Child's Strawberry and Gingham Apron

I made this apron for a little cousin of mine who is around the age of my daughter (don't you love my cardboard girl!). Her mother selected the fabric and for the most part gave me free reign to create.

Since this one was for a child, I made it a bit more cutesy, focusing on the strawberries fabric and using the black gingham for accents. I decided to add some solid red just to help break up the patterns a bit and add a pop of color to it.

The bib and skirt have ruffles around all three sides and the skirt pockets are sitting on top of red appliqued pieces to set them off some. The girl who is getting this apron should be able to wear it for a long time.   
I included a couple in progress shots as well as several finished ones. I had lots of fun making this apron because there weren't any "rules" like there are when trying to replicate icons or completing custom projects that are specifically laid out.

At first I was a little intimidated by the fabric, because it took me a while to figure out what I thought would look best with these colors and still be fun and girly/age appropriate.  All my worrying seems silly now because I'm really happy with the finished product. I just hope her Mommy likes it too!

The Annual Birthday T-Shirt...This Year is #4!!!

This is what has now become an annual tradition: the Birthday T-Shirt! This year my baby turns 4, so a number 4 it is! Just like previous years, I started with a sketch (which is awesome because I can't draw despite being married to a professional artist), and then I create my vision out of felt. This past year my daughter was taken over by princess-mania, so I thought a princess theme would be appropriate.

1. I started with a simple t-shirt and cut out the basic elements of my design, zig-zag stitching them into place. I used contrasting thread colors. 
 
2. I then decided I wanted to add a few more frills to dress it up. I made an overskirt out of a glittery sheer pink fabric by simply hemming a rectangle and gathering it at the top. I then stitched this on, sewing down both sides and across the top, leaving the bottom open.

 
3. After this I added even more embellishments! Buttons for the eyes (I put a black button over a brown one to give it a pupil. My daughter has big brown eyes, so a brown-eyed princess is a must!) I also sewed some ribbon streamers from the top of her hat, and used an old applique I've had laying around forever to finish the bottom of the hat and the top of the skirt. You could also use ribbon or beads or buttons...you get the idea :-)  Then I tried it on my princess!  I still think this princess looks a little mean...maybe some eyelashes will fix that. Craft projects are never truly done!

Here are her previous t-shirts:




 This is a blog entry I wrote when making Birthday shirt #3! It is written in a "how to" style, although I think this is a pretty simple project!

Happy Birthday Lee!

Today is the birthday of the one and only Lee Leslie, creator and artist of Rigby the Barbarian, and the artist of the now sold out Screamland.  So if you're wondering, yes, a love of all things nerdy is indeed a family affair!  Creativity takes a front seat around here. My entry back into the world of sewing has been brutally slow for my tastes, but new babies have a way of monopolizing your time, don't they? This is the birthday card my daughter made for her daddy today. I love how she drew the mouth and teeth and put nail polish on the frog's toes!