so long for now

So.

Maybe you have noticed, but I haven't been around much since Christmas.  I've been drafting this post for a long time, trying to come up with an acceptable list of reasons I'm putting the breaks on this blog, but haven't had the courage to actually publish it.  Besides, it is boring.

Here is the short version:  I took a little break from blogging this winter and felt nothing but relief.  I'm not sick, not pregnant, don't have major life changes on the horizon.  What I do have are three small, exuberant children who demand all the time and attention as I have to offer.  As much as I love blogging, something's gotta give.

For the past 7 years, I have really enjoyed being your crafty friend!  I'll still be sewing my brains out, I just won't be taking as much time to write about it.  You can see all my most current projects and pictures of some of the cutest kids on earth on Instagram (my username is homemadebyjill).   I know everyone does not use instagram, so I installed a photo widget here in the blog sidebar - check it out to my latest photos (you can click on them to see it bigger).

Even though I won't be here regularly, I do reserve the right to throw a post out here any time I like.  :)  That means when I finish Ruby's super awesome princess birthday party in July, you will be sure to see some pictures.

I hope someday return to a regular blogging schedule!  It may be a year or more, but I'm sure absence will make the heart grow fonder.  Until then, keep crafting, internet friends!

love,
Jill

kids clothes week wrap-up

See that big pile of kid clothes?  I need a nap.

I was going to try to get some photos of last night's clothes in action, but I was informed by my children that I "have enough pictures."   I figured it was time to wrap this week of sewing madness up.  The baseball tee and circle skirt are for Ruby and the sun hats are for Cora.

Cora is my fair child, so it is really handy that she loves to wear hats.  I used Oliver + S's free bucket hat pattern and widened the brim a la A Little Gray.

All in all, I made 25 garments during Kids Clothes Week.  Two items pictured here were sewn ahead of time, but I also made two things not pictured for my nephew's birthday this week.

The name of the game for me was mass production.  I stuck with simple patterns, not a lot of embellishing, and no complicated closures - elastic and stretch knits all the way!  Thank you to my serger and double needle ... I couldn't have done it without you guys.  There are still a few things on my list to make, but I think it is time to slow down the pace.

I'm not sure what inspired the sewing frenzy, because I don't usually get so carried away with Kids Clothes Week.  But both Oscar and Ruby were actually in need of new clothes, so it is nice that they have lots of items to mix and match.

Hope you have enjoyed my whirlwind posts! If you want to see what I've made for Kids Clothes Week in the past, click HERE, or check out my kcwc label (located in the Labels section of the sidebar).

baseball twirl dress and knit parsley shorts

I've been up so late for so many nights in a row, I don't even know what to say about these clothes!  I love Oscar's baseball tee, so I made one for Ruby and then decided to slap a circle skirt on it at the last minute.

She liked it.

Oooh, twirly!  Ruby said I should make "more and more and more dresses!"

For Oscar, I made a pair of Parsley Pants pattern shorts, but tried it out in interlock knit.  These were also a hit for the comfort factor.

I also made this kind of wacky striped tee, but I'm not sure if I like it.  I think the sleeves would look better in a raglan rather than set-in style and the shoulders want to sit just a little funny.  Of course that means this one is "his favorite."

I had one last wild night of sewing last night, so I'll have one more Kids Clothing Week post with new garments and a recap tomorrow.  If I can keep my eyes open, that is.

Baseball Tee and a Geranium/Fashback Hybrid

I think baseball tees are my new favorite style of shirt.  I've always liked the look, but didn't realize how fast they are to make! I used Jess's Raglan Tee Tutorial to adapt the Banyan Tee pattern I've been using this week.  It is Oscar's new favorite.  The shorts are the Parsley Pants basic pattern, which I blogged about earlier.

For Ruby, I created an easy cap-sleeve top pattern by layering the front bodice from the Geranium Dress on top of the Flashback Skinny Tee pattern piece.  Since I was refashioning an Old Navy clearance shirt for the fabric, I just used the original shirt hem.  This was easily the fastest shirt I have every made!

I also made Ruby another pair of Bubble Pocket Shorts.  I can't tell you how much I like this pattern - perfection!  It makes the cutest shorts known to man.

This next top isn't for Kids Clothes Week.  Cora was just really cute today.  :) I mean, come on ... that hair!  I did make the shirt though, almost a year ago.  It was more of a tunic length originally, but still fits as a pretty cute little shirt.

And finally, I just had to document some sisterly love, since it is most rare at our house.  I see more smacks to the face and kicks between these two, so I have to savor it when hugging happens.

snow white tee and a sweet dress

I'm still plugging away at Kids Clothes Week.  Like I mentioned before, I wanted to make Ruby a Snow White t-shirt to go with her yellow shorts (are you sick of seeing those yet?).

I used the same fabrics and method as the Snow White t-shirt dress from last summer, just zig zag stitching the details onto the shirt.  Ruby was very pleased!  I used Made by Rae's Flashback Skinny Tee pattern, but puffed the sleeves a bit.  You can't really see it, but the sleeves have a dark blue band at the bottom to match the bodice.

Then I did make something for Cora, after all.  After seeing Jess's cute peasant dress, I used Leila & Ben's Sweet Dress pattern to whip out this festive number.  The fabric is Michael Miller Spa Scallop.  I la-love it, and need to make a tote bag or something with it asap.

salty and sweet tees

Congratulations to the My Interactive Book of Mormon Stories Giveaway winners - The Henrich Family, Whitney and Brad, and Colette!  I'll be in touch about your prize.

Ruby is a real funny kid. I sewed up a couple t-shirts for her to wear with the yellow bubble pocket shorts, and the two shirts speak to both sides of her little personality.

First, Ruby is part tomboy.  She loves to run and climb, dig in the dirt, get disheveled.  I made this henley style shirt by refashioning an old maternity shirt.  And since I was able to reuse the old neckline and hems on the shirt sleeves, I was able to whip this out in like 30 minutes!  Score.

On the flip side, Ruby loves all the girly stuff.  She wants princess hair and painted nails and it is her life's mission to pick every yellow sour grass flower in southern California.  For the second tee, I added a strip of stretch lace I've had in my stash forever and puffed the sleeves a bit.

Ok, the girly side only lasts so long...

Both shirts were made using Made by Rae's Flashback Skinny Tee pattern, but I went up a couple sizes for a looser fit (I want all these clothes to last a while!).

p.s. did you hear that the Parsley Pant Pattern was officially released?  I can't recommend it enough!

shorts!

Both Oscar and Ruby are in serious need of bottom-half clothing, so shorts were toward the top of my Kids Clothes Week list.

After Jessica posted a pair of Bubble Pocket Shorts, I instantly bought the pattern from Elegance and Elephants and got to work.  I haven't been this proud of a garment in a long time - they are SO cute!  And they are much more simple to put together than they look.  I've had to market these to Ruby as "Snow White Shorts," since they are not in her preferred color palate (pink, pink, and more pink!).

The plan is to make a casual princess tee just like the one at Crafterhours to complete the outfit and provide relief to her poor Snow White dress that has been worn to death.  Also, I want to make a million more pairs of these shorts.  Have I mentioned that I love them?

For Oscar, I made three pairs of shorts using Made by Rae's soon-to-be-released Parsley Pants Pattern.  The big gingham and crazy animal print shorts are just the quick, basic pattern ... no frills.  For the plaid, I chose the flat front and pouch pocket options.

Last night I also cut fabric for 3 t-shirts, and have plans for at least two more shirts and a dress (who needs sleep, right?).  Oh, and a bucket hat.  I probably should sew something for Cora.  :)  (Don't feel bad for her ... she has clothes coming out her ears.)

P.S. Today is the last day to enter the Interactive Book of Mormon Stories Vol. 2 Giveaway!

The Anywhere Dress

Oooh, I love this little dress.  Andrea from Go To Patterns sent me The Anywhere Dress pattern to try out, and it got added right away to my Kids Clothes Week list.

I wasn't sure how this slim-and-straight style of dress would fit Ruby, but it is pretty stinking cute.  The pattern was super easy to sew (took less than 2 hours start to finish, including cutting), and confession - this was my first time doing a neck facing.  Turns out that's no biggie.

This is the 3T size, cut to the size 5 length.  Even with the few extra inches, I'm going to have to work on teaching this girl how to sit like a lady (or sew up some boy shorts to go underneath).  At dinner last night she just hiked the whole dress up to her waist so she could sit with her knees up.  Classy!

When I asked Ruby what she liked about the dress, she said, "this pink, and this pink," pointing to the two shades.  What can I say ... the girl loves pink.  I snatched up a few yards of this knit at JoAnn's the minute I saw it, because I knew it would be a big hit.

So there you have it ... a dress you can really "go anywhere" in.  I like it with sneakers and think it would be equally cute with some nice sandals for church.  And with the pattern going up to size 12, this is a dress Ruby will see in her wardrobe for years to come.

Banyan Tees

For Kids Clothes Week day two, I present to you a few Banyan Tees.  I really love this easy t-shirt and tunic pattern by Figgy's.  It is a cinch to sew up, and the fit is cuuute.

For Ruby, I made the girl's handkerchief hem version of the tee, and used a fun sequin fabric for the pocket.  I actually made this ahead of time, and of course when she wore it over the weekend for the first time it instantly got stained the front.  Grrr.  Oxyclean to the rescue!

Oscar is sorely in need of some wardrobe basics, so I whipped up two boy's tees and he'll probably get a few more.  In the past I've stuck almost exclusively to Made by Rae's Flashback Skinny Tee pattern (which is wonderful, and I love), but it is kind of nice to switch things up a bit.  The Banyan Tee is definitely a looser fit, so the style is totally different.  Good to have options.

The grey knit was a steal at the FIDM Scholarship Store in LA for only $1 a yard - score!  It is nice and thick and so very soft.

Ok, this last one is my favorite - I copied the Banyan Tee pattern picture as best I could with the multi-directional stripes.  I bought a bunch of this knit at Michael Levine's in LA for just $3/yard and it is SO soft and comfy.  I have it in blue and green stripes, too.  It might be a little much to sew up three of the same shirt in different colors, but that's how much I like this style.

Here's where things get sad.  Within hours of giving Oscar the awesome striped shirt, he CHEWED through the pocket.  argh.  He's not typically a clothes chewer, so I was not prepared and my head nearly exploded on the spot.  Luckily the holes just went through the pocket and not the shirt front, so I'll just make a new one.  And hey, it gives me the opportunity to sew the next pocket on straight.  Don't you just love "opportunities?"

My Interactive Book of Mormon Stories Vol. 2 (Giveaway Closed)

*Double post today!  See Oscar's new Parsley Pants in my first day of Kids Clothes Week post below.*

Back in February, I introduced you to My Interactive Book of Mormon Stories, Volume 1.   My kids have enjoyed their book so much (to the point of arguing over it), I'm pleased to share that Volume 2 is now available!

* Watch for the Old Testament and New Testament volumes to be released later this year!

This Book of Mormon for Children is a PDF that you print and create for your own family. It is easy to make - no sewing, or hours of coloring.  All the hard work is done!  Simply print, laminate and attach pieces.

There are 9 stories in Volume 2:

1. The Anti-Nephi-Lehies

2. Captain Moroni

3. The Stripling Warriors

4. Samuel the Lamanite

5. Signs of Christ's Birth

6. Signs of Christ's Death

7. Jesus Visits America

8. The Brother of Jared

9. Moroni Buries the Plates

Volume 2 includes stories from the second half of the Book of Mormon, telling the stories from the Prophets in a fun, interactive way.  It is wonderful as a quiet activity in Sacrament Meeting, and can also be a valuable tool in Family Home Evening or Primary lessons, or just a fun book for your kids to read.

Check out the demonstrative video on YouTube to see Volume 2 in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSGIlY8n09E

Volume 1:

Want to make a set for your family?  The creator, Natalie Severts, is giving away 3 copies of the PDF combo pack - volumes one and two!  See the entry guidelines below for your chance to win. 


Can't wait to get started?  Use the code HOMEMADE now through April 27th to receive 10% off your order of My Interactive Book of Mormon Stories.

• For a chance to win a pdf copy of My Interactive Book of Mormon Stories, simply leave a comment.  Check out the book in the Etsy shop or watch the YouTube video and give Natalie some feedback.  What do you think of the book?  What is your child's favorite scripture story?  What would you like to see in an interactive scripture book?

• For one extra entry (for a total of 2 entries per person only), PIN My Interactive Book of Mormon on Pinterest, then please leave separate comment telling me you've done so.

• Anonymous comments will be ignored.  Please make sure I have a way of contacting you if you're the winner!

• This giveaway is open until midnight, Thursday, April 26th, and a winner will be chosen randomly and announced on Friday, April 27th.