Sewing for boys

I love sewing for my son he's hilarious and truly enjoys modeling and all the things I create!
Here my son is modeling the oxford Shirt by peek a boo patterns.

Bella Sunshine Bow Tie Leggings.

Have you been looking for the perfect leggings pattern for your daughter? Well, it's here! The Bella Sunshine bow tie leggings are fabulous!

I honestly own three leggings patterns, but I love this pattern because of ALL of the options! This pattern can be made in traditional or relaxed fit, short, knee, capri or full lengths. If you're anything like me you're sewing up a pair of leggings while your daughter is sleeping and thinking okay how many inches should I cut off to make them capri length and hope you do it right. 

It's hard to see because of the fabric we chose, but here is the adorable bow accent. The bows add such a cute accent and are a quick addition if you're wanting a quick sew.

Here's a list of the things that I like about this pattern

• variety of lengths-minie shorts, knee length, capri length, and pant length
• choice of fits-leggings or relaxed fit
• the pattern pieces are color coded and coded with different types of lines so it can be easily printed in color or black and white
• there are simple directions showing you how to print the pattern in layers so you can only print the size or sizes you want
• there is a detiled measurement chart so you can easily choose an accurate size.

Okay, so now that you're ready to buy the pattern go to Bella Sunshine Design to make your purchase. Don't forget to use coupon code LAUNCHPARTY when purchasing.

One more picture because brother wanted to model along side sissy!

Hand-me-down Remake

So my challenge was to to make an outfit out of some hand me down clothes. I chose these clothes from my closet, my husbands closet, and the thrift store.

This was my final creation. I was thrilled to make my son some jeans because he's too tall  for one size of pants but too skinny for the next size. He needed some good home made pants. They are my favorite pant pattern, the Nowhere Man Pants by Shwin Design.

The t-shirt was a new pattern I've not sewn before but I was excited to try because it has a lot of options. It is the Adventure Tee by Go To Patterns.  I liked it and will be making more.

Lastly, is the Great Outdoor Vest by Peek a Boo patterns. I love the way my son looks in his new vest but I was disappointed in the pattern. I am fluent in zipper insertion but if you are not this pattern is not for you. Also, the pattern described a zipper stop at the top of the zipper which sounds like a good idea but in reality it did not work out well on this tiny vest.

I used an old college sweatshirt for the vest lining and I used a new knit for the outside of the vest. I decided that remaking old clothes is not for me. I don't see why I should spend a significant amount of time making things out of worn clothes. If I'm going to take the time to make things then I want to make sure they look great and are made out of great fabric that is not worn out. (This is simply my opinion on this project.)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Inspired outfit

The Challenge: 

The 80's cartoons are taking over the fashion world!  Use your favorite 80's cartoon as inspiration for an everyday outfit

I asked my Facebook friends, consulted my husband, trolled my pinterest board of sewing patterns trying to find inspiration. After a lot of thinking this is what I came up with. 

Can you guess my inspiration? Maybe these picture of my son will give you a hint...

I bought this teenage mutant ninja turtle to set up in my sewing area as inspiration. Well, Caleb grabbed it at the park today and wouldn't let it go. 

Okay back to my project. Look at the adorable detail of her tshirt...This is the anytime tee by Shwin Design.

The cardigan and skirt we're adapted from other patterns, but mostly created on my own. The base for the cardigan is the V-neck cardigan by Peek a Boo pattern and the skirt is the whitney skirt by Violette Field and Threads.

The cardigan and t-shirt are made from a bamboo lycra that I bought at Zoelee's. It is so soft that my daughter didn't want to take it off. :) Another successful project!

Happy 4th Birthday

As Isabella's birthday approached we began talking about what kind of party she would want. In the winter I found some princess stickers on clearance and purchased them because I was sure we would have a princess party. For a while she wanted a Boutique birthday party, like her 3rd birthday party. I braced myself because I was certain she would ask for a Frozen party and I was already planning how I would make a frozen costume and if I would make a coordinating outfit for Bubby.

Well, Isabella finally settled on a Pirate Fairy party! I thought this was a great idea and I could make  Bubby a pirate outfit!

 

 I had so much fun creating the kids outfits and loved the challenge of matching Isabella's to Zarina, the Disney Pirate Fairy.

 I used the My Little Plumcake Hope Romper to create Caleb's pirate romper.

 I also loved their photo shoot. The kids had so much fun with their pirate accessories.

 I got a little scared because just as I was getting ready to begin Isabella's outfit she decided she did not want a Pirate Fairy party. 

  After further inquiry I discovered she thought she would have to leave in the middle of her party because Zarina leaves Pixie Hollow in the movie.

After assuring her she would not have to leave her party but she could have any party she wanted she settled on a Pirate Fairy party.

 We had an absolute blast. I put twinkling Christmas lights up in our living area and told the kids they were fairies.

 Ben planned a fabulous treasure hunt for the kids that they loved!

 It was one of my favorite parties that I've planned and executed.

Root, Root, Root for the Cardinals, I want to see your face and donuts!

This weekend I was putting Isabella to bed and she chose for me to read her St. Louis Cardinals book. One of the pages in book has the song Take me out to the ball game. Isabella can sing the whole song but I didn't make her, I sang it until I got to the part where you sing, "root, root, root..." I paused and Isabella sang, "root, root, root, for the Royals!" I continued singing and Isabella interrupted me and said, "No mom I said, 'root for the Royals!'" So I stopped and tickled her and told her she was singing it wrong. Before tonight I didn't know if she was aggravating me or if she really liked cheering for the Royals, now I know.

Last night Ben was getting Isabella her evening snack and trying to get her ready for bed. I was putting Caleb to bed and trying to do some laundry. Isabella wondered down the hall and I said to her, "Go sit at the table and eat your snack." She asked, "Will you come sit with me?"
"No honey, I need to do some laundry."
"But mommy, I love you so much I want to see your face!"
Well, when she put it like that of course I will come sit with her!

Today when we were on our way home from the grocery store Isabella said, "Mommy, my stomach hurts. I think if I eat two donuts it will feel better." (She got to eat two donuts when we got home.)

Summer Shorts

I decided to make a few pairs of Elegance and Elephant Bubble Pocket Shorts for my kids this summer. When I saw the pattern I immediately thought of a few different pieced of fabric that I thought would be perfect. I took the kids to Hobby Lobby to buy the fabric and while we were there I found another piece of fabric that I thought would be perfect so I bought that one too. When Isabella saw what I picked out for her she said, "That's what I've been looking for, it will be perfect!"

I usually stay up way too late working on sewing projects for the kids and Isabella is not nearly as excited in the morning to model what I made her. Because she was so excited about the fabric I thought this morning would be different. After she woke I excitedly took her shorts into her room to show her. She looked at them and then at Caleb's shorts which were also in my hand and said, "I want the Mickey Mouse one!" I tried convincing her the Minnie Mouse ones were way better than the Mickey Mouse ones and she said, "I don't even have a cute shirt to wear!" Being the smart mother I am I quickly showed her the cute red shirt that matched her shorts to which she replied, "It doesn't have anything on it!" Which means, 'I want a Minnie Mouse shirt.' I walked to her closet pulled out the long sleeve Minnie Mouse shirt I made her in the winter and showed it to her and she happily said, "That's what I wanted!" (It was 90 degrees here today.)

Here are her adorable new shorts, which I loved more and more as the day went on!

Jump roping is very popular at our house these days.

When you are 8 months old you don't need pockets so I left them off of his.

Here is Iasbella's other pair that I thought would turn out super cute. They will look great with her red shirt if I can ever convince her to wear it.