A Shopping Spree or Two

Spring is slowly arriving. The forsythia has begun to bloom which means the rose bushes can be pruned. There are green leaves unfurling on the trees also but it is slow when you get frost some nights.

Lifestyle

I hit the exhaustion tree yesterday. I worked until 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday nights and slept poorly. I was a zombie by noon yesterday and by 3 p.m. I was asleep in my chair. In other words very little got done except for some shopping.

Sewing

I haven't sewn but I have shopped. Wednesday night was staff appreciation and I got some items I wanted at that night's discount. Mostly for the dolls. Saturday had a special on quilting cottons and I got some for the dolls and linings for reusable grocery bags.

Fabric

I got this cotton that looks like corduroy but isn't.

I also bought the rust coloured knit to make tops to go with the southwestern print.

The blue, brown, and rust are linings for bags and white is a denim for the dolls.

I have been looking at this print for three weeks now and finally got it for the dolls. Dress, top, and maybe a pair of shorts. 

I spotted this a week ago and see some summer items out of it. 

This one is for a bag plus the dolls. Think maxi skirt.

Jewellery

I went on a bit of a spree for jewellery.

A lot of crystals made it home with me as the price was even better than the red sticker price. I also got crimping pliers which I thought I had bought but didn't.

Then I hit the craft store and did more damage there.

I am going to be looking at making southwestern clothes and jewellery for the next while. Necklaces, belts, and clothing. I am looking forward to it.

Today

I am working a split shift. I have to do the weekly books and take a couple of hours off and return to finish them. The store is closed tomorrow and they must be done for pick up early Monday morning.
Until the next time..........................

Southwestern Ideas for the Dolls

We are still waiting for spring to arrive and it may be coming this weekend. The trees are slowly starting to unfurl their leaves and the grass is green. We haven't had frost for a few mornings now and the day temperatures are getting to the mid 50F.

Lifestyle

We have been busy but not overly busy the past couple of days. I set up the living room after the old furniture was removed. It looks much better.

When these chairs arrived, one was found with the leg missing. We did set it up but are awaiting for a new chair to arrive. The other chairs had one back not put into a bracket and a fellow had to come and fix that.
On my two days off, I did get the living room, dining area, and kitchen cleaned up.
I did not get anything done with our stuff in the basement. I was tired and couldn't handle it. So, it will be looked at on Friday.

Sewing

Sewing was documented in the previous post.
My last fun item of the day was to make a doll's necklace using the beads I bought on Saturday. I had a lot of fun working on it and coming up with ideas.

The necklace colours go well with this fabric so an idea started tickling in my head. I got out the beads and made a second necklace.

After that, I took my ideas further. An outfit for the dolls using the fabric and the bigger necklace. Pintrest gave me this.

And the pattern from Pixie Faire gave me this skirt idea.

I can lengthen the skirt and add fringe if I want to. The top can be done using two patterns I have. The belt can be done using flat stones, eye pins, and a clasp. Ideas are rolling in my head.

Today

I am at work today, tomorrow, and Saturday. I get Friday and Sunday off. I am looking forward to both work and days off this week.
Until the next time..............................

The Unmentionables

I had a bit of fun making a pair of doll panties yesterday.

• I bought a package of RTW panties in a girl's size 7. There were 7 pairs of panties for $7.00.
• I used these instructions of which you can download the pattern.
• The panties turned out cute and I am happy with the results of my first pair.

A few things I would do differently next time:

• Read the whole set of instructions carefully. They are long and the good information got lost in the talk.
• Make sure I remove the elastic at the top and lay the pattern onto the fabric. When cut out, replace the elastic at the top of the back and front prior to sewing them together. On my pair, I tried to stretch the panties to fit the pattern and the back is a bit short in the crotch.
• Be good and sure the right sides are together before sewing the crotch. You guessed right at my mistake.
• Make sure the seams are lying flat when sewing. I was so excited to be making these that I forgot to check.

With the pattern on tracing paper, I am ready to make more pairs of these when I need them.
Until the next time..........................

Butterick 6265 - Doll's Easter Dress

Easter is coming this weekend and the dolls needed an Easter dress.

The dress of choice was View C (the blue one) without the trim on the skirt. I chose to add the gathered ruffle on the sleeves.
The fabric is a lovely cotton of which sold quickly. There were several colours and patterns of which the lilac flowers sold out.

I spent extra time serging the seams so they wouldn't fray. The dress was easy to make and it fits this doll well. There were no tricks to it. Next time, I am hoping to sew the side seams as the instructions show so the seams are hidden as in a true lined bodice.
The matching necklace was an easy make using white pearls and lilac beads.

Next on the list is to make the dolls underwear. I have done my research and will try to make a pair on Thursday before work.
Until the next time...........................

Mixed Up The Dates

Yesterday was wet and cool. It was actually a miserable day making people think spring will never arrive. Today is just as bad with it raining at 6:30 a.m.

Lifestyle

I took the Spousal Unit up to the hospital to have his IV immune therapy and he was "rejected" as he is suppose to go today. I had to stop shopping, get him and continue on. We got home in decent time, got the groceries put away and waited for the new furniture to arrive. During that time, a friend stopped in unexpectedly.
The furniture arrived and it is spaced about in the living room waiting for us to get the old furniture gone. We thought the new items were to arrive next Thursday. We certainly have been out on our dates.
Planogram - it is a plan on how to set up a display in the store. It shows the order of how items go which is usually numerical. In some cases it is alphabetical.

Sewing

I worked on the vintage apron for an adult yesterday. Instead of adding a fabric ruffle, I put on a lace ruffle. It is turning out great. I took my time to do a neat job and it is ready to have the ties and waistband done. I would love it done before I start work at 1 p.m.
I keep thinking about making doll clothes and what I need to do. I got Sewing with Cinnamon and Friends and am thinking of joining in. I will have the time to do it once I get the doll's dress done on Monday. I am taking time off from doing projects for a while and doing other things I had planned. I may do one project later on and then start again in the fall. It is time to work on doll clothes sewing and design.

Today

I work the late shift and hope to bring in the doll and adult aprons. I work three days this time. I will be tired at the end of them.
Until the next time.................

Minature Gardens - A Western Theme

The weather is being difficult to predict. Yesterday it was near 0C and today it is 8C or 46F. Sunshine, wind, and rain are the normal here and we can get it all in one day. The hills still get snow squalls; the latest was day before yesterday.

Lifestyle

I was off work yesterday and we went on the hunt for doors and track for the Spousal Unit's shop. While he was finding everything I found these miniature fairy garden items.

There are more pieces for the this collection and I am going on Friday to pick up two or three more items. I now have the gnome home (the biggest), the campground, the secret garden and the wild west (western theme). I love them all though I would take the western one if I could only move one.
I spent a bit of time cleaning up the basement apartment. The front entrance and closet are ready to have the floor washed. The closet will be  used to store puzzles and suit cases. The largest bedroom is getting cleaned out now and I hope to be able to clean it up in the next couple of weeks. It may become the guest room.

Sewing

I cut out the adult apron and it is ready to sew. There is enough fabric left to make a dress of some sort for the dolls. I will work on it on Friday.
I also cleaned up the stash closet and put a few more pieces away. I need to buy another tub for the doll's stash. I have picked up several pieces of fabric at good deals and was gifted several more pieces. The doll's patterns are organized and I can start putting them in their holding spot.
While shopping I spotted this dress and am going to make it for the dolls.

The under part of the dress seems to be rayon with the lace overlay on the top and a tulle overlay on the skirt.

I think it will be a good dress for the dolls to wear. I will admit this dress was horribly made but the idea was good.  

Today

I am back to work for two days. Thursday I work from 1 to 9 p.m. which I am not looking forward to. But it has to happen and I will live with it.
Until the next time..................................

An I List That Is A My List

As I finished reading Craft Business Power I sat thinking about starting a craft business. This is an I list that is a my list.

• I have decided that I will not go big with this venture. I want to keep it small and do it myself.
• I will brand and have business cards to go with each outfit I make.  Business cards are cheap and help you become known.
• I will write a small story to go with a lot of the outfits I make. I am hoping the stories will make the outfits more personal for adults and children. Will I keep this Canadian? Will it be generic? I am playing that around in my mind right now.
• I will take courses to I can have unique and one of a kind outfits to sell. 
• I want a good size inventory before I sell outfits. Will I go the Etsy route? Maybe. I am thinking more of craft bazaars in our area, a website and Pintrest.  
• I need to buy a charger for my camera (lost in the move) and a portrait lens so I can take good pictures.
• The outfits will be either complete with accessories or without the accessories. I am hoping that I can reach a wider variety of buyers that way. I will start small -- one complete and one with just the outfit so I can feel out what people want. Accessories will be shoes and jewelry. I had thought of other items but that would drive the price up considerably.
• If we choose not to rent out the basement, I will use the basement to work in and sell doll clothes out of. I can have a display area in the living room for the dolls.

Right now I am having fun thinking about this adventure and it won't happen until I fully retire. There is a date forming in my mind.
Until the next time.........................