After a very long hiatus from kids apparel sewing, I'm back in the thick of it making a summer wardrobe for this, now, teen girl. This would have been an excellent idea had I started in the spring but that's not how most of my projects get done. I stopped sewing for the kids mostly due to time. Driving them around to their activities took all of it! However, it's been difficult to find nice clothes for Monkey Pants pretty much after the age of nine. Nice clothes are no where to be found and fit is nearly impossible as she seems to be of elvish blood --short torso, wide shoulders. Because she's been in dance the last few years and attended a charter school last year, she's been either in school uniform or dance wear most of the time. But summer is definitely a time she needs, what I like to call "real clothes" and she was badly in need of shorts and cool, summer tops. The Shorts After making a thourogh review of all of our Ottobre magazin

Finally got around to making this little boy his own messenger bag. I made these for my kids a few years ago and sadly, as is regularly the case, the youngest didn't get one. He has humbly been asking if it would be possible for him to get his own, and at last his wish has been granted.  Then, I figured if I was going to make one, I should just make several. I don't know if two more constitutes several, but it does in my book.  Love the Riley Blake Utah themed fabric I utilized for the lining in the gray one. So cute. And last, a more girly inspired one with birds.  Outer fabrics are polyester outdoor fabric from JoAnn at $7/yd. These take about 1/2 yd to make. And I used pre-made double fold bias tape for the trim on all of these. It calls for two packages but I found that by using a different color on the the outer side panel pockets, you only need one package for the rest of the bag. Hardware was ordered online. I also made

The kids decided to participate in a local kids market and, to supplement their Perler bead creations, we decided to make these super cute triangle pouches. They are so fun! We had a great time, packing them with all kinds of stuff from toy cars, camping stuff, sewing stuff, make-up, the sky's the limit. If you are planning on making a few of these, it would be good to source a bundle of zippers for a good price. After we used up all the zippers I already had, we got an assortment of colors from Amazon.   To learn how to make these, go to Crafty Gemini for really easy to follow video instructions.