A Bookish Life

The Baby Gift Tide Continues

A little dress for our newest friend, Rosie.

The shop update is still scheduled for next week! Hooray!

Summer Clothes (for the mama)

More inspiration came in the mail last week.

I just have to find the time to work on everything I have in mind. A list would be nice. A week to devote to sewing would be nice too. I guess I'll start with the list and see where that gets me. I'm finishing up Stage 1 of the Bookish Baby gift line for the shop. That was a hint, in case you missed it.

Finding Treasure

One thing I love about living in a college town is the chance to stumble on a fashion design major's garage sale.

I got six bolts of single and double knit fabric for $20 in various hues of blue, gray, and green. It's perfect for my baby clothes endeavor and something I am particularly excited about as far as increasing my sewing knowlege. I really haven't sewn with knits at all, and am a little scared of all I do not know. However, I would love a couple new t-shirts and a knit dress for summer and I would love to sew some soft, stretchy clothes for C.

She's three month's old today and having a play date with one of her favorite friends. She has four baby friends so far, with still more on the way. Not to mention cyber baby friends Lily and the new Make It Snappy baby!

Strike a pose

C. in her new kimono top:

We've been having nap battles the last few days. Oh, she wants to sleep. She just wants me to sleep with her. It's pretty sweet, as far as battles go, and sometimes I even let her win.

Who are those masked men?

We have two new raccoon baby friends that showed up yesterday. They can be seen playing on our porch under the paternal gaze of our cat most days.

The latest in baby fashion.

The Sex and the City movie has the world talking fashion again. Okay, maybe it's just me, but it's never too early to start?

I finished this kimono top for C. over the weekend. The handmade tiny binding was a killer, but I'm glad I took the time to do it. It adds so much for the overall "finished" effect.  I always have the goal of making my pieces look less handmade and more store bought. My mom was particularly good at that. And by store bought I actually mean the things you wish stores would carry even when you hate everything that is trendy at the moment.

C. and I seem to be on a "one for you, one for me" routine in the sewing schedule. However, I need to take a mini hiatus to work on the shop project, more (yes, more) baby gifts, and something for the house. After that, it's on to the sundress of my dreams.

Relaxing

We were bound and determined to have a relaxing weekend full of long walks, good conversations, naps, and fun books.

I finished reading Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (liked it, but still prefer Animal, Vegetable, Miracle) and caught up on time spent wandering lovingly through my garden. The actual weeding too closely resembled work, so I saved that for another day.

Today I'm loving the slow pace, the rainy downpour, and the dark, dark sky.

Delight

This smile absolutely does me in, and I felt compelled to share its beauty.

While she slept

I made Cate this little outfit. Because pattern sizing is notoriously off for babies and adults, it is much bigger than promised and won't fit her until the fall.

The pattern was Simplicity 3656 (Shelly, this is the pants pattern I used last time too!) and came together very easily. With a few modifications of course.

I've been wanting to show this little ensemble for days, but I am also holding out on you. There's a new set of projects in the works and *gasp* I plan to reopen the shop soon to show them.

But in the meantime I'll show off quick little summer clothes projects, for C. and for me, and keep the secrets to myself!

In favor of Prettiness

In this new life of 30 minute breaks and intensive prioritizing, patterns of beauty begin to emerge. There are little moments practicing vowel sounds and smiles with Cate. There are moments of solitude in the kitchen, whipping up a batch of cookies from Martha Stewart's new book and snatched moments with friends on the phone or on the porch.

I take a few minutes to sew each day because I love it and it provides me with a renewed appreciation for the ability to create something lovely and new (that fits!) without the twin trials of shopping and purchasing.

Here is the Liberty top I mentioned, mostly finished. The back is pinned in the shot, but will get the hook and eye treatment as soon as I find those blasted needles.It fits me just right and even lends a real prettiness to a pair of jeans and navy cardigan. Better still, it feels like silk but being secretly cotton means that I can throw it in the wash when my little friend decides to spit up on it.

The next project is lying piled on the floor and I can't wait to get back to it.

Thanks for the vaccination day sympathy! When her dad came down with a bad case of food poisening, we started to worry. But we all made it through just fine!