Jenny Garland

Super Magic Cape

Kate is fascinated with "super magic capes." I saw the cape in the latest Ottobre (6/2008 #22) issue and knew I had to make it for her. Sewing seriously doesn't get simpler or faster than this pattern. There were three pieces and since the pom-poms frame the cape, I didn't even have to finish the edges. It's a bit bright, but then again so is Kate. I think she can pull it off :)



 

 

Kate Loves all Things Halloween

She's not afraid of skeletons, bats, bones, or ghosts. Kate surprisingly gets a kick out of ghoulish decor and often giggles as we pass by creepily decorated houses on our walks.

This weekend, aunt Amanda sent Kate a big Halloween care package full of goodies (tattoos, stickers, a Fraggle Rock DVD, lollipops, jammies, the Hallmark singing frogs, etc). What was Miss Thing MOST excited about???? Take a look:

A super scary (in my opinion) mummy tattoo. As if that isn't enough, she keeps pointing to it and saying "Look!! JUST like my Mommy!!" Ouch :)

An Easy Way to Perk Up a Favorite Book

Book covers are very simple to sew/serge but can add a lot of oomph to a favorite journal or book :)

A Cheery Smocket for a Chipper Toddler :)

I have had these two Michael Miller fabrics (Lolli Dot and Cha Cha Stripe) lying around for a few months. I couldn't decide what to make with them. At first I thought a quilt, but ehhh... that idea never really stuck for some reason. I found this smocket tutorial online and had to make one for Kate.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE sewing tutorials! I'm hoping to add a few more to my site soon, aside from the nap mat. I was really happy with the pattern but added 3/4" length to all the straps and 1/2" width to the whole pattern since it was sized approximately 18mo-2T and Kate is comfortably wearing 3T shirts.

The smocket is completely reversible and I decided to add a funky pocket to each side.

 

Stash buster ... bibs and burp cloths

I needed to whip up some new bibs and burp cloths for Miss Baby Garlando due in early February. I used fabric scraps to make these last week and it was a great way to use up bits of this and that. I serged the bibs instead of turning and topstitching (T&T) because, well ... they're going to get gross anyway! The burp cloths are ridiculously easy to embellish but I think the fabric adds some spunkiness, you know?

 

The front of the bibs (cotton):



The back of the bibs (chenille, minkee, or flannel):

Kate Renamed Herself

My daughter has decided today that "Kate Mackenzie Garland" is no longer a suitable name. She would much prefer to be known as "Quacky Toaster" so please make the necessary adjustments. If you try to call her Kate, she will say "Nope. I Quacky Toaster now."

Flu Shot Time Again

This afternoon Kate and I went to get our Thimerosal-free flu vaccines at our family doctor's office. Kate has to get another dose in four weeks, poor thing! Anyway, I was talking to her all day about how we were going to head to the doctor after nap time to get a shot that would help keep us healthy. She asked, "Like a vitmin?" (vitamin) and I said "Yes! Exactly."

Kate watched me get my shots first (two pedi ones so I could avoid the Thimerosal too) and didn't seem anxious at all. The sweet nurse cleaned off Kate's thigh and quickly gave her the vaccination. Kate's eyes nearly bugged out of her head and she firmly shouted at the nurse "DON'T LADY!! That too sharp." She then had the silent cry (if you have a kid, you know what I'm talking about) for about 30 seconds as she worked herself up to hysterics. Just when I calmed Kate down enough to speak, she glared at the nurse and asked her seriously "Why do that lady? Katie have boo boo now." Kate gave her the evil eye on the way out.

As I was checking out, I asked the receptionist if Kate could have a couple stickers. Kate let me put them on her shirt and then puffed out her bottom lip and told the receptionist that she needed a red lollipop too. With her band-aid, Dora stickers, and lollipop in tow, I carried her out to the car. After we (Kate likes to help) buckled her in, Kate looked at me with big puppy-dog eyes and sighed "Katie so brave." My sweet girl :)