Easter Dress

So here is the finished dress! I love how it turned out. 

Working without a pattern has its challenges, like the skirt part didn't end up as full as I wanted it. I should have doubled the measurement of the entire bodice - both front and back - but sigh, I only doubled the front piece. Which of course gave me the measurement of the entire bodice. Opps. I had a total Tim Gunn from Project Runway 'make it work' moment. I had to laugh at myself for that mistake. But I made it work. The real success of this project was that I had it finished three days before Easter. Go me. (That was not the case last year.) My other two Easter to-do projects...um...did not happen. So is life. :)

I hope to share some more finished projects in the next couple of days. I've been making some fun little girl skirts, I made one in less than two hours. Nice. I also have a Moda Bakeshop recipe in the works.  So lots is going on over here in sewing land, finally, but also lots of life is going on too. 

Hope everyone had a beautiful Easter weekend. See you soon!

LeAnne

Tried and True Recipe: Better Than Take Out Orange Chicken

It has been a looong time since I've shared a recipe. Recently, I've been in a try-new-recipes mood and I have to say that I've come across some good ones. When I saw Better Than Take Out Orange Chicken I knew I had to make it because it looked just that good. And it was.

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Wow!!! If it wasn't for the fact that it was fried and took a little more time than I like for a weekday meal, I'd seriously make it once a week. (Yep, I do think it is better than Panda's. Of course this recipe has a has a taste of its own but it is wonderful.) FYI: If you make this, make sure you use ginger root and orange zest, they totally make this recipe. Don't use the dry stuff. Also, I didn't use chicken thighs, I just chopped up 2 large chicken breasts. It made a lot and I have plenty for leftovers. Bonus.

So there you go. This would be fun to make for a stay-in date-night, special occasion, or just because it looks that good.

Here is to trying new recipes! I love it!

Happy Thursday,

LeAnne

insert clever title here....because I can't think of one

I finally made a decision for my daughter's Easter Dress! Yay! I have one week and a day. To be fair though, I've had everything ready 1 1/2 weeks but it is still sitting unfinished in my sewing room. Lets just call it life.

The 'pattern', or kinda at least. Of course, me being me, couldn't find the 'right' pattern. A while back though, I hearted this dress on Etsy because I just loved it. It is very similar to other dresses I've made in the past, so I figure I will just go sans pattern. Wish me luck!

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The fabric. Not my usual choice in style or colors but for some reason I was just drawn to it.  It was nice to pick something out of my fabric 'comfort zone'.  The pink will be for the main part of the dress and the yellow will be for the sleeves, sash, and strip at the bottom.

In non-sewing news, I started on a project I've been wanting to do for a long time. Last fall I saw this cute post over at the Crafting Chicks. (one of my favorite craft blogs) I loved the ABC poster and had been wanting to make/find something similar. I finally bought the Alphabet Soup set by Zoe Pearn over at the Sweet Shoppe. I've been having lots of fun in Photoshop getting the images placed just right. I am still working on spacing before I print it off as a 16x20. I think this project in total will cost around $15.00 for the printing, graphics, and frame. Not too shabby.  (FYI: There is a boy set available. In the Crafting Chicks post, she shows the boy set as an alphabet poster.) Sorry for all the links! I just wanted to make sure I gave proper credit.

 {Almost done....still working on the spacing. I will share a picture when it is all done.}

So there you go! A few project updates on this lovely Friday. I hope everyone has a great weekend. It is suppose to be 95 tomorrow here in the Valley of the Sun.  A couple more weeks and it will be swim time!

Thanks for reading,

LeAnne

Searching....

FYI, Easter is coming up. Thank goodness it is late this year....that is working in my favor. I am looking for a cute dress pattern to make the annual Easter Dress. So currently I am on the hunt for a cute 2T or larger pattern. Of course it doesn't have to be an exclusive 'Easter' dress pattern, any cute little girl's dress will do. I already have some patterns that I've used and LOVED that were very simple. (i.e. -  Sweet Baby Dress by leila & ben and Lulu Dress by KustomKids) However, I am wanting to try something new. Any suggestions?

Also on the 'wish to accomplish by Easter' list are:

Positively Splendid's darling, darling Canvas Easter Baskets

and of course a couple of bunnies from Sock and Glove
(FYI, if you don't have the book you can get the bunny pattern for FREE here.)

Three projects by Easter. That is the plan. As soon as I find the right dress pattern....I will be good.

Hope your weekend was great!!

LeAnne