Fall Festival countdown!

A close friend of mine, my sister and I are doing a booth at a nearby fall festival the last weekend of September.  We had a booth last fall as well and I really enjoyed making items for the booth and the challenge of setting it up.  This year I am even more excited since our booth will be slightly bigger and in a better location and I've had more ideas in my head about how to set it up!  Here are some of the things I have been working on for the booth.

These are fabric rosettes to wear as pins or to put in your hair or on your purse. 

This one has plaid wool for the leaves and many of the others have burlap leaves.

These are double-sided cloth napkins made from vintage sheets.  I love the old colander they are in, its a really thin metal and has a rustic finish, of course I picked it up at one of my favorite thrift stores.

These are key chains or luggage ID tags.  They have vintage sheets and vintage fabrics on them and two of them have kitschy poems on them.

 This cracks me up and so does this one...

I thought these would be great charms for a backpack or purse too.

These are the bookmarks I've been cranking out.  The pieces of fabric are old quilt pieces that were never assembled. 

The little tin cup is a measuring cup. 

I added some crinkly ribbon to the edge of the buttons.  This genius ribbon is inspired by my sister's creation.  Its aged hem tape...how we age it is out little secret!  These are a few of the things I have been working on for the fall festival.  I'm focusing on smaller items this year.  I think they are better received than higher priced, more time intensive projects. 

A note for the Grandparents, I would've included a picture of AJ at her new hand-me-down dressing table however she didn't want to pose for a picture.  Someone at church passed down a dressing table to her Sunday and she had a fit over it.  She cried when I told her Dad would bring it home later so I had to pull the car around and load it up myself.  She was juiced up on cake that we had at a reception after church and it was dangerously close to nap time so loading up the table and taking it home in the moment seemed more prudent than listening to wailing all the way home and all through lunch and all through nap time routine!  Sometime you just gotta do what works! 

What you can find at a thrift store (or church yard sale!)...

Here are some of the treasures I've picked up in the recent months.  I've discovered that I love a church yard sale.  The older women who usually run them are generally always so graceful and kind and the atmosphere is usually a kind one.  The prices aren't outrageous either since they aren't just in it to get your dime!  Mostly they are places where you can find old stuff which is why I love going!

This mixer cover is a little frayed on the edges but I love the embroidery!

This is an enamelware teapot from Poland.  I have used it to heat water in, I hope that's safe.  Anyone have any wisdom about using old enamelware and whether or not its safe?

This is about six yards of fabric.  I just love how vibrant it is and the white polka dots are so fun next to the strawberries.  I've got to figure out what to do with border print fabrics since I have two cute ones. 

And here's a picture for the Grandparents, the other night I went to get in bed and I always keep a roll of toilet paper next to the bed for tissue.  As I went to go to bed I discovered this nice little nest of tissue.

I knew that AJ had Micah's belt earlier in the day and had been hanging it over the edge of the bed "fishing" but I didn't know she'd actually made fish!  And yes my bed is unmade (I know this would make my MaMa roll over in her grave) but I just see it as airing out the sheets during the day!!

Happy day to you and happy creating!

My "new" chairs and AJ's sunhat

A few weeks ago I found a couple of new kitchen chairs.  We have a modge podge of kitchen chairs and a couple of them are getting kind of squeaky and sway a bit...two bad signs for chairs.  I've been on the look out at thrift stores and antique stores for a couple more chairs that will last longer and look like something I'd want in my house.  I found two a few weeks ago. 

They appear to be oak and also appear to be antique.  I like to call them my "farm house chairs."  They have this interesting wire reinforcement.  Most chairs I've found like this are really shaky and squeaky.  These are neither.  They are so incredibly sound and sturdy and I think it is all due to the wires.  I don't know if an individual added the wires later but I would LOVE to know the story behind them.  Wouldn't you?

The spindles were what first drew me to the chairs and then the grain of the wood was so beautiful and rich.  I'm not sure if its something to mention or brag about or what but if you're curious they were 15.00 a piece.  I think its a steal and the thrift store where I found them supports a transitional housing group so I feel good about giving them my money. 

Of course AJ wanted up in the chairs so I thought it would be a good time to take pictures of her braids (which I LOVE) and her new sun hat (which of course she refuses to wear!!).  The sunhat is a pattern from a book by Emma Hardy "Making Children's Clothes."  It has adorable clothes and has been a good book to have when sewing for a small child. 

She has an itchy nose in this picture.  This morning as I was getting ready for church and leaning over the bathtub washing my hair I could hear that the house was very quiet, too quiet.

I quickly stepped out of the bathroom and called for AJ.  She yelled something indistinguishable and I went into the kitchen.  There she was with a measuring cup on the kitchen table and a whole box of baking soda overflowing out of the measuring cup and on to the floor.  She said, "I'm baking!"  I would have taken a picture but was pressed for time to get to church and it was a lot of baking soda to get up.  We wiped and wiped it.  Our floor and table is still grainy.  But on the bright side the baking soda got a couple of stubborn spots off our kitchen floor!

Little hands had a hard time not taking the hat off so I promised her a couple of rabbit marshmallows.  Something I try not to do but really wanted to take these pictures of her.

This picture shows the other side of the hat but it also shows a pitiful bottom lip demanding those rabbit marshmallows!!  Well happy Sunday and happy sewing this week!

Memorial day fun and new aprons!

We had a great Memorial Day.  The weather was perfect and we ate two meals under our shade tree in the backyard.  AJ had requested ice cream so we were happy to oblige and it was the epitome of happiness to watch her enjoy her ice cream cone. 

Buster loves to pace around the table and beg for a taste.  We had BBQ pulled pork and ribs from Winslows BBQ and we always love it.  We fancied up some canned baked beans with a little BBQ sauce, brown sugar and ketchup and boiled some corn. 

She's catching that drip of ice cream.  After she sat at the table for a while she wanted to sit in her swing and eat her ice cream.  That was pretty cute too.  She was as happy as a lark let me tell you!

For the past two weeks I've been making more aprons for the Peacock Cafe in Leavenworth and here are the five I've completed. 

I call this one the "Chick chick apron." 

The embroidery on the left is hand embroidered and the chick was done with my sewing machine.  I just sketched a basic outline and went over and over it with stitching.  Most of the fabrics used in my aprons are reclaimed linen from some really unflattering women's dresses.  I have to tell you that most of them already look like giant feed sacks before I deconstruct them. 

This picture does not do this apron justice.  I love the chocolate color of the fabric and the pale pink of the tea towel is beautiful along with the pale gray stitching on it.  The linen ruffle was cut from a really weird pants outfit that would've been completely see through because the weave is so loose.  But it makes an absolutely perfect ruffle on my aprons. 

It is really hard to photograph my aprons by hanging them up but I hope you can tell that this one says "Home."  There are few words that I think evoke such deep nostalgia like the word home does.  It has wonderful, rich nostalgia for me and I hope for most people.  I also think it evokes a deep sense of longing to belong somewhere.  I think it is perfectly suited to an apron.

This is my patriotic apron.  There is some red stitching detail on each pocket.  I was asked to make some aprons look patriotic but had a hard time coming up with something that I didn't think looked hokey.  Any suggestions?

You can see some of the red stitching detail in this picture.  The flowers I add are always detachable and can be worn on a shirt or a purse as well.

This might be my favorite apron out of this bunch.  The "Chick chick" comes close.  I love, love, love white linen and shell buttons.  Love it!  The embroidery also turned out just how I wanted it to.

The flowers are made from some chiffon fabric that I cut into circles and singed on the edges with a candle.  I think they look like brown poppies. 

I really enjoy creating these aprons out of old garments.  The linen is usually softer and on most of the 

backs of the aprons I used vintage sheets.  I hope to get a few more aprons done before I hand them over to be sold.  They take a good chunk of time to create since I want to feel inspired by them as I sew them. 

I don't really know how to "sign off" on my posts so I guess I'll say..."that's all I have to say about that"- to quote one of my favorite movies, Forrest Gump...well whatdaya expect, I AM from Alabama!!!!

Make it Work challenge and AJ's new do!

I have another reason to sew this weekend (as if anyone really NEEDS a reason to sew) and its the Sew a Straight Line blog's Make It Work challenge.  For some reason these types of flickr pool contests light a fire under me and help me crank out my sewing projects.  Go figure.  The first one I completed was a thrifted granny shirt that I picked up for 25 cents.  Now no offense to any one that might consider themselves in the "granny" category but the way I know this shirt is "granny" is because as I was checking out at the thrift store the cashier (who was most definitely a great grandmother) held up the shirt and said, "that's a really pretty shirt." 

It needed some de-frumping.  I took off the buttons, took off the white embroidered modesty panel and resized the whole thing. 

Scallops on garments is a trend I've just noticed.  I love the scallops on this Meghan Nielson skirt.   This will most likely be my next sewing project. 

The next top I finished I pieced together from three different patterns.  Here's the patterns:

I used the pockets from the Cynthia Rowley pattern, the main body from the vintage pattern, and the wide straps from the Butterick pattern. I also cut off the main body of the vintage pattern to make it into a top rather than a dress.  I have never "remixed" patterns before and am really glad I tried this.  I now know how to put inset pockets in the side of a garment.  Turns out its not hard at all!!

This is the end result and I'm pretty happy with it.  I probably would've taken it up on the sides had I not already sewn the pockets in.  Live and learn.  The white fabric is just white muslin and the triangle in the middle is from some fabric my Mom gave to me.  Recognize it Mom?  I am glad that I gave this challenge a whirl since it now helps me look at the individual pieces of my patterns differently.

I can't blog without mentioning the little sweet pea.  She has become attached to a new hair do and I think it is the cutest thing.

She recently watched the movie The Rescuers (a childhood favorite of mine) and the main character wears two ponytails.  AJ wanted her hair to be like "Penny's." 

Pointing and saying "I want the mickey mouse magnet."  AJ and I were making cookies for a friend that was coming over to visit and she loved helping.  The shirt she is wearing is another peasant top that I've made for her summer wardrobe.  It has these cute chickens with scarves on it. 

And here's one final photo of me during my "photo shoot" with Micah.  Whenever he takes my pictures for the blog he always does some kind of paparazzi shenanigans.  This time he was singing the song Paparazzi while clicking the camera at lightening speed.  It never fails to get to me.

Well that wraps us up for this Saturday!  Talk to you soon!

Summer Outfits for AJ, a new skirt for the Momma, and Mother's Day photos

I am adding my pictures to the elsie marley  kids clothing week challenge flickr pool and have had fun adding a couple more outfits to AJ's summer wardrobe.   This first ensemble has the peasant blouse that I mentioned on a previous post and this time I added some white lace down the middle of the blouse, left off the ties, and added elastic to the arms.  The shorts are from this post of a tutorial on knot shorts.  Its always a new challenge for me to make my own pattern and I like it.

This in the second outfit and it is the same peasant blouse and shorts.  The shorts are made out of a pale green linen (from a thrifted dress) and the top is from a thrifted vintage sheet.

Here's the top in more detail.  I just love the florals on vintage sheets.

And here is the peasant top in more detail.  I wanted the lace to lay down flat and be a little neutral since I sometimes end up layering AJ's white shirts under her dresses.  I think this might be the completion of her wardrobe.  Although I do have one more outfit to post for her later. 

Now on to my skirt.  It is from Simplicity 2451 and I really like the way it turned out. 

If you keep up with this blog you know I like to thrift a lot of fabric and this blue was another thrift find.  I almost passed it up but am glad I went ahead and brought it home. 

This skirt was recommended on Pattern Review and was a favorite pattern and was said to be flattering to most body types...always a bonus!  The only alteration I made was to let it out a quarter inch on both sides just so that it wasn't too tight.  I wore it this past weekend and really liked the length and the pockets. 

And finally for the actual Mother's Day photos.  I thought I would first post a sweet one...

And next post a realistic one...

GOOD GRIEF this child gets harder and harder to wrestle into submission!!! Ha!  If you can notice the dress that I am wearing is from this post.  Its the Burda pattern that I just loved.  The fit was just right for me.  I still plan on making more.  Well take care and happy sewing!

Mother's Day posting, just a little late!

I wanted to post for Mother's Day but am just getting around to it, hmmm guess that's part of being a mother, less time for things like blog posts!  Anyway, I wanted to post this picture of me and AJ taken on Easter Sunday.

Being a Mom is such a multi-faceted experience and would be diminished by my thinking that I could summarize everything about it in a small blog posting but I will say a few things....

#1) Its THE hardest job I've ever had- I don't think anyone can describe for you how physical it is and how physically taxing it can be what with the lack of sleep in the beginning when they are babies and the constant motion as they grow into toddlers, not to mention the terrible twos...don't get me started!

 #2) I never knew I could feel so incredibly vulnerable- as my Mom says, "its your little heart running around in the world." 

 #3) I live more in the moment now than I think I ever did before I was a Mom- I guess a child is an inadvertent way to become more Zen or more like a Contemplative! 

#4) I never knew just how much overwhelming joy I was missing from my life before I had AJ-  I've really noticed this lately when looking through photo albums before Miss AJ and after Miss AJ.  I really loved my life before her but I just have SO MUCH joy now. 

#5) It gives me a deeper level of gratuity for my parents- after all somehow they had four of these energetic things and they did such a great job of loving us all.

#6)  Family times together are even more important and more wonderful- We love having our family visit but now we LOVE seeing our parents with our little girl.  There's just something about seeing your child with your parents, it feels like a gift you give back to them for all the hard work they did on you!

These are just a few of my reflections on Motherhood and they are just a snapshot of all that I've learned these past two and a half years.  Its a wonderful ride and I'd never, ever change it for the world!

Spring tops, Easter weekend and the #1 reason why to beware of vintage toys!

I am entering tops in the Spring Top Week at Made by Rae.  I entered tops last year and found it to be a great motivator for me to make clothes solely for myself.  The first top is from New Look 6669.  I really like the fit and only had to make very minor adjustments. 

The fabric was from Hancocks and purchased last spring.  I had some problems with the exposure of the picture, I just couldn't get the fabric to come out the way is really looks.  Does that make sense?  Anyway I love the fit and will love wearing it.  It has a zipper set in the side and is hidden, it made my brain hurt to figure the directions out the first time but after that it was a snap!

The second top is from Simplicity 2599 which I have made a few times before.  This time I made it in a beautiful yellow silk fabric found at a thrift store.  I felt so lucky the day I found about three yards of soft silk.  I've never had the nerve to buy it at the fabric store and then cut it up to sew.  I made this top with french seams so that the construction would be a little more durable.  French seams were a first too.  I'm really pleased with the results!  It will be a great church shirt.

This is top number 3 and also made from the New Look pattern.  The fabric is some swiss dot that I bought at Joann's last spring.  I love the lightness of this top and again the fit is perfect with the very minor adjustment of letting out the darts a little in the back.  Entering these tops in a contest really seems to be the push I need to get them done.  I know I'll love wearing them this summer.

Now to Easter weekend, a.k.a. the real reason why the Grandmothers read my blog!!!  AJ's dress turned out perfect in my opinion, I just LOVED the way it looked on her, love, love, love.

Look at those stockings and white shoes...again, I love it! 

AJ and Micah.  The hem is folded up in the back but you can see the seafoam bow on the front of the dress.

So sweet sitting on the grass.  Micah also did an Easter egg hunt with her in the back yard.

Yes that would be the compost bin in the background....pretend its a beautiful azalea bush.

And finally the number one reason why to beware of vintage toys!!!  I saw Strawberry Shortcake and her sister Apple Dumpling at an antique store and thought they would be perfect for AJ's Easter basket.  I love Strawberry Shortcake as a kid and thought AJ would too.  Needless to say we had a minor??? catastrophe on Easter morning.  After Micah took Strawberry out of her box he noticed her hair looked funny.  He pulled her hat off and out came a chunk of hair I took it and pulled (gently mind you), at her hair and it all came out except a mohawk down the middle.  I was horrified and told AJ that Strawberry only has a little hair.  She began to brush the mohawk and it came out too!! I felt terrible so I promised to take her to get a new doll.  She began to ask for her other doll and insist that I put the hat on Strawberry.  Poor girl, but actually I was way more horrified than she.  I just couldn't let her take the doll to church since I thought it looked so pitiful.  She was not happy with me, she really wanted to take it.  She did however take Apple Dumpling, her hair (thankfully) survived her being vintage. 

Poor Strawberry Shortcake!  I count it a lesson learned, never buy a vintage toy with hair!!! We made a trip to Toys R Us this week to buy a new Strawberry Shortcake with hair that did not instantly fall out.