Namesake

When Danny named our newborn son for a constellation known as "the hunter" I wasn't quite sure if the name fit our baby boy. Now I couldn't imagine him with any other name- it is truly part of his identity and he is always excited to see his name on star charts and elsewhere...

...more frequently than one would expect.

He is always so proud to point out his constellation and always reminds us that we are gazing at his belt. Knowing this, my dearest grandma made his day by sending him a care package of space goodies including this little patch.

 

Needless to say, it had to find a way into his wardrobe. Inspired by this, I made Ori this little bomber jacket fit for a particularly cold fall.

 The shell is a twill with a layer of cotton batting and a golden 50/50 sheet lining. 

 

 The construction was pretty standard- more or less comparable to this oldie.

The only tricky part was figuring out how to work in the rib knit hem to the zipper- that was a bit of puzzle which I solved through a bit of sewing meditation. Deep breathes, deep breathes. And it turned out it worked for me- and it works for him too.

Why is Phia crazy excited?

Kids Clothing Week, of course!

And why am I crazy excited? Oh, just guest posting about a particularly cute pattern over on KCW to ring in another completely inspiring week of child sized handmades. Check it out!

Details Dress Shirt

I am always in awe of stellar boys clothing since sewing for boys can definitely be a challenge. You have a lot more leeway with girls fashion, and boys clothing requires much more attention to detail.

Case in point- this little dress shirt I made for Ori. Lines have to be clean and seams have to be straight. Buttonholes have to be even and collars have to be aligned.

But that's kind of why I enjoy it- the finished project always looks so finished. 

This checked material was a 50/50 pillowcase- I love that it is more graphic than straight plaid. It was perfect for a dress shirt, but I did have to stretch it by using the gray chambray for the back and lining.

Fun boy fashions? Check out: 
Petit Ferris
Celebrate the Boy with Rae & Dana
Little Lebowski
elsiemarley's inspirations
verypurpleperson's amazing sarouels
delia's signature look

Updated

While I was posting the last set of pictures I realized it has been a while since I did an overall update of this blog. I had two days off this week (and they were consecutive!) so I thought it might be nice to tune some things up.

You can check out the creative places I frequent by people that I think are cool in the links. Check them all out, they are all that good.

And this is a peek at my newest piece up on etsy- I am pretty much in love with this chevron print.

Studio Top

 Sewing has been hit or miss lately. There have been more unfocused and tired days than there have been inspired and limitless days. For a while I have been trying to plan every single stitch I make to stream line my process, but have realized that that is just not how I function the best.

I made this color block top after seeing the fabric laid out next to each other. I think the challenge of making a stylish color block top is less the choice of colors and more to do with the proportion of the blocks. I wanted to keep this one sweet and simple for phia so I kept the middle band slim and higher up the bodice.  

 

I used stiffer fabrics- a pale pink poplin, black kona cotton, and a 50/50 teal bed sheet which were pieced together, and the front and back of the top are joined just below the black stripe at the armpit.

The front has gentle pleats at the neck and the back has a line of three buttons.

And since I personally love seeing pictures of handmade clothes flipped inside out, here is how the piece is lined. The back has a rounded little placket to accommodate the button closure and hits just at the seam of the middle stripe. 

ps: Happiest birthday wishes, Ma! Love you!

Tee Time

New tee's for the new year? Sure thing.

 These were so superly simple to whip up. Two different cuts, made to tunic length for the hip drapey style, or the tucked into skirt look.

 

The knit stripes were found at Hancock whilst vacationing in Wichita last year, and the vintage floral knit was an etsy purchase.

 

I am loving these quick little projects- instant gratification is so....gratifying. And sewing is one of my priorities this new year- I am really trying to ease back into it, and have been relearning how to plan out and execute projects as thoughtfully as possible. If only we could keep from being sick I think I would really make some strides with my sewing goals. Lately, every time we feel like we are recovering, some new bug sneaks in. Hoping for more stitching and less ailments!

Scout's Honor

Confession: I always wanted to be a girl scout. As a child everything they had to offer appealed to me; crafts,  camp fires, and cookies. My sister was a brownie scout and although it was an early and very apparent desire of mine, nothing ever came of it. I just held tight to the idea that I would probably be an awesome girl scout if need be.

So when a friend asked if Phia might want to join I had to admit that I had been waiting for the invite for a while. The girls in her troop are so sweet and spirited, and she is so excited for Friday night meetings. In December the girls were in a town parade and they marched holding a banner that I made for their troop. The banner got some sweet compliments and the girls looked so proud. Really made the appliqued lettering worth it.

I could go on, but I will just leave you with these scouting links.
souting on pinterest
Famous Scouts -
Something Funny- cookie commentary by John Mulaney

Gilded and Gathered

This little number represents exactly how I want to dress my girl for Thanksgiving. My vision of perfect Thanksgiving attire is sweet and classic without being too much of an overstatement. You don't want to make your relatives feel underdressed, and at some point you are expected to stuff yourself.

The dress is made out of a golden silk that has been gently pleated on the bodice and sleeves for a very delicate and unique texture. The bubble skirt of the dress is a brushed poplin with a golden sheen- it was given some substantial pleats to give it a lot of "umph". The little bolero is a deep golden knit with felt leaves. 

The dress was all about texture and tones- the pleats on the golden silk were subtle but striking and the vibrant bolero just makes the whole ensemble pop. The colors really came together freely and the style is definitely more simple and chic with touches of whimsy. If you have a minute, check out project run and play and don't forget to vote!

A Handsome Homecoming

For this weeks boy challenge I decided to make something appropriate for my little guy's return to school- new dress duds fit for picture day and his very own letterman jacket.

 

The jacket was made with sweatshirt fleece and it is set to become his new go to when running out the door. The dress shirt is made from a bed linen with faint yellow stripes, and the pants are a stretchy red suiting material that look perfect dressed up or down. I loved the vibrant red color for boys the cut is a comfortable skinny style- casual yet dressy.

The jacket is definitely the piece that stands out in this look. I knew I wanted to make it royal blue for Ori's future school's colors and settled on either red or yellow trim. Yellow just happened to be the trim I found while thrifting- I cut up and salvaged what I could from an old sport wind breaker and then backed it with ribbed knit. It took a great deal of fiddling to get just the right amount for the neck, cuffs and bottom hem.

Speaking of a great deal of effort- these smiles did not come easy. I realized during this little photo shoot at a nearby high school that Phia is a much more manageable model to work with. It took me about 15 minutes to figure out exactly what I could bribe Ori with. He turned down the already promised trip to red mango, and held firm with the agreement that I download "bad piggies" once we got home. And for that cheeky grin, I will conclude that was .99 cents well spent.

If you have a chance, check out project run and play and cast your vote!

Stella Style

Let me start with a thanks for all the votes and sweet comments from the last round! Very excited to take part in the icon challenge, especially because I picked Stella McCartney as my inspiration.

I love Stella Mccartney's style and designs- she melds modern and vintage so perfectly with clean lines and sweet details. I swoon over anything she has a hand in, and love the way she incorporates classic pieces and makes them hip.

The band jacket was a must for me, and with lace details and gold buttons it has a hint of femininity. The "maestro" style top was a labor of love with all the pleats on the bodice, and the capris are perfectly tailored to accentuate the shape of the tops. From the trimmed cuffs to the pleats in the pant leg, little details really gave this look the Stella touch. 

I was pretty excited as this look came together as I had envisioned- especially once I pulled the painters tape off of the freshly spray painted rainboots!

So now is the time where you can head over to Project Run + Play and vote on a favorite look- check it out and let me know who inspires you!

End of School Mode

 The kids are both officially done with school this week. Both were a little sad to have reached the end of the year so quickly- something I contribute to good teachers. I was so relieved that Phia and Ori both loved their teachers, and between end of year parties and festivals, I wanted to make them something cute to say thanks.

Hopefully they will get good use out of these totes- made with a modern apple print that is fun enough for someone who spends most of their time with young children.

Dignity of Work

Learning how to best balance the home front while working has been a very interesting experience. While some things are just reaffirmations, I have started to pick out what makes life easier.

 Baking off eight pizzas to bulk up on dinner time staples.

Working on finishing projects.

Enjoying time with the family.

Color Theory Top

The thought process on making this top: chevrons are in, simple is better, and we need more airy tops for this summer-ish spring.

 

And since Phia is a five year old girl, she is all about rainbows.

A Very Useful Accessory

Here's my first kcwc project to be finished:
A reversible vest all fit for Ori. It was a simple little project that came together really quick- I love how motivating instant gratification always feels.
But, I had to use the power of persuasion to get Ori to like his vest. I might have told my train obsessed son that it is the same vest that a certain railway controller wears.
And for anyone who would like to put one together, here is a little walk through.