Halloween Costumes

For Halloween costumes this year we went with a Wreck-It Ralph theme because Thayne's favorite movie is Wreck-It Ralph and we just love the characters.  Our kids totally fit the parts.  Thayne was Wreck-It Ralph, Lena was Vanellope, and Landon was Fix-It Felix. 

Aaron and I kind of went with the theme because we were arcade game characters and they were in the movie for a second.  Anyway, we were pac man and a pac man ghost. We had a lot of fun with the costumes this year. I love Halloween.

Halloween clothes

I always love doing these kinds of holiday clothes for the kids and they had plenty of opportunities to wear them this year because there are so many fun Halloween activities.  

hold on handles

I've seen things similar to these but they are so expensive to buy.  So I came up with my own version.  The idea is to have something your kids can hold onto when you need your hands for something else so they don't wander off.  We've used them a few times and they work pretty well.  I'm glad I didn't spend the big bucks to buy any though because we don't use them very often.  It has been nice at amusement parks, zoos, and other big crowded places like that.

Baby gift

 My brother and his wife are going to have a baby girl in a couple of months.  So I got to make a baby gift for them.  I made a blanket and bib.  The chevron pattern is made from triangles.  This was my first attempt at it, so it is not perfect, but I learned a lot.  :)  And I think it is cute.  I can't wait to meet the little cutie they put in it.

Sewing for myself

I haven't made much for myself recently because it just isn't as fun as it was when I was thinner. But I love all the knits and maxi skirts and dresses that have been popular lately.  And I am a big fan of stripes.  So I bought a bunch of striped knits and made a dress and a skirt.  I have plans to make another dress and a shirt.  I just haven't gotten to it yet.

Easter clothes

For Easter this year I went all out. I made Lena a dress, Landon a vest and bow tie and Thayne a tie and suspenders.  I let Landon pick between him and his brother who got which kind of tie and who got suspenders or vest.  I think he was more excited to wear them because he had some say.  And of course Lena was thrilled to wear her pretty dress. I am very happy with how they turned out. 

Big Boy Pajamas

This kid has been growing out of his pajamas like crazy.  We have had to toss out 3 or 4 pair in the last few weeks.  So I whipped him up another set.  Other than almost putting a needle through my finger, it was a snap. haha  Luckily I just took off the very tip of my finger.  Landon is happy with his new jammies that actually fit. yay!

Twins outfit

I've always wanted a reason to make something for twins, but I've never known anyone who had twins, until now!  My friend had twins a couple months ago and I wanted to do something fun for them.  This is what I came up with.  I think it turned out pretty cute and I'll bet its even cuter on the babies!

Mommy and Me skirts

I've been working on these for about a year.  At first they were going to be mommy and me dresses.  I made the bodice for my dress and it didn't fit right, so I altered it and altered it and so on.  In the end it was beyond being fixed.  It took me a while to be okay with throwing it out, but eventually I did. Then I decided to start over and just make skirts.  They are a basic circle skirt - one layer of maroon fabric and one layer of black lace over it and a thick elastic waistband.  We both really enjoyed matching and got sweet compliments at church.  I love my little mini me.

Jammies

I really wanted to make jammies for Christmas Eve this year. It's a good thing they are quick and easy because I don't think I would've gotten to it otherwise.  The kids were thrilled and so was I.  Who doesn't love a new pair of jammies?!

Wonder Woman costume

For Halloween this year I didn't want to make all of our costumes, so we used a couple we already had and bought a couple others.  We decided to all be Justice League superheroes but I didn't have a costume and it is impossible to find an adult women's costume that doesn't look more like a swimsuit than clothing.  So I ended up making my wonder woman costume.  I used freezer paper to make a stencil and painted the logo on a shirt.  Then I used felt for the tiara, cuffs and belt.  The cape is no sew, just a piece of red fabric cut like a cape.  And the skirt is a simple circle skirt with white stars attached.  I thought it would be a pretty simple costume to make and it was, but it took quite a bit of time.

baby gifts

I've recently had occasion to do a few baby gifts (it seems like everyone is having babies right now).  This one is for our new nephew, Ford.  He was born yesterday and I still need to get the gift sent off, oops.  It was fun to use the Ford trucks and cars fabrics mixed with others.  I recently did a bib and burp cloth for a baby named Anchor and used nautical fabric with anchors on it.  It is so fun when they have a name you can go off of.  I really enjoy making baby gifts.  They are cute and quick and babies are so fun.

Young Women's Baby Blanket

The second counselor in our ward Young Women's Presidency is about to have a baby, so for an activity we all decorated squares for a baby blanket for her.  I prepared it and put it all together, but it has a little bit of love from all the Young Women.

Easter Dress

This is Lena's Easter dress. It seems like lately everything I make doesn't turn out the way it is supposed to, including this dress. I did the neck all wrong, oops. That is what happens when you get distracted 200 million times while trying to do it. At first I was very disappointed, but it is growing on me. And with it being made out of some of my all time, very favorite fabrics, how could I not like it. Plus it is big on her so she can (hopefully) wear it for a while!

Yellow Dress

This is another dress test pattern I did for peek-a-boo pattern shop. I am thinking of using it maybe for more of a swimsuit coverup or something.

small tote bag

This little tote bag was originally supposed to be a scripture bag, but it is a little too small. So it is just a little bag for Lena. She loves it, so I am kinda glad it turned out the way it did. I also think I learned a few things from making it, so if I tried again I could probably make a scripture bag. Maybe one of these days, if I get the time.

pink giraffe

One of my good friends who moved away last year is about to have her first girl! I wanted to send her something little and girly as a congratulations. These little stuffed toys are one of my favorite things to make for babies and since my friend really likes giraffes, it was perfect. I think it turned out really cute. I hope she and her new baby like it too.

Whales and Sailboats

This is the baby gift I did recently for my sister-in-law's baby due at the end of March. I made the blanket, lovey, ball and double sided bib. I love the whales and sailboats; they are some of the cutest baby flannels I have seen. I love the color too, it is more of an aqua blue than just baby blue. The white is the absolute softest fabric ever; so great for a baby. My cousin crocheted the adorable little toy. To see more from her click here.

The bib is double sided, here are both sides.

waves

whale

Ornaments for Primary

I have been trying to come up with something to give my primary class for Christmas this year. I've been thinking about it for weeks and nothing was working out. After searching for ideas again yesterday (Saturday) and not coming up with anything I about gave up. Then while lying in bed about to fall asleep I had this idea. That only gave me Sunday morning to make them (the only good thing about afternoon church), but I am glad I did it.

They are baby food jars turned into ornaments. I printed pictures of the nativity and mounted them on scrapbook paper and stuck them on one side, then printed out "My gift to Jesus" and mounted them and stuck them to the other side. Then I hot glued fabric and twine to the lids.

In class we talked about Christ's birth and then we talked about what we could give Jesus for his birthday. The kids had great answers. Some of them were "our love," "being a good example to others," "being kind to others," and "being good." Then we wrote on strips of red paper our gift or gifts and put them in the jars. And they took them home to hang on their trees.

Tree Skirt

I planned on making this much earlier in the season (I bought the supplies in October). But, better late than never.

I cut two pieces of fabric in circles as large as I could get. Then I cut small (6" diameter) circles out of the middle. I sandwiched them right sides together with the fringe in between and sewed them together. Then I turned them right side out and folded over the raw edges of the small circles and top stitched. It was very simple and didn't take very long. I like the way it looks under our tree. Now we just need to cover it with presents. :)