pink.

This week was mitten sewing week.  Because when it comes to children you can never have too much patience, or too many mittens in January.  I started by sewing Eli a pair of mittens from an upcycled wool sweater with some pretty trim.  Then I sewed Sadie a pair from a different sweater (which I thought was cool) but they didn't pass muster.  First, they looked too different from Eli's, then the strings inside bothered her (note to self: felted fairisle = no good for the tactile sensitive child.) After much tears, and exasperation on my part... I let Sadie pick out her own trim and wool--which I should have just done in the first place.  This is what she picked.

I used a pattern from an Oliver + S sewing book I have.  It's really quick and easy, and perfect for felted wool.  As a surprise I decided to applique a fairy on a pink t-shirt to go with them. For my girl who loves pink, and fairies.

This applique is just a cut out of some amazing Alexander Henry fabric I found here.

Isn't it sweet?  I actually bought a bunch of it to sew a duvet cover for Sadie's new big-girl bed.  

There's something good for the soul about bright colors in January.  And all this pink has me garden dreaming of things like this:

 and this...

and this...

 

photo credit: here

ah.... summer.  It'll come around again, but till it does

there's lots of sitting by warm fires, and knitting  to be done.

and of course, pouring through seed catalogs with a hot cup of coffee in hand.

summer sewing

This week I have been trying to balance our outside playtime with a little bit of inside sewing (and knitting).  It seems like Sadie has pretty much grown out of all of last summer's clothes, and its almost time to put away all the wool and fleece.  This year I have made it a goal to make most of Sadie's clothes--not only to save money, but because it makes it more meaningful to put love and time into things myself.  Not to mention quality control.  There is nothing more disappointing than cheaply made children's clothes--and it seems to be the norm more than the exception these days. If ever there was a population that could really put a garment to the test it must be kids ages 2-7.

I started out with this sweet little summer cardigan (pattern here on Ravelry) This should probably get a blog post all to itself, since it is only the third ever project I have finished knitting. I usually roll with the crochet--but after getting my stash of qiviut back from the mills I have made it my goal to become a more worthy knitter so I can tackle some big projects in the fall. Honestly, the sweater turned out super cute.  Sadie picked out the buttons herself, and it is just perfect to take the chill out of these not-quite-summer mornings. (knitted with superwash merino wool)

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Next up, the "super easy linen shirt" pattern from Sewing for Boys--made out of quilting cotton scraps.  Notice Sadie accesorizing with her "Bow like Emmaline."  (Our neighbor's baby has an amazing collection of bow & flower headbands that have become a major fascination for Sadie) This one is made from braided, upcycled t-shirt material and a kansashi flower that my mom made.

And of course, no outfit would be complete without some pants.  These harem pants are made from upcycled shirt sleeves.

The best thing about these pants it they are ridiculously quick and easy to sew (like a 30 minute project--no joke) because all the sewing is pretty much done for you.  Plus, you can't beat the price.

up next... I plan to tackle some of these beautifully soft organic cotton knits that I procured from the amazing (and wallet-shrinking) Spoonflower.  When Sadie saw the one with the horses she points to my sewing machine and goes, "mama, sew."  So maybe she'll get a dress out of that--but I also have plans for some clothes for our newbie--I guess I better get a sewin' since the countdown is on.  30 weeks tomorrow--how the time does fly!

Upcycled Wool Snuggle Bunnies

I haven't been doing much crafting or sewing lately.  It seems like it's been all I can do to keep up with the house chores,  the cooking, the dogs, my own little one, and the new little one I have been keeping an eye on during the day.  When a friend dropped off a bag of felted wool sweater scraps a couple weeks ago though, I just had to make something.

 

For some reason, Sadie's been really into bunnies lately, and the lovely piece of soft grey cashmere on the right just called out to become a rabbit.  I looked online for some bunny toy patterns, and found a lot of cute ones that were rag-doll style with long dangle-y arms and legs, but I had something more "Watership Down-but-also-snuggleable" in mind, and this is what I came up with.

The one on the right is actually Sadie's new favorite lovey.  It has been beaten around the house for a couple weeks, and is holding up rather well.  The one on the left is stuffed with raw wool and organic lavender and smells like heaven--it is a gift for a friend's little, so I have to keep it hidden, or Sadie will claim it for her own.   I would have liked to get a few more pictures to show what they look like from different angles, but Sadie kept snatching them up and trying to snuggle with them. 

Who can resist a snuggle bunny? If I can get my act together, I will put a pattern and tutorial on here in late March so you can sew your own in time for Easter. It is a really simple pattern, and a great way to use recycled crafting materials.  This would be a perfect addition to a little one's Easter Basket.  Happy up-cycling to you all!

homemade/handmade...goodies/treasures

Just finished up making a batch of this peppermint bark that many of the blogs I follow rave about. I have to say, it's good.  And pretty.

And I couldn't resist sharing these sweet little ornaments my mom made us.

Aren't they awesome? She made them with felted thrift store wool. Sadie loves these.  And its okay for her to love on these ornaments, because they are very unbreakable. 

Also, check out the coffee cup cozies she made out of up-cycled wool sweaters:

Add these to your list of great things you can do with wool from the thrift store!  Thanks for the Christmas treasures mom!

thirty below

Well, we knew the relatively warm winter weather wouldn't last forever.  On Wednesday, the thermometer began to dip down, down, down. Now it is for-real cold.  Thirty below not counting wind chill.  What have we been up to?  We have been inside staying warm and busy.

make-it-yourself MONDAYS

I have decided to declare Mondays here on my blog as a day to compile cool DIY craft ideas, recipes, or anything else along those same lines that I stumble over during the week and seems worth sharing.  As some of these projects get made I am going to start a blog give-away... but give me a few more weeks to get that up and running! 

If you have a blog and care to jump on the M-I-Y Monday bandwagon, leave me a message below, with your blogaddress or link to whatever project you are into, and I will link to your blogs/ideas in next Monday's post.  I figure this is a good way to get the creative wheels a spinnin' and share some great ideas! 

So here we go... 4 Awesome make-it-yourself projects....

1. 

I love this Vintage Pillowcase Apron idea!  I am always looking for make-over inspiration for worn and well loved items around the house that are not being used, but are too sentimental to get rid of. Look at the the little bar-towel that is buttoned on--SUPER CUTE!

2.   These Stoneware measuring spoons.  Please indulge me that my next three ideas are pottery.... I will be back in the studio at the end of the month, and I am bouncing out of my chair cant sit still super DUPER excited to play in the clay again. My friend Lindsay had these bright multi-colored ones, and a quick internet search revealed that they are from Anthropologie. No wonder I loved them.  I swear I am on the same pottery wavelength as Anthropologie,  its creepy. Sometimes I make stuff and a friend will be ask if I got it at said over-priced, whimsical retailer, and a quick look on their website will show that they are up to the same thing.  I should probably ask them for a job. I especially love the little shell ones...very sweet.

3. Speaking of spoons, I am also loving this spoon rest idea. I will definitely be playing around with this form in the "Jazz up Your Kitchen"  class I will be teaching.  I love the simplicity of this one.  Also from Anthropologie.

4. This magnetic fabric alphabet.  Awesome idea!  My wee kitchen helper will definitely be getting one of these when she is a little older... so much better than the plastic ones, and more kid-friendly imo.  And two thumbs up for hiding the magnets inside the letters so little fingers can't pry them off and make them a choking/swallowing hazard.

 

Happy creating to all you crazy crafters out there! 

xxoo Tara

screeching babies and fabric flowers

Today was rough.  Sadie is teething, and miserable.  She screamed a high pitch scream every time I exited a 2-foot radius from her person. She shrieked and fussed when I held her.  She thrashed when she nursed.  To top it off I was summoned for jury duty and told that being a full time care provider for my infant is not an excuse for deferral. Who is going to love and care for this shrieking child if not moi? Bah.  It was so bad, that by 8pm I did what any self-respecting mother would do.  I called my own mom and cried. 

There are a million things that I should have  done around the house today, but instead I needed something theraputic for my soul. So after I folded laundry and Sadie went down for a nap I made some pretties that may or may not end up in a care package for a certain flower-accessory loving sister in Ketchikan.

I love these flower bobby pins.  It is a super easy and fun project that I got from here.  It satisfied my craft bug as well as my pyro tendencies.  Win WIN! I cut up a slinky faux-silk diaper cover (aka polyester) that someone had given Sadie, and used pigment dye  to darken the edges of the petals (although, to be honest, I think a black Sharpie would have worked just as well.)  Some plastic pearl beads complete the look.  Quick and easy-peasy.

 

Then I finished up this crocheted flower scarf, which has Mamastasia written all over it: 

Finally, I gave Sadie a bath, which made her happy for a little while, then we had a silly photo shoot which made us both feel a little better.  Notice the teething grimace :( 

xxoo Goodnight!

something old to something new... t-shirt upcyle project

We all have those well-loved t-shirts hanging out in the back of our closets and drawers, the ones with sentimental value that just don't fit, or fit in,  anymore. I just finally threw out a  1994 Alaska Cross Country State championships tee that was seriously hanging in rags.  But what about those shirts that are still in good shape but just aren't getting worn anymore? My friend Amy sent me the pattern for this super cute baby sleeper which came from this awesome site:
http://thismamamakesstuff.com/2009/10/making-stuff-ramones-baby-gown/
I had to try it out!

For posterity: the cocoa puffs t-shirt is one that Loren saved box tops for and sent in to get a free t-shirt (and he did this while in college lol! I guess he really is cookoo for cocoa puffs!) The other is a screen printed tuxedo tee that my awesome artsy friend Anne made.  The sleepers were super easy to sew and you can cut the bottoms and sleeves in a way that the t-shirt hems become the baby garment hems.  The pattern actually calls for putting elastic in the bottom, but honestly, if you have a kicky little Chuck Norris like I do, the sleeper will end up around their middle by the end of the night anyway... so why bother with the elastic.  I give this t-shirt upcycle project an enthusiastic 2 thumbs up because...

 

I want to be formal... but I came here to party!