Easter Dresses + Ties

The boys got ties from this pattern, which is very easy but seems to run narrow and long, especially in the little boy version. After a frustrating many hours with a bad Simplicity pattern (seriously, don't get it, it is NOT easy like it says), I decided to take the girls' dresses into my own hands and winged it with this bodice pattern and a simple, narrow pleated skirt. I then bought a little shrug pattern, which I made with a knit fabric because I am lazy like that (no finishing!).  My dress is my retro bridesmaid dress, with a clearance cardi and flats thanks to Old Navy.

Elephant

I randomly was going through a pattern book I won last year and decided to use some fabric I was hoarding on a little elephant. There was a lot of hand sewing involved with her - I think I might never make another one. 

Peace shirt

Peace day at school was a nice excuse for a new shirt. Kind of kaftan style. The rainbow belt was a last-minute add on.

new baby girl sweater

Used this pattern. Super fast and adorable! The photo was before blocking--please excuse the rolling hem.

Clara Clothes

Hi there. I bet you thought I was going the way of so many other blogs out there and abandoning ship. Not so, my friends. I am just lazy. Or, if you want, doing better things with my time. ;)

You know what's funny? I get hundreds of hits every day from my two knitting patterns on here. I even had someone ask if they could teach a class using my cabled mini scarf pattern! I find it all amusing, since this is a very part-time hobby for me. Extra-very-part-time hobby as of late. Sorry. I've been a slacker. I'll try to be better in the future. The truth is that I have been doing very little crafting. Well, I mean...I did replace a coat zipper for my father in law, but no picture (that would have been super exciting, I know).

Clara has been the recipient of my random spurts of creativity. I made her a warm and cozy microfleece cowl dress.

Her school had a Valentine's Day Sock Hop dance, and the theme for it was 1950s style. The school is in its 60th year - it was founded in 1952. So here is what I came up with (at the very last minute, because I am a procrastinator).




The cardigan is the one I knit her this summer, and I made a faux-collar for her, because they do NOT sell plain, white collared shirts for little girls. Anywhere. Seriously, what the heck? Then I made a basic circle skirt and embellished it with a white heart, since it was V-day and all. 

And that's that. I am dreaming of spring and Easter dresses. I have the fabric and patterns. I just need to get to them!

Hope you are crafting more than I am.
Cheers
Kristy

February Thoughts

Well, here we are in February. The groundhog saw his shadow, which apparently is a good thing for those who dislike winter. I have been busy, but I'm not sure with what. Oh, I watched the first two seasons of Downton Abbey. Yeah, that was a huge commitment. And obviously WAY more important than, say, cleaning the bathrooms.

Quick and easy fleece cowl. (blurry) Photo by Clara

I am looking for a part-time job. Preferably very part time. I have been 100% at home with my kids for the last six years. It's been great, and hard, and fun. I am going to keep doing it, but I want to add a little something more into life;  I am ready to use my brain in another way, too.

My  mom crocheted Valentine's Day ponchos for the girls. Super cute! 

 Honestly, I haven't been crafting much. Partly I think it's because my sewing machine is in the basement and it has been c-o-l-d out. Too cold to want to do anything in the basement. I have been knitting a little bit. A very little bit.

someone likes CHEESE!

We made a heart walk - like a cake walk but if you land on the heart when the music stops, you get a kiss. 

I scored this kid's drum set at Goodwill for $14.47. What a deal! We are on our way to family band status. Clara plays the piano pretty well for a six year old, and Oliver is already smitten with the drumming bug. We'll see what Ruthie decides on - there is a trombone, violin, and a guitar available for her. :) First though, she needs to learn to use that dang potty. We are almost there.



Until next time.
Kristy

Little Diaper Clutch

Now that my youngest is steering away from diapers, I got around to making a diaper clutch. :) I saw this in my Google Reader this morning and just had to make one right away. The tutorial and PDF (free!) is from here. 

I went to the fabric store and got a vinyl remnant for $2. I already had the button, so it was a fast, satisfying and cheap project. Look out if you are a pregnant friend, you will be getting one of these from me. Did I mention this was no sew!?  Quite possibly a perfect little project.

I suppose I can fill it with spare undies and pants for Ruthie, since that is what I will need to carry around in the next few weeks. Potty training is SO fun.

January Makings

Happy new year! To ring it off, we let our kids stay up as late as they could, which ended up being quite late. So late, in fact, that we got sick of them and pretended it was midnight at 11pm. Shh, don't tell them!

Random things you may not know about me:

1. I make the bed(s) every morning. Even when I am on vacation!

2. I eat two eggs every day, usually for lunch.

3. I prefer my chocolate dark. Like, really. 90% dark.

4. I spend more money on groceries than anything else.

5. I make resolutions every new year, and sadly this year's are almost identical to last year's.

Well, enough about me. This little mustard number is a cabled mini scarf for my lovely sister-in-law. I am also sewing myself a dress - this one - in (boring) gray stripes.

I also had some fun girly craft ideas for the nearby future. I will try to get a little craft tutorial up for that when it happens. Right now, I am knitting a hat for a friend of mine who is starting chemotherapy shortly. I decided to go with my favorite hat pattern, I heart pompoms. I have a lovely alpaca yarn picked out for it.

Until next time,
Kristy

friendship + presents

Every year, my knitting girls and I get together for a handmade Christmas brunch. We eat out (cuz no one wants to cook!) and bring handmade gifts for each other. It is quite lovely. 

photo by Gilda - I had to include it because for once I don't look like a goon! That is one of my gifts, all wrapped up and ready to give. 

I had a hard time deciding what to make this year, but I ended on something that meant friendship to me in 4th grade (1987, yo!) and still means it today (in a more grown-up way): friendship bracelets! These got updated by using bulky yarns and a few more mature color schemes, but the meaning is the same: I love my friends!

The other goodies that were made included:

salsa
a knit jar cozy candle holder
homemade nutella
homemade marshmallows
fabric coin purse
adorable yarn-and-needles ornament
magnets
hot cocoa mix

Geez, did I score on loot! These girls are awesome friends. Big kisses all around (but not really, because my kid has strep and I don't want to spread any germs).

next time, someone tell me to sit up straight! :)

My friendship bracelet inspiration was found here, in case you want to make your own. Merry Christmas!

Over A Month Since I Last Posted

And all I have to show for it is this wonky little pillow. :)

Actually, that's not true, but the gifts I have been making are a secret, so no posts for them! Really I haven't been crafting much. Just enjoying life with my little family instead. Clara turned six midNovember and we had a great day at the Mall of America together, followed by a grandparent party that night. 

at MOA

Splat-O-Sphere! 

me and my six year old!

family movie night

 Last Saturday, Oliver talked Ben into having a bonfire in the backyard. Oliver then proceeded to fall into the fire and we spent the rest of the day at Urgent Care. He has second degree burns on the palm and wrist of his right hand. We had a follow up appointment today and it is healing fine, no infections thank God, and we have to keep it wrapped for quite a bit longer. One fortunate thing is that even though it was horrible pain the first day, he doesn't seem bothered by it at all anymore. He's a tough one. 

decorating our little tree

crazy toddler blur

That's about all for an update! Hopefully I will be back to regular crafting soon, but first I think I ought to clean and organize the basement - ugh!