More fabric, a fun idea and fear leaving the body...

I went back to the fabric store last night to get more of what I needed so I can start the girls' things. I came across the most adorable little bundle of fat quarters. (A fat quarter is 1/4 yard of fabric, but instead of being cut straight across from the bolt, which would be 9" x the width of the fabric, it is cut in an 18"x22" rectangle. Quilters use them a lot.) Anyhow, I don't know why I had to have this little bundle, I am not a huge fan of cows or anything, and I have never tried quilting, but I just thought it was so adorable. Five fabrics, the one on the left is black with tiny white polka dots, the faded stripe, cow print, pink gingham and the cows. Isn't it cute?? Now I just need to figure out what to do with it. Maybe I will try a quilt, who knows. (I did have a coupon, so I got it for half off, that makes it better.)

I also decided on a color for another skirt for me. (the one on the left) I am going to do another of the floor length tiered skirts (after the other stuff is done). It is a gauzy fabric, with a silver sparkle thread running through it. Hopefully it will turn out fun. As I was adding that fabric to the other new fabric, I realized that it coordinates very nicely with some fabric I just bought for Maggie and Cassie. That is when inspiration hit me! There were other fabrics in the same shades of blue that would be more appropriate for Nate. I am going to get some and do shirts for Nate and Lino, so we can do an updated Von Trapp photo! Won't that be fun? A white shirt for my skirt, and the shirts and khaki shorts for Lino and Nate and the girls' dresses? I am excited, and luckily Lino is willing to humor me. I will definitely post updates to that. (wait until I tell him, unless he reads it here today at work!)

Here is the Von Trapp photo. Nate was about 9 months, so the girls were 3 1/2.

As for fear leaving the body, I am on Day 2 of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred video. (That is one of the things she tells you about the burning pain you feel when you are doing the exercises, that it is fear leaving the body...) I am sooo out of shape, however, today's was a smidge easier than Day 1. I am not a huge fan of exercise. I don't have the patience for it. If I do crunches, I want immediate results, and that doesn't happen. I am determined, though, to finally lose the baby weight (although, can it really be called that now that the girls are 6 and Nate is 3?)

I think it would be divine if I could get down to what I was when Lino and I got married (125) but I would be happy with 130-135. I checked today and I am ::gulp:: 156. Yikes. Although, I have lost 10 pounds since Nate stopped nursing, and I really want to do this. I am not happy with being 156, so I will force myself to do this, every day.

So, there it is. It is out there, giving me more inspiration to follow through. I don't want you all to see me fail. I don't think I am brave enough for before pictures, but I did take measurements. I just hope to start seeing results soon.

Fun fabric!

I bought some new fabrics the other day. I didn't have a set plan for them, I just thought they would make cute things. I sat down with my patterns the other night to figure out what I will make....I need to get more of some of it. I can't wait to start sewing it all! I think I am going to do it all in stages: trace and cut all the patterns, cut all the fabric, then sew it all. It is going to be dresses and shirts and shorts for Maggie and Cassie. I am keeping my eyes out for cute shirt fabric for Nate. (He is too big for jon jons now :( .... I love jon jons on little boys! )

Sewing today!

It feels like it has been a while since I sewed anything. I am going to see how much I can get done today. I cut a skirt pattern (for me!) and the fabric yesterday. I also cut some etsy stuff yesterday.

I would also like to cut the pattern and fabric for a dress for Maggie and Casssie and a jon jon for Nate.

We shall see!

Nearly completed jammies! (with pictures)

Had a great sewing day yesterday, and the jammies are almost finished. I need to get more elastic and drawstring for the waistbands and once I have that, I can hem the legs and finish them! Everything went together smoothly (which is always nice) I did discover, though, that the childrens sizing on the pattern runs big. The pattern just had sizing, 2, 3/4, 5/6 so I went with 5/6. So, when I had the girls test try theirs on, they are long...very long. I opted not to take them apart and cut them down a size, I figure, it is an easy fix now and they will be able to wear them for a few years! I was a bit surprised that it ran that big. Most of my patterns size by measurements (chest, waist, etc)

Some pictures of Nate's pair:

Here is the fabric cut, with the pattern still on. I cut 2 pieces at the same time, being careful as the print on the fabric has a top and bottom! This is such a nice fabric to work with, it is a good weight.

Next, you fold and pin each leg, with the right side of the fabric facing in. I pinned both sections first, and then sewed next.

A close up of the seam allowance: (5/8th of an inch, in case any one is curious !) This picture doesn't show it, but I did another stitch (double seam), probably at 3/8ths in.


This next picture shows how easy making pants is! You turn one leg right side out, then put it inside the wrong side out leg. Line up your seams and pin together.


Here they are, sewn together in a double seam. The first is at 5/8th, the second is probably 3/8th.


Pull one leg out from the other:



Turn rightside out. All that is left is the casing on the waistband and hemming the legs. Nate wasn't in the mood to try them on and be measured, so I put the other 4 pairs together!

Fun, right? Lino even suggested that if I can get them done soon, we could have our picture taken in them for our Christmas cards! Can't wait!

Jammies

After our fun adventure in Target on Saturday, we went to Joann's. I love the fabric store. (I love it even more when Lino is with me to watch the kids, or when I can go by myself!!) The purpose of our trip was to pick out fabric for Christmas jammies. Maggie spotted some she liked, and tried to describe it. We wandered around the holiday fabric section for 10 minutes before Lino spotted it. Sparkly, sheer striped fabric; not quite jammies!

So, we looked at some more, and then found a good one that we all like! We wound up getting the whole bolt (8 yards and a few inches)

I also found some super cute bear fabric for a project!

Now I just have to cut and sew it all to gether for our family Christmas jammies. The fabric is just for pants, we will have white tshirts that I will paint? or somehow decorate Similar to last years for the kids:

Those were from fabric I had in my stash. I had enough to make pants for the girls and the top and pants for Nate. Green background with white snowmen heads. I was able to paint the snowmen heads on the girls' shirts. They picked the scarf colors. Green for Maggie and pink (surprise!) for Cassie.