Monday, April 22, 2013

Happy Birthday sweet, spunky C!

birthday girl 185 sled dog (and cat!) book from Daddy Her new favorite book from Daddy. Kevin kept with his wolf/sled dog book theme. 017 C picked roses for her birthday since our daffodils didn't bloom this year 045 birthday birthday 080 085 077 birthday birthday 094

C enjoyed a quiet family birthday celebration last week. We did our usual family birthday traditions(you can find them here), and C once again, for what I think might be either her second or third year in a row, chose broccoli soup for her birthday dinner. The daffodils in our front yard that usually bloom during C's birthday week (and are used to decorate her birthday table) didn't bloom this year, much to our disappointment. It just didn't get cold enough this winter. C found some peachy-pink roses to take their place.

We decided to forgo homeschooling that day and C, Little L and I spent some time at the pond across the street from K's school. We were hoping to see some goslings but apparently the feeling wasn't mutual as they never appeared. We enjoyed observing all the other geese and ducks that did make an effort to come out and wish C a happy birthday. C was quite in her element amongst them. Someday, when we have our farm, we will have to have some geese and ducks for her to tend to.

Oh, and that last photo of her? That's what I get for saying, "Can I take your picture?" (as in a posed shot instead of my usual candids) to my cute little spunky one. I hope she never loses that spark!

Project notes:

Hen with chicks003 birthday hen with chicks 036 053 pattern modification - added a belly so the chicks could sit

C's hen and 6 chicks were made using the Henny Penny pattern in Handmade Beginnings. I love that the chicks velcro to Mama hen's body underneath her cozy, warm wings. This project felt pretty thrifty. It was done with nothing but scraps from the folksy flannel quilt I made a few years back, and notions I already had on hand. The chicks in the pattern were made flat to sit under the hen's wings but I knew C would want them to be able to sit on their own, so I added a belly to the pattern (as you can see in the last photo).

C named the hen Patty Cake, in case you were wondering. I find that name quite amusing but very fitting for C.

Birthday skirt and top
birthday skirt (semi-hidden pocket) birthday skirt 043 112 032

I knew I didn't have the energy to pull off a birthday dress and sweater (my usual birthday tradition) this year so I went with a simple skirt and top. I did the same thing for K's last birthday so I think it was acceptable to C.

For C's skirt I used Heather Ross Far, Far Away II fabric (that I had left from a winter dress I made for K) and tangerine flowers from Far Far Away III for the contrasting trim. I made the skirt pattern up as I went but if you wanted a super easy free skirt pattern, my favorite one is here. It's great for learning to sew, too! Both of my girls request pockets in anything I sew for them. I somehow forgot that. When I showed Kevin the finished skirt the first thing he said was, "Where's the pocket?" I had to sit back down and figure out how I would add one. I normally like to accentuate the pockets with trim or contrasting thread but that just seemed too busy for this cheerful skirt. I instead decided to make a pocket that blends in. I cut out a piece of leftover fabric and lined it up like a puzzle piece over the same image on the skirt and sewed it in place. I think it worked okay.

C's top was just a simple cap sleeved knit. I finished it with a picot trim, my favorite way to end girls top and vest patterns. It just makes them all the more feminine. The top is a bit long, as you can see in the photos of her with the ducks. It doesn't help that the shirt underneath is bunched up, causing the top to get all lumpy looking. I added a bunny to the bottom with my first try at duplicate stitching but I might remove it. I'm not sure if you can tell it's a bunny. Can you?...because C couldn't!
The rav notes are here.

Don't forget to enter for a chance to win your own art kit from Eye Can Art here.

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Comments (20)

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What a lovely birthday! Sweet and simple!
These photos make her look like a little faerytale princess :) I don't know whether it's the location, her darling birthday crown, or that adorable skirt... but something :) Happiest of birthdays to little C!
Mama Hen and her chicks turned out wonderfully!
1 reply · active 622 weeks ago
Aww,she would love to hear that!
I adore the little velcro wings on the chicks, brilliant! And the skirt is beautiful, you have such a fabulous eye for putting fabric together. I may steal that combo one day. Happy birthday sweet C! Looks like a lovely day!
1 reply · active 622 weeks ago
steal away! I love that her designs from various years go well together.
I can tell it's a rabbit. But then, I was looking for it. I love the hen you made - so clever! The clothes you make for your girls always makes me wish I enjoyed sewing. I'd love to dress my boys in handmade shirts and pants. Anything that requires space to lay things out or ironing (at all) is extremely daunting to me.
It's all so lovely, Nicole! It definitely looks like C enjoyed her birthday. I love the hen and little chicks set, and of course, the skirt and top are exquisite!
Such a lovely birthday! I adore the hen and chicks and just started making a set for my girls this past weekend!
What a beautiful Birthday for such a beautiful little one! Lovely handmades too!
You can see the pure joy in C's eyes in the first photo. Such a special day for her! Your gifts are beautiful, as always : )
So many beautiful things! I absolutely love the chicken - I may have to make one for my chicken-loving son. The skirt and sweater are so pretty. I especially love the tangerine flowers, although I know my daughter would love the Rapunzel print. I can't believe C is 5! She and my daughter are 5 months apart, and my daughter looks quite a bit like C. I've been reading your blog since they were both very little, and it's been fun to watch C grow up!
2 replies · active 622 weeks ago
Oh how fun! Isyour daughter's birthday in September?
yes, she'll be 5 in September. I showed her C's skirt and she said she'd like one for her 5 birthday, too.
how beautiful. what a wonderful birthday. <3
Happy birthday to C!
And what a lovely crown; that would make any birthday just a little more special, wouldn't it?!
A perfectly lovely birthday! Everything you create is always beautiful Nicole! I love all the handmades! I bought that same color of yarn to knit Larkspur's Sunday Sweater for next year. She picked it out, it's such a nice pink!
It looks like she had a lovely birthday:) Also I just have to say that's a gorgeous picture of the Mallard, great job!
Whitney
Life Alaskan Style 
This is the kind of warm and lovely birthday I wish for each of my children - and my daughter always requests broccoli soup too! I love the sweater skirt combo!
I love her birthday outfit! I can tell she loves it too! When I have wee ones again, I'm going to make that hen & chicks - too cute!
My oldest ADORED cheesy broccoli soup when she was a wee sprog (she still adores it). I would treat her to lunch after my pre-natal appts when I was carrying her brother. She ALWAYS ordered cheesy broccoli soup! The ladies in the diner couldn't believe a 2 yr old would eat broccoli soup ;-)
Beautiful birthday girl!!

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