Sew, Sometimes I Craft Without (#25) . . .

paper -- the norm around here lately, it seems!  So enjoying my 18-inch American Girl (and a few other) dolls, including the newest addition:  Julie (circa 1974), whom our DD wanted (and I 'may have' too -- just sayin'!

Julie is here today to model her brand-new California Baja  - 'a light-weight woven unisex top which can be worn as a jacket or shirt. Easily recognizable by its vertical and horizontal striped design elements, this doll-size version is a replica of the iconic summer wear, which was introduced to the US from Baja California in the 1970s.  Off-the-shoulder sleeves, side slits, and fringe keep the Baja popular today at bonfires on the beach or campfires in the mountains'.

This Flossie Potter pattern (sold @ PixieFaire) has easy-to-understand, clear sewing directions to quickly add this great staple to Julie's '70's wardrobe -- LOVE it!!!  Thinking her brother Henry may want to borrow this, but never fear, I have yet another striped fabric I'm dying to sew. Once it's done, I think Julie will be fine with loaning out this piece, but Henry will definitely be needing some bell bottoms.

Sew, Sometimes I Craft Without (#21) . . .

paper and I have had so much fun over the last few weeks making Footie Jammies for a young lady who just turned nine using Matilda Jo's pattern. Since I was invited to her birthday tea party, hosted by my friend, Marilyn, and asked to bring a doll, I thought it would be fun to make her two invited friends jammies for their dolls also!

I was so fortunate to have a very sweet lady @ SAS Fabric in Tempe take time to dig through stacks of knit fabric to find this perfect tea-themed fabric and another sweet lady during my next trip there came up with non-slip sole fabric.  I'm such a lucky girl and I highly recommend SAS to anyone who sews for a great shopping adventure!  Finishing off the jammies, I added teaspoon zipper pulls in coordinating colors made with shrink plastic. I wrote 2015 on them to remember the birthday tea.

Then I just HAD to make them something with AG's 2015 Doll of the Year Grace in mind.  Each received a Paris-themed apron (FREE pattern by Lee and Pearl PLUS MORE for signing up for their newsletter!), chef's hat and oven mitt (FREE instructions here) -- all so easy and fun to make! The glittery Eiffel Tower iron-on is sold @ Joanns (both online and in stores).

I needed to add my own label.  With the help of my talented future son-in-law who took my very rough idea using my initials, he turned it into the perfect label I'd envisioned.  I was truly surprised when it was almost as big a hit with the birthday girl as the footie jams!!!  ')  What a sweetie!

For gift bags for the girls, I used my Spellbinders' Eiffel Tower die and bags/ribbons I had on hand: 

I also made a birthday card, but I'm saving it for a later post since this one is photo heavy.  ;)  Thanks for stopping by -- come back soon, as I've done even more SEWING.  ;)

Sew, Sometimes I Craft Without (#19) . . .

paper, so I wanted to share a darling 18-inch doll Half-Zip Pullover I made. This pattern is by Matilda's Closet, as is my Too Cute to be Ugly Sweater in my previous blog post. 

I was the lucky random winner of her contest, so there WILL be more sewing posts in the near future!  `)  For this pattern, I used fleece and rib knit on the cuffs.  Just LOVE how it turned out!  Her patterns are awesome, easy to follow and sold through Pixie Faire, where you'll find a plethora of fabulous doll patterns for many popular dolls of various types/sizes.

For all you doll sewists out there unfamiliar with Pixie Faire OR anyone who wants to learn to sew, doll clothes are an easy way to start, especially if they're larger dolls (such as 18").  A great way to begin is to go to the Pixie Faire website for several FREE easy patterns she offers, PLUS every Wednesday, PF posts four patterns to vote for your FAV and on Friday, the most-voted-for pattern is FREE!  Sooo, IF you want to learn to sew or already do but need great patterns either free or at a great price, what are you waiting for?  PF also gives you Pixie Perks w/each purchase and before long, you'll earn Pixie Rewards to use on future purchases @ their site -- can't beat it! ;)

Sew, Sometimes I Craft Without (#18) . . .

paper . . . and I've done that by sewing this18" doll Too Cute to be Ugly Sweater for May from a pattern by Matilda's Closet available for purchase @ Pixie Faire!  I used pale pink fleece for the sweater and brown fleece for my gingerbread girl.  Her dress and trim are made of felt and the tiny bow from narrow ribbon.

The pattern is easy and goes together quickly, once you've decided whether you want to use a snowman, Santa or gingerbread boy (or girl)!  The pattern includes all the pieces needed to make whichever you wish -- or all three/four. I may just have to make my 18" Gotz Henry (May's twin) a gingerbread boy sweater too?!

If you're able to finish one prior to midnight (MST) December 31st, you can enter yours here on Facebook for a chance to win a $25 Pixie Faire Gift Card -- who wouldn't want to win???!!!  ;)

Sew, Sometimes I Craft Without (#15) . . .

paper and this is another of those times.  I've sewn quite a few 18" doll clothing items over the summer and wanted to photograph them outside, but it was just too hot and/or humid during our summer monsoon to get that task completed.  Now that we're basking in cool temps (about 60 in the AM w/low to mid-90's for an afternoon high), I've been venturing into the backyard w/my doll friends for some photo sessions.

First up, we have May, a Gotz doll (Pottery Barn Kids), modeling her cute Sorrento Top. The Liberty Jane pattern is available @ Pixie Faire for $3.99 (instant PDF download) and includes different cute ways to finish the neckline besides the braided option. She's also wearing LJC's Yoga Pants as seen better in the photo below and available for $5.99 here bundled with basic pants/shorts in several variations. I love the fold-over waistline where you can play with fun fabrics or simply use one color!

Lastly, we have Journey Girl Meredith (ToysRUs) wearing LJC's Trendy T-Shirt made using a re-purposed knit top of mine that had a stain!  I hoped by centering the glittery palm tree I could get away with using it even though it's a bit large for an 18" doll -- what do you think, does it work OK or is it too much?  This free LJC pattern is available here and it's so easy/cute to stitch up!

FYI for you who sew: Pixie Faire includes many fabulous doll pattern makers and offers Freebie Friday every week, asking you to vote for your favorite 1 of 4 patterns each Wednesday-Thursday. Then the winning pattern is available free that Friday only! Both the Sorrento Top and Yoga Pants were Freebie Friday patterns earlier this summer. I seriously have a huge stash of patterns I've yet found time to sew up, thanks to Cinnamon's kind generosity!

I have a goal of finishing up several items that just need velcro, a snap, a hem, etc. and hope to get more photographed/posted in the near future, so stop back by!

Sew, Sometimes I Craft Without (#10) . . .

paper . . . and this is the result of one recent session.
Using Doll Tag Clothing's pattern from Freebie Friday @ Pixie Faire on FB, I cut these adorable shorts from two coordinating fat quarter fabrics from my stash. If you're a sewist of doll clothes, you do not want to miss Freebie Friday, which begins with voting for your favorite of four patterns each Wednesday and culminates on Friday AM with the winning free pattern link. You'll not only receive a fabby pattern each week, but an introduction to Pixie Faire's talented designers!
Felicity & I think this pattern is sooo cute and she popped the shorts over her hot pink swimsuit -- it's nearly 100 degrees here today, but thankfully mid-80's are forecast to return mid-week.

This pattern is so easy, well written and goes together quickly with minimal effort -- I'm giving it 5 Stars on my review and recommend it very highly! Cording run through small lime eyelets from my paper crafting stash finish off the 'faux' tie, 'sew' you see my two favorite pastimes mesh well!