Photobucket Photobucket  photo M1_zpsmeajs2i9.png  photo hs_zpsjdypdbbd.png Photobucket

12.03.2014

And then we got all matchy-matchy

My love affair with knits continues and my photography and blogging can't keep up with my sewing. It's been cold, grey, and rainy here... melancholy, really.   And with the time change, it gets dark so much earlier.  Boy, I don't know how you folks in the Pacific Northwest get your photos.  Tonight I decided enough was enough and got the girls outside for our impromptu photoshoot... fog, gloom and all.

ottobre wood mouse dress + fall basic #12

I loved my last experience with Riley Blake knits so much, I had to have an encore, this time with the one inch red and grey stripes.


ottobre wood mouse dress + fall basic 12 

 I really loved the Wood Mouse Ottobre pattern, so I made one again for Tia, this time adding and inch to the sleeves which were a little short last time.

ottobre wood mouse dress and bento top 

For Indigo, I made a raglan top - the Fall Basic #12 in Ottobre Autumn 2013.

ottobre fall basic 12 - 2013 ottobre fall basic 12 - 2013 

I have to tell you about the sweetest journal I bought last month after reading about it on Simple Homeschool.  It's a mother-daugher journal called Between Mom and Me where you mostly write letters back and forth.  But there are also places for photos and lists.


Indigo says the most heart-melting things lately and this little list is something I will always cherish.  I love that 2 out of 5 entries on each list focused on love!  The journal is a simple way to encourage one another and build each other up.  It's easy to otherwise forget to write these things down and this forces you to be intentional about it.

bento top and ottobre raglan top 

One of the assignments is that we are supposed to get a photo of the two of us together.  That led to us hatching plans about me making matching shirts for the two of us.  I haven't been too interested in sewing for myself, but Indigo said that would mean a lot to her.  How could I say no?

bento top and ottobre raglan 

I decided to go with the O+S Bento tee.  I was inspired by Kristin's top here.  I really love her style.  I followed her advice of scooping out the neck by a full inch (and it's still a highish neckline).  Even though I cut the shirt in a small, I cut the neckband in an XL to make up for the extra length in the scoop.  Then I added two inches to the length.  I'm 5'7" but I've always thought I have a short torso, so I was surprised that I really needed this additional length.  And like Kristin, I left the bottom unhemmed, which I think gave it an 80s vibe... in a good way.

matchy matchy

I measured a size medium in the waist and I wasn't sure how that would play out, but this top is so roomy and forgiving that it's not a problem at all.  Actually I felt very comfortable in this top.  After having four babies my abs have definitely seen better days and sometimes I feel self-conscious in more fitted t-shirts.  I really love and appreciate the fit of this top and the fabric is more comfortable than anything else I own.  Here's the best photo I have of the front of the top - a closet iPhone photo.

bento top

Sewing something for myself was far more empowering than I expected.  In fact, I've already made one more shirt just like this one.  But in a different fabric - obviously, right?  With the pattern already cut, it probably only takes about 30 minutes to sew.  You can't beat that.

bento top 

I really can't tell you how much I dislike having my photo taken.   And yup, I'm well aware of the fact that I really need a hair cut.  So badly.  The guy who cuts my hair says it should never go past the bra line and I am several inches past that!  Even Dan says I have a Little House on the Prairie vibe going on right now.  It's time for a chop-chop.  I'm thinking maybe shoulder length?

18 comments:

  1. How comfy look these ! I guess you prefer long hair but I can bet you'll be wonderful with this kind of hair dress (I can't find the translation for what we call "plunging square") http://www.coiffure-femme.net/coiffure-carre-plongeant/carre-plongeant-cheveux-epais/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's funny you mention that because I used to always prefer my hair shoulder length or shorter. It's been only recently that I've worn it longer, mostly because it's easy with young kids. I never blow dry it! But I used to wear it in a style very similar to what you linked to! :)

      Delete
  2. Well fog or not, you managed to take amazing pictures as usual! And I love the matching tees! Norah would kill for a matching outfit :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should totally do it, An! You and Norah would be so cute in matching outfits! And why not while they are still interested? I'm already occasionally being called 'embarrassing'. haha

      Delete
  3. Oh you and your daughter look so nice together. I really wouldn't have thought anything bad regarding your hair. I just saw a lot of love between you two! And yay for some selfish sewing. It feels so good to wear something you have made for yourself...

    ReplyDelete
  4. You are so beautiful and talented! Haircut or not-you are one amazing lady!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aleshia, you are always so kind and encouraging. I am so thankful for you! I hope your pregnancy is going well! I miss you! xxoo

      Delete
  5. Wow. At first I thought you were an older sister to the girls. You look so young! Beautiful job on the sewing. I used to sew clothes but quilting took over ; )

    ReplyDelete
  6. Aw what a great post, and thanks so much for your sweet words. :) Looooove reading about your relationship with Indigo and the photos of you together are fantastic. I feel like I don't have very many of me with Em recently, I'll need to make an effort to get some! Also funny how you got a taste of Pacific NW photoshoots in wintertime. Haha it really is a struggle and definitely causes blogging to slow down when it's too dark and stormy even for indoor photos! I love how you've gone from a knitophobe to a knitlover so quickly, too.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Snap! as I type. I'm wearing a Bento T that is unblogged due to no photography time and too much knit sewing obsession!
    You all look gorgeous. you can't go wrong with stripes, right?!
    That's a lovely journal. She's obviously a sweet kid to include you and not just write about the pets, or chocolate, or lego....

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the idea of the mum + daughter journal (I am so conscious about writing mummy now haha) Indigo is such a sweetheart. Ladies, you look great in your matching tops. Great to see you on the blog ;) Yeah I am with you about being photographed!

    ReplyDelete
  9. you seriously look like Indigo's older sister! So youthful:) Love, love that journal idea! My middle daughter communicates with me best through note writing, so this would be a good tool for us, especially now as she's entering the tween years. Thanks for sharing it!
    And great job with the garment sewing for yourself!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, I think you guys would really love it. It's kind of expensive for not being hardcover, but I think the ideas are really sweet. If we don't like some of the prompts, we just change them. I know Indigo thinks it's special. I asked Jude if he wanted to do it (they have one for boys, too), but he said no. I guess that's just not really his thing.

      Delete
  10. I am so glad you finally came around to sew for yourself! you deserve to do yourself some good too!!:) I think your stripe matching is perfection. As for your hair, it looks amazing and I agree that it makes you look so young! but I have also seen older pictures of you with shorter hair and you looked gorgeous too. I can totally relate to the fact that it is not easy to go to the hairdresser with a new born at home.
    that journal is so precious, something to hold on to for joy in the future. Mother-daughter relationships can be difficult but I think it is also very deep.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You are so beautiful, inside and out.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Good for you, sewing for yourself! You look cute and comfortable, which is so hard to pull off at this time in the cycle. Way to go!

    ReplyDelete
  13. How cute. I bet the girls want you to all wear these all the time!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love the stripes on all of you! The photos of Indigo on the swing are especially wonderful :)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! I generally respond to comments via email. If your profile does not link to your email account, I try to respond here. :)