April 26, 2011

The Good Stuff


When I look around I think this, this is good enough. And I try to laugh at whatever life brings. Cuz when I look down I just miss all the good stuff and when I look up I just trip over things.

April 19, 2011

My Newspaper Boy


About two weeks ago now I finished this dapper hat for Calder. He had a khaki linen one last summer that I paid maybe $5 for on clearance. I found a pattern online, which went on sale just after I finished it. I decided I could make Calder a bigger one each year from now until he's way over wearing them. I'm guessing sooner or later he'll not be so agreeable to my fashion sense.


It was actually a bit of a sew. Not so much difficult, but time consuming. It's corduroy on the outside and lined with cream/green ticking. I'm loving this little man dressed up in items with a vintage feel.



I didn't have the right interfacing for the brim, instead I used what I had. In hindsight, I wish I hadn't. The brim is a little more flexible, wavy than I'd like it to be. Now I know for the next one.


I kind of feel like I've won with this one, Calder actually keeps it on his head. What more could a mama ask for.


And that's the last of the spring sewing I'm going to show off. I really feel every time I write a post like this I'm saying, 'look at me Mom, look what I did!' The other things are not so exciting, dyed and embellished onesies and tees (like the one Calder's got on here), skirts and the like. So that's all folks.

April 18, 2011

At Times

When you're a mama under the weather and not on the top of your game, this might happen: 

At least I had the foresight to get him half undressed. Right? OK maybe I was too wiped out to wrangle the little man who prefers his birthday suit. When I realized what happened, my first thought was to get the camera. Damage was already done, might as well document it. It is kind of funny. And now, the markers have 'gone missing' from the art supplies. Smile.

April 15, 2011

April 14, 2011

This Morning:

This morning followed a night of little sleep.  We made the most of it in an effort to keep our over tired moods at bay. This morning I am: 



playing go-fish before breakfast.



watching the littles read books.
loving that Piper reads to her baby brother about their favorite subject.



liking that Zac can bike to work.
wishing our apartment had a better place to store his bike.
appeasing requests to open the play dough container.


seeing lots of joint fun with the play dough.



fueling up on lots of coffee.



moving the crib out of the little's room...finally.
wondering why it took me so long. Ah, more breathing room!
removing the changing pad from the dresser - who am I fooling? No diaper changing happens there.



feeling fresh and new and clean.
kidding myself that the room will look like this for more than one day.



stopping at every passing to look at my morning's work again.

This morning I'm enjoying my Thursday, and hope you are too.


For anyone interested, there is a book club for the reading and discussion of the book Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne here. A great book for those of us parents that strive for a calm and simple life for our littles in this fast and often overstimulating world.

April 06, 2011

Calder's Jacket

Finally, right? Piper has been wearing cute mama sewn spring/fall jackets for a few years now. Now Calder has one all his own. It was one of the big things on my list for him. Something I was eager to get to and dreading all at the same time. I didn't have a pattern, nor did I want to buy one. And I had a specific look in mind, I'd have to draft my own. 


As my list began to dwindle, the time came for me to tackle this one. It ended up coming together nicely. Not my original plan though. Once Zac saw the jacket with its caramel colored narrow wale corduroy and navy knit lining, he offered his input.


Zac suggested elbow patches and leather buttons. Similar to an old school sports coat. I agreed it could turn out cute. Stylish, dare I say? A real retro feel for my little man.


So I strayed from my plan to re-purpose cargo pants pockets for front pockets and designed a pleated pocket that seemed to go with our look. I added an ample rounded hood. For the times when he doesn't want to keep his freshly knitted spring hat on his head. Alright that's most of the time, unfortunately. In hopes of not making it seem too retro, and some added detail, I used light blue contrast stitching.

Calder's been wearing it for about a week now. It seems comfy and he looks fantastic in it. I'm not biased, not a bit.


 On a side note, I've improved my bowtie pattern. After a few wears, the brown polka dot tie was looking a bit scrunchy and droopy. Problem solved and a few more ties to add to his collection.


Piper likes them too.

April 04, 2011

Our Favorite Places: The Library

Another of our weekly outings and favorite places is the library. We had become quite familiar with and comfortable at our 'old library' as Piper calls it in Stoughton. Now that we've moved we've been frequenting, and getting to know our new library. Much to Piper's delight they have many more Berenstein Bears books to choose from here. They even have Mama and Papa Bear on a quilt that Piper points out on every visit. 

Another point of interest for our little book worm is this little check-out area. They have a train table, building blocks and puzzles, but none of those perk Piper's interest like this does. Even at home to likes to play 'order' or 'bookstore.' The library's little produce store is a big draw with its pretend cash register. 


Piper likes to find a spot and read some her new finds. Sometimes in the castle but most often in any chair she finds free. Calder is just starting to become a book worm, so I spend reading time following him around making sure the books he's pulled from the shelves get replaced.


I knew that library fun would be a good guise for sneaking a photo or two to show off another new summer piece. A super simple smocked top skirt.  Which she loves and has already worn many times. 


She was excited that I agreed to going out of the house with no socks on.