Back to School - Princess Perfect

With Kindergarten rapidly approaching, I seem to have this incessant need for new school clothes.  Maybe it  is a coping mechanism.  Maybe it is from my own memories of the excitement of back-to-school shopping.  Regardless, the need is there.

Anyways... welcome the Snow White dress.  It's a simple cotton dress, perfect for school and play.  However, with red ribbon on the sleeves and red apple buttons, it's also reminiscent of a certain princess, and perfect for my princess.

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Back to School - The Art Apron

Only one more week till my oldest starts Kindergarten.  I can't believe we have reached that point.  And so in honor of that milestone (and to distract me from crying), I'll be sharing some of the chaos around here was we prepare for a new school year.

First up... an Art Apron for all those messy art projects.

This is based on the design from an adorable Toddler Apron posted on Sew4Home.  I had to enlarge it a little for a tall five year old, mostly by adding width to the body and length to the straps..  Given how busy the print is (which I love), I left it pretty simple... no embellishments.  Now to finish packing the rest of her supplies in her backpack.  Is it too early to start to cry?

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Simple Gifts: Art Kit

When my daughter turned 4, someone gave her the cutest little butterfly magnet set.  She loved it. And I loved it because we could work on it for short periods when we had a little time vs some of the longer projects.  I'd give her 1-2 butterflies and let her paint.  Later we'd add glitter and sparkles.  And voila... we were done.

So, when a friend's daughter was also turning 4, I decided to create something similar for her.  First... we gathered the supplies... wooden figures that I added magnets to the back of, paint, paint brushes, glitter glue, and sparkles.

Next, my daughter and I painted a butterfly as an example and included a set of instructions for Mom and Dad.

Of course we needed a box to keep it all in... maybe with the birthday girl's name.

Put everything in the box, wrap, and enjoy!

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Simple Gifts... Simple Charms

For the last year, I've found myself making a number of these easy necklaces.  The first was in honor of my daughter's first dance recital a year ago.  Then there have been more for Christmas, special outfits, and birthday gifts for friends.  The supplies are simple and inexpensive... just thin ribbon, silver beads (I used 10 per necklace, usually 4mm though I used larger ones on the starfish necklace), colored Czech glass beads, and a pretty little charm.  String the beads (cutting the ribbon at an angle can help in threading it through the smaller beads). Tie the ribbon to the length you want, ensuring it can fit over the recipients head.  And seal the ends.

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A Mermaid Tale

Once upon a time there was a beautiful little beach baby who dreamed of being mermaid.  One day she found a magical necklace.

She wished on the necklace and, to her surprise, a tail appeared.

She couldn't wait to go explore the water with her new tail.

But, alas, after a while she missed her legs.  She missed running and dancing and cuddling with her mama.  If only she could have both.

She wished again and the tail transformed back into legs.  Legs for running.

Legs for playing.  Oh the joy... the best of both worlds.

This mermaid tail is based off of Ikatbag's design (really her daughters' design).  It is a brilliant idea.  Many compliments to her daughters.  I love the practicality to let them play while still letting them move.  Those girls definitely have a future in toy design.

Of course, my daughter really wanted this to be water-friendly, so we made ours out of swimsuit fabric.  And she insisted that it had to be pink... all pink.  The top is just a simple tube top with straps, made from leftover fabric.  I tried a reverse-applique.  Turned out to not be my best idea, but she likes it all the same.

It has definitely been a hit.  The only problem is that now my daughter is signing me up to make them for all her friends.

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