Saturday, January 22, 2011

OKAY!!

In the midst of a "family flu", relatives visiting, and life with a crazy kid....

I've gotten ALL of my HUGE pictures shrunk down to "pint size".....

so....now I can concentrate on adding posts again!

I've been working all along, and have a LONG LIST of new project ideas, so stay tuned for MORE!!!

Thanks for your patience. ;)

Friday, January 7, 2011

oops - ran out of space!!

Ran out of space because my picture files are SO BIG!

I've got lots of projects in the works and several ready to post, so.....

I'm working on it! :)

Monday, January 3, 2011

Barbie: Ana White New Dollhouse (Modified)

Post image for The New Dollhouse

I used Ana's plans for her "New Dollhouse", and then modified the measurements so that Barbie could fit inside!  This makes the perfect "condo" for Barbie!  LOVE IT!!




The 4 - 1x2 corner posts are cut at 27.5" and then the top angles are cut.  The center wall is cut at 16".  My daughter picked out different CRAZY scrapbook papers, and we decoupaged them onto the walls and floors for wallpaper, tile and rugs!!  









Head over to Ana's and check out what other people have done with the dollhouse plans!!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Pretend Play: Jedi Robe Costume

A request was made for a Jedi Robe....






I found this Simplicity pattern (#5840):


I was pretty easy to sew, and came out REALLY cute!  

REQUEST:  fulfilled 

Monday, December 20, 2010

Baby Doll: High Chair

Ana White has posted her baby doll high chair tutorial on her blog! Yippee!  Just in time for Christmas...

You can find the tutorial here:

This looks simple.....I bet someone out there "needs" this and can have it built by Christmas.....

***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Mattress, Pillow & Sheets Tutorial




I wanted to re-post a tutorial on making mattresses and pillows (for doll beds and cribs).  This technique can be used for any craft....here is the formula I follow:

MATTRESS
Measure your "bed" length and width EXACTLY.
Add 1" to length measurement (for 1/2" seam allowance on each side).
Add 1" to width measurement (for 1/2" seam allowance on each side).
Determine "height" you want your mattress to be.
Add 1" to height measurement (for 1/2" seam allowance on each side).

YOU WILL NEED:
2 PIECES CUT @ length x width measurement = top and bottom of mattress
2 PIECES CUT @ length x height measurement = long sides of mattress
2 PIECES CUT @ width x height measurement = short sides (ends) of mattress
(I used striped cotton pillow ticking fabric.)
10 small buttons
neutral color thread
hand sewing needle
scissors
sewing machine
pins
fiber fill for stuffing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHEAT SHEET
(These are measurements already done for you for the following items:)
For My Doll Bed:             http://piecesforreese.blogspot.com/search/label/bed
                                     2 @ 22" long x 13.5" wide (top & bottom)
                                     2 @ 22" long x 2.5" high (long sides)
                                     2 @ 13.5 long x 2.5" high (short ends)

                                     2 @ 24.5" long x 13.25" wide (top & bottom)
                                     2 @ 24.5" long x 3.5" high (long sides)
                                     2 @ 13.25" long x 3.5" high (short ends)

For Ana's Farmhouse Doll Bed: ( http://ana-white.com/2010/11/another-farmhouse-bed.html )                     
                                    2 @ 20" long x 15" wide (top & bottom)
                                    2 @ 20" long x 2" high (long sides)
                                    2 @ 15" long x 2" high (short ends)

MATTRESS DIRECTIONS:

1.    Pin and sew all pieces right-sides-together, forming a pillow case, and leaving one "short end" OPEN for turning. 

2.    Turn right side out. 

3.    Stuff with fiberfill. 

4.    PIN and sew short end closed.

5.    Tucks in mattress were made by sewing a button on one side, THROUGH thickness of mattress, catching another button on the other side. Sew back and forth, pulling taut, until buttons are secure, and tie off. Place one in center, and two more off-center at either end for a total of 5 tucks (10 buttons).


PILLOW
For the pillow you will need two pieces of fabric measuring 9" x 6.75".
PILLOW DIRECTIONS:

1.    Place right sides together, and pin around 3 sides, leaving one short side open for turning. Sew.

2.    Turn right sides out. 

3.    Stuff with fiberfill. 

4.    Tuck in fabric on end to create a "hem" and pin.  Sew open end closed.
***********************
SHEETS
These directions will help you to sew a fitted sheet and a flat sheet for your mattress, and a pillowcase for your pillow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~






CHEAT SHEET

For My Doll Bed:
Fitted Sheet:  cut 1 @ 23"wide x 33"long
Flat Sheet: cut 1 @ 23"wide x 33"long
Pillowcase:  cut 1 @ 14"wide x 10" long
For My Baby Doll Crib:
Fitted Sheet:  cut 1 @ 24"wide x 34"long
Pillowcase:  cut 1 @ 14"wide x 10" long
For Ana's Farmhouse Doll Bed:
Fitted Sheet:  cut 1 @ 21"wide x 27"long
Flat Sheet:  cut 1 @ 21"wide x 27"long
Pillowcase:  cut 2 @ 14"wide x 10" long **
**Ana's Doll bed can fit 2 pillows if you want to make 2!

SHEETS DIRECTIONS:

1.    Cut out all necessary pieces from your desired fabric (I used muslin).

2.    Hem all the way around the flat sheet and fitted sheets ONCE:

 3.    Then....FOLD that first hem in and HEM the flat sheet and fitted sheets AGAIN:

4.    You will now have a fitted sheet and a flat sheet that have nicely hemmed edges to prevent fraying:

5.    At this point....your FLAT SHEET is DONE!

6.    Now place your hemmed FITTED sheet FLAT on the floor, RIGHT SIDE UP.

7.    Lay your mattress down on top of the FITTED sheet, making sure that the top of your mattress is laying FACE DOWN.

8.    Center the mattress on your sheet, making sure that you have even edges sticking out all around.  (The ends will be "longer" than the sides....that's fine.)

9.    Bring up the center of each edge and pin it to the pillow....this will keep the sheet from shifting around on you while you work.

10.    Gather the sheet at each corner and pin snugly:


11.    After making sure to pin all four corners, CAREFULLY remove the sheet from the mattress.  Sew along the pin lines until you have created a "pocket" like this:

 12.    After sewing all four corners, turn right side out and try it onto your mattress.  It should fit snugly:

13.    If everything fits well, remove sheet from mattress and turn wrong side out again.  Trim the "pockets" away at the four corners:

 14.    Now turn fitted sheet right side out and place back on mattress.  Your FITTED SHEET is now DONE!


PILLOWCASE DIRECTIONS:


1.    Cut out your 10" x 14" piece of fabric.

2.    HEM along one 14" long edge.  Turn in and HEM AGAIN to create pillowcase edge:

3.    Turn in pillowcase on long edge, making sure right sides of fabric are together.  Your pillowcase should now measure 7"x10".  Pin along raw edges, leaving hemmed end open.  Sew along two raw edges:

4.    Turn right side out.  PILLOWCASE is now DONE!

Please feel free to use these plans to build furniture, for sale or for pleasure, but please do not sell the PLANS as your "own".  Please also give credit to me and link back here!  I hope you enjoy them!!

***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Pretend Play: Doctor "Kit"



Remember the "DOCTOR LAB COAT"?



I have a daughter that is fascinated with anything "medical".....could it be the various doctors and nurses in the family??  After I made the doctor coat for her, I made another coat for my nephews to play with.  That opened up "a whole other can of worms"....a doctor needs "stuff" in order to BE a doctor!!


DOCTOR LIST:

Doctor Coat:    Made from a white button down collared shirt from Goodwill (see how here: http://piecesforreese.blogspot.com/2010/09/pretend-play-doctor-lab-coat.html )
Scrubs:    I found several sets of scrubs at Goodwill (pictured here in black)
Stethoscope:    this one is from Lakeshore Learning ($8.95)
Various Syringes:    veterinarian supplies from Tractor Supply (from $.29 to $1.50 each)
Ace Bandage:    Dollar Store ($1)
Magnifying Glass:    Dollar Store ($1)
BandAids:    On hand
Wooden "tongue depressors":    On hand - wooden craft sticks
Surgeon Glasses:    safety glasses from Dollar Store ($1)
Latex Gloves:    these can be found in dollar bins at Target/Walmart ($1/pack)
Face Masks:    Dollar Store ($1)
Surgical "cap":    shower cap from Dollar Store ($1/set of 3)
"Medicine":    used medicine bottles that are now EMPTY and CLEAN (FREE)
********DISCLAIMER:  do NOT give a child REAL MEDICINE to play with.....these bottles have NOTHING IN THEM!!!!********
Wooden "tweezers":    wooden bread tongs from Bed Bath & Beyond ($?)
Doctor Kit:    small plastic box from Joann ($6 on sale)
Keys:    old keys (wash in dish soap and dry well)....just for FUN! (FREE)


I then used some pieces of craft felt and sewed small pockets that fit the individual small pieces, like syringes and BandAids, so they wouldn't get lost.  I folded the top of the craft felt over and sewed, creating a sleeve for a belt to be placed.  Now the kids can "wear" the doctor pockets while they perform  "exams" or even "surgery"!  FUN!!

I have tested the "fun factor" on my daughter......it's a HUGE HIT!!
*****
Please feel free to use these plans to build furniture, for sale or for pleasure, but please do not sell the PLANS as your "own".  Please also give credit to me and link back here!  I hope you enjoy them!!

***I am NOT LIABLE for any plans featured here. Please take every precaution and use your own discretion to make sure these toys are safe for children to play with them.