It's a Pool Side Beach Party!

 

 

It's officially summer! And thanks to Ula at Lulu & Celeste and Deb from Sprouting JubeJube for hosting the Pool Side Beach Party Tour, I actually got some summer sewing done before July!! 

Every year I hope for a slow, relaxing, lazy summer. And, every year it feels like we are rushing around from one ball diamond to the next, and then to this activity followed by that activity. And this year is no exception. We did finally find a few minutes to go relax in a friend's pool after the ball games last Saturday. And, Thomas got the chance to try out his new suit.

 

Peek-a-Boo Fabric Shop began carrying swim fabric this year. And Thomas fell head over heals in love with this shark print.

 

Seriously, how cool is that?! He asked me every few days if his fabric had arrived yet. And once it did, it was like Christmas morning for him!

And after it arrived, it was when are you going to MAKE it?!

Thomas wanted "tight" swim trunks again this year. We tested Peek-a-Boo's Monaco Suit last year and he loved it. He says it's because he doesn't like how traditional swim trunks float up around him in the water. Makes sense.

I wanted a bit of a cover for him also. So, I used the Maui Muscle Tank, also from PAB and used the coordinating stripes offered by PAB and make a swim tank. He loves it! So, I would call that a win!

Everything stayed in place, even playing around with his sister.

I'd love to give a shout out and a giant THANK YOU to all these awesome sponsors!

So many great sales are going on! Don't miss out!!

Modkid https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/modkid (use the code POOLSIDE2016 for 25% of at checkout until July 2nd)

Sew Happily Ever After with the code Poolside16 get 50% off the Nana tote in thier Etsy shop until July 4th (https://www.etsy.com/shop/SewHappilyLinda)

Also Jennuine Design (one of the prize sponsors) http://www.ajennuinelife.com/shop is having an unrelated sale on selected patterns until June 30th. 40% off with code SATYASEASON

Phat Quarters Free US shipping on orders of $25 or more with code SUMMER25 www.phatquarters.etsy.com

BLAVERRY 15% off with code INDEPENDENCE2016 www.blaverry.com  until July 10th

5 Out 4 Patterns  FIREWORKS2016 for 20% off your purchase now (6/27/2016) through Monday, July 4th, 2016. (Coupon cannot be used on PowerNet fabric) www.5outof4.com

Filles à Maman JULYONETOFIVE for 25% off everything including bundles, the coupon is valid from july 1st ending July 5th midnight EDT

And be sure to enter the giveaway going on!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Thanks for stopping by!! I hope your summer is off to a great start! Have you sewn something for the pool or beach? I'd love to see it! Tag me over on instagram  handmade_boy!

The Wolf and the Tree Tour

Where in the world did the last two months go? Each year I underestimate how crazy spring will be and wouldn't you know it, I did it again! So this blog has been neglected a bit. But today, I'm on the Wolf and The Tree's Tour featuring the Women's Gazelle pattern. I made some crazy quick shorties for my 11 year old who fits beautifully in the women's size XS. 

Got to love it when a women's pattern allows me to continue sewing for my tween!
Meet Kate! Yes, you have seen her before. :)

Kate is 5'1" tall and a size 14 in girls. She is quickly growing out of my children's patterns and moving into womens. Kate also loves to tumble and needed some new shorts that would stay in place and allow her to do all her flips and tricks.

(I had envisioned a super cool, sharp tumbling shot. But it was too overcast and late in the day and the shutter speed just wasn't happening. Let's pretend this was intentional. Feel the action? LOL)

This spring has been insane! However, I was able to sew these shorts up for her in less than half an hour. I can't drive to the store and buy a pair for her in that amount of time! Win!

There are lots of options in the ladies Gazelle. You can make full on tights, full length leggings, or capri length, biker length or shorties. Pick between yoga waistband or elastic waist, hems or cuffs and four different rises. We went with medium rise shorties with cuffs. I should have gone with the petite sizing, but instead went with regular. (because I was lazy and didn't measure her inseam before starting, and just used her hips and waist measurements I already had on hand.) I don't know if that effected the rise or not, but they seem kinda high on my daughter, who typically finds rises a bit low on her. These easily went over her belly button. Next pair I will do the low rise.

I used a black cotton lycra with a great four way stretch. The pattern does include the ability to use two way stretch fabric also! 

I definitely plan to make several more of these for Kate. (and a few for myself for running!) Interested in making your own?

You can get your own copy of the patterns HERE or HERE. You can use the code YellowRibbon to save 25% through Monday May 30, 2016. Be sure to check out the other blogs this week for as no two have sewn the same item!

5/23/2016	Amy Carter	http://wallyandgrace.blogspot.com
5/24/2016	Patricia	www.sewfarnorth.wordpress.com
5/25/2016	Heather Tinkey Jones	http://allthingskaty.blogspot.com/
5/26/2016	Essence	Adventureswithbubbaandbug.wordpress.com
5/27/2016	Michelle	http://littleheartthreads.blogspot.ca/
5/28/2016	Kelly	www.handmadeboyblog.com
5/28/2016	Larissa	www.connectedbyathread.wordpress.com

Now he is SIX

My guy had a birthday earlier this month and I am so excited to share his party with you!

I hope you are ready for tons of photos, because I could not narrow them down.

And I apologize for the weird inconsistency of their color and contrast. Try as I might to bypass the weirdness blogger can have on images, I could not win this round. 

Thomas loves space, so naturally, he requested a space themed party.

We have so much fun planning parties! The kids get to choose their theme and color scheme. And then we start brainstorming decorations and food that ties in.

We tend to keep the decorations and stuff pretty contained to a single table. It helps keep the cost under control because I don't feel compelled to decorate the entire house and yard, yet still has a nice wow factor once all set up.

My older daughter and I had fun shopping for some space themed foods.

Fruit Loops for Saturn's Rings, Moon Pies, "Egg Eclipse" (deviled eggs) are all shown above.

"Black Holes" (oreos) "Asteroids" (typo on my decor!!) were Coco Puffs, some "Alien Fruit" to keep things healthy, "Comet Chips" and salsa, "Rocket Dogs" were corn dogs still in the oven during this shoot. and a bowl of Milky Ways were a must.

We also had the always requested cake pops! I mean, Planet Pops.

I have this fear of not having enough food at a party. So, I always tend to have WAY too much food at parties. I'm much more comfortable with that.

The rocket above was made by covering  a pringles can with card stock. Super simple and made for a nice extra touch.

I hot glued some card stock to the koolaid bottles to turn them into rockets for the kids. Again, simple and cheap.

One of Thomas's favorite parts of party planning is picking out his cake. This year, he found a moon one scrolling Pinterest with me that he fell in love with.

My moon isn't very round, more egg like, but he still loved it.

I made the little flag from card stock and a bamboo skewer. The glitter six was found in the cake decorating section at Hobby Lobby and was the perfect touch.

Thomas's least favorite part is taking pictures before the party begins.

I always try to get the party set up finished a half hour or so before guests arrive so I can take his pictures before the crazy starts. He is always too excited to stand around getting the paparazzi treatment.

But try as hard as he might to keep from smiling, I can usually get him to come around and give me a few pictures that show his excitement.

The shirt was a first for me! I normally make a shirt that ties in to the theme in some way, but this time, I took it a step farther and ordered some fabric off of Spoonflower using the graphics I designed myself for his invitations and decorations. I LOVE how it turned out! I ordered the modern jersey. It was nice and has a nice drape. It's a bit thin, much like athletic shirt fabric. Thomas gets hot easily, so it was perfect for a shirt for him since summer is right around the corner.

I used Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop's Classic Ringer Tee for the pattern.

 

He is the master at that fake smile.

But the real one came out again when it was finally time for cake.

I forgot to take a picture of the inside of the cake! He REALLY wanted a strawberry cake. I used this one I found on pinterest. It was good, but next time, I will not use the jello pack. I preferred the taste of the batter before it was added. The real strawberries were enough for me. 

After cake was gifts and Thomas had been begging for a pair of roller blades for months. Well, he got his wish!

 

He was so excited to get out on them! And he did so great his first time!!

He can make some weird faces when he is really concentrating.

He had a great party! I can't wait to see what he accomplishes this year!!

Happy birthday, Thomas.

Duds for Dudes Tour

Mabel Madison is hosting this great tour called Duds for Dudes! I had to participate in this! I mean, a tour, featuring cool stuff for boys, I'm in!! So, the little boy needed some clothes for spring and summer. And what naturally comes off my sewing machine, then? That's right! A new short sleeve shirt and a pair of shorts to match.

I used the ever great Swiss Army Shirt from New Horizons Designs (formerly Terra's Treasures) What I LOVED about this pattern was that I was able to use this great Stenzo poplin fabric from Mabel Madison for it! It's getting easier to find some awesome boy's knits, but wovens still have more options available. I love that this is little boy, but not baby boy. And the poplin is a great weight so it's not sheer at all, but still breathable. Which, is super important because this boy gets sweaty fast!

For whatever reason, these little buses make me smile.

The pattern does require a bit of knit, but luckily, I had this great blue and white Stenzo stripe in my stash that matched the buses perfectly! It's also from Mabel Madison, of course. ;)

His collar and placket are some scraps of white cotton lycra I had. Some SF101 interfacing gives it great shape! Don't worry, interfacing is in the instructions for the Swiss Army Shirt, so you don't have to take any special notes, the pattern is beautifully written!! (And full of options! I have a tank planned with some knit Stenzo buses.)

Now of course, he needed some new shorts to go with his new shirt! And no joke, the twill from Mabel Madison is Thomas's all time favorite pants fabric. He gushes every time he puts it on! These are his THIRD pair of bottoms from this fabric and I have several yards of more on hand for future pants.

No surprise, the denim twill was a great match to the blue buses. The shorts are Peek-a-Boo Patterns Classic Chinos. I made the shorts length and then added a bit of length. They are a bit long on him now, but he grows like it's his job or something so these should fit right where I want them this summer.

Okay, confession time. I have a real love affair for the knits at Mabel Madison. Again, great BOY fabrics that aren't babyish, or look like they belong back in the 90's. These cars are a great option when you want something fun, but not so cutesy.  The sleeves are the same great Stenzo stripes I used in the Swiss Army Shirt above.

And like an addiction, he needed pants to go with his shirt. The shirt and pants both happen to be Love Notions Patterns. The shirt is the Samson. It doesn't have a 3/4 sleeve length, but it's an easy modification. The pants are from the Vanguard Kit and they are made out of more delicious twill. This time in gray. Those pants have been washed dozens of times and still look amazing!

There are other bloggers sewing fantastic things for boys with Mabel Madison fabrics. Be sure to check them out!

Mabel Madison is really thrilled to host a week-long blog tour focused on sewing for BOYS! Every day this week, you'll have a chance to visit with a few of our friends and see what they have made for their boys. Here are today's stops:

CandiceAyala.com

Handmade Boy

The Kisses Co.

Mabel Madison

This tour was hosted by Mabel Madison. However, the fabrics used in my post were fabrics I purchased from Mabel Madison prior to the invitation to participate in the tour and were in my stash. Opinions on the fabrics and patterns are my own.