My friend asked me to make a softie for her sister-in-law who is expecting her first baby. She brought me a dark purple shirt that has special meaning for their family and wanted me to use it somehow. We decided on a bear so it would be gender neutral as the new mom doesn't know the sex of the baby. But I just couldn't do it. I kept seeing that purple fabric as a dress with a crisp white collar.

So here she is all dressed up for the baby shower:

Since Baby was so much help for me here, I've been calling her Baby Bear. The only thing I am slightly unhappy with is the way her arms open towards her back when she's held my her body. We'll just say she's looking for a big bear hug.

Posted by Alicia at 07:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)

Meet Baby. He's the ring leader of J's three "guys". Baby has been with J since birth. He's well loved; he's been washed about a hundred times and repaired almost as many. Looks like it's about time for another bath.

Baby is going to help me out. I'm studying him, trying to figure out how to sew a three dimentional head for a softie I'm making for a friend. I have the body figured out, but that darn head. J saw me looking at him, and I explained it but instead of a lamb, I want the softie to look like a bear. Laughing wildly, J said, "Mommy, he's not a lamb. He's just a guy." Ahhh... sweety.

Look at the lovely quilt top Baby is lounging on. Just because I need a little more to do (ha.) I pulled this out today. A friend got it at a yard sale and gave it to me. The variety of color is great. All of the old fabrics- Yum.

After spreading it out and seeing N get all snuggly on it, I just knew it should be the quilt for her future big-girl bed. But what to do? It's all hand stitched and not well. I'm trying to decide if I should embrace the frayed edges and puckery-ness of it all or unstitich it and redo it on the machine. Any advice?

Either way, I need to back and quilt it. Oy. It's been awhile.

Posted by Alicia at 08:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)

When we filled up the sandbox two summers ago, I procrastinated making a cover for it and it quickly became the litter box for all the roaming neighborhood cats. I was pregnant at the time and wouldn't consider just cleaning the poops out and saving the sand. It all had to go- that Toxoplasmosis thing had me spooked. So finally there's sand again AND a cover that snaps on. Never mind the heat and humidity, the swarm of locust-sized mosquitoes, or the call to come in and eat BLT's for dinner. They worked hard in there until we came out and took them each in for a hose-down.

Posted by Alicia at 09:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)

The lake trip was wonderful. We had a crazy and late night Friday, leading to a slow-paced Saturday, and a sleep-late-and-pack-up-leisurely Sunday morning. It was great. My stomach muscles are sore from laughing so much. Also the weather couldn't have been better. Thanks, ladies. Perfect. Really.

But I'm back to reality now. Z. was here today and J has day camp every morning this week, so the day was filled with the usual array of mama activities. Fixing food, cleaning up dishes, dashing to and fro, settling fights, picking up the endless trail of toys. I was feeling a smidge low, but then the mailman brightened my day.

My Apron Swap partner, Flo, sent my apron to me! It's so cute! I think it might be made from a pillow case or bed sheets. It's a nice medium weight and it's the perfect colors. And it's just the sweetest upside-down tulip shape. I love it. Thank you, Flo!!

She included a perfectly understated wrist cuff bracelet and a lovely dainty necklace. Of course she sent three yummy recipes, that I can't wait to fix, but this week is going to be crazy. It might have to wait until next. I've lots to do: websites to update, bank accounts to balance, more projects to complete.

I'm hoping this post finds you well and rested from a fabulous weekend... perhaps even your foot has miraculously healed or your opponent retracts his bid... No? Well, have a good week anyway, dear friends.

P.S. Welcome back and Happy Birthday (yesterday), Kim. We'll see you soon!

Posted by Alicia at 05:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Well, we're off in a few hours for a girls' weekend at the lake. (Hopefully a new annual tradition!) No husbands. No kids. Just swimsuits, sunscreen, a few rafts to float around on, and some fruity beverages.

I'll be back next week relaxed and refreshed, hopefully with some projects to show you. Have safe and happy weekend!

Posted by Alicia at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Blogger is still haunting me.

A few days ago I clicked on an old post, one of the ones I transferred over from my old weblog on Blogger. The pictures that Blogger hosts wouldn't load. After a little investigation, I found that some of them loaded sporadically, and some not at all. And now, none of them load. I emailed Blogger's support team and they said they now block their hosted pictures when accessed from a non-Blogger site. Good grief. Hmmmm... too many people leaving, transferring files just like I did, are they? I wonder why?!

The old entries are just weird without pictures, so as of today I'm going to delete those old transferred posts. Is that confusing? If you're at all interested in what I was up to before April, please feel free to check out the old site. But I apologize now if Blogger is acting all wacky.

Posted by Alicia at 12:55 PM | Permalink

This little hen perches demurely on a linen hankie because she's much too proper to sit on the dirty, bare picnic table.

She arrived here last weekend from Tracy, and I am just so smitten with her. I won't let the kids even touch her. Remember Tucker? She's his partner in crime, weaseling their way into the bt3 fun. Tracy also sent us a few sweet treats and two tiny little IKEA stuffies, which N promptly smooched and adopted.

We have a thing for chickens around here. My dad has chickens which we love, even if they only love us at feeding time. But this chicken is far too stylish and classy for those dirt scratchers. Sitting and looking pretty is her main pastime.

And pretty she is. Thank you, Tracy! Absolutely adorable. Look at Tracy's pictures of her in her more natural environment here.

Posted by Alicia at 01:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Yesterday was J's half birthday. (5 1/2) We made some yummy cupcakes.

J shares his half birthday with the whole birthdays of two very special people, Tom aka Da (Brian's dad) and Jennifer (Brian's sister). Happy birthday, guys! We love and miss you!

We'll eat one of these for you. Well actually, we already have. Several.

Posted by Alicia at 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

I am really loving patchwork right now, but the simpler the design the better. Many of you recommended leaving the little rocking chair alone. So I fought my usual urge to paint everything that will stand still white, and I rubbed a little Tung Oil on it to revive the finish. It looks great. (That was easy!) The little patchwork cushion is tied on with ribbons. Recognize the fabrics, Molly? It appeals to my minimalist side and adds a little comfort. So far, she seems to like it.

Yippee! That's one more thing I can cross off the list.

Posted by Alicia at 06:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

Today is the big day of the Apron Swap party.

The recipient of my apron was Melissa, and she has received her package. First, let me say it was fun secretly getting to know Melissa through her blog. She's smart, and hip, and creative. Several times I wanted to leave a comment, but I felt like I'd reveal myself somehow.

She prefers functional aprons so I made her this no nonsense one out of flour sack tea towels. It will be absorbent, so she can dry her hands on it, but it might require a little ironing after washing to make it look crisp again. I sent her just a few of our family's favorite recipes and a couple of treats for her good friend. Enjoy, Melissa!

I got an email from my other sweet and apologetic apron partner. She's running a little behind (which I completely understand) and will mail my apron soon, so I'll post some pictures when it arrives.

Posted by Alicia at 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Day three of the bathroom remodel has brought us to this:

Which in turn leads us to this:

I debated if this photo was appropriate to post, but look at her. She's even covering herself up to keep it all G-rated. Brian said maybe it was more like PG-13.

Posted by Alicia at 10:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

We are slowly fixing up our house. Being do-it-yourselfers, we are always working on something. In the three years we've lived here we have redone both kids' rooms, the kitchen, the office/work room, the guest room, the sun room, the dining room. We're currently working on the living room, remember the hole in the wall? It's still there. And I'm also spiffing up the laundry room. We got a call from Jorge today. He's the guy who is going to help us remodel our main floor bathroom. He wants to start this weekend! Weeee!

This is the bathroom that ALL of our guests use, and it is bad. Not good bad, bad bad. Click on the image to see a few more Flickr'd before pictures. When Jorge called, it set in motion a frenzy of activity. Brian has been tearing up the bathroom all evening. I have been transferring all of the kids' bathroom things upstairs and locating stuff we been hoarding from the ReStore. We've got a pedestal sink, a faucet, floor and wall tiles, lights, and a towel rack that have been waiting patiently in the basement for today's call.

I'm so excitied about all of this. It's the first time we've hired anyone to do a remodel for us. Jorge has helped us with a few things, mostly working for a few days and then going, but this time he'll work on it and in a few weeks, not only will we have a much lighter bank account, we'll have a new bathroom!

Then comes the fun stuff: painting the walls, picking out new towels, making a shower curtain. The plan right now is to keep the marble tub. It is in pretty good shape and I'm thinking it will look much better if we feature it, not drown it in a sea of unflattering yellow. The new floor tile is a medium gray-brown and the wall tile for the shower is barely off white. I'll probably go cream or very light tan for the walls and keep all the color in the accessories. Maybe a nice greenish-turquoise for the towels. Or dark red. Or coral. Hmmm... the possibilities are thrilling.

The only stinker is I'll miss my book club tomorrow getting it all ready. Book club night is one of my favorites of the month. Good food, wine, book and life discussion with a bunch of great women. Bummer. But it will be worth it.

Posted by Alicia at 07:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Happy Monday, friends!

I'm feeling a little less frazzled. Brian watched the kids most of yesterday and I got a lot done. The apron for the What's Cookin' Apron Swap is completed (and pretty cute) so I just need to put my recipes down on some nice cards and that's it. Off it goes! To where? You'll have to wait until Friday to see. Here's a sneak peak:

I got two other packages all ready to go too. I'll be off to the post office tonight so my new friends Molly and Christine won't have to wait much longer for their goodies. I've made plans to start the other items that have deadlines this evening, so hopefully by the end of the week, I'll feel a little more caught up and I can start some fun projects like the skirt for myself and the little rocker.

Have a great week!

Posted by Alicia at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

When I got back from our trip a little package was waiting for me! A few months ago, I made a smock for Tie One On, and Molly commented and said she wished she had one. So I told her I'd make her one if she'd send me one of her pretty stoneware pendants. It is so perfect for me. Even better in person, it's minimalist modern, a little hippy, very cool. I look good.

She also sent a few little extra bits of fabric and some yummy chocolates. Don't the fabrics looks pretty together? What should they become?

Here is my problem. I've been having that feeling lately, the one where you just can't keep all your thoughts straight. I have lots projects going on at once and I have a few "orders" for specific items with real deadlines. I bet you money I have my anxiety dream soon. I always dream the same dream when I feel a bit frazzled. It goes like this: I'm in high school and I don't know my schedule. I go to ask for a copy, but I can't even remember where the office is. When I find my way to class, I haven't been there in months, so I'm completely unprepared for the test we're about to take. Do you know this dream?

For WIP Friday, here is a picture of a few of the things I'm working on and contemplating working on:

1. The rocker: sand, paint, sew a little cushion
2. The craft apron: box up to mail to ms. vegasandvenice
3. Molly's smock: pack up and mail
4. Girlie fabric: make bonnets for baby and big sis gifts
5. Canvas: paint a little bird for a swap with Foffie
6. Flower fabric: sew a skirt for myself- I deserve it!
7. Pattern from Babybug and fabric: sew a dress for N
8. Cake tin: personalize for my dad, I've been sitting on this forever!
9. Horse and gingham fabric: sew an apron for a horse loving girl
Not pictured: my apron for the Apron Swap, a softie my friend ordered for a shower gift, a stool for a little girl who is potty training.

Huh. I thought writing it all out might make me feel better. It sure didn't.

Posted by Alicia at 02:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

We made it back from our trip. Ahhhh... our own beds.

We have gone camping at Johnson's Shut-Ins for 9 years in a row. But last December, a power plant reservoir broke and flooded the park with 1.3 billion gallons of water. The campground is gone. Completely devastated. Luckily, no one was camping when it happened. The superintendent of the park, his wife, and three young children were swept out of their home in the cold water in the middle of the night. Miraculously, none of them were killed or even seriously injured. Here are a few pictures of our favorite campsite from last year:

Here it what the same site looks like now:

They have repaved the roads and the boulders have been placed to keep visitors from driving through that grassy area- they are trying to restore the fen.

Needless to say, we had to find another campground this year. We went to Sam A. Baker State Park. It wasn't quite the same, but it was still a wonderful week. Lots of beautiful weather, swimming, hiking, and all of the other slow-paced activities that make camping so fun. You can see a few of the 99 (yikes!) photos I took on our trip here. Don't worry- you don't have to wade through them all!

Tomorrow, I'll hopefully have time to show you a few of the things I've been working on to mail away. But in the morning I'm running errands for a dear friend in need.

By the way, thank you for the kind thoughts about our friend's father. Now that things have quieted down for them all, the hard part starts. The more good vibes flow their way, the better.

Posted by Alicia at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

The winner of my apron give-away is: vegasandvenice!!!

Christine, I'll email later in the week. And thank you ALL for reading and commenting!

Unfortunately we've been delayed. We had a wonderful camping adventure last week, but on the way home we got a call on the cell phone from a dear friend of Brian's. His dad died suddenly so we turned around an went back to St. Louis to see him and attend the funeral. Good man, great family, so sad.

The apron and a few other parcels will have to wait. We'll be home and getting back into the groove Thursday.

If you're here in the states, have fun tomorrow, but STAY SAFE. Please.

Posted by Alicia at 01:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)