Yay! Yuki’s Saturday Blazer was featured on Melly Sews! As in, the creator of the blazer pattern. I’m so excited that she likes my version of the blazer that I made with her awesome pattern. I highly recommend this pattern and I highly recommend that you make one for your toddler!! What little tyke wouldn’t love rocking this look? Go over there to buy the pattern!
Thanks Melissa!!
I’m having some major issues commenting on other people’s blogs!!! I don’t know if it’s me, my computer, my settings, something else!? Sometimes I can leave a comment and sometimes I can’t. Since I don’t know what the problem is, I don’t know how to fix it. Anyone out there that can help me?
On the BRIGHT side of this morning – Simple Simon and Co., one of my favorite blogs, did a little showcase of some of the sew-along entries for last week’s Sewing Through the Decades Challenge and guess whose little hippie is included!? MINE! Hee hee. Go check it out – the other outfits were REALLY AMAZING. I’m kinda shocked that they included my outfit since I didn’t think it was quite up to the caliber of the others.
This week, the theme is outerwear. I’m kinda stalling because I’m not totally sure what I want to make. And I wish I had more time to blog, but my project list is kinda out of control and I’ve got a busy week. But hopefully I’ll have a jacket or coat (or 2?) to show you later this week. Thanks for sticking with me – I appreciate it. 🙂
My Boy-cycle outfit for Boys Week was chosen as one of the winners for the At-home-sew-along Contest for Project Run & Play!! There was a tie! I’m so excited and shocked and happy! The other winner was Stephanie from Pinafores and Pinwheels and I’m so glad that they picked her design too, because I LOVE it. Hers was a Sherlock Holmes inspired look that is so stylish and totally wearable too.
Something weird is going on where I can’t leave comments on some other people’s blogs (some work fine and other not at all!). I’ve tried today and yesterday from 2 different browsers and it still won’t work. At the risk of sounding like a cheesy acceptance speech, I DID want to publicly say thank you to the judges of the contest for picking my outfit! And all the really supportive people who have left sweet and encouraging comments. A huge thank you to the ladies at Simple Simon & Co. for hosting the fantastic Project Run & Play competition and allowing the opportunity for the sew-along! I’ve been having so much fun!
Look out this week for a simple tutorial from the boy’s outfit and then my entry for this week’s PR&P challenge which is Sewing Through the Decades. You can take a look at all the other sew-along entries at the PR&P Flickr Pool. Most people will add their submissions starting from tomorrow and the deadline is Friday at 8am. Hope I get mine done, photographed and uploaded by then! Can you guess what decade I finally picked?
This post is a bit delayed but I’ve gotten behind with Yuki being so sick for over a week and Project Run & Play starting up (I got a little caught up in getting something in for their Sew Along).
This year we celebrated what felt like Yuki’s first real Christmas. Last year, Yuki was 4 months old and just a clueless little newborn. I don’t even remember how we celebrated Christmas morning, but we certainly didn’t have a tree or stocking or lights, though there were some gifts for Yuki from family members. This year, at 16 months, we made a little more of an effort for her. We got a real tree (my first ever!), made a stocking, wrapped some presents. It was totally low key and really fun!
I wasn’t really going to get Yuki any presents since she’s still too young to understand the concept, but our poor tree looked so lonely so I gave in and got her some fun things to unwrap. I’m quite proud of my cheap finds, so even though most of them have nothing to do with crafting or sewing, I’m going to share them with you anyways.
The first gift she actually found on Christmas Eve.
Yup, that’s right. I got her a balloon. Actually, a whole bag of balloons, but I’ve only had to blow up 2 and I’m saving the rest for rainy days. And she LOVED it. Super cheap and so much fun, no?
On Christmas morning, Yuki found a couple of surprises around her tree. The first was a huge white balloon with a rubber band attached to it. The kind that you hit back and forth like a super fast yo-yo. This was only entertaining to her for a few minutes since she isn’t coordinated enough to use it yet.
There was also a stocking filled with little gifts. The first was a pair of 99 cent sunglasses from the thrift store.
A set of plastic keys on a keychain (with car alarm noises and all).
Looks like she means business.
A new box of crayons!
The Japanese books that Hideko picked out are a huge hit. They are from the series Nontan and I remember having some of these books when I was a kid too!
Yuki’s favorite toy that morning was this ridiculous toy I got at the thrift store (also for 99 cents!). It’s a phone that talks, plays music and makes animal sounds. It’s pretty obnoxious, but I knew she’d love it. Aren’t her movements/expressions here hilarious? It looks like she’s been doing some good observing . . .
I wanted to do something handmade, so I decided to make Yuki some plaid flannel pajama pants to go with the ones that Hideko and I wear all the time. It was perfect for me since it was such a simple project.
I wanted to make something that would fit her for a loooong time, but they ended up being HUGE! I might have to do a few more minor alterations so she doesn’t trip all over them, but it’s nice that there’s so much room to grow into.
One of my other holiday projects was a stocking for Yuki. I had this idea to make it out of a an old sweater that I found at the thrift store. In my mind, it seemed like a great idea, but it didn’t work out as well as I’d hoped.
The main thing I don’t like about it is how lumpy the bottom is. 😦 Oh well, I’ll try again next year!
After our quiet Christmas morning, we went on to spend time with family (where Yuki was spoiled by more gifts!!). It was a really lovely Christmas and now I can’t wait till next year! Somehow I have a feeling I’m not going to be able to get away with thrift store 99 cent gifts though 
I have one more holiday project to share with you this week then I swear, I’ll put Christmas away!
Have you heard of Project Run & Play? It is this online competition where bloggers are chosen to create children’s clothes based on a theme they are given every week. There are judges and eliminations and prizes and everything. It is SO AWESOME. All the competitors are so creative and their styles are so different, it’s fun to see what they each come up with. You can read more about Project Run & Play here and find the list of designers and their blogs here.
Now the cool thing about this season is that they are adding a At Home Sew Along portion where ANYONE can create new clothes based on the theme for the week, upload their photos to their flickr pool, and they will be judged (separately from the main competition) and the weekly winner will get a prize! How fun is that? I really want to participate in all five weeks (I think there’s only five weeks), if possible, but it’s nice to not have any pressure too.
We are in Week One now and the challenge was a remix of the Junebug Dress. This is a tutorial by Jess at Craftiness is not Optional. It’s an adorable dress that I had pinned to make for Yuki when I had a chance. But since the challenge is a remix, you can’t just copy the pattern, you have to change it up a bit. It took me soooooooo long to figure out what I wanted to do (the original is just so darn cute as it is!). I finally came up with an idea and had to make the entire thing in two evenings, but it’s done! It’s not perfect, but I’m excited that I had something to submit. If you want to take a look at the flickr pool, you can find my entry as well as all the other creative remixes that have been uploaded.
But, if you can wait, I’ll post my entry tomorrow and the link to the actual designers submissions. Here’s a little sneak peek though, See you tomorrow!
Goodbye 2011, hello 2012! I hope you all had a safe New Year celebration and are ready for another great year. I’m on a family trip now and the hotel charges for internet so I’m updating from my phone. Reflections, resolutions and other projects will have to wait another day (or two). But I just have to say, this was a great year, with Yuki turning one and “you & mie” being born. Both will grow a lot this year and I can’t help but feel excited!!
Thank you to those of you who have supported me this year. Here’s to a great 2012!!
I’ve finally finished my projects! Yuki’s stocking has been made, filled and hung. Presents for Yuki have been bought and wrapped (wait till you see what I got her :)). Holiday dress (for Yuki) is finished. Baking is done (and kitchen is clean!). Now it’s time to relax, enjoy the time with my family and eat, drink and be merry!
Wishing you all the merriest holiday!! May it be filled with love and warmth and laughter.
Ahh! I can’t believe I haven’t blogged in TWO WEEKS! I’m so sorry for the accidental hiatus, I’ve just been buried in work.
I swear, I don’t know how these people do it. How do all these bloggers have time to sew, cook, craft, take pictures and write blog posts ON TOP OF raising kids, shopping, eating, cleaning and sleeping? Do they sleep? Most of the bloggers I follow have 2-6 children. How do they do it!?? I wish I knew their secret . . .
I must say, I was completely unprepared for this holiday season. I opened my shop with only 3 items, sold all three and my shop was “closed” for the season within a week. Had I been more prepared, I would have stocked the shop with ready to ship items – but maybe next year.
I’ve barely done anything related to the holidays. We finally put the lights on our tree and decorated it, but I haven’t finished making the tree skirt yet. I made one yummy holiday treat and FINALLY sent out our cards. But that’s it. No shopping, no other decorations, no handmade gifts or party dresses made. I feel like this holiday is going to pass me before I catch up!
BUT – Hideko and Yuki are off on a mini-vacation with Hideko’s mom for two days and two nights! That means it’s just me! With TIME. No work, no kid, just time. And here’s how I spent my time today:
1. Made a to do list.
2. Took a nap.
3. Sent out holiday cards
4. Had a hot dog.
5. Watched a gorgeous sunset.
Hmmm . . . I was only able to cross one thing off my to do list. So, not the most productive day, but I still have the night ahead of me and all day tomorrow! I have tons of sewing to do and plenty to blog about too. Let’s see how much I can get done in the next day and a half!
How are your holiday preparations going?
Hope they are going well 🙂
**I am no longer taking orders for these books. Sorry!**
I’m so excited to share this project with you because it is definitely one of my favorite creations thus far. I love it because my daughter really loves it. It’s totally one-of-a-kind, made with love for each specific child. It’s definitely not something you can just buy in a store. So here’s the story behind the book.
I thought of the idea back when Yuki was very young and a bunch of things kinda came together. 1. Although we loved reading her books, they didn’t stay nice very long. Yuki would bite off pieces or rip them out with her hands. Despite our best efforts, most of our books ended up looking like this . . .
Even the heavy duty board books would not withstand the powerful combination of saliva and baby teeth that Yuki would inflict upon it. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a book that really wouldn’t tear?
2. Yuki loved looking at faces. She loved photos of friends and family members and even strangers. Babies just like looking at faces. We also have family that doesn’t live near by, so wouldn’t it be nice to have pictures that she could look at to learn their faces?
3. I found this awesome color fabric book online at Homegrown Happy:
And there are a lot of other amazing fabric books out there too. Clearly, fabric books were not an original idea, but I LOVED it. A soft, durable, unique book with pages perfect for little fingers and the potential to become a treasured keepsake. The possibilities were endless – a color book, a book of shapes, textures, a peek-a-boo book! But first, a photo book.
The first book I made was with iron on transfers. I’d used these several times before to make t-shirts and they seemed to hold up pretty well in the wash (a very important test for anything that will be around babies). I chose photos of all of Yuki’s family members. I printed them as 5×5 squares and ironed them onto white cotton.
The rest of the book was just kinda made up as I went along. I cut strips of fabric and made borders around the photos. I sewed all the pages together with an embroidered cover and a velcro closure. It came out exactly how I imagined it to be. I was so pleased!
The best part about it has been watching my daughter interact with it over the last year. First she would just stare as we turned the pages. Then she learned how to turn the pages herself. We’ve seen the recognition on her face as she saw each familiar face. Now that she’s learned to kiss, her favorite activity is flipping through the book and giving a kiss to all her relatives. It melts my heart!! And soon she’ll be able to start saying their names as she points to each smiling face. I know that this book will stay with us for a LONG time. Maybe even until she is an adult and can look back at her family as they were in 2011.
In that bottom picture she is leaned over kissing a picture of Hideko’s dad, who passed away over a decade ago. She’ll never get to meet him, but she’s so familiar with his face because she looks at this picture of him all the time. It’s very sweet.
The next photo book I made was for a friend’s son, Julian. For this book I used printable cotton (instead of iron on transfers). It’s fabric that feeds through your printer and you can print directly on it. Then you can iron them on to something or sew them and they are permanent! I really like the results. The images are sharp and the fabric is very sturdy.
And that’s the story behind the fabric photo book! Do you know a little someone who’d like one of these? If so, this truly unique, one-of-a-kind, and long lasting gift could be in their precious hands by Christmas! I’m taking ONE more order for a custom book before the holidays, then I’m totally booked like crazy with projects, so if you’re interested, buy NOW! SOLD OUT!
**I am no longer taking orders for these books. Sorry!**
I made my first Etsy sale!
Yesterday, I shipped off my first sold item to Georgia! Thanks Christine, for being my first customer. I truly hope you enjoy your Fabric Color Book!
Now I gotta go restock my shop! Eek!
you and mie 