Dress up

As the (pre)school year was winding down, I started combing my brain for some good teacher/thank you presents.  As one who has been on the receiving end, I figured that they had more than enough mugs and "apple" paraphernalia--not that there is anything wrong with those gifts, but a few go a loooong way, if ya know what I mean.  So, after discussing with the Noodle, it was decided we I would make something for the classroom instead.

I knew the class had a quite a few well worn well loved princess dresses but not so many options for those who aren't "into" princesses (ahem...like a Noodle we all know and love).  Since the Easter Bunny had brought a pirate's vest with an eye-patch in a certain someone's basket, I tossed out that option, as well as a sheriff's vest (thanks to Dana over at MADE for the super-easy tutorials) as ideas.

Once they were all completed (only a couple of nap-time afternoons needed...but more on that at a later date) and wrapped up, the C.N. started making noises about wishing she had a sheriff's vest too.  Watching Toy Story 1 and 2 also helped spark that interest.

Sooo, we have now added a sheriff's vest to our meager dress-up bag.  Now she can decide if she wants to sail the 7 seas, round up the bad guys or fight off a few Huns (Mulan reference).  All in a days work, right?!

My Latest "find"

What to be let in on a little secret?  I have a new haunt that I visit quite frequently.  While I know lots of others are obsessed waaay into this little "diamond in the rough", I honestly never saw myself as a follower.  Can you guess?

Drum roll please................................it is shopping at the G*odwill!   

Let me back up a bit.  A while back, I saw this tutorial on MADE and I thought, BINGO.  I need to get  some knit shirts and start making leggings for the Noodle (there are times in a girl's life when tights just won't cut it).  Where to go?  Where to go?  Fingers drumming....And then I had my a-ha moment...the G*odwill.  XL t-shirts at $3.50, each in a dazzling array of colors?  Throw in 50% off or $1 day?  Yes please! 

Even when a certain someone is displaying a burst of exuberance and starts running on cement, only to fall and bust open a knee and rip a hole into said leggings, all is o.k.  Just pop back in to the G*odwill to buy another brown t-shirt and whip up a second pair. 

Shocking, isn't it?!

And now those little legs will stay cozy, even if it is gray, drizzly and only 42 degrees out!

Spring Fling...sewing addition

Fabulously creative Kellie, over at This Blessed Nest, is hosting a "Spring Fling" party to usher in all things green, glorious and springy!  Can I get a woot-woot?  What a breath of fresh air it is, to see what everyone is up to in preparation for March 21st.  Hello?!  Inspiration knocking!!

A few weeks back I bought some yummy fabric.

I was bound and determined to "think Spring".  After a couple of successful hours at the sewing machine........

Wa-Laaaa!

Thankfully I had a goofy willing model today...she hasn't been real receptive to the camera lately, so this was a nice change!

"I'll cross my legs, look away from the camera, and hold my fairy wand (with an important piece of tape?!) and hold my pose...how does it look Mama?"

"Get my toes...make sure you get my toes!!" 

Now we just need to get Mother Nature on the same page and warm things up a bit around here!

Inspiration

First off, let me say how much I lurrrve Amy Butler prints.  Gorgeous!  The colors, the patterns, the combinations.  The only problem?  Rather hard to locate, other than on-line...at least in our part of the world :)  Luckily, I found a shop (close by too--who knew?!) that carries some and so the Noodle and I went shopping yesterday.  The hardest part?  Making a choice.  Aghhhh!  Each one is better than the next.  These were the 4 I ended up choosing.  Time to get busy and make something with them!

Homemade gifts

This Christmas season has been more about the homemade gift than in years past.  Partly because I started getting ideas (mainly for the Noodle) back in September, but also because I'm finally beginning to feel a bit more confident in my abilities.  I knew that I wanted to get her some more babydoll "accessories" (i.e. baby blankets, burp cloths, clothes, sling) so that was easy.  I had made this scarf for myself and thought that others would like it since you can never have too many scarves!  I also found this incredibly easy tute for a flower pin and after a few trials and errors a few more gifts were made.  This hobo sack was also easy to whip up and I foresee more of them in my future.  Since preschool is pretty militant about treats (allergies, etc.), I thought we'd go the fruit leather/sticker/homemade crayon route.  Note to self:  next time, don't use the good pots.......Finally, the Noodle's birthday crown was fun to make and the best part is that she can wear it over and over again.  So dear readers, was it a handmade holiday for you?

***The Noodle has 2 baby dolls that she plays with and so I made 2 of each thing.  I thought I'd go with coordinating fabrics and since blue is the Noodle's fav color, that was the starting point.

***If you hover over the caption, it will take you to the link, when appropriate.

burp cloth, wipes/wipe holder, changing pad 

 Hooded blankets

 baby doll sling and how to wear/tie a sling

 baby doll soft, lovey blankets

 

These were suppose to be sleepsacks...but I ran short of material...so another set of jammies.

***The Noodle is craaazy wild for minky material

 
baby doll jammies made from 0-3 mo. onesie

 

Big Baby modeling her new jammies.

baby doll dresses--I asked which material the Noodle wanted me to use a few months ago.  She choose the crab and 4th of July print

 

scarf

 Flower pin

(ummmm, hello?  lint brush?!)

 

Hobo Sack

 DIY molded star crayons

Birthday crown

 baby highchair--designed and made by Daddy

Naptime? Not so much.

I had my mind set on what I was going to do during naptime today.  Someone else had their mind set too.  Guess who's plans changed?  Yup.  I scored a helper.  Not quite what I had envisioned, but we went with it.

Thankful Thursday

Here at our home, we're thankful for the beautiful fall colors, the crunchy sound of leaves and the brief glimpse of sunlight that peeked through the clouds today, even though they were calling for showers (and dare I even say it--wet snow!).

Giveaway results!

Congratulations!! to Kimberly and her little Snickerdoodle, A.K. 
 You are the winner of the "Halloween-a" pillowcase dress.  I'll be in touch, in order to get the dress to you, once it is finished.  Yeah--and thanks to everyone who participated :)   Happy Saturday.

A Fall giveaway

I have never been one to decorate for holidays, other than Christmas.  An American flag or 2 for Memorial Day/4th of July, some gourds/pumpkins/mums outside for Halloween/Thanksgiving, pansies for Easter--you get my drift.  Buuuut I do love to dress the Noodle in thematic clothes.  Shocking.  I  know.  It is just too easy with a little girl, and let's be honest, before I know it, she's going to be refusing, so I might as well do it while I can!!  The only problem, of course, is that there is a limited window of time when she can wear said clothes.  Soooo, I haul out my trusty, go-to patterns (the A-line jumper and the pillowcase dress) and go to town (oh yeah, and then J is sooo happy too, because I haven't spent like $50+ on a dress she'll only wear a few times...smiles all around!).

 The wise owl dress reverses to the Thanksgiving turkey dress.

 The Halloween-a dress

I was also thinking, that perhaps someone, somewhere out there, might like one of their own?  A giveaway, let's say.  Interested?  Great!!  Here's the fine print--I RARELY, if ever, sew for anyone else and in fact am very self-conscious about doing this, but thought life's too short to worry about it, so here goes!!!
This is what I'm calling the Halloween-a dress.  It is a "pillowcase-style" dress with white polka-dots on an orange background.  Black grosgrain ribbon act as the ties.

This is a close-up of the applique.

Here's the deal.  All you have to do is leave me a comment, telling me what size you'd like (24M-4T--so sorry that I don't feel comfortable branching out into other sizes).  That will get you 1 entry.  If you'd like a 2nd entry, then become a follower of the blog.  I'll close the giveaway on Sat. 9/25 at 3:00 p.m. EST.  Make sure you leave me your e-mail in the comment so I can get in touch with you.

Here's to all things Fall!

***This giveaway is now closed

T-shirt refashion

I don't know about you, but I have a TON of T-shirts left over from college. Each spring, I bring them out and each fall I put them away again...never wearing them once. Why do I keep doing this?!?! L and XL baggy shirts may have looked good at one time (hmm, perhaps not), but certainly not now. Sentimental reasons, I guess. Fond memories and all that..........

Soooo, I happened to stumble upon this website and thought "A-Ha!" The perfect use for gently worn, filled with happy memories T-shirts. So, I pulled out 2 clean (though very wrinkled) tees:



and turned them into this:


She certainly knows how to "ruffle her stuff", don't ya think?!


A very blessed Easter to you all.

Around and around

There's something about spinning that kids just LOVE to do. I know my OT friends would say it is all due to their emerging vestibular (inner ear/balance) system. I use to love twirling around too. I found lately though, that when the Noodle wants me to spin her, I cash out WAY before she does--like 3 or 4 times around...max. Gotta hand it to her for stamina; she could just keep going and going--around and around and around she goes...!




Isn't the falling down the best part?!