Flower Maiden

I put the finishing touches on this dress this week.  I'm fairly happy about the fit. It's still a little generous around the waist but it's not too bad. I am realizing that my daughter really has not grown much since last year, at least not in her chest measurements. She certainly is taller! 

It was fun to add all the colors of tulle to the built-in petticoat. I didn't want to add too much puffiness so it's not a tiered petticoat, just the last few inches are gathered tulle. 

I think she looks like a dainty little lady in this dress so I've called it the Flower Maiden dress.  I think this will be her Easter dress this year. 

In order to get the pictures I had to bribe her with gems. (they are like M&Ms) She loves them but gets them all over her face. Thankfully not all over the dress! 

I think for my next dress for Anaiah I should challenge myself do make something more 'Modern' looking because I tend to make slightly 'old fashioned' looking dresses for her.  But then again, I like the 'old fashioned' look on her.  We'll see. I've signed up for the Kids Clothes Week Challenge, (see my side bar) held towards the end of April and maybe I'll try something more 'modern' for that. 

Are you joining the Challenge?

Cakes, Cupcakes and Cuddly Pillows

It's been a while since I've posted anything here and I'll tell you why, I've been busy.  


My daughter Anaiah turned 3 on the 22nd of March. She is growing up so fast. I still vividly remember the moment I heard her cry for the first time like it was last week.  She is rapidly becoming a little girl instead of a toddler. I am so thankful for her. I love her curiosity and watching her discover new things. Love seeing her learn more about the world around her. Love her 'big hugs' and all the kisses. Love how she pretends my finger is an inch worm and gives mine a hug. Love her curls. Love her giggles and smiles. Love her..

 For her school, I baked cupcakes and a little cake for her to share. She had been talking about singing happy birthday for days and it was so much fun to hear her sing to herself loudly with the other kids.

I got to use some of my new fondant tools on the cakes which was a lot of fun. I'm still learning and enjoying that process. I tried to copy the school's logo on her cake.

Her cake for at home:

It was SO yummy! The top layer was fresh strawberry cake with strawberry buttercream filling and the bottom was a 4 layer chocolate cake with dark chocolate ganache filling. all topped with more buttercream and marshmallow fondant.(or as my daughter calls marshmallows, 'baby clouds')


I've also been busy with other projects. I'm still finishing up a blue dress but I did complete this simple sundress this month. 

I've also joined a knit-along in the South Asian Crafters group on Ravelry. We are all knitting/crocheting pillows or pillow covers. I've finished my first one: Hootie. Made using novelty yarn that I was happy to use up and other stash yarns. 

Finished on Friday!

Today I put the finishing touches on this dress.  It is the first of hopefully many dresses for my daughter for this summer. I LOVE making her dresses. However because she is a growing child I have to adjust the master bodice block every year and that comes with it's share of issues. I always make my own dress patterns for her and crazy as it sounds,  I like it when the dresses I make actually fit her. Yes, it's sometimes nice to have tops on the big side so that they will 'last' longer but somehow I still like it best when they just look like they fit perfectly.  Usually the first few dresses of the season I make do not fit her the way I wish they did, and this one is no exception. I'll have to adjust the bodice pattern again.  I know what you are thinking, "Why didn't she just make a muslin first?"  and you are right I probably should have done so.  Hopefully I'll get the next dress to fit beautifully. 

This one thankfully is easy to 'fix' with a tie that cinches in the waist a bit. I could also just take in the sides a bit but I don't think I'll be bothering with that.  So the bodice it a little too big but otherwise I like the dress.  I wish I could have gotten a pic of her standing in the dress but she didn't want to take pictures so after about 30 or so these were the best of the lot.  The sash is satin, the dots are poplin and her petticoat is tulle with a cotton lining for comfort. The tulle peeps out a bit from under the dress.  The head band was a cheap plastic one I just covered and used scraps of satin and a few beads to add the flower. 

Originally the poplin dot fabric was white with purple dots however I had to get the tulle, satin and lining cotton dyed to match the dress and I didn't wash them enough apparently because they bled in the wash.  I am so happy that I always toss all the fabric for a dress together in the washing machine before I sew up a dress just in case. I've had many painful experiences where the project has been ruined by fabric already sewn in that bled.  I was sad that the crisp white of this poplin was lost but I didn't hate the resulting pale purple so I decided just to go with it. 


Looking at it now I think it might make a great Easter dress. But maybe I'm just thinking that because she is holding a bunny in this picture. 

Have you ever had a 'bleeder' in the wash that ruined your clothes? I wish they sold those dye catching pads that you can toss in the laundry to catch dyes before they ruin your stuff here in India. They would be super handy! 

Check out some other crafters lovely Finished Objects here on Tami's Amis!