Making an Announcement {Motherhood}

This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission only if you were to make a purchase at no extra cost to you. All views expressed are my own.

I have managed to keep this secret (kind of) from the social media world. Mostly my general facebook account and other media outlets. Yes, it has come out in some of the groups! It is so hard keeping something like this a secret! Especially when it feels so exciting! How long have you kept something a secret?

It was the beginning of December when I first suspected. It was way to soon to really tell, but I had a feeling. My husband just laughed at me when I told him, but I could see the wheels in his head turning.

We told the kids New Year's Eve. We weren't just celebrating the coming of a new year, but also celebrating...

the coming of a new...  Baby!

We are beyond excited!

We found out the gender a little over a month ago, and we couldn't be happier the baby looks healthy. The most important thing is a healthy baby.

I know Nikolai is beyond words excited he is getting a little brother!

2 of each.

Our little guy is due to arrive on or around August 24th.

I figured I should probably say something if I wanted to share some new items I am working on for a mini capsule (and the need for it since I got rid of most of my maternity clothes!) Oops!

Yes, I made the kids shirts! How could I not?! Especially after how much I loved these!

Nikolai's

GYCT Primary Tee. size: 6 in width and 8 in length. It is perfect.

Samara's

GYCT Tinley Tee. size: 4. I made it with the flutter sleeves and without the waist binding.

Kiera's

GYCT Tinley Tee size: 2 taken in a little in the width. Also with flutter sleeves and plain hemming.

Baby Boy

PAB Rompalls. size: newborn. Pants length. It seems so tiny and yet so big for a newborn!

I used a freezer paper stencil to make the design on the shirts (though I am wishing I had a machine that worked to cut some htv!).

I love these so much! I'm hoping we might be able to use the baby boy's as a going home outfit or something. Either way, I'm excited!

Bonus! GYCT is having a summer sale until the 20th! Perfect time to pick up the tinley and primary tee!

Sewing Summer Tees: GYCT Bowmont Tee {kids clothes}

*This post contains affiliate links. I make a small commission only if you make a purchase and at no extra cost to you. All views expressed are my own.*

The thermostat on my car yesterday said 96° outside. It's hot here in the southwestern desert, and looking through my kids' wardrobes I can see they are missing some hot weather clothes!

GYCT Design's Bowmont Tee was the perfect solution to start building their summer weather wardrobe.

The pattern:
The options are perfect to last year round. Long sleeves for winter, short sleeves and sleeveless for summer. It has a cowl, hood, and a kangaroo pocket.

I chose to go with the sleeveless for both my girls. My boy opted out of a shirt this go around. I had some ideas and none of them were working for him. So just the girls are getting something this time.

This first one is a pink slub knit from a local discount fabric shop. It's super thin and light, perfect for summertime. I've seriously had this stuff in my stash for at least 2 years!

I cut her shirt out at a 3 width and a 4  length. the neck is a 3 and the widest part of the head is a 4. 

I used the same fabric for the arm binding, waistband, and hood. I tried to talk her into the cowl, but she demanded hers have a hood. A hood and no pockets. Seriously, who swapped my kid out for another one? I've never known her to deny pockets!

The second one, in blue, is also a slubbed knit. This time it is the thin stuff from Walmart. I know. Walmart. But I had it on hand as well. Might as well use it! And it is so soft!

Unlike her sister, this one demanded pockets.
The patterns are gumball machines. I got it from a friend decluttering her supplies.

I was originally going to turn the hood so the gumballs were on the outside but totally didn't process that one right. and I am glad I did it wrong from how I intended. It looks good. Plus there is no way I am risking holes and seam ripping to turn the hood the other way!

I like the way the gumballs play peek-a-boo as she walks around.

I love hood options even with things that are sleeveless. My girls' scalp burns in the sun, and if they aren't wearing hats then I would much rather them keep something on their little heads! Plus, it's a lot harder to lose something when it is attached to your shirt!

I think I might need to come to some agreement with the boy so he can have a GYCT Design's Bowmont Tee or two for the summer as well.

What things are you planning on sewing for your kids with this warmer weather?

Super Heroes and Princesses: Spring Dresses {GYCT Designs Tour}

*This post contains affiliate links. I only earn a commission if you make a purchase. I was given a pattern in participation of this tour, all opinions given and expressed are my own.*

Welcome to my stop on the GYCT Dress Tour! Have you seen the other awesome dresses? Check out the list of previous stops (and don't forget to check out tomorrows stops as well) at the bottom of the post along with a giveaway!!

It is no secret I am a fan of GYCT Designs sewing patterns. You can check out all my GYCT posts and clothes using GYCT Designs patterns here. It has been a while since I have sewn much of anything lately and I am super excited to be driving that machine again! The bonus is that I am *finally* sewing up some dresses I have been asked for on numerous occasions!

I used 2 different patterns to create the girls 2 different dresses. 

*Supergirl Dress = Tinley Tee

*Princess Dress = Happily Ever After Dress

SuperGirl Dresses 

I made these first. 

Confession: I started the first one about a year and a half ago and never actually finished it. It's the one on the toddler. It was supposed to be her sister's so the fit isn't quite right, but she'll grow into it. It got super stretched out before I was able to attach the neckband, skirt or armbands.
The girls have worn these dresses multiple times and they have been washed multiple times before I was able to get pictures. Yay for being on top of things! Boo That the paint was starting to come off! I guess it gave my older girl something to fidget with? Ha!

Now, the Tinley Tee is not actually a dress, just a shirt. I cut it at the band line and instead of adding a band, I added a little strip and a skirt. I also added a band to the arm instead of hemming. I will do almost anything to avoid hemming. It's my dreaded sewing task! Please tell me I am not alone?

The "S" was freezer paper stenciled onto the dress. I have not jumped on the HTV bandwagon yet with a Cricut or silhouette (they are a bit pricey). This is the first time I've really had paint do this to me. But, the girls love it so no worries. They'll outplay the dress before it has a chance to come off completely I'm sure!  

For the longest time, this was the only kind of dress my oldest girl would wear. Knit, drop waist, a simple gathered skirt, no frills, no tulle. the Tinley Tee in a dress. I made so many of them. After making her this one I wondered why I stopped making her clothes. She wants to wear this dress all the time. I did end up shortening the bodice part a bit further than the band cutting line. It is a straight size 4 and for her, it was a little long. She's more in between the two sizes, but this gives her room to grow. 

The toddler's dress, since it started out intended for her older sister, was a little longer as well. But it is so funny to watch her run in it. Ok, it's just cute to watch a toddler run! And I am pretty convinced she grew some since I finished the dress! I swear it was longer on her when I finished it!

Her skirt is a bubble skirt. And I love the look of the bubble skirt! She pulls down on the yellow stripe which does not help the length of the bodice a bit. I am thinking I should shorten the top a bit so it fits her better...

I do love how these dresses turned out! 

Princess Dresses

Another long requested dress from the girl. But, being the specific thing she is it had to be a purple gown, not too long and it had to have buttons. But not any buttons. Buttons fit for a princess. And, it couldn't be too poofy. I just had to laugh at my 4-year-old.

The Happily Ever After Dress has a long skirt. As much as I wanted to see it long, I had to take it up to appease the 4-year-old and goodness if I didn't make the toddlers the same as big sister's dress it would be the end of the world! The pattern uses a zipper instead of buttons as well. Trust me. Stick with the zipper! I am not scared of zippers. I love them. In fact, I love them more than buttons! And I am not scared of buttonholes (hoorah for an automatic buttonhole foot for my machine!).

I guess the buttons don't look that bad. Buttons fit for a princess!

The front with the ribbon was fun. I winged it for placement and basted them on before sewing the sides to the front. If I were to do this again I might add loops to lace instead of straight sewing in the ribbon. 

I had fun sewing in the princess seams. It reminded me of curved piecing (like the drunkard's path blocks) for quilting. So fun.

Once I sewed up one of the princess dresses (seriously the first one took me 3 days. I kept sewing the back wrong so I kept ending up with 2 right sides. I had to walk away for a day for my tired momma brain to rest), the second took me only a matter of hours. I made sure to lay the pieces out so I didn't keep making the same mistakes over and over again. Seriously. It's a great looking dress but simple to put together!

Next time I will win the zipper vs. button battle as well. Ha! I say that now...

Don't Forget! Check out the awesome dresses on the rest of the tour! And the giveaway from the awesome sponsor Sunshine Rae Fabrics!

Our Play Palace  *  Elli and Nels  *  Max California

Tales From A Southern Mom  *  Phat Quarters  *  Darrel Rob Crafts  *  GYCT Designs

Threadistry  *  Sprouting Jube Jube  *  Manning the Machine

My Sewing Roots  *  House of Estrela  *  The Berry Bunch

Kathy's Kwilts and More  *  Paisley Roots  *  Aurora Designs  *  Natalie Bug Creations

Sponsored By

Sunshine Rae Fabric

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GYCT Designs is having a Holiday Sale!!

*This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small compensation only when you make a purchase at not cost to you. All views expressed are my own*

Our affiliate, GYCT Designs, is having a sale from November 26th - December 1st! All of her patterns are 40% off and there is no coupon code necessary! Yay! No Code Needed! 

Need some GYCT Inspiration? Here are some of the patterns I have sewn up...

Jean and Jamie Jammies

Rival Raglan

Tinley Tee

Firecracker Dress and Tunic, Holly and Ivy Party Dress, Tally Skirt

You can also check out these posts that have a GYCT Designs item sewn up!

Check out her super cute and adorable patterns here!

Happy Sewing!

Someone's Coming in January: The Kids Have New Shirts {Gender Reveal}

*This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission only if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you. All view expressed and given are my own.*

I cannot believe that I haven't shared with everyone yet! We have an announcement to make! And I made the kids new shirts to celebrate!

Coming in January 2016 (give or take) the kids will be getting another sister! (you know...90% sure...)

We are super excited! I loved the shirt I made Little man when we announced the impending arrival of the little lady, I just had to make some for the kids this time around too (it just took me forever to finish!)

BIG SISTER * IN TRAINING 

BIG BROTHER * TRAINER

I used the Rival Raglan by GYCT Designs (affiliate links). I made both long sleeves for little man and 3/4 for little lady so the kids can wear them throughout the winter. Since it's not too cold most of the time. What was I thinking today though? Poor kids' noses were turning red!

The back has the year for her arrival. (which I thought I took a picture of, but apparently not) Since both these guys were nearly 2 weeks late, I figure January wasn't a safe bet since the anticipated date is within the last few days...

I know for sure little man is super excited, but little girl? I am not fully sure she understands. :) But I know we are excited! More and more as the days go on I think she is starting to get it. It helps that she is around babies often enough though too...

But what can I say, she is following suit with her brother...

I have been utterly exhausted. The Halloween costume sewing drove me nuts and since Monday I have had this awful cold. I'm just relieved that I finally have this done! Granted standing outside for the 10 minutes to take pictured in the odd, but nice, cold we had today probably wasn't the best idea...

And I had to have little man take a couple with the 28 week bump...

Not bad for a 4 year old...

Except maybe, being mid-sentence... Oh well!

Until next time,

Happy Halloween: Spider-Man Themed Costumes {Halloween 2015}

I have grown to really love this holiday. For the last couple years Little Man has been adamant about what our theme is to be, last year was Batman. The year before was Peter Pan, but he was not as adamant and more willing to go with the flow on that one. This years theme was: Spider-Man

Little Man's Spider-Man:

• Top Pattern Used: GYCT Designs Rival Raglan (affiliate links) 
• Fabrics used: 4-way stretch performance fabric
• Modifications: color blocking and adding a waistband
• Embelishments: stencil and webbing design made with puffy paint!
• Bottom Pattern Used: Bonny Leggings by Made for Mermaids
• Hood: Self drafted, kind of... It wasn't too easy! 
• Boots: self drafted like the hood

Husband's Venom

• Top was the free Raglan from Melly Sews
• Bottom were a modified legging pattern. We are the same size, just extended the rise and straightened the legs at the calves a little bit...
• Fabric was mystique performance from Joann's
• bottoms were a shiny pleather looking stuff from our local discount shop
• The hood was the hardest part. We took a saran wrap mold of his head (puncturing holes at the nose and mouth with every wrap) and then taped the whole thing. It took lots of tries with a 'muslin' fabric (my green stuff)

Little Girl's Mrs. Fluffy Lumpkins

• Top: Bimaa Sweater by Lou Bee
• modifications: drafted a bill to add the nose, and ears, into the hood
• Bottom: Lollipop Leggings by Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop (affiliate links)
• modifications: Added a waistband instead of folding down the top with elastic

My Vulture

• Top: GreenStyle Creations Centerfield Raglan
• modifications: extended the front to accommodate the pregnant belly
• Bottoms: Peg Legs by Patterns for Pirates
• modifications: maternity modification
• The fabric was a green knit from the local discount shop
• Wings: I just used extra green fabric and the husband was going to paint it to look like feathers but... 
• Cowl: I took a piece of white fabric from last year and sewed together to make an infinity scarf.

And for a few more pictures...

Tell Me:
What did you dress up as for Halloween? If you didn't dress up, what did your kids dress up as?

Looking for some Halloween inspiration? 

Check out our past years for costumes:

Batman │ Peter Pan │ Pirates │ Vikings

Happy Halloween!