Up-cycle Time Suck

So I had this great idea for a twenty minute up-cycle.  Cut off the bottom of an existing t-shirt - cut off the waist band of a skirt passed down by my teenage cousin - put them together and we've got a cute new dress!  Bing.  Bang.  Boom.

Well, we did end up with a cute new dress...

But getting there was more like:  Bing.  Bang my head on the table.  Bang my head on the wall.  Bang my head on the table.  Boom.  I won't bore you with all the gory details - I think anyone who's done any off-the-cuff or make-it-up-as-you-go kind of sewing can relate (or at least I hope so).  It's the finished product that counts anyway, right?  Right.

And silver lining - it was in this dress that Brother and I discovered how to get a modeled finished product front shot!!  He poses, says cheese, gets his picture taken - then she imitates.  Because anything her big brother does has got to be above board...and awesome.  So here she is...watching, imitating, and then cheering for herself.

 Kid makes me crazy, but in the cutest way possible.

Racerback Tank

This was almost a fail.  I got in a bit over my head.  I can admit that.  The pattern I was drafting was a little beyond my experience/ability.  I had never worked with silky, slinky fabric like this before.  The finished product looks pretty good - but the fit was off - too much gaping in the back.  I put it aside.

 I'm glad I hung it in the closet instead of giving up on it completely, though, because today I decided to try it on, just to see how she had grown into it.   I didn't think she'd be wearing it today since it wasn't too hot, so I just threw it on over the onesie she had slept it.  Still too gaping in the back to wear alone - but totally cute layered!  So I switched to a clean onesie, slipped on some leggings, and we had an outfit.  Hurray!

She was, as usual, impossible to photograph from the front.  Seriously - how do you do it?  It looks like I blurred out her face in these pictures.  I didn't.  She just wouldn't stop moving.

 Except to play with my old dollhouse.

My grandparents made me that dollhouse when I was little.  It's currently residing at my mom's house.  I've already started planning the remodel.  I'm thinking that'll be her third birthday gift - if I can wait that long...

Your Quiet Place

"Hey Mama.  Remember that day we made that fort, Mama?  That was a good day, Mama.  I liked that day."

I am your parent, you are my child
I am your quiet place, you are my wild
I am your calm face, you are my giggle
I am your wait, you are my wiggle
I am your audience, you are my clown
I am your London Bridge, you are my falling down
I am your Carrot Sticks, you are my licorice
I am your dandelion, you are my first wish
I am your water wings, you are my deep
I am your open arms, you are my running leap
I am your way home, you are my new path
I am your dry towel, you are my wet bath
I am your dinner, you are my chocolate cake
I am your bedtime, you are my wide awake
I am your finish line, you are my race
I am your praying hands, you are my saving grace
I am your favourite book, you are my new lines
I am your nightlight, you are my sunshine
I am your lullaby, you are my peek-a-boo
I am your kiss goodnight, you are my I love you.

MaryAnn K. Cusimano, “You are my I love you”

I know my children.  I know their personalities; I know their quirks and all their little details by heart.  But there's always something startlingly magical about reviewing some quick clicks of the shutter and discovering a gem - a photo that just screams: THIS IS HIM!!!  This is who he is and who he was and who he will always be; who he was born to be.  This is what no words will ever say.  Previously wild here and here.

Inspired by.

Nani Iro Junebug

My first mail order fabric purchase was also my first Nani Iro purchase (from Miss Matatabi, naturally).  After drooling for a while, I made a knee jerk reaction when this pale blue was on sale briefly.  But I limited myself to a half yard, just in case I was disappointed.  I was absolutely not.  It has lovely block-print dots that have a really subtle metallic sheen.  I knew I needed to do something special.  And I knew Jess at craftiness is not optional wouldn't let me down.

I feel indebted.  Her archives are so generous with tutorials and tips.  Hers was definitely the one blog that made the most significant difference in my drafting abilities and, more importantly, my confidence in my abilities.  If for no other reason than I like to repay my debts, I purchased her Junebug Dress and Tunic pattern.  (Of course that's not the only reason, though).  Seriously - you should, too.  It's adorable.

I wanted to make the most of every inch of my half yard, so I went sleeveless and lined all bodice pieces except for the center panel in a plain white cotton.  I probably could have eeked out enough for the rest of the lining if I had made this tunic length and used a narrower hem but I really wanted to make the most of the fabric with the longer skirt.  And speaking of the hem - I HAND stitched it.  I just couldn't bear the thought of that line of stitching marching across the skirt.  Since it's double gauze, it was actually pretty simple, but don't get me wrong - I definitely questioned my decision several times throughout the process!  I figure I can always go back and put in a traditional hem if this doesn't stand up to a toddler's use and abuse.

This photo-shoot was on par with most of my attempts with this girl.  Either I was looking at this...

 ...or this...

But then she did this for 2.75 minutes and totally redeemed herself.










I will definitely be making this again.  I'm picturing a long sleeved tunic version for fall.  Already have the fabric picked out in my mind.  I'm so excited!

To me, that's one of my favorite parts of sewing.  Completing a project that makes me excited to start another.  Perpetual inspiration.

Is there such a thing as too much bias tape?

So...I went to this estate sale this weekend and spent $16.  On what?   Here's a sneak-peak at the star of the show...

Now for the details.  Let's start with the non-sewing related items.  I picked up a little metal file box, a small yellow pitcher to add to Lisi Loo's growing play-kitchen arsenal (for the kitchen she doesn't yet have), and a glass candlestick light for Lisi's room.

Cute, but not necessarily blog-worthy.  Right?

So at these estate sales, I always keep an eye out for fabric and notions.  There was a small bedroom with a jumbled mess of miscelaneous sewing "stuff" - for lack of a better word.  (Oddly, only a few scraps of fabric, though.)  I spent a little while sorting though it all - found some packs of bias tape and rick rack, some eyelet trim, and a bag that appeared to contain some zippers and a few more packs of bias tape.  I filled a shoebox sized plastic box and was happy with my score.

Then we went to the basement where I spotted the yellow pitcher.  I wandered around to the back and there, sitting all alone on an empty set of shelves, possibly glowing a little, was this great big box of bias tape.  What?!?!?

 It did NOT look like this when I picked it up.  As soon as I got home I started sorting and re-wrapping and it was SO MUCH FUN.  I'm not ashamed.  Above is the sum total of my score.  While I was going through it all the thought crept into my head: "What kind of crazy person has this much bias tape?"  It only took me a second to realize that I AM that kind of crazy person now.  And this doesn't include the tape I already had.  I have issues.

It's not all tape.  The photo below outlines the portion that is bias tape.

 There was also a bunch of hem tape, lacy trim, rick rack, and piping.  Also some stuff called soutache braid that I'm going to need to do some more research on.

In additional, there were half a dozen zippers, some elastic, and a few patches including these really fun leather elbow patches that I'm super excited about.

 Want to see some highlights?  I'd say my favorites are these below.  Some floral, navy polka dot, and blue chambray bias tape.  Some taupe velvet ribbon.  White with gold rick rack.  That wide yellow trim is actually three pieces of that leafy trim hand-stitched to a piece of grosgrain ribbon.  But I think my favorite of the favorites has to be that white double fold bias tape with the yellow crocheted trim.  It may fall into the love-it-too-much-to-actually-use-it category.  We'll see.

So what is a person to do with all this trim?  I have a few ideas percolating - and one already started.  I'll be sure to keep you updated.

Number 9s

Boy clothes?  Could it be true?  It could be - it IS.  I couldn't put him off any longer.  Shwin & Shwin recently had a sale on their fall patterns so I jumped on the Number 9 Trousers for my boy child.

Obviously these aren't trousers...I wanted him to be able to wear them now, plus I figured there might be a learning curve and shorts mean less fabric wasted if I messed them up beyond wearability.  I just measured a pair of his shorts to get the right length (or close to it anyway...they're a little longer than I would have liked, but I used an existing hem so they're staying that way).

Oh - and I'm sorry these pictures are so crazy fuzzy.  We woke up to a very gray, rainy day but I wanted to get the pictures anyway - so they are what they are.

Per the measurements on the pattern, I used the 3T size for my almost-5-year-old.  I was skeptical - kept wondering if I should up it to the 4T - but stuck with the 3T (although I did lengthen the elastic at the back by about 1.5 inches) and low and behold - a great fit!

There was a bit of a learning curve, as expected.  It was my first time with welt pockets and, while I need some practice, the instructions were great and I feel confident using them again.  All four pockets are lined in a contrasting fabric for a fun just-for-him detail.

I'd say my only real issue is how baggy the back waist/tush area is.  I'll be modifying that next time (there will definitely be a next time - probably quite a few).  And I was a little confused closing up the front waistband - but I think I just need to take a little more time with the instructions.

I'm glad I finally picked up this pattern - I see it getting a lot of use in the next few years.  And the kid was super excited to finally get something sewn up for him.  How excited?  This excited:

I don't get it either, but he says that's what it means.

My New Path

Concentration and satisfaction.

I am your parent, you are my child
I am your quiet place, you are my wild
I am your calm face, you are my giggle
I am your wait, you are my wiggle
I am your audience, you are my clown
I am your London Bridge, you are my falling down
I am your Carrot Sticks, you are my licorice
I am your dandelion, you are my first wish
I am your water wings, you are my deep
I am your open arms, you are my running leap
I am your way home, you are my new path
I am your dry towel, you are my wet bath
I am your dinner, you are my chocolate cake
I am your bedtime, you are my wide awake
I am your finish line, you are my race
I am your praying hands, you are my saving grace
I am your favourite book, you are my new lines
I am your nightlight, you are my sunshine
I am your lullaby, you are my peek-a-boo
I am your kiss goodnight, you are my I love you.

MaryAnn K. Cusimano, “You are my I love you”

I know my children.  I know their personalities; I know their quirks and all their little details by heart.  But there's always something startlingly magical about reviewing some quick clicks of the shutter and discovering a gem - a photo that just screams: THIS IS HER!!!  This is who she is and who she was and who she will always be; who she was born to be.  This is what no words will ever say.  Previously wild here.

Inspired by.