My Girl LOVES her Freckled Chicken Rainbow Dress!

Hello friends!

We just got a rainbow in the mail! Come see...

Little Miss O is sporting a Freckled Chicken original! Isn't it beautiful?

Freckled Chicken is the brainchild and incredible designs of Ms. Holly Hester.  Freckled Chicken's point of view is wholesome, comfortable and personal, which I think we need more of for little girl clothing, don't you?

Each one is special, with sweet embroideries, fun embellishments and that certain special something!

This dress is made from rainbow bandana fabric, which is perfect for my Little Miss who is smitten with all things ROY G BIV! Notice the sweet white pompom ball trim around the neckline! swoon!! And I need to take a picture of the glittery polkadot facing fabric hidden inside, adding structure to the neckline and a special thrill when my little one puts it over her head. Brilliant!

 And did I mention, it's PERFECT for twirling!

You can find Freckled Chicken on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop/FreckledChicken. If you happen to live in Texas, you can find her at the White Rock Local Market! You can also follow her on Facebook and Pinterest. I know I do! That's when I saw this dress and there you have it! Just look at some of her recent offerings! 

Holly is forever creating new designs, so be sure to bookmark it and check back. I am sure you will find the perfect skirt or dress or accessory or other gorgeous design that you HAVE to HAVE! I know we did! 

I have my eye on that cherry skirt! And her signature Freckled Chickster T-Shirt! So Cute!

And Ladies, she makes adult sizes too! Funky aprons and skirts in our size! Whee!! 

Twirl on!

Sew Cool Accessories!

Hello Friends!

The first sewing camp, Sew Cool Accessories, was held last week at Pulitzer & Panetta Creative Studio in Huntington. pulitzerandpanetta.com We had a fun time!

Our project was to make the incredibly cute Keep your Cool Smartphone case from the Straight Stitch Society, designed by the fabulous Liesl Gibson. You can see her amazingness at http://oliverands.com/

First order of business was to learn to thread a needle! Most of our campers had experience sewing, but we started by reviewing a few basic stitches. The running stitch, which is a basic sewing stitch of going up and down. We focused on trying to make the stitches even in length and evenly spaced on our hoops. Then we moved on to backstitch, which as it sounds, you move your needle forward from underneath (back of the fabric) and then when on the top (right side) of the fabric, you go backwards, putting your needle in the previous stitch ends, thereby connecting the stitches. You have a continuous row of stitches. This is a strong stitch, which is useful when strength is called for or for reenforcing corners or seams.

Then came the hard decision! To make an ice pop or the adorable ice cream sandwich. I was sure that ice pops would win, but in the end, most decided to make ice cream sandwiches. I couldn't decide, so I made both!

The project let the girls really express themselves with colors and stitches. They had a lot of fun with it!

The project offered so many learning opportunities. The phone holder is lined with a batting material, which none of the students had worked with before. It is also lined and has an adorable pocket inside, perfect for stashing some money and ID with your phone all in one place. The keychain is an added bonus!

The last step was setting in a snap, which required the use of a craft hammer, which was quite cathartic! We had so much fun with that, I forgot to take pictures!

This was a lot of sewing in a short time, but look at the amazing results! And those smiles! Now the phones can stay safe and the girls have total bragging rights that they made it themselves! 

And while I taught them the finer points of pattern reading and lining up notches, I got an education in current pop music. Which was perfect, so I knew which songs I should download onto my new iPhone.

  

Thanks girls!!

As a bonus, they took a look at some of my knits for Fall I am currently working and pronounced them cool. They will be at Rexer-Parkes come the end of Sept. This fall, we will have more than just knits for babies, but super warm and cozy hats and accessories for children and adults!!

I am also planning on attending the Greenport Maritime Festival and possibly the Huntington Fall Festival. An Etsy store is on the horizon...

Stay Tuned!!

This coming week, August 12th, I am teaching Fantastical Friends at the studio, where kids ages 6 and up can make their own stuffed friends. They can be cute or ferocious! Whatever they come up with! There is still room available if you know a child that might want to join us.

Here are some pics of a penguin being made. Our little camper has a sweet penguin already and wanted to make him a friend! So cute!

Sewing isn't just for girls. Jut this past week, I taught a friend of my son's how to make a stuffed friend and he decided to make a rancor, (you may know it as that big gigantic beast that chases after Luke Skywalker after Jabba the Hut drops him into the pit in the Star Wars series). It was the first time he tried his hand at sewing. Isn't is cool?! 

Create on!

When Your Farm Share Gives You Peaches....

This year I joined a Farm Share (also called a CSA- Community Sponsored Agriculture) where you pay before the season begins for a share in the harvest. I had always wanted to try one, but always missed the deadline, but luckily this year, my friend Kate was looking for someone to split a vegetable share. We were in! And we signed up for a fruit share too! Whee! Let the yumminess begin!  (we are doing Golden Earthworm for those of you local people that might want to get a piece of the action. All yummy organic produce straight from the farm while supporting Long Island Farmers at the same time!) ! 

Every week, you go and pick up a box of the week's harvest. Everyone gets the same thing. And sometimes you've never seen or eaten it before. It's like a vegetable lottery! What will it be this week! Which is great for the adventurous palates in my house. Plus, the amazing Golden Earthworm farmers have a great blog that lets you know what is coming, how to store it and some recipes to cook with the items! They are AMAZING

I had grand plans of photographing each week's box and documenting what we made. Um. Sorry friends. Maybe next year. BUT....I was totally impressed with what I pulled off last night, so here goes.

We had a peck of peaches, some of which were eaten, but we had 4 really good peaches left plus another four or five that were getting a little squishy but still good eats. I remembered a recipe I had seen in Martha's American Food Cookbook (I am afraid to put the pic on the book up here since it's copyright, but since I am writing a glowing review, maybe I'll risk it and if Martha doesn't like it, I'll take it down?) Seriously Martha- this is a great book! I have quite a few of your books, but I think this is my favorite one yet! So many amazing things to try AND lots of great basics too!

I found this at our local library (the best library ever if I say so and I do, so there - heehee!) I was amazed at the photography and all the yummy recipes that focused on local ingredients. I stopped when   I saw a recipe for spicy peach barbecue chicken with grilled peaches. 

Yeah, I wanted some of that! And I HAD the peaches! 

But the recipe called for peach jam, so I took my squishy peaches and made my own with some water, a little cane sugar and some brown sugar. MMMMM. Made the entire house smell fantastic (and to prompt my son to follow his nose to the kitchen and pronounce me the best mom ever. Thank you Martha!)

So I used my on the fly peach jam and mixed it all up and prepped everything for my master BBQ chef, my hubby. He did an amazing job slow cooking the chicken until it was perfect and those peaches. MMM! 

Now, I should have taken the time to artfully arrange everything, but let me tell you, I couldn't stop myself from eating this. I am surprised I took these shots. Seriously good food.

And since you can't waste a hot grill, S'mores were in order! Have you ever tried a S'more with some Chocolove dark chocolate with chili and dried cherry? If not, you REALLY should. Wild By Nature carries Chocolove. Just saying.

I will say the marinade could have used a little more salt and a little more sweet, but I think that was from me substituting the jam for my fresh stuff. Next time I know.

And BELIEVE ME, there WILL be a next time. Soon!

Come on farm share....bring me some peaches this week!

More soon! In the meantime, Grill on!

The Cutest Old Fashioned Knitted Baby Romper

Wow! Where did July go? I always think the summer will last forever but then I blink and it's almost August! Yikes!

We have been having lots of fun around here. Play dates, day trips with friends and lots of swimming! And of course, LOTS of knitting. Can't wait to show you what is in the works for fall! Stay tuned!!!

Since the weather here dropped in temp drastically today, I happily reached for a knit to wear around my neck. Have been making some REALLY cozy knits for fall. For today, I felt like blogging about a summer knit, a baby romper.

Knit in a cozy cotton with a hint of elastic fiber for added stretch. They are the perfect item for baby for summer. It is soft, washes beautifully and is cool! I first made these year ago - here is my Little Miss wearing hers. She wore it constantly and got compliments everywhere we went.

Here is a sweet blue and taupe one. It's at Rexer-Parkes right now if someone needs a gift! It is perfect for a 9month- 18 month baby since it's stretches beautifully!

And here is an ivory and navy one. There is a sweet pink and lavender one in store now too in case you are looking for a little girl in your life.

And here is the romper I just gave my niece for her soon to be delivered baby for next summer. His room is a pirate theme, so I took inspiration from there! Isn't is cute? Can't wait to see him sporting it next summer.

There is some yarn and knitting needles calling my name. I'll be back soon.

Knit On!

A few busy weeks

I apologize for the lack of fresh conversation, but the last few weeks have been jam packed!!

The school year came to an end and as you fellow parents know, it is a marathon of events. Piano recitals, gymnastics expos, last day performances, parties and more! Too many to mention and show, so we'll stick to some highlights:

We had a family party in the rain and the cousins were having so much fun on the teeter totter that they got their Poppa involved! I love these pictures. They had such a good time together!

Both MAP and Little Miss play piano, so there was a piano recital.  I came downstairs to find MAP self styled and posing for me, all ready to go. Is it me, or is he channeling Tom Cruise in Risky Business?

Then his Nonnie got into the act.

And then Boomer photo bombed them! Silly dog!

Off we went to the recital. They played beautifully!

MAP insists on not having his music present when he plays.

Then we had field day! It was rained out the first time, but the second scheduled day was incredible!

Here is Little Miss O with her egg at the egg race.

MAP getting some major air during the sack race.

After the bucket brigade, the annual dousing of the students and the head of the school!

A very soaked MAP in his team t-shirt.

Little Miss having a blast! Love that we can see her missing tooth space. Such a rite of passage. : )

Then it was time for the last day. My two went all out fancy. Not my idea- completely theirs. It was raining, but that didn't deter them. They just asked for umbrellas. Aren't they the sweetest?

So that is why I've been out of touch for the last few weeks. It's been a whirlwind! Now on to fun summer activities! Crafts, knitting, outings and more! 

Stay tuned.

And, I would be remiss if I didn't give a Meow-out to the newest member of my extended family - this little cutie is named Pumpkin and now belongs to my little sister. (who will tell me to mention she is the best little sister, but as she is my only sister, of course she is the best!) Enjoy her! 

Summer on!

Organic Sweater Goodness

There is something about special about knitting a sweater for a baby.

Even if I don't know which baby the sweater will end up belonging to  : ) A whole lotta love goes into all of those little stitches.

A sweater is something that a baby will wear year round. A little wind, the sun hides behind the clouds...I always had a sweater with me for my little ones. I still do. And one for me too! 

Check out the newest sweater, hot off the needles! 

I LOVE the colors. 

It works for a boy or for a girl in my book. It is knit from the softest organic cotton that has been handpainted. The cardigan has 4 lovely grey buttons going down the front. 

I can't wait for this sweater to have a baby and a momma to love it! It is in store now at Rexer-Parkes, http://rexer-parkes.myshopify.com/ so you can go in or call them and make it yours (or make a new Mommy's day!) If you need a different size or color combo, one can be knit to your needs. Just drop me a line....the needles are always clicking over here.

Here it is on the table at Rexer-Parkes surrounded by yummy cotton ponchos- PERFECT for this weather when it keeps turning chilly! And the sweetest little baby rompers..little one piece numbers that are perfect for spring and summer!

Time to cast on another one...a girl one this time? hmmm. Will keep you posted. 

Sweater on!

Your Children's Summer Schedule - SOLVED!

Check out all the amazing camps going on at the Pulitzer and Panetta Creative Studio this summer!
Avoid the "Summer Slip" by enrolling your child in these engaging classes that are so fun that they will be learning without even realizing it!

The classes are taught by some incredibly talented ladies (and we are all moms, so we know kids!)

Classes are available for 4 years old through teens! Whatever the interest of your child, there is a camp for them!

Your child will explore the world of fairies, gnomes and dragons or then can learn to get Eco Smart with Jenny Horn!

Justine Stokes will take the kids around the world with art, cuisine, stories and more in Art Around the World. There are two classes, which are geared to the age of and learning levels of the students.

Explore the works and create your own in their style with Susan Panetta and Justine Stokes in their Meet the Artist Camp!

Want your child to enjoy writing and art? Let them explore these arts in a fun and creative environment with Susan Panetta.

Kids will explore and create their own textiles with Justine Stokes. They can take these textiles and use them in our sewing classes!

IChildren ages 6 and up can learn how to create and sew their own friends, from patterns AND from their own imagination with me. The smiles when they hold their own finished creation is a sight to behold! See the pictures below for some examples of what has been created in previous classes.

A class for older sewers (ages 8 and up)  to create their own accessories is going to be SEW much fun! We'll be using the pattern of the Straight Stitch Society to create the coolest ipod or smartphone holder in town! We should have plenty of time to make other chic accessories as well.

No prior sewing experience needed for any of the sewing classes! We will engage all sewers at every level!

See the detailed descriptions below and go online to see more information.

http://www.pulitzerandpanetta.com/pulitzerandpanetta.com/HOME.html

My children have been taking classes and attending camps at the Pulitzer and Panetta studio for years now. It is one place that they always want to go, year after year.

I am delighted to be able to teach sewing classes there this summer!

Hope to see your child there!

Summer On!