Three Decades

Yup.  Three Decades...that's how long I've been alive as of today!

 

 A dear friend that I talk to far less often than I would like called me this morning.  While we were chatting she asked me how it felt to be THIRTY to which I responded...not much different than it felt to be 29 and 364 days yesterday.  ;)  She said she had gotten a bit depressed when she hit thirty and felt like she hasn't really accomplished much with her life (she was being very silly I assure you!  All you have to do is follow her on Instagram to see how many young people she impacts EVERY DAY!)

BUT...her comment got me thinking a bit more.  What exactly HAVE I accomplished?  What do I WANT to have accomplished?  Really....what are my life goals?  And I think I discovered why I was ok with it all.  Because I really just want to be more like Jesus today than I was yesterday... or the day before...or the day before that.  I want my kids to know that I love Jesus and I want them to see that love overflowing into their lives. 

I frequently get down about how I feel like I'm not making any progress in the areas of being more patient and loving.  I'm not very much like the Proverbs 31 woman who

"Opens her mouth with wisdom" 

and who has 

"the teaching of kindness" on her tongue.  

 

That's not me.  That will NEVER be me unless the Holy Spirit is the only one working.  So....I think I'm ok with being 30 and with what I have "accomplished" because, while it might not look like all that much on the outside, I know on the inside I'm so much more like Christ than I was 15 years ago.  I know my need of him so much more deeply. 

So....here's to another 30 years (Lord willing!  lol) of growing in Him and walking "in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."   

(You can follow me on Instagram @BabyFishDesigns)

Spring Dress

 

I've had the pleasure of being on the testing team for the Spring Line of patterns over at My Little Plumcake.  Michelle's patterns and styles are very clean and classic.  I'm totally in love with the Canaan's Incredible Blazer pattern!  I've already bought it and have high hopes of getting at least one done for Easter for the boys.    But that was a total tangent.  lol!

 

 

Moving on... today we're going to talk Spring!  I tested out the new Spring dress in a size 4 for Grace.  She's totally in love with her "rainbow dress" as she calls it and has worn it a lot (despite the fact that it's FAR from spring here.  In fact we had to do photos inside because it was like 8 degrees outside and snowy!)  

 

The back has a cute squared off button and loop closure.  Instructions are included for making the loops from your fabric or using elastic cording (or you can get really crazy and use decorative elastic like I did.) 

The bodice has a really fun and unique design with the semi-circle surrounded by gathers.  In my version there are gathers around the semi-circle and also on both sides but in the final version Michelle has taken out the side gathers.

The dress is fully lined and even the inside is finished beautifully!   I will make it slightly longer if I make another one for Grace but besides that I love everything about it!

And just wait till you see the next pattern we tested for MLP!  It's sooo cute and has several versions so it's perfect for the "cute" crowd and the "in" crowd! 

Ashley Skirt and Skort

 Wow, I was looking back over my blog posts today and I found this one that I started last summer and never finished or posted!  I tested the Ashley Skort and the Ashley Knit top, both from Funktional Threads, and they were a big hit with my little lady! 

        

The skirt pattern has options for a curved panel swirl skirt, a regular paneled skirt (the two version above) or a simple circle skirt.  All can be made as is or can be made into a skort with the included shorts pattern.  They feature a comfy and well fitting yoga waist as well!  

The Ashley Top has a ton of different options too (I mean really, who doesn't love options?!?!)  It has a lined hood (or it can be made without the hood or with a hood with a ruffle!), multiple sleeve options (including ruffle sleeves and sleeve "flounces") and it's great for upcycling! 

Both patterns come in sizes 2T-16 so you're sure to get your money's worth for them! 

 

And last but not least, here's a set I sold last summer with the paneled swirl skirt from this pattern.  The shorts and skirt pieces have two different length options and for this pair I chose the longer length shorts and added a ruffle and the shorter length skirt panels so that the shorts peek out from under the skirt. 

The top is also this Ashley Knit top pattern with the lined hood and the sleeve flounces.  

7 Going on 17

 

I got to test out another one of Kymy's patterns (she's the designer and brains behind Everything Your Mama Made) this week and, as usual, it didn't disappoint!  (Unless you count my reaction when I started editing pictures and realized that my firstborn is REALLY REALLY growing up. *sniffle* )   

This is the Girls Asymmetrical Drape Top.

On to the fun stuff!  Like all of EYMM's patterns this one has a HUGE size range.  We're talking newborn up to tween size 18!  (and the ladies version was released last week and you can see it here )

 

There are two different views of this top in addition to all the sizes.  View A (what you see on Kessa in these pictures) has asymmetrical sleeves so that one drapes more than the other while view B has sleeves that are the same with slightly less drape.  

 

There is also an option to put a band on the bottom of either view but I chose to just do a regular old hem.  

 

Kessa loves this top!  It's perfect for her as she's finding her way out of little kid clothes.  It's stylish and trendy but still totally modest and easy for her move and play in.  It's a win in everyone's book!  

 

 This pattern is a VERY quick sew and totally appropriate for even a beginning seamstress.  The view I did has a whopping 3 pieces total.  Probably took me 30 minutes start to finish and that includes cutting everything!  

If you're convinced that you and your daughter BOTH need this pattern (I'm pretty sure I'm going to be needing this once it warms up a little) you can buy the girls and ladies bundle here.  

Under Construction

Please pardon the mess as I play with themes and backgrounds and headers and whathaveyou to try and make the blog more visually appealing and easy to navigate!

Do you have any favorite tips for making your blog look good?

Soda Pop Polo

I was so excited when Rebecca from Candy Castle Patterns contacted me and asked if I'd be interested in testing several different sizes of the Soda Pop Polo!  (Sometimes having lots of kids in different sizes pays off!  lol!)  

It comes in sizes 6m - 14 years (!!!) and has a TON of different options.  Of course...the two children that I tested for both picked the same style so you only get to see one of them in this post.  But just so you know, this pattern has options for a hood, a classic color, a classic henley collar, and a ruffle collar.  It also has patterns for a heart or star shaped pocket, a regular pocket and templates for hearts, stars, and lightning bolts for some reverse applique on your pockets! 

Oh, and something else that's fun, it has the option of putting in an inside inset on the back.  The inset can be made with knit or woven fabric and it's a fun finishing touch.  A nice little secret for your child.  Kessa has some more woven Frozen fabric on hers and Zeke has flannel Monster fabric from Joanns on his (the kid is obsessed with textures and loves all things soft!  ;)

On to the pattern!  As you can see, it has a placket that can be done in knit or woven on most of the styles.  I choose to use knit for both of mine because the colors I had worked better.

This wasn't my first time doing knit plackets but it was by far the easiest!  Totally nothing to be afraid of.  Rebecca's directions and secrets are amazing!  (Hint - have a glue stick on hand!  What?!?!?  Mind blown!) 

Now, let's talk about this hoodie version.  I've made a LOT (and I do mean a LOT LOT LOT) of hoodies in my day.  I have a lot of hoodie patterns and I've tried tons but I LOVE the way this one is put together!  It is a bit more work than your standard hoodie variations but it's polished and finished inside and out.  This is accomplished by attached the hood via a collar stand (what?!?!  Mind blow again!) 

You can see on Zeke's shirt I used the regular pocket shape and added a reverse applique star (with a monster peeking through of course!) and mixed it up a bit by putting it on the sleeve.

The hood can be done in knit or woven or a combination of both (which is what I did).  The inside of the hood is flannel on Zeke's and the outside is knit.  Aside from the flannel his shirt is 100% upcycled and I just LOVE the way it turned out.

The pattern comes with instructions for buttons too but my machine hates button holes so I finally broke down and ordered the snap pliers set I wanted and used snaps on both Kessa and Zeke's.

Kessa's shirt is the exact same style (hoodie view, long sleeves, knit placket, snaps) but I chose to use a heart shaped pocket with some more of the Frozen fabric for hers.

There are also instructions for short sleeves...and I think maybe faux layered sleeves as well.  This pattern is so well put together than even a beginner would have no problems tackling it!  Just follow the directions step by step and you'll end up with an amazing finished product! 




Now, I'm dying to make the boys some with a regular henley collar.  They just might be my favorite style! 

Dishes and Art

We're doing a Precept Upon Precept study of James in Bible study and our leader challenged us to memorize the whole book.

Not being one to turn down a good challenge I've been working on it.  Our dishwasher is broken so I find washing dishes to be the perfect time to work on it.  Tonight as I was washing them I decided I really needed to have it written out and hanging above the sink so I could stop turning on my phone with my wet soapy hands all the time.  So I did what any sane person would do... I left these in the dish water... 

Pulled out these...

Sat on the kitchen floor...

And did this.

Zane and Grace joined me and colored pictures too.  

"But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a DOER WHO ACTS, he will be blessed in his doing."  

James 1:25