up, up and away!

In the early decades of the new millennium, even the great City of Brotherly Love was not spared the ravages of worldwide recession. In such times of fear and confusion, our city awaits a hero. And now he’s here to bring light into the darkness.

Faster than a speeding tricycle, more powerful than the biggest bullies and able to leap from the fourth step in a single bound, it’s Super Charlie! He’s fast, kind, funny and--- he has a great cape.

Only our hero stands between us and the bad guys.  He watches over our city ready to spring in to action whenever he’s needed. He’s here to fight for truth, justice and the American way.





When your very favorite matchbox goes missing, he’ll help you find it. If your ice cream falls to the ground, he’ll tell you a joke to make you smile. When your big brother is mean to you, he’ll stick up for you. It’s Super Charlie to the rescue!

This city is safe again, thanks to you, Super Charlie! And if the forces of evil should rise again, to cast a shadow on the heart of the city, we know where to find you.



(Yes, I absolutely was emulating Caspar David Friedrich’s iconic depiction of man facing his insignificance in the landscape. Thanks for noticing.)

The cape is based on the pattern I used for Halloween, but I have added quite a lot of volume and length to it. I found that pattern a bit skimpy and I wanted a cape that would blow in the wind with a satisfying drape and lots of drama.  Contrary to popular belief, boys L.O.V.E. drama.  They just don’t always care to admit it.

My son was thrilled when I picked him up from preschool a few weeks ago toting this. He couldn’t wait to try it out. I thought it would be best to get pictures right away while the energy was still high and we had lots of fun with these on our walk home.

I passed over the costume satin in favor of the special occasion stuff. It was pricier, but I think worthwhile to achieve the kind of drama necessary for a true super hero. The red is a vibrant and blows wonderfully in the wind. The lining is sparkling gold satin and the appliqué is wool blend felt. The cape fastens at the neck with a snap and I’ve reinforced the neck pieces for durability and for a better fit.

The best part?  This cape can be yours! It’s up for auction on April 19th at the second annual Moonstone Auction.  For the winner, I will make a custom cape with your child’s initial and choice of lightning bolt or shield. 

Every boy has a super hero inside him.

Easter (or, the impossibility of getting sugered up kids to sit still for photos)

This spring I had a few patterns on the sewing list that baby will soon grow out of. I couldn't let these pass without sewing them and made the Oliver and S Bubble dress a high priority. It seems to me a gentle twist on traditonal, so perfect for Easter! I don't have a lot to say about the pattern except the usual: it's lovely and very well written.

I used silk dupioni for the dress and lined it with cotton. This was my first time working with dupioni. Other than the insane fraying, it is very easy to work with. In the event that she needed to wear a little sweater, I wanted the bow to be visible, so I opted for a big front bow instead of a sash.

I used shell buttons in a dark gray color.

It's a lovely dress, perfect for a baby on a special occasion like Easter or a spring wedding. It might work nicely for Christmas as well, I guess. I'm a little sad I won't be making it again, but she is just exactly the right age for it now. And that's it, really, but please enjoy a few gratuitous family pictures.

You might recognize my continental dress making another appearance. It just happened to coordinate with her dress and I had a navy blue cotton cardigan that matched, so it was perfect. It looked nice enough and was comfortable. Actually, I had a few compliments on it.

I didn't make any of the boys' stuff, but you get to see their handsome faces anyway. :)

And one more of my angel with her egg hunt finds. Hope you all had a lovely Easter!

Of Sugar Plums and Swans

Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand. - Bernie Taupin.

One of my most treasured books as a girl was The Very Young Dancer, a documentary style story of life at the New York City Ballet from the point of view of a young girl trying out for Clara in the Nutcracker. The photography is black and white and the story is told in that straightforward and innocent voice of children, speaking frankly about how often young dancers get hurt and how carefully they eat. There are long hours and strict rules. Ballet is beautiful and it is hard work. Somehow, the realism of that book gave it glamour. Perhaps it was because the dream had substance; it is the story of a real little girl who stars in a real ballet. It continues to speak to me now, especially as I face the extreme faux-princess culture that’s developed in the little girl world of today.

I think it’s difficult as adults, caught up in our very real worries and responsibilities, to remember just how strong the fantasy life of children is. It can be hard to remember how important those things were when we were young and how very real. I also think it’s hard for many of us, as we watch as Disney market its shallow message into our daughters’ lives, to remember that ballerinas and princesses can be a great dream too.

So this project is dedicated to that tiny dancer in all of us, dancing in the sand. And to the tiny dancer we love now, who learns in her ballet classes that strength and discipline create beauty. Hold her closer while you still can.

This is a sophisticated, beautiful garment for your tiny dancer who dreams, like I did, to be a real ballerina.  There isn’t a speck of glitter or hint of princess! Maybe wearing this, she can imagine herself strong enough to dance on stage at the Academy. Let her have these dreams! After all, before you know it you will be dancing at her wedding.

This tutu is after the wonderful instructions in Little Things to Sew by Liesl Gibson.  Constructed from 15 whole yards of tulle in shades of pink, coral and yellow, the tutu is voluminous. It ties at the waist with a charcoal gray grosgrain ribbon. It is fully finished on the inside, so you could reverse it if you wanted to. It was based on a 21” waist but since it fastens with ties, it will likely fit ages 3 through 6. 

The 2^nd annual Moonstone Preschool auction is now open, but you can only bid on the tutu at the live event at Distrito on April 17^th.  It’s one of a kind and will never be available for sale. You’ll have to get yourself a ticket and join us there!

The hardest part of this project will be letting it go. So support a good cause and give my tutu a dreamy home!