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Can you believe that this little lady is in the real deal public kindergarten this year??  Wasn’t she JUST born?!  My good friend Mie from Sewing Like Mad  holds a really fun sewing blogger series every year called Sewing for Kindergarten and I absolutely love to see what the bloggers make.  This year, I decided to make Ainsley just two staple pieces and show how you can style them, in order to create many wearable looks… on a budget! I would love to dress my kids in the highest fashion lines, but it isn’t feasible, budget-wise.  Finding ways to make them look fabulous on our small clothing budget is a fun challenge for me.  The two staple pieces I used for this series are the Crop Top and Skirt from Mingo and Grace.   Read down for further details on how I styled each one for 4 different looks and for shopping information.

Last year, I was also a part of Sewing for Kindergarten with this POST  since Ainsley was in a private Kindergarten program because she missed the public school birthdate cut off date by just 10 days (she just turned 6 and is the oldest in her class now, sigh.)… so this is actually our second year of “Sewing for Kindergarten”!  Can you believe how many outfits I made last year?!  Read more about that post HERE.  I love looking back at the photos.  It is amazing how much they grow in just one year (but she still fits all of those outfits… score!)

Like I said above, I decided to make just two pieces this year and show how easily handmade items can be styled, along with store bought clothing, to create many different looks.  Some of the styled pieces are handmade, some are store bought, but the main idea is creating pieces that are versatile.  Read each “look” for more details.

LOOK ONE

LOOK ONE shows off the handmade staple pieces that wouldn’t necessarily be appropriate for school because of the open back and possible belly peek, but it is perfect for weekends, dinners out, and anything in between.  I absolutely love the quilted crop top paired with the buffalo check skirt. Keep reading to see how to style it for appropriate school wear.  However, this is absolutely my favorite (and Ainsley’s favorite) of the whole styling.

Skirt fabric:  Joann Fabrics
Shirt fabric:  Joann Fabrics
Hat: Target
Ankle Boots: Osh Kosh
Crop top: Handmade
Skirt: Handmade

LOOK TWO

LOOK TWO is wonderful for school and playtime.  It pairs the hand made skirt with a few store bought items, including a tank, suspenders, denim jacket, and the iconic Doc Martens.

Jacket:  Crazy 8
Suspenders: Jabeu Kids
Tank: Target
Shoes: Doc Martens
Skirt: Handmade

LOOK THREE

I seriously love this look, as it is very classic and chic.  It pairs the crop top, the tank, and a pair of tuxedo striped leggings with a leather strip that I made last year, which is an amazing use of older handmade items.  Roll up the cuffs of the pants so that you can pair them with ankle boots.  This outfit is perfect for winter.

Shoes: Target
Tank: Target
Hair bow: Forever 21
Tuxedo leggings: Handmade
Crop top: Handmade

LOOK FOUR

Look four is another favorite of mine. It is for casual days.  The open-backed crop top, paired with high waisted shorts and casual accessories.  Again, to wear this to school, simply add a tank top under the crop top.  

Slouchy Hat:  Handmade (free pattern found on Heidi and Finn)
Yellow Purse: Target
Shorts: Target

I hope you have enjoyed my last ever Sewing for Kindergarten!

Here are some questions Mie asked each Kindergarten mom:
– Is this your first time sending a child to Kindergarten? If not what number child is this?

Well, Ethan went a few years ago, and now Ainsley is technically going twice haha.  She missed the public school cutoff by 10 days due to her September birthdate, but I think it will be a huge benefit to her in the future when she is the oldest in her class and hopefully, this will help her confidence and leadership skills.  She is SO excited to be in the public school this year.  She is already showing signs of “teacher’s pet”.

– Do you feel like crying or celebrating?

I was a bit sad, honestly.  Sad because I know that these are my only two children, but also really happy to see them grow.  This is my very first time with both in school ALL day.  Once they were in school, I was so eager to pick them up and ask them how their days went.  This is the very first year that Ainsley hasn’t cried for me during the day… This is huge.  I used to have to pick her up from school early many days because she was sad, so this year has been a big growing year. However, I am always sad to drop them off in the mornings because I realize that time is passing so quickly.

– And what about your child?

Like I said above, this is the very first year that Ainsley hasn’t cried upon drop off, so that is great!  Her confidence levels have soared the past year and I am so proud of the little lady she has become.  She used to be so timid and shy and I now see her walk with her head held high.  That is so amazing to see.  She comes home with so many stories and she tells me how she sits so still and listens so well, hah.

Make sure to check out the rest of the bloggers joining in… they are fabulous!

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Hayley

Hayley Crouse is a wife, mother and multifaceted designer. Her love of sewing, crafting, cooking and interior design infuses her daily life and naturally spills over into her online presence. She pushes the envelope of her creativity and hopes that others will be inspired to do the same. She currently authors the Welcome to the Mouse House Blog, is the pattern designer behind Mouse House Creations and is a collaborative designer with Willow & Co. Patterns.

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