Guys & Dolls

FOR THE GUYS:

I admit that I have much more fun and opportunity to sew for my daughter.  I don't know why it is that way, but it is.  However, about a year ago, I remembered a trip our family took to Disney Land in 1988.  My mom had purchased all this Popeye fabric and she made my three brothers (#4 was on the way) matching shorts and she made me a skirt.  Wearing a skirt to Disney Land might not have been the best idea, but I certainly wasn't going to wear what my brothers were wearing.  Of all things! 
So I decided to see if I could find any Popeye fabric on ebay.  The closest thing I could find was flannel.    Even so, I decided to make these shorts for my son and my nephew as a homage to that family vacation.  (Like me, my daughter would never be caught wearing "boy" clothes so she didn't get a pair and she was fine with it.)

My nephew loved his shorts so much that I decided to look and see if I could find some ultra tacky Ninja Turtles fabric online.  Once again, ebay did not disappoint.  These were supposed to be Christmas shorts, but better late than never.

These shorts are about the easiest things to make.  And fast.  I took one of my daughter's pants patterns and shortened it.  (The boys will never know.)   He liked the shorts and he looked so ninja-like in them that I asked him to do a move for me. 
(This is not a stunt double.  This is actually my nephew doing this ninja move.  The cinematography isn't the greatest.  Sorry.)

I think Bruce Lee would be jealous.

FOR THE DOLLS:

Nothing annoys me more than making one of something.  Especially when I'm making up my own pattern.  Because by the time I'm done, I've figured out how to do it "the right way" and if I don't get the chance, it really chaps me. 
I made a doll bassinett and diaper bag for my daughter for her Birthday which is the day after Christmas.  It was okay, but the canopy kept colapsing.  So I tried adding some boning and that helped a little but not enough.

Here it is, hidden away in the storage room, waiting for the big "reveal".

Matching doll diaper bag.  JoAnns had notions 50% off so I added a magnetic clasp.  Very cool.

So I thought about it.  While shopping at Walmart.  In the car.  In the shower.  In bed at night.  And an idea came to me.  PLASTIC CANVAS!!!!!

It's waterproof.  It s sturdy yet flexible.  And it's relatively cheap.  It worked like a charm.

This newer doll carrier isn't completely finished.  I still need to cover the "mattress" insert.  Right now it's covered in bonded batting and I need to get to the store and buy a bit more fabric or check my stash for something that will work.  I've kind of lost my steam as far as this project goes.  It happens.  But it's close enough to give you the general idea. 

I've actually figured out a few ways that I can improve upon this design, but I'm not sure yet if I want to name it prototype B or not.  Something tells me the next one might end up being called prototype C.  I can get kinda anal.  Still, the second canopy is much better than the first. 

Once it is finished and I have regained some of my steam, I will post a step by step tutorial along with photos.

That's enough for today. Now for some tunes...