Inspiration Workshop

Trying a new blog event today-- the inspiration workshop with Gussy Sews (you must check out her blog and her shop). I so want one of her totes (hint, hint hubby since I know you read here). Maybe a back to school/end of maternity leave present?

Anyway, the inspiration workshop is all about finding and sharing inspiration while meeting other bloggers. She even gives you almost a whole week to think about the prompt. Today's prompt-- handmade.

I grew up wearing a lot of clothes handmade by both my grandmother (dad's mom) and my mom (who actually started learning how to sew when she took my dad's mom's class in high school-- my grandma was a home-ec/sewing teacher). I've loved crafty things since I was a kid and I'm not too shabby when it comes to unleashing my inner creative beast and crafting some things. I've made Cate several cute dresses/skirts, like this one:

I managed to sew this apron together for myself (I love aprons and this was an easy kit from JoAnn's--incidentally JoAnn's headquarters is pretty much in my parents' backyard; I can walk there; I used to nanny in the summers for a JoAnn's buyer):
And I knit Brennan's baby blanket: A quick click on the sewing or knitting category on the left of this blog will give you a taste of a few of my other creations. But I can't do (or make it all). Here are some other handmade things I find inspiring:

These cars are from the Etsy shop, Birdy Boots. I actually already ordered a truck, tractor, and helicopter for Brennan from their shop. He'll get them on his birthday.

And when he gets older, I totally plan to make him this:

I want to make my sweet girl a memory game (a use for my fabric scraps):

And I can use my ribbon scraps to make these (fun for back to school):

I weirdly collect stickers off of the produce we buy (if it's cool looking and doesn't have a barcode). I think I need to make this to store them in:

I so love this idea-- making a little mini-scrap book using a deck of cards as the base:

Now it's just finding the time to get creative and get my handmade juices flowing. Looking forward to finding even more inspiration through today's linky party. Head on over for some inspiration.

We had a blast in Pittsburgh with my friend, Jenn, yesterday. My animal lovin' girl seriously enjoyed feeding birds at the National Aviary and was crackin' up over the penguins. Pics to come soon.

~Melody

Magic Fairy Wand

On a recent walk (Cate walks around the block with us now instead of riding in the stroller or wagon...it's the perfect way to tire her out at the end of the day), Cate found a great looking stick that she proceeded to carry with her for the rest of the walk. I told her it was a magic fairy wand. So with some things I had lying around-- a little felt, ribbon, and my handy vintage sewing machine...we turned her stick into this:
The perfect magic fairy want for the perfect magic fairy.
~Melody :-)

Sewing Lesson #1

Today I had my first sewing lesson with my grandma. When I say my grandmother is an amazing seamstress, I really do mean it. She used to be a home economics teacher (I used to love going to school with her when I was little--like 1st and 2nd grade--she taught for Cincinnati Public at that time). She's the one responsible for this christening gown (worn by me, my brother, my sister, and then Cate).
She's the one who made me this velveteen coat and bonnet when I was little and which Cate wore to church all winter.
She's the one who made me this spring coat and bonnet and that Cate also wore this spring.
And this dress? Yup, handmade by my grandma, for me, then worn by Cate.
I don't know that I aspire to do anything quite so fancy with sewing. I really just want to know how to follow a simple pattern to make some simple things. I'm not sure where this will take me though. I spent almost five hours at my grandma's house today working on this:
The center of the pattern is what we're going for. We're not making the hat though, because Cate won't keep it on. It involved a bit of cutting...
...and a lot of pinning and sewing and pressing and repeat. But I loved every minute of it. I'm not done yet- these things do take time and I am a beginner. However, we'll be able to put the finishing touches on in less than an hour next week. This is the top/dress part of the outfit. It will get trimmed with chocolate brown ric-rac (the fabric is white with a pink ric-rac-ish pattern and a hint of chocolate brown) and will have buttons on the shoulder. It'll criss-cross in the back like the pattern shows above.
These are the bottoms/bloomers that are obviously unfinished. My "homework" this week is to sew (using the machine I'm borrowing from my other grandma) the place where the elastic will go (no idea what this is called) in the waistband and around the legs. Plus, I need to measure Cate's waist and upper thighs. I'll put the elastic in next week along with the buttons and buttonholes on the dress. We'll finish with the ric-rac and voila: a cute little outfit, perfect for the hot and humid days to come (especially when we go on vacation to Hilton Head), that Cate will look oh so scrumptious wearing.

The best thing about all that-- I did it myself! And in the words of Grover in one of my favorite childhood books (called I Can Dress Myself), "Oh, I am so proud."

~Melody :-)

Bouncing in the Wagon, Blocks and Beautiful Valentines

It was so sunny out after work, I couldn't resist taking Cate for a ride in the wagon. Once again, she loved it. Smiling and waving at everyone and everything, we bumped around the block before heading out to buy some wooden blocks with a little bit of Cate's birthday money. She loves the blocks at the Children's Museum. While they had some of those blocks at one of our favorite toy stores, we decided to start her out with a slightly simpler set. They are a hit!
Cate loves taking them in and out of the wooden tray that came with them. I love the Melissa and Doug brand. All of their toys are finished with non-toxic materials which means I don't have to worry about Cate putting them in her mouth.
After dinner, I was feeling creative and decided to make valentines. I didn't want to go out and get supplies, so I decided to check the basement. I had some pale yellow library book pockets, ribbon, stickers, paint, glitter and pretty paper. I used the paint to attempt to create hearts using Cate's fingerprint (we managed to keep the paint off of her clothes, but not all of the prints look like hearts). I then decorated the envelopes with all of the other things I had found. I cut the cute paper into little rectangles and wrote "Happy Valentine's Day" on each before sticking it inside the pocket. I did have some candy here at home, so I stuck some in each pocket as well. I think they turned out cute. They're perfect for giving out at the sitter's tomorrow, even if there is only one other baby there.

~Melody :-)