Gymnastics

E started gymnastics today- she had a ball

She's in a tumbling only class...her first time ever. She is with a group of girls in dance and gymnastics...they were doing all sorts of flips and splits while E was trying desperately to do anything that resembled a cartwheel. It looked like she was hopping over a log sideways So cute! Luckily the girls were a couple years older and thought E was pretty cute too. We'll be moving her in 2 weeks though to a Thurs. class where there's only one other girl...she'll get lots of one on one there which will be great. If all goes well and she still likes it, we'll do a reg. gymnastics class next fall.

I used the Jalie ballet unitard for this...took the neck in slightly and the back up a bit and split the top and bottom, adding seam allowances there. Cotton lycra on the bottom (a good sturdy c/l...higher lycra content- I think 7-10%) and a jersey top...thought it was c/l but I really don't think so. I knew this sewing it up though and it came out well. It's a bit snug under the arms I think so I'll try it with a stretchier c/l and see if it works. I'll probably also end up going up a size so she has more growing room. I love that she isn't there pulling up her little booty shorts or picking wedgies :) Doll pattern was for a leotard...paired it with a legging pattern and made some modifications to make it more like the Jalie...came out well save for the back of the top- it's pretty loose there. I'll have to see what's wrong with it as I didn't change the width there at all!







Wanting to pose like her doll:


I'm pretty happy- esp. after seeing the offerings at a dance shop we visited to get some more of her dance tights. Although I did see a style there I'm going to try next...I love 'shopping'. :D

Swap Stuff- What We Got

We loved our first swap...so much fun! We were so pleased with what we got back. To be honest...I'd seen many swaps on various boards and much of it I was less than impressed with. Not so with this one...people really seemed to care about what they made for the other participants as well as how their work would be perceived. I know this is exactly what I was thinking...and it's why I hadn't joined a swap until I brave enough and confident enough to face that challenge.

Onto the pics!

Velour Jalie top in E's favorite color:

Another pic of the top along with a Farbenmix redondo skirt in one of my favorite color combos:

An adorable little purse for E:

An amazing little doll (named Teresa by E)...we love her- she is so cute! E has taken to her and sleeps with her every night. I love her hair- it is crocheted somehow and then sewn on and is very durable. <3


And headbands- 6 of them. This was E's fav. It is pink and has crowns so that was enough for her :) :

This dress is a 2T...I'd told the swap hostess that I had a certain little niece sz 2T if there were issues with sorting and so we got one item in that size. I think it's adorable...tried to see if it'd fit E as a tunic to no avail. We'll see if Aunt Lyzzy likes it...if not I will put it away for 'someday' or for a gift :) :



That's it for the swap stuff- I hope to join another one this spring!

Odette

E chose to be Odette from Swan Lake this year. She chose the Barbie version...we had checked out a beautifully illustrated ballet book from the library which had another version- a close 2nd (and the one I was rooting for!). Link to a pic from the movie.

In typical 'Sarah' fashion I did not start this involved costume until a couple days before. I got the base done that night and did the rest the day of (with a lot of help from Aunt Cassie!). I had just finished the swap that Fri/Sat. before and had whipped up my sister Lyzzy's belated bday present early on in the week so I had good excuses :) Cassie made the crown too(with J's help)- good thing she had office Halloween or I would have been sunk :D Nana and Papa came over that evening too- it was a good night (E's first Halloween treating out on the town...we usually have a community room party that is poorly attended and just go around the building but this year we decided to forego the party).

I used the Jalie leotard pattern as the base and went to it from there...netting and tulle under the lining and overskirt/etc. Heat sealed organza, dyed feathers, etc. If anyone has q's on anything you can comment or email...I'm bad about comments sometimes though-not seeing them for a month! :) Sad, I know.

Lots of pics! I didn't bother editing- sorry for blurs/red eye/etc!
Pumpkin carving and pics:



Mine:

J's:


Halloween night:


J and I find this pic humorous...some sort of ninja pose :)

At her favorite librarian's house:

Was a perfect night for treating! Spooky moon pic:

Pics of the finished costume (I sewed the rest of the armbands and painted the bodice ribbons yesterday...this will be a well loved dress up costume for quite a while!):





I had her crown upside down...heh. E noticed later, Cassie noticed right away this evening :D

Poorly captured action photos...

Her bird/swan moves:


And her 'Ivan'...fun boy ballet jumps:


Quite pleased with ourselves over here- although I am glad it's over and I can breathe!

Swap Stuff!

I participated in a swap on my sewing board this fall- I made 6 outfits for it and sent them in last Sat. Was fun but a lot of work- was nice to send them off and move on!

First- a set for a 3T boy (my first 'jeans'- pretty thick...my machine wasn't happy with me):







2nd- another set for a 3T boy (top is 2 tees, pants are from J's old comfy lounge pants):





3rd- Dress for a 4T girl:




4th- Dress and matching doll dress for a 5/6 girl:




5th- Velour pants and stenciled thin top for 24mo girl:




6th- Tunic and leggings (same as E's pair)- I stenciled the top and the back isn't perfect :P It's cute though and I was tired- I'm sure it'll be loved:






So glad it's done! I'm taking a break from the machine for at least a week- cleaning up the sewing room and getting back on top of other things. Xmas sewing (mostly jammies this year) will be upon us soon enough :)