Aren't those knock knees impressive Pattern: Ottobre 6/2010 Pikkumies #16 Fabric: Old onesies Fabric Price: almost nothing Notions: FOE (fold over elastic. I'm still trying to remember what it means) Size: 92cm Child's Age: 5 ---------------------------------------- After perusing the isle of JoAnn Fabrics for some cute knit fabrics to make more boy undies, I found nothing.  Surprise, surprise.  I was also in the process of cleaning out Super Disgusting's dresser now that he no longer needs diapers, wipes or onesies.  Yes, I make them wear onesies until the furthest point possible.  I don't like diaper fabric showing up from the pant's waistline, messy shirts, and irritated tummy skin.  Also, I don't like to give them ANY opportunity to find out what goes on in their diaper.  It's a very effective strategy. Anyway .... onesies.  What to do with all these cute onesies.  It dawned on me, I could make underwear...

I've been more excited about sewing lately, than actually sewing. For better or worse, this culminated today in the online purchase of a used coverstitch machine. Until, a couple of months ago, I don't think I had even heard of a coverstitch machine. And until recently, I didn't even realize my humble Kenmore serger couldn't do this stitch, so naturally, a necessity emerged for the, now trendy, coverstitch machine. I got the Brother 2340CV , which I think is the least expensive in this category. I was also pretty stoked with the latest issue of Ottobre magazine (1/2013). There's a few things I'd really like to make. I'm easily won over by the fabric patterns and colors.  [from ottobredesign.blogspot.com] I have been meaning to make a trench coat for Monkey Pants for several years now after she outgrew her size 3T on from the GAP at the age of six.  It was adorable.  It even pushed me to buy my first issue of Burda, for a kid's trench coat ...

Pattern: McCalls 4952  Kids 3-8 Sizes: Pants 3 and 4; Boy shirt  4; Vest; 5 (was too long); Skirt 8 Total fabric cost: ~ $75.00 (all from JoAnn on sale, except for bandannas) Shoes: Walmart mud boots $15.00 [Pattern includes girl's and boy's costumes. Striped shirt was not made. Girl's shirt made from Ottobre pattern.] Pattern: Ottobre 6/2012 Top #31 modified Size: 122cm (even though it states the smallest size is 128cm; the pattern has a 122cm size) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- So here are the pirate costumes the kids got in the treasure chest for Christmas.  I'm not a fan of plastic, store bought toys, not for any real important reasons other than I can't stand kicking them around the floor, collecting them from under the furniture, trying to find all their like-parts and returning them to their home, they drive me crazy.  And, I feel the kids don't get that much play out of them for the price.  One...

Trunk revamped as a treasure chest for kids Christmas present. ***** BEFORE ***** I didn't get a chance to take a decent picture of the original trunk before I tasked my husband with stripping off the old fabric and trim.  He did take this one with his phone here in the deep recesses of our basement, it's hiding place. Here is the stripped down version in my sewing studio, a.k.a. Santa's Workshop. The inside was never lined before. And yes.  My dad used wall paneling to make this back in the day. I lined the outside with faux crocodile print leather (vinyl) from JoAnn. My husband finally owns every air gun known to man therefore I felt quite justified in demanding that he produce one that could put out the perfect size staple for this project.  We used 18 gauge staples, 1/2" long by 1/4" wide.  I know, because I had to go buy more at Home Depot on Christmas Eve. Yes that's how I like to spend my Christmas Eve.  Not relaxing by the fir...

Now that I'm a mom of three young kids, my enthusiasm for attempting to make 3D cakes, planning birthday parties, and waking up in general, has gone out the window.  I've been trying to keep it kind of low-key lately on these things.  However, my food-allergies-son turned five and now that he has outgrown some of his food allergies such as milk, soy and eggs, I can no longer hide behind the excuse for not making him a cake.  So this was to be his big I-can-now-eat-cake celebration.  I obliged him with a real cake and a real party. I always get a bit nervous about birthday parties no matter how "simple" I tell myself I'm going to make it.  My son has been feeding me his birthday party expectations ideas since the moment his fourth birthday party was over. Expectations Ideas, I couldn't possibly meet.  The problem is, he has an incredible memory and I knew he would remember each and every one of his requests.  A few days before his birthday...

It's true.  They really can fly. Is it lame to call this a Velma skirt preview?  It was just a fun impromptu picture.

...so fun.

For my son's birthday, I decided to take an easier approach to the cake this year, so I went with cupcakes. A while back, my sister went to New York and brought me back this cupcake book, Hello, Cupcake . It has a lot of creative ideas decorating cupcakes with candy. I picked what looked like one of the easiest designs in the book which I thought was well suited for a two year old. Now, I'm not much of a candy person --OK, I'm not a candy person at all, so I had a bit of a time just locating the three or four different candies needed for the alligator cupcakes. In fact the Newman's Own Alphabet cookies were the hardest to find. But I finally tracked it all down and I was pretty happy with how it turned out. Sadly, since I'm only running at half brain power these days, I forgot to put the teeth on. But I was quite pleased with myself that I happened to have a piece of brown linen fabric which I quickly sewed the edges on and some fresh lily flowers from our lit...

Since this year has been pretty slow going with hand made projects, I decided to kick start my motivation with a fast and easy one. I've been wanting to make Heather Bailey's Pear forever but couldn't bring myself to pay, what for me is a premium for the pattern. So I finally caved. Here's the smallest project on the pattern of which I made several and they are every bit as cute. I intend to get my money's worth out of this pattern, so everyone I know will be getting one of these for any and every reason. Tip: I copied the pattern and re printed it on cardstock so it would be easier to trace onto the fabric without using pins and to preserve the original pattern.

I sooooo have not made anything lately. But I had another opportunity to do some face painting for monkey pants' "Circus Day" at preschool. I used this video for reference.