Making an Announcement {Motherhood}

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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

CraftingCon: Villains: Batman's Harley Quinn {2014 Halloween Throwback}

What to do for Halloween?!? It's that time of year again and I have some costume inspiration for you!

Pulling this post from the past! This is my middle monkey about 3 years ago!! Not the costumes this year, though the baby can for sure wear it!

You can check out the whole bunch and our costumes on the Batman Themed Costumes post!

This post contains affiliate links. all reviews and opinions expressed are my own. I did not receive compensation for this pattern to make this garment.

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I'm Jessi, and I blog over at The Berry Bunch! Thanks so much for having me share some inspiration for costume, villain design! I am so excited to share with you the costume for baby girl this Halloween. Crafting Con has been such a fun event! Check out my July competition post for Star Wars here.

Our costumes always center around a theme and this year little man picked Batman. So what to do for baby girl? The hubby suggested she be Harley Quinn. Why not? And, it fits in perfectly with this month! We may not have a joker in our group, but when Harley Quinn is this cute, who needs a joker?

For the Harley Quinn outfit I used Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop's Aloha Burn Blocker. Baby girl is a funny size, 12-month length with 6-month width. My little skinny minny. I extended the shorts to be pants and moved the zipper to the back and color blocked. Instead of neck binding hubby and I (it was a team effort) drafted the collar and used a minky.

The hat is a basic hood pattern that I just sewed the seam until it was fairly tight fitting. Then added the jester/horns stuffed with poli-fil. and attached the ends under the chin. She did not like it at first, but I think she likes the feeling of the jester/horns bouncing as she runs! She would not stand still for pictures!

And the back! 

Hopefully, this offers some inspiration for your Halloween costume sewing! Isn't it amazing what you can do with any kind of pattern?

Thanks again for having me share for CraftingCon! Happy Sewing!

JessiBerry

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!

Footie PJs: Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop is having a Holiday Sale!

*This post contains affiliate links. All views expressed are my own. I did not receive the pattern in exchange for the post; I receive compensation when purchases are made through the links I provide*

I have finally sewn up a pair of Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop's Happy Feet Pajamas for the little man. I like these because it will be so much easier for him to use the bathroom! Even though he prefers the full body ones with the zipper. I know, zippers are so much fun! And, just in time to share with you Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop's biggest sale of the year (stay tuned for the awesome discount codes!)

And little kids in footie jamanas (as he calls them) are so stinkin cute! Even if they are almost 5!

I accidentally (pregnancy brain! Argh!) cut a size up instead of the one that would have fit him better, but hey, then this pair will last next year too! Hopefully!

I've had several yards of this fabric for a couple years and have used it for many a gift set for babies and a thumb shirt for this guy, and I still have so much left. But these bikes are so much fun and the fabric is almost like a waffle knit so it should be fairly nice during the winter.

The bottoms of the feet have puffy paint on them instead of the grip/no slip fabric stuffs... mostly because I have puffy paint, and puffy paint is fun to use!

From now to November 30th save up to 30% on 5+ patterns "MERRY30", 20% off all and any patterns "MERRY20" and 15% off fabric "MERRY 15" (seriously love her fabric!) ... And, she now carries patterns for kids and adults! Score some for you, and the rest of the family!

head to Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop to check out everything she has!