First Day of Ballet

On Saturday, Monica pariticpated in her very first ballet class.  The hallway was all a-flutter with proud and excited parents, waiting for their turn to take videos and snap pictures of all the bouncy, sweet little girls in the studio.  I didn't get any pics of the class itself (forgot the camera!), but here are a few shot at home. 

 

 

I tried to have Monica assume first position for a pic but this is as good as it got. I guess further instruction will be helpful. I do love her funny stylings though.

Garden Delight

On Friday, we played and explored at the local Children's Garden. The day started stormy, but became beautiful and bright by late morning. Gotta get out in the fresh air before the cold weather really sets in!

Building A Fairy House

The Finished Design

(When Kevin saw this pic, he said, "What's this pile of rubble?" Way to encourage creativity, right? Fortunately, Monica wasn't in ear-shot and I don't think she knows what "rubble" means anyway.)

Sewing for Monica: An Easy Flower Upgrade

As mentioned in the previous post, we attended a wedding over Labor Day weekend, and I indulged in a couple of projects for the event. 

Last Spring, I bought this dress for Monica at Target: 

There was just something about its white fluffiness that I could not resist. It also made the perfect dress for the wedding. A bit flower-girl-ish, but whatev.

The one thing I didn't like was the flower. It was just chintzy, like something you'd find on a discount silk floral shelf.

So, I set out to make one myself. After some googling, I found this list of fabric flower tutorials and was immediately drawn to this one. I love peonies and the results for this project looked really voluminous and realistic.

Monica and I picked out the fabric together: a pale pink taffetta for the petals with matching netting to layer in between.  The project was relatively easy, though I definitely would pass on the taffetta next time.  Satin would have curled in the heat of the candle flame much more readily I think.  And in contrast, the netting curled so quickly I ruined a lot of my petal cuttings. 

I also used invisible thread to attach the clear crystal to the middle of the flower instead of standard thread.  This ensured that there wouldn't be any detraction from the shimmer of the clear crystal. 

And, voilà!

 

 

Chic-chic and sassy!

Just Beachy

I had the great privilege of growing up in a small town on Lake Michigan.  I never really appreciated what I had as a kid, but now it is pure joy to share it with my children.  We made it to the beach a number of times this summer, and while this last trip was not the quintessential, sunny beach day, there were enough warm waves crashing on the shore to keep Monica and James laughing. 

Sewing for Monica: Small Square Dress

Monica hearts dresses, so in my quest for fun little projects, I put this dress together from a nearly-never worn tank top in Monica's dresser drawer, some JoAnn's red tag mosaic fabric, white cotton lawn from my stash, 3/4" elastic, and a strip of fabric from a t-shirt turned paint smock.

I put most of the dress together, sans pattern or tutorial, but I did use this online tutorial to get the general concepts for sewing the skirt to the tank top. I also used this tutorial to make the t-shirt flower.  

 

Monica calls this dress the Small Square Dress, as opposed to the original Square Dress, which has been mostly retired due to a tragic accident...more on that later...

Driving Lenses

Sewing for Monica: A Sort-Of Simple Skirt

Here are the results for another MADE tutorial: A Simple Skirt

When I first skimmed this tutorial I thought, "Awesome. A sewing project that really will be one evening!" But, I double layered the skirt and used bias tape on the hems; these suggestions are in the tutorial, but they certainly took some of the "simple" out of the project.  However, I love not having to double roll hems, and who doesn't love a little extra twirl and flounce?

The black/white/yellow fabric is from the JoAnn remnant bin and the yellow polka dot fabric is from the JoAnn quilting cotton wall. This project would have been a lot more straightforward had I not sewn the skirt layers together in the center back hem. I *could* have left them sewn together but I think you lose flounce and it just bothered me to leave it. Separating the layers in the hem also caused some issues with the bias tape, but I corrected it and the stitches on the bias tape look more even for it. That correction took all of the "one evening" out of the project, but the fastidious craftstress in me is at peace now. 

I've come to realize that learning to sew and the too-cute results often take a lot more effort, patience and brain power than I thought they would. However, I still love it and find real satisfaciton from the creative process and the outcome. Maybe it is filling part of the challenge-in-the-workplace hole I sometimes feel being a SAHM. We all need an outlet, right?

Sewing for Monica: Upcycling The Giant Purple People Eater Maternity Shirt

If you'll remember a few posts ago (and many moons ago), I turned a mens dress shirt into a sun dress for Monica.  Monica hearts that dress and has even christened it "The Square Dress".  When Monica names a piece of clothing, it is automatically inducted into her personal Clothing Hall of Fame.

So, in the name of thrift, challenge, and cuteness, I took on another mens dress shirt repurpose a la this tutorial by Dana at Made.  I love the cap sleeves and the extra styling at the waist! 

While on my quest for the perfect shirt at a thrift store, I came across a ginormous, deep purple, button-down maternity shirt.  It was a little different from the mens shirt in that it did't have the yoke in the back, had a much boxier shape and sported short sleeves instead of long sleeves.  The only differnce that made an impact on the project was the short sleeves.  The cap sleeves are cut from the dress shirt's long sleeves (which I didn't remember while out on my thrifting escapade), so I had to improvise with some very Vera-looking fabric from the JoAnns quilting cotton wall, which I paired with a coordinating quilting cotton for the waist band.

I should have taken a pic of the shirt at pre-upcycle because the massive shirt to cute little dress transformation is fun to see. If you really want to get the full effect of the transformation, click this link to a similar shirt at The Purple Store. (Who knew there was a store for people who really really want and love purple stuff?  Caitlyn...this is definitely the URL for you!) Here are the results:

Definitely peruse Dana's tutorials and patterns. So cute and fun. In fact, I'll have the results of another Made tutorial soon...

Happy Summer!

Yowza.

It's been a while!

Summer has been very full for us: lots of sun, fun, beaching, home improvement and sewing.  I *promise* I'll post more later (maybe later this evening...) but for now, here's a pic from a photog sesh in June in honor of my mom's birthday (which was in March...we like long celebrations!) 

We love you Mom! 

Like the pics? Check out Kelsey Marie Photography.

Aiding and Abetting

Yesterday was not one of my best days.  I inadvertently facilitated the death of two of my friend's chickens and Monica was there to witness the event. Not exactly what I had in mind for Monica's first "circle of life" lesson. She was a little disturbed at first, ("Mama, the chicken is broken!") but she's also talking about going to see the new chickens when they arrive.  At least three year olds are pretty resilient.   I think Reenie's comment sums it up best: C'est la vie!

RIP Frances and Geraldine.

The Ultimate Bed Head

Kind of looks like there's a strange hair monster emerging from the back of Monica's head...or maybe I just read too much Harry Potter...

A Better Intention

Last night, after the third time Monica came out of her room post-bedtime:

Me:...and I pray that Monica will have sweet dreams and that her guardian angel will stay close to her all through the night.

Monica: I pray that my guardian angel and Mama's guardian angel will give us good dreams and bring peace to the whole world.  Amen.

Now, I think that is a prayer request I can get behind.

A Special Intention

During Monica's Bedtime Prayers...

Me: Our Father, who art in heaven...and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.  And I pray that God would bless our family and bring Daddy home safely*.  Amen.

Monica: And I pray that all of Mama's teeth would fall out very soon.  Amen.

I always hoped that my children would pray for me, but that kind of request was not what I had in mind...

*Daddy's at a Tiger's game, safe from those who would try to pray his teeth to sure demise.

Me and My Hoodies

Cleaning Out the Memory Card

Peek a boo!

A Little Purse for Easter Sunday

I made this little purse for Monica as an Easter gift. I used two fat quarters (Monica chose them quite some time ago, so she forgot about them, which made for a nice surprise), a little over two feet of grosgrain, some interfacing and a magnetic clasp. I'm really happy with the way it turned out, and Monica loved carrying it to Mass and brunch!

The original tutorial does not have instructions for the clasp, but I like having the option of at least sort of closing bags. The flower on the front was made from the strap, but only after I had sewn it all together and realized I skipped the "cut 7 inches from the strap to make the flower" step! The seam ripper is my best friend.

Click here for the tutorial at If I Can Do It You Can Do It.

Men's Dress Shirt...Presto Chango!...Toddler Sundress

Another reason for the blogging hiatus...

My friend Claire shared this tutorial for a toddler sundress reconstructed from a mens' dress shirt. I am a real newbie when it comes to garment construction, so this did take longer than it would a more accomplished and experienced seamstress. I also chose a white, translucent shirt that I felt the need to line with that turquoise fabric that you see at the neckline. That was the most challenging part of the project because there are no instructions for that and, once again, I'm a newbie. But, I'm happy with the way it turned out. I may make another one later in the summer...

Thanks to Maureen for the pocket idea (made from the wrist cuff of the shirt and some pleats). Otherwise I would have spent way too much time and energy sewing those knife pleats all along the hem...Oy!

Pics...I wish I would have taken a picture of the shirt, pre-recon. It's fun to see the contrast! Here's the tutorial if your so craftily inclined...

Catchin Up

After a long hiatus, The Good Life is back. I can't promise profundity or ready wit or more than 100 words at a time, but hey, a picture is worth a thousand words, right?

I'm going to do some back bloggin', and I only have enough energy to go back to December. I call this montage The Essence of the Holidays.

Alright, the kiddos are cute, and they didn't fuss the whole time. They're generally happy little people.



Thanks to Arwen for encouraging me to get back to the blogosphere, no matter how humble the post. :)

What's Trending This Fall?

Jingly Frog Bracelets.



You saw it here first, Fashionistas. Monica spent half of last week with jingly frogs dangling from her wrists. It definitely made getting dressed and undressed and buckling the car seat a little challenging. Anything for the hottest look, right?

It could be worse... She could be insisting on walking around in these beauties. Ouch.

Tried the Potty...Again

We tried the potty again. And, I have one word for you:

Yikes.

It was a rough few hours, my friends. We have some success but the fact that one normally sits on the toilet more than once a day seems to be more than Monica can bear. She totally wants to wear underwear, but does not want the responsibility of not wetting/pooping herself.

You can't have your cake and eat it too, Babe.

The morning of said potty escapade was really rough. By the end, we were both in tears. We did the whole "set the timer for 20-ish minutes then sit on the potty" thing, but every time she sat, she screamed like a banshee while flailing all limbs like helicopter blades. It was hazardous for everyone's health.

At the end of the three hour, one accident attempt, she was crumpled on the kitchen floor in underwear wailing "I'm sad! I miss my polka-dot diaper!"

Dude me too. Polka-dot diapers, here we come.

I think the issue is that she doesn't want to sit on the potty without eliminating, because that's frustrating and seems to be a waste of precious playing time. Indeed. However, if you want to sit minimal times per day, you have to read bodily cues. And for Monica, no reminders/forced potty sittings = accidents of all types. So, we're on another hiatus.

If the first few times you don't succeed, try, try some other time.