Princess and the Pea : Part Two

I was going to wait and post these pictures after I re-did my blog template to have larger photos but I just couldn't wait that long. For some reason when the blog shrinks my large pictures it messes with them and makes them not as defined, and my bokeh just ends up looking blurry. I don't get it. This really frustrates me, sigh, I will get past it once I have the time to re-do the template. So anyways, please forgive these silly things and let's move on.

I did it FINALLY! Thank you Heather and everyone who helped me. I mostly have it now, although my pics are posting square shaped so something is still not quite right but I am getting there.





Remember that bag I made for K's Princess and the Pea set? Well, the rest of that fabric was just sitting on my shelf getting dusty and covered in fur (it's just a fact of life with 7 animals in the house). It was only 1 yard with a big square cut out of it so I didn't know what I could possibly ever make out of it. Then, after giving up (for now) on my Flower Girl dress from Weekend Sewing, I came across another pattern in the book that called for a yard of fabric - the smocked sundress. Thankfully there were no errors for me to figure out in this one. The pattern only goes up to a size 4 but since my K is a little string bean I figured it would work.. and it did!





This was my first time ever using elastic thread and trying smocking. I am officially sold on the process and result. I love the way it came out. K does wish it had a bit of a fuller skirt so it would twirl more when she danced, but other than that, she is really happy with it.



When K put on this dress it inspired her to go outside and run and play like crazy. She told me she was pretending to be a princess.







Apparently princesses like to swing in tire swings a lot.







I really enjoy the print on this airy cotton gauze fabric. If only we had more from this line. Then again, I bought this fabric back when I used my credit card way too often and bought way too many things we really couldn't afford. So I will be grateful and savor this bit that we do have.



I love K's hair styles



The other day, K discovered that her Harvest Festival/Martinmas sweater I knit her last fall matches quite well with her new dress. She of course had to show it off to me, and that of course, made C want to wear hers, too. I don't think I ever posted these projects so Rav notes here and here.















Now I am wondering what other uses I will find for my stash of 1 yard length fabrics. I suppose I should get back to working on C's horse dress first, though.

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Don't forget today is your last chance to enter the LittleWool giveaway. Comments close tonight at 6pm PST and I will announce the winner within the giveaway post later in the evening. Good luck and have a beautiful day!

Princess and the Pea : Part Two

Bamboozled

You might remember the Princess and the Pea set I made for K last summer as a surprise on our road trip. Well, the other day I decided to throw the mattresses in the washer to give them a good cleaning. I figured since they were stuffed with bamboo they would be ok; alas, I was wrong. The bamboo balled up into little clumps making the mattresses much to lumpy for a princess. Funny, I thought using bamboo meant it would be machine washable (instead of my usual stuffing choice - wool)


Before (Picture taken in sunny Virginia)

I took advantage of the opportunity and with my little helpers made an assembly line to re-do the mattresses. I used a seam ripper to open them all up then I gave five to K and five to C. I showed them what to do and they both happily went to work pulling all of the stuffing out and then re-stuffing them with more bamboo (we will hand wash them from now on). Then we all went downstairs and sewed the mattresses closed again.


After (Picture taken in Oregon - what a difference!)

There was a slight problem with our mattress makeover... they ended up a lot fuller than last time, so the Princess couldn't get into bed. The girls and I quickly came up with a solution. We went out to our wonderful forest backyard and gathered some sturdy sticks. Then we brought them inside to dry out (it's always raining here). Once they were dry, we sawed or broke them to the right size, used some hemp cord to hold each piece in place and fashioned a ladder.



Another fun use of nature's bounty, and now the Princess can safely climb into a lump free bed to sleep uncomfortably on top of a pea. Peace is restored in our fairytale land.



Wishing you all a beautiful week!

Bamboozled

Our Day of Gratitude

Food

Tofurkey


Brussel sprouts


Assorted preps in the works

Family

A veggie breakfast


Enjoying the edible arrangement Nana sent


Gnomey,gnomey, gnomes!


Fun

Our new princess and the pea

Hope you had a great one!
Just a reminder Sunday is the last day to enter the giveaway for one of Marie's beautiful walnut babies!

Wishing you a stress-free, easy going weekend!

Our Day of Gratitude

Travel Log : Day 4 - Illinois & Missouri

We are still slowly moving along on the Oregon Trail. Some days it feels like we are never going to make it to Oregon, other days its a journey we don't want to end.




We have been enjoying the endless corn fields across America
(You will notice my little defiant ones with out hats in these photos. I chose not to fight that battle on this day.)



... as well as finding more wild flowers





I finally gave K her Princess and the pea set. She told me it is her 'most favorite thing of everything she has'. Needless to say I am walking on clouds over her reaction.



She still finds time to cuddle with her K baby, though.



Thank heavens for more signs of Autumn showing themselves along the way.




To be continued...

Travel Log : Day 4 - Illinois & Missouri

WIP Wednesday: Road Trip Makings

Finally done!

I am happy to say that I have completed almost everything I wished to for this upcoming move. There are a couple of other things I wanted to finish up, like:

-C's matching sweater which is 80% done
-K's birthday present toadstool hat 90% done
-K Baby's birthday crown 95% done

but I can just finish them up along the way.

K baby's birthday crown


I finished up Night Night Baby a couple of nights ago and I planned on giving her to K the morning we left but I just could not hold out. I gave her Night Night Baby the other night as Kevin and I were tucking her in bed and I am so happy that I did. If you only could have seen the expression on her face. She was so amazed that I 'found' her Night Night Baby. She hasn't let her out of her sight since that night. Reactions like that make all of the nights, hours, and love I put into making things so worth it.


K's new Night Night Baby

It honestly amazes me to know that something I created makes her so happy. I always thought (before having kids of my own) that things had to be store bought and name brand to make children happy. I am not sure exactly why I had this way of thinking but I am so glad to know it couldn't be farther from the truth. I just hope her love of all things hand made will stay with her.


K's secret surprise: Princess and the Pea set

I finally finished up K's secret surprise. I am happy with most of it except the bag. I ran out of time and patience so this is a temporary bag for K to use on the road trip and then once we are settled in Portland I will make her a new one. I just couldn't see making her wait even longer for this just because of my dislike of the bag.


Back of the bag with a pocket for the pea and a pocket for her pillow and crown


"The Queen knew that only a real princess could feel a pea..."

I had only one slight problem with K's surprise...



'Chubby Kong' walked in on my photography session and immediately fell in love with the princess. She grabbed her off the table and brought her on to the floor to play with. She then took her downstairs to get a brush and brush her long hair. It was the sweetest thing to witness. Since K was outside helping Daddy rake, I let C get some secret playtime in. That baby of mine is so sweet. I told her the princess was sleepy and needed to rest so she ever so gently tucked her back into her pocket and put her away without K ever even knowing. I am happy to know that if, for some reason, K decides she doesn't like her surprise, then C would be more than happy to have it as her own.

This may be my last WIP post for awhile. I am not sure how internet will work on our road trip next week, but I will keep you all updated.

Happy creating!!

WIP Wednesday: Road Trip Makings