SouleMama

reporting live, from the bathroom sink

Well, apparently you all have me figured out. Of course that little yellow desk from the flea market came home with me! I couldn't resist. (Not that the rest wasn't tempting too...the teacups would have come home too, except that I already have that whole set. There was one more thing, though, that made it home - you'll see it soon!)

So the table is home with me now - in my bathroom for the moment. Placed right next to my newly constructed shower curtain, the combination makes me feel like I got a little room do-over. Always a good feeling...especially when it's super affordable and mainly handmade.

I used a vintage bedspread that I had on my fabric shelves, added some strips of lace, a few doilies randomly scattered (ie. conveniently placed over the discolored age spots on the bedspread), and put a strip of buttonholes at the top for the curtain tabs. An easy, quick new shower curtain. (There's a regular, fabric shower liner on the other side to keep the water out.)

Might you have any ideas as to how tricky it might be to take a photograph of a hanging shower curtain in a not-so-large bathroom with a not-so-wide camera lens?

Well, it involves standing in one's bathroom sink, actually. (In wool tights, I might add - on July 1st. It's literally the darkest June we've had since 1903. But that's a whole other story the likes of which you're probably sick of hearing about from us New Englanders.)

Friends, never doubt my dedication to bringing you the latest news in my world of handmade. I'll stand in the bathroom sink for you.

dress, reconstructed

Remember this dress? I posted about it here a few months ago. It turns out it really was too small (Heather's got great pattern errata up now, so if I made the dress again, we'd be all set). Adelaide just couldn't get it on and off easily..and so it sat. But, really. That fabric is just too pretty, and it feels just too good on the skin to be sitting in a closet waiting for who knows what. So a little reconstruction was in order.

I cut the bodice off and used the bottom skirt piece to create a new, simple elastic waist skirt, adding a strip of panel at the bottom to make it just a bit longer. All the fabrics are from Anna Maria Horner's Good Folks line. And for those of you counting, that one bundle of fabric has been made into:

this quilt
this chair cushion
now, this skirt

and I still have some pieces left. I am now totally sold on the idea of a stack of fabric like that.

But the skirt. Oh, she's quite pleased. Its great for running, jumping, twirling and all the other very important things three year old girls do....

...scaling fences included.

crafting for food

 

 

Will you look at who's decided it's time to eat?

I tried telling him it wasn't time. I tried telling him he wasn't missing anything. And then I got more insistent and told him that his role as fourth baby was to stay a baby.  That he should stop this request for food, this demand to crawl instantly, seven months old or not! But he was having none of that. Sigh. And since he met all of this Mama's prerequisites for food consumption (sitting up, pincher grasp, and most of all - interest - oh, he's got a LOT of that), we gave it a go. Just some simple veggies and fruits -  and now he's in. He's an eater. He loves it.

{While we're on the subject of babies and food, and since we may never be again...I want to tell you that if you're a new mama, you must get yourself a copy of Feeding The Whole Family, and a simple little food mill. I swear, that's all you'll ever need. Making your own babe's food really couldn't be simpler or easier or more satisfying. Oh! And for those of you wondering, the wooden bowl and spoon are both from Nova Natural.}

Naturally, such a milestone as first food was cause for some crafting. And so I made some bibs. They were fun to make, and cute, I do think.

But then I remembered. Bibs? I've never found them, um, helpful. (Maybe that's why I couldn't find any in my closets.) The best strategy for new eaters in my humble little experience of raising four of them is nakedness and a lot of washcloths.

 

So I stopped making bibs and starting making washcloths. I used two squares of organic cotton french terry (from Very Baby), with various prints turned into bias binding for the edges. 

Now he can lick the bowl to his hearts content, with the assurance that I'll get all that applesauce out of his ears when we're done. And I can continue watching the adorableness of the mess and glee of a baby discovering and exploring the wonders of good food.

the purple post

This was one of my Mother's Day gifts last month from Adelaide. A purple crayon. Super, super sweet. And also? A super, super clear order from my girl: LOVE the purple, Mama. Love it.

And I do of course. And so does my girl. Oh my, does she love purple.

A few weeks ago, with her in tow at the Farmers Market, she pointed out to me all the "amazing and beautiful purple flowers!". And my goodness, she was right. We decided right then and there that we needed to carve out a little spot for her in the yard, for her very own purple flower garden.

Pansies, violets, iris, phlox, lupines, and english lavender. She can tell you all about them. It's Ada's Purple Flower Garden.

And what better gardening wear could there be for a purple garden than a purple pantsuit? That's right, a purple pantsuit.


(I used the vintage pattern above, and the fabric is starling blue by Alexander Henry.)


Practical, comfortable, and purple. We should all have a purple pantsuit (maybe)...


...but definitely a purple crayon with which to color our world, and purple flowers by our bed to wake up to. Because that's quite nice. In purple.

hits & misses

So this one was a big ole' miss. Looking at the photo, I know it doesn't look that horrid, awful bad. You'll just have to take my word for it that it was. Truly - Not good.

I had attempted to make the Mendocino Sundress for myself (out of the Far, Far Away unicorn fabric). The 'smocking' (though, I think technically it's shirring, right? or maybe, mock-smock? I like that.) was super easy to do with elastic thread (my first time. I think I might be a convert, as I've just purchased a big cone of such thread). And the way the pattern is written out is super clear and helpful. I've concluded that the problem lies not in the fabric or the pattern. I think it may just be that shirring was never intended for a fourth-time breastfeeding-endowed Mama. Ahem.

And so....moving right along....I turned that flop into this hit. Taking off a few inches in the width and cutting off a bit of length, adding some straps, etc. I realized after I made it that it was basically the Smocked Dress from Weekend Sewing, with just a lot more smocking/shirring (which one is it exactly?).

Adelaide is very happy to have this little hand-me-down of sorts. (Though, she did remind me about the purple, and I'll tell you and she both that the purple is COMING SOON!)

In the end, there was a bit leftover - enough to make Mama at least a head scarf (number seven of the summer, but who's counting?). It's not exactly the cute summer dress for myself I had envisioned, but that's cool. A golden yellow unicorn on my head isn't such a bad consolation prize.

 

back to the bubble

Last year, I fell in love with the Oliver + S Bubble Dress pattern. Adelaide wore those dresses all summer long. She wore them hard, too...as one does when your days are spent with the busy, messy work of sand, wood, crayons and ice cream. A year later, and they're still wearable, but also showing remnants of all of the above. So, while she'll still be wearing them this summer (but shorter! How'd she grow so much?), I thought a new one was in order.

The fabric, of course, is Princess and the Pea from the Far, Far Away line (if you're looking - a few sellers on Etsy have it, and I just noticed that Sew, Mama, Sew  and Purl both have it in stock too). It's a double gauze, and oh-so-good - such a great summer weight. I lined it with a lightweight golden cotton, and made a size 5, hoping to get two summers out of it once again.

Her response when I greeted her with the new dress?

"Oh Mama, it's beautiful. Just beautiful! Thank you!" 

And then she paused.

"Do you know how to make one that is purple? 'Cause I would really love a purple one."

Bring on the purple.

crafting for Nellie

Nellie says thank you for all the sweet welcome wishes. And we do too. It's been two and three years since we said goodbye to our doggies Luka and Mow, and we've missed them - and having a dog in the house - every day since. We're thrilled to have Nellie around. Even if it means a few sleepless nights in the process. Oh, we are indeed sleepy...

Banjo, too, thanks you for your concern. He's doing just fine - holding his own against the new one quite well, and lodged permanently and snugly in Adelaide's 'best pet' status. The kids are all loving Nellie right up (besides watching her sleep, the second favorite activity is making Nellie obstacle courses in the yard). And for now, and at least until Nellie learns some family manners - Harper and Nellie are enjoying each other from a safe distance.

So the top-secret full-family crafting project(s) I mentioned earlier this week? For Nellie, of course! In the anticipation leading up to her arrival, there was a lot of preparing for Nellie. Talking, planning, cleaning, and crafting too. A bed was first.

After much debate about what Nellie's favorite color would be (they each lobbied for their own favorite) I hauled out a bin of fabric scraps and told them to pick out some favorites. Handing them to me at the sewing machine one after another in quite a flurry, we came up with the first log cabin square. Amazingly, it sorta/kinda/maybe had a color theme going on. So from there, the bed grew. It's a quilted cover of sorts, with about 25 snaps on the bottom (oh yes- that snap press was used to all it's glory) to make it easy to remove and wash. The insert is a cushion I made out of an almost vinyl-like material. I wanted something tight that I could wash with a cloth without getting all the stuffing wet.

And then, onto collars and leashes! This one has that oh-so-sweet red riding hood ribbon from Rosa.

The leashes have become such a great, successful kid project around here - simple webbing and ribbon, a few straight lines of sewing, and they're done.

Just how many collars and leashes does one pup need? Hmnn... With everyone wanting to make at least one of their own, I think she's plenty well supplied.

And they have plans for lots more.

{Some details: The bed, collars and leashes I made without a pattern, for better or worse. But I've since remembered there's a pattern for a dog collar in Amy Karol's Bend-the-Rules Sewing, and a pattern for a doggie bed in Anna Maria Horner's Seams to Me. The "hardware" for the collars and leashes can be found on Etsy - search for "dog collar hardware" or "swivel snap" in the supply category. Most of my embroidered ribbon comes from Les' Bon Ribbon.}

photographing a skirt

My Yard Sale Skirt from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing. I added one more panel than recommended in the book (I made a size small, so seven panels total - Heather's page has all the errata here). I think if I were to make it again, I might even add one more panel. The way it is now is fine, I just need to wear it fairly high up on my waist to fit comfortably. And, I've been wearing a slip with it - I'm not so into flashing.

I love it though - it was easy to sew up, and my goodness, I do love french seams. The fabric is Amy Butler from a few seasons ago. It was the only piece I had big enough in my stash to make the skirt with. I never, ever buy this much yardage normally (I think I had 5 yards of it), so it must have been for something specific. I'm hoping I'm not too bummed when I eventually remember what that something was. Hmn. Did I tell you what I was going to do with it? Maybe I blogged it.

Adelaide came in while I was taking the first photo and asked, "but is it twirly?"  Well, of course it's twirly. What's the point of a skirt otherwise?

I finished this skirt in late March, but hadn't managed to take a picture of it yet. That is, until a little bit of Manfrotto made it's way into my life on Mother's Day, courtesy of my sweet husband and babes. (And "Manfrotto" by the way, is the new favorite family word. Say it - don't forget to roll you "r's" - and tell me that wasn't fun. Pretend you're onstage in an Italian opera and it's even more fun.) Anyway, I am quite happy to now have my dream little tripod.

You might think these kids have enough of the camera in their lives. Between photographing for two books, this blog, their portfolios (I use photography to document our homeschooling), and everyday snapshots - the camera is around quite a bit. It doesn't feel intrusive, I don't think, but surely a constant. One that no one seems to mind or even pay all that much attention to, usually.

But there's nothing like the beacon that goes off when Mama is standing with remote in hand and camera on tripod. Clearly trying to get a shot without them in it. From near and far they run...and a party ensues. And for every shot like the one at the top of this post, I have a dozen like below. (I love them.)

Hmn....I wonder who they really got that tripod for...

sewing for summer

 

There's lots of sewing-for-summer happening here by all - pocketknife pouches, camping pillows, and all sorts of other gear is coming through the sewing machine at the hands of these boys. (And somehow...everything they make 'needs' a snap. Because who doesn't love using that snap press?!)

But their quick stops into the house to make/eat/get something are always followed by another immediate dash out of the house and into the woods/fort/bike. They move fast. Not exactly conducive to a little blog photo session with Mama. "No time for that!" they tell me. They've got things to do.

But skirts don't move. Nope. They're perfectly still, blowing in the wind of the clothesline and conducive to some photo taking with a babe on my back and another at my heels....

...asking for a skirt of her own. How could I resist just one matchy-match set? Just one. Elastic waist skirts are pretty much my uniform of summer. (I use my own pattern, traced from an old skirt I love. And the fabrics here are all vintage.) Adelaide's skirt is made using the wonderful (and free!) Lazy Days Skirt Pattern (found on the Oliver + S blog - in the sidebar). Simple, sweet and easy - just as it should be.

Ah, sweet summer sewing!

one little reason

There are so many reasons I love making clothes for my kids. Not the least of which is that it satisfies my mama-sentimentality.

Like so:

Adelaide, exactly three years ago.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Harper (and Adelaide), yesterday.

Beach Blouse

A little more beach-love today, folks. (New readers, I should tell you now that we are about to embark upon the season in which 90% of the content around these parts is somehow ocean-related. Consider yourself warned.)

This weekend - just in time for wearing to the beach - I finished the Summer Blouse from Weekend Sewing. I love, love, love this blouse. (Also? love the word "blouse.") Super light weight and gauzy, it's going to be just the right thing for putting over a swimsuit and keeping the chill at bay, or for keeping the sun off my skin. I predict a few more of these will be made before summer really heats up.

The details, for those interested: I added 2.5" to the length of the shirt, just to be sure it was of a length I like (it's close - next time I'll add 3 inches). I also added 1.5" to the sleeves. The markings for the sleeve gathers are missing from the pattern, but I didn't really find that I needed them (though, the errata is available here). The fabric is a "cotton lawn". I don't really know what that means exactly, but I love it and need to find more - it's the perfect summer weight. This print is Flora, from Superbuzzy. 

The beach gear is at the ready, I'm armed with cotton lawn (and shorter hair), and Harper's looking forward to adding a bit of sand to his all-breastmilk diet. Oh yes, we are happy, indeed.

log cabin promises

The pile of scraps from my Good Folks throw never quite made it into my box of 'other' scraps. I just couldn't bring myself to toss all that loveliness in there, to be mixed up and seen together again who-knows-when. And so it sat on the top of my sewing table...right next to the Patchwork Style, which for similar reasons, hasn't found it's way to the craft bookshelf since it's arrival.

So it only made sense that the two meet in the form of some log cabin action. Combining the directions from both the quilt and the pillow in the book, I made this little log cabin cushion for the computer chair. A few extra layers of batting make it just comfortable enough, but not so cushie-comfortable that I never want to get up (all part of my silly strategy for being mindful of how much time I sit in front of this computer screen, anyway).

For some reason, I thought log cabin meant cutting a whole lot of pieces into precise measurements. Perhaps 'true' log cabin is just that. But this method - where each piece can be any width, and therefore it all has a bit of an uneven look - is much more for me. And I can use a total mish-mash of scrap prints and patterns. Just like all the vintage quilts I love so much.

After the cushion, I wanted to make more. In my twitch to keep making, I did the unthinkable - I cut up a finished quilt top to start a new one. Gah! Yes, the quilt that I started for Adelaide's bed nearly two year ago now (she looks so little! Are you sure that wasn't yesterday?) just wasn't doing it for me, and therefore, likely never to be finished anyway.  So a fresh start was in order - a log cabin fresh start.

It's looking remarkably pink to me...especially considering that the very day I began it, she declared her favorite color "purple". Really? Purple? (You can see in the banner above I'm trying to embrace it.) I'm thinking all that pink might need to be broken up a bit with some bands of white (okay...maybe some purple, too) in between the squares (like this). Perhaps. Regardless...I woke up this morning and the first thing on my mind after COFFEE was the desire to make another square. So I'll take that as a good sign that this quilt might just be the one, and she might just have it on her bed sooner than another two years from now. Mark my words. I'm full of quilting promises...

pants for the baby

An email question I receive quite often is about sewing for boys - Where to find cute patterns?

Some of my favorites:

• Oliver + S
  
• Ottobre
• Vintage, thrifted patterns (though a word of warning if you've never use a vintage sewing pattern before - they do assume a lot, so if you're a true-beginner, you might find some steps missing that are more spelled out in contemporary sewing patterns)

(If you have a favorite source for boys sewing patterns, please let us know in the comments!)

One thing I'd recommend if you're just beginning to sew for your little ones, is the use of size tags. After four little ones and the pile of handmade clothing that has created - I never can tell just by looking at something what size it might be. The tags really are so helpful. (I've purchased mine in bulk on Ebay by searching for "woven clothing labels". Does anyone have a source for these by a family-owned small company?)

{That's his Manly Vest v.2, still a little bit big, but almost fitting him at 5 months!}

My favorite - and most often made - thing to sew for boys (and girls!) is simple, elastic waist pants. There's a pattern for such in The Creative Family. I love that especially at this small size, they can be made with so little fabric, and so often, out of repurposed tees. The simplicity of them makes it so easy to wear with anything, and I can allow as much room as I need for however big that cloth diapered bum may be. 

And quite seriously, they take about 15 minutes to make (especially when I have such fine help as that pictured above). I don't have hours upon hours straight at the sewing machine these days. But I do have lots of '15 minutes'. And so, 15 minutes at a time, Harper got a new pants wardrobe this week.

 I've been thinking about those sweet baby legs (um, rolls!) of his lately, and the shining sun that seems to be getting stronger each day. I wanted some full-length pants for him for the best sun coverage, made out of really lightweight material, to keep him cool. Wide leg Mama-made pants with a onesie - I've declared it the uniform of summer.

This might be my favorite pair - in a vintage baby crib sheet. So soft and light. I figured if Mama can wear bedsheets as pants, surely the baby can too.

And just one more picture for good baby-toe measure. Too much, you say? I'm sorry...did you forget whose blog you're reading? That's right. The blog of The Woman Who Eats Baby Toes.

flipiness

Do you remember flip dolls? Did you have one? This Little Red Riding Hood flip doll was mine when I was little. I remember being quite enamored with her flipiness (my spell check is telling me that's not a word, but I so want it to be a word. Flippiness. Please can that be a word?).

So I loved it...except that the granny-wolf freaked me out. Seriously, look at that face! Adelaide, however, has taken a liking to it. I don't think I ever would have given it to her - for fear that the wolf would freak me out in the middle of the night - but my mother slipped it to her on a Grammie visit. (Grammie's get away with a lot, you know.) And anyway, Adelaide assures me that she thinks the wolf is funny.  (She's braver than her Mama was).

 

I thought it would be fun to make an updated flip doll for her.  So during one of our afternoon sewing sessions last week (hence - snow in these photos! snow that is no longer here today! Yay!), we put together this kit I've had. 

The pattern is a FlipDoll kit by Umbrella Prints. The kit makes two dolls, each in such sweet yummy fabric (hand screen printed on organic fabric), and get this - with sweet faces too! No scary granny-wolves here. Just sleeping, smiling and laughing little girls. (Oh, thank goodness.)

 

Adelaide is quite in love with this flip doll too, especially since she "made it herself," you know. Her name is Eloise - there's sleepy Eloise, smiling Eloise, and laughing Eloise.

I'm so loving our afternoons of sewing.

a good folks throw

A gorgeous stack of Anna Maria Horner's Good Folks fabric arrived here a few months back. It has since sat on my studio table - all bundled up as it arrived - because as much as I wanted to dive right on into each and every piece, I just couldn't bear to separate them. Silly, but true. And so...I put them all together. In large patchwork squares so I could really see the prints, and in the form of a simple throw blanket - no binding or quilting- because I wanted to have this one finished and enjoyed right away. (And...because those three two-year-old quilt tops in my studio keep staring at me, waiting patiently for their day to be made into quilts.)

The back is a soft organic cotton, and in the middle is some organic cotton batting. The patchwork squares are 16" each square, making the whole thing roughly 60" x 60" - a size I really love for throws. Not too huge and cumbersome, but big enough for wrapping around, and definitely big enough for sharing.

I was going for easy and comfortable with this blanket. Letting the gorgeous fabric do the talking, you know? I just showed up, sewed a few seams, and tied a few knots. And now I am quite happy to laze around (well, whenever I can, anyway) and soak up it's coziness...and all that color! And I'll gladly share it too, of course...

more kitchen stitching

More kitchen-themed sewing today! Have I ever told you about my "new pen" life philosophy? I'm sure I'm not the only one who lives by it's principles. Whenever I had a writing deadline in school that I just wasn't very motivated about working on, I'd buy myself a new pen. I know. It's just a pen, right? But for some reason...'just a new pen' was enough excitement to get me started writing. I'm not ashamed to admit that I bought a few 'new pens' at various 'stuck' points in the process of finishing both of my manuscripts.

The "new pen" approach, though, can be applied in many situations. Like in a Maine kitchen at the end of a long winter. A kitchen - when you're trying to eat as local and organic as possible - that has seen far too much soup of late. (I swear, if I see another root vegetable, I might cry.) You know I love my kitchen, but even I struggle in it this time of year with a lack of motivation. It's the normal late-winter boredom thing - soon to be remedied by the first greens, I know very well. But until then...I'm keeping myself cooking and in my kitchen with "new pens," or as the case may be, new bread bags. And patchwork kitchen rugs!

I was motivated by the arrival of the soon-to-be-released (next week!) Patchwork Style and Linen, Wool, Cotton - both part of the Make Good: Crafts + Life series (I love that the word series implies there are more to come! And I should mention that we share a publisher in Trumpeter Books.)
{Update: I've just heard that the books are available now at the website makegoodbooks.com.}

Do they look familiar? They both made their way around the craft blog circuit a while ago now as Japanese craft books. But the difference is that these are in English! Oh yes. I can read them! And make the patterns with ease! You know how exciting this is, right? I'm excited.

I've poured through each of the books so completely re-inspired by their pages, now having the words and the instructions to know what's going on. This patchwork rug caught my eye - as the author writes that it's meant to be 'soiled' as all kitchen rugs are. And the solution to that? Just sew another patch on! Brilliant. Brilliant in it's simplicity. And super fun to make, too. I used a linen on the front 'base', with loads of different scrap fabrics "patched" on. The back is a mattress ticking.

 

When I was done with 'mine,' I made a slightly smaller - and with brighter prints - rug my girl and her kitchen. (I say 'my girl's kitchen', by the way, because she's the one mostly playing with it these days. The boys played with this everyday at her age too. And I'm sure Harper will too! I get excited thinking about my grandchildren playing kitchen with me someday too. Is that bizarre?)

Until that day, though...I've got some more bread to make and likely some more soup too. Having a fresh new pretty rug underfoot makes just a little bit more fun.

Bring on the parsnips!

bread love

Can one survive on just bread and peanut butter (and sometimes almond butter or cashew butter...yum)? I'm a little embarrassed to admit just how much I'm testing that theory these days. My peanut butter consumption gets a little nutty (ha!) when I'm nursing a babe. But peanut butter and fresh handmade bread is a kind of daily perfection I never tire of. Toss in some apple slices and maybe some cheddar, and well...we call that 'lunch' on a lot of days around here.

Thankfully - for all that bread consumption - I enjoy making bread as much as I enjoy eating it. I've been using the Tassajara Bread Book method for a while now, making two loaves every three days or so. There's something immensely comforting, meditative and rhythmic about making the same recipe over and over, week in and week out. How it takes a few minutes of my time spread out over a few hours - setting an underlying rhythm to that day. How every single time the heel of my hands meet the dough to begin kneading, I always, always have an instinctual instant of remembrance - thinking of those before me. Those I know of (my great grandmother, whose bread board I use), and more generally, the millions of women and Mamas before me. And as I continue kneading in a familiar rhythm, I find myself brought so fully into the present, with my feet planted firmly in my kitchen, with the sounds, smells and sights of my children and my life so clear. It's empowering, really...and as silly as it may sound, I get an enormous amount of strength from this little ritual that leaves me both mindful of my past, and aware of my present at the very same time.

The beauty, though, of making bread today - as opposed to the days of my great grandmother - is that on days when I don't have the energy, the inclination or the time...I can just as easily pop a loaf into the bread machine, or yes, even buy a loaf of bread (though it just never tastes as good!).

I've been puzzled for a while over the best storage of the precious bread. In the past, I've been using paper bags (from purchased loaves) over and over. But eventually, those wear and tear, and the size was never perfect. And I'm kind of a freak about plastic and food, so that was out.

So I did a little poking around to find out just how it used to be done. You know, before we had preservatives keeping our bread longer, or tupperware in which to store it. Actually, I sent the kids on an investigative bookshelf search, which they happily obliged me in. Who knew fabric was the answer?

 

With that, I made these bread bags. Quite simple, they're basically a drawstring bag out of linen fabric - breathable, but tight. The measurements worked out so that a vintage tea towel - with the sides trimmed off for using as a drawstring - was the perfect size. 

So far, I think it's really working. I put these inside my bread box, and they stay a little bit fresher, a little bit longer. I have plans to make a whole slew of them to have on hand. I'm pretty excited about handing off a gift of bread in one of these soon.

{And could I have illustrated today's post with something less than seven photographs? Perhaps. But where's the fun in that? I told you I love bread.}

sewing with help

There's been a wonderful little pocket of time that's emerged in the rhythm of our afternoons lately. With Harper down for his long nap of the day, and the boys outside making Flip videos of each other crashing off their handmade jumps and into mud with their bikes (good times)...Adelaide and I have found ourselves "alone" together. Wanting that time to be special one-on-one connection with her, and doing my very best to ignore the clean up I could be doing (or the laundry, or the dinner that could be started), I ask her what she'd like to do.

"Mama, I want to sew."

Well, twist my arm, sweet baby girl. We can do that.

 

 

"Sewing" for Adelaide means any number of things. She's a big fan of moving pins from one pincushion to another. Sorting through buttons is always a favorite (as is just sticking your face in a bowl full of them. It's cool. I get it.). Measuring - with every single ruler and tape measure I have - is super fun. Lately, she's been digging tracing her own patterns onto tracing paper. And of course, there's always sorting safety pins by size into vintage teacups (ah, now there's my fellow Virgo girl).There's plenty to do in Mama's little sewing space.

While she's busy with her sewing, she stops periodically to give instruction on exactly what I should be doing. Namely, telling me what to make her and what, exactly, to make it with. Ahem. (The girl knows what she wants, I tell you.) On this day, she had found the newly arrived Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross on the coffee table and requested the Flower Girl Dress. A quick and easy pattern, it was perfect for one of our little sewing sessions. (Though, a word of warning: check the sizing/measurements on this one if you're going to make it! It runs quite small - I made the largest size for Adelaide, who's an average sized 3 and a half year old). She was quite clear about the fabric choice too - this print from Anna Maria Horner's Good Folks line (she has good taste - I loooove that fabric too!).

 

We both worked together, with a constant stream of fabulous chatter the whole time (oh, I do love the way three year olds think...and talk). And when her dress was finished, it was deemed quite suitable for twirling and dancing, which, of course, we all know is what dresses are all about. I still think so, anyway.

(Later that night, this Mama snuck out for a little peaceful sewing of my own and made this second dress - repurposed from an old dress of mine. And yes...she's wearing a headband from the same book and same fabric in one of the photos above - I just cut an inch off everything in the pattern to make it fit her head.)

Like any rhythm in a family of six, I fully expect that this special little pocket of time of ours might shift soon: Harper will soon be awake more; the weather will be warmer and we'll want to be outside then too; the boys might tire of the mud (what?) and want to join us; she might actually want to do something else. Whatever it may be, eventually this little afternoon sewing session with my girl will shift into something else. And that's okay too.

But for now...well, for now, I'm loving it (and her) up. And treasuring our little afternoon sewing sessions dearly.

a jacket for my babe

In all the piles of three older sibling's worth of baby clothes in this house, I can't seem to find a spring jacket that fits Harper. Granted, I haven't looked that hard. Because I couldn't get the idea of making him this jacket out of my head. And, you see, if I didn't find a jacket for him...well, then it became necessary for me to make this one for him. (Oh...the mind games we play with ourselves.)

A few years ago, I used to make and sell a similar style jacket, but I think I got a little burned out on them. I found my pattern pieces this winter, and was re-inspired by them to create something a little different - not to sell again (if only there were just one more hour in the day!) - but for my little guy. With overlapping front panels, buttons, and a bit more flare to the whole thing.

The elephant fabric is fun, isn't it? (It's from good-ness - she has it in a few colorways - and happens to be having a 30% off sale right now. rock on.), with some really soft organic cotton fleece (that I think I got to make diapers with at Very Baby) for the lining.

Soft, sweet, cozy and oh-so-cute, if you ask me. Oh, and I like the jacket an awful lot, too.

keeping it all together :: the family board

With the addition of The Family Board - our newest family craft project - this little corner in our dining room just got a little more cluttered with the "stuff" of our days. But hopefully, this is clutter of the peace-making, flow-producing kind. I think it is. 

It's a basic cork board, with linen fabric stapled tautly over it. I used a sweet bird fabric from good-ness for the pockets, and included some button tacks I made inspired by Button It Up.

It's purpose is...well, to help us keep a little more organized about our weekly tasks, goals and activities. We began by all talking about and writing up index cards with the household tasks that need attention and care on an everyday/weekly basis. The kids drew pictures and wrote the task, and then laminated the cards. (I have one of these for laminating. Certainly not a life necessity, but ridiculously fun.)

The pockets - one for each babe - are where the cards go. The fifth pocket is for "extra" chores - those above and beyond the everyday and weekly chores, than can be done to earn money if there's interest from the kids (and oh, is there interest in that). Above the pockets is space for tacking the weekly dinner plans and a grocery list - all things the kids really, really like to be a part of knowing and planning. It also seems to be a good place for putting our goals and hopes for the week. Cleaning the shed, going to the skate park - you know, priorities like that - all of equal importance when you put them on pen and paper.

Talking about it like this makes it sound a bit more structured and rigid than it really is. It actually flows quite nicely - starting with our Sunday dinner at which we switch the tasks around for the coming week, and talk about what might be happening in the week to come. This little board - so far - has eliminated a lot of confusion and discord by giving us all a bit of clarity and a visual reminder of what needs to be done to make the house run smoothly. It's resulted in a bit more peace, and rhythm to our work. And somehow - it makes it all just a little bit more fun.

simple spring sewing

Some amazingly spring-like weather has come our way! We've found ourselves outside at each moment possible - standing in the warmth, soaking in the sun, and breathing in the fresh, fresh air of a soon-to-be spring. It feels so good to begin to stretch our legs - and our lungs - in the new way that spring asks of us.

With the sun sticking around a bit longer these days, my window of warmth on the sun porch (where I moved everything after moving out of my studio last fall) is opening up enough for me to get out there. And, oh, it feels so good. I'm starting in baby steps - making some gifts (above - working outside on a birthday crown, based on my pattern in The Creative Family), airing out some (2 year old) quilt tops-in-progress (seen in the background up there), and just generally reacquainting with it all. In small, simple, happy spring sewing projects.

With the bigger kids (Papa included) running in and out of the house on a recent sunny afternoon, Harper and I did a little bit of sewing. He's happy to play along in the sling or on a sheepskin at my feet - as long as I keep singing. (Because only a newborn baby can love a scratchy Mama's voice, right?)  I used the Buttercup Bag pattern - found for free on Made by Rae. It's such a great pattern - easy to follow and quick to whip up. (I thought about making a prettier photo of it than the one above....but perhaps it's best left photographed just where it will spend most of it's time in my house - atop my desk and a huge pile of knitting patterns and notebooks. And likely some important tax documents strewn in there ever-so-neglectfully, too. Oops.)

For the happy cooing and sitting and chatting that he did while I made my bag (and for not telling me that my singing is scary), I whipped up these elastic waist pants for the little guy (once again, using the "pattern" I outline in The Creative Family.) The fabric - sooo good, isn't it? It came from good-ness (it's this one, in a lighter color).

One more photo - with baby toes and deer on linen fabric. Just because.

Have I told you that my new sewing space - albeit much smaller and colder and funkier than my old studio (she says with great restraint in those slightly selfish moments)- has cardinals building a nest right outside - inches outside - my window, so that I can watch and listen to them as I make things?

Life really is quite sweet. In beautifully small and simple ways.

for my girl

My baby girl ("I'm always gonna be your baby, Momma!") was the recipient of my first real sewing foray in months. Anna Maria Horner's beautiful book Seams to Me: 24 New Reasons to Love Sewing arrived here just a little before Harper did. It's been on the coffee table or on my bedside table ever since. Because if I'm not sewing, I might as well be dreaming about some fun projects for when the time comes, right? And her book is, indeed, full of some very fun projects.

Adelaide flipped through it too, and asked for the Prairie Blouse. Well, actually she asked for the horse that Anna Maria's daughter is riding while wearing the Prairie Blouse. But she was happy with the blouse itself for a close second. (The horse? Maybe later.) 

In the past week, in approximately ten increments of five minutes at a time (I'll take my crafting time however I can get it), she got her Prairie Blouse. It was super easy to sew up - Anna Maria's pattern writing is super clear. I love the lofty fit for many reasons, not the least of which being that I'm sure it will fit for a few years.

The aqua fabric is linen from Robert Kaufman's Essex line.  The bias is some I made from Joelle Hoverson's Cake Rock Beach. The pattern actually calls for a wider bias than I used, which would have been a bit better, I think. But that would have required a trip to the fabric store and that takes a lot more than five minutes. So I'll try the extra wide bias on the second shirt (I know there will be one). 

 

It is so true that she will always be my baby girl. But will someone please explain to me how it is that my baby girl is looking like a kid these days? Oh my. Why do they do that so fast?

a bit of sewing

Thank you so much for your warm welcome of Handmade Home! I cannot wait to show you the inside. Soon!

Yesterday, as I was thinking about all the sewing in that book (there's some paper and wood crafting, too!)...I realized it's been a while since I've visited my sewing machine. I do think the rocking chair cushion pictured above may have been the last thing I sewed....over two months ago! It's made from a cutter quilt I found two years ago, with a piece of foam in the middle, and linen bias tape for ties. Simple, sweet and super comfy (as if I needed more of an incentive to sit and rock).

The rest of that pretty old 'cutter' quilt found it's way to Adelaide's room, where what's left of it is hanging on a rack.

So a two month break. It may not seem like much, but I do think it's the longest I've gone without sewing something since...well, as long as I can remember. The past two years have been full of an enormous amount of sewing as the production of Handmade Home has happened around here - on top of the regular house, clothes, and shop sewing. Yes, that sweet machine has had a workout of late. But round about December, after the Solstice jammies were done, and this quick little cushion was made, that tired machine was sent off for a tune-up, and I sat down for a rest. A rest to knit. A rest to sit. And a rest to stare at sweet Harper Pie...and Adelaide, Ezra, and Calvin, too of course.

Breaks are good, I think. From lots of things and for lots of reasons. Sometimes, especially, from that which you love. So I've been waiting, knowing that someday soon, I'd be quite inclined to sit and sew once again. Lately...I've been feeling the beginnings of such an itch - just the beginnings. This weekend, when a few rare minutes of quiet settled on the house, and the sun had settled long enough on my current 'studio' space to warm it up a bit....I wandered out there. Cleaned off the piles of 'stuff' I've been stashing on my work table all winter long. Flipped through my patterns. Touched some fabric. And put some new spring love up on the inspiration board.

That red light and sound came out of the baby monitor telling me my time was up before any sewing could happen, but that's really okay. Maybe that's for next time.

I do believe some sewing is in the forecast for spring!

 

Quilt-ish

For months, I've been waiting for some baby quilt inspiration/time/energy. But alas....it hasn't really happened. Until this weekend, that is. When for some bizarre reason, upon facing "wash the shower" next on my to-do list, I suddenly found quilt inspiration and motivation that pulled me away from my task. See how that works?

I knew I didn't have a lot of time to dedicate to sewing (there was that shower...and a million other things to return to), and truthfully, my body isn't all that comfortable sitting at the sewing machine for long these days. And so...this simple little quilt was born.

I started with this (crazy-good-soft) corduroy from good-ness; added a panel of some favorite prints (including the blue Ring around the Rosy by Heather Ross I've been hoarding) and a soft, organic cotton fleece on the other side (this from Very Baby). A little bit of cotton batting in the middle, and some ties to finish it all off. Voila! A quilt-like blanket for babe.

Each of my little ones have arrived in a season of their own. I love that. And I love that a bit of this season's colors and textures worked their way into this simple little blanket for my autumn baby.

a little bit better

So yeah, the couch remains. Despite many frequent and lovely emails from you all linking me to my 'dream sofa' on your local Craig's List (but giving me hope that they're out there!), I have yet to find one here. No worries...this one, still going strong, is growing on me again.

Last week, I had an 'aha!' moment about that couch. Settling in to read a story, I repeatedly 'fluffed' the cushions as I habitually do, trying to make room for, well, me. "It's the cushions!" I jumped up and announced to the kids who stared back at me blankly. But it's true! The big overstuffed, always falling over, getting in the way, and highly irritating cushions that sat along the back - they were the problem with the couch (well, one, anyway). With great happiness at the sudden realization, I ditched them. And swapped them out in favor of a few big pillows I had around the house. (And then I sat back down and read the book, much to their relief.)

I needed just two more - so, with the pillows from the recent Toast Home catalog fresh in my mind, I made this little set. From two old and thrifted wool blankets I had already cut into for another project. None of the buttons match, and I'm kind of liking that. They're all old. And brown. And the whole thing feels comfortably simple and easy. As does the couch...just a little bit more now.

before-dinner skirts...

...from "Mama's Funny Porch Room Studio." Yes, that's what my new little space has been so appropriately named by Adelaide. Oh...I do rather miss my studio, but... there have been so many good things to come of all that rearranging. Just one of those has been Adelaide's Before-Dinner-Skirts, as in "made in a moment of weakness when I really should be making dinner" skirts. The skirts are great of course, but even better has been the making of them - with her leading the way, and 'helping' me in some very special ways (that involve a lot of cutting scraps of fabric and moving pins from one cushion to another) - all in the midst of the play, food, and mess of the space and family around us. It really has been nice. (Trying to make anything more complicated than these skirts in such a surrounding? Well, that's another story...)

It started with that first skirt a few weeks back. Each day of the following week, she requested we make a new skirt. Pleading with me to use my sewing machine to make her a skirt? Um, okay, twist my arm. So the skirts were made - just a quick little elastic waist skirt, she choosing the fabric and ribbons, and helping me put it all together in the afternoon before starting dinner. By Thursday of that week, I tried explaining that maybe she had enough skirts. She paused for a moment, and said, "Maybe we could make some for my friends?" Now, really..how could a mama say no to that budding thoughtfulness? So we made more skirts.

The 'quick little elastic waist skirt', by the way, is actually the fabulous Oliver + S Lazy Days Skirt Pattern, available as a free download. I've never really used a pattern to make a simple girls skirt before, but this pattern cleverly uses a ribbon encasing the hemline, making it not only adorable, but even one step easier. Perfect for those right before dinner 'must make' skirts that we all must have, I do think. (Oh, and that sweet, sweet little red riding hood ribbon you see one one skirt - the one in this photo, too? It can be found in Rosa Pomar's shop. I thought you might ask.)

And just so you know I'm not a total pushover, I did draw the line at her request for a skirt made for Banjo. I'm just thinking of the cat, you know.

NieNie Benefit Sale

I want to direct your attention elsewhere today, as today starts the NieNie Benefit Sale on Etsy, organized by the very generous Morgan Moore of One More Moore. You've likely heard the tragedy that's hit this beautiful blogging family, and you've probably seen some of the amazing outpouring of needed love and financial support that's being directed their way. The auction starting today will run for two days, and is so full of amazing, lovely, heartfelt and handmade goodness - with all proceeds going to directly to the care of Stephanie and Christian Nielson.

Among the many, many things you can find in this benefit sale, is this tiny little offering I put together of a Gratitude Wrap, together with a signed copy of The Creative Family. The direct link to that, for as long as it is available, is here.

Follow the button below to land yourself amidst some serious handmade goodness, with a whole lot of hope, and warm wishes wrapped up in it all too.

thank you!

You might have noticed a few tiny visual changes around here lately - and a few more little tweaks are in the works in coming months. (I'm hearing you all loud and clear that you miss the "Inspiring" list of links - no worries, it will return soon!) The first of these changes was the addition of the SouleMama BookShop. I'm asked often for my 'favorite' books on particular topics - unschooling, crafts, parenting, and on and on. So I've been looking for a spot to share such 'favorites' lists in an always-accessible way (while keeping it all seperate from the "Currently Reading" sidebar feature, which I like to keep to 'current' books). The Amazon storefront was the solution for me - as I can keep the lists, while also participating in the Associates program. There is much more I want to add there - I haven't even touched on bird books yet, for goodness sakes. Or favorite board books, or chapter books, or....oh my. We love books. So if those book lists interest you, check back there often as I'll be adding more of the titles most treasured in our home.

Another new thing you've likely noticed in the past month has been the addition of the "Sponsors" on the right sidebar. For so long (years, I dare say), I've thought long and hard, searched high and low, and explored so many options in regards to this. And I am so happy that it evolved exactly where I wanted it to be - a place where I can introduce you to small companies and organizations who I support and believe in - in a low-key, non-obtrusive and well, pretty way ("pretty" is important!). I'm incredibly grateful to those Sponsors, especially, who took a chance these first few months as I've been trying it out - Nova Natural, Lisa Leonard, and Mama Merit Badges. Thank you!

I never could have imagined all the things that blogging would lead to when I began three and a half years ago. I never imagined the warmth, generosity, amazing friendships, and wonderful opportunities that have come into my life. And I certainly never imagined that this whole thing would turn into something that contributes in a small financial way to my family - and brings us closer to our goals of living, working, playing and creating together - as a family. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to continue writing and maintaining this blog and all that comes with it (the many joys and the many challenges) in a way that feeds my soul, and helps my family - rather than takes me away from it. So thank you, for your part in that particular aspect of blogging for me - for the things you've purchased in my shop over the years, for the Amazon purchases you've made through my links, through the support that you've shown my sponsors, for your notes and gifts of encouragement, and just for reading here each day.

What I'm finally getting around to, is a small token of thanks to you! In the left sidebar, you'll notice a new little feature "For You," and in there currently, you'll find two downloadable patterns (as PDF files - let me know if you find any kinks!). One for the Gratitude Wrap, and another for my favorite knit hat pattern (originally posted here a long time ago now, but reworked a bit as I remade it late last night! In yellow. Ahem). They're free and offered up as a little 'thank you' to you for being such nice readers. Because you are! You'll also find a link to all of the recipes I've posted here over the years - compiled in one place and organized seasonally (because I would organize everything that way if I could). My goodness, I make a lot of bread with berries, don't I? Hmn...

Well, anyway. Enjoy. and Thank You. Truly.

a Summer Shop Update!

The Shop is open!

In this Summer update, you'll find a batch of Embroidered Hoops - each with a bit of applique and embroidery, in the colorways that are inspiring me most of all this summer (see any yellow in there? Ah, that yellow). Each are backed, and ready for hanging as you may.

Also in the shop this time, area bakers dozen Gratitude Wraps! I had such fun not only putting the fabrics together for these, but gathering the supplies as well. In each wrap will be: a set of my postcards and envelopes, along with two of my favorite writing things - a small Moleskin notebook and the most perfect pen in the world - the Pigma Micron. All you need are the stamps!

A quick technical note about the shop: As some of you have figured out, there's a few-seconds delay between Big Cartel and Paypal, which can result in some overselling in the first few minutes. I'll be watching today, and should that happen, I'll quickly notify you with a Paypal refund (if you haven't heard from me now, you're all set!). My apologies in advance - I have yet to find the 'perfect' shop solution, but without this little glitch, Big Cartel works best for me and how I do these things. The only advice I have in avoiding this might be to move quickly through the checkout process. I'm sorry to add an element of rushing and disapointment to this! But I thank you for your patience.

Thank you, as always, for your support and interest in the things I make and sell! I'm incredibly grateful for it, you know. In fact...I've got a little 'thank you' coming your way tomorrow. Stay tuned!

saturday in my studio

Some photos from my day. In the busyness of summer play, it feels as though it's been ages since I was last in the studio and sewing on a Saturday. But that's just what I did today, and it felt so good. So I thought I'd say hello with some pictures.

And here's a completely random little craft discovery I had in my studio today. I love my bias tape makers very much (see that pile of 8+ yards of linen bias in progress?). But I don't love that I threw away the instructions to each long ago, and forget each and every time I go to make binding what size to cut the fabric strips to. But alas! No longer! Today I found the measurements at the fabric store, and wrote them directly on the tools themselves with a Sharpie. And I felt very clever indeed. So if you're a handmade bias tape lover, and haven't already done this yourself, well, then there's my little craft tip for you today. ;)

And now, back to the weekend and summer play. I hope you're all enjoying yourselves!