why?

why is it that I bring my camera with me to most big events but NEVER take any pictures?  Is this a common affliction or am I the only one?  My sister had a big party to celebrate her marriage Saturday night (No, not a wedding) and I only took TWO pictures, and those were taken before the party even started.

pignolata

my sister's manicure in action

Although these two pictures clearly indicate a rockin' party I wish I had captured just a little bit more of the evening.  I really wish I had documented the number of movember 'stashes wandering around the house... the pride a man has in growing hair on his face is quite unbelievable to me!

On the positive side of things......

 My children looked completely adorbs and I in fact DID remember to snap some pics of them before going to the party.  Yes, I did finish the dress and it turned out to perfection!

Ava clearly fancies herself a model!

In case you are interested in recreating this look... I used this Butterick vintage pattern for the dress and this very easy tutorial for the t-shirt flower.  I am thinking of making a few of these dresses in size 6 and putting them up in my etsy shop... we shall see!

squish

We have been neglecting a lot around here lately... sleep, well balanced meals, raking leaves, putting away laundry , brushing a little 5 year olds knotty knotty hair, our manners and oh so much more.  One thing that you will not see on this list is tending to our friendship bread starter.  It has consistently made the "to do" list for the last 4 days....that is a record for any responsibility in this house! It has gone a little something like this.....

squish

squish

squish

add flour, milk and sugar

The kids must recognize that this type of follow through is odd for us because this morning Ava was heard saying "I can't believe we are still doing this!"  Wow...note to self.... the kids really are paying attention.

Totally unrelated::

Ava is finding her creative voice and I AM LOVING IT!  I am finding pictures like this one all over the house and can not resist saving each and every one of them.  This particular piece is her version of the ENTIRE cast of Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.  I feel like Buck in the lower right corner is especially accurate.

Ava's french education is certainly rubbing off on all of us but most adorably our little Anthony is picking up some key words.   Bar none the best is how he randomly and most gently makes eye contact, kisses your hand and says (in a garbled fashion) "bonjour mes amis".  I will never tire of this!

wish me luck....i am going to attempt to make this dress for Ava for a party on Saturday. Hopefully there will be a picture of her wearing it....hopefully!

I heart sun hats

Okay I am totally addicted to making sun hats for the kids.  They are quick, easy and the kids always look oh so cute in them.  The first one I made was for Anthony and I used this McCall's pattern that I bought from the thrift store (a real score because it had all the pattern pieces).  

The hat is made out of some old linen curtains and I hand embroidered locally grown across the front.  It fits him perfectly and he keeps it on which is super important.... I really don't like darting here and there trying to catch hats that are being flung off of heads.  Next time I think I would line the brim in a contrasting fabric and maybe use a medium weight interfacing  instead of HEAVY which has resulted in a cardboard-like brim.

My next sun hat adventure was started at 10pm last night after trying to pack for a day at Marineland (more on that another day) and realizing that my dear sweet Ava only had her precious T-ball hat to protect her head (and that hat is NOT cute) so in my insanity I made her the most adorable hat.  I bought the e-book pattern from here and got started right away.  I love this hat and the pattern was so easy to follow with great step by step pictures.  I caused the only problem.... I made it a little small (I should have read the sizing chart a little more closely).  I also didn't line the hat as it called for because I used the serger on all the seams.  Ava does not like her head to be hot so I thought the less fabric the better.  I will be starting a new hat with the same pattern but in a bigger size as soon as I finish this post.  I have big plans for my kids heads.....I'm just hoping that one day they will actually let me take a picture of them with the hats on.

A bee in her bonnet

Each Easter I make Lady A a dress and matching bonnet.    I love making them because they are so easy and look totally adorable on everyone....including my husband.   My darling child never wants to wear her bonnet and always kicks up a royal fuss just before we have to leave for Easter dinner.  Every year she ends up looking adorable and my family always talk about how comfortable it would be to wear a bonnet and how Little House on the Prairie it would be of us to start sporting these 

in our daily lives.  My cousin Laura suggested making one for Lady A with a bee in it.  It took me a while to get the joke...ha ha ha a bee in her bonnet.   So of course I decided it had to be made.... so I made one for Laura.  Above is a picture of Lady A modelling a too big for her unfinished bonnet (she was making all attempts at getting out of going to bed and knows the way to her mama's heart is to say" can I just try it on so you can "camera" me ").

The little bee on the brim is especially cute and I think can also be interpreted as "queen bee" on days when Laura doesn't have a "bee in her bonnet".

Here's hoping she loves it because I am mailing it off today.

Finally some sewing content

I have been spending my free time making these sweet pea pilot caps (as modelled Sylvia, Lady A's doll) by Meg for both of the kids.  While completely adorable I have been having  a really hard time getting them to fit properly.  The ribbing at the back always looks a little wonky (technical term).... I think I am stretching the ribbing out of shape when I am sewing it on.  Perhaps keeping my eye on the sewing and not on reruns of Project Runway would help.  I think it must be time for me to get a serger (save save save save save).    The machine I have my eye on is the Janome 1110DX...the slogan for the machine is "so advanced, so quick, so easy to thread"....that sounds like the stuff dreams are made of.  For now I am off to master the mock overlock stitch on my machine........perhaps playing with needles and tension will help my cause.

what time is it mr.Wolf??????

oh it is time for a great many things. Most importantly it is time to start living more creatively instead of just talking about it.  There was a time (oh about a year ago) when a day didn't go by without me spending some time sewing or knitting.  Since the arrival of Sir A. I have really neglected this part of who I am and what I need to be happy.  I realized today that all of my attempts to rekindle my motivation to create have been thwarted by my lack of organization.  I spend most of my time trying to gather up all of the materials for a project instead of being able to just sit down and begin.  By the time I get started the baby is crying, someone wants a snack or a bum needs to be wiped.  Today marks day 1 of mission crafting organization.  I will soon be posting before and after pics of my sewing room... if all goes as planned.  

I am also so happy to announce (to who I don't know) that I finally put in my application to be a vendor at the Mississauga Fall Festival.  This year's focus is on simple living and green living... both things of which I am quickly falling in love with.  After the organization of all of the supplies is finished I will be able to plan what I am going to make for the festival.... also another source of motivation for getting myself going.  I am looking forward to this June adventure....I will be keeping you posted.