Easy Summer Dress

I made one of these last year, from the “per inch” stash of shirred fabric from Jo-Ann.  The fabrics are so cute, they are hard to pass up.

I have to fix a tie that’s a little off, but other than that, it’s an OK dress. 

The fabrics are so cute, but really, when you stitch them up, there’s just not a lot of shape to the dresses.  I am wondering, if I cut off the part below the shirring, hem it, then add some elastic to the bottom to make it more of a skirt, will it look cuter as a shirt/skirt combo? 

If you have any ideas or suggestions, please comment.  I’d love to hear about your experience with these fabrics.

A baby girl gift in waiting

My friend, Missy, had her second baby recently.  I was ready with some handmade baby gifts – more burp cloths and appliquéd onesi’s.  I love the bugs on these.   How perfect for a baby girl!

Too bad two sonograms were WRONG!  She was surprised to deliver a healthy, bouncing, baby BOY.  Woops!  Congratulations and welcome to the world, little guy.

My handmade gifts were not what she needed!   I guess I’ll keep them handy for the next person I know who has a baby girl. 

Sorry, Missy, give me some time and I’ll give the little man and the big brother a sweet little gift. 

To the Creek!

We have a creek that runs along the back of our property.  Recently, we have created a path to it.  The kids love the path.  They have yet to discover how much fun it is to play in the creek, but I know that will come over the years. 

Tonight, after work, instead of heading in straight for dinner, the warm evening air and sunshine kept us out.  We went to the creek!

On the way there, we had so much fun finding things

A pine cone, two “flowers” (AKA weeds, but to the innocence of a child, it’s a flower), a large leaf, and

A four leaf clover!  Corinne found it herself, amongst a LOT of clover.  She picked it out in less than 1 minute! 

I have it in between some wax paper in a book right now.  I’d like to frame it and hang it in her room.  What a token of luck! 

Stash Busting for a Summer Wardrobe

The spring weather we had last weekend got me in the mood to not only garden, but make some more handmade clothing for Corinne.

Poor Nathan, I still have yet to make him some clothing…it’s on the list.  Girl clothes are just so darn much CUTER than boy clothes!

I am pretty sure I can make a few items without having to buy more fabric or patterns :)

A new skirt :)

  Another new skirt.  I have been wanting to attempt this Twirly Skirt Tutorial for over a year.  I love this fabric, perfect for twirling.

I’d like to also get a new dress or two for her in.

And I am still making progress on Nathan’s quilt.  I ran out of white for the sashing, otherwise, the top would be done.  I need to get this done soon.  The poor guy is about to climb out of his crib.  He really could if he tried hard enough. 

A hint of Spring

Open windows.

Outdoor wildlife.

A 4 year old’s version of a flower for mommy.

Hunger for color in the yard.

A baby gift – Onsies and burb cloths

My friend Julianne is about to pop with her second baby girl.  She loves handmade things as much as the rest of us, so I thought I’d make her a gift for her new little one. 

What infant doesn’t need need onsies and burb cloths? 

These were a great, quick gift to give.  She loved them.

I love the way the owl came out.

2 Year Old Birthday Party

I am so late in posting this.  My son had a big birthday a few months ago.  He turned 2!  It’s so  hard to believe he is already 2, the first 2 years with him flew faster than the first 2 years with my daughter.

Nathan loves trains.  To celebrate, I made him a train cake. 

I used a cake pan that I received from my mother in law that makes a bunch of mini-trains.  Because the day before his birthday party was a very busy day, my husband and I stayed up late to decorate the cakes.    We covered it with a large piece of cardboard propped up by cereal boxes, so it could be a big reveal for the birthday boy at his party.  We decided to use a lot of the candy that we received from the many holidays, and we were successful in using up most of it.      This one was a caboose!

I enjoyed every moment that went into the cake.   The most fun of the cake was seeing how much the 2 year old boys (cousins) enjoyed it.

Now, to see the most awesome home made train cake in the world, go see what Katie recently did.  I am totally amazed!