Summer Project List

Life has been busy which has been great! That also means blogging has been on the back burner. I decided to just make a list. 

This is a random post of everything I have done approximately the last 4 months. No tutorials. Just a picture list. Enjoy! x

Baby/toddler bandanas.

Doll quilt.

Black cowl neck top.

Fabric houses for imaginative play. 

Buntings.

Infinity scarves.

Bow ties.

A copy cat cardigan. To the left is from the store. The pinkish one on the right I made.

Toddler Aprons.

Skirts. Simple ones and a tiered ruffle skirt.

This dress for my beautiful friend!

Ties. All the ones pictured.

Kimono top. I wear this a lot. 

The Good Morning Robe! With Attached Sash.

Every morning the boys and I have done the same thing for years. Lately, a few things have changed, their demands a bit more specific.

They still want their milk and movie, lately they've been wanting blankets. But they can't wear blankets to the dining table for breakfast. I knew I had to make a morning robe!

Luckily, I already had a pattern! From Wal-Mart.

I changed one thing.

That loose sash that goes through loops? I knew that would be bad news for my son. He gets easily frustrated. For example: if the sash were longer on the one side than the other, he might start screaming or crying. If the sash were to ever get lost, or in the hands of his little brother, he might start screaming or crying. If the sash got caught on something as he walked, or if he tripped on it as he walked, he might start screaming or crying.

I have to be honest, I came up with this idea more for my own sake to avoid the unnecessary potential of screaming and crying.

I took the robe, decided where the sash would be and unstitched the serged hem. Then I cut the sash in half, inserted it and re-serged the hem. (He is pointing to the new inside seam.)

Close up on the outside:

Morning robes are great! A blanket you can walk around in! I love that happy face!

Thanks for stopping by!

xx

Cabin Fever! Making the Indoors Fun

Hello!

To point out the obvious, I have been absent for months. One explanation: winter. Especially where we live where the snow just seems to love us here and doesn't quite get the hint it has overstayed its welcome. And although it is more than halfway through February, my four year old asked me the other day if we were in Santa's snow globe! Except we are a bit low on our candy cane supply...

With winter comes sickness and everything gets put on hold for a few weeks while me and the kids cuddle on the couch under blankets, a tissue box nearby with a Veggie Tales and Winnie the Pooh movie marathon. Winter also has too many grey days and can you guess what that does for my motivation levels? ;)

Once in a while, on those sunny days, I get a burst of energy and inspiration! 

A few things we have done: 

A Den!

This was a super quick sewing project. I cut out the muslin, made two holes for windows, and with scraps, either sewed or glued on some pictures.

I made a snip and just hung it over the chair like this:

My boys love playing under the dining room table and they have been having some extra fun with this. Who doesn't love to pretend they're eating spiders?

A Shadow Box!

Okay this actually involved no sewing but I wanted to add it because my preschooler loves it! Found the idea on Pinterest of course. 

I took a diaper box, cut off the flaps and let the kids first paint it. Then I taped the "stage" with a house. Glued some muslin over the front and DONE! Easy!

We then used cookie cutters on construction paper, then glued our characters to popsicle sticks. Here, the train is about to be eaten by a small snowman.... I caught it on video :)

A Teepee!

This is something that I have had my eye on since my four year old was a baby! I am so glad we were finally able to make it happen! My husband was a huge help making this. It is made from PVC pipes and I sewed the cover, not too shabby for a first timer but I have definitely learned how I can make it better next time! The pipes are seven feet tall and yes I know the front flap doesn't match the sides, I really don't think my preschooler and toddler care about that ;)

Next on the list is teepee accessories! A dreamcatcher? Some more pillows?

Thanks for stopping by!

xx

Elf Hats for Santa's Workshop

A while ago I was talking to a friend and she told me how she and her kids had gone to a Santa's workshop. They had elves and the kids could help the elves "make" toys and brought one home with them.

I thought that was the cutest idea ever and decided to surprise my kids by turning our dining room into a Santa's workshop!

I measured my four year old's head....

and with scraps I made these hats for them:

1. Cut 2 pieces of 5x4 inches of the cream/white knit fabric. Be sure the stretch of the knit is sideways. Alternatively you could also make one long band but I did 2 pieces.

2. Fold into triangle, 5x12inches, so the base is 10 inches. Again check the stretch of the knit.

3. Just another view.

4. With right sides together, sew the two side seams. Leave the bottom one open.

5. Take the 2 pieces of cream, right sides together and sew the edges together to make one long band.
6. Fold over.
7. Place inside the hat, match the raw edges and pin.
8. Sew.

Some easy tassels for the top point of the hat:

Just cut 8 strips of the same cream/white knit fabric and hand sew on the tip of the hat!

In Santa's workshop they were to paint some toys ($1 at Wal-Mart and the Dollar store), and then after they went to bed, Santa picked up those toys and left a thank you note for helping!

Axel wouldn't keep his hat on so Daddy, the Head Elf, wore it instead :)
The kids favourite part was actually the hot chocolate with marshmallows (which was actually cold!). 

Hope you are enjoying Christmas activities with your kids!

Thanks for stopping by!

xx

Christmas Decorations Box: Advent Calendar Bags

I have been wanting to make an Advent calendar for years and I finally got around to getting it done!

For several weeks I worked on making 25 different drawstring bags.

Note: I did not want to buy new fabrics for this project. I knew I had plenty of fabric to complete the project but I would have to get creative and perhaps even repetitive. Feels good to be frugal and resourceful :)

For the drawstrings I used different ribbons, cotton lace, and also made my own drawstrings using the same fabric as the bag.

Once I started making several bags I began pegging them on the curtain in my sewing room so I could see if I needed more white, more red or more green.

After I sewn and sequenced them, then I was able to number them. I just painted the numbers freehand, but of course you could stencil or stamp.

I did make some extra small bags for a reusable form of gift wrap.

Inside each bag has a treat, but it is not chocolate or candy. I don't think I want them having that everyday! So I put a fun cereal that they rarely get (fruit loops) in small baggies and put them in there.

Hope you are enjoying the beginnings of Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by!

xx

Little Red Riding Hood Cape Costume

Earlier this year I had bought this lovely red fabric for several different projects and ended up with some large chunks of random scraps. 

Setting it all aside, I knew inspiration would eventually hit me.

And it did. 

Maybe it all happened at the same time, I don't remember. But there was a poem about a wolf, a cute DIY wolf hoodie for boys on Pinterest, my own obsession with turquoise, living around the corner from Grandma's house, and just planning this year's sewing projects, including Halloween, it was just meant to be. 

The Red Cape.

My mother-in-law had an easy pattern for a cape, but I made it much shorter so the length would just cover my shoulders.

I mentioned scraps. The back piece is made up of 5 scraps first sewn together, then I put the pattern piece on top and cut.

Very easy to make and if I were making this for a little girl I might have added some ribbon edging, and a floral lining.

With little kids, I didn't get any selfies but luckily a friend of mine took this photo of me in costume:

And here's the kiddos after a long night of playing and trick or treating:

Happy Halloween!

Thanks for stopping by!

xx 

Cream Cardigan

It is definitely the season for warm cozy cardigans! 

This was sewn with a soft, cream knit from Joann's using the same pattern as the red cardigan back in February. Next should be black!

And just for fun, my 4 year old picking out pumpkins! Love autumn! 

Thanks for stopping by!

xx

Red Skirt with Grosgrain Ribbon

Red fabric. Grosgrain ribbon. I am in love.

A bold skirt with a bold personality!

I thought this fabric was lovely for Christmas... or anytime if worn right!

This is following my favourite pattern HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!

xx