New Year, New Jammies part III

And now for the older boys, I'm pleased they are still requesting and wearing my handmade jammies.

Not much more to add from the last post because I used the same pattern and fabric sources, the Fabric Fairy and an old stash bin.  Marie' asked about my pattern frustration so I'll go ahead and clarify here.

The pattern was too long in the crotch length but too short in the legs.  Also the sleeve length and hem were too long but all of those were easy fixes.  'i just wouldn't have known to fix them unless I tried them on them first.  One thing I usually do when making something for my children (instead of measuring them in their sleep - because that is when I sew) is grab a piece of clothing that I know fits them well and adjust accordingly.

Here is a picture of the jammies in motion:

And a take down.  Sure hope these jammies stand the test of time (and someone gets to vacuuming that dog hair under the couch).

New Year, New Jammies part II

Next up - boy jammies. Here are Henry and Peter's:

Again these great knits were purchased from the Fabric Fairy well before Christmas.  As part of my New Year's resolutions I also dug deep into my fabric stash and added old stuff where I could.

It was fun to match the fabrics to the personalities.  Peter got the Kung-Fu monkeys and since I only had a yard on hand I cut the little figures out and sewed them to the top to make it a set.  

The top is an army green cotton fleece accented with red cotton fleece, at the neckline and also elbow patches (just for fun, and sometimes he actually does wear holes in his elbows).

Because I was working on all the jammies at once, I didn't worry about matching thread on the hemlines and ended up liking the white contrast from the coverpro.

Henry got the lobster print.  He's a funny guy and it was a chance for him to diversify his interests from Thomas and trains.  He kept saying .... "Mommy, I like lobster just like Opa".

The pattern for these are from the Japanese children's lockstitch book.  I don't love the fit of them so I ordered Kwik Sew 3234 for the future.

As for the boys' preferred wind down activity - unlike the girls' fairy flying practice, it is always football, wrestling and Kung-fu.

I can certainly sew but I'm not that good at getting my kids to bed.

New Year, New Jammies part I

These nightgowns were suppose to be for Christmas but I didn't get to them until last week, since they are knit they were a lot quicker to sew up than last year's.

The cute mushroom print is from the Fabric Fairy but there was no pattern used.  Instead a basic T-shirt was traced as the base for the neckline and sleeves then I added gathers. 

Just recently Maryanna declared her independence in not matching her sister.  Matchy-match is cute for little girls but that is not why I do it, it is just a lot easier to make two of the same thing.  I had to get creative in convincing Maryanna that these nightgowns were indeed different.

Clara's has a high yoke, more gathers, pink bow and hemmed at the knee.

Maryanna's has just a few gathers at the neckline that extend down to where it is secured at a high waist with a small rectangular piece of knit.  There is a yellow bow, no gathers in the back and longer in length (it was hard to get them to stand still for the details).

But I'm happy to report that they love these nightgowns and it took no bribing to get them to wear them.  In fact, neither of them wanted to let them go to the laundry pile last week.

The new jammies were so much fun that is was hard to go to sleep.

This is what bedtime looked like:

Just glad there are no rips in the new nightgowns.....yet.

2011 Resolutions

Our home is finally finding its way back into order after another great holiday season full of warm hearted doings and makings.  The holidays are fun, but so is our normal routine so we welcome 2011 with all that is to come of it.  

Looking forward Paul and I selected a scripture that would set a tone for growth in the new year and presented it to the children at last week's family night.

We encouraged them to think of ways they could improve themselves according to this scripture and perhaps incorporate them into their New Year's resolutions.  Each year we set 5 personal goals and record them on our traced hand (that was my sister Emily's brilliant idea).  I still had our 2010 hands up on the fridge until last week and it was with great pleasure we took them down and celebrated both the accomplishments and the obvious physical growth in the cut hands.  Some of them were torn though so I laminated the bunch for 2011, here they are:

George:

-Walk

-Sleep through the night

-Talk

-Not chew on things

-Eat more foods

Henry:

-Sleep in a big boy bed

-Play Thomas toys

-No screaming

-Pick up magnetic letters on the floor

-Draw pictures

Clara:

-Go to the zoo

-Do ballet

-Learn how to swim in big pools

-Color so good and pretty

-Find more beautiful dresses my size

Maryanna:

-Send lots of cards

-Do lots of cooking with mommy

-Make birthday presents for people

-Ride a horse

-Read

Peter:

-Play football everyday

-Learn cursive

-Read Book of Mormon

-Do my jobs without being asked

-Travel to at least 5 different States

William:

-Finish airplane models

-Get better at drawing

-Go to at least one air show

-Remember to say my prayers

-Run on the slide everyday to keep fit

James:

-Make new friends

-Do a blogpost once a week (http://allthethinkshethinks.blogspot.com/)

-Don't forget to brush teeth

-Say prayers morning and night

-Run a 5K

Mommy:

-Sew through half my fabric stash

-30 minutes of quiet time all by myself

-Walk a mile a day

-Plant a garden

-Let food not be wasted

So now we are already a week into 2011 and I can report that my resolutions are simply about intention and not so much about strict discipline.  You see last week I was so busy with number one (sewing through my stash) that I only found it in me to get out and walk 3x.  I did get some quiet reflective time to myself though, but I fell asleep just 2 minutes into it and what was supposed to be just a 30 minute mental break turned into a 2 hour nap, I suppose I just needed it. As for wasting food.......way back in the fridge I found a little pyrex full of the once delicious leftover baked mash potatoes that Nanny had given us on Christmas eve, I justified that the fuzzy mass was no longer food did not feel bad about the disposal.  

And that is what I really resolve to do this year..... not feel guilty about the things I should or should not have done - the greatest gain this year will be to simply enjoy 2011.   

Happy New Year!   

Homemade Christmas: Herbal RIce Packs

While the kids exchange homemade gifts amongst themselves Paul and I have made it a tradition to make something for each other every year as well.  This Christmas I almost forgot and had to whip something up quick on Christmas eve.  

This is basically a small rectangular pillow filled with rice and dried lavender and mint.  It is to be heated up in the microwave and used as a hot pack for sore muscles.  The kids were jealous of project so I gave them some fabric to make one for me, Nanny and a few of their aunts.  They did a fine job.

Here's the rice pack in action.  Did you know working on spreadsheets for hours on end can give you a sore neck?  As for the gift Paul made for me.....I was told it is not finished yet, maybe it is a spreadsheet?

Homemade Christmas: Etched Glass Mason Jar for Drinking

To:  James

made with love

From:  George

Actually you all know George did not do a thing to help on this project.  He simply stayed content wrapped on my back while I participated in this craft at a Relief Society activity.  

Some of the ladies questioned why I was etching James' name on a mason jar.....my answer was "so he'll know which one is his".  The next question was "for what"?  I suppose it may be strange that we all like to drink out of mason jars.  It is an easy way to keep track of our water consumption but not very easy to keep track of who's is who's when they are all lined up on the counter.  But now James does not have to worry mason jar mix up.

Glass etching is as quick and satisfying as freezer paper stencils.  The difference is you use contact paper and etching solution instead.  Paul's mom and I split a large container of etching solution and made a few pyrex dishes for our neighbors as well.

This was a great project but not as fun to play with as the other gifts so I thought I'd share what kept James entertained all day Christmas and hopefully through a long and cold Michigan winter.

Zometool!

Homemade Christmas: Fort Supplies

To:  William

made with love

From:  Henry

Forts are fun!  This is a kit stuffed in a back pack includes 4 tie dyed sheets and 4 wooden clips

Henry helped tie the sheets and watched me dye them.  The clips were purchased off etsy, I arranged the backpack and Henry painted the picture of William below his name..... it looks kind of like a spider.

When William opened it he said.... "this is great!  I've always wanted some privacy and it is so hard to find it in our home".  

Here he is enjoying his private spot.  This was fun and quick to make and also William's favorite gift.