Crunchy Peas

made to order

A few weeks back Jessie contacted me through this little blog of mine and asked if I would help her put together a little birthday gift for her daughter.  I admired her wanting to give something handmade to her daughter, but at the same time I asked myself, "She wants me to help her?"  I feel like such a novice at this whole sewing thing and the thought of making something "for hire" was a tad intimidating.

Well here is what I came up with.  I thought it would be fun for Jessie's daughter to be in on the creation of her little gift so I only finished it half-way.  I made her a smock apron.

 

I also made some pockets that she can sew on herself wherever she pleases (she will be 8 years old).

To aid in the hand sewing I also put together a little sewing kit for her stocked with fun trims and buttons to further decorate her apron.  This little egg crate idea came from a back issue of Country Living magazine. 

  

A needle book and small scissors are tucked in the lid, and down below I included some fun pins pushed into a strawberry pincushion, thread, a measuring tape, and some other buttons and trims (some are not pictured).  Isn't that a cute way to put it all together?  Can you tell what the recipiants favorite colors are?

I also crocheted up some veggies and a market bag.  Pretend food is so much fun to play with (real food is too for that matter).

   

I purchased the patterns here some time ago.

So, off they shipped yesterday.  As much as I enjoyed creating all of it...I still felt a bit nervous as I shipped it out yesterday.  Hope she likes it!

What an absolutely wonderful weekend.  I hope that you enjoyed yours as much.  On Saturday I took a 2 hour nap! An amazing feat because the rest of my family was awake.  I went to my bedroom to read and before I knew it...I was asleep and NO ONE came in to wake me up.  It was fabulous. Most of the day Sunday I was downstairs doing laundry.  I didn't really mind it...I watched this 4 hour part one of Jane Eyre.  Embarassing enough, I wasn't familar with the story.  I really do need to upgrade my Netflix membership so that I can get 2 movies at once.  Waiting a few days for the second half of that show is going to be excrutiating! (remember I said that I was going to cancel my membership...so much for that!)

We have finally arrived at the last week of school.  I am so glad.  Three days to go.  Three busy days.  I sewed up a few gardening aprons for the girl's teachers.  We (the parents) are putting together little gardening baskets for them complete with seeds, shovels, gloves, hand lotion, and these aprons.

I didn't have a pattern, but a just a general idea of how I wanted them to look.  How hard can sewing a rectangle be?  I made a sample apron just to make sure that I worked out all the kinks first.  Sewing for other people is always fussy like that.  Then, I cranked out the others assembly line style.  Cut them all out, and made all the little bias trims, then put them each together.  They are made from canvas and cotton prints.  I lined the pockets with muslin just so they would be a similar thickness as the canvas.

 

I have more sewing to show for...come back tomorrow! I give up on the spacing issue #$%@&**!!

"Alone Time"- Together

The rhythm of afternoon time has been changing around here, feeling different because Hannah is slowly giving up her naps.  Selfishly, I have really dreaded this...I've seen it coming.  My first thought was, "Great, there goes my nice little quiet time that I could bank on each afternoon."  But we are figuring out how we can each have some "alone time" together.

This was our afternoon table.

Me with magazine, her with her puzzles, Barbie lounging by the pool, and some chocolate zucchini cake.  We had a conversation that went like this:

Me: So, um Barbie is just hangin' by the pool huh?

Her: Yep, sometimes she swims.

Me: Does Barbie have kids?

Her: Nope, you never bought me that one Skipper doll...we don't have any little Barbies.

Me:  Does Barbie have a job?

Her: Mmmm, uh-uh (shaking her head no)

Me:  Wow! So how does Barbie afford food and stuff?

Her: Duh, Mom she has a husband.  He works.

Me: So let me get this straight.  Barbie has no children and no job.  Her husband goes to work to earn the money and Barbie stays home and just lays by the pool all day?

Her:  Well, yes mom- like you do.

Me:  Pfffffft! Spitting out the coffee I was drinking and choking on a piece of walnut in my cake.  Where does she get this stuff?

Obviously she doesn't really have a good grasp on reality.  I feel so appreciated when I realize how she thinks I spend my time.

I don't exactly see it her way, but it gave me a good giggle.

I made this sun hat the other day in anticipation of being down on the waterfront Saturday.  The pattern is from Lotta Jansdotter's book.  It was fairly simple.  I did end up taking at least an inch off the height of the crown.  Without doing that, I wouldn't have been able to see.  I just made it from some plain off-white linen, the lining was also cream (sateen).  Now that I have the pattern down I see more exciting color combinations in the future.  If you make it, just make sure that you keep trying the hat on while it is in process. The circumference fit me just right but only because I fudged the seam allowances a bit.    It really kept my face and neck protected and I was glad to have it.  Actually, I think Hannah might look a bit better in it don't you?

I also made the backpack from the same book.  I wanted to have free hands to use my camera.  Also, my current bag didn't match my dress (this is important when venturing into the big city.  Matching bags help you look more urban.  I definitely needed help looking more urban) 

Again, I made it at 1am in the morning...so embroidery, buttons and all other decorative touches escaped me.  I just needed to finish it.  I made it with some lightweight denim.  Hannah has taken a liking to it and I may pass it onto her and make a jazzier one for myself.  This was a pretty straight forward pattern...until I got to the straps.  I think it took me almost an hour and three attempts to get it right (at least I basted- see I am learning. After ripping a few "real" seams out, I caught on.) .  The pockets in front were designed to hold my keys and phone in one pocket and my water bottle in the other. 

So, that is all for now.  Typepad has changed the buttons around here and this post has taken WAAAY to long.  Anyone other Typepad users notice the snail's pace?

a skirt

At 10pm last night I got this crazy idea to start a little sewing project.  Why does that zest and inspiration come to me so late at night ? (perhaps because that is when it is quiet around here)

McCall's 5430

A simple wrap skirt.  I chose to sew it without the optional ruffle, pockets or trim.  Black linen, plain and simple.  I am not used to wearing a waist that is so high...it took me a while to figure out that I would actually have to tuck my shirt in.  Does anyone ever do that anymore?  It was weird, I felt a bit frumpy at first.

I was glad to have a black slip to wear under this.  I was wishing that it wrapped a bit more (maybe if I lost a few inches of my non-existent-boyish-waist that would help :) The overlap portion of fabric was only about 8 inches, on a windy day that can be dangerous! Other than that, I really like it.  The waist band puzzled me for a while, I kept thinking I was sewing it on upside down.  And yes, I had to rip out a seam- twice.

This viewpoint makes me smile.  I am glad to have captured (by accident) the little bodies of motion that are constantly whizzing around me.  Even Sophie The Cat got in on the action.  So, if you need a quick spring/summer skirt this is a pretty easy pattern.  I am thinking of making another one, only this time I would make a contrasting waistband and matching bias trim around the edges of the skirt...no hemming that way.

Can you believe it?

Don't faint, but I have some actual finished projects to share!

First off, after 4 months of crocheting a row here and a row there....I finished Laurel's cardigan.  The pattern is here and was super easy.  I just love everything that Alicia Paulson creates.  I think that Laurel liked it too (either that, or she was just fascinated by that extra cute girl looking back at her).

Next is a shower wrap that was born out of necessity.  You see, my bathroom is not just my bathroom anymore.  It happens to be the hub of activity each morning.  There are a total of 3 bathrooms in our house, but only one gets used- mine (oh yeah, I guess it is Carl's too).  I am all about "being open" and "celebrating our God-given bodies" and all- but I just felt it was time to be a bit more discreet, if for no other reason than for my own personal esteem.

You know that feeling you get when you can feel someone is staring at you?  I think it wouldn't creep me out so much if I were more, ahem, decent. "Mommy, why is it all lumpy on your buns?"  "What are all those blue stripes on your legs?"  "Is that floppy skin on your stomach where I used to live?"  "Mom did you remember to exercise today?"  The honesty was just too much and the world is a much better place hidden under some soft white terrycloth.  The pattern is from Simple Sewing with a French Twist, and was indeed very simple.  I haven't had the opportunity to make anything else from the book, but I have several pages doggie-eared.

Also simple is this.  I am feeling too lazy to write it out again...but it is definitely worth a try!!

A baby and a bag

Remember my friend Saci from Hungary?  Well, this morning at 6:40am she had her little baby boy.  I was so fortunate to be with her and husband for a second time as they welcomed this sweet peanut into their family.

Her labor was about 3 hours start to finish, Jared was born in two pushes! Sarah, their older daughter was not so accommodating...so I was glad this time was easier for her. "Easier" is of course a relative term.  Labors that are short tend to be fairly intense.  Saci did a beautiful job of staying calm and relaxed while her body did some major work in a short period of time!  I have been doing this doula thing long enough now that some of my moms are having baby #2 and that is so fun for me.  I was tickled to again be present at such special moment and, of course, had a few happy tears for them.

(left to right: Stephanie-birth assistant, Me-birth assistant/doula, Saci, and Dzahn-midwife)

I wasn't on call this morning but was glad to be invited.  And hey, these short little 3 hour in-and-out births are fun. I could get used to those. However long they last, it doesn't seem possible that I will ever tire of being a small part of such a miraculous event!

And, last night I finally snuck in some sewing.  I have still been carrying around this bag and the wool fabric was all wrong for spring. 

My new favorite color is yellow.  I was trying hard to find a color combination that allowed me to have some yellow without being too annoying.  I wanted the bag to be something that would go with almost anything.  I used the pattern for the Pleated Beauty Handbag from Bend the Rules Sewing.  I bought the fabric and then realized when I opened the book that it was very similar to the one in the picture.

I like the way it turned out and especially love the little button that I added for a closure at the top. (I like my bags to close...you never know what might fall out of it :)

Anyways, we are gearing up for a freezing cold weekend.  The weather was unseasonably warm last weekend and now tomorrow we may get snow.  I was planning to move my seedlings outside this weekend- but maybe I'd better wait.  No matter, there is more sewing to do!

yo

I have been pretty preoccupied with the task of preparing for an infant resuscitation course that I took today.  Please, if I ever say that I want to go back to college- remind me of this post.  Man, it was so hard to study whilst being a mom!  My ability to retain information has really gone down the tubes.  I would almost venture to say that my brain in turning to mush.  Happy mush.  I love learning, but on my own terms...and yes, learning to help non-breathing babies is a valuable skill- but it wasn't my first pick in books to read or subject material.  Thankfully, I passed with flying colors (you would be amazed at what some of the Family Practitioners don't know, there were some in my class today).  Glad its over.

A few days ago I did manage to crank out a little bag for Hannah's best friend.  If it weren't for the accountability of all these birthdays...not sure any sewing would get done around here.

 

I used the pattern from Lotta Jansdotter's book for the Simple Tote, then just added some yo-yos.  I loved how it turned out.  In fact, I'm pretty sure that there will be several more of these made in the future.  We filled it with sticker books, nifty pens, and a fun little pair of flip flops. My children just bless me so much when they proudly offer handmade gifts to their friends.  When I suggested to Hannah that we make something for her friend, I expected her to roll her eyes and ask if we could buy her a pink Barbie with glitter eye shadow or something.  Instead, she lit up and said, "I was hoping you would have time!"  Sweet, sweet girls. Sweet bag too, no?

feathering her nest

I am off to a bit of a slow start this morning after coming in from a birth at 3:30am this morning.  It was a sweet scene to behold as the parents welcomed their little baby to life outside the womb.  I love it when the sex of the baby is unknown...it is always fun to watch the new parents discover if their fresh bundle is a boy or a girl.  Little Grace was her mother's prize after 20 some hours of labor!! 

Okay, onto the curtains I made!

They were incredibly hard to photograph against the glare of the window.  The fabric for the valance was left over from my Emmeline apron- red polka-dots (and the little red pom-poms as just enough whimsy don't you think?)  The other fabric came from a sheet that I thrifted, it is always a bit tricky for me to work with such big lengths of material.  Her window is huge so each panel was 60" wide by 100" long! I used the pattern for curtains in Bend the Rules Sewing.  It was so easy- straight line sewing!  My only regret was backing them in muslin vs. blackout fabric.  Emma's room gets the bright morning sun and heaven knows we would all like her to sleep in a bit longer on the weekends!

(shhh don't tell Emma that Laurel Baby was in her room while she was at school- a full fledged flip out would ensue. also, the curtains touch the ground when they are not pulled open.)

This project has been on my "to do list" for quite some time so I was very pleased to get it finished. I was also glad to appease Emma who would ask me about getting them made every time she walked past the fabric on my sewing table. Relentless I tell you!

Onto the next project: dining room drapes (in yellow)

emmeline apron

Ta da!

 

It was fun and fairly simple to make.  The most tedious part being the bias tape (making it).  I love this bright colorful fabric from Alexander Henry.  I think my favorite color combination right now is this red and aqua.

The contrasting fabric is red and white polka-dot.  Those tiny dots are hard to photograph.  Photo credits go to Emma. I made her take a bazillion and yet we still didn't get very good ones.  I did not hand sew the bias tape on.  I used the machine and if I were to make this apron again (surely I will) I would make that same decision again.   Next time I will use thread that is the same color as the trim.  I was trying to be all artsy fartsy and I used an aqua thread-- it is far too revealing of my lame sewing skills. The reverse side is a little blue dot pattern.  You can see it in yesterday's post (it was the liner in the little clutch I made.)

This apron is pretty cute on, especially flattering in the area that I am, ahem- lacking.  Now its your turn.  Get the pattern.

monday already?

I am fairly certain that I missed something...I thought it very rude when my alarm went off this morning.  Can it really be Monday again?  The weekend seems a bit of a blur, although I do remember having a fair amount of time to sew on Saturday.  I made the Emmaline Apron and tried to photograph it last night.  I just hate using the flash, and couldn't get a good picture.  So, guess you'll have to come back tomorrow to see that. 

Emma's best friend turned 7 yesterday. 

Bowling and pizza ensued.

Can you pick up on the black light effect? What is cooler than seeing your teeth glow?  Taking pictures in that lighting also proved to be difficult- that, and the fact that they never stop moving.  All that giggling and fluttering about...I remember what it was like.  Emma (above in blue) was funny about what ball she would use.  It took me a while to catch on, but I realized the reason she would not come and sit by me in between her turns- was not that she found me to be "uncool" (to my relief) but that she wanted the pink ball. She would not leave its side.  She stood there coaxing it to herself through the entire 10 sets (am I saying that right?  I know nothing about bowling!)

I made The Birthday Girl the "artsy" clutch from Bend the Rules Sewing and we filled it with a ribbon belt (which took exactly 5 min to make!!) and bubblegum, chapstick and nail polish.  Emma jumped on the "handmade" bandwagon and insisted that she also make the card.  We both had such joy working together and giving away our handiwork. 

Oh they are quite a pair! Seven years old is the limit.  I will not allow 8.  Stop it already.

Okay, Monday begins, apron tomorrow- see you then!

I made something

My niece turned 11 over the weekend.  For me, this is a tricky age to buy for.  I really struggled with what to get her.  She is at that "in between" stage.  Not quite a teenager, not a little girl anymore. And too, I always go back and forth between gifts that are practical and gifts that are totally frivolous and fun.  I wanted to make her something because that is my thing now, right? Handmade.  A couple of months ago I found Meg's blog  (don't you love it how I use her first name like we are close personal friends) and bought up a few of her patterns.  More recently I snatched up her adorable apron pattern! When I went searching through my patterns for something to make Haley, the pattern for this reading pillow caught me.

I thought it would be fun/easy to make and that she would enjoy it.  I already had all the supplies that I needed so I set out to work.  The pattern calls for making you own cotton cording...I cheated and used a package of ready made.  Attaching this was the trickiest part of the whole deal.  My zipper foot saved me and I made it through just fine.  The rest came together fairly easily,  which is more that I can say for my selection of a book for her.  Do you have any idea what kind of garbage is out there for girls this age?  Maybe I was my selection was limited but it seemed that I had to choose from stories about hooking up with guys (again, she is 11), dragons/magic/witches, or Laura Ingalls Wilder books.  Don't get me wrong, Little House in the Big Woods is our current favorite (along with the show Little House on the Prairie which we rarely miss each day at 4:00pm) but I didn't really think this kind of book was Haley's style.  So, I fell back on good ol' Nancy Drew.  I thought it would at least keep her attention in a wholesome way.

When my girls saw how this pillow works, they immediately started requesting one of their own.  I definitely see more of these in my future.  At the party, this pillow was up against other gifts like a Karaoke machine, American Idol dvds, gift cards galore, a mp3 player, and on and on!  I was proud to offer something so low-tech and heart-felt.  I am not sure that it was received with the same enthusiasm...but that is understandable I guess. When she opened it, Carl was so sweet. He read my mind.  He gave me a little pat on the leg and said, "It was really neat, Honey- you did a really nice job on it." 

I had fun making it.  The pillow turned out cute, and it is the thought that counts right? Happy Monday.

a.m.

Mornings are good aren't they?  Saturday mornings are even better.  I have always been a morning person.  After about 8pm I am not worth very much- things start to go down hill.  Usually I have to ask, "so how did that movie end last night?" I get this trait from my father.  We have no need for alarm clocks.  For the most part we seem to just wake up when we are supposed to.  Setting an alarm makes me nervous.  It is typical that I wake up at 15 minute intervals before the set time waiting for the "beep".  Even though I am not much of a sleeper-inner, just knowing I could if I wanted to makes Saturdays something to look foreword to. 

So, this Saturday morning we indulged in puffed oven pancakes.

Growing up we always had a "real" breakfast on Saturdays in place of our cereal on weekdays.  I always looked forward to watching cartoons.  (Whatever happened to Looney Toones?  Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Coyote and Road Runner were the best!)

Some of us ate our pancakes with orange marmalade, which we pronounce "marm-a-lawd" in our best English accents. Others opted to eat their pancakes bare.

I have been doing some sewing the last few days.  I was feeling a bit sheepish after such a kind feature over at Sew Mama Sew.  Thank you to all the people who visited!!  It was fun to read all of your comments.  I do hope you come back often!  Anyways, I really haven't sewn very much as of late.  I have been on more of a crochet kick these days.  Hannah is hurting for clothes.  I hate to buy anything for her knowing that spring will soon be here.  So, I whipped out a few skirts for her. (that is all that she will wear)

This is the twirly skirt from houseonhillroad.  I used a light-weight denim and some vintage trim I have been saving.  I love this pattern.  It is so easy.  I especially love that it doesn't require a double fold hem- those are the worst.  I will do almost anything to avoid them.  Like sew ribbon on the edge as you would bias tape.

Not the greatest picture, but a super easy pattern from the Autumn 2005 issue of Ottobre. And yes, I finished the edge with ribbon.  I have had this fine-wale corduroy since October.  Better late than never I guess.  I made it a tad big so that she can wear it again next fall.

I took Mama K's advice and turned one of the thrifted sweaters into longies for Laurel.  They work great over cloth diapers.  Wool absorbs wetness especially when it is lanolized (I use this and this).  Normally I would use the sleeves and make pants using this technique...but I wasn't sure that they were long enough so I used the britches and bloomers pattern again.  Whew! That was pretty linky.

Hope you are enjoying your Saturday morning!

mending

My sewing machine has been in the shop twice in the last 2 weeks (I have a newer model, but have had a couple of quirky issues with it.)  I've missed it.  However, the break did us both some good.  My machine now weighs about 10 pounds less because all the lint and dust that has been cleaned out (sorry Mr. Repair Man :)  He gently reminded me that things might be helped if I did that myself- and a bit more often. I used the time away from Singer to recover from my "Last Minute Christmas Sewing Freak-out" and found a new desire to jump back in.  It was a joyous reunion.  Hannah was excited to see that it had returned to it's rightful place on my sewing table because I have been promising to make her some new jammies with the flannel she picked out at the fabric store.  Inspired by this post- I decided that we would work on them together.

 

I let her push the pedal and I did the steering.  This process reaffirmed what I already knew about Hannah.  That is- she basically has two speeds, major lolly-gager or crazy fast.  We struggled for a while to find our rhythm, laughing a lot! She also had some very specific requests as to the color of her thread (red top-stitching, and pink bobbin), length of her pants (she wanted her slippers to show), and the tightness of her waistband (we had to readjust a couple of times to get it just right). After chatting, teaching, some learning, and lots of giggles, she had her pants.  We used this pattern- so simple.  Because I didn't want to bore or worse frustrate her- simple was good.

She wore them for 2 days (and nights).  Then, the requests started coming in for more.  Laurel's are blue, longer, and with some zig-zags.  Thankfully, for the last 2 days we didn't have much reason to wear anything other than our softy flannel pants and slips.

Frankly, after last week (our first going back to school since the Holiday break) most of us felt like this doll- worn, ragged, and with our stuffing hanging out.  We spent much of the weekend mending.  Its always nice to give and receive a little more of each other during these quiet times.  Recharges the batteries a bit, you know?  Hey did you also know about this?  The popcorn is on deck and I have a very cozy companion who is sure to appreciate the romance of Jane Austen (as opposed to others that dwell here- you know who you are :)

wearing babies

I love having Laurel close to me.  Do you know how yummy she smells?  How soft her cheeks are? It is so intoxicating. Even better, I know how much she likes being near me.  I think it comforts us both to be close.  From the time she was very small we have enjoyed babywearing.  The benefits to us both are endless.  I have free hands (free in the sense that I can grab onto my other 2 daughters in busy parking lots), NO STROLLERS, no germ laden shopping carts, cozy naps in the middle of noisy family weddings, discrete nursing, no lugging that 50 lb. infant car seat into the Dr's. office, and finally- my pony tail makes a great toy! I am constantly telling my mamas-to-be that a sling or baby carrier in one form or another, is my #1 must have baby item.  I don't know how I would live without mine.

I made a new pouch last night following this pattern. It took less than 1 hour to stitch it together! In the past I have sewn and used ring slings which worked well when Laurel was a bit smaller.  I was worried about this pouch feeling as secure and tight without the adjust-ability of the rings.  With careful measuring (distance from your shoulder to hip determines the size of the pouch), this was equally secure.  Currently, we use a beco backpack.  I like having her on my back at this age.  She can see out, and I feel like I have a lot more freedom of movement.  However, with the "bulky coat" season upon us, the waist buckle has been weird.  Because she is on my back, I have to wear her over my coat and depending on what thickness of coat I am wearing that day, we are always re-adjusting.  With this snazzy little pouch I could still wear her on my front (she will NEVER be too big, I won't let it happen- I totally think that I could carry her down the isle at graduation- don't you?) allowing my coat to go over the top of both of us.  Also, it is easier for Laurel to get in and out of this pouch without having to loosen the rings on a regular sling.  We do that a lot (in and out).

Making your own baby carrier is totally safe, and a lot less expensive.  If you can sew a straight line, you can do it!  Plus, there is the benefit of choosing your own fabric.  Believe me, I have one in every color now- and you should too!  If you decide to make one let me know how it turns out!

stupid list

Have you ever had a "to do list" that laughed at you?  A list that provoked a challenge?  One that dared you to try and check off each task? Mine was scoffing at me last night.  I danced around it for a while, trying to figure out what to do about that "to do" list.

I tried thinking of ways to get out of a few things, I tried prioritizing and time scheduling...eventually I just gave up.  11 o'clock rolled around and I was so tired.  It had already been a very full day. I started walking towards my bedroom with the intention of scrapping my list and heading to bed.  Just about the time that I started to crawl into bed, I heard Laurel crying from her room.  It was an "I am sick" type of cry.  Yes, she has had a bit of a cold- but now it was definitely at a whole new level.  Croup.  Before long, I had humidifiers, hot steamy showers and boiling pots of water all going at the same time. Finally, she found her way back to sleep- in my bed.  On my side of the bed.  Propped up on my pillow.  And I was awake.  Wide awake.  In the far off distance I could hear my list.  It was taunting me, "ha! now it would truly be impossible for you to conquer everything on this list- there is a sick baby to deal with."  Little did my list know that I am not to be taunted at 2am.  I looked that list square in the eyes and said, "you wanna piece of this?"  And so it began...

What? Your kitchenaid mixer doesn't look like that?

48 gingerbread house cookies for the girl's Christmas Parties today. (I don't want to eat/smell/roll/cut/eat/mix/decorate/eat another gingerbread cookie for a long time!)

I downloaded this from itunes in the hopes of burning 22 CDs for Emma and Hannah to give away as gifts to all their classmates.  Yeah, did you know that you can only make 7 copies of each download?   I didn't- until after I had burned the 7th disc at 3am. That wasn't going to work for 22 students.  Quick, what to do?

Instead, Emma's classmates are getting little books.  There has been so much book love out there these days, I was grateful to have that idea tucked in the back of my brain.  I made ours with over sized index cards (1st graders love to write on lines.) The "binding" is just a straight machine stitch running down the side.  I never thought the needle would go through 5 layers of card stock!  Address labels slapped on the front made for a perfect place to write a title or your name.

Hannah's class will be receiving a "Thank God for Pinking Shears and Felt" ornament.  No, I did not sew all those buttons on- why do you think they invented hot glue?

It works don't you think?  So, onto the next task on my list.  Tired?  Pshaw, I don't know the meaning of the word. Overwhelmed?  Nonsense, there is no such thing.  "All Nighters", sick kids, Christmas Parties, weekend travel- mole hills. I refuse to go down with a box unchecked! Take that you stupid list!

broccoli bag

Remember this bag?  Well, sadly- I have still been carrying it around.  Do you know how horrible it looks with my black wool coat?

Everyday when I fetch it from the hooks by the door I think, "ugh- I really need to make a new bag."  But I was struggling to find some inspiration. This thought of a new bag has been intensifying as I look forward to a girl's weekend away in the big city.  Overnight.  Shopping.  So, what's a country mouse to do?  

For a long time I have loved this. 

So I made this:

(This bag was so difficult to photograph on such a gray day.  I finally had a measure of success after I hung it from the dining room chandelier)

The pattern is found here.  I modified the straps.  The bag body is made out of wool, the applique from wool felt.  I am in love with the fabric that I used to make the straps.  It's made from silk linen and came from a skirt that I picked up at Goodwill.  (It was a size 2...the lady at the counter looked at me like, "yeah right lady!") 

When they woke up this morning, I proudly showed the girls what I had made.  Hannah bluntly blurted out, "Looks like broccoli to me" and returned to her cereal.  Emma agreed in a disinterested sort of way and of course Laurel copies whatever anyone else says, "Boccy" she giggled.  They are usually so encouraging!?! 

Better don't you think?

Quilting Along

So 3 weeks ago Amanda had this great and very generous idea to host a "quilt-a-long".  I have been itching to try making a quilt, and couldn't resist this opportunity for week-by-week help and inspiration.  After 3 weeks of procrastination/fear and fussiness over fabric- I jumped in. 

Square from Week One

 

Square from Week 2

Square from week 3

I am using fabric from my stash- which is hard for me.  I would rather have gotten new...but for the first go around- using old scraps will have to work.  My background color will not be uniform as the directions suggested. Instead, I have a little collection of vintage sheets which will hopefully give it some character.

What I have learned: I hate measuring.  Linen is squirmy on the cutting mat. Lots of thread tales to trim! I really rely on pictures in the directions.  I could never be an architect.  It was easier than I expected (especially the triangles).  Perfectly matching corners are not that important to me :)  Making a quilt is really not so overwhelming.  One square at a time. 

I am a "real" crafter!

I know I said that Thanksgiving deserves more laud. I will get there (keep reading), but please allow me one tiny Christmas forethought.

These lovely little roll-ups are a more grown-up version of this.  I am making them as Christmas gifts for all of my nieces and nephews.  It was my first attempt and something patchwork-y. 

   

Now that I have invested the time in selecting all the colored fabrics and laying them out in the correct order...making more should be a breeze. Emma helped me decide which order they should be arranged in.  I should have done the cutting for all of them at once.  The choosing and cutting is what took the longest. But, I was so excited to finish one...that I couldn't help but forge ahead. 

The pattern is found in this book.  The instructions for every project in this book seem to be very well written.  Clearly they would have to be simple for me to understand them.  I did, however, have to make one phone call my "expert carpenter" Brother for a little measuring help (he was kind enough not to make fun of me when I asked him how many little marks past 1/2 inch line on the ruler equalled 5/8 inch.) I also purchased a walking foot for my machine. I felt very "official" using it...like I was a "real" crafter- no longer a wannabe.  So helpful! It makes a big difference when sewing layers. I am glad I did, because after the Christmas making and giving is done...I think there is a quilt in my future.

So the week is off and running.  My kids went to school today- whereas I think that public schools had the day off.  Emma's class went to an assisted living facility and sang Psalms for some of the residents, giving special honor to the Veterans who were present. Over our cereal this morning, we spent some time talking about what a Veteran is, and why they are worthy of honor.  I wanted my children to understand the great, great sacrifices that courageous individuals have made for their own personal freedom.  I think about Carl's grandmother who was pregnant when her husband left for the Korean war.  By the time her husband (Carl's Grandfather) returned home, their daughter was already 18 months old.  This type of reality is so far from mine.  I cannot even imagine what that would've been like.  Needless to say, I am thankful for those who have gone so far as to give their lives in their service to our country.

serious sewing

Wow!  What a girl can do with a whole extra hour in her day!  I love daylight savings time because kids don't have a clue...they still get up at the same time only it is 5am instead of 6am.  Super!  Sunday afforded me an opportunity that I have been waiting for going on 3 weeks now.  Some serious sewing. 

By serious, I mean pulling your hair back in a bun with a headband serious.

Serious sewing means setting the mood for creativity, and clearing off all the unnecessary clutter.  Careful though, that last step may eat up all your time :)

(that cup was  filled with hot cider- for about 2 minutes apparently Hannah didn't get the memo that stated I was doing some serious sewing ALONE.)

Serious sewing is usually devoted to projects that will be given away.  When I sew for myself I wing it.  Everything is a bit more reckless.  But, when you are doing some serious sewing- there is much more measuring and careful cutting, more pinning and ironing. More thought and planning are involved thus more concentration is required.  One has to be in the right mood for serious sewing.  Tedious, not adventurous.

Here is what came out of my "serious sewing"

Two lovely slings for two lovely mamas.  They provided the fabric-I provided the seriousness (and the sewing).  Whew! Sewing a big rectangle takes a lot of concentration these days.  The last couple of projects were the "I-am-flooring-the-presser-foot-and-it-is-still-not-going-fast-enough" kind of projects. (I promise that I don't drive like a sew- at least most of the time).  So, slowing down, taking one's time, really plotting out the course pays off. Something that actually turns out! Serious sewing.

what to do?

What does a girl do when she is so overwhelmed by the messiness of her house that she doesn't know where to start?

(can't believe I just posted that picture!)

Does she whip up a couple cute aprons for her children hoping that it will inspire them to tackle their rooms?

Does she make fun little "to do" lists that are pink and give them the satisfaction of crossing things off as they go along?

Hmmm good ideas, but better yet-

she sends them outside to "help" Dad!!! You can see how much he appreciates that!

Okay, now I am rolling up my sleeves and digging in!!! (right after a I have another cup of coffee.)

 

and the winner is...

Well, I know the suspense is killing you (all 4 of you who left comments)- so the winner is.....Gracie!  Her name was picked out of the cup by Hannah.

What does she win???

One little place mat and 4 matching napkins.  Enjoy !!

It is difficult making something for someone you don't really know.  I'd much rather add special little touches to a project that I know the recipient will appreciate.

Keep commenting!  I so enjoy hearing from you, and visiting your blogs, and getting to know you better.

happy birthday with a tomato on top!

Three years ago today Emily was born.  My best friend's daughter (she has 3 girls too), I love her like one of my own.

Although you would never know it now, Emily's little life got off to a pretty rough start.  Three days after she was born she suddenly stopped breathing.  Thankfully my friend lives a half block away from the fire station where they were able to resuscitate her.  After some tests it was discovered that baby Emily was having frequent seizures. Emily's birth was a bit rough.  My friend was induced and they had some trouble with baby's heart rate towards the end.  The best explanation they had for the seizures was that poor Emily may have been oxygen deprived (damn pitocin!)  Two long weeks later she was sent home with no real diagnosis, but the seizures had stopped.

Thankfully, she is as normal as any cute little 3 year old, and we couldn't imagine life without her!  So, to celebrate her birthday...I made her a little gift.

Emily is known as "the tomato girl".  Whenever she is here she raids my plants in the garden.  The girl can put them away!  Lots of lycopene I guess.  Inside that red box (with a tomato- not a cherry on top) is this:

   

a roll-up crayon holder thingy.  I know that I am the last person on the planet to make one...but here is the tutorial just in case I'm not. Super easy...and pretty cute if I do say so myself. 

It is also my brother-in-law's and my grandma's birthday today.  I called my Grannie and asked her to love me in spite of the fact that her gift will be late (still being worked on.)  Pics to come soon!

And, just to add to the already celebratory mood, I would like to make a gift for you too!  This is my thirtieth post!!  Leave a comment and I will draw a random name on Monday. Birthday or not, the winner will receive a present made by me!  Dad, you are exempt!

gifts

Everyone knows how much I love the whole process of growing a baby, giving birth to it, and caring for it.  So, imagine my excitement when I learned that my cousin was having twins!!  This weekend we are traveling to her baby shower, and I wanted to make her something extra special. Practical but fun.  If I were to name my number one "can't live without" baby gear item, it would be a baby carrier.  Its a wonderful thing to be able to snuggle your baby up and at the same time have your hands free.  This is especially important when you are a mama to more than one! So, I asked Jessica, "would you wear a sling?"  She said she would.  Then the question arose, "would your husband wear one?"  Because you can't fit two babies in one sling...and you can't wear two slings at once!  Thankfully, he was totally excited and said he would too.

I finished one sling, and the other is awaiting rings (which were not included in my order, grrrrrr.)

I wanted them to coordinate but not be identical. They have the same middle and different borders.

I also made her some bibs and two outfits for next summer. (I know she will get a bazillion 0-3 months clothes)

I had plans to do so much more...but time didn't allow.  There are so many cute baby patterns out there right now.  The babies won't come until November/December- so I do still have time. 

Anyways, we are off for a little weekend getaway- terrible timing with the start of school being just a week and a half ago.  It may be a bit crazy come the beginning of next week.  "Ten random things about me" will automatically post tomorrow.  Have a great weekend!

bag lady

As I was waiting for my sheets to dry last night (I had good intentions earlier in the day...but realized that I forgot about them in the washer as I was getting ready to collapse into my bed.) I got a little burst of energy and made a new bag. 

I was off to my own little class today and needed something to carry all my things in. (Like I didn't have any other bags...but you know- new routines demand new bags.)  I personally believe that One never actually needs an excuse for a new bag.  I had ordered the polka dot fabric by mistake.  I thought it would match some coordinating fabric for a baby sling that I am working on- but not so much.  So what to do?  I couldn't just leave it sitting there.  I pieced it together with a vintage pillowcase (yellow flowers) and some blue shirting.  I know it is a bit summery- but just allow me some time to complete my letting go process.  No pattern, a complete original (can you tell that I am a total novice?  I mean how hard is it to sew a square with handles?)  I was quite impressed with my accurate measurements.  If you know me you will also be impressed because I am not really a "details" kind of girl.  Huh, for once late night sewing was productive!