Clown Costume

My friend Kristin asked me to sew her daughter Noelle a clown costume a couple of months ago.  I said yes, even though I've never done a sewing project that big before.  Kristin picked out and bought all the fabric and the pattern and sent it down to me from the Seattle area.

When I got started, I knew I would need some help.  So, I enlisted my mother-in-law Patsy.  She is a master seamstress and quilter.  I knew this project would be a cake-walk for her.  She helped me for quite awhile on the first day and we got everything cut out, attached my first zipper (yay!), and got the sleeves and pant leg all finished on the pink side of the costume.  The next day I did the other half of the costume and the neck line.  Doing this part by myself was hard and I let out a few choice words as I ripped out seam after seam of mistakes.  However, I prevailed, and the blue side looks pretty darn close to the pink side. 

The third day I made the yarn pom poms and the neck collar.  On the last day I made the hat, boxed it up, and sent it off back to Mill Creek, WA.  Kristin got it in the mail a couple days later and voila!  Here's the costume hanging in my dining room after I had finished adding the pom poms.

 And here's Noelle showing it off!  She may need to wear it next year too, because I'm sure it will still fit! :)

I'm pretty happy with my first big sewing project.  Have you sewed a Halloween costume before?  What did you make?  Maybe I'll get some inspiration for my next project! :)

Another Mill Park baby shower

Here are some fun pics from Laura's baby shower that I helped throw.  We wanted a woodland theme, so notice the pine cones, brown, blue and green colors, and the cute baby food jar favors filled with seeds.  Of course Carla and I made another diaper cake.  Details at the bottom!

 

Mama Martinez

 

Yummy cake from the Johnson Creek Fred Meyer.  Apparently they have an amazing bakery!

 Friends on maternity leave came to visit: Katie & Baby Nash

 

 Abby & Baby James

                        Carrie & Baby Ella

 Playing a game: Creating baby Grayson's first ABC book!

 

  

Game winners: Laura's favorite pages!

 Baby gifts!

 Diaper cake!  Laura's baby bedding has little lambs on it, so naturally we needed a lamb for the top of the cake.  It is decorated with rolled up washcloths, a handmade crinkle toy (I forgot to take a picture of it, but you can see a similar one here).  Inside the cake is a really soft blue and white star blanket and this super cute onesie I made.  I've never done the tie before, but I've really been wanting to.  I think it turned out so cute!

Living room is coming along

Remember that I'm in the process of re-arranging my living room?  Here's the low-down on what I've accomplished so far:
1. Painted 3 of the walls a lighter color
2. Moved the baker's rack tv stand to the garage
3. Moved the ladder bookcases to each side of the fireplace
4. Traded the blue chair for the brown chair that was in our bedroom.  Since I'm not nursing as much and Audrey sleeps in Nate's room now, there's no need to have the rocker in our room and it will get more use in the living room.
5. Went to Ikea yesterday and bought the white 5x5 Expedit shelf that I wanted.  So excited to put it together!

6. Hung curtains
7. Removed the large rug (part of it will be added later)
8. Took apart and sanded the new coffee table.  Just need to paint it and upholster the top.

That's about it!  I'm excited to be done!  I hope it turns out like the vision in my head.  Probably not, that never happens! :)