Shwin Designs Lucy Top

I was lucky enough to get to do some more pattern testing.  This time for Shwin Designs.  It is the Lucy Top.  A darling shirt that buttons by the shoulders and is reversible (yay, two shirts in one!).  The look reminds me a little of a pinafore dress on backwards.

I really wanted to use some great chambray or linen like she has pictured, but I didn't have any on hand so I used Blossom Savannah and Mamma Birds in Violet both by Valori Wells.

The top comes together very simply and quickly.  There are pictures every step of the way.  All in all, it was a great pattern.

Eleanor really loved it, especially since it has pockets.

If you head on over to her blog, she has some coupon codes up that are good till 9/6/2012.

(Sorry about the pictures.  I let Eleanor use my point and shoot camera and I didn't realize that she played with the settings till after I took all the pictures.)

Design Dreams

Nap Time Crafters is doing something very fun so I thought I would join in.  She is asking her readers to suggest what pattern she should design next.  I'm just starting to learn about designing my own items and have been wanting to figure out how to recreate this fantastic coat for the girls so here is my suggestion.

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Isn't that the most adorable trench coat ever?

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It has such great details and my favorite are the pleats.  Perfect for little dresses.

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If I wasn't such a chicken I would figure it out myself, but hopefully it gets chosen!

How to mend a knitted blanket - unconventional method

My youngest has a lovey that she refuses to sleep without.  It was the only blanket she would sleep with as a baby.  She is so possessive over it, she has fits if her sister even touches it.  It is almost impossible to even put it through the wash every now and then. When I saw a hole in her knitted blanket, our house went on Red Alert.  I was thinking "No!  I don't want to wean her off of that yet!  HELP!  What are we going to do?!"  It wasn't pretty.  

I called my mum and she didn't know what to do without looking at it and I'm hopeless with anything that involves yarn.  In desperation, I posted my plight on Facebook in hopes of some advice.  I got something, the mom of the friend who made the blanket saw it and asked Heather what to do and told me that I should take a yarn needle and sew the loose ends back together.  So I look at the hole.  All I see is a large spot and one tiny loose end.  I had no idea what I was supposed to do with the yarn needle.  I gave up.  Later, I was talking to my husband about the possible horror we were about to experience without it.  The brilliant guy he is suggested I put a patch on it.  In my head I was saying, but that isn't very pretty.  A light bulb moment...but a cute heart shaped one would be!  So that is what I did.

If you have a knitted or crocheted blanket that you desperately need mended and can't do a thing with yarn than this is for you.  

I simply cut out two hearts from some fuzzy pink fabric I had...

 zig-zagged around the edges...

 sandwiched the hole between the two hearts and sewed around the edges.  

Super easy and I think it turned out pretty cute.  Thank you, Michael, for the idea!  I'm sure by the time she gives this thing up it will have a few more.

(Sorry for the extra terrible pictures, I was trying to do it before Laurel noticed, so I was in a little bit of a hurry.)

Thimble Berry Goodness!

As you know I live at a summer camp next to a lake.  Well, all around our house and the back acreage of camp has thimble berries.  Last year, I decided to try making jam with them and found out that we really liked it.  So I decided I'd do it again this year.  This morning we woke to buckets of water falling from the sky.  So there went my plan to pick them today.  Luckily, the sun came out in the late afternoon.  While my husband watched a movie with the girls, I went out and picked as many as I could find.  I wandered all over our backyard area and down the back dirt road.

(After a quick tick check, yuck!) I washed them all up in a vinegar wash (1 part vinegar to 10 parts water) to kill any possible mold, bugs, and disinfect, thus helping them to last longer.  Then I put them in a container and froze them till I feel I have enough berries and time to make jam.  

When I do go to make it, it is super easy.  Here's the recipe:

 Equal parts berries to sugar

Boil for 2 minutes.

Pour into jars and let it set up.

That's it.  Super easy.  Be sure not to boil too long, otherwise it becomes impossible to spread.

This fall, I want to pick huckleberries, since we have those too and make jam from those.  I hope to have enough for gifts at Christmas.  

I hope you enjoy all the great food nature has to offer this summer!

Peek-a-Boo Patterns La Jolla One Piece Swimsuit

I got to test another pattern for Peek-a-Boo Patterns.  Yay!  This time it was a swimsuit.  I know sewing a swimsuit sounds scary, but she makes it so easy.  As you know from this post, I've used one of her patterns before for a swimsuit and really liked it.  This one is even easier.

I started with some super adorable fabric from Girl Charlee.  I spent hours and hours trying to find the right swim fabric for inexpensive enough.  Then I remembered Girl Charlee and fell in love.  They have so many great fabrics for a great price.  That is where I found this fabric.

Don't you just love that lace detail!

I cut into my maternity swimsuit for the black, since I didn't know what else to do with it.

I'm so glad I did.  I just love the contrast of the black bows.

I made the headband using a tutorial from my favorite blog.

I love how it turned out too.

My bald, baby girl needs something up there.

I pretty much love everything about this outfit.

I hope this helps you want to overcome any fear you might have to sew a swimsuit.  I'm even going to make one for me soon.  Now that's scary.  If you want to make your own, you can purchase the pattern here.  She's even having a sale on swim patterns through June 1st, just use the code "swim20" at checkout.

(Just so you know.  We aren't super rich with a fancy boat.  We are just lucky enough to live at a summer camp.)

Teaching at Home

Today, we've started homeschooling with the girls.  I'm terrified, but I think it will be alright.  I found a fun preschool curriculum of sorts that I think is going to be wonderful.  It is called Before Five in a Row.  It is basically an activity idea book for children ages 2-4 based on a bunch of fantastic children's books.  It is designed to prepare a child for learning while maintaining the wonderment of childhood.  Since Eleanor absolutely LOVES being read to, I thought this was perfect for us.

I bought the book from their suggested retailer before realizing I could get it for much less on other sites.  Oh well, live and learn.  But I did make up for it when I bought several of the children's books.  I bought a couple of lots on ebay, sold the duplicates again on ebay and got back almost what we paid for one of lots (yes!).  Some of the books recommended are out of print so I'm having a harder time finding them for a decent price.

  

There are a lot of other blogs out there using B4FIAR and have some great ideas and printables for all of us.  I go to them and pinterest for inspiration.  Then I plan everything out for the book I'm using each week with this great online lesson planner called PlanbookEdu.  They offer a free basic service.  It is really helping me keep track of everything I'm wanting to get done with each book/week.

We are starting out with Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?,so I'll let you know what we do and how it goes.

Wish us luck!

L'amore Photography 1000+ Fans Giveaway!

I just wanted to let you all know there is a great giveaway going on right now at L'amore Photography's blog.  My Etsy shop, Little Ella Lu, just happens to be one of the many fabulous vendors who donated.   I donated an owl playmat personalized with the winner's child's name on it.

But there is a lot more than just my play mat.  This giveaway is worth more than $250 in sheer cute prizes. 

It is running till May 10, 2012, so hurry on over and enter!

L'amore Photography's Giveaway

Good Luck!