Quick and Easy Costume Ears

A couple of weeks ago, my daughter was invited to a dress-up superhero birthday party and she was so excited. We love dressing up around here! She immediately decided to be Wonder Woman . . . a super deluxe, glittery, booted, Wonder Woman. Right on! But when I asked her if she wanted to be Wonder Woman for Halloween she said she didn't. Oh. I really didn't want to buy an expensive costume for a one-time wear or spend a week making one and trying to get it just right for a two-hour party. Bummer. We went back to the drawing board and decided to pull something together using stuff we had lying around the house. A black leotard and black tights set the foundation for Cat Girl and a black mask and quick felt ears completed the look. 

And you know what? She LOVED the ears. We've made some elaborate ears (check them out here) but these barrette ears are so lightweight that she wore them a good chunk of the day . . . and other days. Even out to dinner. My sister-in-law has rocked them and if you don't overdo the embellishment, they're pretty understated, i.e. they don't look too crazy for a teen/tween/adult. Love! You should make some too. Here's how:

First, gather your supplies. Felt (I used less than one sheet), scissors, embroidery floss, needle and two barrettes (the kind pictured works well).

Next, fold your felt into a double layer. You will need two identical pieces for each ear.  If you like, grab a marker and draw two ears, using the straight edge of the felt for the bottom of the ears.

Cut out two ear shapes. Because you're cutting a double layer, you will have two of each ear.

Stitch the two identical pieces together around the top of each ear. Repeat for the other ear. For a no-sew project, glue the pieces together  with a line of glue between the two pieces where the stitch line would be. Let dry before moving on to the next step.

Next, using sharp scissors fold each piece in half to cut a small slit just large enough to slide the barrette in. Start small! It's easier to enlarge the slit than to stitch part of it closed again (I speak from experience).

Insert the barrette backwards when wearing them so that the large part of the barrette is hidden behind the ear. You can even slide them into your hair so that the barrette is mostly hidden. (Unless you have a three-year-old like mine that doesn't like to hold still :)

Enjoy your quick, easy, costume ears! And if you love the beautiful photos, check out Jessica Peterson Photography here.

And Finally . . . Olivia

Maybe it started with the Halloween-themed toilet paper or, perhaps, the orange pumpkin-printed crepe paper lining all the beams in the house or the giant candy-corn-filled glass pumpkin by the front door but no matter how it started, Halloween has always been a big deal in my family. My mom started it (with all of the craziness mentioned above) but the tradition lives on with me. 

I love Halloween. I allow the kids to dream up any costume and then I hunker down and do my best to bring it to life. Their requests have calmed down in the past couple of years as they have realized that if they are an obscure video game character only about 1 in 100 will recognize and appreciate their costume . . . but that's a great screening process. In that one person, they find a kindred spirit.

Sometimes, the kids' choices are hard to find. I'm pretty sure that Princess Zelda, Link and Bowser Jr. would never have had their day if I were only looking at Costco or Target. Plus, the costumes I make are usually worn over and over throughout the year as dress-ups so I don't mind spending the extra time to make something washable that will last.

But I'm not against buying a costume, no sir-ee! Last year, Oliver wanted to be the ever-popular ninja so I giddily picked that up at the costume shop and he couldn't have been happier. And Evelyn's "fancy mermaid" costume? An awesome Costco buy that only required simple alterations to be the hit costume of the year. 

Those two cheats allowed me time to work on Abby's costume: Olivia. Apparently, my dad doesn't know who Olivia is. "You're going to make her a pig?!," he asked incredulously. 

Yep, that's the way I roll. How do you explain Olivia to somebody who hasn't read the Ian Falconer books OR watched the popular cartoon? "She's like the Miss Piggy of now, Dad. She's spunky and cool and creative . . . She's a very cool pig and her friends will know who she is!," I defended.

So, drumroll please, here is Olivia.

Abby relaxing at her school's costume parade.

After failing to find the right knit material to make the shirt, I found the perfect dress. It was an Old Navy steal. I made the jumper to layer over it and the huge, Olivia ears out of felt and a gold headband. The tights were purchased at the costume shop at the same time as Oliver's ninja costume - score! - and I'm pretty sure that the Mary Jane shoes were from Payless. The ears are ridiculously large, as are the character's, but I probably should have taken into account that Abby does not have a giant pig-head. Oh well, there was no mistaking that she was a pig. No Waldo confusion whatsoever. Just a happy, comfy in her skin - and her costume - Abby.

Happy costume hunting/making! It's my favorite part of Halloween!

Simple (Matching) Sister Skirts

A couple of simple skirts for my two little sweethearts.  I love, love the pairing of snowy eyelet lace with the classic floral print - so feminine! The twirly skirt felt like a worthwhile use of the last of this DS Quilts Picnic Floral print that I've loved so much.  (Also used here and here.)

These lovely photos were taken by Jessica Peterson Photo.

Miss Matilda Meets Miss Abigail

I recently did a pattern test for one of my favorite bloggers, Lindsay at The Cottage Home.  She is releasing FOUR new patterns and this pattern, the Miss Matilda Dress and Top, is the second (watch her blog for the other two). I like the vibe of the entire collection, classic clothing with beautiful details, so I was excited to sew this one up.

Generally, I think special details and opportunities for personalization really make home sewn clothing worth the time, and this pattern is no exception. For this dress, Abby chose her own dress adventure ;) She didn't want the ruffles but INSISTED upon the bow at the waist. I like her style.

 I opted to add some lime green piping for some extra interest at the top of the dress.

The waistband in the back is inset into the bodice and the sash ties in the front.  This makes the dress comfortable even when you buckle a kid into their car seat. Anyone else's kids complain that the bow of their sash is digging into their back? Yes, you can always leave it untied and tie it before making the mad dash into church if that's the way you roll. Just sayin' that is not a problem with this dress. Bonus!

Both fabrics are from Joann's Stonehill Collection. The main fabric is Alfresco Floral Blue and the sash is Alfresco Dot Blue. The piping is Wright's in lime green.

Pattern Test: Bubble Pocket Shorts

Have you seen Elegance & Elephant's newest pattern, the Bubble Pocket shorts? They are sweet, stylish and - best of all - a breeze to put together.

 Plus, Jessica was in town when I made these so my photos are much cuter than usual. I love these grouchy Evelyn pictures. She's trying so hard not to smile, especially when proudly showing off the shorts' waistband (and her cute belly).

 You can't see me in this picture but I'm silently patting myself on the back for managing to match my stripes - hooray!  A little bit of a pain but totally worth it in the end. I fell in love with this scalloped fabric on a Joann's trip and went back later for the gray and white floral that I used on the contrasting waistband, leg cuffs and side panels.

Toddler (and Kindergartener!) Swing Tank

About a week ago, I made this Toddler Swing Tank.  It's a free pattern on the blog True Bias and I knew I had to try it after seeing Jill's (of Homemade By Jill) versions here and here.

I lengthened the pattern a bit with the intention of making it into a dress but, when all's said and done, I think it looks more like a tunic.  I probably needed another couple of inches for a dress.  The dress also ended up a bit snugger than I hoped for because I opted for French seams at the shoulders and side seams but the pattern only allows for a 3/8" seam allowance.  I crossed my fingers and hoped that it would all work out - and it did - but just barely.  Adding 1/4" to the shoulders and side seams would solve that little problem-of-my-own-making.  Also need to make the closure a little bit lower so it's easier to get on and off.  Our bodies may be on the petite side around here but not our noggins.

I like the clean shape of this A-line and think it would be great for showcasing a fun print.

The second fishy button.  Again, since the fit wasn't spot on, I decided to save the adorable turtle button that I was going to use.

The tunic is a little bit minimalist.  Simple, classic and perfect for play.

I liked the pattern so much that I modified it to fit my almost six-year-old.

Elegance & Elephants' First Pattern

If you're visiting from Elegance & Elephants . . . Welcome!  Kick up your feet and stay a while.  For an easy short-cut to my sewing-related posts, there is a link in the sidebar to your right >>>.  Thanks for stopping by!

Have you ever visited Elegance & Elephants? It's a beautiful sewing blog and she is launching her first pattern next week - hooray!  It's called the Ruffle Top and I had a chance to test it out the A-line dress version for Evelyn.  There are three versions included in the pattern - a tunic top, A-line dress and swing dress (full skirt, party-ready).  Plus, the sizing goes from 18 months all the way to an 8.  With my oldest daughter turning six this year, I'm starting to appreciate patterns that go beyond a 5T.

 I love that this dress doesn't look like any of the other dresses in Evelyn's closet.  The princess seaming and A-line shape on this particular version is a nice chance from the high waist/full skirt on many of her other dresses.  And can we talk about the ruffles?  I love them - so sweet but not over the top!  The A-line version calls for a tie in the back and I followed the same placement but extended the ties to a finished length of 27" so that I could tie it in the front, kind of like a faux wrap.

The fabric is a twill from last year's Little Lisette Spring Collection (Jo-Ann Fabrics).  I picked mine up on clearance a couple of months ago and I've been hoarding it ever since, just waiting for the perfect project.  I gave Evelyn a choice of two buttons and wasn't really too surprised with her choice.  The fish bowl button is quirky and fun, a little surprise on the back of the dress.

Flower v. Fishy?  The fishy won!

 

You know what they say about two-year-olds?  Busy, busy.  She almost immediately picked a flower and started counting up the petals.

 

A view from the front . . . and the back.  Because I was testing the pattern, I didn't alter the measurements at all so you can imagine how relieved (and excited) I was that it was a perfect fit.  The ties give a tailored look AND allow wiggle room if you need it.

Those sweet ruffles.

Abby's Little Man Baby Shower

The shower was lovely - perfect weather, beautiful venue, delicious food and a wonderful group of ladies.  I can see why Abby is friends with each and every one of them.  My little Abby joined me for a weekend away and she was beyond thrilled to participate in such a 'grown up' event.

Guest of Honor: Abby

L-R: Sheila, Me, Abby, Abby Rose, Jessica Elizabeth, Jessica Lorraine

The 'mustache bouquets' were so much fun.  I ordered the milk and dark chocolate pops from a local cake and candy supply and then bagged and tied them up for the bouquet.  I followed Martha's simple how-to for the candy-filled vase here.

 

Who took the beautiful photos?  My beautiful sis-in-law.

I found the idea for the sign and gift tags here.