Summer Sewing

Arielle told me I need to keep up the blog!  She's been doing such a good job on our Dearli Designs Facebook page that I forgot about this.  But not all our friends are on Facebook. 

The girls worked hard to complete their outfits for the Regional Fashion Revue.  They each won first place in their divisions!  Arielle will go on to compete at the state level.  But before then, Arielle wants to add to her look with a quilted clutch purse.  Liana created this bag and Arielle and I are copying it.  I've made several!  They are fun and easy.

 

We made some fabric donations to our local 4-H club and in the process of sorting fabric I came across some unfinished projects.  One is a Fenced-in Chicken quilt I started long ago.  I am not too enthusiastic about it, so I decided to make it "throw" size and use it for movie night on the sofa.  Picture to follow when I finish it.

We sold a bag, so I made another bag to replace it on our Etsy store.  I really like the colors. 

I'm already excited about my new project--a queen-size quilt for my son's wedding in January.  A friend of mine told me about a great website:  http://www.missouriquiltco.com/  I am happy to recommend this site.  They have a wonderful selection of quality fabrics and very informative tutorials.  I came across an easy method for making a quick baby quilt and used it to make a shower gift in one day!  Picture to follow after I bind it.  I guess I have a lot of projects to complete but so little time!

One more month and then we are on to more serious activities--like school!  The girls have a heavy schedule this year and I will be teaching four classes.  Better finish my sewing in August! 

Day 21 - 30 June Photo Challenge

Day 21.

Here is the inside of Liana's camera bag (more about it in Day 20 post). As you can see, it is very roomy. There is a special spot just for her camera to sit where the sides of the bag hug the camera protectively. Her bag can also fit her charger, wallet, sunglasses, and a hoodie! And all of this was made without a pattern

Day 22.

Liana sewed this quilted patch work clutch purse just today! It only took her about a day to make, and it turned out really cute! This clutch purse includes a 9" zipper and a D ring to put a hook on so that you can put the purse on... your wrist. She made this purse to go with her dress (day 4) and plans to model it with her dress in the upcoming fashion show. This particular purse is not for sale, but if you would like to buy one, we plan on making more this summer and they will be posted either on our Facebook page or on Etsy.

 

Day 23.

Last summer, we had a sewing day and made these school bags. I made the one on the top left with the owls on it. My mom made the one on the top right---the one that looks like a Vera Bradley. Liana and my friend Julia made the one ...on the bottom left with the green pocket. And Liana made the one on the bottom left with the tan pocket. All of these bags are made out of cotton, have a top zipper, and a zipper on the outside pocket. Each bag is different on the inside. In my bag, I have 3 separate pockets. One small one for pens and pencils and two bigger ones for random stuff. Liana, Julia, and I used our bags all year to carry our school books, and my mom still uses hers as her regular purse.

 

Day 24.

This purse is one that Liana has been working on. She has no pattern to go by because she designed the pattern herself! The flower on the front is from the same pattern used to make the flower hair accessory in Day 11. On the insid...e, it is fully lined and has heavy interfacing between the fabrics to give the purse some structure. It is almost finished. All Liana has to do is make up her mind on how to finish the purse off---with a zipper, a magnetic snap, or no closure.

Day 25.

New purses on Etsy!!! Go check them out and share with your friends!

Day 26.

This is what my mom has been working on today. She is making a clutch purse like Liana made shown in Day 22. As you can see, the patched piece of fabric will be the front of the clutch. The flower fabric will the back of the bag and the swirly fabric will be the lining. These purses are SO cute and they are the perfect project to make with those pretty calico cottons that are too small to make anything else out of.

Day 27.

MY DRESS IS FINISHED! You can see in Day 1 that I was still working on it.
Style taken from the Party Dress Book by Mary Adams

Day 28.

This is Liana's outfit! The main picture of her was taken from Day 4, but since then she has completely finished her dress. Liana worked on her hair clip yesterday. It is from the same design as the flowers shown in Day 11 and Day 24 only made with fabric to match her dress.

Day 29.

For today, here is a sneak peak on the newest tote bag that I have been working on. I will post pictures when it is done!

Day 30.

For the last day, this is a picture of Liana and me from last night's fashion revue Both of us placed in our groups and I will be moving on to the State competition. So excited! Liana is still a junior, and they do not move on. Both of our looks were taken from the Party Dress Book by Mary Adams

Day 14 to 20 June Photo Challenge

Here are the next 6 pictures that were posted on the Facebook page for the 30 day pictures.

Day 14.

This is a quilt that Liana sewed a couple years ago. She pieced the pre-cut fabric and then hand sewed the binding on.

Day 15.

Liana made this blue dress two years ago for our brother's wedding. It has princess seams all around. It was very hard for her to make it a perfect fit (how princess seams are supposed to be). But in the end, it turned out really nice and a great dancing dress!

Day 16.

Happy Father's Day to all of those great dads out there!

Day 17.

This is the ring bearer pillow that my mom made for a wedding. It is just a simple yet elegant pillow made with burlap and stuffed with polyfill. She added ribbon and a decorative flower (chosen by the bride-to-be). This was for the same wedding I mentioned in Day 15.

Day 18.

When I saw this Cynthia Rowley pattern 2250 from Simplicity, and the purple hand-dyed cotton at a local fabric store, I knew that was the dress that I wanted to make for my brother's wedding rehearsal (2011). This was for a differe...nt brother's wedding than mentioned below. But this dress was a challenge and I would never make it again... ever. The front bodice alone is made from eleven pieces and has numerous darts and pleats which was very confusing. But it turned out ok and I'm glad that I finished it.

Day 19.

Here is another picture of my brother's wedding rehearsal in Chicago (2011). Liana and I were both the junior bridesmaids in the wedding. The dress that Liana is wearing now was taken from the same pattern that she used to make the blue dress shown in Day 15 for another brother's wedding. In the wedding, we carried umbrellas instead of flowers so that is why her hand is in a weird position.

Day 20.

Here is a bag that Liana just recently made specifically to hold her new camera that she just bought. The bag was made without a pattern---completely from Liana's imagination. The fabric on the outside and the lining is quilted and heavily interfaced to give the purse some body and to give the camera extra protection. Tomorrow's picture will be of the inside of the bag.