Favorite Faces

I just had to share some of my favorite faces on some of my favorite little people from the past few months!

Emmett- finally getting happy in water!

Always content... when he is eating!

Keeping him entertained during sisters' swimming lessons.

He loves wearing shades! We've gone through a heart pair already but he doesn't show any signs of growing tired of them!

He loves to copy the faces his sisters make!

He's been a stinker of late about requiring arms to hold him, but we are managing the phase knowing that soon enough he'll be pushing us away bc mommy and daddy are embarassing/crunch his style. This face wins me over every time!

When I ask Caroline to smile, this is what I get. She has taken crazy faces to a whole new level!

Sometimes she shows genuine glee! Feet off the ground!

Not a face, but a nice pic of her naked out in the pasture...she stripped out there so she could get wet in the wheel line! 

close inspection of a worm.

The girl plays hard. I LOVE when she sleeps! This particular day she fell asleep DURING dinner.

Gwen loves being Emmett's older sister! She takes really good care of him and tolerates his constant demands for "lap". 

She is a little funny lately--- I think we are seeing the tip of the moody iceberg. Sometimes she just won't smile. Other times she hides behind food or toys so we can't see her mouth.

But when it suits her, she can still be coerced into being silly.

She LOVES riding her bike!

And swimming underwater

And she still goes crazy/silly when she dances and sings!

And there are LOTS of ridiculous poses.

Can't see her face, but this is a typical view of the top of her head when she is peering intently to examine something. In this case, trying to toast ants with a magnifying glass has her occupied. 

But this is my favorite because it is just SO Gwen: happy 2 seconds before, but now Caroline is touching her and she is just NOT going to be happy about it. 

oh, and while this one is definitely not a "face"... it is still an abs fave photo from the summer!

Blogging Expectations

I got a new computer and have decided it was time to reinsert myself into our tech-dependent relationship. The past few months without internet as my old computer slowly worked its way towards complete failure provided clarity about how I want to spend my child-free time (in other words, that precious time when the kids are sleeping). I discovered I can get along just fine without posting anything at all. I discovered I don't even get as much validation from comments or views on blogger or facebook as I used to. That's definitely a good thing. Healthy, even. :)

So you might see a decrease in my blog activity this summer. I probably won't post about every sewing project I do (though I will probably do one big sewing catchall at the end of the summer!) I probably won't post weekly updates (just gonna send those pics straight to the Grandmas who really want them anyway). And I may even include blog posts WITHOUT pictures *gasp!* if I feel like chatting about a book I read! 

And I'm not even going to feel bad about it. 

This is me. Reclaiming my authorship. :)

Oh, and I just finished these illustrations for a talented client (Shout out to Tamara Hart Heiner

who doesn't read this blog anyway). I really liked how they turned out! That snarky girl's expression is just so perfect. :) 

Easter Dress Mania!

I promised.

and I deliver. :)

So prep your mouth in that "oh" or "ooh" shape and take a look!

  

Easter morning-- girls in their sweet dresses, me NOT in mine (it wasn't finished), but still bright and spring-y!

Caroline's is a slightly altered See&Sew b6038 with quilter's cotton fabrics...I don't know which ones. a bunch of seemingly random selections in vibrant colors that work together none-the-less! Matching fabrics is honestly one of my favorite parts of sewing! Gwen's is a circle skirt attached to a top from the second-hand store in a jersey knit. Those vertical stripes were inspired by a pic I saw online, but there was no pattern. So I used basic geometry math to adjust the myriad of circle skirt tutorials out there and we just went for it. Turned out well!

They weren't too eager for a photo shoot. Gwen later discovered that her circle skirt was extra twirly, and requested another photo, but we never got around to it. 

 Weeks later, my Easter dress is finished. 

 It is a GORGEOUS mint eyelet from Michael Miller called Mist, lined with white voile, contrasting trim is bias tape from Joann's. I bought the mint invisible zipper online from ZipperStop (very affordable!) My o-so-fashionable necklace is from Volunteers of America, my sandals are the most comfy wedges ever because they are Crocs and I've got my Silver Floral on Magenta Jams on too! lol, Writing all that makes me feel like I'm a fashion blog or something (I give myself airs). 

 The dress has a high, modest back and this great lacing detail. (My apologies for the wrinkled view. I am new to 'fashion photography' and such) I added the pleats as a solution for the unflattering way the fabric was draping originally. It gave me more control over where the draping occurred is much more flattering now!

  The sleeves I designed completely myself!  They are raglan with gathering at the top and a sweet puckering pleat at the arm. I have little ones to chase around-- my own AND I am currently in nursery at church-- so I needed flexibility and mobility. The only thing I might do differently would be to add a hint of elastic at the pleat so that when I'm NOT raising my arms or putting my hands on my hips, the sleeve wouldn't 'stand up' on its own so far away from my torso.

Caroline totally wanted to participate in my photoshoot today... Though getting photographed was HER idea, she only wanted to make silly faces. 

I am BEYOND pleased with how everything turned out! Proud as a peacock, actually! I've got new projects in the works, but I am so happy with how these turned out!

Monkey Caroline is 5

My Crazy Caroline is 5 today! 

Hard to believe it was 5 years ago when she was so tiny and new.

She makes the strangest faces...

 

 but that shouldn't be too surprising, since at only a week old she was already practicing these exotic face contortions! :)

She her beautiful, adorable, "I'm-so-cute-you-can't-resist-my-whims" face is precious, though.

Then, and now. 

Her favorite color is yellow. It suits her personality too!

  She is an active, outdoor, mess-lovin, athletic gal who astonishes me with her natural physical talents! Besides her penchant for exploration of all things sporty, she has a wonderful gift for loving people---ALL people, complete strangers no exception---without reservation. She feels and shows her love generously!

  Sometimes she look... or even ACTS...like a gremlin

 but then she pulls out an exalted face like this and we can't help but be energized by her enthusiasm for life!

 She is a happy, passionate girl! Watch out world! She's 5 now!

Up To: Headboard Project

Blog post about our completed Easter dresses pending, but in the mean time enjoy this wonderfully brief post about our homemade head board! Yes, Eric and I have finally arrived as a married couple: we have a head board. Almost 10 years in. :)

Used these plans for our project; a nice Jacobian stain for a sort of walnut look, but with more warmth; and a satin finish seal. (note to selves: leave it to air out in the garage for a full week, rather than just 3 days. Whew, good thing the weather allowed us to open our windows!)

Added these pretty cool accents just for fun. 

We had a blast working on this together when the weather was too uncompromising for garden work or family walks. 

Gwen was a decent sander. 

Caroline and Emmett actually played well together while she pushed him around on the bike. 

Another evening when the car was in the garage and they couldn't ride bikes, the kiddos piled into the car and had a great time! Who knew a parked car held so many fun opportunities?

Such a great project to do together!

We LOVE it! Funny how I feel more legit as an adult somehow. :)