I Made Stuff! Clothes for the Girls

I have been a busy little beaver making stuff for the kids for summer.  It seems like I should have more to show for it, since I feel like any spare moment (except now) I am at the machine stitching away.  I have been cutting a couple of projects at one time, then sewing them when I can.  I am actually in the middle of making B a dress similar to Charley's in the photo below.  And my photos stink.  I bought a how to for my camera, so they should get better with time.  Plus, half the pictures are taken in the evening.
 

First up:

Valentina Dress pattern - Made by Lex

Nightgown using a modification of the  Sienna Pattern from Lil Blue Boo

(yeah, this is the best I have...)

 Nightgown from Leila and Ben's Sweet Dress

 

Layered Skirt by Dana Made It for B

Same Skirt for Charley

 

Reversible Bubble Skirt for Charley

I made the same skirt for B, using a skirt from Lil Blue Boo as a model.

I want to do some shirts too (either paint or heat transfer), but I am lacking time.  I also still have a stack of fabric just waiting to be used, including some Liberty of London. 


For those of you looking for the gratuitous pictures of my kids:

I Made This! Cute Outfit for B

The outfit came to be after I watched the Martha Stewart show this past week.  I try to at least skim each episode while I try to nurse Charley down for a nap.  This week, she featured a Purple Party Show, and one of the segments showed how to "tie dye" with a Sharpie and rubbing alcohol.   So, B and I collaborated (though I didn't want to - I wanted to do it by myself, plus, B doesn't collaborate, she just does!) and came up with the shirt below:

I thought I might have the perfect fabric for a matching skirt.

Then I thought it could be a reversible bubble skirt.

 The whole thing together:

 

I really need to pull out the instructions for my camera.  My photos stink!  I tried a couple different settings, but I am not even sure what I did.   Anyway, B likes the outfit.  I haven't tried it on her for fear it will be ruined before warm weather hits.  I have many more ideas swimming around in my head.  I also really need to finish Charley's swim suit.  Every weekend I promise I will finish it before swim class Monday morning.  Well, here is another Monday and no suit.  There is always next week.  PLUS, Mike helped me put my office (it really isn't an office, craft room? Studio?  Giant mess?) back together after the floors, so I should be able to get a bit more done.  That is if my "helpers" stop helping me. 

Daddy/Daughter Dance And I Made This!

Tonight was our park district's Daddy/Daughter Dance.  One of the Dad's was going to take his daughter and kind of recruited a couple of other Dad's to go too.  Mike asked B and at first she wasn't too keen on the idea.  But then, when she found out she didn't have to actually dance, she came around.   She got a special dress (much to my dismay  -  I wanted her to wear the sequined top she wore Christmas Eve) and was very excited to go.  (She may also gotten some sparkly shoes at Target.)

B started to ask bright and early this morning if it was time to go to the dance.  She had been waiting all week top wear her special dress.  We did a dry run this morning over her pjs.  Charley insisted on getting dolled up too. 

The girls also got some new goggles at Target.  They wore them in the bathtub last night too. (I'll spare you those.)

At long last, it was time for the dance.  B took a shower and Mike (yes, Mike, I cannot do hair) did B's hair.  I put a little blush and lip balm (I mean lipstick) on B and added some stink on purple gems to her ears.  She was quite glamorous.  Mike didn't clean up so bad either.  And, I will probably jinx it, but the girls have been playing together a lot lately.  lots of hugs and kisses too.  I smile every time I see them all sweet. 

 

Charley and I did something special too.  She got dressed in the t-shirt dress I made her yesterday and we went to Joann's to buy more thread for the bathing suit I am (slowly) making her.  The dress is made from one of my old t-shirts.  I used the Lil Blue Boo Sienna Dress pattern.  I made it a 2T, but it is kind of big on her.  The ladybug dress I made is too big too.  Charley is so slight, stuff isn't too long, just too wide.  Still, she was excited to wear it.  And, Charley picked out her own tights.  That is Boy the Whale she is holding.  You know B and her names. 

 

In other news, Heart Shell the turtle is well (I think - really, how many turtles do I know?).  She is swimming around.  The girls fed her earthworms today.  ICK!  I ask B to let me know when it is over.  Poor worms.  

In really good news, DING DONG, Ole' F-Face is gone and our floors are DONE!!!  Can you hear my excitement?  In really bad news, Anna the cat is on the outs (permanently) with Mike because she walked on the freshly poly'd kitchen floor.  Yes, little kitty prints on the lovely kitchen floor.    I should point out, you can see the floors in the photos above.  They look good, I am happy with them.  Barely.  You know, after Ole' FF touting himself such a perfectionist, the floors will never be as good as he builds it up to be.  You know after 6 weeks of torture, they really should be perfect.  But he is gone and oh, joy, we can put the house back together.  Oh wait, that sounds like more work and I've got girls clothes to sew....

I Made These!!!! Bathing Suit, Cute Dress, And Two T-Shirts

So, you know, it has been a long time since my last post (I mean besides the introduction of Heart Shell). And, I know you have been waiting on pins and needles to hear what has been happening in the Brady House.  Well, Gentle Reader, we are having our floors done, and really, your ears are way to delicate to hear what I think about that particular subject.  Do you know what I call the floor guy (Don't worry Mike, I am cleaning it up)?  Remember Mash?  Hawkeye called Major Burns "Ferret Face?"  Well, replace ferret with another 4 letter "F" word.  Criminy, this guy, Ole' FF has been here since the 2nd of January and the floors are still not finished.  IT may have something to do with the fact that he didn't show up today until 9:45.  Where did we find him?  We can thank Medium Tony.  Or not!

So, we have the TV set up in the basement with all of my craft supplies.  So while the girls play or watch TV, I sew, or paint or eat chocolate and drink green tea, anything that keeps me sane (and no, it really isn't working).  Still, a good thing is I made some stuff.  Like the photo below.  I made that bathing suit B is wearing.  I used one of her crewcuts suits as a template, made a pattern and voila!  Bathing suit.  Lined and everything.  What I shouldn't tell you is this is the second fabric, and the third top.  And countless flower and ruffle tries.  I am currently working on a suit for Charley, so hopefully, it won't take as many attempts (though, I had to cut out a second suit.  The serger ate my first one.

 
And seriously, how cute is this one?  Despite the basement surroundings!

Next up, when we were moving, I found a little beach dress of mine that was a bit too short.  I used the Dixie Version of Leila and Ben's Sweet dress.

 My friend Nicky and I talked about challenging ourselves to make our girls a t-shirt inspired by Boden.  Nicky at Bluebird and the Boy replicated this shirt.    Me?  Nada, zilcho, no way.  I didn't like my fabric, the tee I had chosen to work with, I just couldn't make it work.  However, I saw this Boden Shirt, and thought, well, I can do that.  And I did.  Using my Silhouette and there fabric paint vinyl plus some Jacquard Lumiere fabric paint, I made this shirt.  (If you are using a darker color, use the Lumiere, the regular colors don't show up well.) And to top it off?  I mixed some Fabric Mod Podge with Martha Stewart glitter (about 1 to 1), and like magic, I glitter the pink fix and the bubbles!  However, I would heat set the paint and then glitter.  And don't forget, if you try this, to wash the shirt on gentle.  B's shirt got mixed up with the regular laundry and some of the glitter washed off. 

Since I made B a shirt, I couldn't let Charley feel left out, so at Mike's suggestion, I did a skull and cross bones for her, in the Lumiere purple.  She wasn't sure about it, but add a tutu and some sparkly shoes and Charley is all over it!

I have another dress made -  this one is for Charley.  I used the same Dixie version of the sweet dress and some cute lady bug fabric I bought at Joann's 2 or 3 years ago.  It was when B was into ladybugs.  But then, for some reason, before I could make her anything, she was afraid of them.

Sorry, bad picture.  In the basement you know!   I used foldover elastic as the straps.  I have never used it before and I don't know if I'll use it again.  It is a bit slippy.  Anyway, I am working on Charley's suit and hopefully will have it done by her swim lesson on Monday.  I have a ton of ideas.  I am trying to make all their dresses for this summer.  I know I will buy stuff too, cause really, I love crewcuts and Mini Boden, but I also like the unique stuff I make too.  I have a Pinterest Board for my ideas.  I also want to try printing some fabric or spraying it or something.  I am not a fan of ordering fabric, but the knit choices at Joann's stink!  I will probably order some bathing suit fabric as well as this,

though it is spendy.  I don't think I sew that well!

Photo Alert

Trying this Blog Press app on my phone.

























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Elsie Marley KCWC - KIds Clothing Challenge Week October 10 - 17

KCWC is a twice-annual event where Elsie Marley challenges me (you) to commit to sew children's clothes for an hour each day for 7 days. So, despite the mess I have left over from B's party, the ton of laundry that needs to put away and the fact the we **may** be moving on the 27th, I am going to try and use the fabric and patterns I bought to at least sew the girls some corduroy pants. I am using an Oliver and S pattern - which is really the first paper-type/non-pdf pattern I have used in a long while. I bought some grey corduroy at Joann's for B's pants and some pink corduroy from Vogue (using some of my birthday gift certificate - thanks Cathie P.). So, here it is out there, that I am doing this challenge. Now that it is public, I have to do it.

So far, I have spent my time transferring the pattern in both sizes and cutting the fabric. I have my machines all set up. I am just going to re-read the instructions and hope for the best. Wish me luck!

And I will post what little pictures I have from B's party. I worked so hard on it, and forgot to get the camera going. Yikes, where is my brain! I have a couple, and B's Grandfather took some pictures that he will hopefully email to me - Hint, Hint Mr. B).

August is Almost Over - Can You Believe it? August 18th - 22nd

I used to hate summer. The heat, the humidity, the sun. But, three summers ago (when I was pregnant with Charley, I threw sunscreen to the wind (the shame, I know) and laid in the sun. And while my skin looks worse for it, those sunny days made me love summer. I know, of all the seasons to like, why chose the shortest. (Because in the midwest, there is only winter and summer. Fall and spring don't happen. 90 degrees with 100% humidity or 28 degrees with no snow, only dampness and clouds.) But, the pools, the fruit, the tacos. I love it. It is also so easy to go out with the kids. No coats, no boots (or shoes), sometimes no shirt. Dinner alfresco (something we don't do enough) and lemonade. I love it all.

So, needless to say, I am sad summer is coming to a close. School started to day (I have some pictures to come) and we didn't go to the splash park at all! Of course, it is 91 today, and are we going to the pool? No. Too many things going on, including a napping Charley and a serger class for me!

OK, enough with my jabber, here are some shots from the past couple of days.

This is play time from last Wednesday. The little one doesn't look sick.

This was last Thursday. We went to the Green Market.
We didn't do a lot on the kids week off from school.
Charley had a sick stomach, so we stayed close to home.
But isn't my oldest just a doll in that skirt?

Those are bread crisps they are eating.
The only thing Charley ate for a couple of days.
(Damn vaccine and Monkey Bizness.
Low immunity + kiddie germ pool = sick Charley

Like the hair chatch? That little pony tail thing
is from a mermaid Barbie.

They girls were checking on the fairy house before
we went to the fairy store.

Walking up town.

This is after we visited the Pink Hippo.
Puffs all around.

By Friday, Charley was feeling better so we met a friend at the zoo.
First stop, the butterfly house. So cool. Great butterflies.

Next stop, the carousel. Charley wasn't so sure,
so she rode with B.

We saw some animals (You all know what a giraffe looks
like, so I won't waste your time.) Next stop before we left?
The carousel. This time, Charley rode herself.

There may have been a small (or huge) breakdown on the way out.
Charley was crying and kicking and screaming. Egocentric B asked
if we could visit the gift shop. Really B? Did it really seem like
a good time to shop?
We made it to the front of the zoo, had some milky (aahh..
the power of the milky) and a snack. All was better.

Saturday came and with it a storm. It left some good mud at the
end of the walk (you know, where the city dug all around for the new
side walks and hasn't been back to seed or grade or anything. Just left it
a dirty muddy mess) for B to play.

Isn't it wonderful I buy her nice clothes?

A bath was in order. We went to a my cousin Barb's
granddaughter's first birthday that evening and
mud did not make an attractive accessory.

Sunday was a great day and Lee invited us up to swim
and eat ribs. B didn't think it was necessary to change out of
her jammies.

Charley was still celebrating Ellie's birthday.

And then the swimming commenced.

Notice I am not in the pool.
Too cold for this wimpy girl.

Charley jumped on the trampoline, swam, at
berries out of Dick's garden, then promptly
fell asleep on cousin Jeana. Was she tired or was she
bored of the movie Shark Tales?

Not to worry, she didn't sleep long. It was time for more cousin time.
Another reason summer ending is sad. All the cousins
go to school.

Monday was beautiful, so after swim
lessons, we went outside for art.

And some bike riding.

What? Everyone doesn't play and paint in flippers?

Next up I think I have some back to school pictures.