My kids like playing the Angry Birds game and as a result they like all things Angry Birds.  I’m pretty clueless when it comes to this game and the current phenomenon.  I absolutely have no idea that it’s so popular as I’m seeing many merchandise in the stores and on the internet.  A friend had to educate me on this game and what each bird does.  I’m surprised that it’s not a mindless game and that there are strategies involved.

When my husband got a pair of Angry Birds PJ pants, all the kids ooooo’ed and ahhhhh’ed over it.  They love looking at all the different birds.  I thought perhaps I could buy some Angry Birds fabric either online or at the fabric store so I can make a pair of Angry Birds pants for all the kids, but to my surprise, there was none to be found.  Sad!  But, I accidentally stumbled upon a blogger who made her own Angry Birds plush toys.  I was overjoyed and knew that my kids would love these plushies.  I’ve been secretly sewing and carefully hiding each finished birds after the kids have gone to bed each night.  They will be presented to them on Christmas day.

Here are my Angry Birds.  I stuffed each one with fiberfill and a little bit of beans to give it some weight and velocity when thrown.  Yes, they’re meant to be thrown.  Keep in mind that I filled it with “a little bit of beans” so that the kids don’t get whacked too painfully by these birds.

This pregnancy has been long and hard and I pretty much adopted the view that if it’s not urgent, then I can ignore it for now.  I’ll make the everyday necessities happen, but anything more than that I will just have to forego for the time being.  One of those less urgent things is adequate clothing for the kids.  Sad but true.  All of my kids have been inadequately dressed for I don’t know how long.  They walk around as if we’re still vacationing in Hawaii.  It’s winter after all and it’s cold!  What are they thinking???  Well, it’s not their fault, because this mama has been very tired so I have not shopped for clothes that actually fit them.  They’ve been wearing clothes that are either too small or clothes that are most suited for another season.  I’ve remedied the situation some by shopping online.  Yay for sales and online shopping!  I dread going out so shopping online is definitely the way to go for me.  We already have one huge shipment of clothes from Old Navy.  We all rejoiced and celebrated when all the kids got new clothes.  However, this large order is still inadequate because after all, I have five kiddos.

I finally decided to do some sewing after seeing my oldest daughter’s daily wear for the past week or two.  Yesterday when I came down and saw my oldest daughter’s outfit, every fiber in me twitched again and again.  The outfit was in every way WRONG!  It was a fashion nightmare and not only that, she looked like a vagabond.  Oh . . . my poor girl!  Again, it was not because of her bad taste in clothing, but it was because she simply didn’t have clothes that could fit her.  I was determined to make her a new dress that day.

To make my life easier, I refashioned a shirt of hers that she’s recently outgrown.  I cut off 4″ from the shirt bottom, added a matching fabric skirt piece to the shirt, and finally add a bit of ruffles to the sleeves to extend them.  The “new” dressed turned out great and I love how beautiful my daughter looks in it.

After seeing her big sister in her new dress, Calissa asked me to make one for her as well.  I thought I could put it off for another day, but I quickly discovered that Calissa quietly cried and sniffled on her own, wishing that I would make her a new dress.  My heart broke.  I told her that I would make her one too and that she could even pick out her own fabric.  Her mourning turned into dancing instantaneously.  Oh my girl!!!!  She loves wearing dresses.

Again, I used the same method.  I picked a shirt that she’d outgrown.

Cut off 4″ from the bottom, attached a matching fabric piece, 17″ x 45″ , and added strips of fabrics as ruffles to the sleeves.

Here’s my younger daughter watching and waiting for me to finish up her dress so she too, can be pretty like her big sister.

Here’s my happy customer.

And of course the girls want to pose together to show off their new dresses.

I must say that repurposing shirts is a lot easier than sewing a dress from scratch.  It’s a fun project and it sews up quite quickly.  I’m very pleased with the result.

I’ve been getting some sewing done for the babe in the womb.  Oh. . . how we wish he’ll arrive soon!  In the meantime I believe I’ve been nesting by cleaning (though not too much), sewing, and staying home bound and not wanting to leave the house unless I absolutely have to.

I love those baby snugglers or swaddling blankets that make a newborn feel very secure.  I found a free snuggler pattern online that I really like, but I don’t particularly care for the velcro part.  The snuggler is made of two layers:  fleece inner layer and a cotton outer layer.  I modified the original pattern to avoid using the velcro by extending the outer layer.  The longer wings allow me to tie it in a knot to make the snuggler more fitting.  See below.

Here’s my oldest daughter modeling for me.

Of course I just can’t make one because I know from experience that a baby will definitely soil the snuggler in no time.  In order to always have one in hand while the other one is in the wash, here’s the second snuggler I made.  Maybe I’ll go make another one, just in case.

Well, we are definitely ready for this baby.  Everyone in the house anxiously waits for his arrival though the thought of labor and delivery scares me.  Oh the pain!  But the result is absolutely worth it!

I have five more weeks left in my pregnancy and with a huge bowling ball in front of me every moment, I can’t wait to unload and meet the little fella.  Even though this is my sixth baby, I still have things I want to make.  Today I finally finished a sewing project that I’ve been thinking about but didn’t have the chance nor the energy to make it happen.  It definitely felt great to get the carseat canopy completed.

The purpose of the carseat canopy or cover is to shield the baby from wind, sun, germs, or strangers.  Essentially it’s just a blanket over the carseat with detachable loops.  I decided to make it a bit fancier by installing a zipper down the middle so I can easily unzip to check on the baby while still have the baby protected from outside environment from the sides.  Makes sense?  Totally!  In my own mind.

I’m so pleasantly surprised that the boys have taken to sewing so much.  They’ve been making so many projects every day!  It definitely warms my heart to see them so excited.  I took them to the fabric store the other day to pick up some supplies for their sewing needs, and both of them were giddy to get their own supplies.  Even before we got home, they looked through their own stash and and admired each item fondly.  They were definitely better than toys!  Definitely more useful and satisfying.

The Sewing School book we’re using is a sure winner in our house.  At first I wasn’t sure if the projects were interesting enough because I was looking through the lens of an adult.  But, for a child, it’s absolutely interesting and fun.  The boys have been thumbing through the book looking for projects that interest them.  They have also been blessing their sisters by making them tote bags and eye mask.

Matthew with his finished projects:  tote bag, ipod case, various fabric buttons, and a blanket pocket buddy.  By the way, Matthew is in the process of making me an ipod case.  What a thoughtful boy!

Andrew and his finished projects: needle book, pin cushion, various fabric buttons, tote bag, and blanket pocket buddy.  He’s currently making a pink tote bag for his pink-obsessed sister.

My boys have expressed an interest to sew for quite a while now, but because of my lack of energy during pregnancy, I’ve been procrastinating.  I finally got to it today with teaching them.  They were so excited and it was encouraging for me to see them so enthusiastic in learning.  We are using Plumley and Lisle’s Sewing School: 21 Sewing Projects Kids Will Love to Make.  I like this kid friendly book and the explanations are very easy to understand.  This book mostly teaches hand sewing with few machine sewing projects.

For our first day of sewing class, the boys each made a needle book and a pin cushion for their sewing kit.

While I was napping, my oldest made a bean bag on his own with his favorite camouflage fabric.

The boys already have more projects in mind to make.

I recently attended a bridal shower and thought it’d be neat to make something.  So, with some purchased bath towels, hand towels, and wash towels, I made a towel cake.  I rolled them up and stacked them in three layers.  Sorta like the diaper cake, except it’s a bridal towel cake.  I really like the look of it.