Newest Project: Empire Waist Sweater Vest

Well, since I finished those last two projects for my girls, I wanted to make something for myself, and since fall is upon us in full here in Wisconsin with changing colors and fields of brown and amber, I figured I go for something warm. I found this pretty simple pattern from Lion Brand Yarn for an empire waist tank top, but I think it's going to end up being a sweater vest for me, since I didn't have cotton yarn on hand as the pattern suggested, but I did have some Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn in a couple of different heathered tones. Here's a picture of what they say it should look like.

My version is in Mushroom and Rose Heather (I didn't have enough of either one to be a solid color.), and I didn't not have the size F crochet hook, so I'm using the G hook for the smaller one and I hook for the larger. I think I will add some cool looking trim around the top and bottom for a creative effect. We'll see. But I will post photos when I'm done.

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire

Today's Crayola Fall Color Week color is CHESTNUT BROWN! I tried to figure out exactly what color that is...I need to get an expanded box of crayola crayons "for the girls" to really see. Anyway, here's my little MaeBalloon's feet in my big ol' brown mary janes.

Giveaway Notice!

Just found out that Candace over at Sparkle Power! is hosting a giveaway that ends October 7th for a free Rody! "What's a Rody?" you ask? Well, head on over to Sparkle Power or AllChildrensFurniture.com to see! I know my girls would want one.

Goldenrod Nod

Today's Fall Crayola Color Week color is Goldenrod!

Not sure which of these exactly is closest to goldenrod, the bowl, the dandelion, or the mug?

Burnt Sierra Delayed

Here's my Burnt Sierra photos, late but here, for Elsie Marley's Crayola Fall Color Week:

Illiana's Butternut Squash

Burnt Sienna on Baby Illiana Sunshine

Fall Color Week #1: Brick Red

Meg from Elsie Marley blog is hosting some photo fun with Fall Color Week. Today's color is Brick Red! Here's my input...of course it involves my little lovlies...well, two of the three.

Naomi in her brick red sweater and little sundress I made her toppling Paddington as naked Illy watches

Naomi attacks

Handmade Christmas

I've been reading so many crafty blogs lately with all these ideas of clothes and things to make yourself, that I've gotten pretty inspired to do handmade gifts for my girls for Christmas this year...and for others if there's time. I found some patterns for Barbie type clothes here and here. And I want to make a dress for Naomi using this tutorial, all I need for it is an unwanted button down men's shirt.

Who wouldn't want to make dresses for these little beauties?

Speaking of button down shirts, I've come across many sewing tutorials for repurposing unwanted men's (and women's) button down shirts into more fitted shirts, western style shirts, and dresses for girls. I asked my husband a while back to see if he had any unwanted button down shirts, but he pretty much wears them all (especially when I'm not caught up on ironing, which is basically always). If anyone reads this and wants to donate unwanted men's and women's button down shirts to this cause, feel free to contact me and send them my way!

DIY Hair Detangler

All of my little girls--at least the ones with hair--have very curly locks. Everytime we go out, everyone comments on how much they love their hair, their Shirley Temple curls, etc. But it takes a lot of effort, and sometimes tears to get those curls to curl and not just frizz out! I've tried wetting their hair and then combing it out and then putting mousse in it, but unless they've just had a bath and had their hair completely washed, it usually turns out like a frizzy kid-afro! And there are tears involved in the combing through countless tangles. I used to buy detangler, but it's so expensive for such a small amount that we use up so quickly, so finally this morning I figured there must be something I can make myself, since there are so many websites about how to make your own shampoo, conditioner, soap, oil treatments, etc. The result is so much easier than I expected. Just take a 9oz spray bottle, put one inch of conditioner in it, and then fill it the rest of the way with water. Shake it up and you're all ready to go! I'm going to try it out today!

End of Summer Sundress

I realized that Naomi did not have as many little sundresses as her sister, Mae, so I made a couple from a pattern, and then realizing that I could just create one using an old sundress of hers, I whipped one out a few afternoons ago. I simply took an a-line type dress she had, laid it on top of a yard of Wiggles 'n Giggles fabric I got on clearance, drew an outline of it with my mark-b-gone marker, added an interfacing up top to secure some ribbon straps and elastic, and then sewed up the sides and hem. It was about a 3 hour project. Maybe it would take you and hour or so if you're not so new at sewing as I am...and didn't have a little baby needing to nurse every few hours. Here's what I came up with.

Ruffle Sleeve Top in Pink

I saw this tutorial over at Sparkle Power for a Ruffle Sleeve Top and decided that I needed to make one for at least one of my girls. Then I saw this version of it over at MADE and decided that I wanted buttons on mine as well (to hide my messy stitches...and for cuteness). Below is my version for Mae, my 2 1/2 year old, using the 2T/3T measurements from the tutorial. I did not have any 1" elastic on hand, so I used 1/2" for the top and 1/4" for the ruffle sleeves. I added pockets and buttons, and, after many dumb mistakes (sewing late at night is not always a great idea--thank God for seam rippers), this is what I came up with.

Apologies for any poor image quality. I used the camera on my new phone, and I'm still getting used to it. Also, you may notice mistakes; that's because I'm pretty new at this whole sewing thing. I've never made pockets on anything before, so these I just kind of came up with using guesswork. Check out the original tutorial for great step by step instructions accompanied by photos. My little Mae Balloon was napping after a great first half of a day of potty training. No accidents yet! She's a trooper and has a bladder like her sister's--steel!

36 Weeks of 4K

It used to be called Preschool, but nowadays, schools are calling it 4K. The other day one of my next door neighbor's kids told me that I should send Naomi to 4K this year for school, that she'd learn a lot of things to help her grow. This same little girl just finished 4K this spring and is now in just K.

I wonder how Naomi will feel when she realizes that she is not doing school like most kids do school, since she will be homeschooled by me and Jake. Most of the kids around here started back to school on Tuesday this week, and I can't imagine Naomi getting on the bus every morning and being gone half the day. It would be so weird, and I don't think she would have liked it at first. Besides the fact that we're rarely dressed as a family by the time the buses get here. I know I'm not even out of bed when the bus for the high school kids comes driving through at 6:30 in the morning!

Anyway, today, Jake took the two oldest girls to work with him today so I could plan out Naomi's 4K year, homeschool style. We're starting a week later than most around these parts, but does it really matter? She's four! I am mostly focusing on teaching her how to read, how to write her letters better, and then reading good books to her myself. We'll throw in a few fun things that help get her ready for math, drawing, science, art, music, Bible, etc. But she loves books and drawing, so I want to get her reading on her own and have a lot of time to just create.

Having the whole day with just Illiana (who's either sick or having some major teeth cutting going on), I was able to plan 36 weeks worth of stuff for Naomi, so all I'll need to do each week is write out a daily plan and reserves some books from the library. I'm excited to go through all the Beatrix Potter and Winnie the Pooh stories with her! We bought the complete sets of both earlier this year, and I think the girls will really like listening to them.

Once Naomi's six, we're going to start with Ambleside Online, a Charlotte Mason type curriculum found online, using mostly books we can get online or from the library!