Category Archives: other

Excited!

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There are so many amazing things coming up I can hardly contain my excitement!

First of all, Made by Rae’s Spring Top Sewalong is currently going on and although I’m a little late in the game, I think I might try to put something together to submit.

There are tons of fantastic spring tops popping up in the flickr pool every day and it’s so inspiring!  I think the last day to enter a top is April 22 so I’ve got a time to put something together, but I might be too busy with . . .

Season 4 of Project Run & Play which is starting next week!!

I was REALLY into the last season and loved participating in the sew-along.  I can’t believe it’s time to start up again!  I’m not really familiar with a lot of this season’s contestants so I’m really excited to see all their different styles throughout the weeks AND I love seeing all the sew along entries in the flickr pool too.

They just announced all the themes for the entire season so we can get started sewing early!

Lastly, Elsie Marley’s Kid’s Clothes Week Challenge is coming up at the end of April!  I’ve never participated before but it’s right up my alley (kid’s clothes) and I can’t wait to work on some great patterns I’ve been meaning to try FOREVER.

So much sewing to do, so little time!!  Are you going to be participating in any of these fun events?

Busy week

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Oh, I hate being away from the blog for so long!  I’ve been busy working on a bench cushion cover for our best friends and it’s done!  Here’s a little preview of it.  I’ll try to get more pictures of it soon.

It’s got piping on it and everything!

One of the reasons why this week is busy is because Hideko is out of town at a conference for 4 days.  I realize that some people are single parents full time, and some people have spouses who travel a lot (and they may have multiple kids), but Hideko and I aren’t like that.  We do EVERYTHING together when possible.  So even just with one kid, being a single parent for 4 days is a huge challenge.  I’m hoping Yuki and I can come out of this week unscathed.

I had a few hours to myself after Yuki went to bed tonight and I couldn’t decide what to work on.  I have a bunch of clothes I want to make for Yuki and tutorials I want to put together, but I’ve decided to start a sewing project for ME!  My first ever.  That’s right.  I don’t sew for me.  But I’m going to try.  Hopefully I’ll have something to show you next week.  Until then, have a great weekend!

Happy Birthday, Mom

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To the woman who raised four crazy children,

with an enormous amount of love, patience, selflessness and grace,

who, among many things, taught me respect, perseverance, and how to do things for myself,

who showed me what kind of mother I want to be,

and who still calls and writes me often to make sure I’m living happy and healthy,

I say thank you.

And happy birthday.

Yuki’s Nursery: Fun Finds!

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Day 4 of Yuki’s Nursery Tour (click the button above to see the rest)!  You’re probably sick of this little room.  How much could there possibly be to see!?  Well, a bit more, so thanks for indulging me 🙂

Although I spent a lot of time on DIY projects, I can’t take credit for everything.  Some awesome things I just found!  Today I’ll show you some of the fun finds in Yuki’s room.

ABC cards.  I found these Alphabet Cards at Michael’s during one trip and THEY WERE PERFECT!  They have the cutest little illustrations on them.  They are beautifully cut and distressed.  I didn’t have to do anything!  I just pinned up two rows of ribbon and found some mini clothes pins to hang them up!

Next is this little gnome friend.  I don’t remember exactly where I picked this up, but I think it was from an antique shop we stopped at on our road trip up the Pacific Northwest coast.  And those pinwheels came from a little boutique in Calistoga.  Once I decided on a theme, I just tried to keep my eyes open for little things all over that might add some character.

Since I love birds and owls, there are a lot of birdy things in the room.  I got 3 of these unfinished bird houses at Joann’s and painted them in yellows, oranges, grays, blues and browns (there’s one hanging as a mobile and the 3rd one is on Yuki’s bookshelf).  The nest was also from Joann’s and those two little owls were from a temple gift shop in Japan!

The best of all our finds though, is this dresser.

We walked into a Salvation Army one day and found this awesome dresser right at the front of the store on sale for $50!  It’s a bit beat up and missing a knob and a handle, but it just adds character right?  I was planning on replacing them, but never got around to it and it really hasn’t mattered – we can still get in all the drawers just fine.  I love the color and the size was perfect for all her clothes.  I use it as a backdrop for clothing photos all the time (you may have seen it here or here).  I have a feeling this dresser will be with us for a long time.

Well that’s it for today!  I miss going out and looking for fun finds to add to the room.  All this nursery talk is getting me thinking about ideas for a new room!  And I’d love to see all of your nurseries!  Anyone have links to posts of their nursery?

Some Kid Clothing Inspiration

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I’m working on a lot of projects right now, but don’t have anything ready to post just yet, so I thought I’d take a minute to share with you some of my major sources of kid clothing inspiration.  Part of me is totally hesitant to share these because I feel like it’s my secret, but how can I not share such awesome stuff?!  Most of them are pretty obvious anyways.

I do love to find unique stuff in boutiques and handmade clothes on etsy, but if I’m just looking for some fun ideas, I have my mainstream go-to online stores.

The first one is obvious.  Gap Kids.  They are known for their classic style, so a lot of their stuff I consider to be staples in a wardrobe, and once in awhile you can find something pretty original.

(pictures from Gap)

Next is Crewcuts, the children’s line from J. Crew.  I love me some Crew, and the Crewcuts line is a mini version with just as much style (and the same expensive price tags)!  I pin so many things from this site!

(pictures from Crewcuts)
(I totally want to recreate this henley bib top!)

I often find cute things at H&M kids (and adults too).  And since their prices are much more reasonable (especially when they’re on clearance!), sometimes it’s worth it just to spend the $3-10 instead of trying to make it.



(pictures from H&M)

For an even more sophisticated look, I love Zara Kids.  They have the cutest dresses!  Sometimes I wish they sold them in adult sizes!

I also look at adult clothing at all of the above stores, plus places like Anthropologie.  I like taking fashion that was meant for adults and making them appropriate and stylish for kids.



(pictures from Anthropologie)

Now, while you’re probably all very familiar with the stores I just went through, this last one is kind of my little secret.  I stumbled across the site (maybe through Pinterest?) and it is ADORABLE!  It’s also got a very classic, simple style, but I love it.  It’s a French company and the prices are outrageous, but I just love looking at all their gorgeous stuff.  It’s called Bonpoint.

(pictures from Bonpoint)

I seriously wish that entire site was my kids wardrobe!!

Anyways, those are some of my go-to spots for cute kid clothes inspiration.  What about you?  What stores do you like?  Which site do you wish was your kid’s closet?  I’m always looking for new inspiration, so if you have something awesome, please share it with me!!

I do love Pinterest, but I don’t use it quite as often as I’d like to.  The board I pin most to though, is my Kids Clothing Pinterest Board.  Check it out!

Project Run & Play Sew-Along Recap

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I know this is a little late, but I’ve been meaning to recap a bit about my Project Run & Play experience.  Season 3 is officially over.  And it was awesome!!  All the competitors were fantastic and I was inspired every week.  The ladies over at Simple Simon and Co. did an AMAZING job organizing the competition and running the blog and because of the sew-along opportunity they created, I was very much involved for the last 8 weeks or so.  I had a great time participating in the sew along and although I miss it, I’m definitely ready to get back to all the things I was putting off for so long.  But before I do, I wanted to look back on the things that I’ve made and all the things I got out of these challenges.

First and foremost, IT WAS FUN.  I loved having a theme for each week’s project, brainstorming ideas, and searching the web for inspiration.  I loved seeing everyone else’s outfits pop up in the flickr pool and ooh-ing and ahh-ing over how unique and creative all the designs were.  And I loved giving and getting feedback from other people and making new connections, being introduced to awesome new blogs and “meeting” fantastic people.  Seriously, it was so. much. fun.

Week 1: Junebug Remix
Winter Romper

It was great being pushed to try new things.  And I tried a lot of new things!  Like sewing with knits.  And sewing a real jacket with facing.  And trying an illusion neckline.  And lots more!  I loved having a reason to challenge myself week after week.  And it was fun sketching out an idea and coming up with a way to make it happen.  It wasn’t always a complete success, but I learned enough to have the confidence to try again and try other new things too (cuz what’s the worst that can happen?).  I feel like it’s opened up a whole new world of possibilities.

Week 2 – Boys
Boy-cycle Wear

Other benefits – Yuki got a whole bunch of new clothes AND I got a bunch of fun photos of her!  And I feel like I’ve started to define my signature look!  I’m still trying to figure it out, but the more I make clothes, the more it’ll naturally emerge and evolve and that’s kind of exciting.

Week 3 – Sewing Through the Decades
60s Flower Child

Before the season started, I thought it would be great if I could participate in all 5 of the challenges and I did!  PLUS the signature look challenge they added at the end.  There were other goals I set for myself that I met, which was a great feeling.  Two things that were confirmed though were is that I’m indecisive and I’m a procrastinator.  Every week I’d spend most of the time trying to come up with what I wanted to make.  Then I’d rush to the store to get fabric and stay up REEEEALLY late trying to finish in time.  I’d have to cram in a photo shoot in there somewhere and although I got it done, I always felt I could have done better with more time (I guess we all do).

Week 4 – Outerwear
Gray Day Peacoat

While I loved the experience and am so glad that I did it, it’s definitely time for me to move on.  I have been putting off tons of projects, house work was constantly neglected (not that it isn’t normally, but it was especially bad).  My work suffered.  I was sleep deprived, always busy and pretty much obsessed.  There were some moments when I thought that it probably wasn’t healthy.  AND I WASN’T EVEN AN ACTUAL CONTESTANT.  I’ve thought about what it would be like if I was actually competing and trust me, it wouldn’t be pretty.  Plus, I am very competitive, but also very sensitive and the idea of putting such personal work out there for people to judge freaks me out!  I don’t think I’m ready for that yet, so although it’s so great that PR&P is doing open auditions, I’m not planning on trying out.  Maybe in a few years 😛

Week 5 – Special Occasion
Blossom By Blossom Dress

There’s no way I could have participated the way I did without all of the patience, support, encouragement and hard work of my amazing partner, Hideko.  I’m soooo lucky and so grateful!  I also appreciate all my family and friends who have been behind me this entire journey (not just PR&P but for the last half year) and all the people who have reached out to leave feedback and just say hello!  That has truly been one of the best parts about participating in the sew along – connecting with people, making new friends and feeling like I was really joining the blogging community.  So thank you – to all of you!

Week 6 – Signature Look
Starry Beachwear

Ahh – my daughter scribbled all over my notebook!

Project Run & Play may be over, but you can bet you’ll be seeing a lot of kids clothes from me year round.  And I would love to do some tutorials for the pieces I made for the sew-along.  I’ve already had some requests, and really, I’d do it all if I could – but it’s just a matter of finding the time!  But please look out for several tutorials coming up in the coming weeks.  There should be some good ones (I hope)!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Happy Love Day.  Sorry I haven’t posted any awesome Valentine’s Day projects or fun activities.  Truth is, with my kid being too young to know about holidays yet, we don’t really go all out.  In fact, we don’t do anything (Christmas was the exception).  No decorations, no new outfits, no gifts and no valentines.  I know that will change real soon, but I’m kind of enjoying the holiday freedom while I can.  Next year, I swear, my blog will be full of holiday goodness.  Until then, I’m just going to eat a bunch of strawberries and chocolate and say I celebrated 😛

New Tutorials Page!

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I made an easy-to-navigate tutorial page!  Before, the tutorials link on the menu bar would just pull up all the posts marked as a tutorial, but you’d have to scroll through all of them just to see what was there.  I’m thinking this will make it much easier to see what’s available and find what you’re looking for.  I realize that there isn’t much there now, but posting more tutorials is a goal of mine, so hopefully I’ll fill that page right up!  If any of the thumbnails don’t link to the correct page, please let me know and I’ll fix it immediately!

Yipee!

In other news, I have not sewn ANYTHING in over a week!!  I think I really had some sewing fatigue, but now I’m rested and ready to get back to it!  I have an idea for my Project Run & Play signature look and I have all the fabric, so I just need to get started!  Wish me luck!

Sewing vs. Sleeping

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I am POOPED.  I’m not sure what’s come over me.  Maybe I’m fighting a cold or maybe Project Run & Play fatigue has hit me (I love that I’ve been so involved and I’m NOT EVEN A CONTESTANT!  Hah!).  For the last few days/nights, I’ve been choosing to sleep instead of sew, which is pretty uncharacteristic of me.  I’ve got a huge list of projects that have been piling up for weeks and I was finally getting around to starting them.  But I have no energy!  When I’m at work, all I want to do is sleep!  And at home after Yuki goes down, I just want to sleep!  And in the morning, instead of getting up, I just want to sleep!  (I think you get the idea).

And then, there was THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

Project Run & Play is extending the Sew-along to include a signature look as well!!  And we have until February 16th to submit it.  Part of me just doesn’t know if I can do it (I have mad respect for the actual competitors who have been giving it their all for so long)!  I was definitely sad to see it end, but I had accepted it and was ready to move on to other projects.

But part of me cannot resist.

And that part will probably win.  So now I’m trying to figure out what my signature look will be.

And all those other projects will have to keep waiting.  I’ll try to share a project or an update or a tutorial over the next week, but between sleeping and sewing, I can’t promise you anything.

Except that I love you.  I can promise you that. 🙂

(I think I’m a little delirious :P)