Two + Two

My plan to make this outfit started over a year ago.  I was reading the so-cal sewing mom blog and saw this blouse.    I ordered the fabric from her right away for the blouse and then I ordered the Oliver and S 2+2 pattern.   I found some denim from Joanns.  I think I cut the outfit out in March or April.  I made the skirt and loved it.  Then I was working on other things.  I can't even remember what.  When it became short sleeve weather I lost interest in making the blouse and it sat for a while.  I finally got around to working on it again at the end of November and finished it the beginning of December.  And now that I am back to blogging (and I am so happy to be too), I thought I would share it.

I used some milky pink flowery buttons from Joanns on the back.

I don't have much to say to say about the pattern other than I love how the outfit come out.  I don't remember much sewing them.  But  I have found every Oliver and S pattern I have made to be wonderful, detailed, and adorable. 

Speaking of adorable.........

Happy New Year Sweater

Happy New Year!!!!!!!  I'm going to try blogging again and see how it goes.  I love Instagtram but I do love rambling a bit too and I kind of need my blog for that. 

I finished Stella's Happy New Year Sweater the other day.  It is so cute on her.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  It is a squishy warm sweater with a big collar.  The pattern is "Leaves or Not" by Karen Borel.  The details are on my ravelry page.  I opted not to do the leaves because I really wanted a Liberty fabric button and I thought the leaves would be take away from the button.  I want to put Liberty fabric buttons on everything now. 

So some year's I am into New Year Resolutions and some years I am not.  But this year in the past few days I have been thinking of a few things I would to try.  Here they are:

1. Of course there is the lose weight/healthy goal.  I won't go to into that because I don't want to bore you but I'll be 40 in 10 months.  It would be nice to be close to my old size before I became a mom.

2. Try to go back to my home not being a wreck.  It isn't really wreck but when I had one baby I did the suggested lower my cleaning standards thing.  And then I had an eighteen month old and newborn and lowered a little more.  Now they are 2 1/2 and 4.  I think I can try to have things look a little nicer around here.  So far so good.

3.  Make some doll clothes for my daughter.  I wanted to do this all last year and didn't.  I already ordered a pattern (I'll show next post).  And I really want to try to do some matching outfits. 

4.  Start no new quilts until I quilt the quilt top that  I already made Stella.  That quilt top I love.  The other ones I am so-so about so I am giving myself permission to not finish them. 

5. Finish Stella's Christmas stocking. 

Well,  I am going to try to do a little sewing while my kids are entertaining themselves.  I'll be back!

My I phone made me lazy

I am not totally giving up on this blog.   But since I have been on Instagram,  I have just been sharing what I make on there and not real motivated to blog about it.    So if you would like to stay in touch or see what I making you can find me here  or here on flickr.  Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!

I'm Back and Peter Pan Party

I did not intend to be away from my blog this long.  Things got really busy at the same time I became overwhelmed with reading so many blogs, checking Flickr, and Instagram.  I did barely any sewing during my break.  I made the Straight Stitch Society I phone case.  I'll get a picture for my blog to show and I finished a shawl for my mom.  I need a picture of that too.  I do have pictures of my son's 4th birthday.  So I will show that because I spent a little time making stuff for it.

The theme was Peter Pan.  I did look at Pinterest for ideas but I think the hats and party bags were my own.  I was going to do pin the feather on Peter Pan's cap but some website with party ideas (can't remember which one) suggested pin the x on Neverland.  I copied this map.  I looked at many different cakes to come up with one that worked for me. I tried to keep everything simple.  I realized earlier this week kids would need something to protect their clothing during the painting.  I used my cricut to cut out the peter pan shadow and just stuck the vinyl on the aprons.  It was so easy.  I also used my cricut to make the banner and the party hats too.

It was a fun party (or so I am told - it was a bit of a blur to me kind of like our wedding day).  I had the kids color while we waited for everyone to arrive. It was a young crowd after all.  Then the main project was to paint treasure boxes.  We then played the game.  Next was cake and then presents.  That was it.  People hung out talking while the kids played with the presents and then we had to leave.  We had the party at Michael's.  They gave us an employee to help with everything and she was wonderful.  I didn't realize how much work throwing a simple party (not even at my home) would be.  Luke really enjoyed it and that made it all worth it.

Back soon with some regular scheduled sewing posts!!!!

this and that

I rushed to make this jacket because it was starting to get cold here but it has been really beautiful and and warm since I finished it on Wednesday.  But that didn't stop Stella from modeling it this morning in the park.  She was really excited to wear it.

This is the Serendipity coat from Make it Perfect.  The only hard time I had was with the sleeves when I was sewing the lining and exterior jacket together.  I gave up and finished it like it was a reversible jacket.  I was not very patient.  Next time I'll try to get help on doing it the right way.  The fabric is Get it Together Corduroy from Superbuzzy.  I couldn't resist the squirrels and acorns.  And since I was impatient to finish it, I cut the buttons off an old-too small-leather jacket of mine because I did not have the right buttons in my button drawer. Okay - the buttons aren't really in a drawer but spread out in a mess in my cellar.  They are suppose to be in a drawer. 

 

I made a size three thinking it would be a little big since my daughter is a 2.  It fits pretty good and feels a little snug when buttoning.  I may need to end up moving the buttons a little.

 

I was also busy Wednesday making Luke's birthday party invitations.  He turns four in November and this will be his first birthday party with friends.  We have only had small immediate family parties up until now.  Our place is small so we are having it at Michaels.  Michaels can only have up to 10 kids including Luke and Stella but I wouldn't want it any bigger.  Luke had many choices but that is where he wants it.  He just loves to make things.  Here is a picture of the invitation which lets you know what theme he picked.

I have a Cricut which I rarely use now but does come in handy at times.  I was pretty happy with how these came out given that I didn't spend too much time on them.  Luckily I only had to make six.

Here is some more random stuff that is important to me this week-

I  tried a favorite new recipe on Wednesday(it was a busy day).  The pumpkin pie milkshakes were perfect.  They are so easy.  I think I should make milk shakes at least every other day.  

My parents gave me their old iphone.  I opened the box this morning.  I am so excited to do Instagram properly,  instead of just stalking people on Instagram on my laptop.  The first two apps I downloaded where Instagram and Pinterest.  I can't say I am that interested in texting or calling people on the phone.  Does anyone know any other good free crafty apps? or recipe ones?

We love decoupaging.  And I love to do patchwork-like projects with paper.  We did the same thing as here but used a pumpkin shape.  Just looking at how young my boy looks in that post from back in February hurts my heart a little. 

Right now I am looking forward to some knit sewing, corn maze wandering, and new recipe making this weekend.  What are you looking forward to?

Halloween Costumes

I think I am back from my break.  Well I am posting today but I still have to figure out a way to balance everything.  I think I just want to accomplish far more than is possible in one day and have to accept that I can't do it all.   I really enjoy having a little blog so that I can connect with other crafty people.  I'll keep trying.  Enough about that and onto the costumes.

I love love love making Halloween costumes.  I am so happy I know how to sew so that I can make the kind of costumes that I want to.  October is really a dream come true for me.

Tinkerbell was inspired from this costume.  Mine is no where near as awesome but Stella and I still love it.  I used the Oliver and S Fairytale dress pattern like the one from the Queen of the Flies blog.  I bought some polyester satin from Joanns.  The seams don't lie real flat but it was fine for a costume.  I kind of winged it making the apron using some polyester organza also from Joanns.  The wings were made with this tutorial from Make It and Love It.  I cased the elastic with the same fabric as the dress so it wouldn't show.

I followed this tutorial from Make It and Love It for Peter Pan's shirt, knife, and belt.  It was easy and I love how it came out.  For the leggings I used the Oliver and S Playtime leggings pattern.  It was easy though it didn't come out perfect since it was my first time sewing knits.  Again I thought it was good enough for a Halloween costume.  I used this pattern for the hat.

On Saturday was the Halloween costume parade at the Harvest Festival in my town.  I think Halloween costume parades were created by moms who make their kids' costumes and want them to be worn more than once and in the daytime.  We had a great time though Stella kept deciding to kneel in the middle street while walking.

Is it bad that I am already planning next year's costumes?

another break

I am just feeling like I am too focused on the computer lately so I am taking another break from my blog, reading blogs, flickr etc...  I doubt it will be for too long.  I can't imagine not sharing our Halloween costumes.