halloween 2011

This is what my kids looked like when they left the house this morning. Great costumes, right? Kidding. The kids aren't allowed to wear Halloween costumes to school. It is disruptive to learning, apparently. Actually, I am sure it is disruptive to learning but, come on, it's only one day! They have still had lots of Halloween fun though. We went to the 'Trunk or Treat' at Church on Saturday and this afternoon we will be going to Michael's office for trick or treating and we'll make the rounds around the neighborhood tonight too.

Here they all are in their costumes at the Trunk or Treat:

Liam is a magician. I bought the hat at Party City. I made the cape and the bow tie and painted a wooden dowel for a wand.

Sutton is a fairy. Costume purchased at Costco. This is Sutton's first time wearing make-up. She looks way too grown up!

Ez as a fireman. Costume purchased at a second hand store for a few bucks.

Gemma is a cute little cow! Another Costco costume!

I kind of loved not sewing all the costumes myself this year. It was so easy and relaxed and everybody was happy!


Happy Halloween!

five things friday: birthday pictures edition

My birthday boy with his birthday breakfast still on his face- pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon and orange juice.

We took the family to a hot air balloon festival. 

The plan was to take a tethered ride in a balloon but that didn't pan out. We are hoping to go again next year.

Ezra demonstrating his additional year prior to opening his presents. 

CAKE! Please note the smoke coming off the candle to the left-- heart shaped-- how freaking awesome is that??

HAPPY WEEKEND, FRIENDS!

leafy treetop spot

I'm guest posting today at Leafy Treetop Spot! I was lucky enough to meet Tricia when my sister-in-law, Kate, married Tricia's brother, Dustin, last July. Tricia is super nice and genuine and talented and to boot! Go check out my tutorial for a Peter Pan Collar. It's a cute and easy way to dress up a t-shirt or dress!

sewing for me: another most flattering shirt

I made another "Most Flattering Top". I love green. It's such a cheerful color. I realized recently that I have a lack of green in my life; in my wardrobe, in my home. So this is my first effort to add a little green.

I did nine rows of shirring on the last top. This time I only did one row in front...

and three rows in the back.

It gives the top a little more relaxed, flow-y feel. This top would look great with a trendy belt-- I need to get one of those!

I think I am going to make one more in a Fall-ish print and add sleeves. Have you made a "Most Flattering Top (or dress)? You can find the tutorial here.

five things friday

Whew. What a week. Lot's of coughing and fevers and earaches going on here. Liam and Sutton are currently both on antibiotics. We've never had multiple people on antibiotics before. While their drug use is overlapping they weren't really sick at the same time. It was one after the other. Which means two trips to the doctors office and many days of bundling up a sick kid to drive to the school to drop off/pick up the healthy kid.

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I chopped off my hair. It's okay. Part of me loves it the other part feels like it's the mom version of Little Orphan Annie. Oh well, it's only hair. Plus it is way better than the alternative, which was using Michael's clippers to buzz my head. That's how frustrated I get when my hair gets too long and unmanageable.

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I have to tell you about a friends new blog, A BLOG ABOUT LOVE. Mara is one of my dearest friends. She has been through a lot of trials in recent years (infertility, divorce). She (and sometimes her husband, Danny) writes about her experiences and finding strength and faith that she didn't know she had. Mara has always been a beautiful, smart, inspiring woman but her trials have changed her, she has transformed into an even more beautiful (yes, you can actually see a difference in her countenance), smart, inspiring woman. She has a peaceful confidence that I really admire. Check it out. You will be inspired too, I promise.

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Today is October 21. Can you believe that I haven't even decorated for Halloween? I used to love to decorate for all the Holidays. I guess I still do, I just haven't had the time or energy. Let's just pretend that my house looks like this or this. Also, we are doing store bought costumes this year (gasp!). I end up spending about the same amount of money when I make costumes plus all the hours I spend and let's be honest don't kids always want the crappy store bought costumes? Mine do and I did when I was a kid.

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Last but certainly not least, tomorrow is Ezra's third birthday! I can't believe my baby boy is three. Ezra was my easiest baby and continues to be my easiest kid. He is so easy going and is always happy (unless he is super tired). Ezra is really into sports, something that is new for our family. Liam is more artistic than athletic. Sutton is pretty athletic but isn't intrigued by sports the way Ezra is. I love how different they all are! This weekend will be spent celebrating Ezra and all the things he loves.

Have a wonderful weekend!

thrifty finds

I mentioned my thrifted desk and night table a couple of weeks ago and had a lot of requests for pictures. Sorry it has taken me so long. I probably should have just waited to share once everything was in it's place but I was so excited when I bought the desk and night table that I couldn't wait to tell you all!

As with most old houses our "Master Bedroom" is pretty small- about 11"8' x 12'8". We don't have a separate office so the desk and book shelves reside in the bedroom making the room feel even smaller. It's tight but it works.

Thrifted night tables (stands? Is there a difference?). The one on the left is Michael's and is the one I bought a few weeks ago for $18. The table on the right is mine. I bought it a few years ago. I don't remember how much I spent for it but I think it was $20 or less.

A close up of Michael's night table. It is not identical to mine but pretty darn close!

Here is the $35 thrifted desk. I love it! We used to have a huge IKEA desk but it wasn't used enough to justify the amount of space it took up. We gave it to my sister-in-law. She works from home and needed a big desk. This desk is the perfect size to be tucked into a corner of our bedroom and with the four drawers it actually has more storage space then the huge desk.

Above the desk I hung the family's silhouettes. They are in desperate need of an update though. We have a whole other person in our family now!

When I bought the desk it came with two butterfly knobs. Definitely not my style!

I found some awesome MCM knobs on eBay but was not willing to pay $25/knob. I bought these egg shaped antique bronze knobs at Lowe's for $2.70/knob. I think they look perfect with the desk.

I haven't been thrifting in a couple of weeks. I am itching to go to day but Liam, my oldest, is home sick. So help me live vicariously through you! What amazing thrifted items have you found recently?

five things friday

I am currently having a love affair with shrimp. I've never been a big fan of shrimp (probably has something to do with the shrimp I saw at my aunts house once- a sink full of whole shrimp. Tails, shells, eyes. It was all there and it was gross.) but suddenly I love it and can't get enough. Last weekend we added shrimp to quinoa and black beans. It. Was. So. Good.

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With the return of fall my obsession of all things pumpkin is back. So far we have had pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin bars. I think I will make the pumpkin bars again this weekend for a family dinner I am hosting.

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Last night Sutton and I went on a date to see Disney Princesses On Ice. Oh man, she was in heaven. She loved every second of the show. Her eyes were glued to the ice the entire time but at one point she leaned over to me and said "You're awesome Mom." Awwww.

not a great picture- she was so excited she could stand still- but i love her real smile

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I have made the switch to cloth diapers. I know, I am like eight years too late but the old adage, 'better late then never' certainly applies, right? I have always felt guilty about using disposable diapers. I am certain that having three kids in diapers for three years each plus Gemma's eight months of life has produced enough disposable diapers to fill one entire landfill. My neighbor uses cloth diapers so I got so see it in action and it didn't seem as intimidating as I had thought. After that realization I couldn't squash the guilty anymore and decided to give it a go. I ordered Flip diapers. They fit both Ezra and Gemma which is very convenient (hopefully Ez will exchange them for underwear soon!). Today is only our second day. So far, so good!

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Today I am going to IKEA with a friend. I don't have anything that I have to buy which is more dangerous than going into that store with a long list! Here's hoping that I can be prudent and not buy everything that catches my eye!


Have a fabulous weekend!!

onesie dress embellishments

These aren't super detailed instructions but hopefully with the pictures and text it will provide you with some ideas to dress up your onesie dresses!

I used elastic thread in the bobbin on most of these embellishments. It may not be necessary since the back part of the onesie will have stretch enough to fit over you little one's head but I used it just to be safe. Using elastic thread does result in a gather but I have found that unless you have several rows of stitches with elastic thread (shirring) the gathering is minimal and unnoticeable.

tuxedo ruffles

This embellishment has raw edges and is suitable only for knit fabric. Cut five 1" strips. 1- 8" long, 2- 6" long, 2- 5 long". Ruffle the strips with a gathering stitch.

With the ruffles hanging over the neckline (onesie and ruffles right side together), center and pin the 8" ruffle on neckline. Pin the 6" strips on either side of the 8" strip. Pin the 5" strips next to the 6" strips. Sew the ruffles to the onesie just underneath the binded top edge of the onesie. I know that is worded weird... does it make sense at all? (The reason I sew the ruffles to the onesie this way is to make a cleaner ruffle that lays flatter on the dress.)

Flip the ruffles down. Pin. Sew down the center of each ruffle over your gathering stitch. Remove the gathering stitch.

gathered neckline

Cut a strip of fabric- 2.5" x 16. Make a fabric tube by sew your strip together lengthwise, wrong sides together (the raw seam will be hidden later). Center the seam on the back and iron.

Gather your fabric tube by sewing (with a gathering or basting stitch) down each side 2/16" from the edge.



Fold the shoulder flaps of the onesie back. Center and pin the gathered fabric tube just beneath the binded neckline of the onesie. Sew with a regular straight stitch using elastic thread in the bobbin. Remover the gathering stitch.

little bow

Cut a strip of fabric 1"x7" on the bias. Fold and iron the raw edges to the center- wrong sides together.

Fold the shoulder flaps of the onesie back. Center and pin the strip just beneath the binded neckline of the onesie. Sew with a regular straight stitch using elastic thread in the bobbin.

Make a fabric tube by cutting a 2"x12" strip of fabric. Fold in half lengthwise, right sides together. Sew with a 1/2" seam allowance, leaving the ends open. Turn your fabric tube right side out. This can be tricky with such a narrow tube- try this magic tube turning trick. (Yarn works well too!) Iron your fabric tube and tie into a pretty bow. Trim the ends. Stitch close and parallel to the raw edges to minimize fraying. To further discourage fraying use a little fray check on the ends. From the back hand stitch the bow to the neckline. These stitches also prevent the bow from untying.

ruffle neckline

This embellishment has raw edges and is suitable only for knit fabric. Cut a strip of fabric 1.75"x15". Gather one long edge. Fold the shoulder flaps of the onesie back. Pin the ruffle with the gathering line matching up with the binded neckline of the onesie, right sides together.

Stitch just beneath the banded neckline of the onesie. (I used elastic thread in the bobbin on this one too)

Remove the gathering stitch. Trim the excess fabric. Fold the ruffle down and topstitch.

I embellished these onesies a while back. No instructions, but they are both pretty self explanatory and would be adorable with or without an attached skirt!

 

Any of the embellishments would also work for a toddler, little girls or even a woman's shirt. 

Happy embellishing!!