I finally got around to making Mia a shirt today from an old Diesel top that doesn’t fit me anymore. The stripes and the coloring are pretty great so I’m happy to be able to repurpose it into a little shirt for her, like this dress, particularly because I’m not buying new clothes for the kids this summer. I have to say, even though I’m just a few pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight, I have no idea how I ever fit into these tiny tiny clothes. What the hell happened?

Sundays are feeling like the old days when Mark worked, except it’s now at the Flea and not the restaurant. So the girls and I were left to entertain each other all day. The weather was strange today - it started to rain just as we set out for the playground so we never made it outside to play even though the sun eventually came out later. Instead, we made all kinds of flowers from paper and pipe cleaners, to give to Mark when he got home.

Our watermelon shiso coolers have been selling out the last 2 weeks, which we are thrilled about since we have so many damn cups, lids and straws (I had to order by the 1000), and we sold out of our whisky sandwich cookies today. I think the trick with the Flea in this hot weather is to mix things up and serve things on the spot, so look for new things in 2 weeks when we’ll be there next. We’re taking a break next week and going to the beach.

…in more ways than one. But seriously, Mia LIVES for crafts: glitter, paper, markers, paint, crayons, fabric, scissors - she loves all it all and more importantly, it keeps her occupied and is probably the only time her constant chatter takes a break. The playground and park across the street from our house hosts a few all-day events with crafts and music every year, and at last weekend’s eco-fair, there was one particularly great activity table where the kids got to make their own little stuffed animals and pillows out of recycled fabric scraps. Sewing machine stations were set up, kids were stuffing shapes with fabric bits, then bringing them to the tables to get the last finishing stitches in. A table of full of buttons, felt, ribbon and yarn let the kids decorate their creations for a finishing touch. Mia made this funny little creature who she named “Pillowface” that features a pretty blue and white striped back. They’ve been inseparable ever since.

A few months ago I finally got around to doing something that had been on my list for a very long time. I had a skirt that never fit me very well, but I loved the textile so much that I couldn’t bear to give it up. I loved the hand-brushed orange circles and the crinkly textured fabric - it was almost like paper - so it was too bad that the skirt fit oddly. One day, however, it occurred to me that it would make a gorgeous dress for Mia (and eventually Claudine). I made the dress and hung it in the closet where it remained for a few months. Today was like an unexpected summer day - blue skies and downright hot in the mid-day sun. I pulled the dress out and Mia wore it happily, exclaiming that it was her favorite dress. it might be mine as well.

Most observant people will do a double take when they spot the little wicker doll chairs in the corner of our living room. This is because we have the same fabric upholstered for the cushions covering our Danish Modern chair that I scored off ebay. I immediately started hunting around for fabric because the cushions seemed in great shape, but the old chenille fabric was all shades of “old man” brown and dragged the chair down. This black and tan graphic print seemed snappy enough to give the chair new life. Now, I consider this a hack job of sorts because covering cushions, especially ones that are not square or rectangle in shape, is trickier than it looks (and I didn’t even attempt the piping which the original cushions had), but I HAD to cover them the same evening our chair was delivered, but didn’t have much time because of a tight work deadline. For now it works - just don’t look too close.

So what to do with all this leftover fabric? I’ve been meaning to cover the cushions of these wicker doll chairs that we got graciously from a friend. I know that the fabric is everywhere in our living room (uh, also made a lumbar pillow, but that’s it I swear!), but don’t the doll chairs look nice? I’m more happy with the miniature chairs than the danish chair, and it’s so nice that Claudine is playing with them now too.