Our Morning at the Beach

Perfect weather, happy kids, a friendly seagull with ulterior motives, a varied collection of family-shared sunglasses.  Good times.

Makes me wish every day was a beach day...until it's time to clean out the car, anyway.

Red Recess Raglan

I made a Recess Raglan!  In red.  It's a bit warm yet, but I see this top getting lots of wear come fall.

I used a soft double layer knit from Joann that's been catching my eye for a while.  It probably has a proper name, but I don't know what it is.  It's a thin dotted layer on one side connected to a thin striped layer on the other making the fabric reversible and super cozy.  And speaking of Joann - has anyone else noticed that, while their offerings of printed/patterned knits has increased dramatically, the actually selection is - how can I say this - not so cute?  Is it just me?  Is is just my Joann?

I went by the measurements in the pattern and used the 18 month size with cuffed elbow sleeves.  Perfect slim fit!  I also shortened the bottom an inch or two and added a waistband.  It looks so much more balanced with the stripes there as well as the cuffs and collar.  The other modification I made was to make the neck opening a little bigger.  Ultimately, I don't think it was necessary and will just go by the pattern next time, but I do kind of like the slouchy-ness of it for this particular top.


 Overall I really enjoyed this pattern.  Only a few pieces, quick to sew (especially if you're skipping the bands), and a nice garment perfect for every-day wear.

And reading.  Great shirt for reading.

Little or Big?

How can my baby girl be so little and so big at the same time?

She looks tiny, with her little legs and drippy half-undone curls...

  

but holds her own on a big stool at the grown-up table...

with jelly all over her butterfly cracker eating face.

Some days I feel like time is going too quickly, as I'm sure most moms feel from time to time. But when I really take a moment to sit with it, I don't feel sad - I feel excited. Will I miss their baby-ness? I already do - but we have so much to look forward to. Tomorrow. Next week. Next year. I sit with it TODAY and feel my heart swell.

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.