Showing posts with label M. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Easter parade part 1

I was happily sewing my way through birthdays and planning summer wardrobes, when I realized Easter was less than two weeks away. How did I miss that? Yikes! Time to start sewing in double time.

My first projects were dresses for the girls. A friend had given me a huge bag of adorable Daisy Kingdom dress panels. I was so glad I sorted them all in December when I was making Christmas dresses. There were two prints that would be perfect for K and A. I already had a busy day planned on Sunday, but I stayed up late and finished both dresses. Yeah! Finished with Easter sewing!

Not so fast. M's first words when he saw the dresses on Monday were, "What will D and I wear? We need special Mommy clothes too." Time to start sewing again. When I pulled out the dress fabric for the girls, I noted a couple of prints that would work for camp shirts for M and D. Since I wanted to make them a little different than the shirts I made for Christmas, I decided to add a contrasting pocket, cuff and collar. Fortunately, I could use the same patterns, so I didn't need to alter another pattern.

Monday and Tuesday I worked on the shirts. (I'm really not an extremely slower sewer, I just have 5 kids to "help" me.) The whole time I was working on them, I couldn't stop thinking that I needed to applique t-shirts to match. I could see exactly what they needed to look like.

This morning I started on the t-shirts. I just could not stop myself. Unfortunately, I tried to save time by using a store-bought pattern instead of drafting one myself. I guess God wanted me to practice patience and self-control today. I had to tear out the collar in both shirts twice, and I still think the fit could be better. I have added drafting t-shirt patterns for the boys to my to-do list. I was so glad I had been collecting old  t-shirts. I didn't need to purchase anything at all. You have to love free Easter outfits!

M was so excited to see his new outfit. He truly is a joy to sew for. He showed it to everyone that stopped by today, and made sure they were very careful not to get it dirty. It has to be just like Mommy made it for Easter morning.


D was too filthy from playing outside for me to get close to him with his new clothes. I am hoping to try them on tomorrow before he eats breakfast. He isn't too picky. As long as they don't poke, squeeze, or fall off, he will be happy.

Did you notice that I didn't post any pictures from the girl's dresses? Well, I decided that they should have new shirts and purses to go with their Easter jumpers. Guess what I am doing tomorrow. If things go well (meaning Granny takes the kids to her house for a few hours tomorrow afternoon), I should be able to get the girl's things finished and posted. Maybe then I will have time to take pictures of the pillowcase dresses for the girls and pencil skirt for me that I made last week, or sew the last three tooth fairy pillows that I have the embroidery finished for, or work on the doll clothes for the Spingjita auction, or the capes for the auction, or recover the glider, or.... I'm sure you understand.

Linked to:

Wardrobe Wednesday at Brown Paper Packages








The Girl Creative

Friday, March 19, 2010

Nancy's Couture: T-Shirt Trunks

Nancy's Couture: T-Shirt Trunks
Another great idea for boys! M has several shirts that have paint, stains, or holes. Time to sew.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Dino land suitcase from At Second Street

I just have to make one of these Dino Land Suitcases from At Second Street. Actually, I think I will make a couple of extras for an auction at church and family reunion too. I wonder if I could make something similar using a superhero theme. My boys are crazy about superheros!

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Time for a new chore system


After surviving the holidays and the back to routine blahs, our old chore system fell apart with the nasty virus we have been passing around the last few weeks. Since everyone was getting bored with it, I wasn't too sad to see it go. Unfortunately, I didn't have any plans for a new system, so things are starting to get out of hand around here.

I wanted to use a system that was easy for both the kids ane me, didn't cost anything to set up, offered instant feedback for the kids and daily inexpensive incentives. Sounds simple, right?

I finally decided to use individual cards for each chore for K, M, and A. (D is still just happy to help with anything I ask and E will not participate in anything that I use for the younger kids. I'm still looking for something to motivate E.) I have cards for jobs before and after breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus some bonus cards. For example:
Before breakfast
  • get dressed
  • put away pajamas
  • put away bed cup, book and warmer
  • make bed
  • brush hair
  • clean bedroom
Each child has an envelope for jobs that need to be done and completed jobs. As they complete each job, the card will be moved to the completed envelope. I have all of the jobs for the day sorted by child and time to make it easy to refill for each new time period. I can award bonus cards to behavior or extra jobs. At the end of the day, they can trade their completed cards for a treat.
Treat ideas
  • mini marshmallows
  • pennies
  • time at the park the next day
  • computer time
Hopefully by varying the rewards, the kids won't get bored with this system so quickly. 

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Why do I want to make a cap for M?

I need a cap for M for Little Contenders, and I have the strangest urge to make it instead of buying a cheap cap at Wal-mart. I have never had any desire to make a cap before, and there is already plenty on my to do list, but I have been putting off buying one for months now so I guess I need to start sewing. I think denim would make an adorable cap, plus I could get rid of another pair of jeans from my stash. I'm on the hunt for the perfect cap pattern or tutorial. Any suggestions are most welcome!


Not for M, but I think Scott might get a lot of use out of something like this ear muff thingy from Craftstylish.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Slippers

A received some slippers for Christmas, but M and K have been feeling left out. These bear slippers from Instructables will be awesome for M and D.
K and A would both love these adorable ballet slippers from ikat bag.

Magic set

This absolutely brilliant magic set from ikat bag is definitely on my to-do list. I think this will be a great gift for M this year.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

String piecing challenge

Loft Creations string challenge is just the push I need to work through my enormous stash and actually make quilts for the kids. (I have been "planning" to make them for several years now. Why didn't I start when there were fewer kids????) It may be a hard to get anything finished before the deadline, but without the deadline, I never seem to get started.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Flower Quilt


The Flower quilt featured on Moda Bake Shop is so cute! Maybe this will be the first of 5 quilts that I really want to make this year. I wonder if I could get it finished for M's birthday? Here is another picture that allows you to zoom to see details.

Valentine Garland


I think Oh So Crafty's Valentine Garland will be a great project for M to do next week. This can be the first seasonal decorating of the entertainment center. Yeah!

Monday, January 4, 2010

Guilded lace crowns


Bitter Betty
has a super tutorial for making crowns. These will definitely be a hit with all of my kids!

Disguise kits


Look at the Box of Mysterious Disguises on Hideous! Dreadful! Stinky! I think this would be perfect for K to make for M or D for birthday this year.

 
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