kidding around

The other day, I allowed Ellie to take a personal day and not go to school. She was fun to chat with and have around as I go about my day. One of our conversations was a very important listing of favorite colors.

She and I both agreed that we are very drawn to brown. All tones…we just like it. I was surprised being that she is 8 that brown was her first pick. Of course, we also listed a few more colors that we liked…it’s never easy to pick just ONE favorite color!

So- as I was at at the fabric store for no good reason, I spotted this great fabric. I knew immediately that this chocolate brown and all the colors would delight my girl. I also have been wanting to make this simple dress pattern (below) from Burda. The dress is way cuter on then on the hanger, but you get the idea. A perfect A-line shape and fun to layer with a long sleeved T-shirt and striped tights. Has anyone seen striped tights that are not rainbow (already have a pair of those!)?

I hope to make a couple more of these dresses for her and Penny. I find it really hard to find decent dresses that don’t cost a fortune and look like they are for someone 8!

Perhaps I will be productive this weekend and will have a lot to share next week. Our family has not had a free weekend in 6 weeks and I am looking forward to waking up tomorrow and making pancakes with NO big agenda. Of course baby gazing and Tizzy Kay will for sure be a part of my “no plans” weekend.

Happy Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

Sorry, more shameless photos of my new niece. I swear tomorrow there will be something else! These shots are for all the family and friends that can’t be near to meet our Tizzy.

I had to drag myself away from her today and actually be a mother to my own kids. Oh well, that girl has enough love and arms wanting to hold her…I suppose it’s only fair to share.

Elizabeth Kathleen…otherwise known as Tizzy Kay has entered the world!

She was born at 5:17pm, weighing 7lbs. 14 oz.

She is sweet and actually pretty laid back. But who doesn’t like taking photos of a screaming baby? Her aunt does!

Yea, welcome sweet Tizzy.

I’ve always been amazed to see some really cool reconstruction of clothing out in the blogging world. Sometimes when one attempts to make 2 things into one- it sort of looks that way…but I am never disappointed when I read my collection of blogs.

Anyway, the curtains above are for my sister’s shop. I can’t take the credit in the fabric selection. She handed off two sets of IKEA curtains and said “do it!”. So I did and I like them. I have a bunch of the curtain fabric left and think I will make some fun skirts for Penny and Ellie- as long as they don’t stand in the bathroom at Moveable Feast for too long, I think the “curtain secret/reconstruction” will not be revealed.

And another sort of reconstruction/reusing…

This shirt pattern that I love and have made about 6 for my girls has gone Fall/ Winter. I used 10 cent cordurouy and leftover fabric from my sister’s bumper pad project. Fun, huh? I love using what I have because honestly, I can’t justify buying more fabric until I use some up!

Oh- and speaking of my sister and bumper pads, she goes in tonight to get the whole birthing process going! I plan on going in tomorrow morning and helping her with the birth or just cry my eyes out all day long. Yep, it’s going to be one of those days and I can’t wait.

A couple of weeks ago, amongst the shower planning and relative visiting, I sewed some things for Penelope. I realized after going through some of Ellie’s hand-me-downs that the seasons didn’t overlap nor their sizes. SO I started sifting through some fabric and patterns I have collected and have started my list.

I really am challenging myself to make a good amount of Peppy’s wardrobe. I really enjoy making things for her…it also gives me much more confidence with my machine and pattern reading (or NON-reading!).

Did you notice that I actually made a button hole?! I remember in high school, it took me weeks to make my “semester long” dress project. I think there was like 4 buttons- pathetic, I know! I can’t take all the credit for the button hole. My husband was kind enough to figure out my machine and the little mechanism that goes with it for holes. I am a much better student when someone SHOWS me a process.

Here’s the girl wearing her pinafore. I found the pattern at a thrift store and it was one of my most prized finds for the summer. I actually found about 6 patterns all in Penny’s size from the 70s- I think! Stay close for some more sewing “Show and Tell”.

This morning, there was a young lady at the breakfast table. She was happy, secure, and busily reading something left on the table from the night before. Her interactions with her younger siblings was so kind and engaging. Where has my girl gone?

Last night I took Ellie to have her hair trimmed by my hair stylist. Ellie decided that she wanted something different (something I was sort of pushing for, hated to see the braids go though!). As I watched her in the chair looking at herself in the big mirror, I watched my little girl become transformed. Not that a haircut will do it- but I did see a glimmer of what she will be like as she matures. She was confident, witty, and able to hold a conversation with an adult.

I did get a bit emotional in my heart, but I also had to remind myself that this realization is good for me NOW. One day, this sweet girl of mine will grow even more independent and I need to be ready for it!

By the way, I’m pretty sure when she gets home from school she will be fighting with her brother and grumbling about studying for a science test. Our home is not that idealic, but thankfully there are moments!

A few months back, this nice blogging friend suggested a swap. I had commented on her knitting and she so generously offered to make something for Penelope. Nice, huh?

Well, right before I hosted my sister’s shower, I received her marvelous package. You should have heard Penny imitating my oohing and ahhing…I obviously could not restrain myself and ripped the package open while driving to pick up my kids from school. The lady at the post office kindly cut the envelope for me!

Check out the matching sweater for Penny’s best pal “Piggy”.

The washcloth was also a really nice surprise. I am ALWAYS taken by knitting and can not even imagine how you people do it…really. It’s like when people put additional electrical wiring in their house…can’t imagine doing it!

The 3 soaps Allison sent you will not believe the play, clutching, and sleeping these poor little bears have gone through…that is why there is only one left. Hopefully Ollie won’t decide to chomp on it. Seriously, everytime Penny sleeps, eats, or leaves the house, she must have have the pig, the washcloth, and the bear soap with her. She even puts the soap to bed and pats its’ back. Okay, I need to stop. I’m sure most of you tire of hearing about a 2 year olds life…I would!

And of course, this hat was such an extra bonus! The little kitty cat ears gives Penny every reason in the world to meow and I love it!

THANK YOU Allison! What a fun swap and thanks for the great book too!

By the way, this was my end of the bargain.

Hey there…I thought I would check in and share photos from a fun weekend we had in Michigan. These photos are especially for family that could not make it to the wedding celebration of Peter and Amanda.

The shot above is with my husband and his 6 siblings with their spouses and kids. A big crowd, huh? It was fun having all of our digital cameras lined up and allowing onlookers to shoot away. No painful standing still poses!

It was so nice to meet new nieces and see how much all the other kids have grown. It is quite the event when we are all together. Most of Nathan’s family live on the West Coast and they all trekked out to the midwest for a short time of togetherness. The last time we saw most of his family, Penny was 8 months and the couple with the newborn (in the photo) was getting married!

All of my kids were in heaven. 13 kids in all- 12 of them under the age of 8.

Another shot of the 7 kids. For some reason this does not look like a lot of kids. Maybe it’s because I feel I know them each individually and to see them together makes sense. Or maybe it’s because they aren’t squirming, high energy kids wanting to get out of the photo!

Jeepers, all that fun in planning and now the party is over! My sister’s baby shower was a success and my other sister and I had fun in all the preparation. From picking up my sister Susan at the airport to going to a flower mart for the party to making my house ready for the bash… I had fun and sort of let down now that it is all over!

We had lox and bagels, crispy goat cheese salad, tomato basil stratta, scones, brioche cinammon rolls, fruit, pineapple bake, mimosas, bellinis, bloody marys, coffee, 2 kinds of cupcakes and whoopie pies.

I was crossing my fingers all week long for no rain- unfortunately it was miserable outside, but really warm inside which is far better that 90 degrees with the air con. on. Sorry for the poor photos, not only was there no sunshine, but my kitchen is not the best “non-flash” environment. And taking photos of food with a flash is quite frightening. I also did not take nearly enough photos- but I think that I was totally enjoying myself and felt no need to document the whole event.

Next up- Tizzy’s arrival!

I’m taking a blogging break, not sure when I will be back. Take care friends.

My head has been spinning in preparation for my sister’s baby shower. We have said good-bye to summer and have covered our pool, pulled wilting summer flowers, and planted Fall flowers that will last until Thanksgiving.

I have 2 co-hosts (my sister Susan and my bro-in-law’s sister) helping me with the party, but they are both from out of town and have done more of their share from a distance. There is, however, the ultra critical eye I have for my home. That’s why I have been making new pillows, painting cabinents, painting chairs, etc. It’s a great motivation for me to get things accomplished before winter hits and some of my activitiy is limited.

I am expecting 25 guests on Sunday morning for brunch. Most will be from out of town. I love putting on parties and good thing I feel comfortable with it since it is part of my job!

My sweet sister is totally ready to meet her baby. After several miscarriages and a long drawn out fertility deal- our sweet Tizzie decided to enter the world without anyone deciding when she was supposed to be…I can’t wait to hold this little girl and give her as much love as my sister has bestowed upon my three.

My pal made this last week, and I want to thank her for the idea that I totally stole. It was nice to sit one night last week and stitch away. After the shower, this will be something I am definitely doing regularly…stitching that is.

I’m sure you all can guess what this is, but I won’t reveal it until after the shower. Just know I found this lovely wool felt on clearance and should buy some more, soon.

Okay, off to spray more chairs with paint. You may not hear from me until Monday- perhaps Corners of my Home tomorrow.

I’m off dear reading friends!