June Photo Challenge on Facebook

Hi everybody! I know I haven't written yet, but it has been busy with finals coming up and such but I will hopefully be writing more on the blog this summer.  Anyway... on our Dearli Designs Facebook page, I have started a 30 day June photo challenge which means every day until the end of June I will post a picture of something related to sewing either it being something that we have made, or just a cute item that I see online.  So go check that out every day for a new picture! :)  If you don't go on Facebook, no worries!  I'm adding the pictures right here on the blog also! I won't be doing that every day, but at least once a week (hopefully).

<3 Arielle

Day 1.

This is the outfit that I am currently working on in 4-H. It is a basic dress made from regular black fabric jazzed up by the red bias strips sewn on to the dress. As you can see, I am far from the finish line (the top isn't even sewn on the skirt yet), but at least it is starting to look like a dress! The pattern/design was taken from the Party Dress Book by Mary Adams
 

Day 2.

This is an example of faggoting which is a decorative stitch to sew two pieces of fabric together other than just your normal straight stitch. This piece of fabric is part of a dress that Liana is currently working on in 4-H.
 

Day 3.

I went to Joann's Fabric and Craft Store today and bought 8 yards of this red netting! It will all be gathered and sewn on to a petticoat that will go under the dress that I am making to make the dress poofy

 

Day 4.

This is Liana modeling her latest dress that she has been working on in 4-H. The hem is not finished yet, but after that she will be mostly done! This dress pattern/design was taken from the Party Dress Book by Mary Adams.

Facebook and Etsy!

We are now on Facebook and Etsy!  Please "like" and share our Facebook page with your friends and follow us on Etsy :)  Thanks

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dearli-Designs/548575515177244

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DearliDesigns?ref=search_shop_redirect

Miss Kitty

Here is what I have been working on lately!

As you can see, I still have a bit to go :)  I got the Miss Kitty Sock Monkey Kit for Christmas last year from my Grandma.  This isn't too hard of a project and the end result is going to be so cute.  All I have left to do is make her a dress, a pet mouse, embroider on eyelashes, a mouth, nose, and whiskers.  I can't wait to finish her to show my grandma!  Liana has already finished hers (no surprise there) and I will have pictures of that up later.

<3 Arielle

New Sewing Projects!

Hi everybody! So I haven't written a post in awhile, but that doesn't mean that I haven't been busy sewing! :)
Right now in 4-H, I am working on a dress that I hope to wear to my brother's wedding.  I found this book called The Party Dress Book by Mary Adams at the library and LOVED the dresses in it.  I am making the dress on the front cover (wish me luck!) for my 4-H project.  I bought a simple dress pattern and black fabric that I will use as my basic outline.  I have red fabric that I will use for the bias strips that is sewn over the dress.  Yes, I said bias strips!!!  The dress is COVERED in them!  It is very tedious work, but the finished project looks so artsy and pretty! 



The flowery red is going to be the main part for the bias strips.  The solid red is just contrasting fabric. 



Aside from 4-H, I am working on two purses at home.  The first one, I have all the pieces cut out, but haven't started sewing yet (it takes a lot for me to start a new project).  The second bag is not cut out yet because I just got the fabric last week.  Here are some pictures of my fabric (:

<3 Arielle 



Bag #1





Bag #2

Don't you just LOVE the owl fabric!!??!

 

More Babies! More Quilts!

With another baby shower coming up, I wanted to make another soft, flannel baby quilt for the newest baby in our family.  We have a lot going on and there isn't much time to sew, so I guess you could this a rushed "weekend quilt."  Meaning every waking hour of your weekend is spent sewing!  On Friday night I had the piecing done.  Congratulating myself, I thought the project was going very well.  Oh, I forgot how time consuming the quilting is.  But I got it all done on Saturday.  Binding...I forgot to buy fabric for it.  Found some in our stash!  Sewed the strips to the quilt.  Oh, I forgot how long the hand sewing takes to finish the binding.  But I did it!  The quilt was wrapped on Monday. I hope my sweet little grandson likes his blankie!

These quilts last!  I found the quilt I made my son when he was a baby.  It held up pretty well considering he is now almost 38 and two babies after him also used that quilt.

Liana's Christmas Gifts

Liana has been quite busy the past couple of months.  She made a bag for her Aunt Evelyn and she also made little purses for her nieces.  She filled these with gifts that delighted the little girls in our family.  Her aunt's bag was sewn from a pattern purchased in Amish country.  It was a kit with fabric included.  Liana did a great job sewing it.  For the others, Liana created her own pattern and used scrap fabric we had at home.  She is only 12 years old.  I think her talent is quite remarkable.

Back to Sewing

Christmas is over and we are getting back into our routine.  I cleaned the sewing room and put away all the scraps from our latest projects.  I'm anxious to start something new!  The Joann's flyers keep coming in the mail and I can't wait to choose some new fabric. But what shall we make next?  Soon 4-H will be starting and I won't have much time for personal sewing--just helping out with the girls.

The last month I was busy making a Christmas stocking for my newest granddaughter and gifts for my mother and my sister.  I recently bought a new tote bag pattern that I love.  It is easy to make and the results are impressive.  The bag is sturdy and will hold a lot and the combinations of colors are endless.  I'd like one for myself.  It would be very useful, especially for carrying school books and supplies on the days I teach.  Right now I'm using a tote bag I made awhile back when I was testing out a pattern.  I hated the pattern and I don't like the old fabric I used either. It is quite ugly.  I'd rather have one like these below!   

 

 



New Name

The girls and I have been trying for months to come up with a good name for our shop, if we ever have enough stock to open one.  To our great surprise, my husband is the one who suggested a name.  Here it is:  Dearli Designs.  Can anyone guess the significance of that name?  Here it is:

DEborah ARielle LIana.  So we are now Dearli Designs.  We even ordered business cards.

 

My student Lynn finished another bag.  She is very motivated to sew!  She has even cut out the pieces for three more bags.  As you can see, she knows how to combine fabrics to make a unique creation.  Saturday she asked if I wanted to go with her to a local quilt store.  That's where you head for inspiration, but I try to limit my visits to real quilt stores (as opposed to the retail chain where we usually shop).  I am just too tempted by the beautiful (and expensive) fabrics.  I couldn't resist these two from the Grand Finale Collection from Moda.  They are called Leaves on Goldenrod and Leaves on Walnut.  I'm not sure what I will make, but I love the colors! 

Project Complete!

I have a new sewing student who wanted to learn to make bags.  She is not a beginner but someone my age who learned to sew as a young woman and now has a renewed interest in developing her skills.  

She has an eye for color and chose a beautiful combination of fabrics--black, gray, and white.  I wish I had made a bag like this!  It goes with everything.  She did a great job putting it together and I have enjoyed getting to know her.  I know the joy that comes from finishing a creative project and congratulations were in order here when the last stitch was made on this bag.  --Deb

New Purse Pattern: Atkinson Designs

When I was in Lancaster, I found this really cute purse pattern in one of the fabric shops.  I am So excited and can't wait to start sewing, and it doesn't look too hard to make.  Wish me luck!  :)

Arielle

What I have been sewing

I really haven't sewn too much over the summer.  I finished 1 skirt and started another. The pattern is in another post I wrote back in July.  Then I made a school bag.  There is a picture of it in the post below. Mine is brown one with owls on it with blue as the contrasting color. 
Below are pictures of the skirts I have been working on.  The purple skirt is not yet hemmed.  Hemming is not my favorite part of sewing!

For my next project, I think I am going to make a pillow case.  I have this pretty zebra flannel fabric that would be perfect for winter.  Pictures to follow.

Arielle

   

View A

 


Bow on the bottom



View B



A pocket





Zebra print fabric for my next project

School bags

 My mom had just bought a new tote bag pattern. I wanted to make one too so I picked out some fabric at the 4-H fabric sale for the main body of the purse. I got the additional fabric from the fabric store. The directions were very good and clear. The hardest part for us was making the pocket. Arielle and I both broke a needle. Though in the end, the pockets ended up looking very professional. We will use our bags for the upcoming co-op that we will be attending soon. We hope to make lots of these tote bags as well as others and sell them.
Liana

My bag

My mom's bag

Arielle's bag

Regional Fashion Revue

Last week, Liana and I had our Regional Fashion Revue.  It lasted all day.  During the day, we rotated among different craft workshops, practiced modeling, and were judged.  At the end of the night, after all the girls modeled in the show for the parents, they announced the winners.  The next level is the State Fashion Revue.  Ten seniors (girls 13 and older) are chosen to move on to the State competition to represent our region.  Also there were 8 junior winners (girls younger than 13).  Juniors are not elegible to go to States though.  It was very exciting to hear Liana's name called up on stage as one of the eight winners.  After the junior winners were called, they announced the seniors.  I was also excited when I heard my name called! Three girls (including me), out of the top ten girls chosen for States, were from my county.  I am very excited to be going to States and I am happy that two of my other friends will be going with me.

Arielle

A new skirt!

This past week, I have been working on this Simplicity 2286 Learn to Sew skirt.  I found some old fabric in the closet and started sewing.  I haven't finished it yet, but it is almost done!  I made view A.  All that is left to do on my skirt is the hem, the ribbon, and the bow.  I plan to make the other views too.  The instructions were easy to follow and View A had only 3 pattern piece to cut out!  I like patterns like that.  Plus, because it has an elastic waist, there were no fitting problems.  I'm very excited and can't wait to finish the project.

Also, after that jacket, I wanted to make something easy and fun!  :)

Arielle

More Pictures

 Here are more pictures of the things Liana and I made this year in 4-H

McCalls 6511 top.   

All the different cottons used for the patchwork

The lining of my jacket.  The fabric had different shades of purple  going from dark to light

McCalls 5838
Liana's dress

Liana added black stone
beads and embroidered a leafy design on the sleeves of her shrug

Liana custom designed this purse and also added the leafy design to match her shrug

The inside

Matching hair accessory to complete the look

♥ Arielle ♥