Sunday, December 26, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Making Foxes...
These foxes are finding their way into the loving arms of my children and their cousins this Christmas. Growing up, Roald Dahl was one of my favorite authors. For about three years straight I made my annual elementary bookfloat on one of his books, I always placed first. I feel the need to brag about that since I have NEVER placed first in anything else...apparently bookfloats are my forte! Mr. Rogers was not as familiar with Roald Dahl but between my love and his good friends recommendation he finally checked out The Twits from the library. Soon after, and much to my delight, he surprised us with Fantastic Mr. Fox for movie night. The kids feel in LOVE with Fantastic Mr. Fox and it only seemed necessary to make them foxes this year for Christmas. For days I searched out some of my favorite fabrics that I felt captured each of my three children's personalities and purchased them for their fox. They are still on my sewing "to do" list but they will be done by Christmas.
It's not to late to make these for your loved ones, what you need: Finnegan Fox Pattern for $10 by Bit of Whimsy on Etsy, 1 bag of batting, quarter yard fabric, and 2 colors embroidery floss (eyes/nose and mouth) and a couple hours of time. If you have a sewing machine you probably have these laying around and don't have to make a dreaded stop to the cut counter at your local fabric store! With basic sewing skills you can make these but DON'T use chenille on the face like I did because it was a pure nightmare to embroider!
I'm really not a fan of stuffed animals because I feel like they are giant germ balls but I make an exception for handmade and IKEA ones, both of which can be thrown in the washing machine and dryer. Just put in a garment bag and voila! baby drool and kid boogers are washed away!
It's not to late to make these for your loved ones, what you need: Finnegan Fox Pattern for $10 by Bit of Whimsy on Etsy, 1 bag of batting, quarter yard fabric, and 2 colors embroidery floss (eyes/nose and mouth) and a couple hours of time. If you have a sewing machine you probably have these laying around and don't have to make a dreaded stop to the cut counter at your local fabric store! With basic sewing skills you can make these but DON'T use chenille on the face like I did because it was a pure nightmare to embroider!
I'm really not a fan of stuffed animals because I feel like they are giant germ balls but I make an exception for handmade and IKEA ones, both of which can be thrown in the washing machine and dryer. Just put in a garment bag and voila! baby drool and kid boogers are washed away!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Handmade Holiday Lincoln - His Handmade Vest
For our family pictures this year I wanted to try to hand make as many things as possible. Of course, I only got a fraction of the grandiose visions in my head through the sewing machine but am still quite pleased with how they came out.
Maggie had her yellow corduroy dress, both boys had their bow-ties, and I wanted to get them both in vests but I was only able to get Lincoln's made. The vest came from this wonderful, and easy, free vest pattern from Leila and Ben. Lincoln, normally a 3T needed a 4T, but just ended up wearing Jack's 5T as I never got around to completing another one for Jack and Lincoln was much more passionate about having "his" vest....you know how that goes!
It was really a great pattern. I lined the brown corduroy with blue so that it would match with more things and more importantly match the blue converse he wore for the pictures. Don't be intimidated by button holes because they are really quite easy. You just need the proper foot attachments that came with your machine and your trusty owners manual ...and make sure you practice a couple before you do it on your main project. The pattern is unisex so even if you have a boy and a girl it is worth checking out, 6mo. to 5T.
Maggie had her yellow corduroy dress, both boys had their bow-ties, and I wanted to get them both in vests but I was only able to get Lincoln's made. The vest came from this wonderful, and easy, free vest pattern from Leila and Ben. Lincoln, normally a 3T needed a 4T, but just ended up wearing Jack's 5T as I never got around to completing another one for Jack and Lincoln was much more passionate about having "his" vest....you know how that goes!
It was really a great pattern. I lined the brown corduroy with blue so that it would match with more things and more importantly match the blue converse he wore for the pictures. Don't be intimidated by button holes because they are really quite easy. You just need the proper foot attachments that came with your machine and your trusty owners manual ...and make sure you practice a couple before you do it on your main project. The pattern is unisex so even if you have a boy and a girl it is worth checking out, 6mo. to 5T.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Our Weekend Vintage Finds!
Mr. Rogers and I scored these vintage finds at our local historical society sale this weekend. Hoping to find some old local books, maps and artifacts we instead found these awesome goodies from what I'm guessing would be the 50's, 60's or 70's ("way to narrow it down history teacher," I say to myself sarcastically)! Our bill was ten George Washington's...score!
The tablecloth leaves me ecstatic as I've been waiting to buy one for my dining room table for about five years. They are just so expensive that I'm always putting off the cost but I could not say "no" to this purchase. I love the texture of the linen, the thick trim of lace and the color that is sooo rich and bold. The glass syrup dispensers leave nostalgic feelings of my grandma's house. Those sliding aqua plastic lids kick a** and match perfectly with my wooden kitchen table chairs. Chairs that I painted red and then re-painted aqua so the red peeks out perfectly with each loving scratch the children make on them, ha! For a whopping dollar each, Mr. Rogers and I agreed that they are a must for our weekend family breakfasts.
The tablecloth leaves me ecstatic as I've been waiting to buy one for my dining room table for about five years. They are just so expensive that I'm always putting off the cost but I could not say "no" to this purchase. I love the texture of the linen, the thick trim of lace and the color that is sooo rich and bold. The glass syrup dispensers leave nostalgic feelings of my grandma's house. Those sliding aqua plastic lids kick a** and match perfectly with my wooden kitchen table chairs. Chairs that I painted red and then re-painted aqua so the red peeks out perfectly with each loving scratch the children make on them, ha! For a whopping dollar each, Mr. Rogers and I agreed that they are a must for our weekend family breakfasts.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Like Totally R-R-Radical Eighties Toddler Top!
This pattern was love at first sight, KWIK SEW pattern 1244, 1983! It reminds me of something I would have worn as a girl in the eighties and I just couldn’t pass it up! Since I have been trying to hand make all of Maggie’s clothes I’ve realized that cool pants and cool everyday top patterns are a rarity so I was ecstatic when I ran across this puppy!
This was my first clothing item using a lightweight interlocking knit. Next time I need to use more of a sweatshirt weight on the view A and B because in order to get those sweet eighties Mad Max’esque vertical wings to stand up - you need that heavier weight fabric. The hardest thing about constructing this top was working with the thin knit fabric. The knit ribbing for the neckband, waistband, and sleeve bands was a piece of cake thanks to the help of my serger (a must if you regularly sew clothing). The only problem I ran into with the pattern was that the top was a little on the short side, even though I made her the T1. The pattern for Maggie’s chest size was much to short for my Maggie’s viking built body. She loved her top but her tummy kept popping out as she walked so next time I’m going to add a couple inches to the bottom hem. Regardless, worn with her leggings and moccasins my heart skipped a beat! I can’t wait to make more of these, especially view C, and have been searching the ends of the internet for some great knit fabrics.
This pattern is awesome! It works for all four seasons and if you sew and have a special little girl in your life you have a moral obligation to track it down, purchase, and sew [wink]! Want to know the icing on the cake? It goes from a T1 to a T4: chest size 20”-23”, so you can use it for YEARS on end!
This pattern is awesome! It works for all four seasons and if you sew and have a special little girl in your life you have a moral obligation to track it down, purchase, and sew [wink]! Want to know the icing on the cake? It goes from a T1 to a T4: chest size 20”-23”, so you can use it for YEARS on end!
Monday, December 6, 2010
New Mexico + Etsy = Things Mr. Rogers Can Wrap Up Under The Christmas Tree This Year!
For around my neck...
To wear and rock my "City Different" style in this golden state....
To match with my the tunic above...
To cook all the wonderful New Mexican food that your stomach desires...enchiladas, tamales, posole, green chile stew, and red chile. Not to mention that I could totally multi-task and teach the children New Mexico state geography at the same time! Well worth it, Mr. Rogers!
Snow in New Mexico Apron by FresaStudio
side note: It wasn't until asking permission to include the apron in my blog that I found out the shop owner, Claire, and I graduated high school together...small world!
side note: It wasn't until asking permission to include the apron in my blog that I found out the shop owner, Claire, and I graduated high school together...small world!
For our home. As a memento of the time we have spent together, a reminder of the uniqueness of Northern New Mexico, to show the children where my roots are and how it has shaped me into a woman who marches to the beat of a slightly different drummer.
and let me just say, HOW AWESOME IS THIS?
Yes, right across from the kitchen table is where it wants to live!
Yes, right across from the kitchen table is where it wants to live!
Mr. Rogers, it's tough being a dislocated New Mexican! Leaving was just supposed to be for my Bachelor's Degree, not long term, but you captured my heart and now you, along with the help of three little munchkins, are holding me hostage in California. Give a girl a little slice of her land of enchantment this holiday season and maybe you'll find a warm basket of homemade sopapillas at dinner next time I make enchiladas!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Teeny Tiny Lady Apple Punctuation!
At the grocery store today the boys spied these teeny tiny apples with their little eyes! Of course they wanted to buy some and really how could I say, "no" to these teeny tiny apples...
Then Jack, who has been somewhat obsessed with The Electric Company on PBS, busts out with the idea of making punctuation symbols out of the apples....seriously!?!?!? Oh, Electric Company how you have given my children a passion for grammar, I heart you! Maybe it was a double whammy of learning about the exclamation point and seeing this LL Cool J punctuation clip that led him to such an idea. So, quite inspired, Jack designed the following punctuation for your viewing pleasure and I snapped the pics!
So before we were to partake in nibbling our teeny tiny fruit I wanted to snap a picture.
Then Jack, who has been somewhat obsessed with The Electric Company on PBS, busts out with the idea of making punctuation symbols out of the apples....seriously!?!?!? Oh, Electric Company how you have given my children a passion for grammar, I heart you! Maybe it was a double whammy of learning about the exclamation point and seeing this LL Cool J punctuation clip that led him to such an idea. So, quite inspired, Jack designed the following punctuation for your viewing pleasure and I snapped the pics!
These apples are just so cute and so teeny tiny that I think I might go back and buy a pound just to gaze at in my fruit bowl this week to pack in my kids' lunch for a balanced meal, only $1.99 lb. at my local market! That deserves an exclamation point!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Giving Thanks for The Bloomin Boutique Giveaway! - Winner
Jacki and me are thankful for those of you who participated in The Bloomin' Boutique giveaway. Many of the comments blessed me and brought little tears to my eyes. So many times we forget to stop and give thanks and I love that you all stopped in and took a moment to reflect on some of the blessings we've been given. With that, the winner of the $25 shop credit goes to Melissa! (imagine a trumpet in your head)
However, I must confess something! I fell in love with a comment. It really hit home with me because it perfectly explains how I feel about Maggie. Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for knowing me so well as to give me my hearts desire without me even knowing that it was something I was missing. Really content with my two boys I was looking forward to Maggie being my third boy and was actually a little sad when I found out she was a girl but that all ended the day she was born! I just can't resist the temptation to buy Stephanie the Red Hot Floral, her favorite, so her little girl can wear it for the holidays.
[original post below]
Whoop! Whoop! (think Arsenio Hall and throw that fist up if you are feeling a little bit crazy!). Perhaps you have been lured by the delicious bloom clips that Maggie has sported in a couple of my postings (here and here) from The Bloomin' Boutique! Well, this is going to make your mouth water more than that turkey this Thanksgiving! Jacki, the shop owner, is giving away a $25 shop credit to The Bloomin' Boutique! This makes me happy because I love supporting handmade goodies and Maggie and I have gone crazy over these hair clips...here are just a few from our personal stash!
How to enter: Please go to The Bloomin' Boutique and select your favorite bloom. Then come back here and write a comment (leave your email when you submit your name so it becomes a link for me to contact you if you win) on which one was your favorite and something that you are thankful for this year (the comment that touches us the most via laughter, tears, or warm fuzzies) will receive the blooms of their choice. The Bloomin Boutique would be quite thankful if were to "Heart" The Bloomin' Boutique by adding it as one of your shop favorites on Etsy, follow The Bloomin' Boutique blog, and "like" The Bloomin' Boutique on facebook but we're not going to twist your arm over it.
Etsy has also started a coupon code and Jacki will be offering 10% to my few, but precious, readers. Enter COUPON CODE: imarriedmrrogers. Giveaway is available to those living in the U.S. and Canada. The Giveaway ends Wednesday Dec. 1st and the winner will be posted on Thursday. If the winner does not claim their prize then it will be forfited to another reader that made us laugh, cry or gave us a warm fuzzy! This giveaway is now closed.
Melissa said...
I love the Santa Claus is coming to town - it matches my daughter's Christmas dress perfectly!
I am thankful for eyes that open every morning to greet a new day. I am thankful for legs that carry me wherever I need to go. I am thankful for a heart beating with love. For a husband who is always there when I need him. I am thankful for my daughter who is pure joy. and for the multitude of blessings that fill my life. I say often that I wish there were a word bigger than "thankful" as I find myself searching for it often.
However, I must confess something! I fell in love with a comment. It really hit home with me because it perfectly explains how I feel about Maggie. Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for knowing me so well as to give me my hearts desire without me even knowing that it was something I was missing. Really content with my two boys I was looking forward to Maggie being my third boy and was actually a little sad when I found out she was a girl but that all ended the day she was born! I just can't resist the temptation to buy Stephanie the Red Hot Floral, her favorite, so her little girl can wear it for the holidays.
Stephanie said...
I love all the pink ones and the Red Hot Floral!
Having a daughter has rekindled my own sense of femininity. I love the ability to be tender and strong at the same time, to wear a flower in your hair, twirl in a skirt, and have a sparkle in your eye. I am thankful to have a more full appreciation for how the Lord make both male and female in His image. Girls Rock!
Happy Holidays to all of you and to our winners!
[original post below]
Whoop! Whoop! (think Arsenio Hall and throw that fist up if you are feeling a little bit crazy!). Perhaps you have been lured by the delicious bloom clips that Maggie has sported in a couple of my postings (here and here) from The Bloomin' Boutique! Well, this is going to make your mouth water more than that turkey this Thanksgiving! Jacki, the shop owner, is giving away a $25 shop credit to The Bloomin' Boutique! This makes me happy because I love supporting handmade goodies and Maggie and I have gone crazy over these hair clips...here are just a few from our personal stash!
How to enter: Please go to The Bloomin' Boutique and select your favorite bloom. Then come back here and write a comment (leave your email when you submit your name so it becomes a link for me to contact you if you win) on which one was your favorite and something that you are thankful for this year (the comment that touches us the most via laughter, tears, or warm fuzzies) will receive the blooms of their choice. The Bloomin Boutique would be quite thankful if were to "Heart" The Bloomin' Boutique by adding it as one of your shop favorites on Etsy, follow The Bloomin' Boutique blog, and "like" The Bloomin' Boutique on facebook but we're not going to twist your arm over it.
Etsy has also started a coupon code and Jacki will be offering 10% to my few, but precious, readers. Enter COUPON CODE: imarriedmrrogers. Giveaway is available to those living in the U.S. and Canada. The Giveaway ends Wednesday Dec. 1st and the winner will be posted on Thursday. If the winner does not claim their prize then it will be forfited to another reader that made us laugh, cry or gave us a warm fuzzy! This giveaway is now closed.
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