November 19, 2011
I made a hospital gown for an American Girl doll. A friend of mine was doing an awesome thing and donated part of her liver to her mom. I wanted to do something for her. I made her a hospital gown to wear and I made one for her daughter’s American Girl doll, in hopes it would help ease her fears about her mom and grandma’s surgeries. It’s been a long time coming, but here’s finally a tutorial.
First, draw the simple pattern. You only need one piece for the gown. It will fit on a sheet of copy paper. It’s easiest to begin in the upper left corner. Mark a dot one inch down the page and another three inches along the top. Connect these two dots with a slightly curved line. Follow the diagram below to complete the pattern piece.
Cut out the fabric pieces. Place the left side of the pattern on the fold of your fabric. Repeat one more time to get two identical pieces. Flip the pattern piece over and cut one, not on the fold. You will need to make one alteration. Place the full size back piece, right side up. Draw a line from the armpit to the top of the neck curve. Cut off this sleeve portion.
You should now have your three pieces to make the gown.
Fold the fabric on the neck towards the back twice, Iron the pieces to make stitching the curved portion easier. Stitch along the neck for all three pieces. I didn’t do this the first time around so I had to rip part of the gown apart to complete the neck since it was just too tight to easily stitch after the shoulders were sewn. I went ahead and did a sample to show you the part with the neck stitched, and just pretend the pictures following this step have the neck completed.
Place the back pieces on the front with right sides together. Line the shoulders up and stitch using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
Use pinking shears to trim the seam allowance and iron open. You can also serge or do a zigzag stitch to finish the edge, but I find pinking shears work fine on doll clothes.
Fold back the end of the sleeve two times (about 1/4 inch for each fold is sufficient) and stitch.
Line the sides up and stitch from the end of the sleeve to the bottom of the gown, using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Pink the edges.
Fold back and stitch the remaining sides to finish the edges on the back pieces.
Hem the bottom of the gown and attach fasteners of your choice. You can use snaps or Velcro. Placing one at the neck and one along the side. With this design, the back flap stays closed.
That’s it! As an alternative, you can use bias tape around the neck and to tie the gown closed.
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October 22, 2011
Image source: Dianne
We went to IHOP for dinner the other night. The “Kids Eat Free” sign in the window drew us right in, since we are suckers for free. On the menu was Pumpkin Pancakes. Although I’m not a pumpkin or pancake eater normally, I told my family I’d try to make these at home for them because they had other favorites on the menu to try that night.
I found a recipe on Allrecipes.com and tried them for breakfast this morning. The recipe says it makes 12 pancakes and serves 6, so I doubled it. That recipe made a huge amount of pancakes. We have a ton leftover to put in the freezer for some quick mornings. The pumpkin pancakes come out thick and cakey, so a couple of pancakes was plenty for each person.
They ate pancakes until full for breakfast and requested them again for dinner. Sounds like a winner recipe to me.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
- In a bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a separate bowl. Stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.
- Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.
I made and a couple of alterations, but it shouldn’t change the outcome of the recipe much. I used unbleached all-purpose flour and I didn’t have allspice, so I substituted nutmeg for it. Also, when doubling the recipe, a 15 oz can of pumpkin puree worked perfectly.
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October 9, 2011
I’m making some new pillows for the bed in our room. I thought that with the compass above the bed, making some pillows that look like Navy signal flags. I looked up some styles to see what would work with our room. I also know signal flags have an alphabet letter and a meaning associated with each flag.
After looking up some flags that would work, I checked out their meaning, and I’m not so sure they are the best idea for the bedroom. The meanings begin to take on a different connotation. Then again, for couples who have trouble communicating, maybe these are an excellent idea.
I like the idea of some yellow with my gray and navy. This flag means, “I am maneuvering with difficulty; keep clear.”
I find it funny to see these paired together. Yes, I’m easily amused.
The front pillow means, “Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals.”
The rear pillow says, “My vessel is stopped; making no way.”
Another one that shows my sophomoric humor.
The pillow means, “Conducting flag hoist drill.”
This one can mean, “Do not pass in front of me” or “Keep clear; engaged in trawling.”
“I require medical assistance” and “I require assistance” pillows.
Back to a serious note, I like this style. I may get some linen and stencil a design.
Now to decide which one to do. I think I’m going to stick with our initials.
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October 5, 2011
I’m loving it. I now have my duvet cover and I’m getting ready to start making pillows for the bed. I can’t wait to get it all finished. Next on my list is new lamps and bedside tables. I can’t wait to complete the room.
Taking a picture with those two windows is tough, but you get the idea.
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September 29, 2011
I got the best package in the mail yesterday. It contained sea glass and sea pottery. I love the look of sea glass.
I didn’t know what sea glass was until a few years ago. I learned when people dump glass into the sea, it breaks and pieces of the glass tumble in the ocean and wash up on the shore. The salt water makes a nice frosty appearance on the surface of the glass. Some people call it beach glass, but that is a broader term that can include glass that washes up on freshwater beaches. I’ve never been able to find any on the beach. Some places are known for finding beach glass and other areas, you’ll never find any.
This package contained some that I think I can use to make jewelry. I’ve been reading up on what is jewelry grade and I think each of these qualify. Now I need to read up on how to drill holes in them.
I think I’m going to use these for decorations.
I also got some sea pottery and a couple of rocks. Not sure what I’m going to do with this stuff, but I like it. It’s heavy and smooth and I like the way it feels.
After getting real sea glass, I’m pretty sure what I bought at a little shop on our beach trip last year is fake. Boo to them. I may have gotten it anyway, but it’s just rude to not specify that something isn’t genuine. I did more research on sea glass and there are certain colors that are harder to find, pieces are often smaller, these pieces don’t have rounded edges and aren’t frosted. People take glass and tumble it in a rock tumbler to try to mimic sea glass, but it doesn’t compare to the real stuff. Here are the pieces I bought. See how different it looks?
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September 19, 2011
I had help with the artwork. The girls did several blocks piece by coloring with crayons on muslin. Then I used Army themed fabric between their squares and for the backing. The quilt came together quickly. I was surprised about that. It only took four days from start to finish, thanks to all the coaching from my mom. Thanks, Mom!
It was a surprise gift for my husband. I thought that during times the Army takes him away from us, he’d like something comforting from home with him.
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September 11, 2011
I didn’t take pictures of the bag I made Katelyn as I went along, so I decided to make another one. This time I made it for her American Girl doll. Now they have matching purses.
I need to get a shot of the two of them together.
The measurements (obviously!) are different, but the construction is the same for each of the bags. So use the measurements for the size you want and follow the instructions.
Go here to see detailed pictures of the other things I made to put in this bag.
Here we go!
Read the rest of this entry »
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September 8, 2011
For Katelyn’s birthday, we wanted to get her a purse. She’s getting older and wants to start carrying her money to the store with us. She also always has some sort of treasure she needs to carry. Having a notebook to make endless lists, doodle and color during boring trips out was also a must.
I searched for something I knew she would love and couldn’t find it. Everything was either too large, too expensive, too ugly or too juvenile. Nothing worked. So one day I had a stroke of genius and decided to make her the perfect bag and coordinating accessories.
Here’s what I came up with for her.
It’s a mini messenger bag, complete with a button and a ruffle flap.
I put a large pocket on the back.
The inside has two pockets for her treasures.
A coordinating wristlet holds her money and she can just grab it out of her purse and go if she wants. She loves having a place to keep her “credit card” which is really a gift card, but she thinks it’s more fun to pretend it’s a credit card.
The little fabric covered notebook was one of my favorite parts of the gift. She got right to work on a list of stuff she wanted to buy with birthday money.
The best part of all was how happy she is with her new purse and accessories. She was even wearing it with her pajamas the next morning!
Tutorials for everything coming soon!
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September 1, 2011
I’ve made a few cakes and cupcakes for the girls over the years. Here are a few that I did and shared on here from time to time. I’m completely self taught and I have a lot to learn, but for the most part, I’m usually happy with the way my cakes turn out.
Today was my child’s 8th birthday. We had a wonderful day that included lunch at school with cupcakes to share. Let me tell you, if you want to know how it feels to be a celebrity–head to an elementary school with a container of cupcakes! Everyone will want to be your friend. I can tell that Katelyn is growing up. It’s quite bitter sweet. In years past, the cake was an elaborate part of the birthday and she planned it out way in advance.
This year she simply asked for a round, chocolate cake with cream cheese icing. She wanted me to write Happy Birthday in red and do some red swags around the side. Sounds easy enough , doesn’t it?
I now present to you her cake.
Yes that is a huge crack in the cake. The icing started to melt and slide off the cake as well.The swags on the side look like I did them with my eyes closed.
I was so sad about how the cake turned out. It was so far from what I saw in my head. I was very disappointed in this attempt at making her a cake because I thought she would look at it and be sad too.
You know what my sweet birthday girl said when she saw her cake? “Thank you, Mommy. You did just what I wanted. I can’t wait to eat it. I bet it tastes great.”
I may not have made a picture perfect birthday cake, but it put a smile on my little girl’s face and in her eyes it was perfect. You can’t ask for more than that.
Happy Birthday, Sweet Katelyn. I can’t believe you are 8.
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August 22, 2011
We planted a butterfly bush in the backyard. I didn’t read the tag very well and had no clue how big it would grow. It really needs to be moved, but we haven’t done that yet. I think trimming it back would also help, but for now I’m just enjoying the view.
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