Fantastic Flowers

Do you remember this ad from 1992?  That flower press (very similar to my cuttlebug) made my Christmas list that year, but it never turned up under the tree.  I think my parents vetoed that gift knowing that my 9-year-old-self would probably make 3 flowers and never use it again.  I believe I received a Walkman instead.

This post is really about satin flowers - made by me - but with dangerous things like sharp scissors and fire.  I'll show ya how to do it...later.  **UPDATE** Tutorial HERE!

The flower, feather and netting are on an interchangeable clip.  Confession: it's not something I invented.  I totally copied Miss Plunkett, so I'd feel a little guilty spilling their secret.

Rowan was begging to try the blue one on.  Yes...begging....

What a good sport he is!

The recipients of these flowers are my two new little girlfriends.

Leah

Kennedy

I hope the girls share with their mums!

The Urban Hoodie (and Raincoat)

My ball and chain (ie the MacBook) finally returned from her date with a Mac Genius (Apple's ego-stroking term for tech support personnel).  WOWSERS.  The last time I was away from the internet for this long (excluding the first 16 years of my life), I was working for Uepi Island Resort in the Solomon Islands.  Oh, my dear blog, how I've missed you!!

Circa 2005 - man....what a summer.

Ohhhh - that picture makes me feel cold.  Ohhhh - if I don't stop looking at it, I'm never going to get this post finished. *Insert self-inflicted face slap here*

I was very happy to be introduced to The Boy Trifecta; a blog by a mum of - you guessed it - three boys.  It's were I discovered the Urban Hoodie pattern from Heidi and Finn.  

The timing was perfect for it to be bumped to the top of my must-sew list; Rowan was growing out of his snowsuit, but he still needed something cozy to wear.  Spring in Southern Ontario = mild and sunny one day and snow the next. Sadly, I'm not exaggerating.  The photos of R-man in the hoodie/raincoat were taken on Friday afternoon.  Today at noon, there remains evidence of yesterday's snowfall.

I decided to use Emily's tutorial and add a zipper instead of buttons.  Mine didn't turn out quite as nice as hers (zippers and I have only recently come to an amiable understanding), but I certainly don't lose sleep over it.

 At the end of a long, cold, rainy day I decided that Rowan needed a raincoat too.  While the blue hoodie is made of a light sweatshirt (knit) fabric, the raincoat is nylon with a flannel lining.  I realize the design is not the most waterproof, but it doesn't really have to be.  I couldn't come up with a realistic scenario that would require him to endure pouring rain for more than 2 minutes.

Same pattern, just tweaked it a little by lengthening the body and foregoing the bottom trim.  I wish I had cut the material before purchasing the zipper, because it (the zip) ended up being too short.  To make up for that oversight, I added a snap closure.  Yes, I know I could have postponed finishing it in order to purchase a longer zipper, but....it was 11pm and I didn't want to stop on account of a technicality!

Besides, he'll grow out of it in two months and I'll have a chance to do it all over again!

Bonsai Bag

Looky, looky; something ELSE I've sewn from Made By Rae.  I think I may have an addiction...  

I really like this Bonsai Bag pattern because it involves very few pattern pieces to print and cut out.  Most of it is rectangles that you just measure out with a ruler!  It was a lot of fun to make, but alas....'tis not for me.  Another gift.  I'll be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of my fabric choice when I got it all together, but it's starting to grow on me.  The recipient says she loves it, so I guess that's all that matters.

I really love these magnetic snaps; they're easy to install (haha....install) and look very polished.  I used them in another project that I will be posting soon!

Rowan and I are looking forward to spending the afternoon with a few mums and babies on this dreary, rainy day.  Have a great Monday!