Hopewell rocks

One of our 800+ pictures from our trip out east. Loo's favourite spot in New Brunswick, Hopewell Rocks on the Bay of Fundy.

Kimono dress

I recently made Beri this kimono dress. I used an old sheet and I think it's pretty cute. I love dressing her in pink but I also love dressing her in earth tones with no girly colours at all.

It would have been better earlier in the season but maybe I'll be able to squeeze a long sleeved onesie under there.

I was going to post a picture of the 13 shirts for me + 3 for Loo + one for Beri I thrifted yesterday for $40 but then you'd all know how cheaply I dress so I decided not to. So that's all for now. I have some other sewn projects and updates waiting around but I've just started watching Season 1 of Mad Men.

Priorities....

Crayfish

Night photography

I took these in manual mode in the pitch dark. They're not good but at least you can make things out. I even see some stars in the second one. The tripod will help once I dig it out of the closet.

Relaxing

Tee's for two

As I already mentioned I was in a bit of a sewing frenzy last weekend. After my purple mistakes I went back to Figgy's Tee for Two pattern determined to work it out. I used a zig zag stitch and a ball point needle and came up with these:

An orange and yellow tee for Loo following the instructions.

A second one with all the seams on the inside.

Making it an inside out version which really makes it right side out, right?

Not to leave Beri out I then made the dress version.

I'm not sure I love the look of the zig zag on the outside seams, but I was too afraid of my threads snapping again. It makes the shirt look very obviously home made but I think it's still cute enough.

Some days I go back and forth between thinking my kids look adorable in their home sewn duds to the other extreme --wondering if people think they look like little ragamuffins whose parents won't buy them new clothes. I'm guessing if you're reading this you sew some of your kids clothes. Do you ever wonder the same thing?

I suppose the thing non-sewers don't realize is that though the clothes I make may not be perfect, I've put a lot of time, thought and most of all love into each piece. (I'm guessing when you add the cost of fabric, patterns and time, they even work out to a comparable price as store bought clothes!) I think one of my next projects might be some "My mom makes my clothes" t-shirts for Loo and Beri.

On the dock

That's Loo winding up to hit his cousin with a water shooter.

Beached

Don't tell Loo

Last night as my family was getting ready to depart after family a barbeque at our house I smiled when I realized it was only 9pm. To me that meant 1 hour of sewing!

I bought this pattern from etsy yesterday. I've been meaning to make Loo some underwear for awhile now but haven't gotten around to it. The poor kid has lots of pairs that are too big or are really training pants and have padding in them which he really doesn't need. So last night I sat down to give it a try.

I love how they turned out! We'll see if they pass the comfy test with Loo today. They've got to be better than size small Hanes which are way too big him.

I think the band for the top may have been a bit too long or the fabric was a bit stretchier than it needed to be but they still turned out okay. I realize some people may have me on their completely coo-coo list now that I'm making my kids underpants. Good news for Beri--the girl version was included too!

I've still got a few (4) projects leftover from the weekend to post, maybe tomorrow...

Oliver + S Sew Along

Ok folks, have you heard about the Oliver + S Little Things to Sew Along happening over at A Little Gray? Woo hoo! I was excited for a few reasons.

• I already own the book. Love it, but I hadn't even unsticky glued the pattern pages from the cover yet. I really needed a kick in the butt to get started.
• I love Jessica's blog. I like her sewing and am always in awe over her modern fabric choices. I was a tiny bit sad when she announced a little break last month but boy oh boy. She didn't just return she's made a major comeback with this project!
• I've never participated in a sew along before and I love a challenge. It's going to be so fun to see how everybody's projects turn out.

This month is the bucket hat. Cute and necessary. My kids wear them everyday of the summer (especially with Loo's summer hairdo.)

I faced another sewing fear and marched up to the fabric store counter to buy interfacing. Not so scary at all, once I got past the gauntlet of choices, iron on, sew on, what colour, weight, how much etc. I made Beri's reversible and followed Jessica's instructions so I wouldn't have to do any hand sewing. Genious.

Loo saw it and wanted one immediately. He also wanted one made with "prickly" fabric like Beri's but I think I appeased him with "campers" instead.

I thought since the first hat went okay I'd follow the books directions for the second, but by the time I got to the handstiching part I was way too impatient and just serged it all together. When Loo saw it yesterday morning he handed it back to me and asked me to finish it. Seriously?

Now I'm trying to pick out a fabric for next months back pack that will make Loo happy. He already uses a Batman backpack and cartoon licenced clothing, accessories and especially sheets and blankets make me cringe. Will I be able to find something "cool" enough to get him to leave Batman at home?

Conversations with a two year old

Loo:   I have a rash on my leg.
Me:    From what?
Loo:   A fish. A fish bit me.
Me:    Really?
Loo:   Yeah, it was a big fish.

I want it snoftier.
(We hear this daily and have learned that it means he wants milk added to his oatmeal until it's runny.)

I'm gonna clean myself cause I'm dirty from the dirt.
(Pretending to shower, using the dining room curtains as a shower curtain.)

Look the sky is pink. I think the sun is trying to put sunscreen on the clouds. So they don't get burned.

Look the moon is following us. It's gonna follow us to Oma Scotia. (Nova Scotia)

Tee for Two - take two

I bought a ball point needle yesterday morning and conquered the Tee for Two pattern. It was one of the 5 things I sewed this weekend for my kids. Five! I guess I missed my sewing maching more than I thought while on vacation. I just couldn't stop making things. Going through Loo's dresser the other day boxing up things that don't fit him I found many items from Celebrate the Boy six months ago that no longer fit. It made me sad to think how much they've both grown in the past few months. It's also getting me excited for autumn and trying to picture their fall/winter wardrobes. I think some online fabric shopping is in my near future. I've looked a few times and usually end up overwhelmed with choices but since I don't buy my kids clothes at retail stores I think I'll try to splurge for a few nice fabrics.

It's too dark to take pictures right now and the ones I took earlier had some serious white balance issues so a sneak peak is all you get. I also have a notebook bursting full of Loo quotes to post and I can't wait to do my first post about the LTTSA.

Happy Sunday evening my friends!

Purple mistakes

I'm baaaaaaack from vacation. Happy to be back. If anyone ever tells you it would be crazy to drive 20 hours away from home (and back) in seven days with a two year old and a one year old and a tent trailer--don't listen. Nobody actually said that to me out loud but I said it a few times to myself. Luckily I don't listen to little voices in my head. We had the best time in Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. A large part of which is because it was our first real family vacation just the four of us.

Before we left I whipped up a couple little purple dresses for friends we were visiting. They have the cutest little purple obsession at their house! So I made two matching dresses, sized 12 month and 3T. I waited quite impatiently for my Figgy's Tee for Two pattern to arrive in the mail (wow am I spoiled by emailed pdf patterns) and was so excited to give it a try.

I swear the dress is cute in person, I just don't put effort into my photo's when the project is a major failing disappointment. I wasn't even going to bring the dresses along but I decided to at the last minute to show my friends what I tried to make them. Luckily they have a sewer in the family who might be able to salvage them...

Word to the wise--follow instructions! It's probably no secret right now that I'm afraid of new sewing techniques. I sew knits just like I'd sew anything else. No ball point needle. No stretch or zig zag stitch. Well that paired with this pattern and some fifty cent bargain bin shimmery purple thread clearly labelled for embroidery equalled a bit of a disaster. I sewed both dresses and admired them for a few days. Then Loo wanted to try one on and I thought it was a good idea to check the fit and whatnot. As it went over it giant toddler head I heard a snap and to my horror the stitching started to unravel. I was too afraid to test the smaller one but sure enough when I brought them to our friends and they tried it on their little bird the stitches snapped there too.

Boo!

I might go buy me a ball point needle... especially since I was planning on making Loo a whack-a-mole of raglan shirts...

Daddy daughter time

Campfire