sew...what now?: two dresses

So yesterday I woke up with a desire to be creative with the sewing machine. Finally! After all those Munchkin costumes I had pretty much sworn off using my sewing machine unless absolutely necessary. I wanted to make a dress with a pattern I borrowed from a friend of mine (thanks, Kathlene!). I decided to use scraps, since .... well, since I had them and it's always cheaper that way!

I decided on this satin - black with white polka dots - leftover from last summer when a student of mine used it to made a circle skirt. The pattern is a halter style and has a flounce at the hem. I love flounces. I think it is what drew me in. Kathlene had made one for her daughter and that flounce just beckoned to me. Drew me out of a sewing "funk" really. So, I'm thinking this needs a set of plastic dollar store beads, a silk flower in her hair, and some flip flops and she will be set.

pattern used: New Look 6478 (I used a size 5)

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The next dress I made yesterday has a story behind it.

Once upon a time, I had a truckload of bags filled with clothes to donate. After dropping them off, I decided I had a few minutes (the laundry at home could wait) and I went inside to do a little thrift store shopping. I found two squares of this adorable blue gingham check. Each square was about 24" x 24".

One of the pieces had a rabbit applique that no doubt a mom or grandmother was planning on using to make a cute Easter outfit for the wee one in her life. But, as often happens, other things become priority and Easter comes and goes.

Well, I grabbed up the fabric, paid my tab of $1 and brought it home where the fabric sat in my sewing room for nearly a year.

Fast forward to yesterday when I thought I'd make a pillowcase dress. I grabbed some neat ribbon trims and went to town. Once I got all that trimwork on, I decided that the rabbit looked mighty naked. So, she got a dress just like my little girl's.... only the bunny's dress is actually a pocket!