Baby's first clothes pouch

Scroll down for english, please! 

Uma das minhas cunhadas está grávida e pediu-me que lhe fizesse uma bolsinha em tecido para a primera roupinha do bebé. É um menino e vai chamar-se Iúri de Jesus. Sinceramente, não vou comentar o nome, o que diz muito sobre o que acho dele. 

One of my sisters in law is pregnant and asked me for a pouch for her baby's first clothes. It's a boy who they will name Iúri de Jesus, I will absent from comments, which says much of what I think about it. 

Mas pronto, essa foi a escolha dos pais e eu, como boa tia que sou, lá bordei o nome do rapaz a ponto cruz, coisa que não fazia havia anos. Fartei-me de fazer e desfazer. Fiz a maior parte já à noite com pouquíssima luz por preguiça de mudar de sítio, até que eventualmente acabei por fazê-lo. No entanto, continuei a fazer e desfazer por mais um bocado. Aliás, se prestarem bem atenção ainda ficou um erro que a mim me salta logo à vista, mas que já não tive coragem de desmanchar depois de tudo. 

Well, it's a parents choice anyway, and as a good aunt - which I am - I cross stitched the boy's name, which I haven't done for years. I did and undo so many times. Most of it I made at night with little light because I was lazy to move to another place; eventually I did though. Still, I kept making mistakes and unstitching for a little longer. Actually, there's an error if you pay attention, quite visible for me, but I wasn't brave enough to unpick it anymore. 

Comprei o tecido com as luas, estrelas e bolinhas numa loja local porque não tinha nada (clássico) adequado a um menino bebé. E como sei que o azul sempre foi uma das cores preferidas da mãe, fazia questão de fazer a peça em azul. Já o tecido do forro consegui tirar dos que já tinha por casa. A manta acrilica que tinha para o enchimento não era suficiente para o projecto que tem um tamanho A4 (mais ou menos), então usei uma manta polar para o efeito e resultou muito bem. 

I bought the moons, stars and dots fabric at a local shop because I didn't have anything (classic) baby boy appropriate in my stash. And since I know his mother's fave color has always been blue, I was sure to make it in this color. As for thr lining fabric, it came from my stash. I was running out of quilt batting so I used a piece of a fleece blanket instead and it worked just fine. 

A bolsa é bem simples, e como estava com preguiça de fazer o meu próprio molde procurei um que fosse grátis online e encontrei o pap do blog Alfacinha. Só vos queria chamar à atenção para algo, o molde que ela nos dá deve ser cortado na dobra do tecido, não me apercebi de ter visto essa informação em nenhum lado e é importante. Fiz uma versão simplificada e em vez de laços para abrir e fechar, optei por colocar duas molas kam. Já foi entregue e aprovadíssima pela mamã. 

It is quite simple to make, and since I was quite lazy to draw a pattern for this I searched online for a free one and found it at Alfacinha blog (it is in portuguese though - I am sure you can find an english version somewhere). I made it simpler than this one ans skipped the lace as closure, exchanging it for two kam snaps. It has been delivered and aproved by the mother. 

Oh Paris! |PR&P9#2|

PR&P's week two theme is "Spring Break"... We're suppoused to choose our dream vacation place and make an outfit inspired by that. Well, with all the rain from the latest days - after some wonderful sunny and warm ones - it doesn't feel like Spring at all. We're not going anywhere so soon though so any vacations, are just a way to dream for me for now. We are lucky to live by the sea. I actually can see it everyday through the window. Just a little bit of it, it's true, there are lots of building between our window and the sea, but I still can see it. So, no wonder, I dream about other kind of vacation, other than beach and paradise views. 

After thinking for a while, I chose Paris as my inspiration point. I would love to take my daughter there, visit the Euro Disney with her (I've never been to it either), but as much as we love Minnie Mouse and all the Disney princesses I'd love to go on a sight seeing tour through Paris... visit all those huge, imponent buildings... climb the top of the Eiffell tour again, visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Champs Elysees... just get lost in the magic, l'amour... all that makes Paris... well, PARIS! I was about 8 when I visited it for the first time. I still remember how amazed I was with all of this.

And what is it that comes to my mind when I think of a Parisian look? Always the same things: black and white stripes, a black barret, and a pop of red. Really, I always imagine the famous "french paintor look" when I try to come with an imagine of Paris as an outfit. And that's exactly what I tried to include in the look I created this week.

Images Original Fonts : 1 - 2 - 3- 4 - 5 

I picked two pieces to refashion again. A pair of black pants I didn't want anymore (I have a lot of them actually and it was just another one occupying precious space in my wardrobe). And I thrifted a 1€ button shirt a couple of days ago, I bought it in the usual charity shop for this project. Here they are:

I started with the skinny jeans. I've been wanting to make a new pair for G. for quite a long time. I first did the free 2T Small Fry Skinny jeans for a friend's kid, then I got to test the same pattern in other sizes, I did two shorts versions, one for my niece and one for my nephew, but I never got around to sew a pair for my daughter. I did a 2T size for her, And really liked the changes Laura made to the pattern (from the free one to the final). I really believe that this is my favourite pair so far and let me tell you there will be more in the future for sure.

Although, the pattern comes with great instruction to sew a girl's fly on the jeans, I just went and did the boy's one, most strore bought pants don't make them different anyway, and this way, it can be passed on to her little brother once she grows out of it. I used the shirt's striped fabric for the coin pocket, waistband lining and front pocket bags. This is the same fabric I used on the top. By using red thread, I was able to feature the pop of red I wanted. But that wasn't all, I also hadnstitched an Eiffeel Tour in one of the back pockets.

Then I did the top. I picked the Izzy top pattern to make it just like I did last week for the Panda's inspired look. I tried to follow the pattern and instructions as they are (find them HERE), but of course I had to do something differently - as always. I was half way through it when I thought about adding a black peter pan collar. Then I thought about making it with leftovers of the faux leather from my own corset. And then I thought I could add some beaded pins... just to try it, it was something I haven't done before, so why not?! And I did it! And I loved it! It's not perfect, I know, but I love it still.

I used a very very light fabric for the lining and it didn't go so well for me. But, it looks ok. As for the button tab. I was careful this time, but instead of having it closing on the inside, it goes in the inside of the top, so it won't mess with the collar. It's functional, and invisible at the same time.

Now, in my first photo of this look I am sharing just three options on how to wear it.
First one: with the red jacket I refashion for the Winter Wonderland theme from last season, and the cutest little girl shoes we own. In red of course!
Second: With a red beanie I had made from an old sweater. It was never blogged about, and same shoes.
Third: same as first, just changed the shoes. This ones are leopard printed with a pink bow and binding. 

Christmas Ornament Tradition

Last year was my daughter's first Christmas. Back then I decided every year I would add something handmade to our tree. Which is a small one, the same I had for a few years before her. No plans on buying a bigger one so soon. 

For now, I am the one making the handmade something, but I hope next year she'll be joining me on this task, I want to share this magic with her. 

Last year I used a fabric angel I had made a couple of years before, it's on top of our tree (this year too), so, instead of making something new last year, I didn't, I just used something I had done before. That's not fair, right? So, to compansate it, on a sleepless night I cut and sew a pair of trees. I used blue felt on the front, where I stitched a few stars on each, and on the back I used a beautiful cotton red fabric, shame I didn't take any picture of the back. 

When I filled it, I added a few drops of my favourite essential oil, so, besides being an ornament, it leaves a wonderful smell when we enter the room where our tree is.