I might be busy this week and not much on the computer. Heck, I’m not on it right now. I’m on my phone at the sewing table writing this. I’ll be busy working on Isabelle’s Halloween costume. I originally planned to be done with it this past Friday. But that did not happen. I just started sewing today. TODAY! Let’s hope I can finish before the weekend.

Last month, at a park, Isabelle came up to me with the saddest little look on her face, with tears threatening to fall. She was patching her eye and she said, “why am I different? Everyone asks why my eye is like this.” I felt so bad for her.

And we do get this question A LOT when she is patching. The patch looks like a bandaid and if we’re out, people will stare or ask if she had surgery or if she was hurt. I always explain, oh no, she’s just patching.

A few weeks ago, the library sent me an email about some books of interest. One of them, the Pirate of Kindergarten, was about a little girl, named Ginny, who was different. She didn’t see the same as everyone else.

The subject intrigued me so I went out and immediately borrowed it from the library. Me and Isabelle read it together right away in the car. We didn’t even wait to get home. The artwork is lovely.

And though Isabelle doesn’t see double the way Ginny does, I thought it was nice being able to read her a story about another little girl who sees differently.

I especially love these pages with the phoropter and eye chart, items Isabelle is used to seeing at the doctor’s.

This part, where Ginny starts to cry when she realizes she is different, just about made me cry.

After reading the Pirate of Kindergarten, I thought I would make Isabelle her own little pirate patch. Something that looked less like a bandaid so, hopefully, she will get less questions and rude stares.

Here’s my own little pirate of kindergarten.

Thank you George Ella Lyon for writing this for all of us who see the world different.

This sketchbook page is soooooo old. Remember when I was talking about the Chinese barbecue, over a freaking month ago.

And here are some leftover chocolate pops I made for the favor bags. Happily, I made extra so I was able to take pictures of them. I totally forgot to before or during the party.

I made them using a Wilton candy mold. How freaking awesome are they? They are melted candies. I painted the colored candies on with a paintbrush.

And here are pictures of the pirate hats I was working on that Alan talked me out of. This was my first draft. The idea was to make something simple, similar to a cardboard pirate hat, two pieces except more durable being made out of felt.

Alan thought it was too small and he didn’t think it looked like a pirate hat.

Then my second draft. I simplified the skull for ease of sewing and enlarged it.

Alan thought it was too big. It fit me. And he still didn’t think it was pirate hat like.

So after I gave up the idea of making hats for all the kids I still wanted a special fancy pirate hat for Isabelle.

I used this tutorial.

* I think Nathan has six teeth total now.

* Isabelle LOVES playing with the Wii. Right now she is a little…no a lot obsessed with playing Lego Batman.

* And yes Nathan said his own name. He said it all weird and cute.

* It was nice going to the park alone with Isabelle. I could actually push her on the swing easily.

* And I am sick right now. Again. Does it feel like I am sick a whole bunch? Or maybe me documenting when I’m sick just makes me remember it more.

In the recent sketchbook pages I’ve shared, I have a lot of Arnie the doughnut. And here he is.

I was going to do a tutorial. But you don’t really need directions on how to hand stitch blanket stitches, stuff him, embroider sprinkles and put in yarn legs and arms, right?

And yes his hole is way bigger than doughnut hole sized. I didn’t really think that part through properly. I just used a plate and cup I had on hand. But that works out alright. He’s very easy to carry around because we can slip him on like a bracelet.

Here are the pattern pieces. Just click on picture and download the original.

Pretty simple really. Might just want to make sure you have enough stuffing so you don’t end up using leftover yarn like some people do. Sort of looks like his guts are coming out.

Oh, and it might probably be easier to put Arnie’s sprinkles on before sewing his frosting on. I made him that way because I thought Isabelle would enjoy seeing him come into being like a real doughnut with sprinkles added at the end. Not the smartest way to go about it but it still worked out.

A couple of weekends ago, Isabelle asked me to make a dress for her dolly (because who knows what she did with it’s dress and diaper). And that lit a fire under me. Weeks and weeks ago I cut out a pattern for a dress for Isabelle. And when she asked, I thought that was a perfect opportunity to make the dress. And to make a matching one for her dolly. This was as far as I got:

Unfinished neck line and armholes. Unfinished hem.

I used a knit and it was stretchier than anticipated. It’s supposed to be by her knees not her ankles. And just like that I gave up. Big fail. It took all the steam out of me. Do I really want to finish a project that she’s swimming in? I guess she could grow into it…