more last-minute ideas

this afternoon i whipped up a few ties for our little guy, the idea being that he could wear one ironically at christmas dinner. recently i'd downloaded a copy of this cute leila & ben pdf pattern (via magpie patterns, but they also have an etsy shop). it includes sizes from 1 - 5 years and was only $4! i printed it off, gathered a few japanese linen/cotton scraps and got to work. each tie took about 10 minutes max, including cutting & ironing. so fast!

it could not be easier - raw edges, elastic tucked in, topstitch around and you're done! i also created my own variation (elephant print, in front) with finished edges. i'm going to have to make these for all the little guys i know - so cute!

for your little gnome

it's been a while since i've updated the blog. sad! having a week long visit to family back east back-to-back with preparing and showing at portobello west and then the festive brouhaha of halloween somehow kept me from blogging. i've been meaning to, but it took something really cute to get me moving:

how awesome is this hand-felted merino wool gnome hat from etsy's wee little robin? i adore it!

it's custom-made to your fit your munchkin's particular head and available in candy apple red or tangerine.

weekend project: bedtime story pajamas

i'm so excited to have finally made up a pair of real pajamas for cole using the fantastic bedtime story pajamas pattern from oliver + s, the best kids pattern line in forever.

every pattern is that perfect combination of modern and classic, and thankfully for me, not by nature a reader of instructions, they are foolproof. well designed, simple and illustrated, the step-by-step instructions are easy to walk through. this was a quick project - about 2 1/2 hours start to finish.

they're mainly constructed using a 1 metre piece of funky monkey flannel (similar options here) that i've had in my stash for a while. turns out though that i didn't have quite enough... so, rather than try to drum up more or shelve the project, i dug out enough of a different flannel to make contrasting sleeves and ties.

since they're called bedtime story pajamas, i thought it would be appropriate to get a photo of cole during his actual bedtime story... it started out well enough - he loves to read together, but it soon turned into an episode of mug and wrestle. good to see they don't impede his movements! ;-)

lovely mondays: wooden toys

we've tried very hard to stick to wooden toys around here but more plastic sneaks in that i'd like to admit. i'm ok with duplo, but the rest of it can go. just leave us with our books, handmade stuffed animals, delightful wood toys and our art supplies and i'm happy. there are such fun, unique and handmade finds on etsy that it's easy to see the light!

and i must, must, must have that checker set. pirates vs ninjas? all kinds of awesome. all these delights, clockwise from top left:

pirates vs. ninja checker set from goose grease

vintage graphic choo-choo block puzzle from tiny giraffe

robot parade figure set from moo shoo pork

rainbow of mushrooms collection from wee wood

weekend project: smocked sundress

spotted this smocked dress how-to over in etsy's the storque. it's a step-by-step guide to making the adorable sundress from heather ross' weekend sewing, using the instructions and diagrams right from the book! there's still a bit of summer left (or a lot, depending where you live!) so there's no time like the present to try this one.

i made this dress recently and was so surprised by how easy it was. smocking ahoy!

dresses for wee girls

new dresses! i recently made these two sweet dresses for little girls that i know. it was a nice break from all the pants and shorts i've been making for cole.

the first was this quick and easy dress from lotta jansdotter's simple sewing for baby. a size wasn't given, but it looks like it'll fit approximately 12-18 months as a short baby dress (very short - maybe add pants!) and then i think it'll fit for a little while longer as a top. love the heather ross spooky octopii fabric from her mendocino collection.

and the second is the smocked sundress from weekend sewing by heather ross. i've always thought that smocking must be complicated and awkward - not so! it was the easiest thing ever. you simply buy elastic thread and use that in your bobbin. stitch straight lines across a rectangle of fabric and voila - smocking. it could not have been easier. this dress was given to a little girl of two, but because it's elasticized and has adjustable tie-straps i think it'll fit for ages - maybe even as a skirt!

how to: juice box boats

found these swell juice box boats and how-to over at the inchmark journal. made of such simple elements and such a quick and kid-friendly project. and of course anything that floats is bound to ring a few bells.

i adore the inchmark journal - endlessly inspiring and easy on the eyes, it's one of my favourite crafty reads. and i am so in awe of creator brooke reynolds and her many talents - she has such a stylish, modern yet approachable and quirky aesthetic, and her touch as a designer is evident in so many of my favourites in the realm of craftdom.

weekend project: upholstered toddler bed

gabrielle blair aka the rad design mom came up with this inexpensive (about $40), easy, functional and - perhaps even above all - adorable toddler bed design. complete step-by-step instructions over at design*sponge.

cole is fifteen months old now, and the other day some stranger mom at the park asked me if he still slept in a crib. i have the feeling that i looked at them blankly, blinking for a few moments while wondering if they were crazy. um, yeah - the bed with the bars that prevent him from a) escaping b) rolling out in the night c) escaping and d) escaping? yeah, he still sleeps in a crib. but in a year or so this will be awesome. ;-)

weekend project: can stilts!

we're a ways off making a set for our little guy, but i can't resist the lure of these awesome recycled can stilts. you could make them adult-sized with some giant cans anyway - how rad would you look wandering around on your own set? ;-)

how-to from zakka life, found via ohdeeoh.

for free: printable bookplates!

so adorable, from orange you lucky: free printable bookplates! visit the site to download the high-res files and use them to mark your (or your child's!) fave books, as bookmarks, in loot bags and more. created by helen dardik: amazingly talented designer, illustrator, mom of three.

because i like a challenge?

i just ordered my first japanese sewing book! the first in japanese, that is - i have several translated books but this is my first crack at deciphering a pattern without the advantage of a language i'm familiar with... it's the pochee special boys and girls clothes from pomadour24.

my theory - and let's see if this actually holds water - is that since i'm not a pattern-reader but am a visual learner i should be able to figure it out based on the pictures. we'll see about that! ;-)

i can't wait to see it in person. oh, so many little bits of clothing to make for cole and our various other baby friends.