Programmer by day, Stone Mason and Seamstress by night....

[jfulcer]

So the Honey-Do list for this spring/summer had replacing the rotting lansdscape timbers in back with some new lanscape rocks. We had some OK ones next to Brittany's little garden and I started with that one. After that one was done, I moved onto the larger area. Here is a picture - notice the little area on the right, that's where I replaced the timbers. I am working on the big planter, which spans our 2 1/2 car garage. I've laid like 5 bricks here.

The wall is almost finished after about a dozen trips to Home Depot to load up bricks. The wall is almost done but I don't have pictures of it yet. I'll take some when it's done in a few days.

The Mickey planter in front will be next.

But what about the Seamstress line? Well, in addition to having the girls get DW a gift certificate to a massage therapists she has gone to before, I decided to take on the Mother of all Mother's Day projects: learning to sew.

I spent a whole day over at a good friend's house that has been sewing for 30 years and does it as a side job. We made a little dress for DD Abby(Ok, I didn't make a dress for DW, it was more for DD as a present to DW, I'm not THAT good). I would have to say I did 98% of the work on it - she helped with a seam I was having trouble with.

Here's how it turned out:

And DW and DD Abby relaxing the night after I game them the dress:

It was fun, and not really all that hard. Granted, it's pretty basic, but I think it's ok for my first attempt. Now I have to make a matching dress for DD Brittany...

So what do you all think??

 

[jamsmom]

WOW!! You did a great job. I barely can sew buttons on!


Looks like you have been quite busy

 

[Boo'sMom]

you are gonna be in soooo much trouble when the "man-card carrying" members of the DIS find out....

But I think you did an awesome job!!!!

 

[bobcat]

What a great job! I have to tell you that my male students get excited when it is time to start our sewing labs. That dress is something your little girl will always cherish.

 

[d.kurz]

I've been sewing for a long time, too and I would not call that dress basic. Basic is curtains. You set in the sleeves, gathered the skirt, and if I'm seeing right, the top of the dress is lined, AND I see buttons which ALWAYS means buttonholes. Congrats! You did well! It's adorable, is is your DD!!

Now about those matching dresses...my Mom often made my sister and I matching outfits and as the older sister I hated that! Younger sister also got stockings and make-up at the same time and that bothered me too!!!

Sewing is fun! Enjoy!

Now the wall...it looks great! But it looks like waaaay too much work for me!!

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by d.kurz
I've been sewing for a long time, too and I would not call that dress basic. Basic is curtains. You set in the sleeves, gathered the skirt, and if I'm seeing right, the top of the dress is lined, AND I see buttons which ALWAYS means buttonholes. Congrats! You did well! It's adorable, is is your DD!!

Now about those matching dresses...my Mom often made my sister and I matching outfits and as the older sister I hated that! Younger sister also got stockings and make-up at the same time and that bothered me too!!!

Sewing is fun! Enjoy!

Now the wall...it looks great! But it looks like waaaay too much work for me!!

The sleeves were probably the most difficult. So small to work on the hem on the arm. Yes it is lined (The lady that showed me told me it was easier to do the neck if we lined it), and yes we used the 'buttonhole' setting on the machine, so it did that mostly on it's own. She also showed me a way to do the gather that used dental tape. Certainly worked pretty good!

So far, older DD doesn't mind getting dressed up alike. So DW is milking it as much as she can now before she doesn't like it anymore. Thankfully, she's 4 years older so matching just may mean something with the same fabric and not really the same style.

I agree on the wall.. Waaaaaaaay too much work, but once you've torn those timbers out, you don't have much of a choice anymore.

 

[Serena]

Jeff, I'm impressed.

 

[Mickey's sunshine]

Great job on the dress Jeff!!

Oh and I am glad that we were saved from a crack shot. LOL sorry.

 

[dzneprincess]

uhmmmmm...can you come over here? I have some pretty serious yard work that needs to be done, and the sewing would be a bonus


Excellent job on that dress!

 

[helenabear]

Wow Jeff!!! That is pretty amazing. You did all the yard work and then made a dress!!! You are pretty amazing! Great job on the dress!

 

[JohnTBap]

Originally posted by jfulcer




So what do you all think??

I think somebody is bucking for a MONSTER Father's Day gift!

 

[JESW]

Oh my gosh - you are awesome!!!!! What a truly thoughtful gift! Your DW has to put you on the "keeper" list!

Jill

 

[catsrule]

It is very pretty, you did a great job.

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by Mickey's sunshine
Great job on the dress Jeff!!

Oh and I am glad that we were saved from a crack shot. LOL sorry.

Oh, you didn't need to worry, I wasn't working on plumbing. And after all, it's a family board.

JohnTBap, nawwwww. It's more an investment. Now it's possible for me to make matching dresses for the girls (and Disney Halloween costumes, ugh!!) so that DW doesn't have to pay some lady up in Green Bay to make them.\


Thanks for the complements all!