Thompson Family-Life

just call me Frenchy

The pink is back! If you've been following my blog since last year, you'll remember my pink here from here, here and here. I knew I wanted to do it again this summer. I think it will become a rite of passage once the boys are out of school every year. I don't feel comfortable wearing it pink during the school year because, well, I don't want the boys to be harrassed by other kids with "Why does your Mom have pink hair?!". The girls might like it (Princess Hair!!!), but boys are notorious for heckling. (at least the little stinker boys are. >:(

My boys are pretty indifferent to it. It's like, "Mom's got pink hair... moving on..." Like, no biggie. 

Since this was my first time bleaching in a year or so, I knew it would take a couple bleachings to get it light enough to really hold the color. The first time I bleached and dyed it pink last year, it didn't get to it's fullest brightest until that second bleaching, but I did get this same peachy-pink which I do really love. The only thing about this time around is that it didn't dye evenly (as you can see from that orange patch at the top of my head!). I used Special Effects dye this time instead of the Directions brand I used last year. I do love the "Cupcake" color I used this time, but I have no idea why it didn't dye evenly. I knew some of the orange from would still show through, but not this badly. I dyed it yesterday and today with the pink, leaving it on for 2 and 3 hours both times and the color just doesn't seem to want to grab around my roots.

Luckily, it doesn't look too bad and has an "ombre" affect. So I'll just say I did it on purpose to be trendy. ; ) A lot of people that do pink are so put off by the "salmon" colors you sometimes get, but I love them. It's kind of a natural progression from the natural copper red I usually do. I do look forward to bleaching again in a few weeks (to give my hair a break). Upon the second bleaching last year, it looked incredible. Total even coverage and the pink was BAH-RIGHT!! Like day-glo. Hoping I can tone that down slightly. That is when you get the REAL looks in public. I actually went out today with hardly a look with this salmony/darker pink. I'll be sure to take new photos when the new pink is done.

My hair is finally getting to one length - quite a change from the super short style I had. And I think I'll keep it bob length for a while. The growing out process hasn't been too painful... only when I wait too long to get a cut and it starts getting mullet-y in the back (you short haired folks know what I'm talking about). I've finally given up the good fight on having bangs after all these years. I almost always have bangs cut and literally THE DAY OF THE CUT, I'm already pinning them back. I should buy stock in bobby pins. So, the big-bang-growout of 2013 has officially begun. And I'm hoping for good. I wish I was lucky enough to have lush, thick, Bettie Page style bangs, but having two cowlicks and wispy hair, bangs just don't ever stay put for me. (boo.)

Isn't the shirt cute? It's vintage from Highland Row Antiques here in Atlanta. It was actually a shirt dress that I asked my Mother-in-Law to shorten for me. The sunglasses are just for fun because I can't actually see with them on! Need a prescription. So I put them on just for you. ; ) But I like them so much I might consider having lenses put in! I did the same thing with another cheap pair from Urban Outfitters and it has worked great. These are "designer knock-offs" from ebay. I think I spent less than $10 on them. Thank-you to whoever tipped me off on these! Pinterest? Can't remember!

I'll have more pink updates soon. I know you're waiting with bated breath.

Lenore: Vintage Style

These were taken the day I took these photos. I found this little vintage dress at a thrift store many, many months ago. This is my most favorite item of clothing that I've found for her. So cute! Love the sixties styling... those buttons! I was so happy to see her dressed in this when her Mom brought her over. I'm so glad Ellyn enjoys these little vintage numbers I find for Lenore. She even wore it to a Kentucky Derby party they went to! I die from the cute. Even though I know I'm helping them out when I keep her, I have to say that I'm coming out even better in this deal. Toddler snuggles? Playing dress up in girly outfits? Hello, baby fix? Check, check, check. I feel pretty darn lucky. What a sweetheart.

beachy portraits & what they wore

It's always a challenge getting photos of your kids... together... am I right? There's always a short window to get the goods. This little "shoot" was about 10-15 minutes. If that. There was indeed bribary involved. Luckily they are 9 and almost-6, so it's definitely much easier than the toddler days! I think these capture their personalities very well, stinkers that they are! I will say that as they get older, the better they play together.

A couple years ago Campbell was still too much of a baby to be on the same playing-level with Cooper. Gosh, they bickered 75% of the time! The bickering has diminished drastically, although they do have their moments, like all siblings do. Now, I find that when they are apart, they really do miss each other. Campbell can definitely hold his own with Cooper and his third grade friends! He's kind of had to grow up fast since he has a big brother. Which makes me a little sad at times. But that's okay, I'm just glad they love each other so much and genuinely enjoy each other's company. Having two is the best.

I call the above look from Campbell "the-double-chin-look-of-exasperation". Not quite sure what Cooper is doing... meditating?

Pure evidence that they are indeed little wiseguys, this is the progression of what they did when I asked them to put their hands in their pockets. 

They think they're such funny guys, these two! And I would agree. : )

What They Wore:

On Cooper: Shirt: Vintage // Cardigan: H&M Kids // Shorts: Target last year // Shoes: Target // Hat: Target (Men's section)

On Campbell: Shirt, Pants, Shoes: H&M Kids

Location: St. George Island, Florida

my first dress

One of the girls I follow on Instagram (Debsasassykins if you'd like to follow, she has fantastic taste!) posted some photos of an amazing clothing line for kids based out of Denmark (of course!) called Albababy many months ago and that was really the inspiration for making this dress. My first dress! Big moment for me. The girl that has always been skeered of her sewing machine. And you know what I realized? It was the pattern part that scared me the most, not the sewing (although finicky sewing machines make me insane and edgy, but I'm getting more comfortable with using my machine). 

Here's the Albababy line...

OHMAHGAH amazing, right?! What really knocked me over was the bias tape trim on the overalls and jumpers. A perfect blend of nostalgia with modern Scandinavian color - with that perfect contrasty white trim. LOVE.

But yikes, the price tag! I just couldn't justify getting something for Campbell (the overalls!), much less anything girly for my little pal Lenore. So I decided I would (attempt) to make something inspired by the designs. I wanted the basic shape to be vintage-inspired, a classic pinafore shape, and I wanted to add bias tape trimming. I found a modern pattern online, but I ended going with a vintage pattern.

I asked my wonderful Mother-in-Law (who's been sewing most of her life) if she could help me out with it one weekend and once she explained how to read the pattern and how to cut out the pieces, I felt so much more at ease. This is a pattern that she actually used for her own daughter in the seventies! (see photo of pattern at bottom of post) It's only one piece, so it was a good beginner project. Of course, I had to go and make it more complicated by adding bias tape around the entire piece, but it was worth it! Now, this dress is not perfect by any means, being the newb that I am, but I'll take it.

I used a vintage sheet remnant I've had for years for the body of the dress and picked a solid purple fabric for the front double pocket (such a cute element of this pattern!) and the lining. I then picked out a bias tape color. I wanted something bold and contrasty. I ended up using two colors of bias tape by accident. I ran out of the orange, and went to pick up more, and picked up the wrong color. So there's pink and orange together.. which I actually ended up loving more! The buttons are vintage and the little daisy patch is from Joann's.

Isn't Lenore a doll? Oh man, do I ever love hanging out with her. She is a joy!

The ends of the shoulder straps can really go either way, under the "bib" area or over, where they button. I really wanted them to go on top to mimic the Albababy designs more, but the width of the straps towards the ends were very different and it looked very obvious (newbie mistake), so we had them go underneath which looked much better.

I have to say, I'm so in love with how this came out, and it was really relatively easy (attaching the binding was the only tricky part, but once I got the hang of it, it's actually very fun to sew on. I used a tutorial I found online.) I can't wait to make more of these for Lenore. The vintage bloomers were a lucky find at a thrift store a few weeks ago and I immediately thought they'd go perfectly with the dress. You can never have too much pattern, right? The design on these bloomers is a m a z i n g. They are a little big, and on one side the elastic has come out I think, so they're droopy drawers for now. haha.

Now that I've gotten my feet wet with this simple dress, I'd like to try and make some shirts for the boys. Something simple, like this. I love a lot of the Lillestoff knit fabrics, but yikes they're expensive! 25 bucks for a meter? Sigh. Although sewing with knits can be a bit tricky from what I hear? Do you have any experience sewing with knits? I would love to hear any tips. Also, if you can share any good, simple sewing patterns that you like for kids, I'd love to hear! 

I feel like I have this new love affair with bias tape. I kind of want to add it to everything. Something about it feels so retro. And you can't beat the store bought stuff, already folded for you, in so many pretty colors. I go to the fabric store and it's like looking at candy when I hit the bias tape aisle (ha). I know you seasoned sewers out there are shaking your heads.

Here are some phone pics I took of the sewing pattern, etc.

More posts coming this week! It feels good to be blogging more.

Hope you all had a nice weekend.

missing this

It's been less than a week since we returned from St. George Island & Apalachicola, Florida and gosh I miss it. I miss this! The gorgeous weather (with no dusty pollen covering everything like here), the sunshine, the breeze, the all-day cocktails (ahem), bare feet and little boys in hats. I feel awfully sentimental these days about my boys. Especially this one, as he's "the baby".

He turns six (6!) in May and while he still has small but fading hallmarks of babyness (the "wristlets" as I like to call them, those pudgy wrists, are still there! But barely), I see every day how much he's growing up. Maybe it's because I spent some time with Lenore today and I realize how much I miss the baby in this one.

Honestly, I'm very lucky, because Campbell is such a Mama's boy. GOSH, is he ever. I savor it with all my being. He still finds that comfort from me, that physical thing, that Mama's touch or snuggle. He still has that baby-thing inside of him, that he knows the comfort that Mama brings. He is *incredibly* affectionate, I know I've mentioned this before. He's like his Daddy that way. He always has to be touching your skin in some way, holding on to an ear, or touching your face. I really feel like I hit the jackpot with this one, because I often see so many kids that aren't affectionate and how bummed out their parents are because of it! Gosh, I couldn't imagine it. I would die! 

I'm still the whole world to him in so many ways. That kind of love, a child's love, is just so incredible in that way. Mama is EVERYTHING. Sometimes I'm like, "what on Earth does this kid see in me?!" Ha.

I savor every waking moment of it.

If you are aware of the kids clothing brand, Småfolk, you will notice that we are big fans! I buy mostly from Ittikid, a distributor out of the States (Smafolk is based out of Denmark). I'm such a huge, huge fan of anything Scandinavian, especially these days. The quality of their clothing is really fantastic, so they are a good investment if you have multiple children. They aren't cheap, but worth the cost in my opinion.

I don't actually buy that many clothes for the boys. 90% of what they wear is usually from Target or bought by their grandmother (thanks Madeline!). They have mostly the typical boy wardrobe, lots of (crappy) t-shirts with stupid things printed on the front (ha!), but that's all they really need, am I right? That is why I don't feel bad buying a few pieces like these to splurge on (and for pictures, right?!)

I've also recently purchased several things from H&M (we have a kids section at our local shop). Really cute stuff! I bought both pairs of pants in these photos from there. Their prices are great. (The hat above is from Target.. I think it's Men's size.)

Although Ittikid carries a lot of Smafolk designs, they often don't carry the designs I really love. I found this lion shirt on ebay (the European companies seem to carry the best Smafolk patterns!) This print is my favorite!

This was the porch of the beach house we rented. We spent a lot of time there. A LOT.

I've got more photos coming from our trip and some new photos of Lenore in a dress that I made! My first dress. Pretty monumental experience for me. I'm itching to dive more into sewing now that I seem to have gotten past my fears a little bit!