Toddler Art Party

It's been a little quiet on my blog lately as I have been working so hard on getting ready for Sister's fifth birthday party. My sweet girl had had a very specific party theme in mind: Fancy Nancy Art Party. She based this on the book Fancy Nancy Aspiring Artist (affiliate link), which is her current favorite book. Who is ready for some pictures?!?!

The original plan was to have one main party on Sunday, but she came down with a flu bug. So on Sunday only the grandparents and aunts came over to love on her and enjoy the food we had catered. Then on Wednesday, her best friends came over for an art party!

Last year for my birthday I received the Oliver + S book, Little Things to Sew (affiliate link) from a dear friend. Sister and I simply love looking at the projects and dreaming how the projects will turn out! The art smock is one of her personal favorites and she had been asking me to make one for her for months.

For Sister and Brother's art smocks, I used the pocket pattern from The Cottage Mama Sew Classic Clothes for Girls (affiliate) book. Sister simply adores the large pocket and having a pocket to hold all her supplies.

When the Michael Miller Color Me fabric was released, I just knew it would be simply perfect for art smocks! I purchase almost all of my fabric from Whimsical Fabric and solid fabrics are simply top notch from this shop. The Riley Blake and Art Gallery solid fabrics are superb to work with and the colors are amazing!

My original plans included a darling shirt and capri set for her birthday, but I ran out of time to get those completed. However, my favorite bow designer, Little Bow Pat made me this simply adorable bow that matches the theme of the party perfectly!

Her bows also come with a coordinating accent clips, but I just couldn't figure out where to sneak it onto this busy hairstyle! The coordinating clips are perfect for girls growing out bangs or girls with toddler hair that requires a second clippie to help hold fly-aways.

Now onto the pictures!

The art smocks also came in handy when it was time to color Easter eggs! I found a really neat low mess egg coloring tutorial that I think will for sure be our new tradition for the next few years. Set up took about a minute and clean up took 3 minutes at the very most.

Jocole Blog Tour- So Many Choices!

A few weeks ago, a friend mentioned that there was an upcoming blog tour that was looking for bloggers to join and I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the Jocole Blog Tour. This is my first time taking part in a blog tour and it has been so much fun! At the end of the post, there is a giveaway you can enter for a chance to win one pattern of choice from the Jocole website.

In celebration of this blog tour, Jocole patterns are 25% with the code "FallBlogTour" through October 26, 2015. 

A few years ago I learned about Jocole patterns and quickly fell in love with the style and that they are perfect for everyday wear. For the tour, I decided to make the Endless Dress with options from the included Vol. 1 Add-On Pack and Essential Pants capri length. While browsing the website, I was amazed at two main details: so many patterns include the matching doll pattern AND there are free tutorials to add details to the garment. On to the details (feel free to click on any image to view larger):

For the top, I decided to use the Endless Dress with options from the included Volume 1 Add-On Pack. Volume 2 can be purchased here for even more options! The endless dress pattern has options that are truly endless. There are options for different bodice lengths, a variety of sleeves, tunic or dress length, etc... For this outfit, I chose sleeveless, tunic, with a waist length bodice and a modified sash. I really loved having a blank slate full of options all in one pattern! I'm not going to lie, it took me a few days to think through all of the options to decide exactly what I wanted, but that was part of the fun!

I did a size 5 knowing that it would be a little big (she is a 4 year old that measured on the chart as a size 5 length and size 18 month waist~ this pattern does show how to modify the pattern for kiddos that don't measure exactly on the charts, BONUS!) but I wanted there to be room to layer for our California winter. Even though it is a little large, the armholes don't look off in size or anything, it is darling!

Although I chose to add the sash, I modified it slightly so there wouldn't be a bow in the back. Sister typically won't chose outfits with a back bow because they poke her when she sits, but I just love the look of the sash on the front of an outfit. We compromised by me making a fake sash by doing the same method to the back of the dress as I did to the front of the dress.

Side note about the sash on the sleeveless bodice: Make sure to read through the entire pattern in the order you will be sewing, to make sure you know when to jump to the add-ons. I skipped ahead and forgot to add my sash before sewing up the side seams on the bodice, so I ended up stitching it in place on top once I realized what happened.

Sister has loved the heart buttons in my button jar and has been asking for me to add them to an outfit for at least a year. However, not many patterns need only two buttons. While sewing this outfit, I realized I could mix and match the buttons for a fun little touch and love how it turned out!

For the doll version, the pattern has instructions on how to do snaps or working buttonholes, but
Sister prefers Velcro for easy playing. So I added Velcro on the back.

For the bottoms I used the Essential Pants and did the capri length. This pattern comes with the options to do shorts, capris, or pants. The capris and pants option are slightly fitted with a slight flare and it has a full elastic waistband.

In the pattern, there is a link to a tutorial for making faux front pockets which add a fun little touch! There is also a tutorial for adding belt loops that can be found here. I really love patterns that offer extra options to personalize an outfit! Just like the endless dress, this pattern also includes a doll version. I had time to cut out the pieces, but did not have time to sew them up.

I started working on this outfit the same day that I bought a brand new machine! This is my first time owning a new machine and I have been loving my Babylock Molly! When I purchased the machine, I also bought the foot to do free motion applique. This flower was my first time playing with that sewing machine foot and I am in love!

If you have fallen in love with these patterns, be sure to stop by Jocole to pick up your own copy. Use the code "FallBlogTour" through October 26, 2015 for 25% off your purchase.

Lately I have been working on sewing through my stash and this was the perfect opportunity to use coordinating prints that I have had for a few months. I purchased all of the fabrics for this outfit from Whimsical Fabric. The main print and coordinates are all part of the Art Gallery Sweet As Honey line, the colors are so vibrant and the feel is simply amazing! The capris are made using Fabric Finders Chocolate Twill.

To enter to win one free pattern of choice from Jocole, enter by completing the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway runs October 24-26, 2015. Good luck!


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Introducing: ME!

It seems only fitting that the first blog post introduces who I am and what I have planned for this blog. And what better way to do it than through a sewing project?

So here goes:

My name is Jona and even though I turn 30 in a little over two weeks, I am still a complete kid at heart! I love bright colors. While blue is my favorite color, I really love anything that is colorful and bright and happy. I am married to my friend from childhood and our he is still my best friend. He is also a kid at heart and it makes life with two (actual) kids that much more of an adventure. We love to go to the zoo, Knott's Berry Farm, hiking, camping, and our all time favorite tradition is family pizza movie night where we throw a blanket down on the living room floor and watch a movie while munching on pizza. I really felt like this new Curiosities fabric exemplified my love for childhood with the bright colors but let's me look like a grown up with the subtle background.

I am very excited that I am able to stay at home with our kids until our youngest is in first grade. He is currently two, so I have a few more years at home with our daughter, Sister, and our son, Brother. I love being on the floor playing with them and even more than playing, I love doing art projects with them (hence, the spills)! I used the Tie Dye Diva Chocolate Chip Skirt because it is long enough for hanging out with toddlers.

There is a lined option, so no dealing with slips during our busy days. For the lining, I used Imperial Broadcloth to line the skirt and oh is it comfy! I know this skirt will be perfect for teaching preschool on Sunday's at church, hanging out at home with my kids, and going out on date nights with my husband!

This skirt also has a pocket option. Here is a little known fact about me, I don't go anywhere without Chapstick. Anywhere. The Chapstick I use isn't anything fancy or amazing, just the Chapstick brand with the blue wrapper.

One last tidbit you should know about me. When it comes to sewing and art projects, I leap before I look. All the time. I love a challenge and I love pushing what I know and trying new skills! I feel like that is what keeps sewing and art fun. For this skirt, I challenged myself to learn how to do a blind hem. Thanks to Pinterest and YouTube, I looked at at least 15 tutorials on how to sew a blind hem, grabbed a scrap of fabric and started practicing. It's far from perfect, but I have done it and I know that it will get better with time.

So, that's a snapshot into my life through a skirt! I look forward to sharing with you more sewing projects and our art activities!

And one last picture. Sister (4 years old) took this picture and asked em to make a silly face after she was done taking my serious pictures. Of course, this is also the only modeled picture that turned out very good.