Thursday, August 27, 2009

Back to School Backpack Transformer Style

School is back in session and my boy has officially started Kindergarten!!! Wow, how the time flies!

But, before we took him to his first day of school, he got all spiffied up in his mama-embellished "Transformer" backpack.

Typically, the last couple years of pre-school and Pre-K, he has had mama-made backpacks. This year though, we went with a store bought one. I know, not the same...but it works!

We decided upon a simple blue backpack for school instead of the Transformer themed ones. Why? Just because. But, it still needed a little something. So, naturally, my crafty mind started thinking.

I spotted some of the packaging on one of his new transformer toys he had gotten for his birthday. I grabbed it, cut it out and decided to embroider a patch to put on his backpack.

I took some simple tissue paper and traced the image with my heat transfer pencil. I love that thing.

Then, I ironed it on some gray felt. Tada!


I then embroidered it in green. I wanted to do red, but the boy requested green since, after all, it is his favorite color!

The green doesn't show up too well in the photos, but oh well.

Then I pinned it one the backpack in the area the boy chose, which would be the lower left of the front of the pack.

I then hand stitched it to the pack like so.

Then carefully trimmed around it (would NOT want to have undone all the hand sewing with a wrong move with the scissors. that would be bad. ) and tada!

Personalized backpack for my Monkey Boy.

I would totally share the Transformer pattern I drew, but I am afraid the Transformer people would come after me. Sorry.

Monday, August 24, 2009

A Little Quiet

It's been a little quiet around here lately. Not much blogging going on, but plenty of family time. It's what this Summer has been about for me.

Not as much sewing happening. Just some occasional crafting, mainly for family and friends and fun times. Plenty of swimming and just hanging out.

Tomorrow though, that all changes. Tomorrow my (currently) one and only heads to his first day of Kindergarten. Am I ready for this? Not really. Not as much as I thought I would be. He is though. He is so excited! He's met and likes his teacher, met some other kids in class and is just so ready.

I, on the other hand, am going to have a pretty quiet house. I know it was last year too when he was at Pre-K, but this year is different. Big kid school is longer. Two hours more in fact.

It's been an awesome Summer. He's quite the little companion. I am going to miss him. Yet, I am excited for him. His excitement is a little contagious. It's not really going to hit me until Thursday though. My incredible husband has taken the day off to be with us tomorrow. To take our son to his first day of school. Then we will get to spend some time together as just mom and dad.

Then Wednesday my sister is coming over for some *gasp* sewing. For those that don't know, my sister and I are total opposites when it comes to crafting and sewing. As a matter of fact, she saw my two bags of poly-fill and suggested I garage sale it. Because "seriously, who needs two bags Jaime?! And all this fabric? You could get rid of some..." Yeah, we are not the same. But I do love her! She'll learn....

Anyhoo, so I will be fairly distracted for the first two days of school. Then Thursday it will just be me. And I know it will hit. It will hit me hard and I am pretty certain I will not know what to do with myself. Then, I will snap to and be fine, yes?!

I am so excited to see the boy my son is becoming, but oh how I miss those chubby little fingers and toes and the snuggly squishy-ness that babies are. I cannot believe how fast the time has flown. The seasons truly are short. Too short. I try my best to savor every moment of these seasons. To just soak them up and enjoy every single second I can before they are gone.

I know it's a transition for any mom and her first going off to school. But for me, he's not just my first, he's my only. Little brother or sister will be here soon and then there will be plenty to keep me busy. There is still plenty now. Just not what I want to do. I would much rather be loving on my littles than dusting or folding laundry. But alas, housework cannot be put off forever.

So, if it's a little quiet the rest of the week here, I promise I will be back. I have lots to share about, but right now, I want to enjoy our last day of Summer Break before the rush of tomorrow...

Monday, August 3, 2009

Sweet Little Doll for Anna

I knew these dolls were going to be addictive to make. Glad I made a pattern for them!



This one is for a sweet little girl we know who is turning one. Her birthday party was this past Saturday and I thought this little sweetie would be perfect for her....she's quite the sweetie herself!

Hmm, now, I am thinking there might be more that need to be made. And I have some other nifty hairstyles in mind.

Stay tuned....I am certain you will see more of these to come! Maybe even a pattern! I might even be inclined to have a GIVEAWAY! The possibilities are endless....