Riley Top and Karen Capri Pants with a little something extra

I've always liked to try different things with patterns so they can be used over and over and have a different look.  For this outfit, I combined two patterns - Riley Top for the top and Karen Capri for the pants and added a smocked insert along the bottom of both.  I'll put a turtleneck under the top for cooler weather.  I thought this would be a good fabric choice for Fall and into the Spring. 

Marley Pattern Now Available

Marley Dress Pattern is now available in my Etsy Shop. CDs will be shipped to retailers next week.

It is a fully lined dress with a ruffled sleeve, side pleats and pockets. Add a turtleneck and leggings for the fall. You can eliminate the sleeves, pockets and/or pleats for a different look. Add embroidery/applique to the front or pockets for extra detail.

McKensie Pattern Now Available

McKensie Pattern now available in my Etsy Store. McKensie is a quick project that allows you to be creative. Great for some embroidery on the bodice, pocket or band. For a simpler look, the pocket and/or band can be eliminated.

This pattern takes very little fabric so is great to clean out some of those small pieces in your stash.

Photo by Jessica Johnson
Photo by J Chustz Photography

Thanks to all the testers who helped with this pattern. Your comments and pictures were a great help.

Ava Sundress Pattern now available

Ava Sundress Pattern is now available in my Etsy Shop.

You are going to love how easy this pattern is to make. It's a perfect little dress for everyday play, the beach, birthday parties and special occasions. Adding the optional bow at the back gives it a "boutique" look. Make it unique by mixing and matching fabrics, adding an applique or embroidery design to the front, trim along the border or just plain. Great for warm summer days like we are having here in Louisiana or with a top underneath for cooler seasons.
Thanks to my model, I had lots of pictures to choose from for the cover. She loves dresses and was so great trying all of them on and letting us take pictures. Thanks to the precious model for being so easy to work with and to her parents for letting me borrow her for the photos.

Tana Tutu Dress Customer Creation

This was made by a customer for her granddaughter using the Tana Tutu Dress Pattern. Thanks Kathy for sending this picture.

JoAnn Pattern Sewing Class at All Brands

I had my first sewing class at All Brands this past weekend using the JoAnn Pattern.

I enjoyed meeting these ladies and helping them complete their JoAnn Dress.

Cooking Birthday Party and Tutu Curtains

I had a busy weekend, finalizing and getting my Pillow Pals pattern out, starting on my new pattern, cooking, cleaning, helping with a birthday party and a sewing project. Although it was busy, it felt good getting alot accomplished. I think maybe the beautiful cool weather we are having motivated me.

Friday night I helped with an 8 year old birthday cooking party. There were 6 girls attending. Her mom had them make pizzas and pig in a blanket for the main meal, fruitini's, decorate cupcakes and make ice cream sundaes. They also got their nails painted. They each had a monogrammed apron in hot pink. I added some bright ribbon to the birthday girl's apron to make her's special. It was also a slumber party although I only stayed a couple of hours. It looked like fun but I'm sure it was a long night for her parents.

They are making fruitini's here. They dipped the rims of their cups in pink colored sugar, added some cut up fruit and topped it off with cute little drink umbrellas.

The main dish was pizza on french bread and pigs in a blanket. Here's the birthday girl with her pizza creation.

My sewing project for the weekend was tutu curtains. A friend who is a dance teacher asked me to make some curtains for her studio. I found several cute ballerina fabrics online by Michael Kaufman and she chose this one for the curtains. I added a tulle ruffle along the bottom for a little something extra. She has two windows so I made 4 - 45" wide panels and added the tulle ruffle along the hem. For the tulle ruffle, I used 4 yards for each panel of the 6" tulle in a roll.

Pillow Pals - New Pattern Now Available

Pillow Pals is now available in my Etsy Shop.

Pillow Pals are easy to make, fun and functional epattern. Make it a family project and have the children help pick out the fabric and help with the stuffing. They are great for nap time, sleepovers and road trips and well as a great gift idea. The pattern includes instructions for both a small and large style with different face designs for boy and girl versions.
Here are my tester pictures and her comments about the pattern.

"This is so cute and I want to make some for the kids b/c I think the small size will be perfect for car trips! They are always falling asleep with their heads all katty-wampus (is that a Lancaster county dutch term? LOL) and I think this will be much more fun than using blankets or coats!
The pattern was easy to follow, as usual and the pictures were great!"

I loved the picture in the bushes so much I retook my cover pictures and included one with the greenery.

Thanks Leigh Ann for testing and sending these great photos.

New Pattern - Pillow Pals

This is the first try of my new pattern called Pillow Pals. I made the girl version but plan to make a boy version also. This is an easy and fun pattern to get the kids involved with. They can help design the face and help with the stuffing. Its fun and functional and a great gift idea. I have a few adjustments to make, then I'll start on the instructions. I hope to have it available in a couple of weeks.

Tutu for a 1 year Birthday Celebration

My friend's daughter, A, is having her first birthday party soon. Isn't she adorable. She is one of my youngest models for my pattern covers. She was on Emily and Betsey/Joey Shorts Pattern covers and will be on the cover of my new Dee Dee Pleated Dress Pattern along with her older sister. Her mom is a photographer, J Chustz Photography, and will be taking the cover pictures for the new pattern.


I made the tutu for her to wear for the 1st birthday celebration. Here are a couple of shots her mom took of her to use for the party invitations.

This was my first attempt at making a tutu and I was unsure how much tulle we would need. She purchased 3 yards of each color. I cut strips and overlapped the colors using almost all 6 yards. She wanted it full and full it was. Once she tried it on, she realized that it may be too full because it was getting in her face and would probably be annoying for her party. The next decision is whether we cut it shorter and leave the fullness or remove a couple of layers. Anyway, we have a couple of weeks to decide but either way, as cute as she is, she will look adorable no matter what, don't you think?

Another Customer Creation using Betsey/Joey Shorts Pattern

Just got these great pictures from a customer. These are from the Betsey/Joey Shorts Pattern that is reversible or non reversible. Thanks L for the great pictures. Love the strawberry and football prints.

Here is what she said:
We are just having so much fun with these shorts! :-) Thanks so much!!

Karen Capri and Halter Top Pattern Model

This past weekend I went to a friend's house to take pictures of her daughter in an outfit made from my new pattern - Karen Capri Pants and Halter Top that will be out in the next few weeks. She loves to take pictures so we were able to get some really cute shots of her. Isn't she adorable?