halloween: my plans

I think my love of Halloween stems from my love of candy. I also love to dream up costume ideas, decor ideas, and party ideas.

This is what I am planning for this year:

Costumes-

My eldest will be Pinnochio. He has recently developed a fascination with the character and his story and I am taking full advantage as I love Pinnochio! My baby boy will be Cleo the fish (I know Cleo is a girl, but oh well). And I will be figaro the cat (because being a cat is officially the easiest adult costume out there and I was lucky it fit our 'theme'). I told my husband he could be Geppetto or the Blue Fairy and he opted for neither as he does every year.

I am pretty stoked about how the costumes are turning out. This is what I have so far.

Cleo, the fish:

I am so proud of this little costume. It certainly is not perfect, but I love it anyway. I came up with it after researching all the little fish costumes I could find online. My favorite was this one from Martha, but I didn't trust myself to be able to sew those scales so perfectly and I knew my baby was now too mobile to put up with the bunting type costume anymore so I dreamt this little number up:) The best part is it cost me about $5!!!

Pinnochio:

This costume was fairly simple as well. I was lucky to get a yellow polo on clearance, then headed off to my local Joannes to pick up the felt for the hat, the feather, the buttons, and cheap fabric for the shorts and bow. This probably cost me between $10-15. I used a pajama bottom pattern I had for the shorts and just put the elastic in the back. I love making costumes (when they turn out). They are usually cheaper, look better and of better quality than costumes from the store!!

For my Figaro costume I am just going to wear all black and put on some ears, a tail, and a little nose and whiskers via a little face paint.

I will be getting my Halloween decorations out this weekend. I meant to last weekend, but such is life. I am hoping to make this craft with my four year old to add to our decorations this year.

And next week we are planning to have a small party here too. Basically just a yummy dinner and pumpkin carving with a few other families and some decorations. I will share those details on here soon:)

sew little time :(

I am loving all of the great inspiration that is out there for great sewing projects these days. I am starting to have a pretty extensive 'to sew' list for when my baby is not so little and doesn't need to be fed so much.

I've decided that in my next life I want to be more like Alexis from mymamamadeit.blogspot.com who whips out beauties like this...

on a regular basis.How she manages to pull off (and find the time) to put together shirts that look like they are from anthropologie or JCrew on a regular basis I will never know.

Oh, and did I mention she has three adorable kids she finds time to sew for too? Recently she turned this shirt:

into this:

for her little girls!

And if you haven't started drooling yet, check out her their closet full of handmade goods she has fashioned for them!!!

I wished I live close enough to her to attend her workshop.


Equally talented Dana from dana-made-it.com turned this:

into this:

for her little girl!!

And how cute is this refashion?!


My third hero is Amanda from soulemama.typepad.com who also has a book out I want called Handmade Home.

She makes me want to make everything I own- quilts on every bed, curtains, pillows, etc. etc. etc.

Can you believe these ladies?!?! I know, inspiration overload right? I just have to tell you about one more...

I recently stumbled upon a new magazine called Stitch.

It's a little pricey, but is packed with great info, techniques, tons of cool websites to check out (I still have to go through the latest issue and check them all out... maybe I will be sharing more related posts as I go through them), as well as patterns for all of the projects featured in the mag. I seriously love it.

So these are my current faves. I had to share because they are on my mind so much lately. I know there is so much more inspiration out there. Do you have any favorites to share?