A Hoot and a Holler

Twirly Skirts!

I finally tried out the "Twirly Skirt" tutorial from House On Hill Road blog.  I have had that thing bookmark on my computer for about a year now.  I really made this for my six year old but she decided that it's not long enough and "everybody might see her business".  My four year old came to her sisters rescue and volunteered to wear it.  It's pretty huge on her and I think next time I will use a lighter fabric but other than that I'm happy with it.  These skirts have some serious "twirl factor".  An absolute must around our house these days.  I have another street fair on the Upper East Side this weekend.  Pray for nice weather!

Another Happy Accident.

 



 
















This is the product of another "sewing disaster".  I had great plans for this little skirt.  I had an "idea" in my head and I decided to just go for it.  I went for it alright.  And I screwed it up. I ended up just slapping a snail on it and calling it a day. That's right.  Another snail.  That seems to be the answere to all my problems these days.  Funny... she absolutely LOVES it!  She ran around Brooklyn all day saying "Help!  There's a snail on my skirt!".  At least someones happy.  As for my little "idea".  It's still in my head...with the rest of them.  I know what I did wrong and how to get it where I want it.  I have never had enough patience to make something three times till I get it right.  Something I need to learn. 
 





















Why are these silly little feet in a blog post about sewing?  Because I have been waiting all winter to see these toes wiggling in the water and sand.  That's why!  It was finally 80 degrees Monday!  Only  five weeks left of school.  Only five weeks until our local pool opens!  Only 8 weeks till vacation!  I can't take it.  This calls for a pedicure! (for me...not her).

Puppy Love

Trying to get a six year old to smile for pictures in a new dress?  Rule number one.  Repeatedly chant the name of the  boy she has a secret crush on.

Results...priceless!

Smocked Sundress Take Two!

I think I'm getting this machine smocking thing down.  I also think I see the begining of long love affair with this style of dress.  This happens to me every time I learn something new with my sewing.  I hope I know enough little girls to give these to.  That or each of my firends (male and female) will be recieving lovely tube tops compliments of a smock obsessed freak! 

I still have several photo's of our trip to "Mississippi" to share.  Here is a  sweet moment that I quietly captured of my little one baking cookies with her great aunt.  She still talks about when she baked cookies with aunt "L".  I am so happy that we have found a way to cultivate a relationship with family even if they live far away.

Lately, I have been thinking of ways help my daughters feel close to family that is pread out all over the country.  I really want them to feel like they know their cousins, anut's uncles, and grandparents.  One of my friends suggested that my daughters start a summmer book club with their cousins.  I think I may suggest we try it.  She said to have everyone read the same book.  Whether they can read it themselves or mom reads it to them.  Once a month we can have our "book club" by conference call.  I thought that sounded like fun if my sisters are up for it.  What do you do to help your kids stay close to family that lives far away? 

Yep!  Peanut butter and chocolate! No wonder I gained 8lbs!

Street Fair Madness

We had a good weekend.  The weather was absolutely beautiful Saturday.  I participated in the "Fifth Avenue Street Fair" on Sunday.  It's one of the last street fairs left in NYC that have some venders that sell hand made items.  I have never had a booth at a street fair before.  I was terrified that I would be placed with the smokey slovaki stand on one side of me, the incense guy on the other, and a really bad rock band across the street playing Guns-n-Roses all day.  Luckily it was not so bad.  We did surprisingly well considering that fact that it rained most of the day!  I am doing another one on May 31st.  This one is on the Upper East Side in Manhattan. I ordered some new boys t-shirts from American Apparel this week.  I LOVE this color.  I actually had some requests from grown men for this shirt.  Hey, whatever works:)

I also decided to make a more "girly" version. 

I received a very exciting package in the mail last Friday.  These are just three of 7 new fabrics I ordered.  I love it all!  I can't wait to sink my claws into this stuff this week.

Learn how to make smocked sundress. Check! Find a belated birthday gift for my very "cool" nephew. Check!

Doesn't it feel good to check things off your "To Do" list.  Two things in one week is really good for me.  I have been wanting to sit down and figure out how to make these sweet little dresses.  It was really fun and pretty quick.  This is the cheap fabric I use when I am trying something out for the first time.  It's cheap!  It's crap!  But it was two dollars a yard and it has polka dot's! I can't wait to try this again with some of the nice fabric I just ordered! I can see lot's of these in the near future. 

Checking another thing off my "To Do" list.  My nephews birthday was in February and I've been walking around loaded with guilt ever since.  It has taken me until now to get him his birthday gift.  The problem is in the last few years he has gotten pretty stinkin "cool".  In the last few years my "cool" factor has disappeared.  What's a dork to do?  It's pretty paralyzing I'll say! 
While I was at the craft fair last Saturday I was chatting with a some talented vendors .  They work together as a couple selling their British Flashcard t-shirts.  This vintage looking British Rock star t-shirt just exudes cool (in my dorky opinion). Now what would be really cool is if I actually get it in the mail to him.  Until then my sweet little nephew, you can visit your gift online:)
By the way, the craft fair was a lot of fun.  I sold a lot of my shirts and hair clippies. I walked away happy.  I was given some advice and feed back from other vender's and customers.  They said my prices were actually too low.   I hear that is pretty common with newbies.  Pricing my work is so hard for me.  I want people to be able to afford it.  I was looking at it from the perspective of what I can afford. Instead I need to ask what can most families living in New York City afford to spend on a shirt?  (a  hell of a lot more than I can that's for sure).  OK, enough rambling. I have some more smocking to do.

Happy Mothers Day

Although Mothers Day is a day to honor and pay tribute to mothers I just cannot help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude.  Gratitude for my own mother and gratitude for my children. When I gave birth to my first child I gave him life and he gave me rebirth.  Everything since then is more precious.

I can't believe they're here!

I can't believe they're mine!

I can't believe I get to raise them!

Somebody please pinch me!

I think I will be saying this for the rest of my life!

I have a fun project I am working on.  I can't wait to share it!

The Five Minute Five Dollar Dress.

Thats right!  This dress is the most simple project I have ever made.  I don't even feel like I can take credit for it.  I bought the fabric pre-smocked from Hancock's while we were on vacation.  I didn't even know that fabric came already smocked for you.  All you have to do is sew a seam and straps and your good to go.  This is serious instant gratification.  I would have bought a lot more of it but I wasn't crazy about the fabric choices.  I have been wanting to figure out how to make this style for a long time.  This inspires me to go out and find some beautiful fabric and actually do the smocking myself.  I hear it's pretty easy.  Sorry I chopped my daughters head off in the picture below.  She was giving me a tude.

I'm all packed up and ready for the craft fair this Saturday. The weather is suppose to be nice.  I will try to remember to take pictures of our booth.  Wish me luck!  I want that serger!

Spring Time In Brooklyn!

Pink Snow! 

My kids and their friends decided to lay down in it an make "Pink Snow Angels".  Unfortunately,  my camera went dead and just in time!

We collected a few hundred of these.  I love this Curious George rain coat. 

We also played with this little guy for a few hours.  He is now sitting in a jar on my friends table.  What do you feed a snail anyway?

I decided to make a few tank dresses for the craft fair this Saturday.  I think their kinda cute.  Am I the only one that can tell this is a cowboy boot?  I guess we will find out. 

A Chip Off The Old Block!

I thought I would quickly share one of my six year olds favorite new toy's this year. I finally broke down and got her a sewing machine.  It's the Janome Hello Kitty machine.

She just finished her first project.  A blanket for her beloved "Lamby".

I have to say I'm a little jealous of the "cute factor" here.  I mean Tiffany blue with Hello Kitty on it?  It doesn't get cuter than that! Don't get me wrong.  I love Bernina.  She has been very good to me but I think she needs a little more style! I have a crazy week ahead of me.  I have a craft fair this Saturday that I am getting ready for.  I am selling kids shirts, dresses and hair accessories.  I am going in on the space with my friend again. Last year I did two craft fairs during the holidays and I made enough money for my new sewing machine.  I am hoping to make enough for a serger this summer.  Cross your fingers!