Handmade Halloween Shirts and a Dress

I finally did it!  I made all three kids something to wear to celebrate one of our family traditions!  This is of course always my goal but I usually only finish one of the kids outfits in time.  It helped that I used  the super easy Tee for Two pattern by Figgy's.  The pattern is for making raglan knit t-shirts or dresses.  The sew time for these tees was seriously about 15 minutes each!  I don't have a serger so I reinforced all the seams with a zigzag stitch since these take lots of abuse.  The fabric is from Joann Fabrics. The black is a medium weight knit and the orange sleeve are made from double stretch knit. I've made several of these in the past and the boys love how comfy they are!

We go to the same place with family every year and make a very special day out of it.  I love that I was able to make it even that much more special for them! 

For the design on the front I used freezer paper, a bleach pen, and some orange fabric paint.  This was really fun for the kids because they got to participate.  We found designs on the internet they liked and printed them out.  Next I traced the design onto the freezer paper and cut out the pattern.  We then used a bleach pen to lighten the black so you could see the paint.  Once the bleach was dry we finger painted inside the stencil with orange paint.  If you head over to A Lemon Squeezy Home you can see Christie's amazing freezer paper Halloween shirts.  Her haunted house was much more detailed and totally cool!  She just used the bleach pen which left the design several shades of orange.  That was my original plan but the orange was too light and didn't match the sleeves.

This is the color the bleached turned the black knit.

Cottage Fireplace Make Over.

I wanted to show you what my amazing decorator has come up with to fix the massive 1980's cedar fireplace. I originally posted here that I was planning to distress paint the fireplace and have a rustic beam mantel put in. I tried every color and style I could think of and nothing looked good!!! I finally gave up and called in reinforcement. One look and she came up with this. She is amazing!!

 Here it is now. 

We are still working on some changes.  I want to get rid of the cedar paneling all together and go with a more up to day paneling along the front.  It just amazes me how the drywall makes the top of the fireplace vanish!  You can see how they did it in this photo below.  We have a long way to go with the house but this will make a huge difference!  It's so big and right in the center of our home.  I can't wait however for the kids to warm up next to a cozy fire and roast marsh mellows.  Even if it still unfinished. 

oliver + s swingset tunic and simple skirt for baby girl.

I recently purchased my first oliver + s sewing pattern.  I chose  this swingset tunic and skirt pattern.  I really want to be sewing more for myself and the boys but Madeline needs some new clothes.  OK, let me rephrase that.  I want Madeline to have some different style clothes.  Everything she has is hand me downs and absolutely beautiful but I have been finding myself staring in her closet lately wishing for something a little less Easter dress and a little more Madeline.  I think I got it right with this one! 

I'm in love with oliver + s now!  The pattern was easy to follow and I love how professional looking it turned out.  The fabric I used for the top and skirt is something I've had in my stash for a couple of years and I can't remember who it's by.  The pink paisley is a super soft voile fabric and I think it's by Anna Maria Horner but I can't seem to find it online so that might be wrong.  I purchased it locally and was in such a rush I didn't even bother to look.  It reminds me a lot of the fabric I used for Madeline's sunsuit and my shirred sundress.  Its very thin and has the most vibrant colors.   

I didn't follow the oliver + s skirt pattern.  I decided just to do a simple elastic waisted skirt made from 2 rectangles.  The waist band is really small because I used scraps to make it but I really like how it turned out.  She has worn it a couple of times now and it looks super cute with a collared t-shirt.  I need to get busy making more of these skirts and take advantage of this perfect bubble butt diaper age. 





I didn't have any small buttons to cover with fabric so I went with invisible snaps again.  I love having those to fall back on!  I was not in the mood to do buttons anyway and she outgrows these clothes so fast that my standards for the fine details have gone way down!  She is also a little monkey and is into and on top of everything so my sewing time has gone way down as well!  But I know the time goes by fast so I'm enjoying every second of this sweet energetic baby. 



A cute headband from the scraps and a rolled knit flower with vintage button and off she goes.....

Home School Days

We don't always do what's planned but we learn.  I say "we" because as we move through our first official homeschool year I'm learning that some days just need to be different.  Yes, there is work that needs to be done but sometimes we all need a day to just enjoy God's glory.  We didn't complete anything on our list today but we did go exploring in the backyard.

We played with our kittens.  We got these two at the pound 2 months ago.  The Calico is Chopper and the black cat is Diesel.  After Diesel trains of course.  Diesel is the girl.

We read good books and did unplanned crafts.



The homeschool library is still not complete but getting closer.



Used tools just for fun.

These are the days I love most!