Shoes for Charlotte

I'm sure you've heard me whine about the impossible task of finding shoes for Charlotte. Her feet are small and narrow so she pretty much goes barefoot everywhere. Her big sister had/has the same issue, but at least its easier to find more narrow shoes once you can get past the baby sizes.

Now Charlotte has some shoes that semi-work, but they are all ridged and I'm one of those "no-shoes" advocates of sorts :). It stands to reason for me that well, first of all, babies don't need shoes at all anyway and when they do, soft and flexible allows for the best development, balance, movement etc. Why would you want to wear hard ridged shoes? Not even I can stand tennis shoes types anymore. Praise the day soft pliable ballet flats came out!

Case in point, Robeez and such types are what I want for my maybe-perhaps-someday-will-decide-to-start-walking toddler, but they are just much to wide. Why do they not make narrow sizes for babies/toddlers? Little ones come in just as many different shapes and sizes as adults.

I take that back, they probably DO make narrow sizes but have a $80 price tap attached. K, maybe its just me, but kids grow... FAST, so why would I spend that kind of dough on something that is only used for a matter of months (especially when you could get 6 pairs of shoes for that

price).

-- WOW, who knew I had so much to say about shoes :)!-

Well anyway, the whining can stop now, I finally just made Charlotte's shoes! And for $0.

I adapted the Cloth baby shoes pattern from the Michael Miller fabric blog. (Ah, the Internet!) The soles are a red geniune suede (made from free samples I saved from my FABMO days) the top is stretch denim from an old pair of jeans and its lined with some cute cotton from scraps.

They've worked great! Fit perfectly (with some wiggle room) and STAY ON! I highly recommend this pattern. For those interested in "customizing" let me know (got some EASY tips)!

Kindergarten Hat Parade

In lieu of a Kindergarten graduation, Elyette's class did a "Hat Parade". Each student brings home a hat (her hat was basically a large oval donut shape out of pink posterboard) to decorate. Then these darling creations made their debut on stage for the parents.

SO CUTE!

It was my goal was to not have buy anything for this hat. Yes, I'm cheap, but mostly because I have a closet full of random junk that I just know could be treasures :). Sure enough we found what we needed for her unique and SUPER EASY (always a bonus) design that would be lightweight, since she'll be wearing this on her head of course.

We call it "mother nature". Elyette made the nest out of a styrofoam bowl, she painted brown and glued shredded brown paper all over. Then using yarn we "sewed" some chickies (from Easter) into the next, glued the nest to the hat. Attached some tulle/netting for the hat to attach to Elyette and with more yarn tied down a boa around the nest. Viola!

(he makes a good model too :))

Just hot gluing everything would have been easiest, but being the dork I am, we had to do things in a manner in which we could re-salvage the chicks and boa :). Although I'm not sure I'll ever have the heart to take this hat apart.

(sweet sisters)

My girl is growing up so fast! And since its clear I can do nothing about it, I'm THROUGHLY enjoying it while I can! :)

Congratulations Elyette! I love you!!!