Mason shirt!

Sooooo there's this story.  I ordered a box of fabric from a new to me online fabric company.  I got some things I liked, some new fabrics to try, and 1 yard of "Mason" to make Lyrick some leggings. ONE yard.  JUUUUUST enough for her leggings.  But that's fine.  I don't wear animal print.  Not my style but I know she can rock it.  Then it came in.  And OMG I decide I DO like animal print and I HAD to have something with it.  Problem - I already told Lyrick it was for her....and she is attached.

So I started brain storming....I had gotten a tester piece of mason which means at one end there was a 5 inch circle cut from the fabric....which in turn means that I have a yard and 5 inches of this fabric around that hole. Then went to Hobby Lobby.  There I bought several yards of plain black ponte - not the exact same fabric but similar weight and drape and stretch.

I was very thankful for my big cutting board all spread out on my big cutting table (aka ping pong table) and I laid out the pieces I wanted in the Mason for BOTH my project and Lyrick's leggings.  And then I laid out the rest I needed on the black....colorblocking for the win!

And because its still hot and Lyrick can't wear her leggings yet....she has to wait.  But I stitched mine up.  And it is my new favorite shirt. I've worn it twice in the last week and gotten so many compliments every time.  I'm glad I wear animal print now.   :)

The pants are also made by me. But I'll talk about those in another post.  They have been an adventure.  

Medieval Times!

A quick trip to the Schaumburg Castle made for a great way to celebrate some birthdays.   Ticket prices could create some sticker shock....but the food and show are fantastic and we found some online discounts without much searching.  We got the kids a flag with our knights colors to wave as he fought.    I'll just let the pictures tell the story.  :D

We talked to this man before the show.  He's been a falconer at Medieval Times for 22 years.  The falcon is clearly ready for his close up.

Since the castle doors open 75 minutes before the show starts there is plenty of time for some photos....and places to take them.  There is also a bar and some souvenir shops.  You can buy tickets for a torture museum as well but we didn't. 

The "Bill of Fare" is a full 3 course meal.  There is SO Much FOOD! All of it delicious  The dessert was ice cream which would never be my first choice....but still delicious.  

She ate her dragon blood soup (tastes like tomato) and was very excited about her half chicken.  

The show starts as the meal is served.   The horses are phenomenal.

The master of horse did an amazing show.  This horse did some really cool footwork and at the end bowed to the queen.

Knights (3 for the east, 3 for the west) are presenting to the Queen.  Each section is assigned a knight to cheer for (and his 2 friends although "don't get carried away")  They do some lance tricks (capture rings, etc) and the horses run through some "formations" to start things off.  

Ready for the joust.  The "dress" helmets were way fun!

Before the joust netting is dropped in front of the crowd.  Wood splinters everywhere.  

After each joust the knights found hand to hand on the ground.  Sometimes with swords but also with other weapons.  It was fun to see the sparks.  But this was my least favorite part. I can't imagine the strength required though to lift the weapons which were clearly metal and to move around in that sand. 

We had a great time enjoying the dinner and show!  I think we all might have had different favorites but it was well worth the trip to see it.  

Hotel Reviews: Townplace Suites

So we have 4 kids.  Did you know it is a pain in the neck to get a hotel room that will comfortably sleep a family of 6?  Sure we could get 2 hotel rooms....and we have....also a pain in the neck.

We recently spent a couple nights in Schaumburg, IL and we stayed at this "Towneplace suites by Marriot."  They could have raised prices a bit and done some updating and deep cleaning but it was comfortable and clean enough to not give me the eebies jeebies.  Most importantly we had SPACE!  We could have been comfortable there for a week long vacation.  But it was great for the 2 nights we stayed there. 

The hotel was actually 3 buildings and each building was a keyed entry which made everything feel nice and secure.  

Here's the sweet deal.  See those 2 doors.  Those are BOTH bedrooms...with a queen bed in each. 
Shane and I took the one on the right which was clearly intended as the "master" with more space and a big desk.  How many hotel suites has one bedroom with 2 beds...I never understood that.  Do we put all the kids in there and kip on the couch?  Do we share with the little kids?  This made sense!  

We even had a full kitchen.  "fridge, stove/oven, sink, dishwasher, and table service in the cabinets, and a coffee maker).  Since we weren't staying long AND a hot breakfast was included we never used any of it....but man that makes a big difference if we are staying somewhere for an extended length of time.

"Master" bedroom.  Queen size bed.  Desk, dresser, and closet.  Very comfortable.

Second bedroom was smaller but still had a queen bed.  By some miracle Aiden and Maverick shared this without any problems.  

The couch folded out and was supposed to sleep 2....but it wasn't that big.  Lyrick took the fold out couch and Griffin lined up couch cushions on the floor and used it as a bed.  The front desk gave us all the extra sheets/blankets that we asked for and it was absolutely perfect. 

This isn't a hotel I'd heard of before but will certainly search for in the future. 

Upcoming Sewing Projects

I've not sewn for a while.  We were out of town over the weekend.

I have a notebook.  Of course I do.  Each project I want to work on has a page.  I take notes on my finished things so I can easily find things I liked and didn't like and make future plans with less "research" required.

New yummy fabric from Amelia Lane Designs.  All new to me bases!!  I'm excited to check this out!  And have plans for all of it.  I'll talk about it soon.  

  But right here....is my list of plans for the next few weeks.  If I get my way, I"ll sew 2 afternoons a week and knock this out pretty quickly.  I doubt I get my way though.    My reasonable goal is 1 project weekly....or duplicates of one pattern (Lyrick needs several pairs of leggings and once I get the pattern fitted correctly-I can whip several out at once).  Anyway....here is my list!

COMPANY--PATTERN NAME

I already own the following patterns and have fabric for them (either for a muslin or for the real deal depending on how risky I feel)

George & Ginger -- Monna hoodie (the top 2 fabrics in the above photo)

George & Ginger -- Tie me up belt

George & Ginger --  Batty Tunic

Ellie & Mac -- Travelers Tunic

Love Notions -- Sabrina Slims (the navy plaid above)

Sinclair - JJ Knit Joggers

Apostrophe Patterns -- My Fit leggings relaxed (for Lyrick) (the animal print abov- after a muslin)

Apostrophe Patterns -- My Fit leggings snug (For me) (the teal above) 

Rad patterns -- Resistance Motos

Sinclair -- Prani Skirt

I have either already made a muslin and am ready for the real deal or need to buy something to make the next few patterns.  

Sinclair -- Laura  --  Lallybroch panel/Jamie's tartan
Sitch Upon a Time -- Merryweather -- white athletic (Need to buy the fabric)
Hey June -- Bryce Cargo Pants (need to buy pattern and fabric)


I thought about linking all these pattern companies....but deciding to link to my pinterest board where I drop links to all the patterns that I own....you can find all these and more there.  

Sinclair Harper Cardigan

Pattern: Harper Cardigan
Designer: Sinclair Patterns
Size: US 10 Petite

Materials:  White with silver dots.  Mystery Knit from Hobby Lobby

I consider this a successful, wearable muslin or toile, which is fancy seamstress speak for "I wanted to practice and make sure this is gonna fit me before I use favorite fabric"  :) 

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I like this pattern as far as a basic cardian with pockets goes.  It fits well.  I had a little trouble adding the pockets and they still don't lay perfectly but they are fine.  The petite size is SO nice (It also comes in regular and tall).  Im not a huge fan of white with silver dots but I'll wear it.  I will definitely make it again. 

School!

Sometimes you wait years to see results from decisions you've made or even just months to see the fruits of your labor.   As an example, I've been working out and eating well for months and not much has changed....but that's a post for another day.   Because sometimes YOU SEE CHANGE....almost immediately. 

Lyrick is thriving in public school.  She gets up on her own each morning with an alarm (I am still teaching early mornings), and gets dressed.  Her clothes are already laid out.  She choses her breakfast from the options we have that week (either made ahead and frozen or otherwise).  When I'm finished with my classes, 30 minutes before the bus comes at the latest, she is either eating or close to it and we sit and have breakfast and chat.  She is reading and doing math at school.  Her handwriting has improved immensely.  She gets off the bus every afternoon and has a snack and does her homework.  She reads to me for 15 minutes.  And she DOES IT!  She tells us about what she is learning.  She loves PE and lunch.  It is fantastic.  And then last friday....last friday a thing happened.  A big huge thing....

An A+ on her very first spelling test! 

And just because it made me curious, I checked the boys GPA for the start of this year and all 3 of their GPA's have improved.  Success on all 4 fronts! 

It is so nice to get such immediate confirmation that the right choice was made.  And everyone is thriving!  I am so happy! 

Tourist Sweater!

Pattern: Tourist Sweater
Designer: Joji Locatelli
Size: 40/42

Yarn: Mary Maxim  Natural Alpaca
          80% acrylic, 20% alpaca
          hand wash cold, lay flat to dry
          *I found this yarn marked down at a shop during yarn crawl.  It is the colors I've decided to                    use for a capsule style mix n match for winter/cool travel.  So I bought it all.  2000 yds.

This is a tunic length sweater with a cowl neck, kangaroo pocket and long sleeves.  I am hoping it is as perfect for a travel sweater as I envision it in my head.  The pattern so far is very well written.  I was nervous about a cowl neckline because I don't like turtlenecks or necks that I feel might be trying to kill me.  This one is perfect so far. 

Provisional caston uses scrap yarn and crochet hook to get the pattern started.  It is supposed to "unzip" to release live stitches to then continue, in this case to bind of with the other end creating a loop.  Mine never unzips as easily as I think it should....but the job is done anyway

 

I started adding sitch markers when it hit the quarter, half, and 3/4 mark of the cowl.  It made picking up stitches along the edge to start the sweater body much easier to keep even.  

Finished cowl neck! ready for 3 needle bind off.

The cowl neck is neither too tall nor too tight which means I don't feel like it is trying to strangle me.  

I've pick up the body stitches and done the short rows to shape the back.  I'm starting the raglan sleeve increases and am ready to just keep knitting! 

Since this sweater is worsted weight yarn and knitted on size 9 needles, it should be a fairly quick knit as far as sweaters go.  While knitting the cowl, I got a little concerned about the way the colors are going to pool in the sweater body/sleeves.  I am still a bit concerned (the sleeves and cowl are going to look striped while the body doesn't look so striped)...but I'm just gonna keep on trucking and see what happens.  I can't wait to see how it all comes together!  :D

Finished Object Friday!

One of the things I've been hoping to do with some free time is spend more time sewing.  I'm hoping that each friday I have one "Finished object" to share.  Im typing this ON friday but the project has been done for a week....my phone (with the photos) and the blog were not cooperating.  But I fixed that last night.  so here we go! 

I bought the floral (Scottish Thistle) fabric from an Outlander pre-order with Shear Madness Fabrics.  I intended to make a shirt with it but the longer we chatted the more it asked to be a skirt.  This skirt pattern is the "mama chloe" skirt from Made for Mermaids.  I widened the bottom to the full width I could get out of the fabric.  It has a 3 inch waistband made from black athletic fabric.  It is comfortable and casual enough to wear every day but the fabric is so awesome that I think it will dress up well too. 

I'll be honest though....I don't love the skirt. I don't think I'll rush to make another one...I'm sure I won't. I chose this one because I bought 1 yard of this for a short sleeve shirt and skirts typically require more than that.  The mama chloe in my size can be made with a single yard.   I have been waiting to cut into this fabric I love for MONTHS and ONE day after I made this I found a skirt pattern I like the looks of much more.  It is fine though. 

The top is made with some fabric I've had in my stash for ages and I don't have any idea what it is....or where it came from.  My guess is the walmart clearance rack.  I snag $1/yd fabric there to use as muslin or practice goes at new patterns.  But the blue perfectly matches the skirt so I decided to jut roll with it.  I made the Halla Slim Dolman with short, banded sleeve, a high neckline, and a banded waist- regular length.  I am short.  For true regular length I would have to shorten the bodice by several inches.  I LOVE THIS SHIRT!  Honestly, had I made it before the skirt....I think the thistle fabric would have been this shirt.  I'll be making many more of these!  :D  Dolman sleeves go together so quick and easy.  Because I chose a high neckline the front and back are the same pattern piece so technically you could use a solid on one side and a print on the other and have a reversible shirt (which would be great during cardigan season or for travel to cardigan weather destinations  - like Scotland).  Even without a cardigan that would be a fun and interesting detail!  It is easy to wear out and flowing but also tucked nicely into the skirt in this thin fabric  It is a pattern winner!!!

My mannekin is smaller than me so the fit isn't great but this shows the top pattern much better.  

Top and Skirt made by me and ready for a morning at church.

So there it is....finished object friday.  I currently have 3 patterns ready to be taped and cut so I can sew them.  But I've also got several batches of jam to can so I'm not sure when I'm going to sleep, er, sew.  Happy Friday!!!!

Eat Well, Create Much, Travel Often! 

School Week 1! (and 2!)

We've had our first week and a half and, at the risk of jinxing it, they have been fantastic!

A couple monday nights ago, I had my first Public School mom FAIL!  We went to open house and I didn't take a picture of Lyrick 1) with her teacher 2) at her desk 3) anywhere at all.  We did meet her teacher and find the bathroom and cafeteria and gym.  So yeah....there should be training for that.

Watching Lyrick get on the school bus the first day was a little hard.  (But I did get pictures of that so whew I am getting better.)   So many things for her to figure out.  So many changes.  But she climbed on and found a seat and her bestie got on at the next stop.  It has gotten easier each day. We spend some time getting breakfast together and then sitting on the porch swing to talk, read, and pray before the bus comes (I am under no delusions that this will always happen but I am going to TRY to make it a reality as often as possible) And she has had great stories every evening when she hops off the bus.  She likes recess and lunch.  She packed her lunch 2 days and ate pizza at the school once.  We are making choices and she's helping pack when that's what she choses.  The lunch box we got doesn't work very well so we are picking a new one out this weekend.  She didn't know anyone's name after day one and I gave her an assignment to learn at least one name on day 2.  She learned 2 new names. She learned that her PE teacher knows me and we went to school together.  He was actually a neighbor.  I'm so proud of the success she has had so far.  I think there are some challenges ahead but so far she is happy and finding a groove.  That's all I hoped for in the first 3 days.

In this first full week, we've had a few little things that came up (hard test, "bad kid" on the bus, just little things that she's learning how to cope with) but overall she's still happy....she's just very very tired.  :)

The boys are doing Monarch, an online curriculum from Alpha Omega Publishing.  This year screen time is tied directly to grades (plus physical activity).  We've kept it as simple as we can while also making the point.  I am not a gamer.  I do not understand the draw.  BUT it is the currency which is most important to them so that's how we are "paying them."  Good grades are not incentive enough for them.  Chores are what you do because you have the privilege of living in a nice home, with a full fridge and pantry, and all the clean clothes you could possibly need.  And I am not paid for doing them either.  ;)

So far this plan has gone well.  It is easy for me to check their grades at the end of their school day....and count up screen minutes.  They are also learning to manage their screen time and chose wisely.

The things I have noticed with our new normal....peace.  Granted I do not expect peace each and every day, although that would be nice.  I expect some difficulties.  I've got one in pre-algebra afterall.  And new things at public school could prove difficult.  And we are still living with different personalities in one home.  BUT it has been so peaceful.  I am not so ragged but the boys are also getting along better.  It is crazy how switching it up, well, switches things up.  I kinda wonder how long till this becomes a new normal....and the bickering starts again.

I've had time and energy to accomplish things.  I got to sew for an afternoon.  I made muffins and energy bites.  I finished knitting a sweater.  I've exercised every day.  I hung a shelf and shifted some things in Lyrick's room so there is a place for everything and we can keep things in their places.  The kitchen has been clean each evening.  I am not as exhausted.  (I still teach early so coffee is still running through my veins on the regular.)  Little things....but little things I enjoy and had a hard time fitting in.  By the time I had time, I was DONE for the day!

Honestly, I felt a little guilty over how fantastic things have been.  Partially because it kinda, almost feels like "shipping a kid to public school" is a cop out.  She is difficult to teach...so I give up kind of feeling.  But also because if she thrives (as I pray she does), I have wasted so much time being stubborn.  Some things on facebook have fed into this feeling of guilt and made things a little more difficult.   And then we all rode to church in the van together and went to lunch and grocery shopping. And I am SO thankful we have made the decision.

Kids have so many different needs and personalities.  And none of them come with an instruction manual.  And parenthood doesn't come with classes either.  Its just a lot of trying and praying and hoping for the best.  And so far, I feel good with the decision we've made and that it is the best choice for each of our kids at this point in their lives...and I wonder what the future will hold.

   
Here's some pictures!!!

Aiden ASKED to make chocolate chip cookies....I MADE him put on either a shirt or an apron....clearly a shirt was too much work.  :D  But the cookies are good!

Happy girl waiting on the bus!

I need some chairs and a table at the end of our drive for waiting on the bus.

One of Aiden's electives is construction careers....we called in an expert (Pappy) to help draw a to scale elevation plan of our house.

Maverick likes to do school at the bar

I am not sure how Aiden would survive at school-he'd have to put on a shirt.

Griffin's first day of school (in my bed no less)

getting on the bus for the first time!

Calling in Reinforcements!

I've always been an "I got this" kinda person.   Seriously, I got this.  But sometimes its just not worth it.

Today Lyrick had an appt to have her hair washed, conditioned, and combed at a local salon.  We've had it done at a salon before.  But this one is close to Lyrick's new school and the price is better for regular washings which we are now scheduling for roughly every other weekend.

Seriously, I got this....pulls out debit card.  HAHA! 

Really, some things are worth doing yourself.  And somethings are worth paying someone with skills and tools to make it easier and better.  The key is finding the balance.    :)

Thank you Payton at Revive for a great morning!  :D

The afternoon braiding was much more manageable since we both weren't already irritated with each other from the washing.  :)

T -- 2 days till school!  :D  

New Favorite Shirt!

Last February, for the first time, I got "in on a pre-order" of Outlander inspired/theme fabric.  It came sometime in May.  I prewashed it, petted it, carefully stored it and have been SO terrified of cutting into it.  I've got 2 tshirt panels and 4 different coordinating fabrics.  And its stupid to leave it all in a box cause I'm too scared to cut it.  But I LOVE it!  It has so much potential.  But once I make the first cut,  there is no more potential.  It will either be awesome in what I create.  Or be ruined! 

I've done several "practice" tshirts in cheap fabric to find the perfect shirt.  And wasn't overly happy about any of them.  I didn't dislike any of them...but none of them were perfect.  Then I cleaned out my closet and found a shirt I made a couple winters ago that I really like.  It is a turtleneck and 3/4 sleeves so I've not worn it for a while.  

The Merryweather by Stitch Upon a Time has 3 neck options, 3 sleeve length options, a fitted or loose fit option and has some color blocking options built into the pattern.  I decided to stop playing around.  Take a deep breath and make my new favorite shirt.  For the bamboo lycra of the panel (and accent fabric) I decided for a scoop neck, short sleeves and the looser fit.  

And I dove right in....except....

See those white triangles sticking out....yeah, my panel isn't big enough for the pattern piece.

So I did some creative hacking up of the pattern.  Remember you have to add a seam allowance on both sides of any new cuts. when you cut your fabric.

I did it!  I cut the fabric!  

Added the extra strips in a coordinating fabric to create the complete front piece.  

I'm never very good at modeled photos.  But here is the finished shirt. 
It fits perfectly and the fabric is dreamy!