With Christmas Came Happy Things

Happy things like a wine rack and cookie cutters from my parents and an assortment of beautiful vintage stemware from my aunt. I'm loved... and those who love me know me well. Like my fantastic husband, who gave me Julie & Julia... because he was supposed to take me to see it in theaters but forgot. And when it came out on DVD and we finally had a movie night, he rented Inglourious Basterds. Which was fine. Because now I can watch Julie & Julia whenever I want. Thank you, my love.

Toile Jumper

I made this dress last week for my niece and realized as I was starting it that the last time I made a jumper I did it the long way. Not just the long way, but the difficult, tedious, and ineffective way. The way, as my 3 year old Corbin would put it, that was "not better." Apparently the right way to make this little number requires only three seams, two hems, and some buttons. I'm amazed at how I realize better ways to do things nearly every time I sew. Silly as I feel to admit how painfully wrong and slow I was doing things before, learning the right ways makes me feel like a bigger, stronger, and faster sewer. :) And I realize that natural light becomes photographs of things like this, however, the window of daylight now is far too small for me to always remember to take my photos. Because I'm a distracted person. Come soon, summer.

Sometimes Things Fall Apart

Ever have what you thought was a great idea that you quickly turned into reality... just to watch it fall apart almost as quickly as it began when you realize the situation was entirely too fragile for its supposed purpose? Thus goes the story of the butterfly headbands.

Fancy

What makes fancy ketchup fancy? Nicer tomatoes? I don't know. Must be. What makes fancy skirts fancy? Nicer fabric... and that's about it. When I make them, anyway. :) This is a Christmas gift for my year and a half old niece. Simple and lovely and fun for a pretty little blond baby.

When I stock up on super inexpensive fabric at thrift stores, sometimes I come across fantastic finds. Like massive amounts of dupioni silk for nearly free. I think I'll be making myself a skirt out of that pink fabric next, I love it so much. I'm still not a great seamstress, but I do enjoy all this sewing. However, every time I sew lately I seem to only end up pining after a serger to make the clothes making simpler and faster and make seams less bulky. Oh, Lord, cleanse my covetous heart.

This is just a simple skirt made out of a few rectangles of fabric with an elastic waist and a wide hem. I lined it because the dupioni silk can be a little stiff and scratchy... especially on the soft baby legs. The flower is on a pin so it is removable, I found a tutorial for making them over here. I then proceeded to make a bunch for myself... because... well... they were just so happy.

I think I need to make more of these for the other babies in my life this Christmas. They're so easy to make as gifts. Now I just need some ideas for things for boys... yikes. They're so much more difficult to sew for than girls.