1st Article of Clothing

I might have started this dress before Esme was born, not even sure. I stopped when the snaps on shoulder pushed my presser foot off the edge and I could never get that dang biased tape on.  For some reason this Sunday, I decided to get it done before church.

Sorry, the pictures are blurry.  This will be the first of many dresses.  She was soooo cute Sunday.  I seriously look at her and wonder how she came from me.  

Dressing a Girl

I've been excited to sew Esme a dress since before she was born, I see so many amazing tutorials on sewing blogs.  I started one a long time ago and got stuck.  So at 18 months I finally made a new one. I love how with girls, pants that are too short become capris and dresses can later be worn as shirts. It gets even better knowing I made it out of an old maternity shirt during a nap.  Thanks MADE.

Baby Gift Of Choice

I've been avoiding the sewing machine since just after Christmas. I guess I traumatized myself with all the hand made gifts. Plus I finally got my desk clean and it pained me to think of cluttering it up again.  But today was a babyshower for the saint-of-a-relief-society-counselor that helps me so much with my calling.

I've decided my new go-to baby gift is to lend the mom-to-be my favorite sewing book and let her pick. That way, after my hours of work, I know she will love it, and there's still a little bit of surprise since I decide on the fabric.  So a couple of weeks ago I told her to pick something from the book and I sewed it up a couple of nights ago. She picked the best project in there, so I was excited.  And she's European and loves modern, so figuring out fabric was easy.

 The swaddler will be especially helpful if her little guy is anything like Esme. After a few weeks of life she started jolt herself awake with waving arms unless she was wrapped tight tight tight. The first time I made one of these she was 3 months old and strong enough to bust out of my tight double swaddle, so I was pretty frantic to get it done. This small contraption was in constant use and was critical for both of us to get good sleep, no matter how short the duration.

Wrapping gifts is very low, or not even on, my list of important things. I'm too practical, with money and time. So I used the spare brown paper that was inside a roll of Christmas paper and just sewed around the edges, which was easier than trying to form a shape of the soft contents and put tape who knows where.  Walking to the shower I started regretting it, imagining all the cutesy blue bags with fluffy tissue paper, but for some reason people raved about it. Who knew.

Puppets!

So a couple of days ago my friend Wendy invited us to her girls' (twins) birthday party today. For gifts I like to ask what the birthday kids are into so my hard work is more likely appreciated. Even better, Wendy said she was making the girls a puppet theater for Christmas and that puppets would be good, so the girls get a present and mom can check a couple of things off her to-do list. I went to my favorite craft blog roundup and entered in "puppet" and found the best tutorial, stopped looking as soon as I found it.  The amazingly talented/creative lady at Just Another Day In Paradise put an Old McDonald Puppet tutorial for a competition. I love all the detail, even the back of the animals are fun.

Okay, gotta get ready for the party.

Meet Sophie

Brian really wanted to name Esme Sophie. I just couldn't give in when it was on the top 10 list. The name of Esme's first doll counts for something, right?  We'll see what he says.

I've been excited about making it since I saw this tutorial months ago, I don't have serious style and sewing skills like that lady, but I tried.  I didn't even have to buy anything to make her, the gold dress came from a DI bed skirt whose center became those reusable produce bags months ago. I bet when she's a teenager she will be so annoyed with me wanting to make everything.

But on her first birthday she greeted her with several slobbery kisses and trying to pick her eyes off.  A good sign, since that's what she does (or tries to do) when she excitedly meets other babies.

I Stayed Up Past Midnight

I must've been excited about finishing these little shoes for Esme. I've been dreaming of making some since I ran into a few free patterns, but was driven to make them since my cheapness has been keeping me from buying the pricey shoes that I like. After 3 hours adjusting the pattern, unpicking several mistakes, and learning as I went, she has slippers that fit just right but won't make me cry when she grows out of them in a month.

I used this pattern (and this video) but narrowed and lengthened the sole about half an inch. They are lined with soft microfleece (diaper scraps) and the outside is heavy twill (sling scraps). Next I plan on picking up a leather coat at the thrift store and making these cute ones and if I get really into, these reversible kimono-style ones. I wonder how long I can go on making her shoes. Luckily she's technically a baby for at least one more year.

If anyone knows of a way to get some traction on the bottom, like the rubber writing on the bottom of socks, please let me know. I've already thought of going to Home Depot for some adhesive something, but that stuff probably isn't non-toxic. Then I thought of sewing a rubber band along the bottom. See. I clearly need help before my ideas get any more ridiculous. Rubber cement?...

Fish

You'd think we lived by the ocean and fishing was our livelihood by how the boys always talk about their next fishing trip. Eli's got it down. Dad will catch a big one, he'll catch a small one, and then they'll come home and cook them. And I just finished making another fishing game.

I decided to simplify and realized I like the minimalist look better anyway. It was hard to say good-bye to this project, but Emi's totally worth it. Hopefully it buys her parents a couple minutes of peace with this crazy girl on their long flight to Japan.

Why Do I Try So Hard

Apparently I'm on the activities committee at church. I did not know this for a year and a half. That big Christmas party a couple years back must've pooped the old activity leaders right out into inactivity. But the new ones are gung ho and Saturday was our first event. What do they assign this sewaholic with basic skills? Kids games. What do I do all week? Sew a fishing game and bean bags. Last minute I drew the line at making my own bubble solution, only after buying glycerine, which is aparently the secret ingredient for long-lived bubbles. (Just in case you were worried, there was more to do thanks to my partner, an elementary school teacher, who raided the recess closet at school.)

Anyway. The bean bags, with my first attempt at embroidery, went untouched. The fish were a HUGE hit for kids of all ages. One boy was so enthused he decided they needed some water (i.e. bubble solution) in the empty kiddie pool. Right now Eli's happily washing and squishing them out in the sink for me.

I know I'm crazy about homemade, but I only went to all this trouble since I could keep them and have fun kid games on hand for future family home evenings or birthday parties.

I'm already brainstorming carnival games for the summer activity in 3 months.

Personalized Felt Memory Game

So last night I stayed up late making this (more cards inside the bag). Tonight is Eli's buddy's birthday party. A couple of days ago I looked on my new favorite blog for ideas. A Make Your Own Memory Game was perfect, especially since I'm always taking pictures. After some online and craft store searching, I came up empty-handed, so I had to invent my own version. With some wallet-sized prints, picasa to add words to the cover photo, heavy weight interfacing, felt ( love you felt), pinking shears, and two hours of sewing and cutting, Curt will have a memory game that brings back memories. How tender.

I was so excited I had to bring it up to Brian to see when I finished, whether I had to wake him or not. He's learning to be impressed by my creations and numerous uses for the snap machine I asked for. I'm just glad I finally came up with something on my own rather than needing a tutorial. I searched around this morning and found someone else had done something similar, except with the expense and trouble of printing photos on fabric. Ha!

I'm already brainstorming a churchy one to keep the boy occupied on Sundays, even going to temple square to take my own pictures. It would be convenient to run into the prophet.

Having Me For An Aunt

This weekend Brian and Eli are going to visit his sister in Oregon while Esme and I go see my sister in California-. It will be my niece's birthday and I set out today with both kids to go buy a present like any normal person. But our parking space was empty. Bri took the car. I guess it was meant to be since I promised myself I would do my best to make presents for now on. So we went back up stairs and I looked online for ideas.

What did this practical lady decide on? A reusable sandwich wrap and snack bag made from leftover waterproof diaper fabric (PUL). Useful and earth friendly. My poor nephew never got a present for his birthday back in October, during my extreme nesting before Esme which involved spring-like cleaning, redecorating, and sewing, so I made an extra one. I don't remember what it was like to be 8 and almost 6, but I hope they like them.

Another Reason To Feel Guilty

Sometimes I feel like postponing the sewing until the kids are bigger. They don't care about the things I make and it takes my attention away from them, making me feel like a bad mom, even though I can usually only work 10 minutes at a time. So slowly, over the past two weeks I've been working on a few projects from this book I've already mentioned I have an obsession with.

First the nursing pillow, then a diaper bag, which I started when I thought I'd given up on the swaddling blanket. I had a slight melt down when I couldn't figure out the pattern and incorrectly marked up the fabric with pen and realized the kids are too small to be interested in these things I make. But the bag's simplicity gave me back some confidence and I was happy to find a reason to use the snap machine again.

Yesterday I finally finished the swaddler. It had perfect timing. The last few days Esme has been taking bad (short) naps, apparently because she's been bustin' out of her double swaddles. She waited impatiently for her nap as I finished sewing the velcro. Lets just say her nap was so amazing I ended up having to wake her up, something I haven't done in a long time. She's able to get her little fingers up to her mouth to comfort herself, but can't get the arm out to flail around and distract herself. And she can't bust out because it goes above her shoulders and doesn't stretch. It fits perfectly now, but I'm already stressed about needing to make another longer one.

Now my problem is loving so many other projects in the book and having a bunch of cute fabric on hand that I found on mega-sale a while back. Luckily it's winter, so I don't have to feel bad about not taking the boy to the play ground because I'm busy since its too cold anyway. I just do my best to hurry while he watches TV. I never knew being a mom would involve so much hurrying. Rush to the grocery store between naps, quickly make dinner while they're still napping, get the sweeping done while she's still happy in her swing. Hurry up and get this post over with. Okay.

Cloth Diapering

Around the time Eli was born I found some cards advertising cloth diaper services. I thought it was crazy--I asked the lady if very many people did that and if it was just hippies. I'm so embarrassed of my 23-year old self. Little did I know that a couple years later that not only would my kid be wearing them, but that I would have sewed them (thanks to Anna).

I thought it was going to be a big deal, but, honestly, it's not much more than a few small loads of laundry a week. I'll admit, it is a relief that Eli is mostly potty-trained, just wearing them at night. A certain product has helped the battle with bacteria and the not-so-pleasant odor, but Esme's diapers are so innocent her bucket doesn't even need a lid yet. They don't even have to be rinsed, as I learned today. Although, when I do, she doesn't mind the extra time on the changing table, she just twists around so she can see herself in the mirror, seriously, every time.

They do provide challenges, though. They don't exactly have a billion-dollar industry behind them and so they have drawbacks for people used to throw-aways. They must be changed more often (Esme every 2-3 hours, but overnights last 12 hours) since they can't absorb as much or stay as dry as we're used to. And wetness can spread from the top-stitching, so onesies that cling should be avoided (although they prevent blow-outs better than regular diapers). Amusingly, they give the kids extra large booties. Sometimes Brian and I can't help but laugh when Eli wears a double-stuffed one to bed under slim-fitting pajama pants. I'm just glad we have them for the boy so I don't feel like pressuring him to make it through the night sooner than he's ready because diapers and pull-ups are expensive. Potty training + pressure= disaster.

So, after an insane number of hours sewing and spending around $350, several children can be diapered from birth to potty training. I don't think Brian would agree to having another child just so the diapers would be used again. I bet he would if he'd been the one sewing them.