Sophie takes Grace for a day at the beach!

"Surprise Grace, we're going to the beach!"

"I am so excited!!"

"when will we get there?"

"Just 5 minutes."

"Look at the view!'

Here is Sophie carrying me down the trail to the beach.  

It was too far for me to walk!

Careful on the steps!

 Here's a good spot.

"Bye Ocean, it's time to go."

*sigh*

Emma has to go to a new school....

"...So I said to Julie, 'please pick up this mess', and she said..."

 "Oh, hi Emma, what's with the uniform?"

"I have some news."

" I won't be in the same school with you this Fall."

"Oh no Emma!  Why?"

"I'm not sure, but Mom signed me up today

 to this new school near our house. I'll be right back I need a snack."

 "Hi, I thought Emma was here, I need to tell her something."

"She'll be right back, she just went to get a snack."

"Emma was just telling us Mom put her in a new school."

"A new school huh?  I don't think she needs to worry about that, hehe."

"Martin, what do you mean?"

"Oh nothing, just don't think she'll  be going to THAT new school. Tell Emma I'll be back in awhile."

"OK, bye Martin."

"Oh, Emma you just missed Martin. He was saying you 

shouldn't worry too much about a new school."

"I wonder why he'd say that?"

"Do you hear something?"

"What is that at the window?"

 "It's an owl!"

"He's carrying something."

It's a letter addressed to me!"

"What does it say Emma?"

"We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Please come dressed in your Hogwarts uniform, etc..."

WWHOOOOOSSSHHH!!!!

"Who is that!?!?"

"Hi. I'm Harry."

"NO WAY!"

"Just kidding, it's me Martin! I got  a letter too.  

I told the girls to tell you you'd not be going to THAT new school! But

we have to go or we won't make the train!"

"Are you ready?  Hang on tight! I just learned to fly this today."

Costume Pictures

(mom made everything except the white shirts and Martin's slacks.)

 

Martin's casual outfit by Peggy Dimasi, Iris4179 on ebay

American Girl Doll tie tutorial.

I made a sketch roughly kite shaped, 8" tall x 4" wide.

I used 1/2" Silky ribbon in gold and red.

I cut out using my sketch pieces wide 

enough to cover my sketch. 

I carefully stitched each piece of ribbon to the alternating color

keep stitching ribbons together until the entire pattern/sketch is covered.

 When all were stitched, I ironed them on the polyester setting until nice and flat.

Fold over at an angle and stitch down from top to bottom as shown.
BE SURE TO SEW WRONG SIDE OUT!!

I turned my tie back right side out and stitched a narrower
seam a couple times before I got the right width.

Then I trimmed off the excess ribbon.

turn tie right side out, tie should be about 1" to 1 1/2" wide.

 Tuck in the longest end.

Tuck in the opposite side and play with it until it looks like this.

(Sorry I can't be more specific, but this is a trial and error)

When it looks right press it!

 Tie should be about 1" to 1 1/2" wide.

At about the 5" mark, fold the tie over a thin piece of elastic.

  

 Fold over elastic

Bring around across front

so the front looks like this

Bring back around to back and add a stitch to hold tight, 

Tuck the remaining ribbon back down into the top of the tie.

I had to trim some of my tie to make it fit, but BE CAREFUL!

 Stitch the top closed to hold it together.

Trim the elastic to be long enough to tie around doll's neck.

And here is the finished tie!