oliver + s's 2+2= happy eight-year-old

before we left for the summer (we're back!) i did a little pattern testing for oliver+s's new fall line of patterns. liesl sent me the pattern for 2+2 blouse and skirt in size 8 and i sewed away while thinking about the eight-year-old that, if things worked out, would soon be the happy owner of the outfit. 

things worked out.

i can hardly stand how cute my little niece is, especially in this little outfit. mia says she really likes it too. and even though she is the kind of girl who might try to pretend because she would never want to hurt my feelings, i believe her; she is a terrible liar and she has already requested to wear it to church twice. (only being successful once. apparently she had a kool-aid mishap just before church. . . nothing welcomes the day like a tall, cold glass of red kool-aid).

this is the second time i've been an oliver+s pattern tester and i have nothing but wonderful things to report. the design is great- both of the packaging and the garments- but even better are liesl's instructions. each pattern is like a mini sewing lesson. so thorough and understandable. and the things that may veer into the realm of pattern speak are clearly explained, so much so that i really think each pattern can be sewn by anyone at any level of experience.  power to the people. 

the patterns are available over at oliver + s, check 'em out.

countdown

one full month is a ridiculously long time for us to go without chipper. we're all dying for him to join us on friday so we can live it up in glorious oregon for one final week before heading back to brooklyn. three more days for us to miss our favorite things about the man.

eve's favorites: stories at nigh-night time (usually sung to some crazy twangy/old-timey tune), showing him her "most beautiful drawings" and talking about scary monsters who don't get us.

ruth's: having food with daddy cause daddy makes yummy food (a perfect response from ruth- no basis in reality and food centered).

charlie's: who knows. but i'm certain he and chip will have fun smiling at each other. 

and the things i've missed? i've missed everything. i've missed laughing with him and watching the girls go nuts with him around. i've missed watching him feverishly sketch out his latest scheme for our apartment. i've missed his stories. i've missed the pacing and the lounging and the face he makes when he looks in the mirror. i've missed the thousands of everyday mundane things that make up partnership and family life. i can't wait for friday to come, it's going to be good to have chip around again.

i may check in within the next two weeks, but most likely not. we've got a lot of time to make up for and i don't want to be doing it in front of this screen. hope you all enjoy these last days of summer!