A doll for Grace

Yesterday was Grace's first birthday, and being the Auntie that I am, a special doll was in order. I've been experimenting with making Waldorf-style dolls for a while, and this one is my favorite so far.

She is made from unbleached organic cotton knit fabric and stuffed with organic cotton fibers.
This was my first attempt at button joints for the arms and legs, making them fully poseable but still sturdy. She's weighted with a bag of wheat berries in the body, so she sits well.

And of course, she has a belly button.

Some hair, facial features, a diaper, shoes, and a sweet dress work wonders.

Happy Birthday, Grace.

a little suit

Liam is going to be the flower boy for Molly's wedding next month, and he needed a little ivory suit. Naturally, I'm making it for him.

It's made from a linen/cotton blend, and I'm using Butterick 6894.

I made the coat first, which turned into several attempts since the pattern was way too big. There was lots of seam-ripping involved, but I finally got it just right.

I reduced the size of the matching vest based on how much I eventually took in the edges on the coat, but it turned out way too small... More seam-ripping. At least I hadn't trimmed the seam allowance yet, so I was able to leave the teeniest of seam allowances and it fits just right.

I wanted to get the full effect for a picture, but I absolutely could not find his white button-up, which I distinctly remember bringing home from the thrift store and washing a month or so ago. It was not hanging in his closet. Not in his t-shirt drawer. Not with the "saving-for-when-they-fit" clothes. Not with the suit materials...

So, here are the coat and vest (sans white collared shirt) on a not-so-willing model.

And here they are hanging up.

I almost have the pants finished, too. Complete ensemble pictures coming soon.

And of course, later that same afternoon, I found Liam carrying around the missing shirt. I still have no idea where he found it...

slip on something new

My mom and brother moved here, to NWA, last week, and they came without furniture. I had spent the previous few weekends trying to scrounge up some Craigslist freebies, which resulted in a dresser, a rocking recliner, a coffee table, an antique iron bedframe, a microwave, an end table, and one ugly club chair.

-exhibit a-

Thanks to Wal-Mart's fabric liquidation clearance a few months back, I had enough of this great faux-suede upholstery fabric to slip -exhibit a- into something a bit nicer. (See -exhibit b- below)

-exhibit b-

And, yes, I gave myself a pat on the back for a job so well done :-)

But of course, this would not have been possible without the zipper my neighbor Trish, ever the crafting trove, supplied at the last minute, interupting her nap, and requiring a stealthy slip around her door because she was sans pants... Sometimes I just love our neighborhood. Thanks again, Trish.

another new outfit

One upcycled-sweater-turned-romper
+
handknit cap
=
cute cute cute

summer pants

I am in the midst of a big sewing bug. So far, I still have more plans than products, but I'll try to post more of them as I go.

I'm really into making clothes for Liam. Little boy clothes don't have to be cutesy or sports-oriented. I love the carefree and simple nature of these hippie pants. I roughly traced a pair of pants that fit him well and reimagined them in this fun ocean print.
One of my favorite blogs, Soule Mama, recently posted some of her sewing-for-boys favorites. I loved her idea of attaching size tags to keep track of all of the different hand-sewn baby things that inevitably will fill the wardrobe. I made my own with a scrap of knit fabric (that won't fray) and a free motion quilting foot on my sewing machine.

the metamorphosis

I've been meaning to post pictures of my new craft room.

This room has had quite a run:
originally, it was our master bedroom (before the remodel), then a guest bedroom.

It became our office when Linda came to live with us (round 1), then a guest room again when she moved back to CA (the small room at the front of the house became the office).

Before Liam was born, the small room became the nursery and this room became the office/guest room.

And then, for Linda round 2, it transformed into her bedroom, and the office was demoted to the diningroom counter space (as it turns out, I love this space for the computer...)

When Linda left last month, I needed a drastic change. Something bright and fresh but also soothingly peaceful. Serene. This gray blue was the perfect change of pace.
I love having a dedicated crafting space. Where y sewing machine is always at the ready, and my fabric stash is conspicuously present, begging for me to delve in to it.

There is also a play area for Liam, an unblocked view into the backyard, and still a guest space at the other end of the room.

I love how the paint color enhances my dumpster-found artwork. There will surely be many pictures to come from this room's creations...

Baby legs

Now that Liam is finally mobile, we have the problem of keeping his legs both warm and unencumbered. Some of his pants are just so bulky that he has a hard time maneuvering around them.
Solution? Leg warmers. Made from Daddy's socks.

now he's ready for trouble (headed for the stairs...)