I’ve lost complete control of this post and I made a dress.

Anyways, I have given myself a bit of a challenge, I would like to try and make most of the kids clothes for the summer.  For one, It will be a great way to improve my sewing skills and second, I can’t deny the clothing designer inside, I think she’s been there since I was four, you can ask my mom to be sure.  Or see these old pictures I  found for further proof.

Oh man.  Any excuse to share funny pictures of my little brother, I love.

Now, how awesome is this? I actually still have that scarf.  But if you ever think that I will wear a pink kitten wearing a hat on my shirt again, you are mistaken.  Oh young Olivia, if you only knew what you were doing.

And this, dress up time with the brothers, unfortunately only one of us was playing along. The dress was my mom’s, which has been cut up and used in my quilt, in pillows, in headbands, in everything.

And, clearly, every girl needs a flowing cape when visiting the dunes with the family.  I taught my sister everything she knows.

I was obviously allowed to dress myself, because when my mom dressed us for family pictures, we looked like this… which is probably the reason we all put up the biggest fight, when she gets that look in her eye and asks us all to sit together.

However, the whole point of this was to actually share the dress that I just made for the baby girl.  I wouldn’t have finished, if it weren’t for the fact that my kids both slept till 10:30 a.m.  Oh, glorious morning of coffee and sewing. 

I’m afraid you won’t even care about the dress, because of the greatness of this trip down memory lane a.k.a. the 80’s and 90’s were not the golden days of fashion… but if you’re still interested.

Dress: Jumper tutorial from Smile and Wave

Diaper cover: The Perfect Diaper Cover from Made

Fabrics: Herringbone in Grass || Sparrows in Lilac (both from Joel Dewey)

 

I made mine much bigger than Rachel’s, so it’s more like 6-12 months, perfect for end of summer/fall.

I also sewing the entire dress and then realized the birds were upside down.. so I had to pick it out and fix that.  I almost left it, but I’m sure some detail-freak will be proud of me for doing so.

How does one end this post?

… the end.

block o’fun

When the little boy who runs around like a wild thing was a small baby I made him some soft fabric blocks.

Cute baby, huh? Too bad he’s all grown up now.  But not really, because he’s super funny and entertaining. And is currently not napping when he should be... which is not cute. Kids.

Fast forward two years, I made one for that other baby of mine, the girl one, using the same tutorial, but, with felt and all sorts of girly trimmings, basically making it a party, a block party, if you will.

You could use any combination of fabric and trimmings of different textures and colors.  Also, here’s another bonus feature.  It’s an absolutely silent toy. A SILENT TOY! If if falls  on the floor(like it will 1,000x) it doesn’t make a noise. NOT A SINGLE SOUND. If you push a button, well there is no button to sing a terribly annoying and catchy little ditty, that is sure to be stuck in your head for the rest of your life.  A silent toy is a beautiful thing.

The Mouse & Monkey

We received the most lovely package in the mail a few weeks ago from one of my favorite people in the world, no… the universe.  My college roommate is one of the most talented and creative people I know, except she’s all type-a and into science and details too.  Science and details make me want to cry.

Fun fact:  we were matched up to be roommates our freshman year and met the night before college orientation in Florida.  The next day everyone thought we had known each other for years.  We were roommates the next year and (not the next), but then our last year too.  We were in each other’s weddings.  And, I get to see her along with six of my other dearest friends this weekend. Glory!

Anyways, Erica sent us the most gorgeous quilt for our sweet little lady, I just adore it.  Isn’t it lovely?  Of course, she insisted that it actually be used instead of framed or something.  As you can see in my last post, we use it.  She said, '”Do you like it?  It seemed a little crazy to me, but then I realized it would be perfect for you, thus perfect for your daughter.”  She knows me like that.

I’m such a fan of everything that E makes that it delights me to tell you that she has officially opened her own etsy shop.  FINALLY. 

The Mouse and Monkey is a children’s boutique that you won’t want to miss.  Be sure to check it out soon and often as she plans to fill the shop with so many wonderful goods for all the little boys and girls in your life.  In fact, stop reading my blog and go over there right now… and then tell everyone you know about it too.  Thanks. 

the boppy cover

So much for a weekend project, this was finished during H’s Friday afternoon “nap.” Some days he actually sleeps, others he plays quietly in his room.  Either way, it works for us and he’s not crawling all over me, interested in the sewing machine and scissors.. you know, totally toddler appropriate toys.

I was intimidated by the boppy cover for the sole reason that most tutorials I found used a zipper.  I understood the value of being able to unzip and throw it in the washer, because we all know where there is baby, there is a mess, but I had never sewn a zipper on anything.  I was a tiny bit nervous.

Naturally, I found that once I decided to be smarter than the sewing machine/zipper duo, it wasn’t any harder than sewing two pieces of fabric together.  Do you ever do that?  Think something is so hard that you hesitate and put it off and then once you finally set your mind to it, it’s not nearly as difficult as you imagined? Now, I’m all what needs a zipper? Zippers for everyone!

Anyways, I followed this tutorial.  It was very helpful and easy to use.  It suggests that you trace the boppy and add 1 inch for seam allowances, make sure you do this, because once it’s pieced together, it can be really, really snug.  I mean, you want it to be snug, but not so much that stuffing the pillow into the cover is harder than the entire sewing project.  I added the 1 inch allowance, but when I make another cover, because I will, I might even add just a bit more.

I used these two fabrics: Fans in Sprout and Starling in Pink. Originally, I was only going to use Fans for both sides, but I love the fabric so much that the idea of having more left over was too enticing.  I adore how it turned out, totally unique and unlike anything prepackaged in store.  When I make my next cover, I might use a minky or a soft jersey for one side, something with a bit of stretch… and probably something grey, you know I can’t help myself.

If you’re looking for a boppy cover and you’re not a fan of what the stores are offering OR because the cute covers can cost as much as the boppy themselves, I definitely recommend making your own.  Let me know if you do or have, I’d love to see pictures.

Hmm, now all we need is that baby…

{Liv

Christmas bookworms

As promised, here is a fun and easy gift idea for those cute little babies in your life.  I was inspired by Jessica’s, Sew a snake post.  So, I made these little toys for my niece and nephew.  I realize, it’s not quite Christmas, but they can’t read and I’m pretty sure they don’t use computers yet, so they’ll never know.

Introducing, Christmas bookworms…

  For a fun little boy, I made this one out of scraps of fabric.  I cut the pieces to be mostly the same sizes, except for a few thinner ones, for variety.  I sewed them all together in a long strip, then folded it in half (the wrong side out), sewing it almost the entire way, but leaving it unfinished to turn right side out and stuff.  I double hand stitched the mouth to close it off. (This is important with babies, because they are tough little buggers and can destroy anything.)  I used small pieces of felt for the eyes and I’m going to add felt glasses, where you see the outline (with marker.)

For a sweet baby girl, I made this one out of a  multi-colored scarf, that I’ve had for years.  It was even easier since it was already one piece, so I just folded it in half, sewed it up most of the way, turned it right side out and stuffed it.  I also added a cute little bow..  The eyes and mouth I did the same as the one above.  I was just thinking you could also use a cute pair of knee-high socks too.   I’m pretty sure this one is longer than my two month old niece, but I think this worm is durable enough to withstand the loving of a baby.

We picked up some fun little board books to finish off the gift, because what bookworm is complete without a book?

There are tons of variations possible with this idea, so go ahead and have fun. 

{Liv

dear baby

You’re going to be born right in the middle of winter.  When I say winter, I mean nothing like what we were used to in Tennessee.  It snowed approximately three days each year and the snow rarely stayed on the ground through nightfall.    For some reason, we decided to move up here to the land where winter weather lurks for half the year and the temps like to dance the line between insanely freezing and brain numbing frigidity. 

I’m sorry.

I don’t know what we were thinking, but the fall weather is lovely and there are lakes, 10,000 of them.

So, we’ll welcome you into the cold, dark, freezing, icy world, but I promise to make sure you stay extra warm and cozy with this chunky purple hat, complete with earflaps  and this cute  diaper cover for your little behind.

Oh, I also knit this little sweater for you too, but to be honest, I think it’s one of the ugliest things I’ve ever made and it’s not going in your closet.EVER.  I promise the next one will be better. In my defense, it was the first baby sweater that I tried to knit.

See, I’m already looking out for you and your style.  You’re welcome.  That’s what I do.

So, while there’s nothing I can do to stop the blistery winter weather, I will do my best to keep you looking your best and warm at the same time.  My gift to you.

22.5 weeks today.

delicious silence

Today has been one of those days where I desperately wish I could have called my mom and said, “come get your grandson or else I’m sending him to the zoo.”

… but we live far away from her.

Today has been one of those days that baby Did.NOT.take.a.SINGLE.nap.

…. that is never ever a good idea.

Today has been one of those days that was filled with lots and lots and lots and lots of whimpering and whining and more whining--- directly due to that whole nap refusal issue.

But…

Now, delicious silence fills the room.  It  almost smells good, if you can smell silence.  It’s that kind of silence that you want to drink in and hug and say thank you, thank you thank you.

… baby boy is sleeping.

Thank you God that babies go to sleep.

Thank you God that babies go to sleep.

Thank you God that babies go to sleep.

Thank you for my baby.

…even when he’s crazy face all day.

he’s still the cutest ever.

Holiday weekend a.k.a Project weekend…

If you are wanting some cute projects to work on this wonderful holiday weekend… here are a couple that I found.

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#1

Plush Alphabet from Chez Beeper Bebe

|Photo property of Chez Beeper Bebe|

What a great way to use fabric scraps or put those old clothes to good use.  I love this.  I feel like I have to make this, I have to.  The whole tutorial can be found here.

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#2

Skinny Jeans for Toddler or Baby from Freshly Picked

I know what you’re thinking, how awesome is that?  Go ahead, admit it.  I know a little boy who needs these in his closet, mine.

Find tutorial here.

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bonus

Ok, and finally, I just found this brilliant, lovely, and magical holiday tradition that you may want to start with your children.

Think 25 days of stories.

Find it here.

have a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving…

because this child needs another toy??

Feeling much inspired after last night's wonderful INSPIRE party {a blog to follow}, I made this today. It's a travesty that this little boy doesn't have a soccer ball yet, so while it's not exactly the same, it is soft and rolls and it is big and cute, in my opinion. He loves the small blocks that I made him, so of course, he'd love a bigger one too. I used the same tutorial that I used here, except I made each square 8" rather than 4". How much fun are we going to have with this, his own giant block??

blessings

Note: I have been looking for curtains or fabric to make curtains for the Hudson baby's room for well, since he was born. As a perk of renting, our marvelously "good priced," apartment, there are a few aspects that we just accept, like two rooms of ceiling to floor hideous wood paneling. Ugg.

Today, a friend brought me some fabric that she found because it reminded her of me. That's fun right? It looked really cute and I thought, hmm, I can make something out of it, I just know there's something. I brought it home and walked around the house with it, trying to imagine what I could do. When I got to the baby's room, I instantly thought, hey, this might look good in here. The more I looked, the more I realized it was almost a perfect match. Not even kidding. Can you imagine how excited I was? Very.

I am not a person who can just envision a project and wait a few days to complete it. I almost have to do it instantly and I usually must finish it, promptly. Sometimes, this exhausts my poor husband, when I need his help and he's exhausted. Good thing, he loves me.

So, tonight, we watched You've Got Mail, which delights my very being and I made curtains.

See how brilliantly the colors match?

In case, you're wondering, I gave a little squeal when I saw them finished and hanging on the wall. I love them. Thanks Julia.

Oh, and did I mention, how much I love You've Got Mail.

Note: His bedding is from Pottery Barn.

Art for the Baby

Just finished this yesterday, for the nursery.

I mean, what baby doesn't need art?

“Every child is an artist. 

The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

-Picasso