Project Run and Play Week 1 - ART

I really love sewing along with Project Run and Play and their new season starts Monday. This season is going to be different than the others and I am so excited about it! 

The first weeks theme is "Inspired by Art". I had a few ideas floating around and then I remembered doing "Picasso Paintings" in school and how much fun that was and I loved the idea of getting the kids involved. 

Here is one of Picasso's paintings:

Now, I have to admit, with the time frame and everything in life being crazy, I cheated and instead of having the kids draw their own face like I originally planned, I grabbed this picture off-line and let Aevarie cut it out. 

I used Heidi & Finns "Playday Dress" as my starting point. Just cause that dress screams comfy and fun. 

Aevarie loves it and thinks this dress is hilarious. 

She wore it to school the next day and was so excited to show everyone her funny person. When she got in the car after school she told me that the kids just told her the dress was weird and that none of them thought it was funny.  Our school could do with some "culture". lol 

I'm glad to say that hasn't stopped her from loving it!

So, that is our "Picasso" Dress. :D

I'm so excited to see what everyone else comes up with for this weeks challenge!

Popolok Designs Nova Top

About a week(ish) ago, Alviana from Popolok Designs sent me an email asking if I would be interested in testing her newest pattern the "Nova Top and Dress". I said yes immediately. 

I started off making this in the size 8 since I've been more geared into making my oldest daughter more clothes. The younger two have a ridiculous amount of hand-me-downs. When I finished making it, Aevarie kept complaining saying it was too tight, and the length was a little short. She's grown half an inch since I made the Cece Top and Dress. That girl is just growing like a weed! Anyways, I just decided that I would have the next girl in line model it for me. 

As you can see, it really doesn't look bad on her at all. I still wanted to make one that would fit though so I could give Alviana accurate feedback on the sizing. My Zoe was a perfect sizing for the size 5, so we started again. I know the fabric choices on this one is a little out there, but we have these certain shoes that just so needed another outfit to wear them with! 

I really love the little cap sleeves. And yes, this child cannot take a serious picture for the life of her. 

Of course I did get Aevarie to model for me after all. It is still snug on her, but I'm hoping we can get at least a week of wear before the kid shoots up some more! 

And just cause Paisley wanted to get in on some of the pictures:

See those little pants Paisley is wearing? Zoe was originally going to wear them with her shirt (hence the reason I chose that fabric for the top) but, Paisley had them on so fast I just couldn't take them off her. 

I seriously love those shoes and I love Alviana's patterns! 

Check out her etsy shop!

In no way was I paid for my review. I love Popolok Designs patterns and wanted to share that love!

Spring Fever Remix - Boy Style

For the boy, I had to think outside the box a bit. It couldn't be a dress, for starters. And we definitely were not going to add ruffles. I've already been parading him everywhere with a pink blanket, no need to further damage him.

I had been thinking about all of the details of the dress. It had a bib front and 4 layers to the skirt. That I could work with for a boy. I started off with the Charlie shirt pattern by Zonen09 mostly because of the way the front was. I modified it to make a square bodice. I also thought about adding a button closure to the front, but thought this look would be fine without it. Then I taped off 4 stripes to paint in reference to the 4 layers. I know the final shirt has 5 stripes. I was slightly messy and a 5th stripe became necessary.

Then since I'm on summer mode, I made him some shorts using the Clean Slate Pants/shorts/capris pattern by Blank Slate Patterns. I've never done welt pockets before and have been dying to try them! But sadly, the size I made is HUGE on Jude and will fit Paisley instead. So for this photo shoot, I just put him in some Skinny Jeans I made him a couple months ago. 

And here's when my little guy had had enough

And a peek to see if I was watching or still taking pics....

The best part about this shirt is that I made it reversible. Since it's still freezing here, the added layer is nice.

I know you have got to be sick of pictures, but I had to add this one! I totally caught a sneeze in action!

Look at that spit!!

Now head over to Project Run and Play to see all of the other amazing remix's! 

Spring Fever Dress Remix

I'm going to be completely honest, I was totally stumped with this remix at first. It could have been because last week was one of those "psycho-crazy-wanna-pull-your-hair-out and make strait-jackets for the kids" type of week. Or because that dress is just amazing as is. I was really struggling coming up with anything and was thinking of just not joining in. It was of course right when I said "bag it" and started a different project (making bows) that a couple of ideas suddenly hit me and I had to drop what I was doing and start making my remix's.My biggest problem was that I really didn't want to make another dress. My girls have TONS of dresses. Don't ask me why I had it in my mind that it just had to be a dress, but when it hit me that I could make something other than a dress, a lightbulb went off and I got started. 

I chose to make a shirt and skirt - brilliant, I know!

I did use the actual pattern, but I modified it quite a bit. For starters, my oldest girl is in size 7/8, so I had to resize the pattern and make it bigger and since it was being turned into a shirt - longer. I also decided to put the bib on the front and turn it into a flutter-tank. Since it was made out of knit, I didn't need the buttons to open on the front, so I created a pleat and made a little bow out of the same material.

For the skirt I used the Layered Skirt Tutorial by Dana Made It. Except I modified it and had it be 4 layers, in reference to the layers on the original Spring Fever Dress. I absolutely love how it turned out. The best part is, my little girl loves it too! :D

Stay tuned for my boy remix! 

Sew in Tune - Birds and Boats

I absolutely LOVE music, so when I saw a music inspired sew-a-long, I just had to join in! The song that kept popping into my head was Boats & Birds by Gregory and the Hawk. My sister thought it was one of the perfect love songs, but I totally disagree. I immediately thought of my relationship with my kids while listening to it. Here's the lyrics to the first verse:

If you be my star

I'll be your sky

You can hide underneath me and come out at night

When I turn jet black

And you show off your light

I live to let you shine

I live to let you shine

But you can skyrocket away from me

And never come back if you find another galaxy

Far from here with more room to fly

Just leave me your stardust to remember you by

Can you kind of see what I mean? Perfect for a mommy/kiddo relationship.

So on to the outfit. My first design thought consisted of a hoodie with jeans, but with spring not too far off and plenty of winter clothes, I decided I'd start on summer stuff, so the hoodie was thrown out and a hooded shirt was decided upon instead. I used the Flashback Skinny Tee and just drafted a hood to add. I also decided to keep it a bit more simple and just write the first sentence. I used a freezer paper stencil and cut out all the words. Then I used white paint and then put glow-in-the-dark paint on top of it. That way, when it is jet black, my little guy can still shine.

As for the jeans, I've had this super cool slightly stretchy, heavier material FOREVER. I knew they would make the coolest little pair of jeans, so I used the "Skinny Jeans" pattern from Peek-a-boo Patterns Shop. We can just pretend that they are clusters of stars in the galaxy, right?? lol 

I havn't been able to take the greatest of pics lately, but here's a couple of them on my little guy. 

Aevaries 6th Birthday!

It's crazy how quickly life changes. At this time a mere 6 years ago we were about to head out to my 39 week appointment at the OB's. I was determined that we would be having our baby girl that day. When the Dr. told me that he wouldn't be surprised if he saw me come into the hospital later that night, I pleaded to just make it a date at the hospital and at 6:57pm, 2 short hours later, we were holding this little creature in our arms. 

Surprise number 1 was that "beauty mark" on her eyebrow. My sister Saffron promptly called out how unfair it was that she have a beauty mark. The second surprise was that this little girl was a blondie just like her brother! I seriously thought that was a fluke.

Now Aevarie has been a gem. I love this little girl to the moon and back. She can be quite bossy and is always ordering her sisters around with a "Come on girls!". I LOVE it! She's very easy going and loving. And oh my goodness this girl is silly! Here's some pictures of her through out the 6 years, cause you know I just love pictures and this girl is too cute!

I just love this girl and can't believe that she's only been in our world for 6 years and at the same time, can't believe she's already 6. 

Here's wishing my darling girl a very Happy Birthday and many many more to come!