What a week!

Three birthdays, Matching Day, and our 5th wedding anniversary. An eventful week to say the least.

Having Noelle and Ellie necessitates humbler celebrations for sure, but I couldn't ask for better gifts than my two girls and my loving husband. I hate sentimentality but they make me feel that way, so whatever.

In preparation for Sarah's bridal shower, I decided to practice making the decorations. This ubiquitous Martha project , along with some extra inspiration from Dana of made's Simple Wedding Flowers tutorial, resulted in some fluffy, puffy purple and yellow blooms.
What better way to capture the fun than plunking them on top of my little one's head? Hee hee!

Gardening

Some days I look at my girls and I think "How am I so blessed?" The simple answer is Grace. Thank you God for my miracles.
I don't have a pic of my mom to share but this is Noelle getting down to business in the garden, looking just like Halmonee (grandma) from behind. She could spend all day there, just like grandma. The way my mom cares for her flowers is just a reflection of the consuming love for her children and my children as well. This Mother's Day I'm not only grateful for my own children but for how much my own mother does for them and us. Love you, Mommy.

Nerds!

his nerdy man's shirt was reborn as an A-line, puff sleeved, be-ruffled dress for Noelle. The basic idea was from made, but with a few changes. I used the hem of the old sleeves and created a channel in the middle of the 1-inch hem to create a ruffly edge to the puff sleeve. For the ruffle I sewed three ironed strips of fabric together, hemmed the edges, gathered the ruffle and sewed it on the placket after removing the buttons. I was originally going to do big buttons but couldn't find enough matching ones in my stash. hee hee.

Grey Shirt Dress

Grey Shirt Dress with Yellow Flower. I used the shirt dress pattern from made using the Hub's old shirt. I originally wanted to do a ruffle collar but as I watched the pretty yellow strip of gathered fabric curl up it reminded me of a rolled rose crocheted strip and I decided to do a flower instead. I rolled up the gathered fabric and played with it until it suited me and then sewed it on with crochet thread. Sometimes I think I could make a flip book with Noelle's pictures...she's so animated...my super fun, super exhausting, always worth it, guffawing little firework...

Poppies and Pinafores

Latest headbands in the shop:

Lime Green Dahlias Headband


Modern Poppy RED


Modern Poppy DELFT BLUE


Modern Sunflower

I managed to make jumpers for the girls with cotton that came all the way from Korea! The material is soft and sturdy and perfect for transitioning into Spring. Noelle of course had to be bribed with apples and Ellie is just impossible to shoot, but I managed to get a couple good photos.

I cut out the jumper pattern for Noelle a long while ago so this back detail happened because, well, she grew!? duh. I thought it was cute:

Listening to my crazy babies naddering on and seeing them gleefully running about wreaking havoc (yes, Ellie is now zooming around at the speed of light and almost ready to walk...WHAT?) I am just so grateful to have joyful, healthy children. Thank you, Jesus, it is your work and light I see in them.

Ummashin Beginnings

My sister Sarah and I

The begininnings of ummashin's goodies, you ask?

My mother's mom lived with us growing up and provided all three of my siblings (and herself) with handmade clothes. Party and recital dresses, flower girl dresses, pullovers, cardigans, overalls, pajamas, and little sweater pantsuits like the one pictured above. She used a knitting machine but I also remember distinctly a pair of intricately patterened mittens that seemed to fly out of her clicking needles and a crocheted lace baby dress that is stored in my mom's house because it is indeed a treasure. I remember visiting our cousins and she brought this fine soft yarn and the thinnest needles and somehow there was a sweater for my cousin in the morning.

My grandma was the one who gave me the crafting bug and taught me how to sew, knit, and crochet. I would spend hours in her room hanging out (watching 90210 and Matlock, hahah!) My grandma was larger than life and when she passed away when I was 13 it left a big hole in my heart.

However, the bright point that emerged from the great loss was that it brought me closer to my mother. She took the handmade reins and went flying and has been a constant source of support and inspiration in my own handmade journey. Now that I have children it is such a blessing to be able to provide them with clothes made with my love.

Please visit luvinthemommyhood for a great giveaway starting today!

Blessings!

Spring Inspirations

Today's weather sums up March's temperamental perfectly...freak 10-minute a.m. snowfall followed by a gorgeous, fresh-smelling sunny day in the 40s. Hello Spring! Make up your mind!
Here are two SPRING inspired beanies, one a little more hot-tempered than the other, modeled by sweet Ellie. Can't have flowers without rain, but here's to a few more sunny days, eh?

Check in tomorrow for a trip down handmade nostalgia lane and a great giveaway hosted by luvinthemommyhood!