Well after that last post I went for a little walk to gather leaves. There was one lonely tree left with leaves on it, but they were huge and yellow and perfect. The boy and I snipped off their stems and folded them a bit, then I sewed them together one by one with a simple whip stitch. He picked yellow thread to match the leaves, so you can’t see it. But I have plans to stitch something on them in blue. This was such a simple and beautiful project. I think making these will be part of our fall for years to come.

At the beginning of fall I made a list of the things I wanted to make for my family, but I didn’t want to post it because I was afraid I wouldn’t get any of it done, then I would feel guilty and get crabby and nothing would get done.  But shockingly, I am slowly crossing things off. The purple pants and skirt, a little red riding hood cape (for her birthday), and now this coat. I was very nervous when I wrote “a coat for each” on my list, but this came together relatively simply.  I bought the pattern ages ago at a thrift store for ten cents and it was super easy.  Raglan sleeves, baby. They make everything easier. The only thing that tripped me up was the collar, which I had to rip out three times before I got it right and I’m glad I did. Normally I would just say screw it and push on, but I was feeling extra patient for some reason. Plus it has to stand up to be handed down now that he has a little brother.

The very best part of the coat, though, is the lining. It’s made from a felted cashmere sweater and holy crap does it feel nice. I was lucky enough to find an XL cashmere sweater (for 5 bucks!) right when I was looking for a lining and it was just, just enough. Lining a coat is super simple: right sides facing, sew all around, turn inside out and sew up the opening. The sleeves are a little different, but that shouldn’t deter you. You too can make a coat for your kid! I feel like clothes are getting more and more expensive as they get more and more cheaply made.

Okay one more thing about the coat and then I’ll be done. The buttons. They are beautiful. I was going to use up whatever matched from my button jar, but a friend told me to go to Gayfeather, which if you are local know is a beautiful fabric store, but I bet you never noticed their button cabinet. It’s awesome. I love the burnished look of them and that everyone is different.

After all the swearing and unpicking of seams, it’s just feels ridiculously good to see him always choose this coat to wear. Now I have to figure out how to make the one his sister has been asking for.

oops, I almost forgot.

Friday: Plum (like a plum, duh) melissa
jess
oona
freckled hen
katie
jessica
caitlin
annika
andrea
jenny
fiona
kim
stitches and tulips
juniper
ali
stephanie
mrs catbird
nath
melanie o
kelly
kim
anna
carol
mary grace
char
jessie
alexis

All craft and thrift action these days is geared towards occupying two preschoolers without noisy toys or heaps of sugar (okay there is some sugar, but not much). This cute little typewriter showed up on craigslist at just the right time and thankfully it wasn’t 200 bucks, which it seams most (out of date, pretty much useless, but indie rock stylish) typewriters are going for these days. The ribbon was immediately destroyed–thank you, son number one–but they really don’t know how it is supposed to work anyway, so mostly it’s about finding letters and numbers and making it *ding*.  And really it will always just be a toy for them. The other day, my daughter asked me what this toy was. We’ve had it since she was a baby! And she never knew it was a telephone! To her phones are little clam shell things you carry in your pocket. I am from a totally different world than she it, which reminds me of this list: 100 things your kids may never know about. I’m sure every generation has a list like this, ” back in my day…,” but it’s shocking to suddenly be the person saying, “back in my day…”

Okay, I need to stop now before I make myself feel geriatric. Onto happier things.

It’s starting to feel like fall here and though I haven’t been swearing at the heat all summer (the weather has actually been pleasant this summer, especially for a ginormous pregnant lady) fall is too lovely not to be excited about. So I thought I’d host a fall color week: a picture or two a day that captures a color of the coming season.  The color week thing has been done a thousand times, so I thought I’d use Crayola colors this time, mostly because burnt siena was my favorite (second only to cornflower blue) and because it is the color of fall to me (I’ll decode the colors for all those who grew up crayloa-less). Leave a comment if you want to play along and I’ll list a link to your blog (or flickr) when we start on Monday.

Monday: Brick Red (deep red)

Tuesday:Burnt Siena (a reddy orange, like the rooftops of Siena)

Wednesday: Goldenrod (warm, deep yellow)

Thursday: Chesnut (dark, warm brown)

Friday: Plum (like a plum, duh)

See you Monday!

It was actually chilly when I woke up this morning. The tomatoes are barely ripe and I can’t wait for the cold weather to get here.  I really can’t complain, it’s been a pleasant summer here in the midwest. It’s just not the season for me. I’ve been thinking about making a coat for winter, but I think it may be beyond my skills right now. So I just look at the lovely coats other people have made.

1. little red riding hood cape by ilikeyouworld
2. plum coat by LittleHouses
3. the peahoodie by Abigail Adams
4. mustard pea coat by stewwie

There are some really fantastic clothing shops on etsy.  A lot of these things are made just for you, with your measurements and all. This is couture for the masses! I love it. Do you know any good clothes makers (tailors? fashion designers?) on etsy?

Thanks for all your post office bag love. Who knew a strip of fabric with handles could be so exciting?