For the love of gingerbread

This coming Monday will mark the sixth year of hosting a gingerbread party for 12 kids, 7 years old and younger. It gets crazy, and messy, and is one of my most favorite days of the year.

It wasn't always this crazy. The first year, it was a handful of toddlers (6), a baby and a few close friends. The moms pasted graham cracker houses on milk cartons while the kids ate candy. It was simple, yet beautiful.

First year...

A few more siblings have joined our friendship circle, kids have developed opinions and want to decorate the houses themselves, and entirely too much sugar is ingested. But trust me, it's still absolutely beautiful! 

Flashback to 2013...all kids 5 and under...

Because this tradition is going strong, custom outfits seemed only appropriate. 

I wanted something roomy and a mix between a dress and shirt. The Patricia tunic pattern from Scientific Seamstress was a perfect answer! First I found my fabric, a beautiful, bold, glittery gingerbread house fabric from JoAnn fabrics. Then I started cutting it out...

I stalled as much as possible to start sewing it, as I am constantly interrupted with two little ones, and honestly, I've learned that procrastination somewhat suits me. The pattern was super easy to use as I am a beginner compared to most, and have had no actual training on how to sew. Just a couple of youtube videos and blogs from Pinterest and now I pretend like I actually know what I'm doing. 

 I added the contract fabric to the sleeves as well to add some extra fun, and to reduce the bright pink bubble gum color fabric I chose for my main fabric.

I had enough fabric left over to make my daughters twirly matching skirts for the party as well. This was a fun little project, and one step closer to our annual gingerbread house decorating party next week.

Monkeying Around

I'm not what I would consider a good seamstress. In fact, the first pillowcase dress I made, I sewed it shut, and practically made it into a pillowcase again. 

I found this adorable FREE pattern online and figured why not try my hand at doll making. 

The pattern was super easy to follow. I found myself constantly overthinking the process, rather than just following the directions. Once I stopped thinking, and did what I was told...the monkey came together a lot faster!! Funny how that works.  

My daughter was so excited for the finished product, she began playing with her before I was even finished stuffing!! The above photo, as you can tell, has no stuffing in it's legs just yet.

The pattern included directions for removable shoes and skirt, so of course we had to make that too! 

I LOVED the finished product, though I did forget to attach the hair on the above monkey. And given I had made only one monkey, and have two girls...another monkey was soon on the horizon...

My oldest girl helping sew and stuff her new creature...

The monkey sisters, monkeying around together. 

Not sure yet if doll making is a staple to my creative route, but I do know it was fun, quick and my kiddos now sleep with these lovely little girls....so, maybe again....it will be in my sewing routine.