Brown Bear Brown Bear

A Very Basic T-shirt Disaster

If I had to choose one word to describe this shirt it would be.... UGH! I figure each garment, whether I wear it or not, is gained experience. Here is what I learned from this one:

Never buy plus size patterns with size 2 models on the front. Usually I am good at picking out what would or would not be flattering on me and I was so so very wrong with this one. Secondly, what is the point of making your own clothes when they are so so boring! I mean this top looks worse than most things I would try on in a store. I try to ignore the fabric because this was free fabric I was practicing on but even with nice fabric in a color that didn't look like hospital scrubs this is boring. Thirdly, I took the time to do all the suggested measurements and ended up making it two sizes bigger than I wear in the stores and the end result, although not a flattering cut, fits perfectly. I love when clothes just lay on you not hug you. Also, the practice with sewing on knits with my regular machine is always appreciated. I think I got the hem looking... wearable. I ended up serging (<3<3<3) the raw edge and then hemming it with my sewing machine. The pattern recommended using a double needle which I want to attempt at some point with something that doesn't make me look like I'm wearing scrubs. [yes I realize this is the most boring detailed sewing post yet, but this is what excites me]



Try to use your imagination to make these two bad pictures into one good picture.




Lets add up some points!
* 5 points per yard of fabric used
* 10 points for fabric being vintage, thrifted or upcycled
* 3 points for every pattern used that you've never sewn before
* 10 points for using a pattern/fabric you've had for more than a year
* 20 points for integrating a SCRAP (not a piece of fabric you cut) less than 1/2 yard into your garment

+5 points - for one yard of fabric
+10 points - for the fabric being thrifted
+3 points - for never having used the pattern
+10 points - for using a pattern that i've had for 3+ years
-20 points - for knowing I will never wear this and now having to find this pattern a new home! [i decided this needed to be added to really evaluate this project hehe]

total: 8 points!

Next project:


Oh, and I've been making these for Bella's friend's birthday gifts. We have had a surprising number of them this season!


Do you recognize it from anywhere?

A New Skirt.... For Me?

I know I know! I never wear skirts so I was a little unsure about spending money on this project. Well, to my surprise it doesn't look horrible and I may just make it again with nicer fabric. For now my $0.99 goodwill linen look alike fabric will have to do. The pockets are made with this adorable piece of scrap fabric Grandma gave to me a couple months ago. It was a rather large scrap so I've been saving it for something special. I was inspired to make this skirt by a dear friend who has the exact same one but in a wintery red flannel from L.L. Bean. (I think she found it at the Goodwill too!) She let me borrow the skirt to use as a pattern. Woo! Pattern cost: $0! Thanks Liz!




It's a wrap skirt so no worrying about if it will fit just right. One size fits most.



So it is no secret that I like points and challenges so when I found this challenge over at Sew Weekly I decided I needed to add a point system to all my homemade creations! I'm adopting their point system because it makes so much sense. It looks like this:

* 5 points per yard of fabric used
* 10 points for fabric being vintage, thrifted or upcycled
* 3 points for every pattern used that you've never sewn before
* 10 points for using a pattern/fabric you've had for more than a year
* 20 points for integrating a SCRAP (not a piece of fabric you cut) less than 1/2 yard into your garment

Points for my skirt:
5 points for one yard of fabric
10 points for it being thirfted
3 points for never having used that pattern
20 points for integrating a scrap

Total skirt points: 38!


New Years Resolution Update: I finished A Lesson Before Dying last night which is why my eyes are all red and puffy this morning. David and I tried to have a conversation about slavery last night but it got too upsetting. Sometime the masses can be so disappointing. I hate to compare slavery to global warming but it seems like in both cases people knew what they were(are) doing was(is) wrong but didn't(don't) want to change because it would be too hard. I wonder if that is human nature or just American culture. It seems like the rest of the world is trying to improve a lot faster than we are on a government level.

Kitchen Helpers [read: this may turn you off from ever eating at our place again]

So I have the most eager kitchen helpers in the world, which, as I'm sure you could guess, slows breakfast/lunch/snack/dinner to a halt. Usually I try to distract the kids with objects found in the kitchen like, whisks, silicon baking cups, wooden spoons, measuring cups, anything that will keep them out of my hair and my way for, oh say, three minutes. Last night in desperation I handed Elliott the closest thing I could find. It happened to be a big fat yam. Now this kept him busy for quite a while but unfortunately for me it was so cute I had to stop and take pictures and watch him try to figure out what to do with this giant piece of uncooked food. Eventually he did get a couple bites out of it. Note to self: wash before handing raw produce to Elliott.

Transitioning Boys and New Routines

Let me tell you a little about Elliott. At 13 months he knows exactly what he wants and how dare you suggest it isn't safe for him to eat, or climb on, or play with. He has the most contagious laugh I've ever heard and is oh so easy to tickle. He loves being flipped upside down, being diaper free (oh yes he can now pull off the Velcro diapers!), and everything outside. He especially likes sticking dirt in his mouth when I blink. Blink, I tell you! This boy of mine is quick unlike his sister who at 13 months would at least think about it for a couple of seconds giving me time to stop her. Well my dear baby boy, who is not so babyish, thank you for proving me right all those years when I said "dirt don't hurt" Elliott has three words he uses regularly now, Mama, Papa, and uh-oh. Uh-oh is so appropriate for a just barely one year old who insists on using his own fork, spoon, and CUP. Yes, he insists on a cup, preferably with a handle. (Imagine where the uh-oh comes from!)


So for the last 6 months, which feels like eternity, Elliott has been waking up between 5:30 and 6am. This wasn't too big of a shift from the newborn awake all night every night routine so I guess I didn't think too much of it, except of course when I would mention it to other mothers and they would look at me with pity and admit they sleep in until 7:30 or 8 every morning! Ok, enough back story! Elliott is now sleeping in until almost 7am every morning! wooohooo. Not only that but when he does wake up (in my bed) I can usually convince him to go get some books from his room and bring them to me. Then I can lay in bed even longer and read him some stories. Sometime during this time Bella usually wakes up and morning bedtime silliness begins. I love these kids and all the giggles they bring into my life.

New Years Resolution Update: Month one completed with one whole day to spare!

More of the Same Only Different

I must be on a sewing kick to have this many projects to post in one week. I feel like I am playing catch up with all the projects I've wanted to do since before the birthday/holiday marathon started. Here is the first real successful top I've made myself. I see me wearing this a lot in the summer. I like it so much I may start sewing more wearable things for myself. This top ended up costing me 15 dollars in fabric. (actually free because I used a gift card. Thanks to Ben and Julia!) I already had fabric for the facing, thread, and the pattern.




These produce bags are technically for my sewing circle project even though the project was to make a tote. I can't imagine getting excited about making a tote when I already have around 15. I am not exaggerating when you count all the reusable grocery bags that keep finding their way into my home. Does anyone need or want any reusable grocery bags? Of course you don't you probably have as many as I do. I thought I'd ask! So back to the bags, these were all made with scraps which is why they are all different sizes. I took a lesson for my grandma who uses EVERYTHING and used selvage for the draw string. I resisted the urge to go buy something new that would look perfect with these, but seriously they are produce bags. Who cares what the draw string looks like? I think the selvage adds character. =P

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