Baby Carriers Galore

My friend asked me to make a carrier for her sister. She bought the main fabric, and I had a coordinating one here. I had bought the coordinating khaki fabric to make a pouch sling when Aine was a babe. I figured it would be better used. There was enough fabric to make two carriers. I thought the khaki was a bit bland, so I stitched up a pieced pocket for one of the carriers. The pieces for the pocket came from fat quarters I bought a long time ago. I think it turned out really nice. I wonder if the sister will actually get the carrier(wink). I may sell the other one or give it away.


(The pictures are pretty poor. We were trying to get them as she was leaving)

Piles

I went a little crazy at the 50% off clearance fabric event at Joann's. I plan on taking good pictures of it all, so you can see the beauty of my finds(or perhaps the insanity). In the interim, here are a few shots of my now cluttered crafting space. I have started to work away at the piles, but it will take me quite awhile.

Lickety Split

I decided to copy another Ottobre pattern to use some more of the floral fabric. It is a super-easy short pattern. I sewed it with the serger. I still have a ways to go with the serger, but I am starting to figure some things out. Of course, it would help if I knew where the manual is. Start to finish was under an hour - including tracing the pattern, cutting it out and sewing.

Crafting craziness

I have subscribed to Ottobre magazine for a few months. I haven't had the courage or patience to attempt any of the patterns - just the pattern sheet is intimidating. I finally decided to change that. I had some knit floral fabric that would work perfectly with a pattern in the newest issue.

It came out pretty well. This is one of my first true experiences with knit. Once I figured out my machine and the fabric, it was a breeze. I am not totally happy with the ribbing at the neck, but she loves it. Modeled photos later.
I also was finally able to embellish a t-shirt to match Aine's monkey pants. I had intended to make one for each of the kids, but I think I threw away the scraps from E's pants. Perhaps it was when I also threw away the owner's manual to my sewing machine and serger!

Thrifting

I quickly realized after becoming a SAHM that department store and even internet shopping were no longer in the realm. I tried pacifying myself with clothes from the clearance section of Old Navy or the racks at Target. I so miss nice clothes. Clothes that fit. Clothes that are well made. I feel like I wear a uniform most days: khaki shorts and a solid t-shirt. All purchased from Target or Old Navy. Now, don't get me wrong. The clothes are fine, but they sure don't fit. The sizing is off or the look is wrong. I just feel dumpy. So, I decided to check out thrifting.

I am new to the sport of thrifting. I have gone a few times with my sister, but I am quickly being educated on the art of thrift shopping. A few friends of mine frequent Goodwill and Savers. They have found some amazing things. They have told me all about half-price Saturdays (every other one in Phoenix metro) and $1 Thursdays.

This past Saturday we set off to shop. My friends found clothes for me. I tried things, discarded what didn't fit and spent only $28!!! Most of the spending was for the kids or Dave, but I found some bargains for myself. I bought a GAP sweater, Liz Claiborne khaki capri pant (NWT), green roll-up capri pants and a skirt (NWT) for me; two dress shirts for D (one from Express for men); two dresses and a Gymboree sweater for A; and swim trunks and t-shirt for E

Here are photos of what I found:

Crayons, anyone?

Today was a flurry of productivity. I whipped up four crayon rolls. I would have made another one, but I ran out of fabric remnants. I will have to save that one for another day. The holders are super easy. I found inspiration here. You just cut two strips of fabric 5 inches by 16.5 inches. You cut a third for the pocket 6' by 16.5. Add in a piece of fuseable interfacing and voila...Eamon & Aine are thrilled with their new crayon cases. Each has been found rolling and unrolling their crayon holders. Hopefully the recipients of the other two are equally pleased.

Reading

Well, the pressure is off my book group. I picked the first flop. Who knew! I figured it would be safe, since it was part of One BookAZ. It wasn't. No one finished it! In an attempt to clear my reading palette before this month's selection, I read The Memory Keeper's Daughter. Lori first suggested that I read it, but I thought it sounded vaguely familar and had read it already. A friend loaned it to me, and I soon discovered that I had not read it. It was a quick read with an interesting plot. I would recommend reading it.

On now to this month's read, which is Peter Pan in Scarlet. I just began the book today. It begins with the Lost Boys and the Darling children as adults. So far it is a page-turner.

New Shirts

Aine is sporting some new shirts today. She received a box of shirts from her cousin a few months ago. She only wore them once, because they have snap bottoms. She had abruptly potty-learned. Today we solved the problem. I serged off the snaps. I am sure Rachel will want them back when she sees them!

Unique Knitting

A friend of my asked me to knit something for here. It isn't your run of the mill knitting though. She asked me to make her a uterus. She wanted two versions - whimsical and functional. She plans to use them in her new endeavor. She is now a certified child birth educator and doula. I wish her so much success helping women become informed about their birth choices and supporting them in the achievement of these choices.

With the help of the Stitch and Pitch game on Sunday, I finished the functional one in no time. It looks a bit like a golf club cover.On to the whimsical version...

Crunchy Award

I made some cloth produce bags Monday. I figured it was cheaper than buying them from here. They came out well. I used gauze and cording from JoAnn's (nothing fancy, purely functional). I used them on Wednesday, and they work well. I was too chicken to have them weigh the bags frist, so the tare could be adjusted. Next time...

Better Late than Never

I cut out a pair of lounge pants for each of the kiddos back in October/November. I even took said fabric with me to Texas to sew. Finally, I sewed the pants today. It took me several months of staring at them to finally have a moment to sit and put them together. They turned out really nice. I like this pattern quite a bit. I hope to pick up some more cute fabric for summer pants/shorts, since the pants I just made are out of flannel and it is 103 here!