Buzzmills

Strawberry Tees...

One of the first things we learned about when we moved into our new home a year ago was the big "strawberry festival" that our elementary school holds each June.  A community event that everyone looks forward to, and the kids couldn't wait to see what it was all about!

One day as I was browsing through Spoonflower I stumbled across this super sweet strawberry fabric and thought it'd be perfect for the strawberry festival!

I used the cotton spandex jersey for the first time and it is perfect for tees, soft and stretchy and comfy!

The kids loved their new tees and they were perfect strawberry festival attire!

Henry's tee is a safari raglan from Titchy Threads...

Raglans have long been a favorite of mine (and his)...

For Violet, I made a sleeveless version of the Issie Top from Sewpony ...

I didn't quite get the binding for the armholes tight enough, now I know for next time...and the waistband continues to be a favorite part of this pattern for Violet...

And I love the striped ruffles!

I still feel kind of behind on summer clothes for these two...it's hard to keep up with all the growing that they do!  But, the few pieces I have made have been in heavy rotation so far, which is a good thing!

Henry is wearing these shorts from last year...and the giant strawberry fruit is from my STYLO project three years ago those fruits are still hanging strong and used often!

A "Pink Fluffy Unicorn Dancing on Rainbows"...

Ever since I made Olive the Oriole bird in December, Henry has been begging me to make him the Unicorn version, well technically it's an Alicorn...

I didn't forget, though I'm sure he thought I did...I was just waiting for the right time.  And, as it turns out, for his birthday was the perfect time!

This kid walks around singing the "Pink Fluffy Unicorn" song CONSTANTLY!  Constantly!  So, a pink fluffy unicorn...

Dancing on rainbows...

Seemed like the perfect birthday gift!

He loved it!  What a fun surprise to both give and get! 

His tail and mane were a favorite...because they are fun to play with and soft...

The horn too, of course, with it iridescence was also a hit!  

His little mane sweep was decided by Violet and I, paying homage to Henry's own hair sweep.  The eyes are small, thin pieces of felt that I sewed on to the face, and the mouth and cheeks were drawn on with fabric marker...as I didn't have time for embroidery. 

I'm really thrilled with the way he turned out!

Henry is too!  Though he has put in a request for the iridescent wings as well!  But, even without his wings...this guy has slept every night tucked in next to Henry since his birthday.  

That's a good sign!

Pattern from Petit a Petit and Family 

Fabrics from Joann Fabrics (and my scrap bin)

Jeune Twinset...

Last month Violet had her first ever concert!  It was both a choral concert and an orchestral concert where she played her viola.  They had been preparing for this concert for months and as the day approached she got more and more excited!

They were asked, as one does for a concert...to wear black and white for the concert.

Well, you might realize one thing if you've followed me long enough...we aren't much of a black and white family and more often than not veer toward colorful!  Which is to say, Violet literally had not a thing to wear...

No worries, it was the perfect excuse to sew up the new Sew Pony pattern, the Jeune twin set.

Violet and I both fell in love with this pattern as soon as we saw it come out.  I love that it can either be matchy or simply separates...

Here, obviously, we went with separates...

The top is Oxford shirting and the skirt is Geneva Tencel both from Imagine Gnats.

Violet loves the simplicity of the top...though we did add a little personal touch with some Violet buttons down the back...

And the skirt...

Well, let's just say that she too has realized the amazing comfort of tencel rayon!

It's light and smooth 

and oh so swishy!

She couldn't stop thanking me for the outfit!  She looked and felt so grown up and proud.  And the concert was beautiful!  Seeing her up their with all of her classmates perform made this mamas heart oh so full! 

Little Explorer...

For several years now, when asked what he wants to be when he grows up, Henry's response is...

and Explorer! 

Not unlike George Bailey of "It's a Wonderful Life", he wants to see the world!

He often feels like an explorer, digging deep into nature finds, trailing slowly behind on hikes taking it all in or veering off the path to investigate something.

For his birthday I made a pair of mini hudson shorts in this fantastic mountainous french terry from Raspberry creek fabrics.

And designed an explorer tee shirt transfer logo for a RTW (and apparently quite wrinkly after a day at school!) tee.

This outfit is on a heavy repeat cycle around here!

I don't blame him though...I mean hudson jogger shorts are perfection for summertime and this french terry is the perfect summer weight!

Here's to a boy (and his dog) and his never ending sense of adventure and exploration!

Let's explore!

 

Kite Fold Tee...

Way back...last month...

We celebrated Henry's 8th birthday! 

He chose this year to keep things simple with pizza, boy shenanigans, and a movie after school with a few of his best pals.  It was nice and easy, which was good, because the following day (his actual birthday) we had a sewage back up in our basement which was definitely NOT in our birthday weekend plans!

Anywho, as always, with birthdays comes some sewing...this year there were a pair of Harry Potter pjs thanks to Joann fabrics and the parsely pants pattern and an appliqued tee (not much different than the Star Wars pjs of two years ago!) because...there are always birthday pjs...

But, also, a Kite Fold tee...

I'm not certain what took me so long to make this tee.  It's pretty much the perfect pattern for this pattern mixing kid!

(Note: styled with striped french terry mini hudson joggers...pattern mixing at it's finest thanks to the boy himself!  The off centered stripes can be blamed on his seamstress who wasn't paying attention while quickly cutting & sewing these a few months back...)

This tee is perfect for bits of fabric scraps you have sitting around, though...it does take a bit to figure out exactly how you want to put it all together.  

But there are great illustrations and diagrams within the pattern to help you sort all of that out. 

And the instructions are fantastic!  Really, once you've got your pieces sorted it's pretty straight forward.

Henry adores this tee!  I'm hoping to make another sometime soon because it really does suit his personality so well.

Now, off to fight some battles!

Enjoy!