We love the All Spice Dress at our house. We currently have three and I'm working on a forth for my girl. Crystal covered the fall look for when the temps start getting just a bit cooler. You know when it's cool in the mornings and you need a sweater but warm enough in the middle of the afternoon in the sun.
Well now I'm here to bring you the long sleeved winter look. But let's be honest, us Californian implants to the Pacific NorthWest are already pulling out the jackets, coats, long sleeves, and jeans. So my long sleeved looks have more of a "fall" feel in their fabric choices since we're still in our year of adjusting to cooler temps. So here are my two long sleeved All Spice dresses on my petite girl. Both dresses are the 12-18 month size.
Paisley Roots All Spice Week!: Autumn
It’s Allspice week here at That’s What SHE Crafted. Our very own Karly came out with her sophomore
pattern “The Allspice” under her pattern company Paisley Roots. We decided to spotlight this pattern because
we are fine with shameless friend promotion.
It means more Christmas present for us when she becomes a millionaire
and Crystal's broke and in prison for being
sarcastic with the president or something.
Anyway...THE ALLSPICE! Here's a pic of all 4 versions sewn by Karly, herself:

Here’s the description from her Etsy listing because we're too lazy to write a new one:
“The All Spice dress features a square-neck with 2 different closures for the front: Button or Zipper. Back is completely closed. It also comes with 4 sleeve options: Flutter, Sleeveless, Cap and Long sleeve. This dress is perfect for all seasons and has a size range that stands from baby to tween!
It comes in 11 sizes:
6-12 mos.
12-18 mos.
2T
3T
4T
5
6
7
8
10
12
Skill level: Advanced Beginner - Skills used for this pattern *zipper, *buttons, *pintucks and a lining.
(closure is optional depending on preference and pintucks are optional.)
Pattern comes with a full tutorial and color photos in an easy to print PDF."
“The All Spice dress features a square-neck with 2 different closures for the front: Button or Zipper. Back is completely closed. It also comes with 4 sleeve options: Flutter, Sleeveless, Cap and Long sleeve. This dress is perfect for all seasons and has a size range that stands from baby to tween!
It comes in 11 sizes:
6-12 mos.
12-18 mos.
2T
3T
4T
5
6
7
8
10
12
Skill level: Advanced Beginner - Skills used for this pattern *zipper, *buttons, *pintucks and a lining.
(closure is optional depending on preference and pintucks are optional.)
Pattern comes with a full tutorial and color photos in an easy to print PDF."
Man,
that was hard work to write....er copy and paste ;)
Since
each sleeve option represents a season, we’re starting with Autumn. The cap sleeve version is perfect for the
Autumn weather. It’s great for layering with a pretty cardigan and pairs well
with boots and tights (or, you know, tennies). We
would also like to point out that the Allspice is great for school. Crystal's
girl has worn 3 of them to school already on non-P.E. days.
They're
easy to dress up or down depending on your girl's personality and
taste. The lines are super classic and pintucks never go out of style.
Your kid will
look fab while scarfing down a pumpkin muffin and drinking a pumpkin
spiced
cocoa while at the pumpkin patch full of pumpkins. We really miss Autumn. It’s almost here, though, so get your Autumn
Allspice on!
-The SHEs-
Project Run & Play Sew-along- Season 10: Week one! (Crystal)
I have been massively MIA, lately. My daughter starting kindergarten has ZAPPED me. Thank goodness I have Project Run & Play to snap me out of my blogging funk. It's season 10! I started sewing along with season 7 and I'm super excited about my 4th time in the PR&P zone! I was THISCLOSE to being voted in as a contestant, but a very worthy competitor won (although all of the looks I was up against were so cool and just as worthy) and I can take it much easier from this side.
Aaaaanyway...Season 10's week one theme is 80's cartoons! My head almost exploded with all of the ideas. And I had originally thought about using a gnome dress that I had made for the link-up based on my LOVE for David the Gnome, but I had already shared it on some sewing boards and wanted my PR&P post to be fresh. I was given some epic retro My Little Pony fabric and decided that was my best bet! I mean it's pastel and it's MLP, so it just SCREAMED 80's.
I had a hard time deciding what to make with my amazing fabric. I even asked for opinions for "epic vs practical" on a sewing board. Almost everyone said epic and I was totally on board, and then I remembered that my daughter had been begging for skirts. So with a guilt filled heart, I went practical. While trying to decide on the perfect skirt, I started working with a coordinating knit and made a top. I used the Skipper Top by Sew Much Ado. I LOVE this pattern. I've made a few and they're always perfect for what I need. Fancy while feeling comfy...it's this yoga pants wearing mom's dream. The freaking BEST thing about tees is that they work with a wardrobe in so many ways. I loved it with my skirt, but it's perfectly adorbs when paired with just jeans (I did NOT make the following jeans. They were RTW $10 jeans from Target).
I took the collar pieces from the Ava Dress by 5Berries Patterns and turned it into a tie-on necklace. I used leftover sequins fabric from the Elsa dress I made and put together something that keeps the top casual if it needs to be but fabulous if it WANTS to be. Besides, sequins are so 80's.
Aaaaanyway...Season 10's week one theme is 80's cartoons! My head almost exploded with all of the ideas. And I had originally thought about using a gnome dress that I had made for the link-up based on my LOVE for David the Gnome, but I had already shared it on some sewing boards and wanted my PR&P post to be fresh. I was given some epic retro My Little Pony fabric and decided that was my best bet! I mean it's pastel and it's MLP, so it just SCREAMED 80's.
I had a hard time deciding what to make with my amazing fabric. I even asked for opinions for "epic vs practical" on a sewing board. Almost everyone said epic and I was totally on board, and then I remembered that my daughter had been begging for skirts. So with a guilt filled heart, I went practical. While trying to decide on the perfect skirt, I started working with a coordinating knit and made a top. I used the Skipper Top by Sew Much Ado. I LOVE this pattern. I've made a few and they're always perfect for what I need. Fancy while feeling comfy...it's this yoga pants wearing mom's dream. The freaking BEST thing about tees is that they work with a wardrobe in so many ways. I loved it with my skirt, but it's perfectly adorbs when paired with just jeans (I did NOT make the following jeans. They were RTW $10 jeans from Target).
So...the skirt. I went back and forth and forth and back and climbed up to the top of the crazy tree before I finally settled on the Daphne's Bubble Skirt and Top by Create Kids Couture. Bubble skirts are SO FUN and when you're sewing with such playful fabric, a bubble skirt just works like magic. I used the same pink knit that I used for the shirt for the skirt ties. It's the best bubble skirt ever. Don't argue. You know you want one.

Ok, now I'm getting to the part that you guys are either going to love or hate- and I don't care what them haters say because I LOVE SPARKLE, yo. I gave my daughter practical. But I could not let go of the epic. I couldn't. I just couldn't. So I decided to add some mega bling by making an accessory. FYI, the pic below cracks me up so bad. Sometimes the best thought-out photo ideas look ridiculous...like "holding a brazier" ridiculous. But I had to post it so you could laugh with me...and see my versatility (yeah, we all know it's soley for the giggles)
I took the collar pieces from the Ava Dress by 5Berries Patterns and turned it into a tie-on necklace. I used leftover sequins fabric from the Elsa dress I made and put together something that keeps the top casual if it needs to be but fabulous if it WANTS to be. Besides, sequins are so 80's.
I hope you like my week 1 look and I hope you link-up, too. It's a ton of fun and really pushes your creativity. I'm also SUPER excited to see what the official contestants come up with. I have a feeling it's going to be tubular!
-Crystal-
GingerMelon stuffy sewn by Jenn!
Well... it seems this Jenn was a bit absent this summer.... no worries, I didn't break up with TWSC. I was just enjoying the warmth. and the fun of summer with kids....
BUT, now I am back! and first up is a little pattern review! and full disclosure I bought this pattern with my own coins!
So gingermelon was having a sale the other day and I LOVE her patterns, but I do not love handsewing.... and then I saw this cloth kitten pattern and it is using a machine! Up my alley!
Plus does anyone have little girls who hate kittens? I mean look how cute!
This pattern is a little time consuming since the face is painted on, but the face is in the pattern so you can get it right! and I don't know about you, but sometimes I really REALLY enjoy picking up a brush and taking the time to be a little fussy, I find it relaxing.
Also a quick note that the pattern pieces are not computer drafted. I personally have no issues with hand drawn toy patterns as long as they are well done and this one is very well done and tidy. All the pieces are labeled and fit well. No taping pattern pieces together. My finished kitten is about 12" tall.
The kitten is not hard to sew, at all. Though I do wish I had a proper water soluble pen to use for this, the crayola washable marker was a bit of a hassle and didn't wash out well where painted on. Not that you can see that since I painted over the lines, but you can from the back side.
I really love how this pattern came together and I love the details on it! The little purse to go with - how cute! and the dress and purse patterns are included! I added the trim to the bottom of the dress to make it my own, a plain hem seemed a bit boring.
Now, I just need to decide what to do with this kitty! My kids all want it... but I love it too. Not that I need a soft toy, but neither do they really as they have oodles.
What do you do with your just for fun crafting that has no real "use" in your house?
~Jenn
Back To School with Maggie Mae!
I’ve spent a lot of time the past few months working on
school clothes for my first child in kindergarten. I was not ready for my BAAAAAABY to be in
kindergarten AT ALL. Not ready to not
have her all day. Not ready for her to
be more independent. Not ready for
parent homework. With all the things I
wasn’t ready for, I was determined to be ready for one thing: that child of
mine was going to look fabulous. I
combed all of my patterns looking for
ones with sleeves (there’s a 3” strap rule which is basically sleeves on a 5
year old) and got to work. One of my
go-to patterns for a successful sew is the Maggie Mae by Shwin. I made two for school and I love them both!
The first I made was a tunic length.
There’s also a “no leggings as pants rule”, so I had to make sure it
looked good with jeans.
Seriously...these rules. SO MANY
RULES. I had a rule of my own- I had to
use my stash. We do not have any disposable income right now, so stash busters were a MUST. I had some of this leftover Cherry Print that
I’ve used for a bunch of stuff and I found an old dress I hated and used the
grey skirt for the yoke. BAM! One top down and my awesome factor is UP!
I decided to make a dress version as well. Kids grow up and need to be “cool” so
quickly. I’m DEFINITELY not ready for
that, so I’m keeping her young as long as she lets me. I was given this AWESOME gnome fabric that I’ve
been obsessing over for a year and I knew I needed it for something. I paired it with a sparkle denim and
YEP! This one’s for all my Gnomies. This
dress started out as a different pattern, but my daughter complained that the
bodice was “too itchy”. Whiner. (But it totally was itchy). I decided to go back to Maggie Mae and it was
better. Muuuuch better. The only thing I changed , really, was the
skirt. I made a wider skirt and gathered
it, rather than using the slimmer and pleated version that comes with the
pattern. I also made a white sash and a denim flower for that
Papow! My girl even wore it to picture
day! Maggie Mae saves the day! But I’m, at the very least, her sidekick. But like a sexy sidekick that everyone likes
and invites to parties because no one wants to be Robin...
Anyway, I hope you like two of my school looks. There have been a lot more and you’ll get to
see at least 2 of them next
week...ALLSPICE WEEK. WOO HOO!!!
-Crystal-
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DIY Mail Sorter
This month with my mommy friends we decided to do a mail sorter as our monthly craft. So far we each have way different methods and will each have a very different product all to solve our piles of mail problem. I can't wait to see what they create.
If you are anything like me, you are a piler. You have a pile for mail, a pile for the magazines, a pile for crafty stuff, a pile for shoes... well you get the idea. Now my piles are much more organized than say back in my high school and college days-- thank goodness for fabric bins which contain my "piles"-- and we won't talk about all the piles of papers I had back when I was a teacher... But with the variety of mail we get flyers, magazines, bills, personal notes, junk mail, and random bits of paper with our names and address on them... our mail pile has taken over-- taken over the counter, the dining room table, the desk. AND it comes everyday, except Sunday. There's no post on Sunday... good thing we aren't witches/wizards who can get owl post every day of the week. Actually scratch that I'd rather be a witch and get mail every day of the week. I'd have a wand and magic to help me with all my boring day to day chores.
Anyway while I pout that yet again I didn't get to head off to Hogwarts this past September 1st let us get back to this mail issue. In short, we have not come up with a good system since moving into this house. Our system as it stands... it piles. We get sick of the pile and sort. Things get thrown out and other things get shredded and other stuff finds a new pile to be filed.
If you are anything like me, you are a piler. You have a pile for mail, a pile for the magazines, a pile for crafty stuff, a pile for shoes... well you get the idea. Now my piles are much more organized than say back in my high school and college days-- thank goodness for fabric bins which contain my "piles"-- and we won't talk about all the piles of papers I had back when I was a teacher... But with the variety of mail we get flyers, magazines, bills, personal notes, junk mail, and random bits of paper with our names and address on them... our mail pile has taken over-- taken over the counter, the dining room table, the desk. AND it comes everyday, except Sunday. There's no post on Sunday... good thing we aren't witches/wizards who can get owl post every day of the week. Actually scratch that I'd rather be a witch and get mail every day of the week. I'd have a wand and magic to help me with all my boring day to day chores.
Anyway while I pout that yet again I didn't get to head off to Hogwarts this past September 1st let us get back to this mail issue. In short, we have not come up with a good system since moving into this house. Our system as it stands... it piles. We get sick of the pile and sort. Things get thrown out and other things get shredded and other stuff finds a new pile to be filed.
Growth Chart Inspiration
Story time!
Once upon a time, Viever was a newlywed. A newlywed with a bad case of baby fever. She found other women who shared in her baby fever and desire to plan for a baby. She joined the group known as "Waiting to Conceive" (or at least that's what she thinks the groups name was... maybe there was a year in there too) on the BabyCenter Community Boards and got to know a group of women: some moms already and some hoping for their first bundle. All of whom were planning and waiting. Fast forward five maybe six years and with all the babies born to the group, moves, other life changes you'd think that maybe this online group would have broken up after those babies we were all waiting for showed up.
Nope, our group changed: support for those days where you feel like you are the worst mommy in the whole world, a think tank for surviving toddler antics, a place we were safe to exchange ideas and help out the fellow mommy. It is our chosen village to help raise our children though we are spread far and wide across the US.
So why do I bother telling you this tale? Because one of these fabulous Mamas (looking at our resident fasionista mama Misty) decided to put out a monthly "Craft Call." Last month they joined me in my making of a growth chart ruler and those who participated have graciously decided to let me nab their pictures for an inspiration post of sorts.
You all saw my version a few weeks ago. Well they came up with their own twists on making this growth chart their own.
I'll start with Amber who I mention as my inspiration to get my butt into gear and finally make the growth chart I lusted at while at a craft fair.
She painted over the whole board and used the vaseline distress method (she warns: A LITTLE goes a LONG way) to get the look she wanted. She also freehanded the numbers and lines (after measuring of course) to give it more character. To mount her board, her husband screwed in the board to the wall.
Misty is our fearless leader in heading up our monthly craft call. For the month of August when she made her first inquiry to see if we'd be interested it just so happened that I was in the middle of this project and it was embraced.
Misty decided to go with chalkboard paint for her main surface. The two sides of the board are painted in colors that match her living room decor. She then used the transfer number portion of my tut to trace outlines of her numbers to her board and then hand painted in the lines getting just the look she wanted.
She took her board a step further in personalizing it for her living room space and family by add their initial to the top and painting in the flowers in colors matching her living room decor. Her original idea was to use some custom wallpaper in that top space but once it arrived she changed her mind.
Next we have Alison. She decided that she wanted to use some of her scrapbook papers and decoupage cut out numbers to her board.
One change she says she would do if she had to make it again would be to chose different papers for more contrast but I must say that I do like her choices!
Finally we have Jennifer. She bought an electric sander (who can blame her hand sanding with three little ones running around sound to be no fun) and used vinyl numbers for her board after getting the staining just to the color she wanted.
And there we have it. One project. 4 different ways of making it our own. Have you made one of these charts? From our tutorial or the many others available online? We'd love to see it!
Once upon a time, Viever was a newlywed. A newlywed with a bad case of baby fever. She found other women who shared in her baby fever and desire to plan for a baby. She joined the group known as "Waiting to Conceive" (or at least that's what she thinks the groups name was... maybe there was a year in there too) on the BabyCenter Community Boards and got to know a group of women: some moms already and some hoping for their first bundle. All of whom were planning and waiting. Fast forward five maybe six years and with all the babies born to the group, moves, other life changes you'd think that maybe this online group would have broken up after those babies we were all waiting for showed up.
Nope, our group changed: support for those days where you feel like you are the worst mommy in the whole world, a think tank for surviving toddler antics, a place we were safe to exchange ideas and help out the fellow mommy. It is our chosen village to help raise our children though we are spread far and wide across the US.
So why do I bother telling you this tale? Because one of these fabulous Mamas (looking at our resident fasionista mama Misty) decided to put out a monthly "Craft Call." Last month they joined me in my making of a growth chart ruler and those who participated have graciously decided to let me nab their pictures for an inspiration post of sorts.
You all saw my version a few weeks ago. Well they came up with their own twists on making this growth chart their own.
I'll start with Amber who I mention as my inspiration to get my butt into gear and finally make the growth chart I lusted at while at a craft fair.
She painted over the whole board and used the vaseline distress method (she warns: A LITTLE goes a LONG way) to get the look she wanted. She also freehanded the numbers and lines (after measuring of course) to give it more character. To mount her board, her husband screwed in the board to the wall.
Misty is our fearless leader in heading up our monthly craft call. For the month of August when she made her first inquiry to see if we'd be interested it just so happened that I was in the middle of this project and it was embraced.
Misty decided to go with chalkboard paint for her main surface. The two sides of the board are painted in colors that match her living room decor. She then used the transfer number portion of my tut to trace outlines of her numbers to her board and then hand painted in the lines getting just the look she wanted.
She took her board a step further in personalizing it for her living room space and family by add their initial to the top and painting in the flowers in colors matching her living room decor. Her original idea was to use some custom wallpaper in that top space but once it arrived she changed her mind.
Next we have Alison. She decided that she wanted to use some of her scrapbook papers and decoupage cut out numbers to her board.
One change she says she would do if she had to make it again would be to chose different papers for more contrast but I must say that I do like her choices!
Finally we have Jennifer. She bought an electric sander (who can blame her hand sanding with three little ones running around sound to be no fun) and used vinyl numbers for her board after getting the staining just to the color she wanted.
And there we have it. One project. 4 different ways of making it our own. Have you made one of these charts? From our tutorial or the many others available online? We'd love to see it!
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