Linny's Pinny by Louise!

This gorgeous set was made by Louise Jones for her little grand daughter, Gracie. I love it when people post or send me pictures of things they've made from my patterns. It is really fun to see!! Louise made a size 2. Don't you love the trim and the blue edge on the shorts. It looks great with the bows matching the pinny fabric, too!
If you've made a pinafore, sunsuit, or bonnet, I'd love to see it!! Email it to mommysapronstrings@gmail.com or post it on my facebook page !

Toile Dress for Ella

This little dress is a sweetie. I love how it turned out. Almost as quick to make as a regular peasant dress, this one is more shapely with the addition of a waist and gathered skirt.

The pattern is the Monkeysbug "Petticoat" Dress. I got it on sale for $3.50 and it has sizes 2-10. The only thing is that it seems long for a size 3. Next time, I would shorten it. I don't like little girls' dresses to be much below the knee.

Here's the bodice. Do you think a little blue sash would look good? I'm thinking of fabric, not ribbon.I used my ruffler to make the bottom ruffle, which just makes it so much quicker!!

The fabric has its own story. On our way back from vacation, there is an amazing discount fabric store. They have first quality fabrics at crazy prices. For example, I got authentic Sunbrella 60" fabric for my chicken tent there for $5/yd last year. Quilting cottons are $4/yd off the bolt, or $2.49 for flat-folds. We got swimsuit nylon/lycra for $4/yd and gorgeous home dec was $2/yd for flat-folds. I got 100% cotton dotted "Swiss" with real woven dots for $4/yd. I know it's not really the Swiss stuff, but it is lovely! I think I'll have to do a post to show you what I got. Anyway, this sweet toile was $4/yd and I only needed 1 1/4yds, making this a $5 dress! It has a soft hand and is really pretty. My girls said it would make a nice beach portrait dress. I like that it could just be a play dress, too, with simple over-the-head styling and machine wash/dry-ability.

I am sure to use this pattern again! Next up, I am pondering a sun suit for my little buddy Andrew and a summer bubble to send to Ella with this dress. First I'll show you my great fabric deals!

Heritage on Cape Cod

While we were at the beach, we spent a day at Heritage Plantation. It is a unique blend of gardens, exhibits, and outdoor fun! This is the Hidden Hollow kid's play area.

There are xylophones that sound amazing!

 This tree house is built on a hill.

You can build a fort or teepee.

Or build a golf ball obstacle course.

This was part of an exhibit of ways artists build natural resting places to sit and read. This has a bench all around the inside and a place to enter. It was quite beautiful.

The gardens are amazing. This is a waterfall.

Isn't this pretty?

Would you like to sit here and read a book?

I took lots of Hydrangea pictures!

This was a rhody that hadn't bloomed yet.

Then we rode the antique carousel.

It was nearly closing time when I spied this amazing painting. We didn't have time to see the Wyeth exhibit or the antique cars- definitely next time!