New Blog Look and Poll!

Hello people of the world! It's Kailey here to tell you all about what's going on here at Pleasant View Academy, plus some new blog stuff. First off, the swimming season ended this past weekend. Chrissa did really well and even got mentioned in the local newspaper! (Of course, that happens to me all the time.) Molly started training for a horse show, I think she said it's in May. It's finally starting to get warm here! I wasn't so sure spring had truly sprung because of the snow and freezing temps. Anyway, as you can see there's a new blog background, plus a new poll! What's YOUR favorite spring holiday? Let us know!

Peace out!
~Kailey~

Entry To Gabby's Contest (Round One)!

The theme for this round is Red. When I first saw it, one thing popped into my head: Memorial Day! I think it's a very important holiday, because it honors troops. Anyway, I thought about how cool it would be spend Memorial Day at the boardwalk, so that's where this photoshoot is supposed to take place. Chrissa had an awesome time, and so did I. I was sooo happy because it's super warm out today!

Here are the photos I'm considering entering:

I like the color red, but I didn't want to overwork it, so I used white and blue in the outfit too (hey, I'm Dr. Sues!) since they're also patriotic colors. This pic isn't my favorite.

I like the way the shadow falls on her face in this picture.

I like this one alot, too.

This one is okay, but . . .

I like this one better.

Chrissa likes to rollar skate up and down the board walk and window shop in all of the souvenier stores.

I can't get over the shadow in this one! I love it so much!

Time to wind down after a busy day at the boardwalk.

I liked the first one better.

Of these, here are my three favorite:

First favorite:

Why I Like It: The shadow. Plus, I like the was the light's shining on her leg. To me, it looks like a sun-block covered leg shining in the sunlight.

Second Favorite:

Why I Like It: I like the dark shadow behind her, and how this photo isn't quite as bright as some of the others. To me, this makes it look like the sun is just starting to go down, perfect for a pic of her napping.

Third Favorite:

Why I Like It: I think it looks very realistic. The shell's the right scale to be a sovenier, the rollar skates look good, and I like the bottom of these sandals. I know that's a little weird, but I do.

BONUS PICS!!!!!

This is how I set up the photoshoot on my deck. You can't really see in the pictures, but I used the spray bottle to mist Chrissa so that it's look like she just came out of the ocean.

"LET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!!!!" :) Hehehehe.

~Katie~

Doll Clothes I Have Made

I LOVE to sew. Seriously, I've sewn so much in one day I almost over-heated my machine. (I felt it and it was majorly hot and smelled a little strange) Anyway, my favorite thing to sew, to the massive delightment of my dolls, is doll clothes. Forgive the poor pictures, I wanted to show you the details.

This is the first thing I ever sewed for my dolls, with a pattern and a LOT of help. The sleeves are pretty bad, and the elastic in the pants came loose. I was proud of these when I first finished them, but now I think they're kinda weird looking. (they don't really fit right) These used to be Kailey's PJ's, but now they don't get worn much.

This was too much, too soon. In all honesty I shouldn't have tried to make a colonial gown for my second doll outfit ever, though the sleeves turned out AWESOME! No closeups of that, unfortunately.

I made the seams too big by accident, so the whole thing is tight and there are bare spots. There wasn't enough room to put snaps in to hold up the stomacher, so that's why there're pins.

The hem's decent, but not great.

This is the first thing I made without a pattern. I like how this looks on Kirsten in the front. 

I messed up a little on the upper hem.

The back is . . . . strange. No other word to describe it. Can you see the point by Kit's butt? It's a lot more noticable in real life. At least the front looks good.

This is the first thing I made with a patter drafted by yours truly. I like it except for the fact that the neckline is too high. And it's a little too mature for my girls, but Chrissa loves it.

The snaps look pretty good on this one.

This is a skating costume. I altered a jumper pattern to make it, which is why the top is so loose.

They're matching panties,

And matching pants! Though I didn't have any elastic when I made the pants, so they fall down alot.

This sundress (originally a jumper but wouldn't fit over a shirt) actually turned out pretty good.

Excpet the hem. Oh well.

This is one of the highlights of my sewing career- a doll sleeping bag! The wonderful ladies who run the sewing class I go to (one of them has a blog, thought she doesn't update much) helped me this this. It's the first item I ever quilted.

I also made a matching pillow.

These are PJ's, attempt 2 about a year after I made the first ones. These turned out a million times better, the sleeves look downright awesome. I know it's mising buttons, that's a loooong story.

(Like my socks? hehe) This is Chrissa's Christmas dress. This is personally one of my favorite things that I've made. I adore the fabric.

You can see in this picture that it's a dress (sleeveless) and a bolero. Plus, you can see the gathering. The fabric is redder than this in real life.

Random accessories, a poncho, a finger knit scarf, and a penguin blanket.

A red corduroy vest and a blue jumper, both turned out really well.

This is my FAVORITE thing I've made. Don't you love the print?

It's fully finished with the 'honeycomb stitch'. I don't have a serger. This is the first garment that has finished seams.

The back is a little rough, but that's okay.

I'm working on this quilt. Since I took this picture, the backing and batting has been added and I started quilting it.

Thanks for reading!

~Katie~