Must Make Monday – How to Become a Handmade Domestic Goddess: Pt 1

Okay, folks. I realize I’ve been all but absent recently. Q is turning 3 this week and we’re having two parties for her, so Hubs and I have been being busy little bees in preparation. I don’t see that cooling down anytime soon, so this week’s Must Make Monday list is going to have to be s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d to fill the entire week. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to post some other things as well. But for now…

This is the summer that I finally get my butt into gear and become the Domestic Goddess I, until recently, never realized I wanted to be. I’m hoping to get my house, meal planning, budget, looks, and family together (at least a little), so that by fall when Miss PZ starts kindergarten, we aren’t completely lost in a sea of laundry, last minute dinners, and and overwhelming grocery bills. Its a goal I’ve set for myself. Of course, we’re also still trying to have as much summer fun as we can, and I’m still trying to run my little handmade business. With a little luck, and a lot of work we should make some progress. Did you see my freezer jam?

On to the list!

First things first. You’ve got to know how to look the part. Learn how to tie a 40’s headscarf with Solanah at Vixen Vintage.

Since its the 4th today, Happy Independence Day, America!, you could always use a red, white, and blue scarf.

Spring Palette Challenge – Project 2

I know these are awful pictures and I promise to post some later in good light, but PZ’s bday party is tomorrow and I’m neck deep in cake and cupcake decorating plus I’m hoping to get a dress finished tonight. You can at least get a sense of the shape and cut. The fabric is gorgeous and I’ll post a close up of it later, too.

This is the first shirt I’ve ever sewn for myself. It was WAY harder than it should have been for such an easy tutorial. I tinkered with this and ended up having to cut down the neckline at the end. I’ll probably try making another one of these before our Hawaii trip next month.

Inspired to Create

First of all if you haven’t heard of Joel Henriques and his blog, Made by Joel then you need to drop everything you are doing and go there immediately. Seriously! I love this guy’s projects. One in particular that looked, (and was) easy and lots of fun is his fabric nesting dolls project. I made a set for two of our closest family friends and one set for my youngest, but these won’t be the last that I do I can promise you that! It combined both sewing and drawing, two areas where I’m really hoping to expand my talents this upcoming year. Drawing the little figures which I based on the actual friends I gave the dolls to, was such a kick! And the dolls themselves are very versatile. Since they stand on their own they can be moved as dolls or puppets. You could probably even turn them into game pieces if you wanted!

I joked that people would think my 4 year old drew them, but everyone seemed to be able to see themselves in their doll. Pretty cool since I consider myself someone who can’t draw at all. I’m realizing that thinking of myself as such has been a major barrier and I’m hoping to really get over that in the next months. Hmmm… sounds like what I said two years ago when I decided to start this blog and teach myself to sew and now look at me! I’ve been selling my hand sewn clothing and accessories for almost a year now!

I also had a lot of fun making a Pippi Longstocking doll for PZ based on Laura Child’s illustrations and a Lowly Worm doll for PZ’s best friend E from the Richard Scarry books.

The Pippi doll I made using my own adaptation of the Tag Along doll pattern from Hillary Lang’s Wee Wonderfuls book. (Great book!) The body is some of my favorite fabric, Denyse Schmidt’s Flea Market Fancy. The rest of the body is made from wool felt that I got  at Gossamer.

I’ve been wanting to make one of these ever since I saw one as a giveaway prize on a blog (sorry, can’t remember the name!) during last year’s Sew, Mama, Sew‘s Giveaway Day. It is super easy. I couldn’t find a tutorial anywhere, but it wan’t too hard to figure out. If you are looking for help on this one just let me know and I’ll try and dig up my numbers for this one.  Hubs put a thick wire inside of Lowly so he’s super bendy and tough. Just perfect for a 4 year old little guy.

I’ll have a post soon about what I’m hoping to concentrate on crafty wise for the upcoming year and a few projects I have floating around inside my noodle. Pretty crazy stuff in there, let me tell ya! Well, Hubs is tearing the tree down and the kiddos are running around like crazy so I better get back to it. Happy holidays!

If I had time I’d be making this right now…

If I had time I’d be making this right now…

Bolt *neighborhood‘s (go Portland!) fabric covered buttons look simple and like a lot of fun. I’ve bought the button making kits. I hope to get to it some time this weekend.

These fish bowls from indietutes are SO cute. BTW this blog is one of my MUST READS!

Giver’s Log felt flower rings are something PZ and I could work on during Q’s naptime.

At Second Street’s suitcase dino playscape is totally awesome. I might have to do this with the kiddos this summer.

Lavender and Limes colorful yarn jars are very cute, something my 4 year old could do during “quiet time” and a breeze on my supply list since I’ve given up trying to learn how to knit and we only drink out of jars around my house. Hubs is a breaker.

eatmakeread‘s pretzel nuggets look so darn yummy and would satisfy the salt lovers in my house.

Brassy Apple‘s ruffly spring top looks comfy and cute and not too hard to make.

Dollar Store Crafts‘ eight dollar playhouse would be just the thing for my girls this summer. I’m totally making one of these!

The 2×4 xylophone posted on Instructables will go great with the banging wall I want to build in my backyard.

Smitten Kitchen‘s classic cobb salad looks delicious and just perfect for outdoor dinners.

Dollar Store Craft‘s bicycle frame lunch bag would be a great gift to make for kid’s and adults both. I know a lot of people who would love one of these.

Who wouldn’t love a ruffly steampunk parasol and what a simple restyle. I found this one on Dollar Store Crafts.

Perhaps these lemon rolls with lemon cream cheese from eatmakeread could do double duty. They could make me feel like the happiest most loved mama around on this upcoming mama’s day AND fulfill PZ”s repeated request for lemon meringue pie after reading Amelia Bedelia every night for the last few weeks.

Thank You!

Whatever the occasion, sending a Thank You note shows class and doesn’t have to be as tedious and “because-you’re-supposed-to” as your Mom made it seem. Here are some great do it yourself note cards that will make both the sender and the receiver smile!

li’l magoolie‘s Flower Note Card

Must Make Monday – Santa’s Little Helper

It’s not too late! There’s still plenty of time to make your kiddo or loved one something special for the holidays. Check out some of the tutorials I’m considering using.

Chez Beeper Bebe – A Dozen Animal Sewing Cards

Halloween Decoration Tutorials

This one is for my friend Cory. She and her roomies, the Scrapa Scrapa Scrapas are having a super fun sounding Halloween party and I’m the lame-o Mama who can’t attend. Boo! So for those of you hosting Halloween parties or for those who just love the holiday as much as I do, here are some creative spooktacular holiday decorations. 

Our Best Bites – Shrunken Apples

My First Quilt Thingy!

Well  it’s not perfect, but… what a journey I’m on. If you’d have told me in January that I would make a quilt this year I probably would have laughed. Here it is though and I am so thrilled with it, wrinkles and puckers and all.

I used Lizzie House Ducks for the back and Forest as the focus

Get Outta Here and Go Outside!

A little nervous about summer time and having the kiddos home ALL the time? I’m with ya. But I’ve done a little research and there are plenty of things to make and do to keep the whole family entertained and happy through those months where you are the only teacher.

Buy it!

Thyme2dream

My daughter’s preschool has been on break for the last two weeks and the weather here in Portland is starting to get nice. We’ve been getting out – to the park, push biking, nature walks and bubble journeys. It is making me long for those warm summer days that will be here soon. These bubble blowers from Thyme2dream are so cool and would get tons of use on our journeys. Little timeless heirlooms that any kid would find magical. I’m sure they could double as wands or scepters. A great toy to get those young imaginations working.

Looking for a good homemade bubble recipe? Check out Casey Carle’s “Secret” Bubble Solution!

Sugar and Slip Stitchery

These came out pretty cute. I used Kristen’s tutorial from Sew, Mama, Sew. My challenge with these was the hand stitching. Once I figured out how to do a slip stitch I was good to go. I whipped up six of them in just a couple of hours. Super easy! And then stitched them up this morning while my kiddos ate breakfast.

We had a great day over at our friend’s house, even if it did rain. We did the egg hunt (inside), which was the first hunt we’ve done with PZ and she did really well, and we ate a great lunch and decorated cupcakes and filled any lingering holes in our bellies with jellybeans. Quite a fun, sugar-filled afternoon.

She's giving her best Easter Bunny grin.

Not that we particularly needed any more sugary treats after eating the yummy apple spice cake with cream cheese frosting at PZ’s