WIP Wednesday

I think the hardest part of taking a blogging break is getting back on track when you return!  I have things to show y'all, tell y'all and bore you to tears with, but I just can't seem to get to this computer long enough to type it out...

Oh well, we're only in week 2 of school and I've got time to get a new schedule worked out before next summer...  ;)

Since I took such a long summer break from sewing, I decided to jump back in with some new projects before tackling that evil-eyed WIP basket that keeps trying to intimidate me into digging into it.  So far I have  resisted the intimidation, but it was getting dicey...

So I made Oren new shorts, Emma a new lunchbox (still got that to show you) and some bee blocks to get the sewing juices flowing before starting this:

What?  You can't tell exactly what that is... oh, that's because I got as far as cutting some squares before taking a break...man this getting back into sewing can be rough!

Actually, it's going to be a doggie bed for our sweet girl, Belle.  Our black lab is 12 years old and starting to show her age.  Her beard is going from silver to white and she's slower to move around lately.  She's mostly an outside dog (because she has some issues with pee-leakage and can't help it when she has accidents EVERYWHERE), but more and more often this summer she spent her days inside on the cool tile floor.  But, anyone who knows labs knows they get arthritis in their joints, especially their hips as they age, so watching her struggle to get up and down on that tile is sad.

So, Kelli to the rescue!  I'm planning on making her a jam-up awesome bed, not just a blanket folded over a few times.  Since she's black (and an outside dog = dirty) the bed's going to be mostly black with some patchwork down the middle because why not?  Plus our sweet dog deserves some sweet color and design, right??

And...wait for it, here's where that evil-eyed WIP basket gets pacified as well!  A while back (let's not count how many months) I did a postage stamp swap where I received 10 postage stamp blocks with all different fabrics in exactly the same size I was planning on using for this!  So...since they've just been patiently waiting on me from inside the basket, I decided to reward them by being part of this project.  They get to be used, I have to cut and sew less 2.5" squares...WIN, WIN!

So, I'll be working on getting these squares all sewn together and then I've got to take a trip to JoAnn to buy some of that EXPENSIVE nice foam.  Anybody know of a place online that sells that stuff cheaper?  I'm talking about the green foam used for the inside of pillows, seats, etc...

And don't forget to head over to Lee's to check out WIP Wednesday where lots of awesome bloggers link up their works in progress each week.

Boy Shorts

It's true that I'm a girly sew-er.  I usually pick clothing projects that will best suit me or Emma or some sweet little baby that's being born to a friend or relative.  I'm not one to tackle a collared shirt or pleated pants, and t-shirts are just way too cheap to even pretend to make for my little guy.

BUT, when my sweet friend Jenny put out the word that she needed pattern testers for her new "Classically Cool Cargo Shorts" pattern for boys, I was on it!  I let her know I'd make a pair for Oren if she'd like me to try out the pattern.

He's grown quite a bit this summer, so he's somewhere between a size 6 and a 7.  His old clothes in size 6 are all a little too short, but in his new school clothes we bought a mix of 6 and 7.  Jenny asked me to try the size 7 pattern and it fit him perfectly.

Of course I had no fabric in my stash that was both an appropriate design (what's wrong with flowers and polka dots for a boy I want to know????) or in a big enough piece, so we headed to Walmart in hopes they'd have something, ANYTHING appropriate. He's getting a little too self-conscious to sport shorts with a novelty print on them and he's got like 3 pairs of khaki shorts... (For those of you that know us personally--yes, he is his Daddy made over!)

We found a nice blue and orange-ish plaid, which is actually great since that just happens to be our favorite team's (the Gators) colors.  Oren, Daddy and I all agreed on it, so home we went to make some shorts.

I have to say Jenny's pattern was great!  I thought her side pocket construction and detailing was smart.  The side pockets are slanted for easy access for little hands, plus it looks good too.  I did have a problem with the waistband originally, but she's made a tweak to the pattern that makes them look even better and makes the pockets big and roomy for all that stuff boys "need" to collect in there during the day.

The pattern does include directions for a cover flap for these cargo pockets but I royally mis-read the directions and messed them all up, so I left them off.  Next time...

So, here's my little man in something Momma made for him.  It doesn't happen very often.  And he gave them a complete stamp of approval.  Usually if he's home longer than 5 minutes, the kid is naked or close to it.  I swear, you'd think we ran a nudist colony or something--but when I asked him to wear these shorts to let me get some pictures in them, he wore them the rest of the day and tried to wear them the next.

That's a genuine stamp of approval.  And that makes this Momma awful happy.  :)

Fresh Start

Hey y'all!  Look who's back among the land of the blogging!

I had every intention of being back sooner, but between the back-to-school rush, taking over as co-chair of the PTO, AND Emma finally taking an interest in crafty stuff and wanting to finish the beginning embroidery we started a year and a half ago and needing my attention every time I sat down, I just plum ran out of hours in the day to blog!  ;)

But the kids went back to school yesterday and had a great first day, so I can breathe again and find my own routine again too.

I have gotten a few things done in the meantime.  I had some bee blocks to finish up, I made a pair of shorts based on my friend Jenny's new pattern (she's awesome!  I'd recommend any of her patterns!) and I even made Em a new lunchbox.

And now that school is in, I'd like to make a dent in my WIP basket that is overflowing with goodies that range from projects I've picked out fabrics for all the way to need quilting or just binding...

Today I'll leave you with the pics I took yesterday of the first day of school, but I promise I'll be back tomorrow or the next with pictures of the adorable shorts for Oren and Em's new lunchbox which looks pretty good (no bragging from me--she's got good taste in fabric!  haha)

Emma was excited and ready to start school!  You can see a peek of her new lunchbox behind her backpack there...

 

Oren was a nervous wreck when he woke up as you can see in the pictures.  Once we got to school he was absolutely fine and sent me on my way thank goodness!

I am truly blessed to know that when I drop them off at school they are safe with ladies who care for them greatly and want to see them grow and succeed.  I couldn't ask for more...

I hope you have a great day today and I'll see ya soon!