simple sewing for baby

simple sewing for baby
24 easy projects for newborns to toddlers
by: lotta jansdotter

i cannot wait to get my hands on this book from the library! what a cutie pie on the cover! take a peek over at lotta's website here for lots of goodies. it's nice to see a sewing book for kids of this age by an author who is actually a new mother.

i get a kick out of the bookends shown below. i luv a little monster, especially a stuffie. that grin reminds me of mackenzie when she's getting into mischief, which is more often than not.


what book can't you wait to get your hands on?

mommyhood moments - beach storms & a buttercup bag

mackenzie and i decided to venture down to the beach to throw some stones and collect some driftwood for our deck. while we had no luck in the driftwood department, we did get a glimpse at the cutest mom and about 6 baby ducks, floating on a very windy and wavy ocean trying to get the heck away from what appeared to be a hungry seagull. for the record, i hate seagulls. i once saw one kill a pigeon in mid-air and have been frightened of them ever since.

we managed to get in some picture time before heading under our blanket when the winds really picked up and the sky darkened. don't you just love a storm blowing in on the ocean? it's the smell, i can't get enough of that smell.

while we were there we also took some pics of my mother's day gift to myself - a new purse. i made it using "the buttercup bag" tutorial by "made by rae". i was drawn to this purse pattern firstly, for it's buttons (luv), and secondly, for the fact that it looked easy and required only a tiny bit of interfacing. i heart this bag and because i am a newbie sewer this was my very first purse and my first time doing pleats. i think it turned out great! my hubby thinks i'm nuts because i keep wearing it around the house just oohing and ahhing over it, but you guys understand right - the sheer adoration of a project you actually found the time to complete and didn't mess up? the need to shout "it's usable, it's usable and i made it" out the window?

have any of you made the "buttercup bag" yet? what project are you ooohing and ahhing over?

notes from the mommyhood - date night lowdown

{image: moriza}

one of the most important things that my hubby and i have instilled in our marriage since having mackenzie is date night. it sounds sad, i know, to book a date with your husband, but when you have busy schedules and little ones running around it's an important factor in keeping that relationship outside of your children alive.

we try to have date night once a month. it doesn't always work out as planned and we have had many adventures (good and bad) on our date nights, but we always find the time. date night doesn't have to be on the weekend or at night either. we try to work them in around my sister's schedule, who we are lucky enough to have watch mack for us, and we enjoy going out together, sans baby, no matter what the day or time. the important thing is we are out, alone, together, with NO BABY! find a time that works for you. once a week, twice a month, every second month, it doesn't matter, finding the time to spend together is what does.

{image: hamed parham}

if that sounds mean to some of you, i'm sorry. i am a stay at home mom and sometimes that date night is the only time out of the entire month, yes, the entire month that i get a few hours without my child. it would drive any sane mom to the brink. i need that time, as much as i love my daughter, to be me, not mommy for a few hours. to feel attractive and fun, and to have a decent adult conversation with the love of my life not about mack's bowels or sleep habits - as interesting as those can be.

we have a rule on our date nights. we don't talk about mackenzie. it's hard, trust me on that one. have you ever tried to go for a few hours without talking about your kids? it's pretty tricky and we don't always pull it off, but we try. she is, after all, a huge part of our lives, but so are my husband and i to each other. i find that sometimes it is about putting value on your relationship as a couple as well as being good parents. we become so encompassed by pleasing our children and trying to excel at being good moms and dads that we forget to be good husbands and wives alone as well. it takes work to make a marriage healthy and strong. the word work might turn you off, but that's what it is. we work at everything we do. staying healthy, happy, keeping our homes tidy, pleasing our children, our hobbies, our gardens, so why not our relationships with our partners?

{image: ferran}

just give it a shot, sit down and broach the subject with your loved one the next time you have 30 seconds before falling asleep exhausted and see what their reaction is. odds are they will be thrilled with the idea of not seeing you in your sweatpants and nagging about helping out around the house and about getting some time alone with you. find something you both enjoy doing and go do it. it doesn't have to be the typical date either, you don't have to go see a movie. our next date is to go play tennis and have a picnic at the beach. sound romantic to you? maybe not, but to us it's heaven.....and we will relish every precious minute of it.

do you have date night with your partner? what's your favorite date activity? we would love to hear about it! share your thoughts :)

{date night pic of me and the hubby}

link luv roundup

1. dress up your outfit with this flower headband tutorial from curiositys
2. i love this idea of making your own recycled stationary over on geek+nerd

i am so in luv with this photograph by whatmegsaid

3. i will definitely be making one of these for my glasses - great tute from amazing mae!
4. i am sure we are all in need of a mouse pad makeover! learn how at the long thread
5. i am on the hunt for how to sewing tutorials to help sharpen up my newbie skills. little girl pearl shows us how to insert piping into a collar.

yummy! spring always reminds me of broccoli slaw! smitten kitchen has a great recipe here.

learn how to make a wet bag here and revamp an old tshirt with some sass over at ecoteametsy's fab blog here. then, head on over to photojojo for a great post listing the top 10 online photography mags, whip up a fun french press cozy (luv this) at one of my favorite blogs to drool over - the house on hill road.

we are revamping our deck and i am collecting tin cans for this great summer tute showing you how to turn tin cans into great summer garden lanterns and last, but not least, nesting shows you how to revamp that jean skirt into the perfect summertime maternity skirt.

moments in the mommyhood - upside down shades

we were out for a drive on mother's day and we noticed it had become quiet in the backseat. i turned around and this is what i saw - mackenzie passed out sporting her shades upside down. ....priceless.

etsy monday in the mommyhood

1. girls blouson style top - illiakids
2. dusty blue linen top - larimeloom
3. custom made dress/blouse with sash - smallbeans
4. the harlow top - ureshii
5. owl alternative apparel carly - rainbowswirlz

"did you know babies are nauseated by the smell of a clean shirt?"
- jeff foxworthy

6. fitted ruffle shirt - thevelvetvixen
7. bicycle print long sleeve pocket top - prettyraccoon
8. custom cowl neck shirt - implexus

shirts, shirts, shirts! a girl's gotta have a great shirt! this week's etsy in the mommyhood is filled with fun, flirty shirts for mom and her little ones to wear.

happy mother's day from the mommyhood!

wishing you a wonderful mother's day weekend!

can't wait for julie & julia!

i can't wait for this movie! i loved the book and hope the movie does it justice.

fit friday in the mommyhood - top 10 abs workout

rock those abs - i wish i had abs like kelly ripa's. i wish i had time to go her gym and do her sculpting class every day so my whole body was a mean, lean mommy machine, but i don't. i barely have time to shower at the moment. i'm sure some of you can relate. so, instead of whining about my gut sack as i like to call it, yes, you've heard it before, i went on a hunt for the most current and best tummy blasters out there. after scouring websites & magazines here's what i found to be the top 10 ab exercises to do at home:
1) The Plank (aka - the head honcho of ab exercises)
at first glance this exercise looks simple, but don't be fooled, it's not. it is worth the pain to master this move. it's one of the most efficient and most popular ab exercise to help blast all areas of those stubborn midriffs.
2) Ball Crunch
i adore this move and pretty much all of the moves on the stability ball. i have been doing them since i got pregnant and find the ball helpful even if just for sitting on.
3. The Hundred
pilates - what would i do without you? don't be scared of the number, it's a great workout!
4. The Twisting Windmill
this one looks as good as it works. no props involved, and there isn't 20 steps to memorize.
5. Ballerina Leg Lift
this move has a beginner version, intermediate and advanced, i thought we could start off in the middle and go from there :)
6. Reverse Crunch
let's get that baby belly, this is where my problem spot is, the lower abs....where i tell my daughter she left her friends behind...i know, i've got a sick sense of humour. it also keeps spanx in business.
7. Oblique Crossover Crunch
blast those love handles! this is a great move for targeting those nasty little bulges that like to peek out and yell "muffin top"!
8. Vertical Leg Crunch
another great move for targeting the lower abs. this one is a fun one to get your little ones to do beside you.
9. Prone Oblique Roll
don't worry, you won't fall. i find a lot of the stability ball exercises look scarier than they are difficult to do. if you don't have good balance or have never used a ball before, you might want to stick to a more beginner ball exercise and work up to this one. it's a great move to learn though.
10. Pilates Roll Up
this is one of my favorite pilates moves. i have been doing pilates for eons and swear by it. i just wish i had more time to do it...then i just might have some kelly ripa abs...and arms....and butt...and ok, that's enough. oh, kelly, why do you all torture us so with your after 3 kids six pack?

click here for a quick article on the Top 10 Firm Belly Tips from Fitness Magazine

i happened to catch one of those evening entertainment shows the other night and they had on a round up of the top 5 yummy mummy bodies. i almost passed out. they must have had surgery is all i keep saying to myself, or have a live in trainer, a chef, and a nanny and the most incredible spanx that regular humans can't buy? what do you think? are they just setting us up for failure and lowering our self esteems or do you find it inspiring to see some superstar 3 months after giving birth modelling on a runway or wearing a bikini? what's your favorite ab exercise to do? we want to hear your thoughts.

remember...you're worth it and you deserve it!

thankful

wow! the response to "there's no such thing as leftovers - the pants" has been overwhelming. thank you all so very much from the bottom of my heart! what a week! at least my computer didn't crash this time!

the tutorial was a lot of fun to make and i'm already excited about the next few in the series. we have a lot of exciting things planned here on luvinthemommyhood. I will also be writing on another website once a month (more on that later) so stay tuned for the details - it will be lots of fun! watch for another wonderfully talented "moms in the mommyhood" coming for you this month as well.

i send hugs to all of you who emailed and left comments these last few weeks, i love hearing from you all, it truly makes my day, so please feel free to write anytime. thank you to those who linked luvinthemommyhood from their own blogs, sport our buttons and have added us to their blog rolls - you rock! i get excited every time i see it - thanks for adding us!

a big thank you to:

rachel at "one pretty thing", my dear, i heart you! thank you so very much. to be on daily diy two weeks in a row has made my year! um yeah, was that really us on "whipup"? you bet it was! what a thrill - thanks kathreen! chrissy over at "one crafty place", you are a sweetheart, thank you so very much for putting us on your wonderful blog. wowee! "30days" had us up on their blog first thing the other morning - that is not a bad way to wake up! thanks mique, and finally, thanks natalie, it's been so exciting to be on "craftzine" not once - but twice! i can hardly contain myself!

i know, i know, i keep thanking people, but it really does mean a lot to me, so i can't help but say thanks :)

p.s. you still have time to comment on this post for a chance to win the giveaway!

oh, katie did it again

ok, katie did it again. i couldn't help but post about "katie did" just one more time. i just don't know where she finds the time to sew this many gorgeous outfits for her little ones. i am envious of those girls, (is that wrong of me?) what it must feel like to wake up and look in their closets each morning for another wonderful, modern, and fun outfit to wear for the day! lucky, lucky ladies.

katie - open an etsy store already so we can all buy these patterns/outfits for our little ones! seriously, that little yellow ribbon detail on the back of the tank is making crazy - and the shorts, somebody stop me.... i can't take it anymore! i want one in my size :)

(all images katie did)

moments in the mommyhood - happy birthday mom!

happy birthday to my wonderful mom, aka the best assistant a daughter could have (wink wink). thank you for all of your support, love, understanding and for listening to me babble on a daily basis . i love you and miss you lots. we hope you have a wonderful day today!

(images pappijack, barriebarrie, papadont)

feeling inspired by

i can't stop looking at these dreamy, gorgeous, pictures by barbara cole for the may anthropologie catalogue. i keep thinking of them every time i have had to put my daughter in time out today due to this yucky rainy weather we've been having that has kept us trapped indoors. yep....i think these will work just fine...peace....quiet.....and i'm wearing a gorgeous dress.

is it just me or does her work remind you of "the lady of shallot" and anne of green gables? what do you think? do you have an image you think of when the kids are driving you mad?

link luv roundup

1. dressmeup's organic teething bonbon - so deliciously organic.
2. leethal's 1 year of diy roundups she did for threads mag - so many great projects listed here!

3. i can't wait to try these funky knit bangle wrist warmers from a house called nut.

inspirational eye candy from the may anthropologie catalogue over on darling dexter

4. cloud 9 fabrics sneak peek at their new fabric line shade garden
5. turn those old sheets into a duvet cover over at nest decorating.

6. make some personalized wallpaper stationary over on design sponge .
7. turn an ugly plastic mirror into a stunning bulletin board - craftynest shows you how!

make sure to pop over to lollychops if you dare for cupcake week, go peruse scoutie girl , learn how to add pin tucks and gathers to a standard pattern at justtutes and then take a peek at what others crafter are up to at the new vickie howell site craftcorps.

what's on your needle?

here's a peek at what's on my needle:

something just for me

i've been waiting for this material to finally go on sale and finally got some on the weekend. don't you just adore those little owls?

we have a few getaways beach side (not too far from home) planned this summer and i hope to be donning one of these goodies while basking in the sunshine. i need something to cover up "the girls", if you know what i mean. i scooped up these patterns before they were sold out but now my only problem is can i actually sew them? help - anyone? knowing me, i will open up the pattern, try to read it and say screw it and just try to wing it like i do every project..haha.

these just screamed throw cushions at me and i just couldn't resist them at $4/metre! i think they just may be perfect for our deck overhaul this summer! bring on the mojitos!

what's on your needle this week?

moments in the mommyhood - potty privacy

ohhhh, the joys of potty training:

mack was sitting on the potty today when she loudly demanded....

"i need privacy mommy! go in other room, i need privacy!"

3-way laundry bag tutorial

(image courtesy of between the lines)

my favorite parisian is at it again! what a wonderful idea! i'm sure all of us mom's have some sort of dilemma with our laundry in one way or another - especially when travelling! pascale from "between the lines" has found us a solution, a 3-way laundry bag with a handy hanger pocket built right in the back so you can hang the bag and still have access to put the laundry in it. click here for her handy tutorial.

not too sure if this will help the boys put the laundry in the hamper/bag though. i know how my hubby is and the clothes will still land on the floor, right in front of it, even if the hole was a friggin metre wide.

alterknits - new pattern in the shop!

jane richmond of alterknits, who was april's featured "mom in the mommyhood" has a great new knitting pattern for sale in her fabulous etsy shop!

manda-ruth is a:

"hooded cardigan knit from the top down that is virtually seamless. seed stitch adds texture to this raglan sweater and worsted weight yarn makes this project fly off the needles. the perfect layer for your little one."

looks great jane and your daughter is a cutie! to read our interview with jane click here and stay tuned for may's "moms in the mommyhood".

are any of you a mom with a business that you would like to have featured on "moms in the mommyhood"? send me an email or leave me a comment, we would love to hear from you!

moments in the mommyhood - the splash

the splash!

don't you just love the memory of your first splash in the ocean! the feel of the gritty sand under your toes, cool ocean waves washing across your feet, and all that gorgeous sun beaming down on you filling you with warmth?

why does it have to be raining today?

there's no such thing as leftovers - the pants

when repurposing or refashioning an item, there is no such thing as leftovers in my house. after having so much fun making dresses from men's shirt's, (see previous post) i created these pants from the sleeves to utilize all the pieces of the shirt.


i decided to try my hand at making a tutorial for all of you as part of the "newbie sewing series". this is my first tute, so please be kind with me, i am still learning as well, and don't worry, the dress "in bloom" is coming next. i decided to use the pants as my trial run.


during the process of making this tutorial i decided to have a little fun with it. what you are getting is the actual step by step of the very first time i tried these pants. that is how things work when we really sew - some things fail, some things succeed, and sometimes we make errors. these pants started out in my mind as being capris, they aren't. they were also supposed to have more of a flat waistband, they don't - but i love em' anyways! this is what i find to be the most addicting part of making clothes from a whim, i just go with where the process takes me.


since i am a newbie sewer and have to admit, i don't know a lot of fancy terminology, i decided to add a new feature to your average tutorial. i tend to be a very visual learner, the more pictures the better, but sometimes that isn't enough for me, i need to see it being done, not just explained. in pondering this during my daily strolls with mackenzie, i decided hey, why not add in a video of me humiliating myself to go with my equally embarrassing attempt at a tutorial? so i did, i decided to give it a shot and see how you all like it. it's not a blockbuster hit, it's just me and my camera (no tripod, i couldn't find it), the tv in the background (some kid's show to keep mackenzie quiet), i have bronchitis - so i sound funny, and of course, i thought they were going to be capris - until i tried them on her..haha.

you will be able to:

1. download the tutorial in a PDF and print it out

PDF DOWNLOAD - there's no such thing as leftovers - the pants

2. watch a video of me talking about the process on you tube or view them in this post.

VIDEO ADDITION TO THE TUTORIAL

***Copyright 2010 www.luvinthemommyhood.com
All rights reserved. For personal use only. Please do not sell items made from this tutorial unless permission has been given.


so have fun with it - experiment, create and let your imagination go wild, but most importantly, trust your instincts, you don't need to be an expert sewer to create a great garment.

please remember to take that much needed second look at items we already have in our homes and rethink their purpose. it truly is a creative journey that we can all share, learn from, and inspire each other with, as a newbie sewer or as an experienced sewer.

so share with me - your thoughts & your pictures, i can't wait to hear from you all! happy sewing!