The Write Way

A quick post today....

Back to school time...I am sure that once they actually go back, I will have some emotional or pseudo-wise words.  For now, however, we had an excellent summer (my favorite to date) and in this final week it is painfully clear that it is time for these people to go back!

Sir E had a "pencil bag" on his school list.  Fine.  No, not fine.  They look like crap.  Cheap plastic things with wimpy little, tiny zippers that stick.  He will break this in two months.  In two months the stores will be introducing their spring clothes for next year and will not even have replacements easily available.

Time to dust off the sewing machine...

Some old scraps...

A flap to keep his "tools" from slipping out...

Pencil case.  Holds all of his pens, pencils, erasers, glue sticks, and room for scissors.  The straps are just pony-tail-holders sewn in....

Roll it up and Tah-Dah!  A durable, useful, pencil case!    Whew, now lets get those kids to school!

A wee little project...

A quick pictorial of another outfit for Madam Lu...

 

 

The front.

The back.  The appliques wrap all the way around front to back...you know how insistent I am on making the back as cute as the front...

A close-up of the applique, which should fringe a little around the edges and really makes the skirt so much more...well, more!

Fabric is Exhausting, Apparently

While I know you are waiting for pics from our recent trip to Vermont, I must tell you that we lost our good camera and tried to use the boys.  The pictures are not as splendid as I had hoped.  I will post what I have, though.  In the meantime, yesterday I dusted off the sewing machine and made another summer outfit for Madam Lu!

This is the back.  Once again, I used all scraps...and a lot of improvising.  I LOVE these little 2-piece bubbles, but as my child is monstrously huge (she is 2 but wears size 4), no one makes them in her size...so I did!  For the ribbon ties in the back...I simply took ribbon and sewed it together so that there is no "back side", the print is on both sides... it looks cute no matter how the ribbon hangs.  And as always, I try to make sure the back of the outfit is as cute as the front.

Trying to get the Beast to pose AND smile is really hard.  I mean, have you ever tried to photograph a beast?

It is kind of blurry, but she is smiling.

I did not have enough of any one fabric to do the entire ruffle, so I randomly cut 3 different kinds of pink fabric and I think it turned out pretty cute!  Using scraps really forces you to use your imagination!

Back to the drawing board.  I got all of my scraps out and asked her to help me pick out the fabric for her next creation.  After choosing, she took a nap, with a scrap "nigh-night".  Apparently Beasts are exhausted by fabric...which may be useful information if you ever come across one!!!!

Another Day, Another Ruffle

Scrap Project #2

This is my original drawing, but I decided to make a 2 piece set instead.

The finished skirt.

  This is the front of the finished top.

This is the back of the finished top.  She would not pose for a picture today, but I will try to get some soon!

Daisy Scrap Sundress, A Tutorial

Easy, no buttons, no zippers...just cute!

I have a ton of scrap fabric.  Literally, boxes.  We have a relationship.  When I choose each piece of fabric from the thousands available, it is because it speaks to me.  I bring it home, wash, iron, create and then, say goodbye????  Not if there are a few inches of my friend left.  I put the scraps in a bin for a 'later' project.  Well, its later.

Each season I scour the stores looking for the perfect ensembles for Madam Lu.  I am always stuck with "I like this plaid, but YORKIES????  Seriously???  We have Dobermans" or "No matter how many bows you put on a monkey, they still throw poop, and I'm not putting her in a monkey dress" or "This looks like it was made for a prostitute back in 1987, um, hello, she's 3".  It is always exhausting.   

While some see clothing as simply an item of comfort to keep one modest, I see it as frosting on a cake.  Yes, a cake would look ridiculous without frosting, so we all frost.  But some cakes are smothered in store-bought, oil based, slime in a tub and some cakes are covered in butter-cream, fondant, piping, edible gold, edible flowers, etc.  Madam Lu's clothes are all about edible flowers and butter-cream....ha!

So I have scraps and I have a spring that is encroaching on my winter bliss...this means....sewing project.

For all of the moms who delight in things FREE and EASY and exactly your style....I give you the Daisy Scrap Dress....

I got out my scraps and arranged them by color on the table.  About half of them are in the washing machine as of this picture because one of my 'little helper' must have figured out a way to slither her body into the box and had quite a kitty nest...yes, YOU, Miss Melanie.

List.  I wrote down some ideas of things I could make.

 MAKE SURE TO MEASURE YOUR CHILD and write the measurements down.

This is one group of fabric.  This is all it takes to make a dress. 

And here is my 'pattern'.  Because I don't do buttons or zippers, all of my dresses have adjustable straps.  ANYONE can make them!  You can put whatever you want on your dress.  I just happen to like the flower...even polka dots of different sizes and fabrics would be adorable!

Now, for the top of the dress.  You need rectangles.  Rectangle #1 is the band that goes around her body...the one the straps will be attached to.  So, her body is 20" around...the rectangle is 22" long.  It is @5" tall. 

Fold in half.  Iron.

These little rectangles will make loops on the back.

Again, fold in half.  Iron.  See the back of the bodice with the loops...

This shows what the back will look like.

And finally, the straps.  Again, two matching rectangles @2.5" and these can be as long as you want.  You are going to run them through the loops and tie them in a square knot or bow, depending on their length.

See how the straps run through the loops and all you have to do is tie them.

OK, now for the skirt of the dress.  Think 'pillowcase'.  Two large rectangles...the same size.

I fold my fabric in half to make sure they are the same.

Two pieces.

I do not have a serger.  So all of my seams are a double fold.  I spray the fabric (water) fold in about 1/4'.  Iron.  Fold again.  Iron.  Do this on 3 sides.  Do not do it to the top.

Now, sew the sides together.  You should have a pillowcase with a rough top.

Turn your (2) strap pieces and (2) hook pieces inside out and fold down the middle.  Sew along the outer long edge.  Then turn them back to the right side.  Do not do this to the bodice piece.

Sew the bodice to the skirt.  You may need to gather your skirt...I use the long stitch method, but some just do it as they sew.

Attach straps to the front.  Sew.

Looking nearly done...

Attach the back hooks and sew.  Run the straps through.  The dress is done.  You don't even have to embellish it.  It makes an adorable, easy, breezy dress.  But, if you want to embellish... 

Applique looks much more difficult than it is.  I just draw what I want and then make it happen.  The "grass" is hemmed on 3 sides and sewn to the skirt.  About half an inch from the top I sewed another seam.  I want the top to fray....its grass.

Now I cut some triangles out...so it looks more "grassy".

And the flower...just draw a petal onto a piece of cereal box cardboard.  Trace it onto the back of the fabric.  Cut a stem, leaf, and circle.  Pin it all where you want it and sew it on...1/4" away from the edges.  The edges will fray to the seam and it will be adorable.

Cute!  Time: About 4 hours from design on paper to finished.  Cost: FREE

I had the grass wrap around to the back on one side.  I ALWAYS put something on the back...but you don't have to!

Tah-Dah.  It is a little long on her now, but spring is still months away and summer even longer...

I hope you are inspired!

A quick sewing project

 On one of my many, many jaunts to JoAnn's this month I found an adorable corduroy remnant.  What to do with less than one yard of fabric????  And so, while in the middle of making the dwarfs, I whipped up a little fall jumper for Madam Lu.   

I don't like to sew buttons or zippers...well, actually I have only done buttons once, but they were hard.  And I've never even tried a zipper, but I can imagine that lining them up would be very challenging.  So, I made these little straps to knot in a bow-ish shape on her shoulders....very, very easy...

The top and ruffles are just plain cotton.  I did sew backing of the same fabric on the inside of the bodice to keep everything smooth.  She has a white turtle neck and brown tights to wear with this...

And you know how I feel about ruffles!  Muwah!  Love them!!!!  It turned out pretty cute, very soft, and relatively easy to make; considering I made it all up (no pattern = yikes)! 

And this is what I have been breaking the monotony of the dwarfs costumes with....

Love to you all...

Falling for Fall...Camping and Cake-ing

It has been a busy, busy fall my dear ones!


We went camping at Oubache State Park.

Yes, we tent camp.  We used to all sleep in Big Green.  Little Blue was used to store our clothes and stuff.  That way, we dressed and changed Madam Lu's disasters in Little Blue ensuring all of the tramping in and out all day was not done where we sleep (cleaner beds).  This year, however; we moved the Little Sir's to Little Blue.  They did splendidly in their own tent.  And, without those little rat-pigs in my tent it stayed just as clean!

The heirs are dressed in Native-wear because we spent the day at Mississinewa 1812 (really, really cool).  I can not really explain Sir M's pose.  And why is Sir E looking soy joyous? 

 Two things about Camping De Haven.

#1 We camp in campgrounds that have (1) hot showers (2) flushing toilets (3) trees   We do not (1) television...are you that pathetic???...(2) radio (3) ipod, dsi, etc.

#2 If you tell Sir not to forget the air pump for the air mattress...and you may tell him 3 or more times...it is not reasonable that he will actually pack it.  Make sure you pack it yourself...first thing...before you even pack your underwear...because the air pump is really more important than clean underwear... 



 

Hiking!  We love it!

Madam Lu in a full-out jog on the trail.

This medium sized Bison came right up to Sir M...he really is an animal whisperer...

A teensy, weensy baby Bison!  OhMyWORD!!!!! 

When will the Sir's stop dressing up Madam Lu?  I mean, yes, I DID dress up my little brother...but that was different...he wore beautiful dresses, not storm trooper or boba fett or whatever this monstrosity of an outfit is...

I am so glad we caught this moment of Sirs' on 'film'.  Happy 7th Birthday, Sir M!

And what is a Birthday celebration without Madam Lu's life threatening ministrations???

I don't know who this is...but someone asked and Sir E began a tale that included Storm Trooper genealogy, politics, and possibly their religion...I am still not sure who this is...

And because I am always good for some cake humiliation....WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?  you ask...

Me: Sir M, what kind of cake would you like this year.  Sir M:  I want a chocolate cake with Boba Fett.  Me: Chocolate cake sounds wonderful...how about some green polka dots???? Sir M: No, I want Boba Fett.  So, this is a Boba Fett face....

If you look closely you will see the "inspiration helmet" on the table....I know, it is horrible, but good for a laugh!!!

Side note....this was my first time making fondant.  Store-bought fondant is horrible.  Home-made fondant is horrible.  It does look pretty, though, and is super easy to make and work with.  If you try to tell me you like fondant or you have a delicious fondant recipe; I will assume that you chew your own toenails for fun and love the taste of sweat...it is just a little category that I will put you in in my mind...lovingly of course, but still, you are totally a toenail chewer hence forth....

We took the kids roller skating on "fall break" day.  Madam Lu could have a future in roller derby!

This is Miss Faithy Pant's first birthday outfit.  Her dear and trusting parents (our cousins) told me I could make anything I want....Her animal is a butterfly and her colors are purple, blue and green.  It is hard to tell in the picture, but the butterfly's body is purple with white polka dots...not black...The edges should fray up nicely!

And baby butts really should be decorated...So this little caterpillar is just the thing!  And as Faith's clever mom pointed out...it symbolizes the metamorphosis of a baby to a big 1yr old!

And the tutu!  I was so very, very excited when she gave me free reign...a tutu!!!!!  What could be better?  I also made a hat, but that is for another day and another posting.  One that will show Miss Faithy Pants in her ensemble!!!

  Love to you all!  I'm off to make some chicken and noodles!