link luv roundup

loving this table, oh, so much. {via wide open spaces}

deck out that boring old planter with some bling - learn how over on censational girl.

i can only dream of having my house be as neat and organized as chez larsson's. go pop over and see how she used up some leftover wallpaper to revamp a tin can and an organizer.

ok, seriously, like cupcakes aren't irresistible enough, now there are cupcakes in an ice cream cone??? oh, my hips are growing as i type this. click here for the recipe if you dare!

check out all the great styles and even better prices at ruche! {via for me, for you}

i think i need to put a regular spot on here for any work that the fabulous katie makes over on "katie did". i could gush and gush for hours, if you haven't been to her blog yet, be warned, it's drool worthy. here's her newest outfits for those lucky little girls of hers.

i love this pretty, fresh cabled travel pillow! knit up your own copy from missknitta here or here.

last month's "mom in the mommyhood" jane richmond has a new pattern available in her shop! this cute, little, cozy bolero could easily take you from summer through winter. fyi - jane's shop "alterknits" has moved and has a new etsy address at www.janerichmond.etsy.com.

ok, i am seriously kicking myself for not thinking of this! what a great idea! tote bags as throw pillows - genius!!!

easy and all natural foot scrub - get those heels beach & flip flop ready! {via craft gossip} after scrubbing those heels go download some adorable and free stationary from creature comforts, i love the calm and airy feeling i get whenever i visit this site - it's one of my faves. then make some fun cozy cone motels for your little ones race cars. get the how to here. end off your day by knitting up a great pair of fingerless mitts from "a black pepper"

wishing you all a weekend filled with this................

{image: sundsbo solve, via definitely golden}

fit friday in the mommyhood - yoga wear roundup

i love yoga clothes. i wish i could wear yoga clothes and lounge wear all day. ok, maybe not all day, maybe i wish i could wear my fave pj's all day too, well, i have to admit i sometimes do (at home of course), but don't tell anyone. after working on my "shirt sleeves to yoga capris " tutorial i went on a bit of an online hunt to see what else is out there for yoga clothes at the moment.

i found our everyday staples such as lululemon (my fave) and prana, to puma and nike. but there are a few new ones to me, like blue canoe and a few etsy sellers that i fell in lust with. i want all of their stuff! i better start collecting some more stretchy shirts to try to make my own, and develop master sewing skills overnight, or i am just gonna have to win the lottery. not sure which one is more likely :)

{image: jill hudgins}

here's a few of my faves that i found along the way and also a great link for some more eco-friendly yoga wear designers. have a peek and while you're at it, leave us a comment and let us know what your favorite yoga wear is. it's a great way to find that new favorite shop!

namaste....and shop away....

ultimate in eco-friendly yoga wear at blue canoe.

stretch that stress away with prana styles.

perfect for on the way to the studio - puma, champion and nike.

i love all the clothes from gaia conceptions organic. click here to drool over her organic and natural designs.

target your inner chi with this cozy outfit from lucy.

and all of our faves from their wonderunders, and pants to various jackets all from lululemon, perfect for women or expecting moms.

brighten up your stroll home with this chic casual top at etsy.

remember, you're worth it and you deserve it!

a little for her and a little for me

how friggin gorgeous are these dresses???? ahhhh, i want them all. so lovely and fresh. check out whitten grey to see more of the collection. {via simplesong}

lovely clothes with lovely pictures of exactly what i wish i was doing all summer.....check out the new dace collection. i just can't help staring at these pics...i can only imagine how quiet it would be laying on that dock...did i mention quiet......ahhhhhh, nice.

moments in the mommyhood - daddytime

jer and mackenzie had some daddytime on the weekend. now i will be the first to admit i sometimes get jealous of how much mack is a daddy's girl. i can't blame her though, my hubby is a lot of fun, but sometimes i wish i was the favorite. any of you know what i mean?

during the week she can't wait for the weekend so she get's her daddytime at the park or other fun places these two go on adventures to. this last weekend they hit up the baseball field. my hubby grew up playing ball and he is training mack already. i do have to say we think she already has quite the throwing arm...but then, we are her parents. she has never watched live baseball before, only on tv with him, so this was quite the treat for her. she picked up those ball players moves so fast and hasn't stopped imitating them at home. her little wiggle of the hips before she swings is priceless.

sometimes i wonder about the things these two get into when i'm not there that they aren't telling me about. jer always says, "we'll be gone an hour" and they are gone 2 and when i ask for the lowdown on their outing, he says "a little of this and a little of that". cmon now, i want in on the action. i find myself torn a lot between needing a break from the little one and then feeling sad because i miss out on all the fun.

it sure is fun hearing about their adventures though (those of which they will tell me about), and seeing the surprise photos that end up at home along with the grass stained clothes and secret giggles. ahhh, the joys of parenting :)

moms in the mommyhood - dana willard

we have a new "moms in the mommyhood"!

welcome dana willard from the blog "made"! the lovely, funny and super talented, dana has quickly become one of my fave pen pals after she posted her men's shirt to girl's dress post a few weeks ago. after chatting a few times by email, i didn't hesitate in approaching her to be the next mom in the mommyhood. her wonderful blog, super cute children and kick ass sewing and refashioning skills made me want to ask her so many questions, i had a problem cutting them back! it's been great fun getting to know dana, and hopefully it will be the same for you as you read the interview.

if you are new to the mommyhood, our "moms in the mommyhood" features a new mom monthly who currently has their own business (doesn't matter what kind). we try to sit down and have a virtual cup of coffee and ask them all the fun, little questions that we are dying to know. we also try to get a glimpse into their lives and what it's like to be have your own business and be the boss of your kids at the same time. we are always on the lookout for new moms to feature. if you know someone or would like to be featured in this spot, please send us an email at luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca. we can't wait to meet you!

now, let's get sipping our coffee, heck grab a yummy treat if you so desire, pull up a chair and let's get to know dana:

1. you mentioned that your grandma taught you to sew when you were 10 and that even though you always enjoyed it, you really found your love of sewing when you had kids. What was the first project you made after you had your kids that got you hooked?

i've always sewn here and there and even when working full-time, i often daydreamed about days when i could wake up and just sew instead of going to work. so the sewing bug has always been there, but i think it really caught on when a few things happened in my life:
a) i stopped working full-time and became a stay at home mom. the day-dreaming of sewing projects has become a reality (at least when the kids are sleeping)!
b) i signed up for wardrobe refashion . there were piles of "refashioning" items growing in my bedroom and once i committed to their 2-month challenge, i actually started tackling them and felt more confident with each project i worked on. that got my fire going. i started buying less and sewing more.
c) i started the blog "made". having an outlet to showcase my projects, share ideas, and get feedback from others is a great motivator. often times i want to sew something just so i can share it with everyone! maybe that's an ego booster? i hope not :) i find some great inspiration from other's ideas, so i love being able to share mine too.
d) i realized that sewing kid's clothes takes 1/2 the time, 1/2 the fabric and you don't have to fit it around a woman's bust and curves - so i started sewing for my kids. i honestly wish i could make their whole wardrobe, but since they'll outgrow it every 6 months that's totally unrealistic.

2. what is your most loved/hated thing to sew?

i love projects that i can get done in one nap-time period ( a couple of hours or so). a simple gathered skirt for my daughter or lounging pants for my little guy. of course i also love the harder projects too....you know, the ones where i'm crossing my fingers the whole time, hoping it will turn out, and when it does - what a victory!

I HATE to sew buttonholes and buttons as well, anything by hand for that matter. i'm too impatient.

3. do you like to listen to music when sewing and if so, what is your favorite album to listen to?

when it was just me & my daughter i listened to music while i sewed and she napped, but now that she is 3 and doesn't nap, it doesn't always work out that way. i often give her "quiet time" in the other room while my son sleeps but i still keep the music off so i can hear if she needs something.

if i could listen to music though, it would be a random mix of...weezer, george michael, chris issak, amiee mann, bob marley, beck, madonna, u2, songs from movie soundtracks, pink martini, buena vista social club and more...

4. whose work as a designer (fabric/clothing) do you find inspirational?

definitely kate of the "katie did" blog. oh wow, i don't even know where to start...her color palettes, her design work, her amazingly cute daughters - i have serious envy for her work. is it wrong to say she is my sewing idol? that i almost want to be katie? okay, not really, but i just adore everything she touches.

5. when and why did you decide to start selling your handmade goods?

before i had kids i had the idea to start a small business sewing and selling simple throw blankets. it was going to be called "late joon". no reason for the name, other than i love the late june season and spelling joon with two o's was more aesthetically pleasing. because i didn't have kids, i'd never had an interest in sewing baby items, especially since i didn't know what mom's were really looking for in their baby gear, but once i had my daughter, i quickly caught on to what was out there & discovered what i felt was missing from the baby accessory world. i started sewing my own blankets, burp cloths, etc and opened an etsy shop. i named my little company "joon bug" (a mini version of late joon). most of my business has been word of mouth and friends, which has kept me plenty busy with my mom-schedule. which leads me to a big "made" announcement!.....

we are reopening the "joon bug" shop! so come stop by! browse around; enjoy yourself. you can find "joon bug" here.

6. which came first - the etsy store, your website or blog? which one has been the most successful at attracting new customers?

well, the etsy shop and the joon bug website came about at the same time. i could have just gone with the etsy shop but i wanted something stylized to my line of products. i decided to make the site through blogger, using funny loopholes to make it look more like a website rather than a blog. then i linked everything to my etsy shop so that all the purchasing goes through them.

the made blog came after that. it's currently my true love, and probably attracts the most readership. i'm not sure joon bug is my end goal. i really love sewing children's clothing more than baby gear. i hope to somehow marry the two sites/ideas together in the future.

7. what tips/advice do you have for other women looking to sell their handmade goods?

do it! but just know what you're getting into. it's a lot of work, which sounds like, "duh", but what i mean is that there are many steps that go into it. aside from actually just making or sewing the item, you have to package it in a cute/clever way, take nice pictures, upload the pictures, list the item, purchase packing supplies and then ship the item too! i get tired just thinking about it. but honestly, there is nothing more rewarding than knowing that someone loves what i created and that in a small way, i'm making their life a little happier. that is what i love about sewing/selling/gift giving.

8. i adored your men's shirt into a girl's dress tutorial, what do you have planned for your next refashioning project?

funny you should ask...i'm actually going to try YOUR tutorial for the dress-shirt sleeve pants! i am thinking of making mine shorts or knickers though. i always appreciate people taking the time to put tutorials together. having done one, i know they are time-consuming, but it's wonderful to share our ideas and little tricks with others. so thank you for putting yours together!

9. you have two gorgeous kids Lucy (3) and Owen (18 months) - that equals a busy household. when do you normally find the time to do all of your sewing?

busy indeed, i'll never know how my mom did it with 6! i guess the more kids you have, the more you prioritize what is most important to you and let the other things fall to the sideline for a later period in your life. right now i'm lucky to still manage a lot of sewing time while my son sleeps or when the kids are in bed at night. it's not always easy. lucy is awake during owen's nap time but she is a good player. she can easily entertain herself and doesn't seem to mind the sound of my sewing machine. my son however, is a different ball of energy, i can never sew with him around. maybe in the future....

10. if you could sew anything, unlimited time & budget, what would it be?

clothes for me. i rarely take time to sew for me because it takes longer to complete. if i had long stretches of interrupted time i might do more of it and still manage to get my other sewing in too. maybe i should make a future goal...more dana clothes.

11. which pattern do you find yourself using the most and why?

i don't like to sew with store bought patterns so i usually use whatever current shirt/skirt/dress are in the closet and use those as pattern guidelines. it's really not hard to do and i recommend it to others!

{image: corrie bond}

12. if you were an item of clothing, what would you be?

something very feminine. a simple shirt with girly sleeves and ruffles somewhere.

13. being a wife, mother, and having your own business is tough work, how do you balance it all?

it's hard when i'm 10 minutes away from finishing a project and i hear my son crying/waking from his nap, but i have to stop and remind myself that right now, i am a mom. i have a wonderful life with 2 kids and a great husband. they are my number one priority. one day in the future i will have so much free time that i'll wonder when the kids and grand kids are coming over for a visit. so get your sewing time in, but enjoy those sweet people around you.

thank you so much dana! it's been a lot of fun! dana also has a new flickr group for those of you interested in posting pictures of your creations, it's always so much fun to see what others are making! click here to join!

thanks for the coffee and we'll see you in the mommyhood!

p.s. dana has a post up today linking to the interview here, and wow, she just made my year! big hugs to you dana, you are so sweet, i am glad you like it here in "the mommyhood" because we love having you!

{all images: dana willard, unless stated otherwise}

shirt sleeves to yoga capris - the tutorial

i'm really excited about the newest tutorial in the "newbie sewing series" called "shirt sleeve to yoga capris". yes, that's right, i made pants from a pair of sleeves. nuts? nope. fun? you betcha! i got so many comments about the first tutorial in this series (click here for the tute) stating that they wished they could make pants in an adult size, that i couldn't stop thinking about it. i remembered one day a week or so ago that my hubby had thrown this soft, blue cotton polo in his donation to my sewing pile and a light bulb went off in my head. the sleeves stretch! they could fit around my thighs, ok, possibly fit, so i tried them on. mackenzie had a great laugh, jer thought i was nuts, but i persevered. i love how they turned out.


this tutorial requires you to think outside of the norm. we usually wear pants with a seam that goes from front to back in the middle of our bodies, well not these pants. they go from side to side from the inseam outwards. i find it super comfortable and kind of like a pantie line you are allowed to see! during the process i realized that having the seam go on an angle upwards was a leg lengthening trick that is used on bathing suits and with the low rise waist, they could be great for yoga or just lounging in. the best surprise is that they turned out be a great maternity pant as well. no, i'm not pregnant, but i can easily see someone who is being able to wear these around the house during the whole 9 months and after. they are easily adjustable due to a drawstring hidden in the inner waistband and no constricting or tight fabric. i swear i lived in a pair of jammie bottoms that fit almost like this during my whole pregnancy.

so raid your closets, hit up the thrift stores and try a pair. go wild with it. open up your imagination and make yourself your own pair of comfy, fat day, bloat day, live on the couch and eat ice cream, meditate and do sun salutation day pants.

for those of you new to the "newbie sewing series" we provide a tutorial geared towards anyone who sews, but mostly for those who are learning, like me. you get a pdf download of the tutorial and also a handmade video of lil'ol me making them. there may not always be the correct terminology, or the best process, but that's what it's all about when you are learning to sew, it's not always perfect, but it's sure fun.

***Copyright 2010 www.luvinthemommyhood.com
All rights reserved. For personal use only. Please do not sell items made from this tutorial unless permission has been given.


click here for the pdf download

(please let me know if you have a problem downloading, we were having technical difficulties last night. that's why there is no preview here.)

and here for the video tutorial.

so come along for the ride, use your creativity and remake, repurpose or refashion something into these comfy capris and then lounge, meditate, stretch and pose your little heart out! these pants are made to be custom fit to you!

send us your pics! we would love to see if you make any of the projects in the "newbie sewing series" - please email your creations to luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca it's inspiring to see what all of you have been making!

dad's tie to gadget case - the tutorial

father's day is coming up right around the corner and who need another cheesy father's day gift? nevertheless another tie? why not make your hubby a father's day gift this year he can use. let's admit it; most men nowadays have a cell phone, camera, iPod that they are using. they may also have a lot of ties kicking around. so instead of buying yet another tie for father's day this year, why not refashion one he doesn't wear anymore?

what's great is this project involves only a little bit of sewing, some fun seam ripping (the kids love this) and dad can use it as a functioning gift. you're helping the environment by reusing and refashioning an article of clothing in your home and also being easy on your wallet.


remember to let your little one's pick out the tie and be part of the fun. they love to help hold the thread, watch you use your scissors, and be part of the overall magic when making gifts that are handmade for ones they love. so go raid the closets, dig through your donation pile, or head on down to your local thrift store, find a fun and funky patterned tie - this is one project that is sure to be lots of fun.

Some crafts make use of craft supplies most households have lying around, but we are going to present you with crafts that use things you have lying around but have not thought of for creating new items from. Get ready to raid the donation pile before taking it to the thrift store (or even your husband's closet while he is at work - but don't tell him we put you up to it) and start showing some creativity.

***Copyright 2009 www.luvinthemommyhood.com
All rights reserved. For personal use only. Please do not sell items made from this tutorial unless permission has been given.

click here for the dad's tie to gadget case tutorial in downloadable pdf format.

have fun and make sure to add your pics to our flickr group! we love to see what you are making!