Baby Wearing

The more I research what's best for my children, the more I'm finding that the 'old' way of doing things is the way I like best. 100 years ago, we didn't have playpens and bouncy chairs; instead, women strapped their babies to themselves so they could continue working while caring for the child. Today, there are many who look at women who 'wear' their babies as some kind of hippy who doesn't want to conform to 'normal' motherhood. But what good reason can you give me for leaving my child while I get other things done?

When RJ was small, I had a sling to carry him in. With him snuggled close, I could wash and fold the laundry, start dinner, and write a blog - with both hands free! He loved being near me, and even slept most of the time he spent in the sling. Unfortunately, I ordered a size too big, and once I lost my pregnancy weight, it became too loose for him to sit in it comfortably. Since he was getting to be a heavier, more mobile child, I didn't bother to order a smaller one - we just adjusted our routine, and he was able to play independently while I worked.

This time, instead of a sling, I'm looking forward to wearing my child in a wrap. After some research (that I should have done before RJ), I found a simple tutorial here on how to make my own. Rather than spend upwards of $30, I can get all the fabric I need for about $10 and have a baby carrier tailored to our needs. This way, Baby can be near me at all times, and I'll still have a hand or two available to catch RJ. Plus, there are tons of YouTube videos with instructions on different ways to wear Baby depending on his age and our needs - I can even nurse him in it, which just might come in handy when the toddler doesn't want to sit still while Baby eats. I've yet to find a flaw with this plan, and as such have sewn a wrap for myself and one for my sister and her little girl. Now I just have to wait 4.5 more months to use it.

Naptime Crafting

There's a little boy around here who will be turning one soon, and is in need of a special birthday shirt. I found one I loved at Target, but it wasn't worth the $10 price tag when it looked simple enough to make myself. A little internet research yielded this tutorial, which - with a little tweaking - brought forth a Momma-made outfit for my birthday boy:

The "1" shirt came together so quickly and easily that I couldn't resist styling the other two onesies from the new pack. With Easter just around the corner, RJ needed a tie to wear for church, but I couldn't decided which type - so we have both a traditional necktie and a bow tie (because bow ties are cool).

Over the course of one nap time, I've managed to 'create' three new RJ shirts with time to spare. With a project this simple, you just might be seeing more of these types of shirts around here.

Baby Bibs

Today's project consisted of turning some simple dish cloths 

and printed fabric into new pocket bibs for RJ (and, later, Baby). 

I took photos as I went along:

 ...but as I finished the first one, I found a much better, easier way to do it:

Two bibs into the project, RJ decided he wasn't keen on the idea of me sitting at the table sewing instead of playing with him. I've got a couple more tweaks to make, but hopefully I'll be able to get a bunch done soon.

Quiliting - Take II

After two days and three trips to the craft stores, Baby Girl's quilt is finally finished!

We won't be seeing her until the end of May, so it will stay nice and safe (and away from RJ's 'helping') in my linen closet until it can be hand delivered.

For my first ever quilting project, I am pleasantly pleased. There were a few bumps along the way, but over all things came out very well. Enjoy, sweet girl!

Quilting - Take I

Alas, Baby Girl's quilt was not finished last night as I had hoped. She was born into this world with an unfinished project on my hands, but I intend to complete it post haste. However, a vital piece of the materials was unpurchased when the quilt was designed, so I must venture out to find it myself. Have no fear, little girl - Auntie will have a quilt for you when first we meet!

Baby Girl

Right now, my beautiful sister is fully engaged in the delivery of her daughter. And while we wait for news of Baby Girl, I quilt. This little girl will have a blanket lovingly made by her aunt on the day of her birth - if I can only  get it finished! 

Quilt

While we're here in Texas, we made a trip to Hobby Lobby with Auntie Anna for some quilting materials. She received a quilt top as a baby shower gift, and I offered to finish it for her - we just needed to pick up the rest of the materials. I've never actually quilted before, but this project looks to be fairly simple, so I'm hoping I can handle it. Stay tuned for updates.

Jeans Re-Do

Growing another baby means growing another baby belly. Said belly will no longer fit into my regular jeans, so it was time to pull out my stash of maternity clothes from when RJ was still in-utero. I dug through the pile of fabric to find my early pregnancy jeans [the ones my mother-in-law so graciously bought for me just after we found out we were a family of three] only to discover some severly worn areas in need of a little TLC ["tender love 'n' care", not "The Learning Channel"]. What to do? Iron-on patches would be too big and too visible, but what other option is there? And then I remembered a tutorial I stumbled on here. Since the early stage of this pregnancy will be over the spring and summer [and here in Mississippi it's already spring weather], revitalizing this sad pair of pants into a new skirt seemed like the perfect solution. Plus, I was already working with maternity pants, so I didn't even have to worry about adding the belly panel. Easy, scheasy.

I set to work ripping out the inseams, and before I knew it I was ready to put my sewing machine to good use. With some stopping and starting again [RJ doesn't always allow me to work a project all the way through in one sitting], my once un-wearable pants magically transformed into a rather fashionable skirt. Never before have I attempted to make [or in this case alter] clothing, but after this project I just might be more adventurous.

BEFORE

AFTER

Sewing

All three of my sisters, plus my mom, all have birthdays in February. With barely enough time to recover from Christmas, my dad, brother, and I usually go broke again when that second month of the year rolls around. This year, rather than purchase something to have sent to them, I'm making my gifts. They'll still need to be mailed, and since one sister's birthday has already passed and another's is tomorrow, it seems like my gifts will be a little late this year. But it's the thought that counts, right? And since I'm making different versions of the same thing for each of them, it's probably better that they all open their gifts at once anyway.

Here's a sneak peak of my supplies:

Can you guess what my project is?

Space Shirts

Using a method brought to my attention here and detailed here, I spiced spaced up a couple of Little Man's shirts this afternoon. It turned out to be a surprisingly simple (and inexpensive) project, and I think I just might have to repeat it once he grows into the next size.

Supplies included permanent acrylic paint, freezer paper, and sponges - that's it! Freezer paper adheres to fabric when ironed, thus creating a stencil for easy painting. I found a couple of images I liked, traced them onto the freezer paper, carefully cut them out with a box knife, and away we went. Anxiously awaiting his new aparel, Little Man was content to chew on some crackers while Momma worked. An enjoyable afternoon project, costing about $5. 

Final product: two space-themed silhouettes to adorn my future explorer.

Paci Clips

Little Man has taken to throwing his paci when he thinks he doesn't need it anymore, and then crying for it less than 2 minutes later. When he was about a month old, my mom bought him a paci clip - that tiny piece of ribbon saved my life. No longer was a searching for his much-needed comfort while he screeched in my ear. But recently we stopped using the clip, as the velcro which held it to the paci loop began to loosen, causing the whole thing to periodically come undone and sending the paci to the floor. As this would just not do, I set out to find a solution, and came upon some tutorials on sewing them at home.

Rather than spend >$5 on a piece of ribbon on a suspender clip, I spent <$10 on materials and made 5 of my own - plus a longer one, without a clip, that attaches to the side of the car seat. Less than an hour later, I have the convenience of [nearly] always being able to find a paci when I need it. Plus, I have plenty of ribbons left, so I can make more anytime we [or anyone else] need(s) them.

Click the above photo for step-by-step images of the project.

New Year, New Camera, New Blog

As a combination Christmas present from my gracious parents and my darling husband, this year brought me a new camera. Not the one we opened when they were here, as you may have thought - as it turns out, there were some glitches with the memory, and it needed to be returned. Instead of replacing it, my parents decided to donate the cash to our fund for a more professional camera [as a prior portrait photographer with Lifetouch, and an 'advanced amateur', I prefer a camera with a few more 'bells & whistles' than the average point & shoot]. Added to the amount Husby wanted to put towards my gift, we had enough to purchase the model I've had my eye on for a while now. Arriving last night, it has already been tested and assessed - and has passed inspection with flying colors. Finally, we can return the two cameras we've borrowed from my family, as we now have our own way of immortalizing special events and occasions - as well as the mundane, everyday activities of life with my boys.

To commemorate both a new camera and a new year - one which we pray is filled with joy - I've taken on a second blog. While this one is for daily anecdotes about our life and the [many] adventures it brings, the new one is a photo blog, a place where I can post images in an environment more suited for viewing. Even with this new publishing medium, the quantity of images posted here is unlikely to diminish. I've merely given myself the opportunity to post a larger selection of photographs [both in size and quantity], in an effort to flex my photographer's muscles.

Through a Mother's Lens

Welcome, 2011 - we're ready for whatever adventures you may bring. But be warned, there will be photographic evidence ...

Star Power

Continuing with our Nintendo Onesies theme, 

Little Man models the Super Mario Brothers' 

Power-Up Star for your enjoyment today. 

Is it boastful of me to show off both my incredibly adorable child and

madly impressive onesie-personalization skills in one post? 

Hey, it's my blog ... I'm allowed to post whatever I like, aren't I?

1Up

Anyone who's ever played Super Mario Brothers [Husby certainly qualifies] knows that the 1Up Mushroom gives you an extra life. Thus, when we were choosing 8-bit images to be cross-stitched onto onesies for our bun-in-the-oven, Husby was adamant that it be included - we were, after all, bringing another life into the world. How much more appropriate does it get? And doesn't it fit our Little Man just perfectly?

Son of a Gamer

While I was pregnant, I designed some 'additions' to a few onesies for Little Man. I didn't want him to by-pass them too quickly as he grew (we were expecting him to be 9lbs at birth, so I wasn't sure how much wear the Newborn and 0-3month sizes would get), so I chose a 6-9month size onto which to stitch them. He's just growing into them, and I couldn't wait to get photos of him with his Daddy. This one is at the top of Husby's favorites list:

Yes, that's an NES controller on his front.

You can see more of my "Baby Projects" here, but don't judge ... 

not all of them are finished just yet ...

A Finished Doll

Here she is! At long last, Miss Rag Doll is all dressed up - but with nowhere to go, at least for now. Her current employment consists of gracing my sewing table with her beauty, while she waits for a "mommy" to love her. In the mean time, Little Man is enjoying having someone else near his size.

Maximum Hugabliity

Slightly more than two hours of work later, here she is! [Those 2+ hours were spread out over the last couple of days, since Little Man decided that nap time should only last 30 minutes, three times a day ... not Momma's idea.] 

Instead of mearly following the directions [how boring!], I added seaming along the joints of her 'shoulders' and 'hips', allowing her to bend much easier, thus reaching her maximum potential for hugging. Sadly, she remains 'naked' for the time being, since Little Man has once again required my attention. Her dress and hair ties should be joining her in the next few days.

Rag Dolls

Today, I'm scoring Cool Points in the Auntie category. Why, you ask? Because I'm making rag dolls for my nieces. Nieces, plural, you ask? [My, you're inquisitive today!] Yes, plural - my sweet little sister is expecting a lovely little one in April. What better preparation for a new life than a new doll? Exactly what I said. [Plus, I'm sure my three-year-old niece would love a new dolly for her next birthday.]

I found a preprinted pattern on clearance, and thought I would give her a shot. I'm also making my own pattern from this one, so as to be able to personalize each doll to best fit her 'mommy'. So far, things are going together fairly well; I am hopeful that the end result might actually be snuggle-able. 

2 yards of fabric, printed with doll, dress, hair ties and instructions.

We are to assume our project will end up looking something like this.

Doll body, cut and laid right-sides-together, ready for sewing.

Dress & liner, with hair ties, ready to be sewn.

To be continued ...

Creativity

Lately, my creative bones have been aching to see some action. They were, admittedly, a little worn out after making an entire person, but after 7 months of recuperation, they're ready to get back in the game. 

Enter Grandma's Sewing Machine.

My Grandma passed her old machine down to my Mom many years ago when she updated to a better, newer model. My Mom, having never been much for sewing, let it rest on a shelf in her closet until I asked to borrow it. "Borrow?" she asked. "You could take it with you, if you'd like." And instantly, I yearned to be a seamstress.

Problem: I have zero training and/or skills when it comes to sewing. 

Solution: the World Wide Web, and a Grandma with a cell phone.

After a quick tutorial from the original owner [I'm so lucky to have her on speed-dial!] over things like proper  threading techniques and tightening stitches, I was all set up and ready to tackle a new project. Finding myself in need of supplies [thread, straight pins, etc.], I packed up Little Man and headed to the store.

While purchasing straight pins, I realized that a pin cushion would be ideal. I nearly grabbed a tomato cushion [owned by every upstanding seamstress I know], but balked at the $5 price tag. Couldn't I just make my own? Indeed, with a $0.43 piece of felt and a little of the stuffing I needed to get for another project anyway, I came up with this:

a pin-pillow, holding 80 pins, and ready for use.

And with that, everything is all set up and I'm ready to get creating!

[Technically, this seat cushion slip-cover was my first project, 

but not being in (or for) my own home, we're only sort-of counting it.]