I did it!

I sewed something! I finished this little pinafore in part two of my sewing class today! I'm so excited and satisfied with the outcome. Even though it was a really simple, basic project I just feel incredibly empowered -- like I really can learn to make clothes!

In related news, my new sewing machine arrived yesterday! I can't wait to unpack it and make something else...

The Belly, Week 29

Today I am 29 weeks pregnant!  I'm still feeling great and the baby is as rambunctious as ever.  The Kiddo has taken to giving me the sweetest, most adorable belly rubs while he's nursing, which just makes my heart melt and gives me hope that he's getting excited to meet the baby too :)  He even hugged and kissed my belly once last week when I said something about the baby!  That was amazing.  

I am wearing a dress that I got yesterday at the Butter by Nadia sample sale.  The sale was amazing and I ended up getting several pieces that I'm really excited about.  I am just in love with the flexibility of the designs and the fact that they are so versatile that I can wear them now as well as after I've had the baby.  Here are a few more ways that I can wrap this particular dress for different looks:

 

The clothes are super comfy, too, with just a terrific weight and drape to the fabric.  I actually got to meet Nadia herself at the sample sale, since she was there roving around, helping customers experiment with the myriad of options contained within each dress.  She was absolutely lovely and really took a lot of time to show me all the little tricks and tips and ways to finesse the garments.

Riki and the Kiddo came too -- it was quite the outing to Red Hook -- and we all had a blast together (Riki wound up with a nice little collection of pieces too!).  I'll leave you with a shot of the Kiddo taking a break from running around the loft showroom, twirling through the rainbows of fabric:

 

Dress Love

Can you believe that this is one dress?  The Jersey Wrap Gown is just one example of the brilliant convertible designs that abound at Butter By Nadia.  Touted as "slinky in the best of ways" this and all the label's pieces are convertible, one size (fit 2 - 16), maternity and bra friendly, and made in USA.

Not to send you into a frenzy of excitement or anything, but they're having a sample sale next weekend.  I am so there.  Via Oh Joy.

Rug Follow-Up

Several of you commented on the rug (above) shown in my last post, and since it is one of my favorite items in our home I wanted to share more info about it.

The rug's design is based on one of the original Gee's Bend quilts by Missouri Pettway, called Blocks and Strips. I found an image (shown directly above) of the original quilt, as well as an incredible description of the piece and the story behind its design on the fabulous online catalogue of Gee's Bend Quilts.

Missouri Pettway, 1902-1981. Blocks and strips work-clothes quilt, 1942, cotton, corduroy, cotton sacking material, 90 x 69 inches. Missouri's daughter Arlonzia describes the quilt: "It was when Daddy died. I was about seventeen, eighteen. He stayed sick about eight months and passed on. Mama say, 'I going to take his work clothes, shape them into a quilt to remember him, and cover up under it for love.' She take his old pants legs and shirttails, take all the clothes he had, just enough to make that quilt, and I helped her tore them up. Bottom of the pants is narrow, top is wide, and she had me to cutting the top part out and to shape them up in even strips."

I have long been a fan of the inspired quilts of Gee's Bend (the Whitney Museum's 2002 exhibit of the quilts remains one of my favorite art shows I've seen anytime, anywhere) so I was thrilled a couple of years ago when I read about the licensed rug reproductions of the quilts being done by Classic Rug. We were in the process of moving and I needed a rug for the smaller bedroom, so I ran over to the store's 60th Street showroom to snag one.

It is a wonderful piece with so much vitality in the idiosyncratic, asymmetrical design. And of course the back story of the origins of the quilt that inspired the rug's design is fabulous. FYI, I just checked out the Classic Rug website, and pieces from the Gee's Bend collection are in their "clearance room" for 75% off now! I might have to snap up a different one...

Have You Heard?

There is this amazing new (to me!) fabric resource called Spoonflower that allows anyone to custom-design their own fabric!  It's free to sign up on their website, and then you're able to easily upload your own graphics or patterns.  When you're ready to order, fabric is $18 a yard, with no minimum purchase!  

I think this is the universe's way of telling me that it really is time to start sewing already:)

Marimekko Marvelous

I'm in love with the Autumn-Winter 2008/09 Kid's Collection from Marimekko.  If these pieces came in my size I'd take one of each!  Via Oh Joy.

Simple Magic

I've been dying to post these sweet photos that I discovered last week on the wonderful, new-to-me blog, Gardenymph.  I love that something as simple as creating a clubhouse under the kitchen table can be so magical and fun.  These images brought back memories of my childhood, of rainy weekends and cozy book-reading marathons.  Proof that the best of times don't require anything fancy --  just a little imagination and resourcefulness.  Now that you're nostalgic and inspired, join in the fun at Under the Kitchen Table, a new Flickr group started by Gardenymph devoted to cozy homemade clubhouses, forts and tents.

Etsy Find of the Day: Ravenhill

How sweet are these little handmade babywearing dolls by Etsy seller Ravenhill?  What an adorable holiday gift for that special babywearer (or kid who likes to be worn) in your life! Check out the awesome Ravenhill blog, too.

Flickr Babywearing Faves

1. rosa amélia sling, 2. papa is wearing the boyo, 3. ill., 4. ♥, 5. leite e doce, 6. The Hmong, 7. consolo, 8. So sweet, 9. Flower which blooms in winter, 10. big toe balancing sling, 11. ode to the baby sling, 12. capulana, 13. 'that's my baby brother!', 14. Babywearing REMIX, 15. baby baby sling, 16. saturday hike, 17. The Hmong, 18. finally, perla accepts the moby; molly, day 146, 19. hand, 20. In the sling, 21. Untitled, 22. Pippalily Baby Slings, 23. Babywearing X 2, 24. Awesome, Lovely Mama J, 25. Elijah sleeping in a wrap, 26. Bunny In The "Tai", 27. Untitled, 28. Daddy-sling, 29. babywearing at Cape Perpetua, 30. IMG_4241, 31. Untitled, 32. furmeitai1, 33. Moby Nap, 34. mother and child, 35. Amy May Mei Tai in Kitchen, 36. Spjærholmen, Hvaler

Tomorrow marks the beginning of International Babywearing Week (November 12-18). Inspired by babywearing blogging goddess, Stephanie Precourt, I am celebrating by posting a roundup of some of my favorite babywearing photos on Flickr.  Click on the images or titles above to see each photo in detail.  I hope you enjoy them!

After you're done soaking in the gorgeous cuteness, head over to Adventures in Babywearing and enter to win an amazing sling from Nonny and Boo.

Happy Babywearing!

Crafty Find of the Day: Retrosaria

I am love, love, lovin' these African wax print fabrics on the new-to-me website, Retrosaria. FYI, they do international shipping!

Fierce Maternity Fashion

How cool is it that Project Runway winner Christian Siriano has designed a new line of maternity clothing?!  The line is called Fierce Mamas and was created for the maternity label Moody Mamas.  According to New York Magazine, Christian will be debuting the line in person tomorrow at an event at Belly Dance Maternity in the West Village.  Project runway fans and fierce pregnant mamas better be there or be square!

Grosgrain Amazing

If you are not familiar with the site Grosgrain, you should be.  Kathleen Dougherty is an insanely talented and prolific seamstress who is forever blogging about the beautiful outfits she makes for her girls.  The most amazing thing is that she gives many of the outfits away on her site!  I know.  Doesn't really make sense, but people, let's not ask questions. Let's just run over to Grosgrain and enter to win this incredible Marie Antoinette-inspired costume.  Just in time for Halloween!  Click here.

Sunday Miscellany

I snapped up these three colorful silk pillow covers at a street fair today for just five bucks apiece and I couldn't resist taking a photo (shopper's high!).  The big pillow covers with dots are from a recent Ikea run... 

The orchid that I bought a year and a half ago (the blossoms of which had long since been gone, leading me to entirely write it off as a goner) suddenly burst into bloom on our windowsill last week...

The Kiddo was recently caught modeling T's fancy new straw hat, to rakish effect...

Costume Inspiration

Tonight I was casting about the internet looking for a little homemade-Halloween-costume inspiration, when I decided to see if Martha Stewart had any insights on the issue.  Well, indeed she does.  Her site offers an fabulous array of photos and ideas for easy DIY costumes.  Many of them are even no-sew!  I love the simplicity and creativity of the ideas, not to mention that the cute-factor is just off the charts.  I just have to share some of my favorites...