I love it when someone you love

Makes something spectacular and lovely  My dear friend Eliza or Wrenne in the music world is so inspiring to me.  We have been friends since we were babies and I have always known her as one of the nicest people I have ever known.  You know the type.  Not a mean bone in their body type.  Just full of joy.  Creative beyond belief.  That’s Eliza.  I love her.

She moved away after high school and went to England.  She wanted to be a musician.  She has always been so insanely talented musically.  She has been at it this entire time and she just came out with her first single, Come Alive!  I just love it and had to share it How sweet is the video with her daughter!

You can download Come Alive for FREE from the Wrenne Facebook page the download link is near the like button.

Have a listen, enjoy the fabulous song and happy Friday!

I wiped the dust off of my machine

and finally sewed something!  I took a trip to Joann fabrics the other day and saw that they were carrying cloth diapering supplies and since I had wanted to give making my own a shot, I bought some stuff and went for it!

It was hard!  I used the Sprout Snap free template for a one size diaper.  The stacking doll fabric is cotton and I used a hidden layer of PUL and the inside is microfleece with a bamboo soaker sewn in.  Since the pattern comes with no instructions I just had to wing it.  I messed up on a few things like the socket portion of snaps that should be applied AFTER the diaper is complete so that they go through all the layers and can actually snap into the sockets applied before sewing the diaper together.  Also, topstitching while stretching elastic is massively hard to do.  It didn’t end up pretty.

As you can see, the pattern didn’t work out in my favor.  I didn’t think about the fact that once you wrap the diaper around the baby, whatever is one their butt will be upside down.  In hindsight, if you have a directional fabric you will need to decide where you want it right side up and then piece it together with another fabric or flip one end so that you have both  going the correct way once it is done.

Then I decided to try a fitted diaper with some snap in soakers.  This one went a lot better but was still really difficult to wrestle with the elastic.  The outer and inner fabric were used from a swaddle blanket that is now too small for her.

I added a layer of microfleece to the inside and also a bamboo soaker.  I then added two snap in liners which can be separated and removed.

I tried this one out last night and despite all the layers, she still soaked through it.  I think bamboo velour would have been a better choice for the inner instead of cotton jersey.  

This was fun to try something new, but holy cow are diapers a lot of work!  So much thought goes into what makes the perfect diaper and there are so many fabrics out there to choose from.  It really is a science and one that I am totally illiterate at.  So, I think I will leave this to the professionals.  I like buying cute diapers and having them delivered at my doorstep much better

Check out hyena cart for some seriously cute hand made WAHM diapers.  Happy Monday!

Wee Thrifty Wednesday

Hi all! I decided to do a Ellie fashion post, but she wasn’t wearing any vintage today.  She was wearing several thrifted things though, so I am making it a thrifty wee post instead

This little lady is going to be turning 8 months old on the 31st!  I cannot believe how big she is.  She is now sitting up and eating cheerios.  She is just too much fun!

She has also started wearing cloth diapers with her brother in the last few weeks.  I just couldn’t shell out $100 + a month for diapers and wipes anymore.  My sister in law helped me out a bunch and we are doing great with the cloth!  I am finding out what I like and don’t like and love that I never run out of diapers at 11 p.m. anymore  I have also purchased a few diaper patterns and may have to attempt to make a few myself!

This jacket is probably my most favorite thrift score ever.  I have an eagle’s eye for spotting Oilily clothing and I have found a few here and there over the years, but this one takes the cake.  Can you stand the ruffles and the Matyroshka dolls?  I collect those!  I adore them.  Now my baby has a jacket with them all over it.  I die.

Her moccasins are my other favorite find.  They are pink and they have scalloped edging.  They are perfectly girly and I found them brand new for under $5.   The box is a gem in and of itself!  They are made in Quebec Canada by a mother and son team are are called Laurentian Chief.  They stay on really well too, also very important

So bring on the 9th month little one, you are too fun and we love you!

xoxo, Mom

outfit details:

jacket – Oilily, thrifted

jeggings – The Children’s Place

Moccasins – Laurentian Chief, thrifted

Happy Wednesday!

Wee Vintage Wednesday 3/14/2012

Today was the most beautiful sunshiney day!  It was in the 60′s and we spent most of the afternoon outdoors.  Eleanor especially loved being out in the sunshine watching all the kids playing and screaming This little lady will be 8 months old in about 2 1/2 weeks!  I cannot believe how the time has flown.  She will be turning one before we know it.

I know the weather is just fooling us and it will be back to snowing again soon.  I am so ready for spring.  I however do not love that I am already having horrible seasonal allergies

Can someone please explain to me how I am supposed to handle her cheekies?  Those things kill me.dead.

Here’s another view of the cheeks for those who adore them as much as me

Hope you are all well and happy and looking forward to the warmer weather and everything coming alive, I know I am!

 

Outfit details:

smocked dress-handmade and thrifted.

tights-Baby Gap

sweater- Gymboree

chair- Bumbo

Have a great wednesday!

 

A whole slew of hats

I wasn’t kidding when I say all I want to do is knit.  I literally do.  I love it so much.  Dream come true checked off my bucket list.  I can’t wait to get more experience and start doing sweaters and stuff!  I have been making billions of hats.  They are fast and easy and cute.  They only take one skein of yarn.  There are so many cute hat patterns on Ravelry, it’s almost overwhelming.  Here is my pretty stack…….so far…….

You can see all of my projects on my Ravelry page.  Happy sewing to all of you who aren’t me…..I can’t be bothered by sewing at the moment  Happy Tuesday!

Still just knitting……

So, nothing has changed in the creative department.  I still only want to knit.  I am learning lots.  I am learning patience mostly.  Knitting takes MUCH longer than sewing and sewing mistakes are easier to spot and fix imo.  I started this hat (my first) yesterday morning and finished it this morning!  I love almost instant gratification.  I am glad to say the the double pointed needles were not as scary as I had made them out to be in my head.  The pattern was excellent.  I never felt lost once.

The pattern is called Autumn Leaves and the yarn is some I bought at the Hearts & Crafts Show from The Fuzzy Bunny.  It is rambouillet wool and it is so soft!  I love the look of hand spun yarn!  I like the variation.

Here is my project page.

The kids are out of school for the week but we have been trapped indoors from snow and strept throat.  Sigh.  Happy Friday!

Shop Update

Hello and Happy Saturday!  I have updated the shop with some fabric scrap packs!  Great way to get lots of variety for a good deal

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mara

I have been knitting a lot these days and rarely sewing unless I have to.  I go through spurts of not wanting to sew at all.  Does anyone else?  Then the desire always seems to come back with a vengeance only to wane again a while later.  I am really enjoying learning to knit.  I have finished a few projects and just finished my first shawl.  The pattern is called Mara and it is by Madeline Tosh.  The yarn is also by MadelineTosh DK in Nebula.  It is so beautiful!  I cannot believe I made it!  I wore it all day yesterday and I was so cozy warm.  Now I am on a shawl binge.  I really want to learn lace.  My Ravelry queue is full of things I want to try.  You can find my Mara project here.

Happy Sunday!

 

Wee Vintage Wednesday 2/1/2012

Well hello!  Today is the first day of one of my favorite months  I love February.  I love Valentines Day.  I love that the days are getting longer and the sun is shining more.  I am loving the weather this winter!

This little lady turned 6 months old yesterday!  Can you even handle those cheeks?  I  confess that I cannot.  I eat up those cheeks all.day.long.  She is just blossoming after a hard decision to end nursing her.  She was not growing properly and was constantly angry/hungry.  My milk was pretty much gone I discovered.  First time I have ever had that happen.  So we gave her formula and she guzzled it like she had been famished in the desert.  She also started sleeping more than one hour at a time that night!  In the last month she has packed on 4-5 pounds alone!

She is also eating solids like a champ!  She loves anything and everything!  Way to go Ellie  She has also discovered her new love….jumping in her Jumperoo.  She LOVES it.  She also loves to give very slobbery kisses and cut her first tooth earlier this week!  The second one is about to break through, should only be a day or two more.  She has been very pleasant even though I know she has been uncomfortable.

She also appears to know her siblings names.  I am not kidding.  We have tested this several times.  When asked where Rowan is, she will look around until she sees him and lock her eyes on him grinning so big.  Same with Asher and Violet.  It is so cool!

She has discovered her right foot.  Not her left yet.  She also loves to roll around on the floor but has not figured out how to roll onto her tummy yet.  She loves to make spit bubbles and squeal at the top of her lungs.  When she sees me when I go to get her up from naps she squeals and pants like a puppy and smiles as huge as she can.  She is pretty much the most adorable thing ever  She is also very ticklish and loves to be tickled.

Just look at those chubby little knee caps

So, baby girl…..you are amazing.  I want to freeze time, you are growing far too fast.  I love seeing your little personality emerging.  You are just so sweet and love to be around people.  We love you little Elsie.

Outfit Details:

Dress: vintage

Tights: Old Navy

Shoes: vintage by Lullaby

Happy Wednesday!

p.s. Thank you to everyone who has supported the Pack Family  fundraiser! There are still loads of goodies to buy in support of them!  Go here for more details.

 

Hi Stranger!

I feel like a stranger.  It has been so dang long since I last blogged.  My life has been crazy to say the least and to top it all off, my baby got an ear infection, I got strept throat and my basements flooded twice.  But I am still kicking.  It is late and I need to go to bed, but I just wanted to let people who have been asking if I would release larger sizes for the Ruffled Baby Boots pattern and would I sell the pattern to my quilted tie on bib?  The answer to both is, YES!  I finally buckled down and made a 6-12 month size of the boots pattern and listed a new bib pattern in my shop.  I have also created a combo pack at a discount for anyone who purchases the patterns together.  Everyone who already purchased the boots pattern should have gotten an Etsy convo from me with download links to the update.  If you didn’t recieve a notice, please contact me and I will get you the new pattern.  Thanks friends!  I will be back with more soon

Quilted Reversible Baby Bib PDF Pattern

Quilted Baby Bib and Ruffled Boots Pattern COMBO PACK PDF