plaid poncho

To say I like capes and poncho would be an understatement. I really love them.
Here is a design I came up with the other day for children. I hope to make a few up for the shop.

Edit to Add: I added two to the shop.

angostura

It's finally finished. I mean I feel like I have been working on this a long time but, really it was about a month. I know I didn't tell you about it so for you it's brand new.

I should preface this by saying I don't wear vests but, this one! Well, I really fell for the design.

What is embarrassing about it is that it's a bit too long so the two cables that are supposed to hit at the waist don't. Especially embarrassing because the book it hails from is all about getting your sweater to fit right. I measured though the one measurement I didn't take underarm to waist is where the problem came up. I swatched and went down one needle size. I had a hunch when I was knitting the back which is done first but, then I measured and it wasn't off by that much. I now realize I should have taken that hunch and skipped quite a few rows. I am of average height 5'4 1/2" but I have a short waist and most likely a short upper body.

Okay, so after all that explaining I can still say I will wear it. A friend suggested wearing it with a leggings. I'm contemplating trying to shrink it in the dryer. What do you think? I really just need to shrink the top above the cables. Making things by hand takes patience and trial an error and the lesson I learned with this is to listen to my inner voice because if I did that it would have been perfect. I also think I could have gone down one size which I often find with sweater patterns with the exception of a few designers like Ysolda.

The wool I used is Quince and Co. Lark in Peacoat. I'm really happy I chose navy. You can see more photos of what this looks like on Ravelry or Ysolda's blog.

apple picking

A last minute decision trip to the apple orchard yesterday. We picked Golden Delicious, Jonamac, Jonagold and Macoun.
We will be back for more. We go to this place



Pictures from other apple picking adventures...here, here and here

Oh my goodness..one more here

celebration dress

Do you know what my little girl decided? My silly little 3 1/2 year old.

She decided to stop sucking her thumb 9 days ago and hasn't done it since. I am so impressed because she made the decision and the self control she has exhibited is astounding.

She usually sucked her thumb in the car, to go to bed, when she was nervous or watching tv but, no more. Not even once.

In honor of this incredible achievement I made her a new dress. The first few days she got coins but since has forgotten them. There was also a balloon one day.

Go Scarlet.

Her dress was made from a remnant I picked up at an antique store and is black with the sweetest bouquets of flowers.
I made the pattern myself. Should have ironed it before I took these, huh?

into the woods satchel

A satchel for Matty was made since he loves collecting and we no longer want to find acorns in the washing machine from his pockets;)

Plus now we can have room for rocks. He brought home at least 10 rocks and lots of leaves from our walk in the woods the other day.

I used denim and lined it in a rusty orange and white dot cotton. I measured him for the strap and then as an afterthought decided to sew on a yellow felt leaf.

The smile on his face when I gave it to him made me melt. I love when simple things like this make my children so happy. Also, how giddy and full of life they become in the woods which we are lucky to have close by.

leopard print

Mother and Daughter Faux Fur Leopard Print collars.
Can I tell you how fun these were to make....so fun!
I already had the faux leopard and hooray for a day cool enough to wear a cardigan.

She was just as excited as I was about these and not only did I point the camera at her



but she got to point it at me.



"No, Mom, smile"




I think the photos together were her favorite.




No pre-styling or prep (hello messy hair, no makeup)

I decreased the size on the pattern a tiny bit for hers and the pattern is this one and it's free.

By the way, just look at those curls. Sigh.



Do you need a brunette and a blonde to star in your next movie? Ha ha.

What are you up to this weekend?

Mick and I are going to our friends Carolyn and David's wedding tomorrow and can I just say how excited I am. It's going to be amazing. Whee!

floral

I had a bit of an unplanned sewing spree this past weekend. I also succeeded in messing up what was an earlier attempt to clean my sewing room (ahem).

Anyway, I have been wanting to sew up some Fall/Winter clothes for Ms. S and discovered I had enough of the Liberty Cord from this dress to sew up a skirt.



Then I got distracted from clothing and decided to sew up some totes and made matching totes for my girl and I. Hers is to carry her ballet clothes (first day of ballet after summer break is today) and one for me to carry my knitting with me. The one shown is hers and it's a bit smaller then mine with shorter straps naturally. I had some blue upholstery weight corduroy like material I picked up several years ago to use for the base and since I was feeling flowery I paired it with this beautiful cotton seersucker Japanese print. Since the print was lighter in weight I first had to back it with a cotton so it would be sturdy and hold up to the wear since it is at the bottom of the bag and also work with the weight of the other fabric. I also used this print on a chair this summer in fact it is the one I am sitting in to type this up.

There is one more set of match items I made for us two girls and I will show them soon but she is up to something sneaky right now and I must run. She says she is doing 'nothing' which usually means 'something.'