Here are Erin’s instructions for her dress.  She does not want a bow in front. ;)

She sent me a couple yards of textured green fabric, a black tulle skirt, some black satin, and a lighter green ribbon.

So far, I’ve made the bodice, trimmed it with a tulle ruffle, lined it, and put in boning.  The boning is not particularly comfortable.  I rounded the ends, but I guess I didn’t round them enough.  And they are stuck in there (They’re melted slightly to the fabric.  Oops.).  Any suggestions? :D

A pressing deadline, a PGM dress form, a challenge with a limited budget (I assume) and limited materials… Do you see the PR connection?

P.S. I think I love my dress form.  I’ll have to build up the waist and hips for her to match my measurements.  But still.

It is so liberating to have the right tools.

Cake toppers (not my original idea).

Emily requested chocolate cupcakes.  I used this recipe from Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook.

And I used this chocolate frosting recipe.  Warning: This much chocolate requires a healthy dose of milk… which we had.

I made Emily a special birthday skirt (and a matching one for her doll… who she named “Aurora,” by the way), and I appliqued a shirt for her.

Her party was at the dance studio where she takes “pre-dance” class.  And with plenty of friends, dancing, laughing, cupcake-eating, fancy-necklace-wearing, scarf-waving, and tip-toe-walking, I’d say it was a success!

Today I made Emily’s doll a reversible skirt.  It’s purple polka dots on one side and denim on the other.

I also made her a white linen shirt, although it is far too late in the year for such.

And last night I appliquéd a squirrel onto a reversible bag for her.  It’s all about the accessories, don’t you think?

Better than Barbie?  Maybe.

Now it’s time for me to stop playing with dolls and get to work on other projects.  My friend Erin has asked me to make her a strapless, edgy dress with a black tulle skirt (for a photoshoot with Melinda Register Photography).  I finally ordered a dress form which I think will help with this project… :)  It’s like Project Runway meets Real Housewives of Tulsa County.  Or something.

A dress…

And a scarf and coat.

She still needs some little brown shoes.  But I think she’ll survive the winter if she stays inside. ;)

with undies… or pajamas.  I made her yesterday.

Next up: doll clothes.  I always wanted to make ‘em as a little girl.  Now that I’m all grown up, I finally know how!

Hooray for childhood dreams fulfilled!  Mine or Emily’s?  Hopefully both!  ;)

I finished putting buttons on Emily’s jacket and made her a hat from yarn scraps.  It kinda matches.  She might not like it… I mean, what kid likes wearing coats and hats?  (I just found this particular exhibitionist-of-a-kid stripped of all her garments and hiding under a blanket, for goodness’ sake.)  But I’m going to wrap it up and give it to her for her birthday anyway.

And a doll.  I bought her a Ballet Barbie, but Evan and I felt a little guilty.  So I returned Barbie to Target and decided to make her a doll instead.  I made one for Christmas last year (see above).  This time I’m going to make one with outfits.  After all, isn’t that what makes Barbie so awesome?

I think so.

Emily brought me flowers this morning.

(I love that kid.)

She also dressed herself today.

Speaking of which, I’m working on a jacket for her right now.  It’s almost finished, but the buttons don’t quite fit through the 1″ buttonholes (the largest size my machine will make).  So now I’m shopping for buttons.  Here’s a preview of the jacket, snapped yesterday before I finished the seams or added buttonholes.

I used Simplicity 3513, which I also used here and here.  I altered the pattern for autumn/winter, added a lining, and changed the button placement.  I’ll be sure to share it again when it’s finished. :)

Here are two dress forms available for sorta reasonable prices at PGM.  Is one actually better for draping clothing?  There’s an $80 difference in price.  The first has a more defined body shape, but does it matter?  What do you think?

[This is the second time I’ve cropped a pair of J. Crew pants this year: I made shorts back in April (which I later dyed gray but never blogged about it).]

Did you know that you can make a skirt out of a pair of pants?

I wasn’t sure if the skirt would be too narrow, but I gave it a shot.  This skirt was made by cutting apart the inseam and sewing the two front and back panels together.  It’s key to keep things nice and straight.  And to try it on.  I kept taking more and more off the backside, until I had a nice, neat shape.

The waist is kind of low, which makes up for the short length.

If I’d made the skirt any longer, I would have needed a vent in the back.

And the before…

I should have modeled them, but I’m sure you can imagine how squat these pants made me look.  I’m 5′3″ on a good day.  And my legs are particularly short. :)

Made (almost) entirely from the skirt of the dress.  I reused the pockets, and I used muslin for the inside of the waistband.  For added flourish, it has several rows of stitching near the hemline.

ME [holding up skirt to show Evan]: It’s not ugly anymore, is it?

EVAN [smiling uncomfortably]: Not as ugly.

I then punch him lightly in the arm as he grimaces and flinches a bit.  Then we laugh, and I tell him how he doesn’t know what’s in style. :)

And here I am sporting my dyed jacket with it.  Collar popped and all.  I’m so freakin’ cool.  I look like I’m pretending to model it on a runway, but really I’m just running away from my camera, trying to get a clear shot in my allotted 2 seconds.  And nearly falling over in my wedges.

I wish I’d made it a smidge shorter (same way I felt about this skirt).  But what if someone tall wanted to buy it?  Then it would be perfect, right?