Pigtails and the zoo!

There is something I have been waiting for since I found out we were having a girl. Pigtails! Her hair is finally long enough, and it looks so cute! Besides, her hair looks like a mop when I don't do anything with it, and she tears out her bows and headbands. So, I bought some little elastics from Target (best store ever) and put piggies in her hair. She didn't even mind and hasn't been tempted to play with them! We also went to the zoo recently...we need to get in as many zoo visits as we can until it is way too hot. It's sad that we can't do much outside (besides swim) during the summer months. Odin's favorite part of the zoo was the splash pad- mine too! Walking around in the heat was enough excercise to last me awhile (kidding, mom!)

I recently added a new top to my etsy shop, red with white polka dots- requested by a customer. I will very soon have several new items up that are busy getting photographed. And right now, I am doing a 2 for $25 special on solid color single ruffle pants, any size! Normally they are $15 each.

Love these kids!

Aren't my kids cute? I love how much they love each other! Ally follows Odin everywhere, especially outside. Today she climbed into his car and was very proud of herself. Odin squeezed in with her and made me take her out (he does not like to share). Oh, and potty training is going nowhere. I need to step it up! Below are some pics of custom orders. The pants are in the shop now and the dresses will be soon! I also tried something new today. I wanted to make flower headbands, for me. I made two and the flower on the first one was huge, so I made the second one smaller. I think I'll wear it with a skirt I intend to make soon. Lots of projects as well as orders to fill right now!

Park Day

Happy Groundhog's Day! Seems like kind of a joke here, as it was 71 and gorgeous outside! Gotta love AZ. We had a park day with my awesome mom's group today. Odin had a blast, and Ally got to play with the other Ali ( a 4 month old baby). Well, attack more than play with. But both kids were good, except Allison wanted soooo badly to go and play with the other kids. She kept crawling off her blanket and looking at them longingly on the playground. Odin enjoyed going up and down the big hill, petting some doggies, and following strangers around. I was happy to be with my friends on a beautiful day, in a small and manageable park (instead of big parks where kids are so easy to lose!). Ally tried out the swing and loved it, and Odin helped push her.

After the playground, we came home and I put on a Joe Scruggs CD for Odin. Now, Joe Scruggs was a children's song guy back in the day (when i was a kid). Oh, how the 80's and early 90's were made better by his songs. Anyway, it brought back many memories. Odin danced along with the first song, then wanted me to turn it off so he could watch TV. I did not do as he requested, so he went and played with cars instead, but Ally sat in my lap and danced. :D She got another top side tooth, so now her teeth look even funnier!

I added a ready to ship skirt to the shop in size 2T. While I do have enough fabric to make one more skirt, this is the only one I have for now. I can't find the Hawaiian fabric online, and the polka dot is no longer at Joann's!

Making Children's Clothes...

...by Emma Hardy. That's the name of the book I bought. I can't wait to try it out- I love everything in it! The only thing I don't like is that most patterns start at age 2, and I am wanting to make a baby gift for my cousin from one of them. I think I will modify the smocked dress pattern for her.

And yes, I know I would soon do a tutorial of some sort. I will, I promise! I will have to make another pair of boys' pants so I can show you, or maybe it'll be a tutorial of something else completely. I don't know! I really enjoy modifying other patterns or tutorials to make my own creation, but I have not yet succeeded in coming up with something completely from scratch. Pants really are easy, though, so that's probably what I'll show you!

I made a new dress and double ruffled pants...both Sandi Henderson's patterns and in the shop. I love how they turned out! I am going to make a couple pairs of capris for the spring for Ally as well as another Gracie pattern dress (different from the one I already made), but with my Nicey Jane fabrics.

Right now, Odin and Ally are playing in Odin's room with the play kitchen. I keep hearing squeals and general sounds of fun...I just love how well they get along. They are like best friends, always wanting to be together. Odin loves to kiss and hug her, and call her "cute" and "beautiful". Of course, he is sweet like that. The other day he said, "You beautiful, Mommy. You a girl." I love that kid! And Ally has been sleeping A LOT lately, which is nice...she is always so happy when she wakes up. Well, today I plan to work on a few orders and work out...I hope the kids take a long nap!

I'm back!

And although it's not the New Year yet, I am ready to begin my new line of spring clothing. For Christmas, my mom got me some new patterns and fabric...and I am very excited to do something new! I also plan to add more knot dresses, since those are my favorite :). For now, I will show you a series of Christmas pictures from the last week or so...starting with our own Christmas, which we did before we left. The kids didn't get much, but it was fun to see their excitement! Over the next week, I'll show you the rest, including our trip. Thanks for looking! In the meantime, I'll be sewing every day...