Spring Top Sewing

Sprucing up my wardrobe with a few new spring tops from the "Just add Jeans" collection that was out earlier this spring.  First I made this Parisian top to add a little easy elegance to my life.  Being Mama to 5 kiddos and 5 months post-partum, I felt like my clothing needed a little livening up.  This style is a comfortable fit, long (read: covers tum-tum), love the gathered sleeves, and the collar dresses it up.  I like that I can wear this with jeans or with a skirt to church.

I purchased this fabric from girl charlee cause i just love the color, but to be honest, it's thin slinkiness almost killed me!  From cutting out to lining up the seams was one headache after another.  But, i used my serger for almost the whole project so that made it a quick sew once it was all prepped.  The collar is a white embroidered cotton and adds a nice texture.  My oldest girls were kind enough to take my picture and tell me how to pose.

"Now pretend you are showing me the front."

"Now turn to the side like you're watching the little kids."

kids clothing week: Easter Shirt for W

In a fit of spring cleaning I went through the summer clothes bins and bags and sorted out the fit from the too small, and the "clean and acceptable to wear" from the "holy dirty painty, blueberry stains batman!" clothes.  The yield was a little lacking in spring and summer wear so I have my "work" cut out for me to get my kiddos ready for Easter, spring and summer.  The kids are happy about choosing fabric and patterns and mama is happy to sew for them.  So I used Kids Clothes Week, a 7 day challenge to do some aspect of sewing for kids for one hour each day to motivate me into some serious sewing.  I did some pattern printing, taping and tracing last weekend and I had one goal in mind for sewing this week, complete Wyatt's Easter shirt.  Since my sewing time is wicked unpredictable I thought I garment was a wholly reasonable goal :).

Fabric is an upcycle of my husband's too small dress shirt. The pattern is Oliver + S, Lullaby Layette.

Wyatt is in cloth diapers and is a good sized 4 month old boy (17.12lbs, 26 in.) so I sewed up the 6-12 month size, it fits just right and will hopefully last through the summer.  It's a full and bubbly style, rather vintage.  It's sweet on its own and super cute tucked into pants as it looks just like a button down shirt!

big brother is making faces to make W smile for the camera

Here is an up close on the detail of the neck trim, I used the herringbone flannel to match his Easter pants.  I also had to use the whole sleeve for the front of the body so there is the cuff detail on his left shoulder.  I think it adds a unique touch and almost looks like a little breast pocket!

Big brother couldn't be left out of the photo shoot :)

Priceless.

Feeling very inspired and energized to keep going on my sewing list.  Big sister Easter outfit, here I come!

Melissa

KCW Jump Start

i love sewing clothes for my kids and am excited to be making some goodies for our newest little guy.  So here is a quick run down of what I have sewn up for him in the first 11 weeks of his life....Set GO!

organic cotton baby gown and hat...BIG YAWN :)

Organic Flannel big bum baby pants for his first Christmas Jammies with the big siblings

     shoes!

Sewing for Boys R is for Romper (size 6 months) in organic cotton

Fishstick Designs lap tee coveralls (size 6-9m) in organic cotton thermal waffle weave, so cozy for sleeping

Fishstick Designs lap tee coveralls (size 6-9m) in organic cotton, so handsome!

The last two I started at the end of January during KCW and finished a few days ago.  It was a good inspiration and jump start to making more clothing the baby needs.  The combo of speedy infant growth and cloth diapers give me an excellent reason to make all the cute and cozy baby clothes I want (and can squeeze in the time for ;) )

I love this face!

Melissa

Quick Catchup

I wanted to share the maternity Turn About the Room dress by Miriam of Mad Mim I sewed up this summer for the last trimester with my 5th baby.  My husband had the kids outside with him one Saturday so I had multiple hours of uninterrupted sewing time to sew up two dresses, the first one, was this, and I love how comfy and put together it is!

It has also been great post baby (easy on the mid-section :) ) and paired with a nursing tank, works well for breastfeeding.
The details...
I sewed up the small/medium in a drapey "perfect brown" cotton/spandex fabric from girlcharlee.com. I took it in an inch in each side and took in the belt as well, I cut the recommended length at first, then held it up to myself to get a close-fitting length that would allow stretch for the last months but also not be too baggy after the baby.  I also made cap sleeves instead of the 3/4 length and made it hit just above the knee; a more flattering length for my 5'5" height.
The second dress was Megan Nielsen's ruched maternity shirt extended to a dress.  I attempted to cut the neckline deeper to make it easier for breastfeeding when paired with a nursing tank, but the fabric I chose was tissue-thin and didn't work so well for me.  But I love the color and am planning to cut it up and make a drapey shirt that will be forgiving on my post baby belly!  The pattern itself was super quick and easy, especially on my serger, I highly recommend it!
Okay, signing off to do some weekend sewing with my kiddos.  Next up I'll be sharing clothing I've been making for the newest addition!
Melissa

I'm Back!

Well, when I mentioned in my last post back in, ahem, February, that I'd be back Monday, I didn't think it would be SEVEN months later!  So here's a little update:

Back in mid-March we decided to make another addition to the family, a puppy named Rose!

she loves to lay in the warm sun

Here she is on our vacation last month, practically all grown up!

One week and 3 days after we adopted Rose from Cape Ann Animal Aid we received some exciting news that lead to this....

That would be me last month 6 months pregnant!  Wow, this one was a doozy.  For the first 14 weeks I was SO SICK ALL THE TIME and EXHAUSTED.  I was hoping with this one being number 5 that it would go a little easier, but alas, not so much!  I had been sick like that with our twin girls, a little less sick with our single girl and not at all with our boy, so we thought for sure this one was a girl, but...IT'S A BOY!  I needed the Spring and Summer to spend my small amount of energy on my family and my home duties. I am now 27 weeks along, everything is moving along great and I am glad to be back sharing with you again!  :)

In addition to sewing for my Etsy shop, I have sewn a few things for my pregnant self, including this bathing suit using this tutorial from Cotton and Curls with a few modifications:

And this super simple A-line skirt:

I'll have Ben take some pics of me in 2 dresses I've made as well and blog about those soon.

Phew, I've been wanting to share that for a while now!  Hope you have all enjoyed your summer and are looking forward to the Fall season of harvest and cool weather...I know I am! :)

Melissa

March Madness

I have a lot of fun sewing things going on these next few weeks and I hope you'll join me so here's a little peek:

They'll be some of this...

Sewing for Jacob

A healthy dose of this:

AND a super fun opportunity to sew clothing and accessories with some of my favorite organic fabrics that will be available in the Wenham Museum gift shop for this event!

Draw Me a Story Monsters with the Emberleys

Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley March 15 - April 28 Beloved authors and illustrators Ed and Rebecca Emberley present a colorful display of illustrations from their collection of frightfully friendly monster books.

Draw Me a Story and Pop Goes the Book! Family Reception

There Was An Old Monster Ed & Rebecca Emberley Sunday, March 24; 1-3pm Included with Admission Meet the Emberleys, create thumbprint and monster art, hear select readings, and enjoy a classic children's storybook ballet.

I'll be back Monday with more details...Happy Weekend!

Melissa





Breakfast Blueberry Spice Muffins

Thought I'd share a doctored up blueberry muffin recipe with you today.  When I serve muffins for breakfast I want to make them as healthy as I can. If this seems like a lot of muffins to have on hand, don't worry they stay in the fridge or freeze well, too.  I also bake them in a Pampered Chef stoneware muffin pan so the baking time is longer than most other muffin pans so check on them after 18 minutes so you don't have briquet muffins.....that's no way to start the morning.

Breakfast Blueberry Muffins

Bake at 400 for 18-25 minutes (depending on bakeware)
Makes 24 muffins

3 1/2c. white wheat flour (you could also do any combo of all purpose and white wheat)
2/3 c. raw sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cloves
2 beaten eggs
1 1/2c milk (sometimes, if I am running low on milk I'll substitute part water)
1/2 c. melted coconut oil or butter
1 1/2c. fresh or frozen blueberries 

1. in large bowl combine dry ingredients
2. in med bowl combine eggs, milk and coconut oil, quickly whisk then add all at once to dry ingredients. Batter will be a bit lumpy
3. fold in blueberries

Bake until edges and top are golden and toothpick comes out clean.  Cool in pans for 3-5 then remove to wire cooling rack.  Then step aside as the stampede of hungry children invade the kitchen to gobble up the homemade yumminess!