Avonlea Dress

I was so thrilled to be able to test Cole's Creations new Avonlea dress and matching dolly dress last week!  Now, if you're like me, the first you'll want to know is why should I buy this pattern, right?  I mean, there are multiple out there with knit bodices and woven skirts already right?  Right.  

Well Cole's Creations Avonlea dress comes in sizes 1/2 - size 14 so that's a big selling point!  The biggest selling point for me though would be that it has a lot more options than most of the other dresses.  Because there were so many options not all of them are going to look different from the other patterns.  I did the basic long sleeve version with a ruched sash and ruffled skirt.  There are also options for basic short sleeves, puffed sleeves, puffed sleeves layered over long sleeves and the skirt can be done with or without the ruffle.  The pattern is designed to be much shorter but I made the skirt a size longer and added the ruffle.  Kessa loved this length and was very excited about the "twirl factor!"  

The patterns are on sale through tomorrow (Thursday 2/26)!  The girl dress is just $6 and the doll dress is only $2!!

(how 'bout them zebras?!?!  In case you haven't figured it out yet Kessa has a thing for zebras.  She LOVES this dress.)

I'm getting a lot better at tying those sash bows too!  lol.  I'm pretty sure Kessa would wear these every day if I made her enough.  

I'm also itching to start making the girls' Easter dresses with this pattern.  It's SOOO cute with special occasion fabric!

So what are you waiting for?!?!  Go grab the pattern while it's still on sale and whip up some matching dresses for your girly and her daughter so you can get a smile like this from her too!!  

EYMM's California Dress

Kymy from Everything Your Mama Made and More has done it again!  Another awesome, totally trendy pattern that is fast and easy!!!  Woohoo!!!

I'm not kidding ya'll.  Her patterns are usually super fast and easy but are QUICKLY becoming the majority of my older daughter's wardrobe.

The California is part of the Bundle Up  promotion right now but I think it will be available to purchase on it's own in a week or two.  

The front and back of this dress are reversible (unless you choose to do the High Low hemline like I did on Kessa's) OR you can use two scoop pieces or two of the faux halters.  Both sides look super cute!

This style looks uber cute with a belt too but Kessa doesn't have any (yet!  lol)

There are options for maxi length (with or without the high low hemline), knee length or peplum.

Kessa loves the long version (and has even requested another one that's closer to floor sweeping length) but I think she needs some of the peplum versions for every day too.

OH!  And one last little tid-bit...I haven't tried it yet but I'm 99% sure you could use woven for the front and back of this and just use knit for the bindings and neck strap.  I'm going to try it today if I get some of my customs finished up!

AND...keep an eye out for the Ladies California coming very soon!!!  Yesterday was our testing deadline for it and I LOVE IT!!!  

Upcycle Dress Review

So, if you know me at all you know I LOVE upcycling.  Like...it's my business.  ;)  I've used a lot of different patterns and I love finding new styles to try.  When Stacey asked me to test her new upcycle dress I jumped at the chance!

Then...once we actually started testing...it just got better.  This pattern has SOOO many options ya'll!!

Let's start with the dress - instructions for piecing it, in case you aren't confident doing that yourself, can be done with a short peplum, a long skirt, two layered skirts or a paneled skirt over a long skirt!  It has a drop waist and a slimmer fit setting it apart from most other upcycle patterns.  It also has long sleeves, short sleeves, layered sleeves and sleeveless!  

                            

I did the paneled skirt over the long skirt on this dress along with the short sleeve option (because it's FINALLY starting to feel like spring here in Southern IL!)

And then....I did the sleeveless version.  In a dress with just the long skirt for Grace and in the shirt for Kessa.  I'm not kidding when I say the fit is perfect!  I didn't adjust anything and I'm usually adjusting stuff left and right on patterns!

 But wait!  There's more!!!  More you say?  Yes more!!!  lol (do I sound like an infomercial now?)

In addition to the dress with all it's options, and leaving off the skirt and just making a top, there are also instructions for making just a skirt!  With this skirt again, you can do one layer, two layers, a paneled top layer and solid lower layer, a whole paneled layer, AND ruffles!  And did I mention the twirl factor?  Clearly a hit for the spinning crowd (and I'm not talking exercise bikes!  lol)

In these pictures Kessa is wearing the top and skirt with a 4 panel top and bottom skirt and a ruffle.  

Outtake anyone?  She's wearing a store bought tank and the skirt below...

 And here she's wearing just the shirt with jeans.  I LOVE the way this set mixes and matches and I really love the length and fit of the shirt.  Kessa's getting out of dresses so much but I love being able to make her shirts that aren't TOO tight but aren't big and baggy either...and that cover her if she bends over!  lol

And one last one...the skirt with a tank again.  

This pattern is great!  So thorough and SOOO many options!  AND, Stacey is having a naming contest in her group right now.  Head on over and enter for a chance to win the pattern for free!!!  It will be released later this week.  

Spring Dress

 

I've had the pleasure of being on the testing team for the Spring Line of patterns over at My Little Plumcake.  Michelle's patterns and styles are very clean and classic.  I'm totally in love with the Canaan's Incredible Blazer pattern!  I've already bought it and have high hopes of getting at least one done for Easter for the boys.    But that was a total tangent.  lol!

 

 

Moving on... today we're going to talk Spring!  I tested out the new Spring dress in a size 4 for Grace.  She's totally in love with her "rainbow dress" as she calls it and has worn it a lot (despite the fact that it's FAR from spring here.  In fact we had to do photos inside because it was like 8 degrees outside and snowy!)  

 

The back has a cute squared off button and loop closure.  Instructions are included for making the loops from your fabric or using elastic cording (or you can get really crazy and use decorative elastic like I did.) 

The bodice has a really fun and unique design with the semi-circle surrounded by gathers.  In my version there are gathers around the semi-circle and also on both sides but in the final version Michelle has taken out the side gathers.

The dress is fully lined and even the inside is finished beautifully!   I will make it slightly longer if I make another one for Grace but besides that I love everything about it!

And just wait till you see the next pattern we tested for MLP!  It's sooo cute and has several versions so it's perfect for the "cute" crowd and the "in" crowd!