It's Harvest Time!

We helped my parents start a serious garden this year (Dun-Good Garden) and I get an almost daily report of the produce yield.  It's been pretty awesome from my end, I'll admit.  We do a lot of the receiving.  I realized that I had some zucchini that needed to be used and I happened upon a recipe yesterday about the same time.  I love when that works out- when you have all the ingredients on-hand for a recipe you'd like to try.  Especially when it's for a dessert recipe.

During naptime yesterday, I made a chocolate zucchini cake with an orange-sugar glaze.  And you know what?  It's completely edible.  Rory even asked for seconds!

I really should have waited longer for the cake to cool before pouring on the glaze, but yeah, I didn't.  

(No Such Thing As) Too Many Bags

I went to World Market with my mom last week and came across the cutest ruffled tote bag.  It was soooo cute.  It also cost $24.99.  So I looked at it and figured that I could make one for a lot cheaper.  Okay, for free. Hooray!  This is my version.  It's a little different.  I didn't feel like messing with an inner pocket, for one.  And I didn't hem the ruffle bottoms.  I liked the look of the serged edges.  I almost didn't line it, but Andrew guilted me into it.  (Thank you, honey.  Yes, you were right.)  Oh, and I decided to go with the ombré trend right now with the colors.  And I made the straps tie on through grommets.  Okay, so maybe it's very loosely based on the original bag.  Presenting the Mandolyn Ruffle Bag:

I'm planning to make for the my Etsy shop.  I'll admit, I really like this one. Every once in a while, it's fun to have something SuperRufflyGirly that's functional.

Then I went to Walmart because (drumroll, please...) they brought fabric back!  (Applause!)  They may not have the coolest selection, but seriously, where else can I get fabric for $1.50/yard?  Shoot, they even had patterns regularly priced at 97 cents.  I found some adorable red fabric that I loved and made a Buttercup Bag.  I made some piping to dress it up and added a layer of heavy stabilizer...mostly because I didn't want to go out and get the recommended fusible kind.  Whatever.  It totally worked.  (Whew!)

Happy Birthday, Hannah!

This year sweet Hannah got a two-tiered skirt with a removable messy flower pin:

And a set of headband & hair bows.  I used this cool tutorial to weave headbands from strips of t-shirts.  As I sewed the last part together, I realized that a flower clip would fit perfectly on it, and that would mean lots of options.  Which is always fun.  So I made two headbands and two different kinds of flower clips and came up with this.  I made a few for Rory and me as well.  You can never have too many hair things.  Right?

ANOTHER use for t-shirts.  I love it!

Rory discovered that when she's tired of the headband (And doesn't that always happen?) it makes a cute necklace.  See?  More options.

I had some leftover pink fabric from the big flower clips that I made Hannah and Rory, so I whipped up a new ballet skirt for the Bean to wear to class.  Twirly!

The Crocs are a nice touch, eh?

Re-creation

I decided it was time for The Pretty Bean to have a logo makeover.  Something a little cleaner.  Less busy.  During the kid's nap yesterday, Photoshop Elements and I had a date.

And so...ta-da!

 The new Etsy banner:

Happy Birthday, Ella!

Rory made a new friend in swimming lessons this summer!  We were invited to come over and celebrate Ella's birthday and Rory couldn't have been more excited.  We decided that she needed to have an Ella doll (enter the Black Apple Doll pattern!)  I tried making pigtails for the first time and added a little nose- both additions that I like a lot.  I was going for "sun-kissed summer highlights" with the two-toned hair, but I think it ended up a little more "baby punk rock."  Either way.  Happy 4th birthday, sweet Ella!  

This is definitely one of my favorite patterns.  Ever.  It's not difficult and can look a little different each time.  I made one for Jack recently, too.  It made Andrew's eyebrow raise a teensy bit, but I think it's adorable that he'll pick up Rory's doll and hug it, saying, "Awwww."  Of course, then he chucks it across the room, but for the four seconds of sweetness, it's pretty darn cute.  So I made him a boy version.  It could use a little more tweaking.  I gave him ears and jeans and a t-shirt.  I think he needs a nose.  It worked so well for Ella's doll that I might try to add one.  He likes it.  He also really likes to point out the ceiling fan.  

Nothing says, "Happy Birthday, America!" like a new pair of shorts.

I saw Dana's post (from MADE.  I have an addiction.) on her adorable striped shorts and couldn't get it out of my head.  I had to make some for my kids, too.  The subtle nod to 80's running shorts is fun.  Also, her brilliant method for lining up stripes is...well, brilliant.  And easy.  Whew.  I had just enough patriotic fabric and bias tape to make it work (after midnight) without having to go out and buy any materials.

Rory and Jack loved their shorts. They didn't love sitting for pictures.