Baby Leg Warmers

I hate putting pants on the baby because they are a pain for diaper changes. And they don't always look that comfortable for the baby. So why not some adorable baby leg warmers?

I found these socks at, of all places, the dollar store.
A rotary cutter, a sewing machine, and five minutes and you get yourself some baby leg warmers!


Is that not too cute? Now I need to keep my eye out for what I really want, which is some rainbow knee socks to transform.

Edit: I've added a couple of pairs of these to the store, in case you want a set of your very own.

Chris Bosh won't let me sew.

Wait, what?

Important facts:

My sewing room is in the basement. Our house has approximately 57 levels*, and the girl's bedrooms are up at the top. So if I'm in the basement, and they are in bed, theoretically sleeping**, I'm out of earshot. So if I'm the only adult around, I don't like to disappear into the basement where I can't hear the kids.

*may not be entirely accurate
**especially the four year old, who of late has decided that bedtime means playtime. You know when it gets quiet? And you suddenly realize it's been quiet for a REALLY long time, and your heart starts to race and you yell up the stairs, what are you doing up there? And then you get the worst possible answer to that question? NOTHING, MAMA. I'M DOING NOTHING. (pause) DON'T COME UP HERE. Well, I don't know where I was going with this, actually, but so far I've cleaned up vast amounts of water and a major baking soda incident. The upshot is, I don't want to be out of earshot of the kids, even if they are, allegedly, sleeping.

Another important fact: the NHL and NBA seasons are starting soon. That's where Chris Bosh come in. I mean, he's not LITERALLY telling me I can't sew, but because of the sports teams, my husband is working about 57 hours a day. Which means, he's not home. Which means, no locking myself in the basement for hours on end because if I do no one is listening for the kids.

So, not a lot of sewing. I have decided that starting tonight in the evenings when he's not home yet I'll bring a current project and the sewing machine up to the dining room so I can get a few things done, like L's Mei Tai, which I've only been promising her for MONTHS and all I have to do on it is topstitch the straps and yet I just haven't been able to get it done! I don't like moving up to the dining room because I have a bad habit of letting my projects completely takeover all flat surfaces, and if I'm not religious about putting everything back in the basement at the end of the day we'll wind up with a dining room full of fabric. Again.

(I do, for the record, have a baby monitor, but it doesn't really work very well, and I'm not about to go spend money on a new one right now)

So many tomatoes. And back to work.

I go to the garden every third day, and usually this is what I get. SO MANY TOMATOES. And I could have filled that whole basket just with cherry tomatoes.

I should probably can some of this, but I don't really feel up to dealing with it. So I'm giving them away and we're eating lots of tomato based dishes. Too many tomatoes is, frankly, a pretty nice problem to have.

I started back to work yesterday. I'm teaching one class this term, and I always forget how draining lecturing can be. Three hours of telling people things is actually pretty intellectually demanding, and since I'm the type who paces and flails her arms around a lot while lecturing, it's physically tiring as well. I'm glad I'm only teaching one class this term.

So although I had plans for a ton of sewing last night, none of it happened. Instead I just flaked out on the couch and did nothing. But now I'm recovered, and I have a bunch of stuff on the schedule for tonight! Finish up L's Mei Tai, make a couple of kiddie Mei Tais since a few have sold out of the shop and I should replace them, and maybe work a bit on Super Secret Christmas Toy project.

Messenger bag - Violet

This is Violet, all ready to go. Violet and Ruby were both made for a craft swap (although the winner of Violet has decided she wants one of my other bags instead, so Violet will be showing up for sale in a bit).


Here they are together, just chillin'.

Back view. I know, it's a thrill a minute around here.

Cell pocket, key loop. There's an interior pocket with space for a pen, too. I have got to figure out how to photograph the interiors of these bags in a way that doesn't make them look awful.

I've got one more bag to make, a custom job for a friend, and then I think I'm off bag making for a bit. Need a break.

Messenger Bag - Ruby

Got a couple of messenger bags finished, hooray! This is Ruby. Flap is dupioni silk, black and silver brocade, and some sort of plain black fabric. Body is a heavy black denim that was an unbelievable PAIN IN THE ASS to work with. I made the mistake of also using it for the strap, and let's just say I think I'm going to cut it off and remake it in something lighter, because once you start folding that stuff the thickness rapidly gets completely out of control.

Bad shot of interior. Cell pocket, key/toy loop, and an interior pocket that also has a spot for a pen.

Tomorrow, pictures of Violet, the other bag I just finished.

Works in progress: Hairbands

I got a new haircut, with bangs for the first time in a zillion years, and I'm loving it. Except that sometimes, I just really want the bangs OFF my forehead (plus, I'd forgotten how oily skin + bangs all day = zits. I'm 16 again, y'all!).

Solution? Hairbands! I whipped up a pattern and made a few.

OK, it was a little more complicated than that because I got totally obsessive and wanted to get the pattern just abosolutely perfect. And then a child size pattern. And then hairbands in two different widths. 15 test runs later, and I've finally got it.


When I start a project, what can I say, I go ALL OUT. On the plus side, i should be able to write up the pattern as a PDF for the store. And hey, might even whip up a few headbands for sale, too, I have a ton of scrap pieces of fabric that would be perfect, and they take maybe 10 minutes to sew, so they're fast and easy.


Wide version. Reversible. Covered elastic. Yep, got it all.


Is there any way to take a self portrait of the top of your head without looking like a total tool?

Hairbands: DEADLY SERIOUS BUSINESS, apparently.

Hey, at least my hair is off my face. And now I can inflict dorky matching headbands on my daughters, too. Hooray!

Works in progress: L's Mei Tai

Hey, it's a Mei Tai intended to carry REAL babies, not dolls!

Told you I was making progress, L! I have to attach the waist strap and finish off the body, then it'll be ready for fitting. For this one I'm leaving the ends of the straps unfinished until I have a chance to try it on L and her husband so that I can adjust the length if necessary. It's going to be VERY pretty - I love the butterfly fabric L&D chose!

Then I have to make them their diaper bag - with a toddler and newborn twins, they need a BIG bag. And maybe an IV of caffeine. I can't even imagine.

Dinner

Dinner last night was a thin crust whole wheat pizza (the Kitchen Aid makes dough making SO easy), topped with diced tomatoes, basil, and sliced zucchini (from the garden!), a bit of olive oil, garlic, and four kinds of cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, feta, parmesan). So easy and SO delicious!

If I'd thought of it I'd have spread a layer of pesto on there too. Ah well. Next one!

In case you can't tell, I am greatly enjoying having access to buckets full of fresh, fantastic tasting tomatoes.

Pattern: Doll carrier/Mei Tai

Yep, been a lot of doll Mei Tais lately, which means I finally got the pattern done. Woo! I love writing patterns - figuring out the dimensions, writing the instructions. I hate the editing, though - cropping photos, looking for typos, blech. I always seem to get the patterns 90% done and then I just stall out completely. It's a relief to have this one finished.


Pretty. The pattern is for sale in the shop. Very easy to sew!

Child's Mei Tai - Stripes

Another custom doll Mei Tai. And I completely forgot to photograph the steps - I was going to use this one for some of the written instructions for the pattern! D'oh.

Stripes on one side, solid on the other.


I'm trading this one for some toy gnomes. Yep, more stuff I'm hiding away for Christmas!

This afternoon, sewing the straps for L's full size Mei Tai. Although first I have to run out to the fabric store and get another box of bobbins - all of mine are full of thread, and I need a different colour for this MT. She's had the babies (yep, twins), so I need to get this thing done. Mostly because it'll give me an excuse to go and hold some twin newborns!