Turning 8...

Kessa turned 8 a few weeks ago.  She's grown and changed so much in the past year.  While she can still give me a run for my money some days I can see her trying.  I can see her striving, and often winning, the battle to control her emotions.

She's my girly girl for sure.  She picked out the shirt and style for her dress (she was very specific about the double sleeves with "bumpy" edges and THREE twirl skirts...ALL with ruffles.  Yes ma'am!)  One of her birthday presents this year was a sheet of Jamberry junior nails.   She LOVES them.  In fact, she's had them on for probably 2 weeks at this point and a few days ago one came off.  I was putting another one on for her and said, "Next time you loose one we should probably just go ahead and take them all off."  Her immediate response?  "And put new ones on, right?!?!?"  lol.  

She loves to read (she's been devouring every "Fairy" book she can get her hands on...and there are a TON of them.) She also likes to color and draw, "design" clothes (she goes through my scrap boxes and makes up outfits and accessories for her dolls, her siblings and herself.  Just tonight she styled up Grace with scraps, asked for my phone to take pictures, and then was telling me how some of them turned out really well but how the lighting in some of them was just awful and how Grace hadn't wanted to smile for some of them but that she HAD managed to get a few great shots.  hehehe!!!  Love it!)  She plays with her Loopsies a lot and the My Little Ponies and she's always making up games for all the kids to play together.  Her imagination is fantastic!

I can wait to see what the upcoming year brings for her and how God will work in her life and use her.  As always we continue to pray that He will soften her heart and save her and that we will always be able to know her heart.  That we would be more concerned with her motives than her behavior.

Party Time!

My girls were born 3 years and 3 days apart.  August starts and we have a birthday on the 3rd, another one on the 6th and then Tim and my anniversary on the 9th. It's busy.  Because it's busy (and because they haven't complained about it yet!  lol) we always have one party for the girls.  We don't usually do a big party with lots of friends or anything, just a small, low key thing with family and maybe one or two friends.

This year Kessa wanted a castle cake and Grace...well Grace didn't really care but she loves My Little Pony so I decided to make them a MLP Castle cake.  

I'm no professional by any means, but it turned out cute and they liked it!

I always make them new dresses with their age on the back for their birthday and Grace wanted a Princess Cadence one this year.  I don't have ANY good pictures of her dress yet, but hopefully I'll get some this week.  

Coloring with her Aunt Michelle and wearing a birthday crown from her Aunt Amanda.

 Kessa was a *little* excited about her presents!  lol

These two have birthdays only 3 days apart too!  They've been friends since they could walk.  I love watching their friendship grow and their personalities develop!

Any this picture of  Zeke...it's the perfect photobomb!

Sale Alert!!!

Ok, so I don't usually post about sales and whatnot unless it's a new pattern I just tested and it just happens to be on sale.  Today though, I'm going to change that.  You see, Terra (Terra's Treasures) is having a Back to School Sale and it ends today.  So, why am I sharing about this one?  Because I flat out LOVE Terra's patterns.  A LOT.  As in, this is going to be a VERY photo heavy post and it's not even close to all that I've made with her patterns!  This post isn't sponsored or endorsed by Terra and I'm not an affiliate or anything.  I just big pink puffy heart love her and her patterns.    So, if you see something you can't live without you can use the code BACKTOSCHOOL for 30% (end today, 8/15).

(Kenzington Trousers) 

 Moving on!  These are the Kenzington trousers.  In this pattern Terra taught me how to make and use piping and it's super easy and I love it!!  Seriously, how cute are those back pockets?!?!  Kessa is wearing less dresses and more pants lately so I see more of these in our future this fall.  (And that front yoke?  So cute!)  It's really the details that make Terra's patterns stand out from the crowd IMO.

(Mayfair dress, top, and spats) 

The Mayfair has so many options and the finished product is amazing.  I LOVE the lace overlay and using a sheer for the sleeves?  *swoon*  (Obviously you don't HAVE to use a sheer for the sleeves)

And those spats?!?!  Seriously!!!  Above and beyond in the cuteness factor!

(Metropolitan Pants, Capris, and Shorts) 

Terra isn't just about girl patterns though.  She has some AMAZING boy and unisex ones too!  These are probably my son's favorite pair of jeans ever.  I upcycled them from some of my husband's old ones.  These pants were my first time doing welt pockets and Terra makes it so easy!!!  

More Metropolitan pants and a Streamline tee too.  These were upcycled from a pair of men's dress pants and they're perfect for church and dressy occasions but still fun with the Star Wars flannel on the pockets.

The Streamline tee is my go-to raglan pattern.  The fit isn't big and boxy  like some patterns, the length isn't too short and it's a breeze to whip up.

 (Monkey Leggings)

The Monkey leggings are so cute for littles!  You can make faces on the bum, just use a different fabric, or throw in a t-shirt panel for fun.  I think these are an ADORABLE surprise worn under little dresses or skirts.  Grace wears hers to bed a lot too because they're so comfy.  

 (Streamline tee and Suburban Basics tee)

If I want a shirt with set in sleeves instead of raglan I always grab the Suburban Basics tee.  It has short sleeves and long faux layered sleeves (LOVE that look!!) and like all Terra's patterns it's got great instructions and a great fit!  Another fast sew too which is always a plus!

 Streamline Tee and Metropolitan Pants

(Suburban Basics tee)

And there are still more patterns that I've made but haven't talked about and even more than I haven't made yet!!!  Be sure to go check them all out!!!  The above is a collage of just SOME of the photos on my phone of clothes I've made with Terra's patterns.  Sooo...are you sold yet?  If not come back in a few days and you'll be able to see her newest pattern that will be released with the Boy Bundle Up...it's EPIC!!!!!  

Fall Style

What's that?  It's August and I have MORE fall sewing done?  No way!

I got lucky and got to test my first two patterns by Made for Mermaids last week and they're a hit!  I really love how they're both just solid staples for fall/winter.  

The Rose Ruffle shirt was released last week and is fantastic for layering or as a stand alone.  It comes in sizes 1/2 up to 14 and can be made with mid or full length sleeves.  It has a slimmer fit through the torso that makes it especially ideal for layering.  (The neck band has been lengthened to take care of the puckering that you see in my teal and gray striped top)

It also pairs PERFECTLY with the Hailey Ruffle pants that will be released this coming Tuesday!  Now let me tell you about these pants...these pants are SOOO cute.  AND they have a yoga waistband so your daughter will think they're super comfy.  AND they have a waist ruffle that almost looks like a ruffled undershirt.  AND they can be made in knit or woven for all pieces except the yoga waistband!

On this pair I used a woven for the pants and bottom ruffles and a cotton lycra knit for the waistband and waist ruffle.  

Saying "hi!" to Si.  They have nice full booty coverage too.  No plumbers crack here!  ;)

For this 2nd set I made I upcycled a shirt and used stretch lace for the sleeves on the top.

The pants and bottom ruffles are knit, as well as the waistband, and the waist ruffle is an awesome Wonder Woman woven fabric.  I love patterns that let me mix the fun woven fabrics I find in with my beloved (and comfy!) knits!   

Also, stretch lace is becoming a bit of an obsession for me.  I love it.  I'm going to be sad when it's too cold to use it and I feel I might start layering it over things at that point.  It's just so fun!  lol

See?!?!  HOW CUTE IS THAT LITTLE RUFFLE?!?!?!  Ahhhh!!!!!!!!!  Ok, so...now that you're wishing away Monday so that you can buy this awesome pattern...I'm going to bed.  Night night!

We've Got Spirit Yes We Do!

Last week was crazy busy for me.  Sunday my oldest turned 8, Wednesday my 3rd turned 5, Thursday - Saturday the whole family went to on a mini-vacation, Saturday was my husband and I's 11th anniversary and I had several pattern tests and custom orders to finish.  With all that on my plate I almost bowed out of testing Cole's Creations new Spirit Jacket.  

I'm SOOO glad I didn't!!!  This jacket is amazing!  It's so trendy and stylish right now and it's FAST.  I mean, like I'm pretty confident I'll be able to make them start to finish in less than an hour (including cutting!) at this point.  I have plans to do color-coded ones for all my kids as soon I can get the backs embroidered!  

(please tell me I'm not the only one with kids that do this all day every day?!?!  lol)  Anyway, the pattern is totally unisex, can be made with or without pockets (and the way the pockets are put in is really cool!) and comes in sizes 1/2 - 16!!!  You can use a variety of fabrics, including (but not limited to) flannel backed satin, faux leather, fleece, sweatshirt fleece, pointe and much more!  I used some gray sweatshirt scraps for the body of Zeke's jacket and I cut up one of my husband's OOOOOLLLLDDDD sweatshirts for the sleeves.  The bands are actually cotton lycra (ribbing is recommended, but the lycra worked ok.  I just HAD to have stripes  lol)

Oh, and if you're making one for a girl (or a boy with a doll), just a little heads up, Cole's Creations has matching 15" and 18" doll patterns for ALL their patterns.  You can find the matching Dolly Spirit Jacket here.