flowers and polka dots

Just before Christmas, I was on a sewing frenzy. So, I squeezed these dresses in for the girls. My oldest daughter has to wear dresses and skirts knee-length or below to school. She has gone through a growth spurt recently and a lot of things were getting too short. I found this pattern at one of my favorite places to shop http://www.pinkchalkfabrics.com/. It was a downloadable pattern. The neat thing about this store and one of the reasons why I love it so is because it's on Bainbridge Island, WA. And also on Bainbridge Island is my brother-n-law and his family. It was a neat connection when made, and why I continue to buy from her.
These dresses took 45 minutes to make! Easy. This is Piper's dress.

 

This is Karis' dress. I love this pattern because it is so functional. Wear it with a cardigan, with a shirt under it, leggings, tights or jeans!

 

fairy dress

Last year (2010) I was looking at fabric and patterns online. I came across this fabric and with a few patterns in mind, came up with my own. These 2 dresses are my first to make up. I call it...well, I never named the pattern, but maybe one day I will. It was so easy to make.
This was Piper's dress.

 

My favorite part of this dress is the braiding on the straps.

 

 

Here are my beautiful daughters, Karis and Piper, in the dresses (with Berit in the background).

 

The pattern

 

Maybe I should call the pattern "the fairy" since that is how I have it labeled here.

 

 

 

cupcakes

One day I was cleaning out the laundry room (this is also where I have my sewing machine and table) and came across a random sheet. I am always looking at ways to recycle. I held it up and said to myself, "I'm going to smock a dress!" I immediately thought of some pj's of Karis' that have cupcakes on them. So there was my inspiration- sheets and pjs! This was the first dress I smocked without a smocking plate. I sketched a design and here is the finished product, a cute bishop cupcake dress for Piper!

 

 

intended for fall

I purchased this beautiful fabric with the intentions of making these dresses for the girls in the fall of 2009 and never got them. So I made them around Karis' 6th birthday in February 2010. I love the colors! With Karis' beautiful red hair and Piper's auburn highlights, how could I not?? The girls love having matching dresses believe it or not.

 

The pattern is an altered Mary De. The smocking plate is once again Ellen McCarn's Alexandra.

 

mine

This is one of my favorite pictures of my children. This was back in October 2009.
Karis, Berit and Piper- they are my favorite!

 

Blue and White

In August of 2009, I smocked these dresses for the girls. I love white dresses. With both girls having big beautiful blue eyes, I had to smock in blue! I used Ellen MaCarn's Script Mongram smocking plate. As you can see, I sure do enjoy Ellen McCarn. I love her geometrical designs. I am not sure what it is about her designs, but they always come to mind when I pick out fabric for smocking.

Karis' dress is a Mary De and Piper's dress is a bishop. Each with their personal monogram on the front.

 

 

 

 

treasure

In August of 2009, we went down to visit family for a few days. On one of those days we visited with my grandmother, Nannie. The one who taught me how to sew. On this day, I got 3 special treasures. She handed down her sewing scissors. She also gave me my Great Great grandmother's sewing scissors and quilt. Her name was Katherine Youchem McConnell.

Here are the scissors and quilt. The scissors with the black handle are my grandmother's and the other pair are my great great grandmother's.

 

James Edgar (Ed) McConnell (my grandmother's father) with his mother Katherine Youchem McConnell (my great great grandmother).

 

Corduroy

For Christmas 2008 I smocked these dresses for Karis and Piper. These dresses also come with a memory. When I see these dresses, it reminds me of Dave's grandmother. The girls wore these dresses to her funeral down in Orlando in January 2009. She was a fun lady and we sure do miss her.

This is Karis' dress, a altered Mary De. The smocking plate is Ellen McCarn's April. I love the colors and I love corduroy!

 

 

This was Piper's bishop. This is also the April smocking plate.

 

the secret dress

This is a special dress. I smocked this for Piper before she was born in 2008. We had intended to not find out her gender during the pregnancy. However, I had to have many ultrasounds and since she was our 3rd, I figured it out. We did keep it a secret from everyone else though and that was fun. I secretly smocked this to have a dress to bring her home in.
This is Ellen McCarn's Cary Anne smocking plate. It's an adjustable design and I used Design III. It is a bishop (size 3 months) on pink micro-check gingham.

 

 

Cinderella's other dress

As you can see, I have a trend of smocking for birthdays. But I do get out of the habit. This one was a favorite too. Karis named this one Cinderella's other dress. To be honest, I cannot remember what the original Cinderella dress was. But I am sure I will soon discover it. This was for Karis' birthday in February in 2008.

Cinderella's other dress

 

The smocking pattern is Ellen McCarn's Alexandra. The pattern is a bishop. The fabric is the color rose. The floss is ecru (my fav) and rose.

 

all the pretty little horses

In September 2007 I made this dress for my daughter Karis for her 4th birthday. She has always loved horses. One of my favorite things about Karis, she loves naming the dresses I make for her. This one is so original, the horse dress.

the Horse Dress

 

The smocking plate is Creative Keepsakes Horse Ride. I used a Mary De pattern. The fabric is pink gingham, light weight for the perfect twirl while spinning!

 

ecru and flowers

Every time I smock a dress, I say it is my favorite. However, I would say of all I have smocked this one is one of my favorites (which is why I am posting it). I guess you can say I love ecru. I smock with it a lot. I think it is so elegant. I made this dress for Karis' 3rd birthday at the beginning of 2007.

 

The smocking plate is one I've used a lot. It is Ellen McCarn's Alexandra. It is a sew easy design and it really is so easy to smock. The dress is a bishop.

 

Here are a few of Karis wearing the dress in May 2007. Karis and Berit swinging.