Christmas was wonderful, magical. Here and gone, leaving behind new memories and traditions. If you celebrated, did you have a nice holiday? I always love cleaning up Christmas – putting everything away, sweeping the needles off the floor, refreshing the house with less clutter, organizing, making lists of goals and tasks that can now be worked on with the busyness of Christmas behind us. I have some fun handmade items to share and some really exciting projects to tackle in 2013, but today I wanted to do a recap of twelve of my favorite projects from 2012. When I look back through the past year, I actually can’t believe how much I squeezed in. Enjoy the flashback!
The year started off with a bang – throwing Grace a princess birthday party and competing in Project Run and Play at the same time was CRAZY!! But, this princess gown was one of my favorite sewn projects, for sure. One of the first things I ever made without a pattern…and do you see that sweet girl??
And these cakes – definitely my favorite cake(s) of all time. I don’t think I will ever tire of looking at this picture right here.
More Project Run and Play – this coat and the repurposed ice skates?? Really good memories all around – I spent so many hours designing and sewing this coat, trying to get everything right without a pattern, and it was the first coat I had ever made!! My mom hung out with me a lot of hours during this particular week and I will never forget the look on my husband’s face when I brought home thrift store ice skates to repurpose! And then the fact that we were sitting on the beach in Hawaii when this look was showcased…great, great, great!
Oh, what do you know, another PR&P project on the list of top 12. This “signature look” was for the finale. I carried this dress all the way to Maui and back thinking I would photograph it there, but I never found the time on vacation. It turned out better with the whole tent and tea party setup when we got back home anyway. And I added in the furry jacket that is still a daily component of Addie’s wardrobe.
These felted wool balls just make me happy. They’re so easy and colorful. I used them to spruce up the girls’ bedroom, for a birthday party, for a baby shower, and for the cats! Fun!!!
So satisfying finishing three quilts that had been sitting on my to-finish list for so long. They are sure brightening up the girls’ room during the gloomy winter!
I loved making a pile of throw pillows to decorate our yard for Addie’s mermaid party this summer (and now they decorate [the floor of] the girls’ bedroom. The whole party was super fun – it was definitely an event that I started working on too early – which led to WAY too many projects! A lot of fun, though. 
My cousin’s beautiful baby shower. I worked so many months to make sure this all came together perfectly. Definitely a huge accomplishment this year!
This cute polka dotted jacket – I’m really into polka dots right now!! And getting these pictures of Addie was great because she is SO not into posing for pictures these days!!
Olivia’s Sweet Seventh Birthday Party – I loved putting together such a small party with just a few little girls. It was fun to decorate and focus on the birthday girl instead of the adults.
And the doll-making activity that we did for the party – simple and perfect!
Comments & Reviews
Laura from Top This Top That says
Your projects are just amazing and Beautiful. I enjoy following along. Happy New Year!
Liz says
Yes! My favorite project is the birthday crown. I’m making one for my own little girl, who has her third birthday in a month! I will show you the result when it’s finished! Thanks for sharing this idea! Liz
treen says
I haven’t been reading your blog for very long, but I did catch the quilts in the background of one of your pillow shots, and I LOVE that quilt pattern. One of my targets for this coming year is to learn quilting so I can eventually make all those curves on an ocean-colored/seaglass quilt for my husband.
And apparently, it’s now on my to-do list to make Grace’s princess dress for my 6-year-old. It might help if I learn to make a dress bodice first. I just started sewing in the past year or so, and all I can do so far is skirts.
The Davis Family says
What a fun year, Stef!! You do such amazing work and I am so very proud of you!! Can’t wait to see what 2013 will bring!!! xoxoxo
Kristie Clower says
I love everything you do but my favorite was the white silk Easter dress. That thing is gorgeous!
Charity says
Impressive! You created a lot of lovely things this year. =)
Simple Simon & Co says
Your princess dress is one of my favorite things ever from all over blogland…it’s perfect.
liZ
—and those repurposed ice skates—Elizabeth and I have been on the look out for a pair of those for each of our girls ever since!
Simple Simon & Co says
Your princess dress is one of my favorite things ever from all over blogland…it’s perfect.
liZ
—and those repurposed ice skates—Elizabeth and I have been on the look out for a pair of those for each of our girls ever since!
Simple Simon & Co says
Your princess dress is one of my favorite things ever from all over blogland…it’s perfect.
liZ
—and those repurposed ice skates—Elizabeth and I have been on the look out for a pair of those for each of our girls ever since!
Tanja @ beauty4ashes says
I love it all! First time I visit your blog today. The polka dot blouse is awesome!!
Gina says
It’s really hard to pick one favorite!! but if forced to choose I guess it would be the Princess gown…every detail of that party was amazing!!
The Cottage Mama says
Beautiful, Stef! You should be so proud of yourself. I cannot even pick one of your projects as my favorites…..they are all stunning. I remember when I first found your blog and it was love at first sight and has only gotten better!
Andrea from The Train To Crazy says
Wow, wow, wow!! So many great things!! Quite amazing!
TheSewingLoft says
Love, Love, Love everything! You have been one busy girl!
Sabra says
Everything you make is just so incredibly pretty. Perfect, all of it.
Sherri @ RebeccaMaeDesigns.com says
It’s all so beautiful. Great photos! I’d have to say I love the dolls best. So. Cute!!
EHC says
I made a little dolly for my 18 m.o.’s Christmas stocking and thought your method of construction was genius. So easy! This was my favorite project of yours this year!