Christian's Favorite Sunsuit

Our summer came early this year, so I imagine that many of us are scrambling to get something cool and quick made for the kids.  According to Anna, this is Christian's favorite sunsuit.  It is made from light weight pima cotton using pattern #120. Click here for a tutorial for attaching the yoke.

Christian likes the yoke since it doesn't slip off of his shoulders like straps tend to do.

The leg openings are cool and breezy for hot sweaty days.

And it is Shadow embroidered with really neat sailboat.

Although the sunsuit is great for the walking running guy on the go, this photo shows how cute it was when he was still just a "creeper!"

Michie'

Hey Grandda!

"Hey Grandda, I've got big boy flip flops on!  I can walk in them and Uncle Dan bought them for me when I was a baby, which I'm not now!"
 

Hey Grandda, I'm on my way for my first haircut.  Will it hurt and most importantly will everyone still think that I'm cute?"

And how is Grandda Rex doing?  Well, we are in Nashville having just finished with the follow up Neurologist appointment.  All the test are in and the diagnosis is stroke damage from vascular disease.  It is amazing he is doing as well as he is with the damage that the test show.  Seeing the actual MRI helped me understand what is going on with his memory and why he is just not himself and hard to get along with some days.  Medication is being adjusted, rehab has been recommended, and he now understands that he will not be going back to work or driving.  But, he does have the okay from the doctor to mow our small yard, so he is a happy man!  Glad he has his priorities straight!  LOL  Not to make light of this, it is very hard some days.  We are adjusting to so many changes, not only in our lifestyle, but also in our marriage.  At the end of the day I am pretty exhausted from needing such a high level of patience and he is exhausted from trying to be nicer than he feels.  It is amazing how God renews us to face the next day.  I am also blessed beyond words that I am married to such an easy to get along with guy!


*I will be writing nothing about Rex's condition or our adjustments without his permission.  We both feel the need to occasionally share how God is helping us on our new journey.  


Michie'


 

A Little More Inspiration

Okay Martha, you out did yourself on these outfits!  I know your grand babies are going to be the cutest things ever in their matching sunsuits.  I just hope Emma and Christian don't see these and want Nana to whip out a set this week!  :)  The sunsuits turned out fabulous and I love what you did with the fabric and trim.

You can view Martha's blog at http://southernmatriarch.blogspot.com/ 

Michie'

Sunsuit Inspiration

Amanda has been sewing again, and what a cute outfit she came up with!  A sweet sunsuit for her sweet little guy made out of green striped seersucker using pattern #132.  The smocked wagons can be found in the "Beginning Smocking Book."  Great job Amanda.  I know that I am inspired!  How about you?

Michie'

Good Bye Baby Whisperer

We had a wonderful visit, but it is now time for Daniel to head back to South Korea.  Not only was it a treat to have the kids in the same are for a few weeks, I also happened to get the 3 boys in the same picture which is kind of like trying to get a photo of Big Foot!  There they are, Daniel, Ben with Emma on his shoulders and Tim!

But what we will miss the most is Daniel's baby whisperer abilities.  Babies, like dogs always know who really likes them and who is just being polite.  They knew.  Was it because he is silly and will get down on their level, makes sure that they have the right educational toys, or could they smell the kindergartners that he teaches overseas?

Whatever it was, it worked and it was a tremendous help!  Yes, we will miss him and a year is a long time, but this is his 6th year so we have adjusted.  Not only is it what makes him happy, he is also going back to someone special.  Thank goodness for Internet and Skype!

Michie'

A Pleating Question Answered

It sounds like the last blog has quite a few of you all ready to sew gingham bishops!  And so there were a few pleating questions that have been sent my way.  The most frequently asked question about this bishop was, "How on earth did you keep the little gingham checks straight while pleating?"  And here is the answer, "I didn't!"  I thought about it for a while (about 2 minutes) and chose to let the fabric do it's own thing and embrace the ripply effect that I would end up with.  Besides, the blue fabric does represent water and my flamingos were not in the mood for perfectly calm water!  :)  *The ripply effect is the dark and light uneven patches of color that you see between the flamingos.  

And with that being said, I DO care about pleating straight if I am pleating larger checks and plaids.  I will try to work that into a blog in the very near future.  I know that we have had a shortage of tutorials lately, but as long as Emma is using Nana Shay's office as her bedroom (2 more weeks to go) not only is my time short, I'm also little too distracted for the creative juices to flow!  Right now, I am having fantasies of getting to sit and sew for an entire day.  I'll let you know if that dream ever comes true!  LOL

Michie'

What She Wore To The Party

Of course Emma also needed a special dress for the birthday party.  Lucky for her I had started a new bishop dress before she moved here!  :)

I seem to be having a love affair with turquoise gingham these days.  Emma has two dresses out of the same fabric right now.  A little weird, but it is a good color on her.

The smocking design is "Babies Ahoy" by Kathy Crisp Designs.  I love how the bright pink flamingos show up on the fabric.  A great design when you want a little smocking.

Bright pink rickrack brought the pink color down to the sleeves.  * A little sewing tip:  I picked out the rickrack first then matched the floss color for the flamingos.  Think of it this way, there are only a few shades of pink rickrack on the market while there are many shades of pink floss.

Michie'