Oliver + S Bucket Hats

I made both kiddos some new bucket hats for our annual Virginia Beach trip. More Sarah Jane fabrics! The pattern is in Little Things to Sew (which I have and love) but also a free download here.

The hats are reversible, but I let them choose their own fabrics from my stash, so the two sides don't coordinate quite as much as I would have liked, but the point was for the kids to actually wear them, so—success!

Fourth Birthday Sketchbook Shirt

Leo needed a special mommy-made garment for his birthday, too, of course. ;) He selected this Sarah Jane print from her Children at Play line (Making Paper Hats in Aqua) from my stash. 

I made it into an oliver + s Sketchbook Shirt. And thank goodness, because I bought that pattern three years ago in the 6 month - 4T size range... made it just under the wire.

Edelweiss Dress for a Six-Year-Old and her 18" Doll

I just realized this is the third year in a row that I have sewed Louisa a summer dress in sarah jane prints! This year it is Wee Wander, Summer Night Lights in Magenta. The bodice is Meandering in Petal.

The pattern is the Edelweiss Dress by hey june of Crafterhours.

I sewed the buttons on the long tab (rather than the left side as written) so that I could move them when she is bigger, but for now the extra width is hidden when the buttons are hooked. The skirt is plenty long so there is room to grow!

Ruched Maternity Skirt and Shirt

No one wants to spend a lot of money on maternity clothes that are only going to be worn for a few months, (especially when one is pretty sure this is her last pregnancy.) So, it is tempting to go to Target or Old Navy and just buy some cheap-o pieces and move on. Which, I admit, I have done. But, let's get real—"fast fashion" is bad. Bad for the environment, bad for the American economy, and most especially, bad for the people who make the clothes. Rana Plaza has taught most people nothing. So, with all that in mind, I bought some fab Megan Nielsen patterns and decided to take at least some of my maternity wardrobe into my own two hands.

Farmhouse Table DIY

Last fall, when construction on our new house was nearly complete, A.J. used some vacation time to build a farmhouse table for our new dining room. He started with these plans from Ana White, but made some modifications based on some of the brag posts from her website, and on our own ideas and needs.

I liked the look of the original plan, and of the farm tables from Restoration Hardware (this one and this one), which were our original inspiration, but we wanted something we could pull up chairs to all the way around and not have crossbars in the way of feet and knees at the table.

Cargo Duffle Bag

I am breaking my rather long blog-silence to show off a project I am pretty proud of—my Cargo Duffle Bag! Another great pattern from Noodlehead (free from Robert Kaufman Fabrics).

I used my new favorite fabric line, Tule by Leah Duncan for Art Gallery Fabrics (which I bought from Hawthorne Threads). I love these prints. The main fabric is Meadow Vale in Bright, the pocket and handle accent fabric is Floras Oasis in Naranja, and the lining (both pockets and bag interior) is Terrain in Cactus. The bottom accent and bottom gusset is Essex Yarn Dyed in Denim from Robert Kaufman.

I referenced Anna's tips here, as well as some tips from the sew-along hosted here, and I used skirt as top's lining instructions.

Rebecca's Sunday Brunch Jacket

Louisa got an American Girl doll from Santa this year, and it has been fun. After much debate, she requested Rebecca, the Russian Jewish New Yorker growing up in 1914. We've been soaring through the books, especially Kit's series. And best of all, Rebecca's arrival finally got me to unpack my sewing things in our new house.

Summer Passports

School started a few days ago, which was a big deal for us this year. Louisa is off to Kindergarten and little Leo started preschool. Sadly, my sewing machine spent almost the entire summer in its case with the kids at home, between ballet and swim lessons, beach trips, AJ's long hours as a new intern, my seasonal workload, and our building a new house.

But, we did find time to document a little bit of all our adventures and routines, with summer passports!

This ingenious project comes from elsie marley. Louisa absolutely loved it.