over at Pins & Needlesand this is what we made:
And here’s the story behind it:
This summer we got a nice email from Pins & Needles (a sewing and needlework shop in New York City) asking us if we were up to participate in a “surprise sewing challenge”.
A surprise sewing challenge?
I don’t even need to think about an invitation like that. The answer was yes, yes, and yes.
A few weeks later we got the most adorable little package in the mail and here’s what it included:
3 pieces of fabric, some ribbon, a handful of buttons and the challenge rules.
Basically we needed to use at least 2 of the items from the package and couldn’t add any more than 3 of our own items to whatever we were going to make.
Awesome.
(Seriously—I love to get packages in the mail and I love fabric and notions so this was such a fun challenge to participate in.)
I decided that I wanted to use some of every single item included in our package so I only added thread and part of a half yard of white kona cotton to my “ingredients”.
Next I got to work making some fun dresses for Gracie and Ruth. After making the design and patterns for each dress I needed to select fabric. I chose the larger print for Gracie and kept the smaller print for Ruth. Then I gave them each a pop of the tiny hot pink print…so that they almost coordinate. And to finish off their dresses I added the ribbon to Ruth’s bodice and used the different colored buttons to close both dresses in the back.
Done and fun.
I simply can’t get enough of my girls in old fashioned dresses.
(Really—I’ll never get tired of making them or dressing my girls in them.)
Today you can head over to Pins & Needles to see what the other ladies who participated in the challenge made. (And believe me when I tell you they have some super talented super stars who made some delightful items!)
And when you click over there don’t forget to vote for your favorite project because the winner gets $100 to donate to a charity of their choice!
So go, check it out! And then have a fantastic weekend!
liZ
Oh Liz, these are superb..they take my breath away!
Both dresses are absolutely adorable…. I had to vote for you 🙂
The dresses and photos are ADORABLE!!! I am chuckling and smiling (big) after seeing Gracie in more and more of these photos. She looks like she is loving every minute of it, a ham, and can’t get enough of the camera! Love the hair decor you whip up too–it just makes the pics–that and the sunglasses you have shown. Great work–I’ll go check out the site and vote-for you of course!
Any chance of getting tutorials for those dresses? they are so cute!
Ah-mayzing! You guys, you seriously rock it every single time. And who you are competing against? Umm…wow! Love your dresses, love that you used so much of the product! Love it all. Great job!
Have to say–I just checked the competition–by far the best!
Those are so cute! I love the two dresses together, and how you used the fabrics and trims.
Love love LOVE!! The dresses are super darling!!! You got my vote! 🙂
Beautiful!! I totally voted for you. 🙂
She’s a real doll. Beautiful outfit:)
These are so cute, and the daughter is so comical! I almost wish I had a little girl that young, and knew how to sew. lol
holy crap i love it (and voted!!)
Definately voted for you!!!
I love old fashioned dresses too; they never get old! Checked out what the others created but you by far, we’re my favorite
ok and im totally crazy here…how do i vote? is it closed? i kinda wanted to vote for someone:)
I love these dresses. And I feel the same way I am willing to trash my apartment to make a dress for my little girl or niece.
Absolutely adorable dresses! I love the styles and the fabrics look fabulous in your designs – And you’ve got some cutie pie models there as well 🙂 I’m so glad I found your blog thru Pins & Needles 😉
How did you get Gracie’s dress so nice and poofy? Did you use tulle or crinoline? Or a hoop? I keep trying to get the dresses I make my daughter to poof out that much but they don’t seem to do it quite as nicely. Was the skirt just a rectangle piece or is it cut as more of an A-line? And if it was a rectangle, how wide was it?
I always see your skirts and LOVE how girly and poofy they are. I also love how blogs make people sound kind of creepy, because I want to be your friend so I can copy your dresses… Yes. Now I sound creepy.
So adorable! Nicely done. I was just thinking today that nothing beats dressing up little girls–especially if you get to dress them in something you’ve made!
Adorable dresses, but of course! What else would we expect from you? 😀
I love these dresses!!! They look AMAZING! I’m with Stephanie (who I don’t know!) that I REALLY want to know how you made the skirts so poofy! You rocked that contest! Great job!!!