Tuesday 27 March 2012

The Sylvanians have some Visitors



Look who dropped in to see the Sylvanians! Auntie Emily's monkeys with their new red sweaters!

Mmm maybe some Sylvanians would like sweaters like these.....






Monday 19 March 2012

Fancy Dress - Sylvanian Bear Sister/Brother in a Cat Outfit

 You can buy super cute Sylvanians in fancy dress...

There is something very strange and very appealing about Sylvanian cats dressed up as a chick and a rabbit...

However, Farrah wants a cat fancy dress outfit so Nana has spent quite a bit of time working out how to do this....





And voilĂ ! We have a - slightly scary*? - cat outfit worn by a bear...


* yes scary - my daughter (grand-daughters' mummy) says the cat looks like a serial killer lol

The cat face mask is stitched onto a hood which can be worn up or down




I could not work out how to make a kind of hooded romper suit all in one,so it has ended up as a hood, which can be worn fastened at the back as shown or at the front as a kind of scarf.

It is worn over a jacket which was cut all in one including the sleeves,

then there are little pull on elasticated waist trousers with an added tail.

I will probably try again to make an all in one now I have had a go! I have found some baby all in one patterns so may try to scale those down.
I used fabric glue for the felt applique and embroidery silk for the features.

TECHNIQUE I USED 
I used this fabulous pattern from http://www.246.ne.jp/~jr1vvc/sylvanian.html and adapted it for a cat suit, re-drawing the sleeves to make them wider and shorter.
The cat suit is for a sister/brother so it was very small to work with .
The all in one sleeves took several goes as they were very tight at first - so I might go back to separate sleeves next time,  or try a very wide all in one sleeve - I widened it several times on the pattern  but may try flaring them out more...
Sewing this outfit  was not helped as the fabric was quite bad for fraying (and I had not used fray check as I did not find this out until it was too late :(). Also it was cut on the bias so I thought there would be enough give in the fabric... 
I tried a tip I found on a doll dress making site that suggests using kitchen roll to cut out templates and fit them on to the figures before cutting out the material - this was great except the kitchen roll was fray proof and the fabric wasn't-  still I will know next time...:) 
The fraying was also a problem for the cuffs as I just could not stitch inside the hems so they are blanket stitched a bit scruffily... however I am living and learning!



Party Balloons by Petr Kratochvil   
http://www.publicdomainpictures.net 

Friday 16 March 2012

School Uniform...


Finished Hettie's school uniform now so here are the girls in uniform...


I copied the school logos using ordinary sewing thread; I have blurred the words as I am not sure what you can show on the web re children... 




Farrah and Hettie waiting for the school bus





http://www.publicdomainpictures.net


School Bus by Peter Griffin




Wednesday 14 March 2012

School Days

Farrah Badger in her school uniform T-shirt and skirt...



School motif was stitched with ordinary sewing thread and lots of patience!:)


Playground by Peter Griffin
http://www.publicdomainpictures.net


Baby Bear Goes to the Ball




This is one of the tiniest Sylvanians, a little baby, so the sewing was a challenge for this.

I used wide gold ribbon and used fray check on all the raw edges.

I cut one strip and doubled it over before threading it with elastic for the skirt; the 2 layers made a nice full skirt.

The bodice was also cut from ribbon, sewing was tricky as it was so very small, so I ended up blanket stitching the edges with gold thread and trimming all the neckline with gold seed beads.

The ribbon bow was a half width of ribbon stitched together and  sewn to the back of the waistband to hide the elastic; the cross over for the bow is also trimmed with camouflage of gold seed beads.


http://www.publicdomainpictures.net


Fairy Lights And Webs by Sharon Apted

Fairy Tale Outfit

 WOW!


Molly Mouse is modelling Hettie's design 




...which is a full skirted princess dress with an optional hat




The dress is purple and lilac duchesse satin.



It is trimmed with pink binding, lace and hologram-style pink flower beads which swathe the back of the dress...











Underneath the dress Molly 
wears a full lace underskirt 
edged with more pink binding and a pair of very smart peep toe white party shoes





http://www.publicdomainpictures.net
Fairy Lights And Webs by Sharon Apted
Pink Feather by Petr Kratochvil





Sunday 11 March 2012

More chic spring tailoring



The tailored double breasted coat shown earlier now has tiny tiny tiny little buttons...thank you ebay!... but they have normal size holes, genius!!

background http://www.publicdomainpictures.net Woods by Sue Sheen

Spring fashion on the catwalk...





 And introducing our new stable of models in a beautiful and appropriate woodland setting....





wearing co-ordinating outfits in a purple and maroon print, she has a high collar, waistband and sleeves in purple...





while his fetching dungarees have tiny tiny purple buttons and a useful tail opening...


and  baby has got a smart new duvet cover to keep him snug against the spring chill






http://www.publicdomainpictures.net Woods by Sue Sheen

Working that leg at the Oscars...


background http://www.publicdomainpictures.net Christmas Light Decoration by Petr Kratochvil


Working that leg at the Oscars - Catgelina in a rich purple Duchesse satin gown...

(Yay I have discovered Prym's fray check; it is magical so no more binding seams - unless I want to!)

Meanwhile, back in the atelier sewing assistant Nana is hard at work on a Duchesse satin dress for Hettie in shades of lilac... it is going to have a very very sticky out skirt...



Thursday 1 March 2012

Chic Spring Tailoring




Sadie Persis wears a tailored coat with a subtle print, double breasted front and gathered sleeves.

It has a flared "skirt" section which is a contrast with the flat front of the coat.



http://www.publicdomainpictures.net 
lSilhouette Of Colored Smoke by Lebin Yuriy