Quick Baby Gift

I made this little onesie dress for a new baby in the neighborhood.  I've made them before but have yet to document one.  This is super quick and fun to whip up but I have not come up with an equivalent embellished boy onsie.  Any ideas? 

Here are some pretty vague instructions:

1. Onesie and some fabric (enough for at least the length of the skirt plus seam allowances)
2. Cut onesie in half (you could also cut high or low depending upon the style you want).  Sew the fabric down the one side and run some gathering threads across the top.
3.  Sandwich all three pieces, the top, skirt, and snap bottom part together and sew 1/4" seam (you don't want to take up too much length with your seam allowance).  Hem skirt to desired length, I also thought about bubbling the skirt under and that would not only be cute but also eliminate the hemming step.  The flower thing is just a serged scrap that I ran a hand basting thread through and manipulated into a flower then tacked it down by hand.  

4.  Wrap it up in a serged tulle bag and tie with the scraps from the flower.

Building a Happy Home

I just returned from an impromptu trip to Michigan.  It was my turn to check out a new property so I left the kids in the care of Paul and my parents.  I left with hopes that this would be the place but it was already under contract before we had a chance to seriously consider it.  Its not that there is a shortage of homes for sale in MI, we are just looking for something very specific, we are looking for a small farm.

The difficulty of the search has surprised us but we have no intention of settling into a place that does not feel right.  As we have been diligently searching a few questions keep running through my mind, "what makes a happy home" and "can we have a happy home while we are technically homeless"?

We are certainly having fun spending the summer with Oma and Opa but there are moments when life feels unsettled.  One particularly hot summer evening I took the kids to Toys R Us to purchase a baby pool and pass some time browsing through toys.  When I saw this Lego house the song My Eternal Family  instantly ran through my mind and a light went on.  

I purchased the set with a great plan and lesson in mind.  The kids were more anxious to tear into the Lego set than fill up the baby pool which was purchased along side it but I explained that they would have to earn the set piece by piece in order to build the home.  We sang the song My Eternal Family and I explained that each time we said our prayers, read our scriptures, participated in family home evening, did a kind act, or helped in any way that that in fact was building our eternal family and worthy of a Lego building piece.  Building this simple home has provided a very visual demonstration of principles that help build a happy home no matter what our living circumstances may be.

I put the first piece down for free, it was a large green 16 x 32 plate that the house would be built upon. We sang How Firm a Foundation and discussed how our Lego home could crumble without this very important piece and similarly how our family could not thrive without being built upon a foundation of faith.  The children were very receptive and there has been an increase of cooperation, patience, function, and love in our family since implementing this Lego piece system.  About 250 pieces into the house James wrapped his arms around me and said "Mom, this was one of the best ideas you ever had".  We are almost to roof and there are 2 more different house styles yet to build within the set.  This was the best $35 toy purchase ever!

As for the baby pool, we only use it occasionally because it has become the preferred resting spot for Archie our dog.      

Walter Wick Day

Paul gave me the day off last Saturday and took the kids to the Walter Wick I Spy exhibit at the BYU art museum.  I suppose I missed out but I got through piles of laundry and even traced a few more patterns.

So I didn't feel left out Peter made the above arrangement and took a photo for me.  I told him I had my own I Spy adventure doing laundry because I found a dandelion, 2 cherry tomatoes, 10 cents, an army man, and several lego pieces in the clothes I was sorting.  

Mass Production

Last night I completed 2 more dresses, 2 more bikers, and 2 pairs of yoga pants to wear with them when the weather cools (pattern info here and here).  But knits are super quick to sew up.  I just wish I would have whipped these up earlier in the season because I feel like I making things I could probably find on clearance racks.  At least it clears my conscious before I start Fall/Winter sewing.

To clarify the specific uses of the Janome Cover Pro I use it for knits because it prevents popping of seams and hems.  You can certainly sew knits on a regular machine even without a serger but the Cover Pro finishes clothing much like RTW.  Cover stitch machines don't cut and can be purchased with 3, 4, 5 thread options.  I do not recommend the serger/cover stitch combo because when I went to my demonstration class the teacher struggled for 10 minutes converting the machine.  When sewing in mass production mode I need to alternate between the machines freely.  Pattern Review has a pages of info on the Janome Cover Pro 1000.  If you are registered (I recommend it -it has a been a great source of support and knowledge for me), check out the knowledge base page and you can read through over 371 pages of question and comments about this specific machine. 

Pink and Purple

Maryanna likes pink and I already wrote about how much Clara likes purple.

These were the first projects to come off the new Cover Pro and I am excited to start some more.  Other info about the pattern and fabric here.

The Cover Pro makes sewing knits a breeze with the chain stitch that prevents popping and the 2 needles for the hem.  The only frustrating thing is Janome included the worst possible foot only to get you to have to buy additional feet and accessories.  I felt like I was sewing blindfolded and will have to check ebay to find what I need.

Other than that I'm happy with the dresses.  They are simple, comfy, and very girly, something that is hard to find in stores.  I have observed girls as young as 2 & 3 dressing like teenagers and I suppose these dresses are in rebellion towards that trend.    

Oh yeah, I also sewed up some little pink and purple bikers to wear underneath.

Getting to know the Cover pro

I've been eyeing this machine for over 3 years and Paul surprised me with it as a Mother's Day/post yard sale gift.  I'm embarrassed to admit it has been in its box since May but since opening it up last week it has gotten little rest.  No more popping knit seams!  

Clara and the Purple Crayon (and other Summer adventures)

We don't own a TV but my Dad has a 50" plasma.  Clara must have thought it was some sort of fancy easel because she went at it with a purple crayon (Dad, if you are reading this don't worry I already googled it and cleaned it- don't evict us just yet).  

"Come what may and love it"...... and then clean it up.  That is what I told myself Monday when Peter slipped and dumped a whole quart of yogurt on himself on.  It is a tight kitchen and Maryanna stepped in it then tried to clean it up with a broom. 

Yesterday I took the kids to a 3D IMAX but I already mentioned that mistake on facebook.  The point is I think we are all getting restless, William dialed 911 the other day just to see what would happen.  The lady called me back to make sure everything okay, James waited outside to see if the cops would come and William spent some time on his couch.

Peter cut his hair last week, Maryanna cut her hair today.  Maryanna forgot to wear underwear to church last Sunday and flashed the Primary, Clara had an accident just 5 minutes earlier so I was able to catch Paul just in time to go home and pick up not 1 but 2 pairs of panties.  Peter hid a harmonica in his pocket because he wanted to play reverently along with the hymns, he was sitting next to Maryanna who had lifted up her dress to "nurse" her baby doll (I'm glad she finally had underwear on).  Paul was giving a talk and was laughing at us all the while.  A kind lady approached us to tell us how much she enjoyed Paul's talk and how much our family would be missed when me moved, for some reason sweet shy Clara charged at her and lifted up her skirt. 

The kids aren't the only ones getting restless.  Paul's been browsing Airstream booklets daily, I cut bangs, myself, served the kids a can of sardines for lunch (they actually loved it), then tried to serve them some sauteed dandelion greens for dinner, they were unpalatably bitter (even I couldn't get them down).  The fact that I even updated my status on facebook confirms my restlestness.  I must be careless as well because as I was digging through my church bag for some crayons I encountered Clara's original panties, still damp, from the previous Sunday.  It will be nice to settle down again and perhaps gain a back a bit more brain control and child control but in the meantime we are collecting some laughable memories.