Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Douglas' new haircut



I've had fun experimenting with a different hairstyle for Douglas over his last two cuts. We've let the top grow out long while keeping the back short, a sort of anti-mullet if you will. The effect is either 1990s or Edwardian, depending on how you look at it. I'll take Edwardian.


He's sooo handsome, I get kind of giddy looking at these photos. Love you, darling! Thanks for letting me have fun with your hair! (And for posing for pictures in a foggy cemetery after church last Sunday!)

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Reading with Little Ones



Winter is a good time to snuggle up on the couch with the kids and do some fun reading. Lavinia is not as interested as Edmund yet, obviously, but if I give her something to suck or chew on, she will generally sit beside me contentedly while I read aloud several books.

One of my favorites is a book I had as a child, A Great Big Ugly Man Came Up and Tied His Horse to Me. My copy was pretty beat up, but I found one in pristine condition at a library book sale many years ago and saved it for my future kids. Now this one is getting beat up, but that's OK. It's full of fun and silly nonsense verses, but I've always loved the illustrations the most. Wallace Tripp has a wonderful, humorous, whimsical style that will capture kids' attention, but is also amusing to adults. There are humorous details scattered throughout the pages that I never picked up on as a child, but now as I read the book to my kids I can enjoy them. (For instance, he seems to have a "thing" for English composers?! There's actually a caricature of Ralph Vaughan Williams and Edward Elgar on the very last page, worked into the illustration, that I only recognized two years ago when I was reading the book to Edmund. Wow.) Children's books that can simultaneously entertain both kids and adults are the absolute best!

I looked on Amazon, where even used versions were selling on the pricey side, so you might instead want to check your local library to see if you can get your hands on this great book!

Monday, January 7, 2013

"Snowy Midnight" Sencha blouse


"Snowy Midnight" Sencha blouse

I made up a wearable muslin of Colette Patterns' Sencha blouse last month, out of some dark blue polyester crepe left over from one of my early sewing projects. Nowadays I wouldn't choose polyester, as it's rather annoying to sew with, but this leftover length was just sitting in my stash, so why not use it up? It gave me the chance to try out the fit and style. It feels a little loose; I've probably lost a bit more postpartum weight from the time I cut it out in November until now.

"Snowy Midnight" Sencha blouse

As I mentioned, polyester is not particularly fun to sew with, so next time I would choose rayon, silk, or a drape-y cotton. Another note for next time: I will hand-sew the hem, as the machine-sewn hem doesn't drape very well. Otherwise, I really like the style -- the keyhole neckline with ties is sweetly retro. Douglas gave me a new pleated skirt for Christmas, which goes perfectly with the top. Love it!