Toddler Boy Pants, Shirt and Hat - Upcycled

Here's my latest child's outfit, upcycled from a man's shirt:

1 toddler shirt & the lining to a newsie hat. 

Actually two, because the first hat I made was a bit snug for this 14 month old model but I'm going to guess it's perfect for a smaller child.

The hats and vintage looking shorts where made from this old baggy pair of pants. 

Here's my darling model - a lively 14 month old boy whose tall for his age and according to a three year old little girl told me, "He should be put in time out."  (He ate the frosting off of her cupcake.) In fairness to my grandson, she left it on a chair, right within his reach & her grandmother said he could have it.  It was just too tempting to a little child.  Right?

Update: This morning, I added one more button to keep the shirt closed higher up.

Rock anyone?
Reversible Hat - free pattern found here.

Total cost for this project $0 + one week of labor = PRICELESS

See this project & others at: http://www.soyouthinkyourecrafty.com/summer-diy-project-ideas/

Craft Month in July

My youngest daughter, Amy, decided that her goal for July was to be crafty.  Here she is sewing a bunny basket for her little boy on my machine. 

Back in March, she announced that her little boy needed a Easter basket. She showed me a photo of one she liked.  She then asked me to create it. So here's what I did: designed the pattern, showed her fabrics she could use, then cut the bunny basket out for her.  I then decided that when she came back home, she could sew it. She agreed.  I explained how I thought the fabric basket should be sewed & she went to town making it. I even got to help fix the machine embroidery because her bunny's smile just kept getting more crocked each time she sewed - unpicked - sewed - unpicked; you get the picture - but look how cute it turned out!  I'm sure my grandson will be a perfect age for enjoying Easter next year.

Amy's husband is in the Air Force and is doing his officer training all the way across the U.S. While he's doing this training, she's at our house with her adorable 14 month old.  Which means, babysitters for her child (when my husband & I are home from work), craft supplies & someone to help her when she's stuck on a project.  So far, she's finished this basket, sewn a cute maxi skirt (see below), painted a child's chair, made a necklace out of sea glass and embellished earrings.  She's also working on updating a lamp that was in her bedroom for her little boy's room.  She's quite the goal setting girl and has accomplished a lot with a busy little boy by her side. Amy is a beautiful daughter & a cute mom.

Below is a photo of my grandson who loves, loves, loves being outside. He wanted to explore instead of following his grandfather to church. A quick mom grabbed his hand & off we went. xoxo Grandma

Yes, it Fits!

Yes, it fits!  Here's my darling granddaughter in her Fishy sunsuit.
According to her mother, she would not keep the headband on. 
What, a 16 month old with an attitude?
For more details on this sunsuit and a link to a free pattern go to:
http://xoxograndma.blogspot.com/2013/06/fishy-sunsuit.html

Fishy Sunsuit

Here's my version of "Mommy's Apron Strings" sunsuit.  I used leftover scraps of bright blues and green fabric to make my whale and fish. Then I machine embroidered them onto a soft yellow fabric. I finished all the edges in the bright green & blue self-made bias tape.  Next, I added a little elastic to the legs & made a coordinating headband for my granddaughter.  It's now on it's way to Tennessee. I hope my daughter takes a photo of my granddaughter in this outfit.  Now say with me, "I hope it fits, I hope it fits!"



Sunsuit pattern from Mommys Apron Strings

Coordinating headband to wear with the sunsuit.

Doll Accessories

For my granddaughter's 1st birthday, I got them their 1st baby doll.  
For their 2nd birthday gift, I made them doll clothes, a doll quilt (using scraps from the baby blankets I made for them when they were born) & a matching doll pillow too. Every doll needs a pillow to rest their tired heads on.
Isn't that what every two year old needs? 

The case for the doll clothes originally said Yui.  I unpicked part of the name & turned the monogram into Ella.  A Pottery Barn reject on sale for $2.00!  
Does anyone know someone with the name of Yui?

Most of these doll clothes were upcycled from baby clothes.

This yellow smocked doll dress was originally one of my summer shirts .

I should have taken photos of the clothes on the doll but I made all these clothes plus one more suitcase full right before I gave the doll to my #2 granddaughter.  One doll is across the United States & one is in Israel.  Maybe their kind, thoughtful mothers will take photos of my darlings playing will their dolls....MAYBE?

xoxo Grandma

Whimsical little Fairies

After twisting pipe cleaners, wrapping embroidery floss and sewing miniature, felt clothing, these little whimsical wee little fairies were created. Their felt jackets have beads, tiny buttons and a lot of embroidery. Silk flower petals were used to make their skirts. Their faces were painted onto wooden beads using the smallest brushes.

These magical creatures were inspired by Salley Mavor, an amazing fabric relief artist. (Her craft book called, "Felt Wee Folk" teaches you how to make these...just in case you want to make your own.)  I added my personal touch...white feathers... just below their fairy wings because a fairy needs feathers to fly, right?  I like the softness the feathers added to my little fairies.

For more inspiration:

Round Wedding Banners

This was a wedding banner thank you banner I made for this special couple. I love how their card turned out!