Something to remember

I just had to post this picture of my little cherub Sofia.

Funniest thing - I was looking at her smile and realised that by this time next year she will probably not have those teeth any more. And she will not be gloriously 4 years any more but a really big girl at 5 years.

4 is so wonderful - they are getting out of the troublesome threes (or is it terrible twos?) and have all these ideas and thoughts and musings that are so incredibly wonderful to listen to.

The other day when Rickard was walking home with Sofia from daycare to pick up Isabel at school she wouldn't stop talking for a second and among others was the little gem I posted last week.

"Sometimes when it's quiet and I am thinking it's as if someone is talking inside my head. .. I'm thinking a lot of things. All the time."

Wonderful 4.

RIP Hat

I came across this picture today and I have to say that even though I disliked her colour choices, that hat was really pretty!

I think I'll have to sneak a denim one in the sewing list before fall. The white one I made her is a bit sensitive to dirt.

Sofia at 4

Sofia appears to be our more imaginative child. She also gets herself into more trouble than Isabel ever did.

- she likes to draw on herself with pens, preferably felt tip
- she cuts her own hair (and refuses to acknowledge me when I ask her about it)
- she will hide clothes she doesn't like to wear so that I won't find them and force them on her (this is a guess after she balled up the latest dress I made her and hid it in a box in the hall where we keep mittens and scarves)
- she will take dvd-sleeves up to her room and cut into them with scissors



- she will bring a purse to town for all her essentials (i.e. lip gloss, nail polish, mirror, comb/brush, scissors, band aids)
- she will wear a Barbie tiara in public that her sister got in a Happy Meal
- she accessorises imaginatively (black satin ribbon around her ankle)

Fun fair

We've had a few weeks with unstable weather but on Wednesday this past week we got lucky.



I had planned to meet my Mom for lunch - and maybe even my Aunt who works in town - and then take the girls to Folkets Park (The People's Park - a park with a few big playgrounds, a mini-zoo and a fairground) for some rides and some play.



Both girls wanted to try out the harnessed trampoline but I only got really good pictures of Sofia using it.

The weather was great. A bit overcast but sunny and not too warm. We went for lunch, the Aunt could only come in for a quick Hello - she was in the middle of a very hectic start-up process for the next theatre production she is involved in.

Then we walked back to the Park and bought some tokens for the rides.



Isabel has never been big on rides and she made sure to choose the smallest, slowest rides she could, without a lot of spinning or speed.
Sofia appears to be a bit braver when it comes to rides, but she followed Isabel's lead and rode with her big sister.



We ended the day with an ice cream from Ben & Jerry's - well, Sofia preferred a doughnut. They both got to pull a string and win a stuffed animal.

Put a bird on it

After five weeks off Rickard went back to work yesterday. The girls and I are home together two more weeks before my vacation time is up.

We decided to do some crafts so in the morning we went to town to get some white tees. Not an easy task I tell you. Most stores prefer to sell tees with their logo on them, but at H&M we found what we were looking for.



The girls each got three tees to embellish.



I helped them get paint on the stamps evenly then they did the stamping themselves.

I prefer crafts that are easy to wash up and clear away so we mixed the paints on paper plates left over from Sofia's party. All the brushes were old and worn so I threw them all out after we were done.



The results were varied. I was given permission to print one tee for each girl and I made an artsy-fartsy owl on a branch with balloons (cause you know - owls need them to fly, right?) for Isabel but when I tried a "Roman Holiday" theme for Sofia (the crown and the Vespa) she out ruled me and requested skulls as well. So it's more of a "Roman Pirate Holiday" I guess.

I do regret now not getting more tees (they were very inexpensive) to try some transfers on. I got some transfer paper for my printer that I'm dying to try out. Maybe I'll give it a go on some ribbon I have to make labels.

Ah well, we need something to do next week.

Party plans

So, my little one had a birthday a few weeks ago and on Saturday we're having a party for her little friends.

I try not to go over board on the planning, but I do admit to having a bit of an Amy Atlas-moment now and then.



Last year I went a bit over board and we had leftover candy for months. This time I'm going to go easy and not over-do it.
There will be lots of cake, but we're going to my parents in the afternoon so maybe I can bring it there.

I have a few crafts I want to do before the party and I hope to find the time tonight so I don't have to do it last minute.
I'm picking up flowers on Friday afternoon and maybe the girls can help me dress one or two embroidery hoops with ribbons to hang over the table.

So wish me luck and I'll post pictures after the fact.

Do Not Disturb the Creative Process

Both Isabel and Sofia got very invested in me painting the board I started using as a background.

They kept asking me when I would do the painting and wanted to be a part of it.

I wasn't very keen on letting them loose on my board so I told them they could paint once I was done.



The weather was very nice on Sunday and I gave Sofia the left over paint after I was done with my pink (Honeysuckle) side and she got an old door from a cabinet of some sort to paint on.



She took it very seriously.

A Skip in the Hopscotch.

I made Sofia a new skirt a few days ago.

One night a few weeks ago she woke up early in the evening before I had gone to bed and she was a bit agitated. So to calm her and cool her down (her room faces south and gets really warm in summer) I took her to my sewing room and she had a look through the pile of pattern descriptions I have.

She likes to look at the paper dolls.

So together we decided I would make her a skirt and a dress.

I have made this once before for Isabel. I used cord that time, which is not an ideal fabric for this pattern.
The quilting cotton from Moda was perfect though. It's designed by Oliver + S and called Modern Workshop.
I think the scale is perfect for little girl's clothes.



She was very happy with it and even got to help pick out the buttons for it. Although I admit I did prod her in a certain direction and she ended up picking the same ones I would have.

Nature Walk for Midsummer

We celebrated Midsummer's Eve in Sweden on Friday, and even though it's the start of summer it does get a bit chilly in the evenings and I wanted to make a sweater for the girls to wear.
I've been eyeing the Nature Walk Pullovers for a while (I love the pants that come with that pattern!) and decided to give it a try.

I bought green and red fleece at my local fabric store, dotted and with penguins. I love how they look so surprised!

Isabel was away at camp for 5 days when I started them so Sofia got first pick, and she wanted the greens.



I used white broadcloth to line the pullovers. I feared if I lined it with fleece they would turn out too warm to wear now. I also used the same broadcloth for all facings.

I'm actually glad Sofia picked the green as I believe Isabel fits better in the red one. She was very pleased with it when she saw it as she came home from camp.



I made the two pullovers in tandem - it made it a bit more productive. And I finished them both in two nights.

I will definitely make them again, but I will add some width to the body as they turned out to be a bit slim for my girls. I will also do them in a different fabric. The fleece was a bit thick. I think I'll try them in some sweatshirt fabric or jersey.

I also want to experiment with the pattern and make them in one piece - maybe omitting the pockets. I'll bet they are a really quick sew that way.

Ready for an Ice Cream Social

Last night after the girls were in bed I sat down to make Sofia a new dress.

I had the Ice Cream Dress in size 6 cut out and it was all ready to go.

I had hoped to get the yoke done before Sofia fell asleep, but no such luck.

In all it took a little over 2 hours and 40 minutes to get it done.



Sofia picked the fabrics herself from my stash of Modern Workshop by Oliver + S (with a little help from me) and I think it turned out very well.



I made this as a blouse once before an I remember having problems getting the back of the yoke look neat. I think I fiddled with it that time and made it work, but this time I wanted it too look more than ok.
So when I still couldn't get it to work I put a bird label on it.



I brought the dress with me to work to show my co-worker and when I came home I told Sofia to go look in my purse for something that was hers and she came back unfolding the dress with a sweet smile on her face.



I think she was very happy with it.

Happy birthday Sofia!

On Saturday we had a party for Sofia to celebrate her birthday. She requested a chocolate cake and I made cardamom buns and bought a box of almond cookies.

She got a floating device, a beach towel and a two-piece bathing suit, a ball and some money.

She changed into the bikini right away and ended up taking a dip in our pool as soon as she had finished her cake.

At the Seashore ...

Last night I sewed up two Seashore dresses for the girls.


(Taken with my phone late last night)

This afternoon I had them try the dresses on.

Too tight in the chest and tummy on both of them, and the armscye was way too high and yet the straps were a bit short.
Not much right there.

I took out the side seams 1/4" which gave me about 1" extra width. I hope that's enough.

Turned out though that I had made some alterations to my machine and the needle was not in the right position so my machine plate measurements were a bit off, which would explain some of the tightness.

Sofia's dress is done so I'll have her try it on and see what the results are. Only then I'll alter Isabel's.

New coat - KCWC Day 1

I spent the weekend sewing a new coat for Sofia. The one I made her this winter is too warm by now so she needed a new one.

I based it on the School Days Coat by Oliver + S but instead of a hood I put in a collar.
I also added some width in the back via a box pleat. Turns out I didn't really need to, but now it's there I sort of like it.

I still have to do some hand stitching on it. The lining needs to be sewn to the coat. I also have to find buttons that are large enough and make button holes for those.

The coat is so much fun to sew. It comes together easily and beautifully.

The size 6 is large on Sofia since it's meant to have a quilted under coat in it, so I'm planning on tracing a size 8 for Isabel and see how it fits her.
In a light denim with a cotton lining it should fit her with just a few minor alterations. Length, specifically.

This is part of the KCWC Spring 2011 challenge - Day 1.

Easter

We were celebrating Easter Saturday at my SIL's place. Her in-laws were also visiting so with kids we ended up being 14 people.

We were asked to bring some food to the table and we made a "matjesillstårta" (as in herring cake - not as bad as it sounds, in fact bloody delicious if I say so myself).

We went for a long walk/bike-ride in the morning. The girls rode their bikes and Rickard and I walked. I think it ended up being something like 5-6 km (3.5 miles) and I was a bit sore once we finally came home. (Silly me was wearing flip-flops and my soles aren't toughened yet.)

On our walk I had time to ponder the girls' dresses and I realised I wanted to make some bloomers for Sofia (and ideally for Isabel too) to wear underneath for modesty. I find that long walks are good for these ideas to turn up - and to be planned out.

When we came home I went upstairs and traced the Bedtime Story Pyjama Pants. I cut them off 3" below the leg notch and then cut them out from some creamy gorgeous cotton batiste I bought from a fellow O+S-junkie in the US.

To give them a nice finished edge I contemplated a ruffle, but ended up using one piece of lace I had got from my MIL a few years ago. It's hand crochet lace and it worked out wonderfully.



Sofia was mighty pleased with them and I liked their heirloom feel.

Unfortunately I didn't manage to make any for Isabel before we had to leave. But I think I'll use the Nature Walk Pants as a starting point for hers. I'm thinking adding the yoke to the pants leg and using a similar waistband as the pyjama pant. Maybe add a few 1/2 inches of width since that pattern is for stretchy fabric.

I have one more piece of lace that I could use to hem hers.



In the end Isabel wore a pair of cropped leggings and that worked well too.



I need to learn to factor in a few extra inches for length when I make dresses for Isabel. O+S dresses in size 10 fit her beautifully, but she needs an extra 2" or maybe even 3" for length.

Happy Easter!

Vintage flair

Well, here's the finished result. Two pretty Jump Rope Dresses for two pretty girls.

They picked the fabric themselves and I added the white pindot fabric for the plackets and collars because the fabric had a vintage flair to it and I thought the white plackets would add to that retro feeling.



This is the contented smile of my 6 year old getting to try on her new dress for real for the first time.



And here's my 3 year old showing her dress off. She does this easiest by dancing.

Sewing information: Fabric bought at Stoff och Stil, 100 % cotton.

Pink dress: Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress size 8 graded to a size 9-ish, placket lengthened 1", bodice lengthened 1", skirt lengthened 2".
Blue dress: Oliver + S Jump Rope Dress size 6 - no modifications.

Sofia's Coat

We've had a tough weekend with tummy rumbles and back pains so I haven't had time to properly show this off. Heck, I can't even remember what day I finished it.

I know I spoke with my aunt on Wednesday evening and she put it in my head to add some ribbed cuffs to the lining to make the coat a bit more wind proof.



It was a bit fiddly, but not anything difficult. I skipped the part in the directions about shortening the lining sleeve by 1" and instead I sewed up the side seam and cut off the bottom 2". Then I sandwiched the cuff between the sleeve and the cut off piece and used a stretch/overlock stitch on my regular sewing machine to stitch the whole thing together.



Finally I followed all directions and sewed the rest of the coat together. I also threw in a pair of matching mittens from the new Oliver + S-book Little Things To Sew.

I haven't gotten around to adding the snaps to the coat - Sofia snatched the coat up and haven't let me have it since.

I am considering putting in a temporary zipper because she's not very keen on the buttons. I have a thick, orange zipper at home that would match the orange elements in the fleece, so I'll have to think about how to add it now - after the coat is done.

Sofia's thrilled though and is wearing it to daycare today. I hope it keeps her warm enough.

... I love you Mummy ...

I don't really like getting up in the morning. I'm much more of a night person and I prefer to sleep in.

But getting up to see this and hear her say "I love you Mummy" makes it a lot easier.

{blogtoberfest 2010 day 13 - fail} Happy Conception Day!

7 years ago on Oct 13th I was at an IVF- clinic having 11 eggs removed from my ovaries. In the hours that followed 7 eggs were successfully turned into embryos (ok - zytoblasts I guess) and one was implanted 2 days later and became our awesome Isabel.



Three years minus one month later We had one egg thawed and implanted which became the lovely Sofia.



Happy Conception Day girls!

{blogtoberfest 2010 day 11} Poorly child

Well, when big sister got sick last week it was only a matter of time before Sofia caught a bug too.

Sleeping in mommy's bed all snuggled up in pillows and duvets.

Red cheeks from fever and being a bit overheated. Bunny-rag ever present.

Making dresses ...

Last year when I started stashing fabric (to my husband's gentle frustration) I found a lovely fabric from Alexander Henry called Baby Berry.

I ordered a yard (along with a bunch of other yard cuts) with the intention to make something for our kitchen from it. Like a table runner or a tea cosy or something like that.
The fabric was way too thin for that though and at the time I was more into collecting fabric than actually making something from it.

But a year later my fabric stash is growing at an alarming rate and I really need to get started on using it.
Don't get me wrong I love fabric fondling and I could content myself on doing that, but I fear my husband will stop feeling gentle frustration and move onto something else if I don't start using it.

So lately I've been on a sewing binge. I bought a bunch of patterns from different designers' and I've been keeping busy.

I've been off work for a week starting last Monday and I definitely caught the sewing bug.
I traced the pattern for Patty Young's Frida one evening and picked out the Baby Berry and a green/white seersucker fabric I've had lying around (they were gonna be curtains) for a few months.
I took time out during the day to sew up the bodice for the Frida but had to put it aside since we were going to dinner at a friend's house.

We came home again late last night and I was fondling the fabrics and looking at the pattern pieces I had cut out. And then I thought - I can sew the pocket on. So I did. Then I thought sewing the ruffle strip together wouldn't take that long or serging the edges.
Then I might as well sew the gathering seams too.

And before I knew it the dress was done and the time was ... way past my bed time. At least the birds hadn't started singing again ...



I made the dress for Sofia who turned two last month. But since I have a taller-than-average-husband she needed the 4T/5T size ... no point in making a dress for her if she's not gonna be able to use it for at least a few months (which is the reason I prefer to put my time and effort into making dresses for Isabel - then Sofia will be able to inherit them and I'll get more mileage out of them)



I thought the dress would be too long and that I would have to make some pleats in the skirt ... after trying it on her I don't think so anymore.

Now - I have already picked out a fabric combo for a Frida for Isabel. But the pattern doesn't come in a big enough size for her so I will have to grade it myself.
I'm still working on that.