These photos are of some dresses I made a few years ago. The first is a hand smocked pink bishop. I actually made it for Lanie but this is Avery with it on here.Look how chubby she was! #2 is her again, in a hand smocked yoke dress.This little boy was in the NICU with Avery, when they were born. This was their 3 year re-union. We met at Applebees with some more parents/kids. Look how curly her hair was! #3 is one of my favorite photos of her. I made this for her for Easter one year. If you can look closely, it has 'hand embroidery', pintucks, and lace insertion.I also made her slip to go under it. I had a subscription to Sew Beautiful magazine and would get a lot of my ideas from there. Unfortunately, they are no longer publishing the magazine. I love sewing little dresses, especially baby clothes, but unfortunately don't seem to be able much anymore. Found these photos on an old SD card and I thought the ones who sew, may enjoy looking. Hope you did.-Toogie Link to dedication gown below.

by toogie 06 Nov 2014

Thanks,Kay, it is calming to me.

by toogie 06 Nov 2014

Thanks, Loralye, I loved making these.

by toogie 28 Oct 2014

No, Buffy I haven't, can you show me something you have done because I haven't seen anything close to hand smocking? Dr.Joe pleater was made by Martha Pullens husband, wasn't it, or named for him?

by toogie 28 Oct 2014

Smocking is beautiful, I agree. I'm so glad to find someone else on Cute that likes to hand smock. My husband doesn't get too excited about the things I do, but when he saw how I was doing it (hand pleating with dots) and the finished garments, he told me to order my Sally Stanley pleater. Back then I think it was about $125. It has 24 rows and 15 half space rows. I love it and didn't know how I ever finished a dress before they out grew it, back then, doing the dot to dot pleats.-lol-

by toogie 28 Oct 2014

Thank you, I hope you were able to see a close up,zoom in, to see the detail. I need to make Nora some but as Avery has out grown hers, and they aren't hurt, Nora is wearing those.

by toogie 27 Oct 2014

Thank you, the little boy is sweet. He had an early start too but is doing well,last we heard.

by toogie 18 Oct 2014

They recently stopped publishing their Sew Beautiful mag, I got my notice it would be my last of my subscription. I didn't like the mag as much as when Martha did it, anyway. Every time our subscription was to be renewed, my friend and I would talk about not re-newing , as we didn't enjoy the projects they recently had, like we used to.

by ansienaude 12 Oct 2014

what beautiful handwork for a special little girl

by toogie 12 Oct 2014

Thank you ansienaude.

by marianb 12 Oct 2014

thanks Chris..

by toogie 12 Oct 2014

Thanks Chris for putting the link. I was able to figure it out and found another view, where 'she' looks a little happier. Saw the photo of your night out with the girls, what beautiful girls!

by toogie 12 Oct 2014

Thank you Leaha, she is 'our star' anyway!

by toogie 11 Oct 2014

Isn't that hair the prettiest! Isn't that way anymore though. Glad you stopped to see the dresses, thanks-T

by toogie 11 Oct 2014

Oh Sarah, that is so sweet of you to say. I know you sew well, and I think it is because we love to sew, that it shows in our work. I hope you enjoyed the photos. I need to make me a folder on my pc, of all the dresses I made and have photos of. I usually forgot to take a photo before I gave the dress out, so most of my photos are of the girls wearing them.

by toogie 11 Oct 2014

Thank you Kim. I wish I could drag up her dedication gown, from Projects, to show you. It was one of my earlier post and my best work. I had maybe, 6 weeks total, to order supplies and make it. I got it done, but boy did my neck hurt/burn!

by toogie 11 Oct 2014

Thank you Jerrilyn, this is what I used to love to do...don't do it as much nowadays. Her mom has always gave me free reign on making her dresses and like you say, she models them well.

by toogie 11 Oct 2014

Her mom always said growing up, "If I ever have a little girl, I'm going to dress her like a little girl". She always loved the dresses I made Lanie. Lanie is my oldest grand daughter and her mom is my oldest daughter. Neither are girly, girly. When Lanie was about 6, I smocked her a light pink bishop with bullion roses, for Easter. She told me then ,she had enough of these dresses! I never made her another one. Thank goodness she recently started wearing a dress, now and again.

by toogie 11 Oct 2014

That's Ashley, my youngest daughter,and mom to Mason, twins Avery and Isabella, and Nora in the third photo. I love to sew, make things. My grandmother loved it, as well as my mom. I guess I got it honest,as the saying goes. As for as how long, It's been so long since I made one, I don't remember. I CAN tell you the longest time it took me to make one was, the dedication gown for Avery. (it's posted in Projects but one of my very early post. I don't know how to bring it up for you to see) I hand embroidered the whole gown. It has heirloom sewing techniques, such as shadow embroidery(the birds),lace insertion, ribbon beading, (purchased) tatting,etc. I call it my masterpiece. It cost me over $100. to make! I also made her bonnet to match. I probably will never make another one like that.

by sewilso 11 Oct 2014

Wow, that is amazing. I would love to have your talent and love of sewing. I love the end result but I'm one of those that like instant gratification and I know it doesn't work that way. Keep up your great work!

by toogie 11 Oct 2014

Thank you Marion, we think she's beautiful, inside and out.

by toogie 11 Oct 2014

Yes, to both,we have them and Nora has worn some already. I am happy to hear that so many have worn yours and that they passed it back to you. I haven't really made Nora any, as I made so many for Avery. Avery's aren't hurt and they still look good. I visited my daughters church a few Sundays ago. After service was over, I went with my daughter to collect the girls from the nursery. The attendant asked if I smocked Nora's dress. I was surprised to see her in a dress I had made for Avery, so I told her "Yes, I did" !

by toogie 11 Oct 2014

Thank you, she has grown taller, but very thin now. She still is happy so that is what counts. Thanks about the dresses too, I love making them, and now Nora will wear them.

by toogie 10 Oct 2014

No, still by hand. I think smocking is much prettier by hand. I pleat it with my pleater first, but smock by hand. Were you able to click the photos to enlarge them? If so, the stitching will show better.