Just so you know....

Ann: "Thank goodness, I'm almost done."

Doorbell Chimes

Rita: "Hmm, I don't hear Beauty."

Ann: "Hi Rita, come on in."
Rita: "Hi Ann, I hope you not busy. Where's Beauty? I didn't hear any barking."
Ann: "Kayla has her, you know she has a social life.  I just put on some coffee."

Rita: "I see your in your creative zone. Just sewing your heart out huh? Well wait til I tell you this."
Ann: "Hold on, let me get the coffee. It must be something really good."

Rita: "It is and your are not going to believe it either. Guess who Rex saw at the dog park. I'm telling you, you are not going to believe it."

Ann: "I can't imagine, who?"
Rita: "Dana! Yes, Dana. With her new man! Which tells me she not that busy with work hee, hee."
Ann: "Wow, didn't see that coming. Hmm, so all this time she been unavailable, she been with her new man? He must be a good catch."

Rita: "Rex's says he's retired form the Air Force or some force. Anyway, that why we haven't seen her around lately. Rex said they look really happy together and he has a big sheep dog named Maximus"
Ann: "Really? Sounds.....wait, you don't even have a dog so why is Rex at the park?"
Rita: "Who knows. He always doing something different. Now that he's retired he says he want to keep busy. Mind you, he just retired this month."
Ann: "He's still new to this. Once he adjust to not getting up, working late nights. Look at me and Nathaniel, we love it."
Rita: "I hear ya."

Rita: "So who is this fancy frock for? I do like the jacket."
Ann: "Something I have been working on. Would you believe I ran out of black thread for the dress. So I will have to finish the zipper later. I figured I might as well finish the jacket."
Rita: "Well you can always make me a jacket or two."

Rita: "Well, I better get going. Thanks for the coffee and cake."
Ann: "Thanks for stopping by."
Rita: "I'm just tickled about Dana. She always says she so busy with work."
Ann: "Sounds like Cara, hee. hee. Where are you headed anyway?"
Rita: "Your favorite place."
Ann: "Wait a minute. You come in here talking about Dana and your going to Macy's??? Let me get my purse and coat. Heck, I can always buy another shower curtain."

Courage, determination, pride...that's what little girls are made of.

-- Author Unknown

Marta Sneak Peek

The Grandmommy,  Jewel Snake, Roxanne, Roxanne and Vanessa this is for you. Mrs. Dotson was kind enough to model some outfits I'd sewn for Marta. See her adventures below.

Brini: Here she is modeling the denim shorts and floral top with scarf around her coif to protect it from the rain.

Ann: "No Beauty I'm trying to do something before it really starts to rain."
Beauty: "WOOF!, WOOF!"

Ann: "Down before you get me dirty."
Beauty: "wooofff."

Ann: " Ok then I will leave you out here."

Brini: As you can see the scarf can be worn to add a pop of color to any outfit. She is wearing a green skirt with a pastel green top and the scarf is tied around her neck.

Master Chief: "Don't worry miss, I got you."
Ann: "Huh."

Ann: "Oh no, I got you and all your muscles too."
Master Chief: "The Queen has been secured. Control do you copy that? Come in control. The Queen has been secured."
Ann: "Oh yeah, The Queen is feeling safe right now. I'll copy that control."

Brini: She will look good hosting a luncheon or such. Wearing her gray skirt with embellished stitching and wrap top. This pattern was showcased on Miss B couture website. It took me about 2 hours to complete from start to finish. If you sew fashion doll clothes you know if stitch a section you have to iron it as well.

Ann: "I do look fabulous. So much to do so little time."

Brini: When she just want to look cool and comfortable. She wearing a printed skirt and white top. I made myself a dress out of her skirt material and unfortunately for me it was a miss but a plus for my dolls. I am going to re-fashion the dress but her skirt used to be one of the sleeves on my dress.

Sunday: "Nice to see you Mrs. Dotson. You should of called I would of gladly model for you."
Mrs. Dotson: "Yes, I'm sure but I got this. Just smile and look pretty."


All in all I had a great time sewing again. What have I re-learn? It does take patience to sew doll clothes. It's easier when I planned what I was going to sew that day and prepped what I wanted to do the next day. Everything that was taught to me when I first learned to sew really does come in to play. It is important to pay attention to scale, markings and seam allowances. I'm happy I had the time to sew and I do miss my time with my sewing machine, I can not live without one in my house. I'm trying to figure out if I could to travel with one or just tell "Mr. President" to buy me another one he can keep with him. I think it will be safe in his trailer, lol. Thank you Sharon of Sharon Sews, Carolyn of Diary of a Sewing Fanatic and Victoria of Ten Thousand Hours of Sewing. They have all inspired me to get back in the game. I used to lurk but then I eventually joined their blogs and have re-learned some old things but a lot of new techniques too. Each one of these ladies share bits of my personality too. Like Sharon I love no fuss sewing with fun fabrics and she can find all kind of textiles and everything she sew is always cute. So I wanted Marta's Happy Family Grandma clothes to be like that. With Carolyn she can create some gorgeous outfits so she inspires me to create and think outside the box, she just amazes me and Victoria started her own business sewing so just maybe that is the next chapter for me too. The challenge for me is finding the material and notions in the right scale. I have found my sewing heaven located in Gastonia, NC so a trip there is most of the day and not a bite but a chunk on the funds and I need to keep them secured for right now. So what is Barbie teaching me now years later? How to grade and re-size a pattern!! Gotta love the doll!!

Thanks Mother for allowing me access to your sewing machine. It really is a life long love!      

A few things for Marta

Nathaniel: "Good Morning beautiful wife. Sounds like you are in the car."

Beauty: "Woof"
Ann: "Hey Hon, I am. We just left Joann Fabrics. I had to few more notions to pick up. How are you?"
Nathaniel: "Well let see..."

Ann: "Here we go Beauty."
Beauty: "woof."
Nathaniel: "I woke up this morning walked in the kitchen and there are clothes all over the place. So how am I suppose to make breakfast? That's all I'm saying."

Ann: "When did you need a lot of space for a bowl of cereal?
Nathaniel: "Maybe I wanted to cook a hot breakfast for you too."
Ann: "Don't move anything! I need to look over everything for Marta before I package them up."
Nathaniel: "I see. Well Marta is very lucky. I'm quite sure her kitchen isn't full of clothes."
Ann: "Don't touch anything!"
Beauty: "Woof!"

Nathaniel: "I'm not touching anything. There is a whole wardrobe in my kitchen. I'm just trying to eat something. Be quiet Beauty."
Ann: "Then make do, you have enough room. You know Barbie mother lives in Marta town, so why you tripping. She need clothes just like I do. You know Mattel changes things all the time."

Nathaniel: "I haven't touch a thing. I understand. I know all women deserve a great wardrobe and you are just the one to create them. I just wanted to eat."

Ann: "Yeah right! Even Beauty doesn't believe you. I'm going to stop by the doggie bark and then I will be home."
Nathaniel: "Ok, then cereal for two. Unless your bringing breakfast."

Ann: "How about I swing by and pick you up and we can have breakfast in the park."
Nathaniel: "That is why I love you. See you when you get here."
Beauty: "woooof, wwooof."
Ann: "I know Beauty. He so jealous we have a great time together."

Have a great week everybody!

***Marta I will be mailing your package out to you on Saturday. I hope you like everything.****

BLOG GIVEWAY #2

 

 

Grayson: "Hello everyone! I am the Honorable Judge Grayson Christopher Clark. I'm sure you have meet my son Christopher. He dates Stacie mother, Kayla. I understand Stacie was a wonderful presenter so I was asked to present to you today."

 

Grayson: "Today giveaway is featuring this sweater I am wearing. It is an original 100% cotton sweater made by Brini. It was one of the sewing projects she has been wanting to make so it can be  your just by entering.

 
Grayson: "Yes, you will be able to win this one too. It is a solid blue crew neck sweater, it is also 100% cotton. All you have to do is enter and BOTH will be yours!  Of course I must tell you the rules and here they are. Good luck everyone!

                                                         You can only enter one time.

You will need to leave a comment stating you would like to participate.

Any and Everyone can enter.

Winner will be selected at random.

The winner will be announced via blog and notify by email.

You will have one week to respond.

You item will be shipped out immediately.

 

Have a great week everybody!!

 

 

Soooo Glad to be back!!

 

 

 

 

All right everyone, please share in my happy dance!!! I have missed everyone so much! I can't even imagine how my poor dolls feel. We have been without a  computer for like forever, although it been maybe 10 days. Yes, 10 days tooo long. My son computer decided one day to crash and that was that. I can live without cable, ice cream and Oreo cookies but not the internet. You talk about someone having an attitude, yeah I know, I got a lot of nerves right?. Since there has been no playtime I have been sewing, no not for my dolls...yet, but for me. My job keeps me so busy that when I get home I'm to tired to do anything else. Then when I aggravated my hamstring that was pretty much a wrap. I made sure to do my stretches but to  move things around and get my playtime one, was not happening. So when ol' blue box crashed, well I had somewhere to set up my sewing machine and get that therapy on. I'm sure you guessed it. Yes, I have 2 project that still need to be completed but at least I have my dolls camera ready and the story started for their return. Yes, I am making progress!

 

I spent this afternoon organizing piles of stuff that have taken over a corner of the dining room. I'm telling you, it has been rough!!  I'm so glad to be back and so is Mr. Dotson. He's next up, posed and ready for the camera. So I am off.

 

Have a great week and yes, The Dotson are returning!!!