Shopgirl Apron and Zakka Organizer

[sew a gift].

Had some fun making the Shopgirl Apron, well, just making aprons in general. Though they can be a bit time-consuming if you like to customize. In this case, I changed up the pockets from two side pockets to one centre front, added a ruffle, and quilted it with a cross-hatch pattern. I really like to quilt the apron if its reversible because I'm afraid once you wash it things will separate and get all wrinkly. The quilting helps stabilize and give it structure. And make it pretty. Even though you can't really see it here. Trust me though, the quilting is very pretty.  And, I didn't even model it because then I would get attached to it and this one is not for me. 

Another not-for-me project, the Zakka zip organizer from the book Zakka Style. It ended up being a disappointment. It looks soooo cute. However, the zipper is not very functional; its a bit stiff but I could have lived with that. The problem is that it seems so tight at the open end when you try to close it. VERY cumbersome. I must have installed it too tightly. But, alas, my friend Anne is willing to bear the burden of the zipper in the name of lovely fabric and cuteness. Works for me! 

I have been in the cue at the public library for this book since summer. I mean, its that popular. Anything Zakka is hugely popular it seems, but, I did not love this pattern and instructions. I love the idea of the zipper organizer though, and I think next time (if there is a next time), I'll add a gusset, yes? And bookmark Krista's tips because she has made several.


on the handy dandy kindle
So I'm slowly working my way through Breath of Peace which Elizabeth recommended a few weeks ago. I'm finding it a bit painful to read because the newlyweds are bickering all. the. time.  So far. I think it was described as "affectionate discontent". I have witnessed such. Its not pleasant and it definitely makes me treasure my own marriage relationship because I think the ping-pong-bickering can creep in if we're not careful. 

and not on the kindle

My sweet friend (shall we call her Ms. Smith?) dropped this by today, wrapped in Advent lavender and accompanied by a Tim's French Vanilla cappuccino ... just because. 

Its a good time of year to let your friends know they matter. 

I'll be back later to link up with Elizabeth for needle and thREAD, so until then, xoxo.

And here's that link to Elizabeth's needle and thREAD.

my little bookcase - join in?

This morning, Elizabeth over at Real Learning posted about a meme going around on Instagram for the month of May where we share the best children's books. There is a different category for each day of the month, using hashtag #mylittlebookcase. 

Updated here to add: I wanted to find the source of the Instagram game, and it turns out that this originates with Jackie of My Little Bookcase! What a fun blog. I haven't explored it completely yet, but its worth a look if you like books.

I'm joining in the Instagram game (@livefaithgirl) and will post here on the blog as well. Doesn't that sound like fun? I'm always up for ideas and sharing in the way of books! You too? 

Day 1? A classic.

Brittany's pick - Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott

Dawson's pick - Old Yeller. "It was beautifully written and sad. A true tale of friendship between man and animal - almost a unity of the two."

Alexa's pick - A Little Princess by Frances Hodges Burnett. "Its such a sad story but its so happy at the end that you could cry." 

Maria's pick - Pinnochio.  "I just love the Talking Cricket and the Blue Fairy. I just love it so much."

Kate's pick - Goodnight Gorilla (she's two, so this pick was coerced!)

My pick - Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. I recently read this and it was amazing. 

For more great picks and ideas, check out Instagram!

Top Ten Books Your Child Should Leave Home With

So I had a nice break. I wasn't anticipating being an on-again off-again blogger, like my blogger friend Tina Marie calls herself over at A Retro Catholic Family, but it appears that is so! I sure hope I can be better about blogging in 2013, but honestly, its a lot of work. And if I'm blogging, then either its very late at night, or something else is going undone. But I like to blog and it is fun to share tidbits of this and that from your life. Its a great personal family record because time blinks by so quickly, gotta capture what you can.

We have been chatting about all things books on our local TJEd forum - a topic I do NOT tire of! Even though there are a million lists of "best classics" and "top 100 books of all time," its always nice to hear someone's favorites and glean book suggestions. No?

The question came up. What top ten books would you like your child to leave home with?  This is a fun thing to think about!  First I asked my 15 yo daughter and this was her list:

Anne of Green Gables (LM Montgomery)
The Count of Monte Cristo (Dumas)
Uncle Tom's Cabin (Stowe)
The Secret Garden (Burnett)
Jo's Boys (Alcott)
The Scarlet Pimpernel (Orczy)
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (Boyne)
Hana's Suitcase (Levine)
Maniac Magee (Spinelli)
and her Nancy Drew originals

I see a lot of emotional attachments to these books on her part, which is obviously why they are on her list.  They each have a special meaning in her childhood and have impacted her, just like a good classic should. For example, I read Anne as a read-aloud during our first year of homeschooling and this book single-handedly restored her love of reading. Which the school had killed by the end of grade two - that was an aside. Jo's Boys was also read aloud during our second homeschooling year.

While Brittany was compiling her list, I thought about ten books I would choose for her to leave home with:

Anne of Green Gables (LM Montgomery)

The Count of Monte Cristo (Dumas)

A collection of Frances Hodgson Burnett (who can choose just one? I love these books especially for childhood, though they still retain their magic when read as an adult!)
Little Women series
A Shakespeare collection
CS Lewis' Narnia series
The Book of Virtues/Moral Compass duo (Bennett) At least to remind them that there is such a thing as virtue and morality. Right?
Tolkien's Hobbit/Lord of the Rings Series
A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens) plus maybe A Christmas Carol  Dickens to me is essential for any good library!
and a darn good classic cookbook!

To that list, I would also add core classics of our faith:
A Catholic Study Bible and
A Catechism of the Catholic Church

Have you started a library for any of your children? Do you use special occasions to give them a "worthy book?" We have a kazillion books and we may never read every single one on our shelf, but my fellow TJEd'er, who also has a bursting library in her home, said it didn't really matter, because if her own children didn't read every book, maybe her grandchildren will. Or great-grandchildren. You know? Its like a beautiful investment in the future, a statement of what books really mean to a culture.

And so I've resolved to use special occasions, like birthdays, to give a really nice hardcover edition of a classic towards their personal leave-home-with-it library. Now I know there are pretty "collections" of classics ready to go - I've seen them locally - but they have teeny tiny print and very few illustrations.  So I'm planning on choosing editions which I think are lovely, but don't necessarily match each other.  I began with Epiphany and I have more on order for Valentines Day! Fun, eh?

Here's what I gifted for Epiphany:

Dawson - The Annotated Hobbit

Brittany - Anne of Green Gables. Of course. She was so tickled.

Alexa - Little House on the Prairie. Loved it. We're reading it right now.

Maria - Pinocchio. I bought her a hardcover of an abridged version - but you know what, its lovely and she has read through it several times already!

Kate - well, I didn't actually buy Kate a "worthy" book, but she did get a Sandra Boynton board book.

Me - Yes, I gifted myself for Epiphany too! I bought a gift edition of Tolstoy's War and Peace - broken into 3 volumes. More manageable to bite I think.

Tom - Can't forget your husband! He received Kevin O'Leery's The Cold Hard Truth about Men, Women and Money. Again, not a classic "worthy book." I wanted to get him a beautiful version of Les Miserables, which he is reading on his handy dandy kindle.And loving. But when this whole idea took place in my head it was the day before Epiphany and no time to order. Had to buy locally. I knew he'd like this book, at any rate.  Les Mis for next time.

What about you? What books would be on your top ten send-em-out-into-the-world with list? Have you started a "beautiful collection" yet?

Aprons from Tea Towels/Dishcloth Tutorial - needle and thREAD

Oh what a crazy summer! Crazy and wonderful and while I did lots of sewing I did little blogging about it! So maybe its time to catch up? After a long reprise, I'm joining Elizabeth again, with

Today I'm featuring a tutorial to make an incredibly easy self-adjusting apron from a cotton tea towel! If you have little girls, you will LOVE this not only for baking, but slipping on over their princess costumes which they refuse to take off when they eat.  Kind of a grown-up bib. You won't really mind if they wipe their dirty fingers on it, because, it is a tea towel at heart!

I made several aprons from tea towels as treats for the girls at Alexa's "sweet shop birthday party." I was inspired by this post over at Life is a Party;  tweaked the instructions a bit to make it even easier to sew, and here it is just for you :).

In addition to your regular sewing supplies, you will need:
- any rectangular tea towel. I couldn't resist these floral ones from IKEA.

They are a good size, nice and thick, and inexpensive. Give it a good press and a shot of spray starch :).  Don't worry if it isn't a perfect rectangle.
- ribbon, 1" width works best but you can experiment; you need about a meter
- optional embellishments, such as ric-rac or decorative ruffled ribbon, etc

Step 1: Fold to Make a Casing

Fold the two top corners over to the wrong side (to make a triangle) and press. I've shown a 90 degree angle, but you can make the triangles even more angled to practice your Living math.

I've got about 5" across the top.

It should look like this from the right side:

2. Sew each triangle down, about 1" from each diagonal outer edge. This will form a casing for the ribbon.  If you use ribbon less than 1" wide, make your seam the same width as your ribbon. You don't want to have any extra room, otherwise the ribbon will fall right out due to the weight of the apron.

Sew along this edge. I used a zigzag stitch, that way you don't have to worry about finishing the raw edge. Make sure to backstitch at both ends.

Turn it back over and cut off the excess triangle, close to the stitching. Should look like this:

3. Run the ribbon through the casing.  

Beginning on the lower right side, and using a safety pin attached to the ribbon, pull the ribbon up one side casing then down the other side.

Go up one side ...

And down the other.  This part of the ribbon will go around the neck.

The ribbon becomes the way to adjust the apron. Remember, your casing can't be wider than the ribbon, or the apron will just drop right out. It works best if the casing is a little tight.

4. Embellish, if you wish. Or shorten if needed.

I didn't do any embellishment on my aprons. But I did shorten Maria's by adding some pleats. The aprons are long enough for even me to slip on, and I love that. I also like that these tea towels have a little hook on the top.

And voila! (Sorry about the blurry pic)

Cinderella is protected!

And on to reading. READING!!

 I have been completely captivated by the novels of Immaculee Ilibagiza. She was recently a guest on my favorite radio show, The Catholics Next Door - do check out the link to her interview and other resources.  Immaculee is a survivor of the Rwandan genocide - almost all of her family were brutally murdered - but she was Left to Tell. This story will revive your faith and touch your heart. Neither my husband or I could put it down and it made for some very late night reading! Download it to your handy dandy kindle.

Many blessings and have a wonderful weekend!

Oliver and S Class Picnic Blouse

This week, sewing along with Elizabeth (do check it out), I have ventured further into the world of Oliver and S.  And believe me, it is a world unto itself - there are huge flickr pools with over 15,000 photos, and blog sew-alongs, as well as the forums over at Oliver and S itself, with a dedicated forum for each individual pattern! Um, wow, that is way cool. So my first tip is, before you start any Oliver and S pattern google it and check out all the extra resources you can. You will find the experience of others to be plentiful and invaluable. For example, last week I made the reversible bucket hat (free pattern on their website), but since then I found a blogger who shows how to make the hat without any hand-sewing! - very clever and more speedy!

My girlfriends and I had a little sewing retreat this past Friday night. Yup, we stayed up past midnight, had plenty of salty and sweet (crackers, dip, brownies), and just sew sew sew and yak yak yak.  We started in the late afternoon with kids underfoot, then later our hubbies took over the childcare and we really got down to business! This week, I made the totally cute Class Picnic Blouse by Oliver and S.

Check it out:

Raglan sleeves, 3/4 length, elastic at the shoulder. If you sew this blouse, I highly recommend taking a look at this tutorial clearly showing how to apply the bias strips which encase the elastic.  Its not hard, but its always nice to have a visual before doing it yourself :)

Yoke with light gathering on bodice. I have seen versions on flickr with piping across this chest seam. Next time!

This is a size 6. Added 1 1/2" to bottom hem, and I could have added more! I also think this would show nice with a ruffle on the bottom edge, not too deep, like maybe an inch. Or, you can turn this into a dress by lengthening the top and adding a deep ruffle - its featured on the Oliver and S blog.

The back mirrors the front, but with a deeper yoke at the back. Next time, I'll add a little piece of ribbon inside to show Alexa which side goes in the back. Like a tag.

I added a ribbon trim around the bottom of Maria's. Maria's is a size 5, only one size down from Alexa but there is a big jump in the size! I added an extra 1 1/2" to the bottom of her hem as well.  I think this blouse in a baby size is even sweeter and would like one for Kate who is 18mo - but that means purchasing another copy of the pattern in the baby sizes. I think I might be able to guesstimate it from Maria's though.

I really enjoyed this pattern. I envision making this in fall fabric, even in a very lightweight corduroy. Goes great with shorts, goes great with leggings as well if you add length to the hem.  If deciding between a bigger or smaller size, go bigger for this pattern. It isn't THAT roomy for the size.  For example, Maria is an average 3yo, but she is wearing the size 5 and it just so fits. 

Next up for sewing - I've cut out more of the reversible bucket hat with some pattern adjustments, and I'd like to make the shorts that go with this picnic blouse. It will depend upon my mood, and the weather :)

And onto the reading!

We are still plugging away (there's no rush) at reading aloud James Steyer's Talking Back to Facebook. So so good. 

The other read this week is something I came across in my travels at the Kindle store - written by one of my heroes, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, True Freedom: On Protecting Human Dignity and Religious Liberty:

At just over $1, its a treasure to add to your handy dandy kindle!!! The book is really an essay, something you can read in a short sitting, but it has so many words of wisdom and truth that it brought me to tears. Here is a little excerpt:

"... law's most noble purpose is to safeguard the "being" of life from the rawest preferences for "having" and "doing." Take, for example, the fact of the "being" of the baby in the womb. That "being," that life, trumps the values of usefulness, efficiency, convenience, privacy, or satisfaction of one's needs. A culture of life with supportive laws guarantees this."

"For many couples, babies are now postponed by chemicals and latex, until a couple might decide they'd enjoy one and then are irritated when they can't conceive, driving them to laboratories where perhaps technology can make up for what only nature does perfectly. I know that this does not apply to all infertile couples."

"Still, for many, its another example of what I want, when I want, because I want."

"Many people have babies, if at all, to satisfy their own desires, not to sacrifice for the child's; to fulfill their own needs, not because they long to spend the rest of their lives fulfilling their children's needs; to reward themselves, not because they want to shower love upon their kids.  To this culture of death, the Church boldly and joyfully promotes the culture of life."

Them's powerful words, huh?!!
My dear friend downloaded this book as well and we are planning a little book discussion! Writing and speaking crystallizes thinking :).

Have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Reversible bucket hat from Oliver and S

Crafting along with Elizabeth this morning at needle and thREAD.

So, summer has finally hit in full force and the weather is hot hot hot!  Its time for hats! This week I decided to try a hat, using the free hat pattern over at Oliver and S.  Elizabeth has sewn several girls patterns by Oliver and S which inspired me to check out their website, and I love free patterns!

The hat is reversible. Love that. One hat, two looks. This is the size for age 6-8; my daughter just turned 6.  

The patterns suggests doing several rows of topstitching to give the brim more stability and I really like that effect. It also calls for sew-in interfacing for the brim - I didn't have any so I used drapery lining - this is a stiffer lining and it worked wonderfully.  Don't be afraid to improvise - it just needs something to stiffen the layers.  If you only had lightweight interfacing, I would use two layers. Or, just use an extra layer of fabric. Improvise!

The hat is relatively easy to sew. There are 3 pieces - the crown, the side, and the brim - for each of the two fabrics. Take your time going around the curves.  When it says to clip, clip in as deep as you can without going into the seamline. The pattern instructions are clear and easy to follow.  You could add some funky details too, if you like, such as a pocket or patch. 

The hat also fits my 3 yr old. However, when I make it again for the other girls, I'm going to widen the brim and deepen the side for a better fit.  Neither girls feel the hat really fits them well, even though it looks fine here.  It would blow off in a second if there was a little wind.

As for reading, I'm still plugging away with Talking Back to Facebook by James Steyer (Common Sense Media).  We are reading this aloud to the older kids (ages 12 and 14) and having lots of discussion along the way - this book is EXCELLENT - it deserves a post on its own. At this time we have no intention of giving the kids facebook accounts; but I think simply reading and discussing this book is a good start to the process - becoming aware of the issues and pitfalls, etc.  Download this book to your handy dandy kindle!

Enjoy the rest of your week. My sewing girlfriends and I are having another retreat this weekend - join us in spirit??

Pink Fig Notting Hill Skirt - LOVE!!

Good morning everyone!  We're sewing along with Elizabeth's needle and thREAD this morning,  and skirts are abounding at my house.  Showing today is the Notting Hill skirt from Pink Fig.

At our sewing retreat Friday night, I tackled these two skirts. One for Alexa (size 6), and one for Kate (size 12 months). 

I like a little bit of dark fabric at the bottom of these juicy skirts!

Most of the fabric is from Amy Butler; a little bit from JoAnn.

The pattern cover. There are options to add lots of lace, ribbon, buttons or any other decorative embellishment you like!  This was a super-easy skirt to sew.  Its all rectangle strips.

Perfect to play in!

Lots of room around the bottom for moving around! I'm glad I made the 12 month size, even though Kate is over 18 months.

Alexa is a skirt girl and she is all about the ruffles and gathers.

And on to the reading, which I actually accomplished this week!!  I am digging into a fascinating, must read book if you have any interest in social media and the potential impact on your kids:

I heard about Talking Back to Facebook by James Steyer on my favorite radio show, The Catholics Next Door.  Greg and Jennifer interviewed James Steyer yesterday.   James Steyer is the director of Common Sense Media, a website where I often turn to for movie reviews, etc. and maybe you do too? Their mission is to be an independent voice kids and families need in order to thrive in our techno world.

Downloaded the book to my handy dandy kindle and we are reading it aloud to my older kids in the evenings. Already, our family is discussing the issues, which relate to three main things: relationships, addiction/attention, and privacy (the RAP, as Steyer calls it). I am not on Facebook - I recognized early on that it would suck up my precious time because I would always be tempted to be in that loop - but I feel it is a reality of our virtual world, here to stay, and I know my kids will one day have to navigate it as young adults. This book will help.

Enjoy your week, I'm going camping!!

Prom, anyone? Simplicity 3878

Its time for needle and thREAD with Elizabeth again ... love these Thursdays!

This week, I finally finished a grad dress for a lovely girl and dear friend.  We used this Simplicity pattern but made several modifications:

It turned out just wonderful! But ... that was after making a couple of muslin fittings - where you buy cheap cotton fabric (like muslin, but muslin is very pricey here so we went to the bargain section for cheap cotton instead) - and do a practice round of the dress, adjusting it where needed, before cutting the good fabric.

The fabric is a sheer and shimmery deep navy blue.  I think it is so classy.  The skirt is full and poofy because we added 4 meters of gathered tulle, in the form of two ruffles, and attached it to the lining underneath, near the bottom. We call it the "princess factor."

The bodice is actually a fitted piece underneath, with this "shirred" piece you see over top.  The shirring had to be tacked down here and there. The original patterns calls for this piece to be made of tulle - ewww that would be gross to tack down. We just used the main fabric instead.

The back is especially pretty. I love the invisible zipper!! I am sold on invisible zippers and I think I'll do all my zippers this way!!  See this post for more about the invisible zipper.  Also, when adding straps, we decided to bring them to the center back rather than just straight front to back over the shoulder.  I like the design effect it has. 

The fabric was just glittering in the sun, I had to snap a pic. Hope the weather is nice for her special day!

It has this silver shimmer going on, and she purchased beautiful silver shoes. Perfect!

My own daughter had to take it for a test spin! This dress has movement!

In reading this week, I've been studying a short biography of Gandhi because I'm participating in an online discussion of this speech, which he gave as his statement in The Great Trial of 1922.  To prepare more fully for this discussion, I wanted to read a brief biography - so I downloaded this book (to my handy dandy kindle), intended for younger readers, knowing I'd be able to get a quick bird's eye view.  

Its very well-written, like a good "living book," not too dumbed-down for a student, and assuming its accurate I'd say its a great place to start as a read aloud or independent reading for middle-school and up ....  with the exception of one small paragraph saying that Gandhi regretted having sex with his wife the same night his father was (unbeknownst to Gandhi), dying - one of the factors for him choosing celibacy.

This book would be an excellent stepping stone to discussing concepts of freedom, human rights, goverment, etc with your children. Just excellent!