I’ve been stalking the Secret Squirrel project for months and and THRILLED to be hosting this month!
The Secret Squirrel series is a year-long sewing journey created by An from Straight-grain and Suz from sewpony. Read all about it here . Secret Squirrel contacted me via Saskia from Vera Luna and gave me these five acorns of inspiration….
Pineapple, Alhambra, Denim, Ombre, Upcycle
Oh boy….what a combo!! I told my husband about this little project and he didn’t think it was possible to fit all these acorns into a single creation. I must say I’m pretty pleased with my result! I was testing the Sweet Simple Dress by Freshly Completed. Its a great pattern if you are looking for a fun play dress! Since I was already sewing this dress I decided to use if for secret squirrel too!
And because I was making this for a friends daughter…. and she has two girls.. I made a second dress…
Now let’s talk about how the acorns are in the dress.
1. Pineapple- the colors in the dress
2. Alhambra- I didn’t even know what this was until I looked it up… it’s a palace in Spain with gorgeous details… so the pocket detail embroidery is inspired by a pattern that in on this building. I just traced the pattern onto the fabric and spent a couple evenings by the tv stitching on the pockets. {due to time constraints the small dress doesn’t have this detail}
3. Demin- the main body of dress is a light stretch denim
4. Ombre- the ruffles
5. Upcycle… the sleeve are cut from an old tank of time… I kept the original hem so I didn’t have to hem the sleeves.
I love the way it all came together!!
We found this perfect yellow wall for taking the photos and these two girls were amazing models. I’m always so impressed when I take pictures of other kids.. with my boys its SO hard to get a good shot.. and with these girls we had lots of good ones in just a short time.
A perfect play dress…
I really do enjoy when I get the chance to sew up things for girls. Here are a few others I’ve done recently.
Color your own dress, the Sally Dress, One Yard summer dress
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- Color your own Dress
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- Sally Dress
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- Summer Dress 1 yd wonder
NOW…
If you would like and join Secret Squirrel on his journey, leave a comment on this post and check your inbox in a week’s time… you may be the chosen one to pass on the baton of creativity that is SECRET SQUIRREL!!!
If you don’t receive a message from Secret squirrel, you can still sew along (link to ss flickr group)
Here are the five acorns I’m passing on:
Hong Kong, Woven, Hope, Zig-Zag, Color
There are some amazing prizes to be won.Kind Regards from SECRET SQUIRREL (AKA Suz and An).
nobutterfly says
Very adorable dresses and girls
Jo says
Hi Emily, I l o v e the pocket detail embroidery and the fabric choice. Well done!
Joy Candrian says
Emily, good job with incorporating all those unrelated elements. I didn’t know what Alhambra was either but once I looked it up, I think you chose a great way to reflect it in your design. I’ve got a perfect fabric for Hong Kong that needs to be created into something…just saying.
http://xoxograndma.blogspot.com/
Shannah @ Just Us Four says
This is just too cute! I love little outfits that match for the kiddos!
Scary says
Great job. I love these dresses. I think that the secret squirrel should come visit the Shaffer Sisters.
Saskia says
Good job on incorporating all the acorns. I think I gave you quite a difficult task! So fun to see what you’ve created with them. It’s so different from what I would have done myself… And those girls are adorable
Emily says
thanks! I had so much fun!I appreciate you choosing me for this stop!
Jenya says
Whoo hoo Emily! Wasn’t it fun (and a little bit nerve wrecking?) hosing Secret Squirrel? Congrats on incorporating all the five acorns in one piece! What a cute little play dress (well, two little play dresses of course). I haven’t sewn along for a few months now and I miss SS like crazy!
Emily says
those acorns are pretty intimidating ;o) I was really pleased with how it all came together in the end. Thanks for stopping by!
Gina says
Emily, These dresses are just brilliant! I’m so impressed with the stitching on the pocket! You did a wonderful job putting on those designs together-very impressive. 🙂 I’m sure those 2 little girls are so happy. Girls are fun to sew for. I have 2 and I don’t sew for them enough….well, at all! Poor things. 🙁
Gina
Emily says
thanks so much!! I love hand stitching so was happy to have an excuse to to some! ;o)
Annie says
Cute!! The way you incorporated Alhambra is impressive! You got really creative in this dress. And those two girls wearing the matching dresses…so adorable!!
Emily says
thanks! I had a hard time at first, but then it all came together!
Maarika says
I’m very impressed with what you made out of the acorns. I’ve been following the squirrel for quite some time now and always try to think of what I would do – so challenging but fun. You definitely did a great job! Love the dresses!
Emily says
thank you! Its an interesting challenge that’s for sure!!
Suz says
Gorgeous Emily!! I love the colours and all the effort you went to – thank you!!
Natalie says
Well done for using all the five acorns! And making not one, but TWO dresses! I love the creativity that Secret Squirrel inspires 🙂
Emily says
thank you!! it was a fun challenge!
Michelle says
Beautifully done! I could instantly see all the acorns in these outfits.
Fantastic!
~Michelle
Emily says
thank you!!! I had fun with this!
Lucy sb says
The frills are very Spanish too. It’s such an interesting challenge. Well done!
Emily says
thanks! I was pleased with it ;o)
Fatima Fraile says
Well done Emily 🙂 This is creativity and imagination! I adore the ruffles inspired in the “ombre” and those sleeves…
If you ever come to Spain you should definately visit the Alhambra in Granada. It is one our country’s treasuries 🙂 Congrats again!
I would love to join this “Secret Squirrel” series.
xxx
Julie says
Cuteness over load 🙂 Those dresses are so cute! And the next acorns…well technically Im stumped by every acorn combination so but those should be fun!
Emily says
I know… the acorn aspect is pretty crazy, but it was a fun challenge!
Ren says
So sweet. I don’t know which is more darling the dresses or the models.
Emily says
thanks!
Lisa at Mabey She Made IT says
These turned out so cute, Emily! Thanks for sharing!
Asmita says
This is really amazing and adorable. I love the colours you have used.