Kids in Camo

After Dan joined the Guards last year, I knew it was time to break out some camo!

Ev's still fits (barely!) but James' has had to be retired...

It looked cute while it lasted though!

Pattern: Recess Raglan by See Kate Sew

A perfect match to our fall mums!

Pattern: Violet by Peekaboo Pattern Shop

Fabric: Camo from a local store (Fabric Warehouse), black ribbing from JoAnns, and olive and pink cotton-lycra jersey from Raspberry Creek.

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CKC Kamry

I'm not one to bash a pattern or pattern designer... by CKC is well known to be a lower-end pattern designer. I don't even follow them on Facebook anymore. Sometimes, though, you just want to do a quick and simple sew without having to adjust anything. That's what Kamry is!

The pattern itself was pretty horrible - when the pieces all have rectangular edges and no curves, you know it's not designed to fit well... But, it turned out a cute tunic! 

And she wore it a few times last winter, so that's all I can ask, haha! 

(I can't expect more than a few times if it's not pink or twirly!)

Fabric from Raspberry Creek!

Black Sweater Knit

Just trying to finish up all these posts that have been "drafts" for half a year. I uploaded the pictures and then never took the time to write a post for them!

One of Evelyn's first weeks of preschool last year... this is what she put together for an outfit... an old Minnie Mouse Dress, a new black sweater and crazy leggings...

She wanted to match me, so I obliged by wearing a pink shirt and a black cardigan :)

This is one of the first pieces of clothing that I made him that he was excited about. It was finally his turn to try on something! Plus, it matched the fabric on his sister's and my sweaters. He did not wear this often - it was almost too small. I do want to try making another one of these for him soon though. I love vests!

Patterns: Ellie Dolman Cardigan by Elliedactyl, V-Neck Vest by Winter Wear Designs, and Welcome to the Mouse House Julia Cardigan (plus a M4M Minnie Mouse Dress and M4M Bonny Leggings - Ev's outfit!)

Fabric: The black open-weave sweater-knit was from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. Ev's leggings were made from clearance leggings from Walmart and her Minnie Mouse dress fabric was from Walmart... years ago!

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Matching Cousin Hoodies

Well, this post is long over due. 

I made matching sweatshirts for the three cousins last year in October.

Fabric: Raspberry Creek Fabrics' custom French Terry and coordinating textured french terry and cotton-lycra jersey.

Pattern: Hey June Hatteras Hoodie

They received them on this little girl's 4th birthday! We have since celebrated her 5th birthday... so I hope you enjoyed this flashback to last year :D 

2016 Family Pictures

We took our 2017 pictures a few weeks ago, but we haven't received them yet. Here's a look at last year's pictures!

Every year MOPS puts on a photo fundraiser - you get a 15minutes with a photographer and a CD with 5 edited pictures on it... all for $50. Half of that goes to our MOPS group, while the photographer ears the other half. We are so thankful for the photographers that partner with us! 

I took these pictures after the session last year - they are still smiling! She's wearing a Hey June Hatteras sweatshirt while he's in a Peekaboo Pattern Shop's Happy Feet Pajamas raglan sweatshirt. Other than a thrifted pillowcase for her front fabric, the rest of the fabric is a combo of cotton-lycra jersey and french terry from Raspberry Creek Fabrics.

Then, when we take the annual family picture with Dan's side, we usually take another family picture  of just us as well. (My top is a Love Notions La Bella Donna Top - french terry from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. I made it two years ago, and it was the first top I made for myself since Montana.)

We always get a little more creative with these since we already have the family pictures taken that will go on our Christmas cards!

Siblings...

Sweet Girl.

Sweet Boy.

And one more to make you smile - he wanted to hold a flower, too... just like big sister!

2016 Halloween

As I'm currently sewing this year's costumes... here's a flashback to last year's costumes!

Ev was a beautiful princess Cinderella! 

Pattern: M4M's Cinderella Dress

Fabric: Stretch Velvet/Velour/type stuff from Hancock in their going out of business sale.

James went as a dinosaur... but look! He has on his mommy-made hat at least :D 

We took the kid's to the Corn Palace for a Harvest Festival.

Doesn't every princess need a picture on a vintage tractor?

Oh, and there's a football player and a crazy fairy (you can't see my wings, but they are there!). Homemade for me? My very first pair of Peg Legs (free leggings pattern from Patterns for Pirates)!

Fabric: Brushed Poly from Raspberry Creek Fabrics

And she has worn that dress so often since Halloween... I'm sure I'll have a few "Handmade in the Wild" posts for it, haha!

Jackrabbit Outfits

2017 Hobo Day was last weekend... but here are a few pictures from Hobo Day 2016! 

Seems we have started a tradition... I run in the 5k in the morning, and then we watch the parade.

After the parade, we go to a park to eat a picnic lunch.

Then, my parents go to the game, while we head back to their place. 

Perfect time to take some pictures!

Thank you Ev, for taking my pictures, haha! 

It was perfect weather for a hike through their trees as well :)

Joy, joy, joy!

Go JACKS!

Patterns: Hey June Handmade's Lane Raglan with the cowl from the Halifax Top and Peekaboo Pattern Shop's Violet Tunic

Fabric: Blue Cotton/Lycra and yellow stretch lace, both from Raspberry Creek Fabrics

Halifax for Me!

This was definitely my favorite top to wear last fall and this winter. It's so cozy and is a step up from a typical sweatshirt that I would normally wear :) I hope to make a few more for next year!

Pattern: Hey June Halifax

Fabric: Solid French Terry (Charcoal) and Robert Kaufman Mammoth Flannel, both purchased from Raspberry Creek Fabrics on Etsy.

Handmade in the Wild: Hiking, Hiking, Hiking

We hope to instill a love of the outdoors with the kids, and we look forward to lots of outdoor adventures as a family!

Enjoying the trails around the local lake... this was probably after Dan took them both out on the kayak first. Don't ask me why he's not wearing pants because I can't remember!

My parents have a small trail that winds through their shelter belt. We love hiking it during the spring, summer and fall! I'm thankful that my dad has taken so much time to create this trail!

Ev is growing up! She insisted on pulling her brother in the wagon while we were on just a short walk around the neighborhood. Little brother always appreciates the attention :)

Skirt: Blog Post

Grey Floral Pants: Made for Mermaids Bonny Leggings made from clearance leggings from Walmart

Sweatshirt: Hatteras Hoodie pattern from Hey June Handmade using a upcyled flannel pillowcase and oatmeal french terry from Raspberry Creek Fabrics.

Another set of Matching Tops!

I recently posted that I made a shirt for a MOPs meeting. Well, before I used my "good" fabric, I wanted to make sure the pattern fit me correctly. 

Pattern: Seafarer Top by Sew Much Ado 

Fabric: Cotton Lycra Print and Solid both from Raspberry Creek Fabrics on Etsy

Pictures Taken during our Black Hills "vacation" that I'll post about later...

I added the color-blocking myself, and after creating this top, I wished I had added the color blocking to the back as well. So, although the size fit me fine on this practice one, I did learn from it and thus made my next one better.

Of course, E kept asking me if she was going to get one, too. Lucky for her, I had just enough fabric left over to make her a matching Skipper Top (also by Sew Much Ado). You can see on hers that I added the color blocking to the back and how much better that looks! 

So, while I'm not one who loves-loves-loves being matchy-matchy with my daughter, the fact that it's a great way to use up scraps of fabric and it puts a huge smile on her face made me give in :)

PS: James decided to photobomb our pictures. Fun times ;)

Three More Creations

Another Olympic binge-watching blog post :)

A few more creations from this summer: 

**The striped top was needed for my MOPS Mom-Prom with a sailing theme last Map. I color-blocked Sew Much Ado's Seafarer Top using fabric from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. I've worn it several times since and look forward to wearing it more once the heat of summer passes. The cotton-lycra gets a little warm during this July and August afternoons!

**I found the diamond remnant at Hobby Lobby last spring and kept it out knowing that it would make a fun Bonny Leggings/Shorties Skirt (Made for Mermaids). Thinking about sewing that circle skirt hem held me back, though! Finally, I remembered the fun bias binding trim in my trim box and I fought it into submission to make a fun hem ;) The waistband is white knit and the shorts underneath are pink. Ev loves the twirl factor!

**Finally, the bucket hat was a necessary creation because Ev kept asking for one (Brother James has 2 rummage sale bucket hats and Ev was feeling left out)! Well, with as much fabric as I have, I knew I didn't want to buy one... so I purchased the pattern with some rewards points I had from Peekaboo Patterns and I finished it just in time for our Black Hills trip in May. It's not perfect, but Ev wears it and that all that matters (well that, and it saved me a few bucks)! I'm sure it helps that I let her pick the fabric :)

Summer PJs

As I sit here watching the Olympics, I figured I can also be productive by trying to crank out some blog posts that are long overdue :)

This Spring, I cut out 6 pairs of Alex and Anna Pajamas from Peekaboo Pattern Shop. After cutting, they sat there in the corner of our downstairs sitting area for much too long. Then, I would sew a little bit here and there, until FINALLY, all 6 pairs were finished! 

They have been great this summer! Both kids also have a few rummage sale find pajamas, so we definitely have plenty to choose from at bedtime ;)

Fabrics: Art Gallery Bucks and Springs Creative Licensed prints... from Peekaboo Pattern Shop, Raspberry Creek Fabrics on Etsy, and another random Etsy shop that still had the My Little Pony fabric... because we all know that Ev needed it! :)

Peekaboo Patterns Felicity Testing ~ Simple Summer

Happy 4th of July!

This was the third and final Felicity dress that I made during testing for Peekaboo Pattern Shop.

Fabrics: Red Gingham from my stash and a lightweight chambray from Raspberry Creek Fabrics on Etsy (Denim Swiss Dot Chambray by Robert Kaufman)

I added the red piping that was also in my stash - the pattern does not come with instructions for the piping, but it is such an easy addition! This was the updated bodice (and final version for this size), and I think I could have sized down to her true size. You don't want to size-up too much with this dress because then the bodice is too wide as you see in the pictures. 

I've wanted to sew something with gingham and chambray for so long, and this dress was the perfect reason to finally do it! Plus, it's so lightweight - perfect for summer (see, I'm just a broken record over here, ha!) and the 4th of July! She wore it to a hometown parade a few weeks ago... it was so hot out, but this dress kept her cool (well, as cool as you can be while running after candy and just loving life at a parade!)

We took pictures at a local park and hiking trail - I took pictures of the batik dress first, so by the time we were ready for this dress, so was a little less excited for the photo shoot. 

But, I still hope the pictures convey a fun and comfy addition to any summer wardrobe. Seriously - I plan on making her one of these every year from now on ;)

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Matching Raglans!

I've wanted to sew a Lane Raglan for a long time, and I finally took the time to choose fabric combinations with the fabric I had on hand. I came up with three different combos, so look forward to possibly 2 more shirts for me :) It feels so good to use up some fabric in my stash!

Patterns: Lane Raglan by Hey June Handmade and Recess Raglan by See Kate Sew

Fabric: Chartreuse Purple Floral on Aqua Green from Girl Charlee and Vivid Fireworks in Grape by Riley Blake Fabrics from Raspberry Creek Fabrics on Etsy

I bought the Girl Charlee fabric last May during one of their sales, while I bought the Riley Blake last winter when I was planning my niece's first birthday present. It wasn't until I started pairing up fabrics that I realized how perfectly these two fabrics matched! I was so excited!!!

I will be making more Lane Raglans soon! This was a straight medium and it's a little big, so I may just take a bigger seam allowance next time - it's drafted for a 1/4" SA, which is not my favorite anyway. I'll have to measure the neckband to fit after the altering though. This was the 2nd Recess Raglan that I've made E, and even though I made it last fall, I must have made it a size bigger at the time, because that size still worked and I didn't have to retrace and cut a different size :)

I had plenty of each fabric for my shirt, but then E kept asking when I was going to make her shirt... well, I barely had enough to squeeze out her matching raglan. It was worth it, though - E is in a matchy-matchy phase and loves to match me. I'm not so much into the matchiness as I am in seeing her smile :)
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