5 Aprons and a half

The ladies at Leona’s daycare were asking me if i would be willing to make them custom aprons. I jumped right into the idea, made the apron pattern from one of their old ones they all seemed to like, added a 3-compartment patch on pocket, gathered a fabric selections that i thought spoke to their personalities and had them choose their favorite fabric:

From top left to bottom right:
on Ms. Francesca: ‘The accomplished person on the top” IKEA with Denim details
on Auntie Ally: Mermaids by Heather Ross
on Auntie Calla: Metromarket by Metroluna for Robert Kaufmann
on Auntie Val: Full Bloom by Barry J Ackermann for Windham Fabrics
on Auntie Pam: Scull and X-bones by Henry Alexander with Denim details.
on Auntie Erin: IKEA fabric with Denim binding.

 

Bag it please.

Pattern: ‘Everything Tote’ from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross
Fabric: IKEA

I needed a nice big bag for my Natural Dye class that i am currently taking at OCAC. I had been going there toting grocery bags around to fit everything. I bought some IKEA fabric for bag-sewing purposes. The fabric has the perfect weight and density to make bags out of them. I love the outcome! And am looking forward to use my scraps for little projects i will be making for Leona.

Wardrobe Sewing Challenge – Bicycle top for me

Stylish dress book 2
SBN978-4-579-11226-5
Style A
Fabric: Phillipa, C, Tana Lawn Liberty

I posted about the shirt i made for Leona here. Here is the ‘adult version’ made from a japanese sewing pattern book available through etsy’s pompadour craft cafe. Love the shirt, made it in L. Might make the M instead and add 2 inches in the future. Fabric is absolutely lovely (and has to with that price tag!)

A new bag for me

Pattern: Amy Butler
Fabric: IKEA

I was in need for a new bag. And a bit bored too. From my apron project that i worked on for the aunties at Leona’s school, i still had 1 yard of IKEA fabric left over. So i decided to sew it up into a boho bag (or is it hobo?- can anyone explain the difference please?) I used an Amy Butler pattern that has been lying around in my sewing room. I omitted the cellphone pocket as i wanted the outside of the bag to be clean and didn’t want to interrupt the gorgeous fabric print. There is a reason for that particular bag though – the bag has lots of internal pockets (which is great!) but i keep loosing my cellphone in them. But i love it. No doubt.

 

Wardrobe Sewing Challenge – Pop Art tops for everyone!

Leona and I have some new funky tops! Hurray. Quick and easy projects that result in stunning unique pieces are my favorites. Knitting pattern for the hat can be found here.

Stylish dress book
ISBN978-4-579-11185-5
Style D
Fabric: Over the Rainbow, B, Tana Lawn Liberty

And a version for Leona with 2 cute pockets in the front and a two-button closure in the back.

Mama Girl Wardrobe
ISBN978-4-8347-2691-6
Variation of Style 17

Magazines available here and here. And, as you can see, i’ve got a new toy: a tripod and a remote for the camera. That should take care of my lack of photo-opportunities. See you soon!

Ribbed Sweater Jacket

A trip to the the Oregon coast was a beautiful backdrop to finally take some good photos of this ribbed sweater from Rebecca 36 magazine i finished in late Spring. It’s a Cotton Yarn jacket with feels warm yet not too hot – exactly right for the temperatures in fall. The front closure is with snaps and i really love the pockets!

These photos – beautiful and moody, arent’ they? They epitomize my state of mind right now. It’s been more then a year now since i left my job and i had been preparing myself mentally to start doing some work again soon. After one year (and no adverse information from the lawyers) I felt the labor and travel permit must be very near. Andy had put on the pressure a bit more at work to find out what the status is. Thursday a week ago he finally got some answers: The application got rejected. What sent the organization into a bit of a whirlwind for a couple of days, put quite a damper on my own plans. There was the talk of trying it again with the ’specially talented and extraordinary researcher’ application – but so far we haven’t heard from the lawyers again. Originally we would have to leave the country by end of February. With the extension we’d be able to get a couple more months, possibly until August next year.
Nike will give Andy some sort of work to bridge the gap – but we’ll see what will happen, and when. And where. It’s an interesting experience – as i have a hard time not being empowered to make choices for my family, myself and my career. By now, i’d like to do something to support even though i don’t have any desire to go back to corporate america. But i’d like to do something worth while. It’s just how i tick and even though i know that i do so much for my family already. For now, i just have to trust – again – that things work out the way they are supposed to. Have faith that all will be fine and exactly as they were meant.

For now though, i wanted to write something of my chest. I had made up my mind for a while now – i will not continue to work on ’seek’. Neither here in the US nor back in europe. Too much time has past, too many obstacles in my way – have made me loose steam and interest in the project. Now there is a way for new thinking and new beginnings. We’ll see what happens -i’ll update my ‘profile’ soon.

Jumping into new experiences – Halloween 2009

This year was Leona’s first Halloween. And somewhat it was my first one too. Not only did i make her my first ever halloween costume – so she could be a Kangaroo – i carried her up the stairs to the neighbors doors and asked for ‘trick or treat’. I was amazed about how much people love this tradition here and i have no doubt that it’ll be one of Leona’s favorite holidays. She even got the treats put in her pouch without having ever to ask anything, i guess, because she looked so adorable. The girls ad JaChiva’s on Hawthorne were even running after us to give her a lovely pumpkin shaped chocolate.

I made the pattern for her costume by modifying a pattern i got for 25 cent at Knitt’n Kitten. I drafted the pieces for the hood, ears and tail from scratch. The fuzzy fabric is from home depot and the Kangaroo tail stuffed with packing peanuts. I kept the pattern and will be trying myself in scanning and uploading it as a free pattern. Anybody interested in something like this maybe for next year?

My friend Barbara made the cute little gnome costume in the lower left corner. She felted sweaters, cut out the shapes for the hat and pocket-belt, stuffed the hat with packing peanuts and wore it over a borrowed gingham dress. Leona is modeling the outfit for her – doesn’t she look very dutch in the picture? Maybe because Barbara is dutch?

 

 

 

Wardrobe Sewing Challenge – A blouse for Leona

Could it be that Portland has the highest bycicle participation in the states that I had my eyes on this beautiful Tara Lawn cotton from Liberty of London?

I loved it when i was out searching for Leona’s B-day tunic but passed on it then. I decided to snatch it up atBolt for a japanese top that i want to sew for myself and after cutting it there was even enough left to get a blouse for Leona. I love Oliver+S designs and had sewn the 2:2 blouse in a short sleeve version before. But now that it is getting colder, Leona really needs some nice long sleeve versions. So here it is with light weight denim detailing.

Just after i had proclaimed to do a japanese sewing challenge that i tackled an adorable pattern from Jenny Gordy from wikstenmade featured in Stitch magazine. And it definitely tested my limits even though it’s categorized as ’simple’. And it’s not a difficult sewing pattern but rather a tale of what happens when you choose to not measure yourself. But more to that later as i will try my first raffle as i will gift away the tulip skirt in size medium/large to someone who comments on this particular post. And just to wet your mouth click here to see the skirt being sewn by others.

2nd Birthday party

Celebrating Leona's 2nd birthday

In honor of Leona’s 2nd Birthday, we celebrated last Sunday at the Lee Farms in Tualatin just outside of Portland. I had found the place online here and drove there to see what it was like about  a month ago. It was very quiet then. Yesterday in contrary it was super busy with tons of activities and lots of people visiting. There were two hay mazes, a bouncy castle, pony rides, hay rides, a pumpkin patch, goat petting zoo, little baby chicks and calves nestled in a little hay-stall a carousel. It felt more like Oktoberfest then pristine farm – but was lots of fun none the less. We gathered at 3pm to set up, cheered with drinks at 4pm and had Leona open her lovely presents afterwards.

I had made cupcakes (with flour and sugar) but used the vegan frosting that i made the week before for Leona to take to school (waldorf mind you therefore sugar, dairy and gluten free). I used the babycakes recipy book and they turned out quite nice but resembled muffins more then cupcakes. For yesterday’s celebration i kept to the tried and trusted to be on the safe side before i continue to experiment with the alternative. And because this was Leona’s birthday and Andy doesn’t spare any cost for his little girl – i was able to pick up this beautiful black ceramic 3-piece cake stand at noun. I love this little shop that has just a lovely selection of beautiful finds.

Party favors for the kids

As party favors, we had created these customized name-bracelets inspired by Bead Simple. It was a very fun to make yet inexpensive treat as i snatched up the wooden beads from Knittn’Kitten for $0.50 the bag! Hurray!

Sewing Japanese – wardrobe challenge

After having tackled and finished all my ‘outdoor’ projects before the winter season starts – staining decks and staircases and beautifying our garden – i am more then eager to get back to my sewing machine. And because i just love my japanese sewing books so much, i have decided to put myself up for a wardrobe challenge – japanese style. Meaning i am committing to sew Leona’s and my entire winter wardrobe from either japanese patterns or japanese fabrics if i use other patterns.

Birthday Tunic

First up, a double whammy for Leona’s 2nd Birthday:
Fabric: Double Gauze Girly & Bitter by usuka by Kokka available online here and here.
Trim: lightweight denim for binding and pockets, yummy shank buttons found at Knittn’Kitten
Pattern: taken from Mama Girl Wardrobe ISBN978-4-8347-2691-6 but own interpretation