Happy Anniversary!

Just checking in to say “Hello” and to wish Mama Can Sew a Happy Anniversary!

My blog’s one year anniversary snuck by me a few weeks ago. I can’t believe it has been that long. It is amazing how much you can learn in a year! I feel like I have really improved but also have so much more to learn.

I get asked a lot about my future plans. I am not exactly sure what they are for my blog or my sewing at the moment. I started the blog to keep me accountable for my projects. It was intended to push me to follow through and finish them. It has also unexpectedly pushed me to put more effort in photographing my children. In the process, I have captured a lot of cute photos of my kids that I wouldn’t otherwise have! It has been a challenge to keep up with it, but all your encouraging comments have inspired me to keep sewing and blogging about my projects. Thank you all for your kind words!

I have also had a lot of questions about my future plans for sewing. I get a lot of inquiries about commissions and/or a possible future Etsy store. I occasionally do a commission. I like to do things that I am comfortable with. I want to keep sewing stress free at the moment. I have toyed with the idea of an Etsy store, but whenever I get serious about it, I realize I am not quite ready. I really appreciate every one of your inquiries however. Every time I am asked this, I am honored that you think so much of my sewing ability, and I do hope one day to turn my love of sewing into a business. Again, thank you!

So this entry won’t be completely without photos, here is a commission I did do a few months back.

I love the Triple Ruffle Pants pattern from FooFoo Threads. You may remember them from my past blog entries here and here. So when I had a request from another mom in my local multiples group to make her twins a pair, I couldn’t resist. I hope those sweeties enjoy them!

I just love those ruffles!

School Picture Day

When I picked up the kids Monday afternoon from preschool, they had stickers on their back to let me know the next day was picture day. Of course, I wanted to make something special for the girls to wear. Maya has been begging me to make her something out of the “bad wolf” fabric (otherwise known as Micheal Miller’s Les Amis – Dawn Collection) and I chose Create Kids Couture’s Molly’s Faux Apron Peasant Dress for the pattern.

I picked the pattern thinking it would be simple, quick, and easy. It was, but I didn’t get them done in time… or so I thought!  After I gave up for the evening, I checked my email and found out their class wouldn’t be photographed for two more days. Yippee! I even found the time to make a couple of matching headbands using FooFoo Threads ruched headband pattern.

Naomi says “make a wish!” My wish is that they follow the photographer’s directions better than mine today!

My Little Matryoshka Dolls

I know it’s been a long while since I last posted. Life caught up with me and sewing had to take a back seat the last few weeks. When I could find the time to sew, I spent it on new school outfits for the girls. I finally finished them last night!

The bottoms are the Bridgette’s Palazzo Pants pattern by Create Kids Couture. It is a great beginner pattern. It is really easy to follow and the pants came together quickly. The pattern goes up to a girls’ size 8 so I know I will be using it a lot in the future. I wonder how hard it would be to make a pair for myself? 

The top is the Cassidy pattern by FooFoo Threads. It is an intermediate pattern and it kind of kicked my butt. I finally completed the tops however and I ended up with my first fully lined pieces! I am pretty proud of them.

I have a feeling someone will ask about the fabric since it is just too cute! The Matryoshka Doll fabric is from JoAnns. The red print fabric I found in the clearance section so it may be a bit harder to locate. I am sorry, I do not know the name or the designer. The solid red is Kona Cotton Cardinal.

The girls really had fun with this photo shoot even though I made them do it twice!. I took photos this morning before school and just wasn’t happy with them, so we did it again when we got home. There were a few groans at first but I think the candy bribe helped. It definitely made them extra silly!

First Day of Pre-K Outfits

Today was my girls’ first day of Pre-K. I really wanted to get a cute shot of them on the way out the door but for the first time in forever, it was actually raining. The lighting inside my home is terrible, especially when it’s dreary outside, so this was the best shot I could get.

Luckily when the girls came home, they didn’t have lunch or paint all over them, so when there was a break in the rain, I took them outside to get some more shots.

The pants are Foo Foo Threads Triple Ruffle Capris. You may recognize them. It is the same pattern I used for my gnome pants in this post.

I actually made them a few months ago and bought the pink shirts at Target to go with them. I never posted about them before because I always thought the outfit was still missing something.

I thought an applique on the shirt would probably help. I had been eyeing Hang To Dry’s Scalloped Circular Monogram and decided it would be perfect!

Unfortunately, I did the one thing you should never do when using an embroidery machine. I looked away. It was only for a moment but the needle caught the bottom of the shirt and ripped a hole in it.

I wasn’t quite sure what to do about it at first. Then, I remembered seeing several photos of little purses sewn onto children’s clothes. I did a quick search and found this free tutorial and pattern over at Welcome to the Mouse House and got to work. They covered the hole perfectly and I think it was a pretty cute addition to the outfit!

I just love these pants and so do my girls. They are like having six tiny little twirly skirts on your legs. So much fun!