Odd Dotty Dollymaker

Dragon Boy!

Inspiration struck the other day as I searched through my piles of fabric. I came upon a piece that the husband had given me for my birthday a couple of years ago. It had been hiding under mounds of previously cut fabric that had been thrown back into my "storage" unit...I really need a better way to organize all of my supplies, but that is another story...and so I had completely forgotten that I even had it. I love those moments. It's like finding a $20 bill in the pocket of your winter coat the next year.

Immediately I knew what I had to do with it. I had to make Dragon boy. Don't let his size fool you. Even though he's an Itty Bitty Oddity, he is a force to be reckoned with. I am pretty sure he can take down any monster no matter the size, with just a look. I am not sure if he can breathe fire yet, as I am a little nervous to provoke him to that type of anger. But he assures me that as long as I am on his good side, there won't be any issue.

So, without further ado, I present for your viewing pleasure, Dragon Boy!

He also assures me that his brothers and sisters will be joining him soon. I am only a wee bit frightened, but don't tell him that!

I am Free!

Happy 4th of July to all my American readers!! Today, as we celebrate our freedoms this is the song my soul sings;

Have a safe holiday! And celebrate your freedom!

Summer of Love

First I want to thank all of you for all of your prayer and support regarding my last post. It really means the world to me that you would join with me in praying for someone that you may not even know. I especially loved hearing from some of you for the first time telling me that you are praying. How awesome is that?! Pretty awesome! So, thank you and keep 'em coming!

I wish I could tell you that he is doing better, but he's not. What I can tell you, though, is that he is still with us and is getting help. Praise the Lord for that! What we can gather through text messaging, as that is the only way he will communicate with us, is that he saw a professional yesterday who told him that his depression is probably chemical and genetic. So now we wait for him to see a psychiatrist. I am assuming that he will be put on an anti-depressant, and I look forward to having our old friend back.

Outside of that horribly scary turn of events, our summer has been kickin' great! The girl has been making a ton of friends in the neighborhood, we have been spending more play time at the pool as a family than we ever have, we have been to some rockin' good partays...thanks, Jessi!!...and the boy? Well, let's just say that his betrothed that moved to California last year has some serious competition. Serious.

There are so many stories I could tell you about his new love. Like about how when she first saw him she said to herself, "what a handsome man he is"! Or how she is determined to marry him one day. Or even how when she was told that he really likes her, too she replied that she was certain she liked him more because her "heart beats really fast" when he's around. But you know the old saying; a picture is worth a thousand words? I will let these tell the rest of the stories for you.

Help please!

If you are the praying type...or even if you are not the praying type...would you please offer up some prayers with me? I have a dear friend who is suicidal. Never before has he been this low and never before has he been this close to actually doing it. I am worried. I am angry. I am sad. I am all sorts of things right now. And I want this all to be made right. Right now. So, please pray. He NEEDS your prayers and I covet them!

Thank you.

Happy Birthday, Aly!

Well, tomorrow anyway.

This past weekend, as I was gazing bewilderedly at my calendar, (you know cuz...um...where the ham did this year go? Is it really already the middle of the sixth month? Wha...?) I realized that my best friend's youngest turns 2 tomorrow!! And she lives in California. I live in Illinois. Which means I had to quickly put something together and get it shipped out in time to make it there for the big day.

So! I had been wanting to make one of these for a while but just didn't have the impetus I guess. Well, nothing kicks me in the butt like a deadline let me tell you! Using some of my most fun fabric in the stash, I was able to whip up this coloring book bag complete with crayon pockets rather quickly.

 

 

Then I searched my garden for another Itty Bitty Flower Oddity, and found these;

 

 

This one seemed to be attracted to the crayons, so she was added to the package.

 

 

And then the girl decided she really wanted to make her one of her Critters.

 

 

 

They were all thrown together, celebratory words of love and blessings written on the card, the box wrapped with homemade wrapping paper and off they went!

 

 

 

I hope they get there in time! And I hope she loves them!

As for the other Itties, they have found new homes through the shop! I can't keep these things in stock! I LOVE it! Thank you! And now? I must away to hunt for more Oddities, and sew like mad because you know what? I just found out that my application for a craft fair was accepted. Which means I probably should have something to sell, yes?

Reconstruction

So, I made this shirt a month ago to wear to the performance of Charlotte's Web but I am only just now sharing it because...well...no good reason really, it just took me this long to actually take pictures of it. This was made from a shirt that no longer was wanted by the husband. I think he realized the sleeves were too short when he got home and tried it on. To my side of the closet it was given with the intent of reconstruction. I realized half way through the modification that I didn't take any before pictures, but it is/was your standard men's dress shirt from Target. All I basically did was take it in, add some darts for shaping and moved the pocket from the chest to the bottom. Well, and added the cherries to the pocket, too. It didn't come like that. Oh yeah, I also cut off the sleeves and changed them to puffy short sleeves. I had done a reconstruction similar to this a couple of years ago and when I did, I cut the length of the shirt. This time I decided to keep it long and I am happy with the way it turned out. Wanna see? Aww, c'mon you know you want to!

Cherry pocket detail:

Know what I love best about this shirt? It matches these shoes:

Please pardon the vascularity of my feet, it was pretty humid when this photo was taken. And for some reason when the humidity comes out, so do my veins! Do I need to drink more water?

For Reals

Have you seen these? Oh. My. Goodness. I almost pee'd my pants!

Flower!

Look what I found growing in my garden today!

Isn't she just the sweetest little Itty Bitty Flower Oddity you ever did see?

She's a very happy little girl, and I found her sitting contentedly amongst the toadstools and frogs.

She loves being held and sung to. Also? She told me that she wants to come live with you! She will be waiting for you in the Shop.

I hope more of them grow very soon! I would love to have a bouquet of these little guys.

Summer Dress Numero First

It is finally finished! I didn't get it done in time for the girl's birthday party, but I got it done! I was so close to having it done on time. All I had left to do was the bow and the hem. But alas, it was time for me to shower and get ready for the party. So, over the chair it was thrown until I had time to come back to it. Which I had today. So here it is!

It's a bit windy today, so please forgive the hair and billowing skirt. This was my first garment I have ever made using a commercial pattern. If I do use them, it is usually for a costume for the kids.

This is also the first thing I have made from scratch that has a  pocket. Actually it has two!!

Don't you love my poses?  Yeah, I am not exactly sure what I was doing.

Here's the back.

This is a fun dress, and I really can't wait to wear it. But...I can't. I don't know what I was thinking making a halter top dress. Really brings out the bra straps doesn't it? Niiiiiiice. And I am one who cannot...nay...SHOULD not go braless. You see, after birthing two children and nursing, my girls need some serious support. Both emotionally and physically. So if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them. Is there a good halter strap bra that would work? Or any other miracle-like solutions that you would be so kind as to share? Please? Help a sistah out!!

EDITED TO ADD: Please also forgive the wonkiness of this post...Typepad is trying out some new way of things, and I don't know how to make it work. I don't like though.

Summer of the Dress

Iffen I am quiet for the next couple of days it is because I am busy making this dress;

with these fabrics:

It needs to be done in time for the girl's birthday party this Saturday. And because I am using a pattern, it takes me longer to make. I don't know if I ever told you this but I really really REALLY don't like using commercial patterns. The tissue that the pattern is printed on drives me up a wall. And the instructions are very often written in such a way that I have to read and re-read them about three hundred and four times before I realize I need to sew the front piece to the back piece. Yes, I have a problem. But! I liked this pattern, and since I do have some sewing experience, I figured that I could always wing it if I didn't feel like hiring a professional translator to read the instructions to me. Plus, once I use their pattern, I can always modify and streamline it to a point that I can just whip one of these babies right out. Because this? This is going to be the Summer of the Dress for me. I am determined to make it so.

I will have pictures upon my return, so make sure to check back in a couple of days!! Happy rest of the week to you!!