Blog Archives

Slow Progress

5/20/2025

I've been working on two new gowns inspired by some Value Village finds...

With the bodice and skirts sewn together, I started working on the sleeves. Because these two gowns were being made exactly the same way as the earlier gowns, I didn't bother taking step by step photos until now. So, with the lower sleeves made, it was time for some 'design work' where I pin things together to see how it would look. I used some Kleenex to simulate white puffs, and pinned fabrics to see how hanging sleeves would look....

I also tried a few other things ... like some large lace leaves, and borrowing a hat ... to see how that would look.

A few weeks later and the main sleeve units are done. It's been taking way longer than usual because I have too many other things on the go. The narrow green ribbons were stitched evenly spaced, directly onto the white puff fabric. The final trim above the puffs is waiting to be added after the hanging sleeves are attached.

The trim at the waist is just pinned and still needs to be stitched on.

I'm making two similar gowns, and didn't think the trim on the skirt was distinct enough, even after adding the gold beads along the front of the trim, so am in the process of adding two rows of beading - larger purple beads in the trim itself, and picot beading with gold and pink along the skirt front edges.

I also didn't like the 'dotted line'' look of the bodice beading, so filled in the spaces between the gold beads with pink beads to create a solid line.

The hanging sleeves are also well under way.

Two sets of dagged sleeves would have been an awful lot of work, especially since I planned on beading the edges, and even though I could have fit two sets out of the fancy fabric, there wasn't enough of the wine lining fabric, so just one gown will have the dagged sleeves, and the other will have the more plain ones like the red gown I made. Those will also get beaded edges. So, still lots of beading to do before the sleeves can get sewn together and then attached to the bodice, before the neckline edges of the bodices can get finished.

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Bees and Butterflies

5/19/2025

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As the flowers burst into bloom in Spring, the fairies were happy to welcome the return of their little insect friends..

The butterflies were back...

As were the bees...

"It's so nice to see you again."

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A Princely Encounter

5/18/2025

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Sara and Winston were enjoying the flowers in the meadow when who should come by but Prince Alex on his trusty steed....

"Why, hello there! I'm surprised to see you here."

"I just thought I'd come for a visit,"

"..and your Mom said you were out here."

"Well, Winston and I were just out enjoying a walk in the spring flowers. Why don't you join us?"

"Yes, I'd enjoy that."

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Sara & Winston

5/17/2025

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Friends in the meadow....

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Watching from the Window

5/16/2025

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Sarah's friend Saphira arrived.

"Have you seen what they are doing out there?"

"Yes. I've been watching all morning."

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Sarah in Red

5/15/2025

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A few photos of Sarah in the new red gown....

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Stories in the Garden

5/14/2025

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The next afternoon Saphira brought all her kids to Lily's garden, where she had been waiting for them...

She invited them all to help themselves to tea and cakes...

The children had been excited to meet her. She was one of their mother's oldest friends.

And Lily was so happy to meet all Saphira's little ones...

"Well, aren't you all the sweetest, well behaved little dragons!"

"Nothing at all like your mother when she was your age."

"Now there was a little trouble maker!"

And from that moment they loved her, and were on their best behaviour....

..and they sat enthralled, listening to Lily...

...as she related stories about their mom.

"Oh yes, she was one naughty little dragon."

"Not at all like the four of you."

Saphira rolled her eyes, as she suddenly realized that her four mischievous little dragons were no different than she herself had been.

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Creating a Book Cover

5/13/2025

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My sister and I have been very busy the last while putting together the next book in the Special Days series. This one features all the Special Days in June, July and August. Gathering all the photos taken over the twelve years since the project began was a huge challenge. But then I still needed to shoot a cover, and all the monthly header pages.

I made lists of all the props that were used in the photos each month, and gathered them on three big separate trays. But the book cover was extra challenging because it needed props and dolls from all three months.

After choosing which props to use, and changing any dolls that needed different outfits, I set about putting a scene together. We had chosen pinks and purples to be the Summer colour scheme, so I started by ironing some light purple fabric, and pinning it in place. Everything needed to be arranged around a blank spiral-bound 'calendar' page which would have the title added in post production later. Things could overlap onto the calendar, but they had to be solid objects, and nothing fuzzy - like hair or fur. And it needed to be roughly the proper proportions. It took me almost five hours of choosing, arranging, and moving stuff around in order to get something I was finally happy with.

And of course not everything I'd put aside ended up in the scene....

The final set up. Note the clown off to the right. I had dressed two dolls as clowns, not knowing which one would end up in the photo. I chose the taller one to fill the space between the flags and the pirate, but her hat with the red yarn wig blended into the Canada flags right behind her, so I switched the two clown hats. Just one of the dozens of things that had needed attention...