may be since we were about to take a two-hour car ride to visit my parents and this is the perfect activity for it.) So I enlarged one of the naked mole rat pictures from the book, and I cut some clothes from scrapbook paper to fit the enlarged figure. (I hand sketched them on a paper on top of the enlarged picture and cut patterns.) I glued these cut clothes to the enlarged figure paper and copied it onto the magnetic page (which I got a Ocean State Job Lot for $1 or something for three different sheets).  Steve cut the magnets out for me since I was too busy trying to get ready for our trip. I picked up a metal pizza pan (they didn't have any baking pans) at the Dollar Tree for her to use this on.

This is something she can bring with her in the car or play with at home. Overall, a good activity!

Next month's author is Don and Audrey Wood. You can start reading their books and thinking of activities so you can share!! To see the list of blogs hosting The Summer Virtual Book Club for Kids go here.
 

Now it is your turn to share a craft or activity for a Mo Willems book. I hope you are enjoying them as much as we are!!

This is where I share...