Sew in the past...

I have sewn a lot in the past. In college, I would do homework on campus. On the way home I'd stop at a fabric store and buy some new fabric, then that night sew up a new shirt. Mostly pull over things that could be done in one night. I was skinny and liked to tuck in my shirts, so no need for a hem! Quick and easy, that's what I liked... And I needed to bulk up my wardrobe because two of my sisters had gotten married a month apart and moved out, taking all of their clothes with them! EEK! I had almost nothing left, I was so dependent on borrowing their things...

I remember sewing a little when Ryan was very young. He'd be climbing on my back as I tried to sew a Halloween costume for him or a baptism dress for his younger sister below. So when the kids were really young, I didn't have a lot of time, energy or patience to sew.

When the baptism photo of Maddy was done, below, another little girl waiting with her mom asked if she was a princess. Why yes, she IS! Thanks for asking!
Meri was a flower girl when my niece Naomi was married a few years ago. I made a few sample dresses of the pattern that Naomi had picked out, below is one of them. Meri loved those dresses and she was well suited for the summer for lined frocks!
Final product. She made a GREAT flower girl! And at that time, Meri was taking voice lessons, so at the reception, she sang Tomorrow from the movie Annie for Naomi and her husband. Annie was Naomi's favorite movie as a child.
As the girls got older, I let them help pick out the fabric of things that I could make for them. Give them input and maybe they'll wear it!... The same way with cooking new foods. Let them help and maybe they'll eat it!
At Easter time I made both of these dresses for the girls. Meri's was re-purposed partially from another dress. I decided afterwards that the ruffle at the bottom was over the top. Sometimes you hit a dud...
This is not my daughter. But at one of Meri's birthday parties, one of her friends dug into Meri's closet and played dress up... I made this jacket for Maddy once upon a time and Meri inherited it.
For summer things, I made this top for Meri without a pattern. I kind of used a pattern but just for around the top of the bodice, from the flower girl dresses I'd made that summer. This one turned out so cute! I made a matching skort over some shorts that she already had to match it. Not pictured here...

Maddy had a Sock Hop to attend in middle school and needed a poodle skirt. So I made it. The poodle was an applique that I found at JoAnns. Turned out pretty cute and was only used for dress up after that. My girls liked to play dress up. I kept a barrel in their closet with old costumes in it. When cousins came over, the girls room looked like the barrel had barfed all over the room when they left...
I've made a BUNCH of Scandinavian costumes over the years, as the elementary school kids do Norwegian dances at them every year. This will be Meri's final year. Unless it was LAST year... I guess I'll find out!
I blogged about this picture before. Click here! I made the kilts and sash for Maddy & Ryan. Bought the dress on Ebay.
I've blogged about this too, I think.... Couldn't find it. Anyway, this was our Christmas picture of my kids a few years ago. Our favorite Christmas movie is A Christmas Story where a crazy aunt sends the little boy a bunny costume and his mom makes him wear it. So Robb wanted me to make this for my kids. Ryan almost backed out when he found out what was up, but threats do wonders... He moved out that next summer.
I made my wedding gown and a few of the bridesmaid dresses. You know it's homemade when the bride is up until midnight the night before gluing on pearls and lace...So anyway... There are tons more things that I've made throughout the years, but I can't find them this morning and most of them probably are not digital.

Hope you're having a great day!