Pancakes and Pajamas Party Details

The Bug's Birthday party this year had the theme, Pancakes and Pajamas. 

Originally, she requested a sleep over. There was no way I was going to host a sleepover for a bunch of 5 and 6 year olds so we determined that maybe we could just ask everyone to come in their jammies and we'd pretend they'd slept over. She was o.k. with that compromise.

Of course, I made her a special pair of pj's just for the party.
These are made from the Alex and Anna Winter PJ's from Peek a Boo Pattern Shop.
I bought the sparkly knit at JoAnn's back around Christmas time. It was intended for Christmas jammies but I'm glad I changed my mind because it pairs so nicely with the polka dot knit.

(forgive the diamond sticker, that was the Bug's addition, I didn't notice it until later)

Emily needed a pair to coordinate as well--I had that bright idea at 9 pm the night before the party.  I adapted the 18" doll pattern from the Skinny Jeans (also by Peek a Boo) and made a simple dolman tee for the top. The Bug was super surprised and happy to see Emily when she woke up the day of her party.

As guests arrived we had them make cereal necklaces.  

Once everyone got there, we sat down for breakfast.  The menu was pancakes and yogurt parfaits with a whole slew of toppings to pick from.

We had blueberries, strawberries, bananas, walnuts, chocolate chips, granola, coconut, sprinkles and syrup.

Pancakes are one of the Bug's favorite foods. She isn't a fan of traditional birthday cake so this seemed like a good substitute.  I made three batches of pancake batter the night before. It only took about an hour to make all of these before guests arrived.  

If you need to keep pancakes warm, turn your oven on the lowest setting.  Lay the pancakes out flat and in one layer if you can (I had to stack mine). Then cover the stacks with a wet towel to keep the pancakes from getting crispy.  I found this method worked pretty well.

 Fitting six candles in a stack of pancakes is difficult, but it can be done.

While I thought the pancake and parfait topping bar was genius, (I take no credit, I found tons of inspiration for this party on-line) the girls were less than impressed with all of the choices.

For the most part they weren't super adventurous.  I'm not sure if that's just a trait at this age or if they were more excited about presents and playing? But for the most part they were a syrup only bunch. A few tried some strawberries or chocolate chips but that was the extent of it.

Soon it was time for opening presents and games.

I decided we needed at least one party game so I drew up a little girl in a nightgown and we played "Pin the 6 on the pj's".
Going into it, I felt like this idea was totally lame but the girls loved it.

I cut these numbers out of posterboard and then covered them in Washi tape. I love how they are each different and that I found a use form my Washi other than just looking extremely cute displayed in my sewing room.  The different patterns are all actually on the same roll. I believe it was from Target back around Christmas time.

They played a little more and then it was time to head home. The Bug passed out party favors. . . a personalized pillowcase, a book and some markers.

  I found the pillowcases at Wal-Mart. They didn't have enough in any one color. I would have preferred standard white. But instead we went with a mix of colors, white, pink, purple and floral.
The process for making these was simple. I took inventory of all the letters I would need to make 8 pillowcases and then I cut the letters out of double sided fusible web on an Accu-cut die cut machine. It would have cut the fabric too but I wanted to be able to play with fabric scraps and since hauling my scrap bin in to the library to use the die cut machine was out of the question I just cut the webbing. Then I brough the webbing home and applied it to my fabric scraps then cut out the fabric letters by hand using the webbing as my template.  I ironed the letters on and then sewed around each one with a narrow zig zag.  I estimate each one took half an hour start to finish. Not too bad.

And they are super fun! I love that each girl got something special just for them.

All in all it was a super fun party for everyone I think.  My prep ahead of time was minimal and manageable and I didn't have so much organized for them to do during the party that I felt like I couldn't enjoy it. Yes, I think I might be falling into a birthday party groove.

It only took six years.

~Lindsay

UPDATE: My Pinterest idea board HERE

Ruffled Streamers

I don’t know how many of you subscribe to a lot of crafting/sewing blogs, but my sister and I are a little blog-obsessed.  My sister and I follow a lot of the same blogs, so when I saw two rolls of streamers sitting on her countertop – I said “Are you going to RUFFLE them?” (If you don’t pick up my reference check out the recent tutorial on Dana Made It for Ruffle Streamers – to kick off the Color My Summer series by Delia Creates and KoJo Designs.)  Mind you this is the MORNING of the party that I am asking her – and my sister was working on the Mermaid Cake.  So needless to say her hands were full – she looked at me with a sparkle in her eye and said “I wanted to” but with an undertone of  - but there won’t be time.

I took the hint – and the streamers – and headed up the stairs to my sisters sewing room – taking a brief detour to re-read the tutorial.

The project couldn’t have been easier.  Though I did have to refill the bobbin three times to get through one roll of streamers, so be aware you might as well fill the bobbin as full as you can.

I am glad I re-read the tutorial, because Dana did a great job of giving tips to make the process smoother, especially the tip about pulling them off straight instead of pulling them up in a spiral.  Putting the streamer roll on the ground to pull them straight worked just fine for the blue roll, but the pink roll was a bit more stubborn.  It wasn’t a perfect circle, and I was working on carpet, so every time I would pull at the pink roll, it would flop onto its side and start pulling off in a spiral.  So I came up with this solution:

I put a skewer in the center of both rolls and then propped them up on some bins my sister had in her sewing room that were high enough for the streamers to spin off the roll freely.

After that minor adjustment – it was SMOOTH sailing.  I got them done in plenty of time.  And the two streamers sewn together were enough to put up by the food table:

I like this shot because looking through them to my grandpa, makes them feel like sea weed to me.

And we hung some above the present area:

I love this picture because the Bug is dancing there on the side.

And there was still more, so we decided to hang some in the door way:

How adorable is it that the Bug ran out to greet every friend that stopped by!

Can you believe some thought we went over the top?  One parent was overheard telling her daughter not to expect something like this for her birthday.  :)

When I compare it to the parties I see on all the blogs out there – it seems normal, perhaps even tame compared to some, but perhaps to those less blog-obsessed than my sister and I, it may be a little over the top to take time to sew streamers together.

But then again you only turn 4 once!

~Michelle

The (7) Little Mermaid(s)

The last time I blogged I was up to my elbows in ladder stitching.  To be honest I wasn’t sure the dolls were all going to get done in time – but after a couple late nights, a couple skipped evening events and a two hour car ride to my sister’s house – I was able to put the finishing stitches in these 7 little mermaids the night before the party.

the mermaid collection VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Did you guys guess that the dolls I was working on were going to be mermaids?  Did you know the party theme would be Ariel?

The Bug is a girl after my own heart.  My sister can attest The Little Mermaid was by FAR my favorite princess growing up.  I was two years older than the Bug is now – my sister 6 years older than that – when the movie came out (that is a round about way of not reveling my age – hopefully you aren’t good at math or don’t know when the movie came out.) I never watched the movie silently – I would sing along with every song – always wondering why Disney hadn’t asked me to voice Ariel!  Again I am sure my sister will affirm that my singing was every bit as good as that of Jodi Benson's. Right Lindsay??? RIGHT???

But presumably you aren’t checking our blog to hear about the cruelty the world dealt me at such a young age.

Suffice it to say when I learned the theme I was on board (did you catch the pun? – it is a bit of a stretch.)

My sister had come across the mermaid doll in Hillary Lang’s Wee Wonderfuls.  I thought I might try winging it – but lets be honest – my sister is the free styling sister – I am the one that needs a pattern to follow!  So I took a tour of the Barnes and Nobles in my area – luckily there are three within 15 minutes of where I live because it wasn’t until the third store that I found the book.

I am so glad I got the book – at $30  I thought it was a bit pricey – but I am SO very glad to have had it to follow.  It was so much more than just the pattern and instructions – there was a great glossary/sewing technique section in the back.  You already know that I am indebted to the book for the re-introduction to the ladder stitch, but more than that, there are some useful instructions specific to doll making and to embroidering stitches.  Plus have you seen the pattern for the inch worm in this book?  SO CUTE!

That being said, the project wasn’t all rainbow fish and seashells.  Not going to lie a couple nights I had to just walk away from the project out of pure frustration.  Probably the most frustrating part was the hair piece.  The pattern calls for corduroy or velvet for the hair – I used wool felt.  I think the difference in thickness caused a little more issues when trying to reverse the pieces – specifically the bang piece.  Then once the hair got attached it felt more like a toupee to me.  But then I added the ric-rac flower piece in her hair – and the whole thing came together.

So when I finally finished the first mermaid I was so happy/relieved that even though it was late I wanted to send a picture to my sister.  I was a little delirious maybe – but I saw some blue fabric and before I knew it the stage was set.

This is the pic text I sent my sister.  I won’t mention the eye roll my husband gave me when he saw this – he had no idea how creative I could be, clearly.

Even given the frustrations - I really do like how the mermaid turned out.  The body is stuffed tightly the fin stuffed loosely, allowing the fin to bend and move giving the illusion that the mermaid is swimming. 

And then when I overheard the Bug tell her friends – with the pride overflowing – that her Aunt Shell made the mermaids – all the frustrations were washed far away!  I am SO happy to have contributed a piece of the day that made one not so little four year old SO happy – especially after all the joy she brings me.

Project mermaid – S*U*C*C*E*S*S!

~Michelle

Of Birthday Parties and Ladder Stitching

The prodigal blogging sister has returned from her time away. Can you believe it? My 7th tax season is over - I hope I don't always count my life in tax seasons - and I am slowly coming back to the land of the sewing. I have been working on a few things here and there - and I hope to finish something soon, ha!

Those of you who have been following our blog for over a year or who know one of us personally, know that a week ago the most precious little (not so little) girl in our lives turned 4! Of course this calls for a PARTY - a party which had to be postponed a whole week because of a silly aunt's scheduling conflicts! Can you believe the nerve? But I am oh so glad I don't have to miss the big day!

The party is set for this Saturday - it will be the Bug's first official birthday with just her friends. This is causing my sister some panic - I wouldn't want to have to entertain and coral seven 4ish year olds, would you?

 Anyway - I don't want to give anything away before the big day - but the Bug picked a theme and my sister in her true fun mom style is going crazy (in a good way) with that theme. She bit off a lot with this one - and I am sure she will have some great "after" blogs about the Bug's big day outfits (yes plural.) Anyway - I volunteered my services for the cause and was assigned to the take home favors for the event. Before you start thinking I got off easy with candy, goldfish, a punching balloon and some bubbles - please note that these favors are a bit more than your normal favors (or at least more than I ever got in a favor bag.) Did I mention the theme is exploding on this one - my sister had a pattern in mind for a theme appropriate doll for each little friend plus the Bug of course.

Which brings me to the subject of this post - this pattern introduced me (or re-introduced me, I very well may have learned this over 10 years a go in 4-H) to the ladder stitch - and at the risk of sounding over dramatic - I will never be the same!

Are you familiar with this little hole closing genius of a stitch? More than likely you are, but if you are like me and you are not, let me explain...you know when you are sewing two pieces together wrong sides facing, and then you leave a little hole to turn the thing right side out - then your left with a little hole to close - like when you are making a pillow? Over the last couple of years when I have had to closed a seam, and couldn't get away with edge stitching the project, I have used something more akin to the whip stitch.

Please forgive me this my biggest sewing sin! The whip stitch is NOT an attractive way to close a seam - let me tell you - especially when you have little patience for hand sewing. I was never happy with the way it looked - and how unfinished the whole project became because of this one little stitch. Enter Ladder Stitch!

See that closed hole? You don't? That's the point! Isn't she lovely?!? Now even though this seam is eventually going to be covered - the ladder stitch adds a nice clean finished look to the base of the doll.

And that makes this doll happy! (Actually the fact that I embroidered a smile on her face makes her happy, hehehe, sorry I couldn't help myself!)

The ladder stitch is all over this pattern - not just in closing the body of the doll - and I'd like to think I am slowly mastering it. If nothing else it is a good stitch to add to my arsenal (that sentence amuses me.) Anyway - I completed the first doll last night - only 6 more to go by Saturday - Wish me luck!

~Michelle

Cupcakes and Polka Dots

A friend requested this dress for her daughter's first birthday party.

The theme, obviously, is cupcakes and polka dots! So sweet.

The dots are from my stash--a Christmas gift from Michelle last year. Thanks sis! I have used them in a lot of projects. The designer escapes me right now.

The cupcakes are from the Confections line by Caleb Gray for Robert Kauffman.  Don't they look delicious?

The paneled skirt was a happy accident when I cut the skirt panels a little too narrow. I had wanted a full skirt anyway so I cut those oopsie panels in half and cut equal sized panels in the dots. I love the result. And I could pretend like it was intentional but I think there is a lot of value in being humble and admitting your mistakes. Not to mention being able to salvage them and turn them into something wonderful.  That whole process is one of my favorite things about sewing. 

This is the best part of the whole dress.

Sweet girls name hand embroidered on her own yummy cupcake and frosting of nylon chiffon that looks almost good enough to eat.

Happy first birthday sweet Kylee!

~Lindsay

Happy Birthday to The Bug!

The Bug has the audacity to turn three this week.

A banner was needed--obviously.

When she came downstairs this morning, this is what she saw and she was thrilled! Mommy, is that for US? She said. 

Yes, sweet girl.  Happy Birthday to you! And could you please try to stay three a little longer than you were two?

Love, your nostalgic Mommy, Lindsay

Fabric Baby Shower and Birthday Banner

A friend of mine requested a banner for a baby shower she's hosting.  I love that my friends are so into handmade things and are always bringing me new projects and challenges. It's awesome and keeps things fresh for me when I get into a project rut.

I looked at lots of these on-line but ended up going with the scallop one I found at Vanilla Joy.  I just think the curves are so sweet and feminine.

I thought it was a shame to make such a pretty banner that could only be used once so I decided to make it double sided, with "Happy Birthday" on the other side.    I thought I was being quite clever until I happened along See Mommy Sew who made her banner reversible for boys on one side and girls on the other. Ah well. There are truly no new ideas are there? It was so helpful though because she pointed out that when sewing the flags together one side needs to be in reverse, otherwise when turned the message will read backwards.  I never would have thought of that and totally would have ended up with "yadhtrib yppah".

I probably would have cried.

I used every last pink print in my stash for this and it was so fun.  The Bug definitely needs one for her birthday.

Some things that came in super handy?

The library where I work has a die cut machine that teachers often use to cut letters and shapes for bulletin boards. But I realized a while ago that it was perfect for cutting felt too. In less than fifteen minutes I had all the letters I needed. I would not have had the patience to cut them by hand.

And my handy dandy mini-iron.  I got it a few years ago for Christmas and honestly haven't found it as useful as I thought I would. Until now.  It was absolutely perfect for pressing these seams open before I turned the scallops.

~Lindsay

Happy Birthday To Me Purse

The issue of purse envy is solved.

I decided that since tomorrow is my birthday I would spend tonight working on something purely selfish.

I had totally forgotten that I had this fabric and the navy fabric that's accenting it. I'm pretty sure that probably means I have too much fabric, right? But really, is there such a thing?

I thought the large floral print lent itself nicely to this style of bag. And even though it was a bit of a hassle, I like the added detail of the bias tape around the top.

This one here is all for me. A present for myself. But I think I'll make another for the store one of these days. It's too cute not to share!

~Lindsay