Bonnie
Upcycled Diaper (and Trainer) Swap
This was so much fun! I participated this month in an “Upcycled” Diaper Swap on a sewing moms board where I post regularly. The object was to create a diaper (or trainer, cover, etc.) for our swap partner that was made completely of recycled materials.
My swap partner told me that she would love trainers for her toddler son, and she said that he loves Sesame Street. So, I set out to find something SS that I could recycle into trainers. I scoured thrift stores, consignment shops, resale stores. I posted on my local homeschool yahoo group. I even looked at EBay. And, I found nothing! Then, I walked into a friend’s home for a church meeting one Sunday night and saw her 3-year-old daughter wearing an Elmo shirt. I said, “I need that shirt!” jokingly, of course, and explained why I needed it. She disappeared a few minutes later and came back with the shirt! (Thank you, Rachel! You’re the best!) I feel a little like I stole it right off of her child’s back. LOL!
Here’s the shirt:
And, the resulting trainers:
The rest of the swap is not nearly as interesting. Here are the things I started with:
Two used cotton knit receiving blankets and a cotton stretch terry baby towel . . .
. . . made one more pair of trainers . . .
. . . and a medium Fattycakes fitted diaper for my swap partner’s infant daughter.
The package that I received from my swap partner was amazing. Here’s what she sent to me! Two NB Hippy Hippy Snap fitteds (for the little one we’re expecting) and four wipes made out of recycled t-shirts. I absolutely love the simplicity of the t-shirt fitteds! I want to make some more.
And, a small wool Seraphim Soaker that she frogged from an Everlasting Wondersoaker and re-crocheted.
An Organized Christmas
Yes, I know, it may be a little early to be thinking about Christmas, but pregnancy puts me in a cleaning and decluttering mode. I should take some pics of the stuff that we cleaned out of storage closet earlier this week for you. We’ve been in this house for less than three years, and I’m amazed at how much clutter has built up. I feel like I need to get a handle on it before it takes over!
An online friend mentioned The Organized Christmas Holiday Grand Plan to me, and I think it looks awesome. It gives you an area of your house to clean out and organize each week, along with plans to get Christmas gifts, food, etc. done in advance. Next week, August 30th to September 5th, is Front Porch and List Week.
I’ll blog about my progress, and would love to have others join me. Anyone else want to have a clean, clutter-free home by Thanksgiving?
And just to get you in the Christmas mood . . . a sweet picture of my children from last Christmas:
Aren’t they cute? (And, wow, Jamie’s hair was really long!)
A New Pattern
Things have been busy here, but I’ve squeezed in a little time to work on a new pattern. My excitement over sewing for our new little one just might have given me a little motivation! The pattern went out to my talented team of testers a few days ago. Here a few things that I’ve sewn up with it:
A Very Special Quilt
A very sweet online friend lost her baby during childbirth a few months ago. A number of mamas on the board where we post wanted to do something to bring her some comfort during this difficult time. We all sew, so the decision to make her a quilt was obvious. Each mama sewed a block (or several blocks). Some mamas were experienced quilters, some were sewing their first ever quilt block. Each block was sewn with an incredible amount of love and prayer for the mama the quilt is going to. I really think the end result is just beautiful. And, I was honored to get to piece it all together.
The whole quilt:
Closeup of the block that I put together for the quilt:
My Favorite Superheroes!
What sewist has watched The Incredibles and not thought, “Edna Mode has the coolest job, dahling . . . “? Hee-hee! There’s nothing quite like sewing for superheroes, and I got to sew for my own two superheroes this week!
My middle two headed off to camp on Thursday morning where they’re having a superhero costume contest. They’ve been working on their costume designs for at least the last month. (Of course, mom waited until two days before camp to start sewing and was up at 5:00 a. m. Thursday morning finishing up the pants.) The outfits were totally designed by the superheroes themselves! I just did the sewing part, with plenty of consulting to make sure that I did them the right way.
First up is Star Streak. His outfit is mostly black and purple with “webbing” under the arms and a special pouch on his belt that holds stars that he apparently tosses out at . . . um . . . the bad guys, I think? He also has a cape despite Edna’s warnings. We’re pretty sure he won’t confront any jet engines at camp.
Next is Fireflight. Her outfit is lime green and black. (The top is a modified Miss Madeline). She really wanted wings, so my dear hubby, upon finding me on the verge of a nervous breakdown late Wednesday night, went online, figured out how to make her wings, took off to Walmart to buy the stuff and came up with perfect wings. The wings snap on and off of the back of the shirt. The pants that were supposed to be capris turned out a little long, but by the time I discovered it, I just didn’t have time to shorten them. Samantha . . . I mean Fireflight . . . doesn’t seem to mind.
My favorite superheroes ready to battle for truth, justice and plenty of fun at camp.
First Baby Pictures
We got to see our new little one this afternoon, and it was such a blessing. It’s so amazing that at just 12 weeks, she or he has arms, legs, fingers, toes . . .
Potty-Learning Time is Near!
Jamie’s been really interested in using the potty for awhile, but things have been crazy the past few months between travel and morning sickness. I was finally able to finish up a stash of trainers for him, though, and we’re ready to get started learning to use the potty.
Jamie was very excited about mama sewing him new undies. He helped pick out the fabrics, and he showed them off to the whole household as I finished each one.
All spread out:
Stacked up pretty:
And, um, modeled, sort of. Jamie says his new undies give him “superhero muscles!”
I used the pattern that I use for Fishsticks & Jam trainers for these, but it’s very similar to my Little Fishies Undies pattern.
Rainy Day Fun
What’s the best way to spend a rainy day?
An empty box can be lots of fun!
What’s an even better thing to do with the empty box when your big brother who’s been stuck inside with you all day just won’t stop bugging you?
Why put him in the box and ship him off somewhere, of course!
Quick, Mom! Call the mailman!
4th of July Fun and Allen’s Birthday!
I have fallen really behind on updating my blog. Morning (all-day) sickness has been controlling most everything around here. Just a few more weeks until it should be subsiding . . .
We had a wonderful 4th of July with over 100 people here for our third annual Fourth with the Fergusons Celebration.
It was a slightly warm day.
We played and ate and enjoyed some great fellowship.
We even got to sing Happy Birthday to Jamie’s friend, Emma!
The 5th is Allen’s birthday, and we enjoyed a quiet dinner with birthday cake for him. He’s been promised a Lego party with some of his friends when mama’s feeling a little better.
Toddler Clothing Swap
Remember these fabrics?
It was so much fun to take what would normally be considered a “boy” fabric and make it girly. Here’s the whole set:
The top is a modified version of the Itty Bitty Baby Dress from Made by Rae. I increased the size to 3T, shortened it to make it tunic length and added the ruffle at the bottom. The bottoms are my own AJ Bottoms Shorts lengthened slightly to fall just below the knee with the added ruffle.
I also heard that the little one I was sewing for is just starting to use the potty so I sewed up a few F&J Trainers for her, too.
