My friend's little girl turned five today. This child. This child is beeeea-utiful inside and out. She's calm and kind and so well behaved. And my Miss N adores her. Adores. We all do, really. She is a peach.
Her mom ordered her a baby doll for her birthday and we did a little it's-my-first-day-being-five photo shoot this morning.
I hope you have a wonderful birthday, sweetie!
I finished up my square for Kathy's month of the Virtual Quilting Bee last night. Three days late? That's all. Three days late is the new on time.
Kathy pointed us to a few Gee's Bend quilts and Nancy Crow for inspiration, and wanted to keep them in the spirit of log cabin squares. This is my interpretation. It's not at all what I started out putting together- I seem to be having a wee bit of trouble taking into account seam allowances- but I'm happy with it and I hope Kathy will be too.
Can someone please, remind me to go fetch a new rotary cutter blade before I do this month's square?! Eegad.
p.s. Don't miss Shari's interview with Hannah. It's good. And Heather is putting some pinhole pieces in her shop today. Better hurry on those babies.
Jennifer, hey there! Jennifer M. Yes you. How are you? Are you ready for us? We're excited to come. Now, please avert your eyes. wink.
We're taking a little trip to Dallas this weekend for a wedding. (Brian's cousin- he's great and so is the fiancee. Good people, they are.) Anyway, we're staying at Brian's sister's home and we're excited to see all the cousins and have a little mini-vacation.
I've been busy yesterday and today getting some gifts ready to take with us.
Gift 1: The host(ess) gift. For Jen and Scott for letting us stay with them.
Gift 2: An outfit for an almost 4 year old. The Earth Day baby in the family.
Gift 3: The wedding gift. I pulled this painting out of my shop for them. I intended to make another, but time ran out on me. The good thing is they are the kind of couple who will really appreciate a piece of artwork instead of a random houseware. They are cool like that.
Gift 4: A bunny treasure box for an already 6 year old. Oooops.
Now I've got to finish packing bags. We're leaving at the crack of dawn. Before dawn really. So I'll see you next week!
I met up with Chris this morning to deliver Fifi. Fifi? I know. N named her. (I'm guessing Fidget will rename her.)
I treated myself to this chocolaty danish thingy. Yum.
As soon as I run up and get Pete some dog food, I'll have a little quiet studio time. All the poor thing ate was a slice of turkey and a piece of whole grain bread this morning. He's been prancing at my feet ever since. Either he's still hungry or hoping more people food will magically appear in his bowl.
Hope you're having a great day too!
I'm back today with more stacks.
Stack #4: The Where Y'at? Swap stuff ready to send. "It's only a little late," she says with a nervous giggle. (um, that would be three. yes, three. months. late.) Rachel says y'all are going to add me to a top-secret-crafty-swap blacklist. She's probably right. All of the wonderful photos I received are pinned up in various places around the house, but Dominique made a Flickr set of all of them. Thanks, ladies, if you're reading. I'm soooo sorry.
Stack #5: The fabrics I've picked out for Jennifer's month of the Virtual Quilting Bee. Tonight's the night. I swear, on all that is good in this world, that I WILL finish this on time.
Hopefully. ; )
I'm helping out my good friend Penny with a quilt square she got wrangled into completing.
One of my favorite parts of patch-working is the long string of flags that appear in process.
The color scheme is not my style, but I do love the traditional wedding ring pattern and sentiment that will go into the quilt. Will this intricate, exact pattern work in this cross-country quilting bee style project? For the sake of the woman assembling the quilt, I hope so, but I have my doubts. I send her good-luck vibes.
Happy-Monday Vibes to all of you!
Evie, Abby and Kora. These ladies are headed to their homes here in Kansas City now.
I think I'll just post photographs this week, so I can finish up my handmade gifts.
Merry Monday!
These young ladies are leaving me today.
Left to right: Annie is off to Virginia. Elsa is going to Virginia as well. Liesl is headed all the way to New Zealand. And little Sarah is going to Washington.
Safe travels, little sweeties. May the postal system be kind to you.
one was sweet and toasty in her borrowed (not handmade) butterfly costume.
and one was spooky. He's the Haunted Hornet. Don't call him a bumblebee. He'll sting you. Now this one I did make. (What?! There's no haunted hornet costume in the stores? No way.)
Hope your Halloween was just the right amount of spooky. N swears she saw a monster, but interestingly enough, she's not the one who ended up in bed with us in the middle of the night.
The car organizer. I love mine! When I posted about them, several of you asked for a tutorial, and these might be a great holiday gift. So sneak into your sister's minivan and take a few measurements. Or make one for your husband's car to hold those Manly-Man Necessities like his tape measure and small tool kit. Hey, wait- I have both of those in my car too...
The things you'll need: medium weight fabric, coordinating thread, a sewing machine, a piece of 3/4" elastic about 30 inches long, and a messy car. Keep in mind, to make them like I did, your headrests need to be removable. If yours aren't, you'll have to get creative with the tops. When I say medium weight, I mean something thicker than say quilters cotton (so it hangs nicely) but thinner than denim (you'll be sewing through multiple layers.) I used a gray twill so it would blend in with the car upholstery, but you could always use something bright to jazz up the back seat or use contrasting fabric or patchwork for the pockets.
Now some of these steps sound confusing, but they're not. It's difficult to explain turning and hemming fabric in words when I can't just stand next to you and show you what I'm talking about. If you get confused, email me. I'll try to help. Also you can click on the photos to examine them closely.
Step 1: Remove the headrest and measure the back of the seat. Be sure to include the amount of fabric for the top edge, the part that gets sandwiched under the headrest. My measurements were: 27" tall x 18" wide.
Step 2: Draw out your organizer and plan your pockets. This drawing shows MY finished measurements. Play with these to fit the items you typically carry around in the car. Since these are for my kids, I was sure to include 10" pocket on the bottom row to accommodate a standard coloring book and skinnier pockets on the top for colored pencils.
Step 3: Cut out your pieces. Add 1 inch to the your measurements of your large "base" fabric to allow for hemming. Add 2" to the height and width of each pocket for hemming. The three pieces I cut were: base- 28" x 19", top pocket- 9 " x 20", bottom pocket- 11" x 20".
Step 4: Work with your base fabric first. Turn all edges 1/4" under and press, turn again, press and hem all the way around.
Step 5: Top pocket- Turn under 1/4 " (twice), press, and stitch the top edge of the top pocket piece. Turn the bottom edge of your top pocket under 1/2 " once and press. (This raw edge will be hidden inside your pocket.) Pin your top pocket into place on your base fabric. Turn the sides 1/2" around to the back (twice) and pin into place. Top stitch along bottom of pocket and along the sides.
Top stitch down the middle of the pocket at predetermined intervals to form the smaller pockets.
Step 6: Bottom pocket- Turn under 1/4" (twice), press, and hem the top edge of the bottom pocket piece. Pin bottom pocket into place on base fabric. Turn the sides AND bottom edges 1/2" (twice) towards the back, pinning as you go. Top stitch down sides and bottom of pocket. Top stitch down the middle of the pocket to form smaller pockets.
You're almost done!
Step 7: Hang your organizer in place and by feeling through the fabric, pin or draw where your large button holes will go. The head rest will slip through these button holes. Sew your button holes. If you've never sewn a button hole, look here for tips.
Apparently, I didn't do such a hot job on my button holes. After washing, they're unraveling. No mind, though. They're hidden by the headrest when it's in the car.
Step 8: Hang your organizer in place and attach the head rest. Pull it down tight, wrap the elastic around the base of the seat and pin in place. Remove the headrest, slip the organizer back off the seat, sew and trim the elastic.
Optional Step 9: Add any desired extras, like this little loop to hold DVD headphones for long car trips.
Woo hoo- NOW you're done! Hang, de-clutter, and hit the road, baby.
Hello!
My little Shop Mayfly is open. I'm nervous and excited and relieved that it's finally time. Like I said yesterday, I hoped there would be more to offer, but my days have suddenly filled with mural jobs, and I just haven't had much time in the studio. But I feel like this amount of work may just be the nice quiet start that I need to dip my toes into the vast ocean of Etsy sales. I'll let you know here when I'm going to add more items.
There are several Simple Bird paintings, included the one that started it all. The response you all gave me about that silly little cardinal made me believe that I might actually have the nerve to sell some artwork. Thank you for that. It only feels right to let her finally go. I have some ideas brewing for new paintings of birds, slightly more daring and conceptual. Slightly. I'll show you soon.
There are a few Artist Totes too. They are roomy and long-handled and the front pockets are designed to hold a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" sketchbook perfectly. I've been wanting to make myself one of these for ages, and I thought they just might appeal to other artsy folks like yourselves. One good quality, hardcover sketchbook is included, but they would also hold one of your own favorite notebooks. One of these, perhaps. I LOVE these bags. I'll be making more soon!
So thank you for stopping by and if you decide to purchase something- THANK YOU in advance. I wish I could say I'm off to relax now, but I have a few more very busy days ahead.
Bye, friends! Have a wonderful weekend.
I made my mermaid-loving niece a funny little doll costume (some of you already saw her on Flickr.) The costume fits my handmade baby dolls. Speaking of the baby dolls, I'm considering making a round of them for the shop in late November/early December. Do you think there would be any interest in that? (All opinions welcome, friends.)
Our days went swimmingly yesterday. She had fun at school. I got a lot done at home, mostly at my computer, but that's quite alright . I'm trying to finish up some freelance computer projects, so I can get serious about the making. Oh, I do enjoy the making.
Happy weekend!
It's Shash's feet week. The shoes we all wear, literally and figuratively- they make me think and smile.
The shoes we're in today? She wears her first-day-of-school shoes. I wear my lonesome-yet-excited-mama shoes. And the skirt I wear is fun too. It's a twirly skirt I made for myself. A little twirling may be in order today.
Thank you, thank you and thank you again for all the shop well wishes. I am nervous and excited and plugging away at my list. It's very quiet here; much will get done.
May you find a reason today to do a little twirling yourself!
We had another bloggy ladies get-together yesterday afternoon. Our group of local crafty bloggers is growing quickly! Jenny and Laura used the opportunity to organize a little baby shower for Amy. Oh, you should have seen the wonderful baby goodness- and a lot of it handmade. This is a lovely group of smart, funny, talented women. I even remembered to take a few photos of them all this time.
(L: Jenny's cake from Andre's. R: My gift to the baby, a linen smock with matching bloomers.)
Thank you, Jenny for hosting us all! I had a wonderful time, girls. Let's do it again soon.
The darn thing has been loose for a year and wouldn't you know it- it fell out while he was off visiting his grandparents in St. Louis.
He tried to keep it a surprise but over the cell phone about an hour from home, I asked if it was very loose and he said, "I'm not going to talk about it." And then he asked if I would make him a tooth pillow.
Thanks go to Stephanie for the idea. I have had the image of her little pillow tucked away in my head since we first discovered the tooth was wiggly!
p.s. Happy Weekending!
Good morning! I made these car organizers last night and thought today that they were almost too boring to even talk about. But they were so fast, easy and seem to work so well that I changed my mind. A little practicality never hurt anyone, did it?
They hang over the top of the seat, and the head rest thingies hold them up by slipping through large button holes. There's an elastic band that wraps around the seat at the bottom which you can barely see from the front. I put a row of large pockets on the bottom and a row of smaller pockets up top. There's even a little velcro loop to hold their, ahem, DVD earphones. I know, I know. I always said my children would NOT watch t.v. in the car. But cut me some slack, people- we're taking a 17 hour car trip, for the love of Pete.
Why didn't I make these ages ago?!
As requested by Emily, 7 Random Things about me:
One: I had never eaten (thanks to my dear mom) a Pop Tart when I went away to college. So of course I lived on them for a couple of years. And now if I even see one, it makes me gag a little.
Two: I once wore Paul Newman's nightshirt. I worked at a dry cleaners in high school for a little bit and he was in town filming a movie. His assistant brought in his laundry and I put on the nightshirt. Over my clothes, of course! I was unprofessional, but not THAT unprofessional.
Three: I love all kind of rodents and bugs. Ants, worms, bats, spiders, caterpillars, mice, etc- I find them all very fascinating. But if I see a cockroach it sends me running and squealing like a little girl.
Four: We had a car accident (just a fender bender) on the way home from our wedding. When we got out of the car still in our formal wear, a sweet lady came out of a nearby store to see if we were alright. She asked, "Awww... are you on your way to prom?!" Um, we looked just a little young.
Five: When I was 15, I spent two weeks with a friend sailing around the Virgin Islands on a 45 ft. sailboat with a friend of her dad's and his girlfriend. It was The Trip of a Lifetime. I still think about it often.
Six: What's my ultimate favorite junk food? Funyuns. No doubt about it.
Seven: I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I'll cry at the drop of a hat and when I'm happy, I'm really happy. And I think because it is so hard for me to hide how I feel, I am a terrible liar. My children are exactly the same way.
** the top is made from a thrifted straight skirt that I stole was given to me by my mom. I thought it would be cuter as a little halter shirt using the same method as the pillow case pj's. I do believe it's downright beachy.**
and matchy and matchy.
Vacation pajamas for all the little cousins. I usually don't do this to the kids, but I got this giant piece of travel print seersucker-y fabric from Jenny and couldn't resist. I used the directions found here and here for the pillow case nighties.
There are actually two more cousins going on the trip, but something tells me they won't really be thrilled with matching seersucker jammie pants.
Thank you gifts for J's teacher and teacher's aide.
For a summer evening- just big enough for a wallet, keys, lipstick, cell phone. They're nearly identical to the ones I made for his teachers last year. Once again, Blair's flowers make the perfect finishing touch. (I took the don't-mess-with-a-good-thing approach, since they were a hit last time. It had nothing to do with being completely pooped out from the perfectly wonderful and active weekend. Really.)
Even itty bitty girls need to twirl.
twirly skirt tutorial • thrifted cotton sheet • scrap of green cotton • bias tape
My good friend asked me to paint her daughter's big girl room. Bryn is a big sister now and is cordially- as cordially as a three year old knows how- passing on the nursery (the second set down- the bunnies and castle) to baby Colette. They chose yellow on yellow harlequin diamonds with blue rosettes between. And since Colette got the booties and bib, I made Bryn a Little Girlie Purse in the same color scheme too. If you can't tell, she is a little bit crazy for yellow. I casually mentioned that she could keep her chapstick in her purse and now she's crazy for chapstick too.
We're plugging away around here trying our best to enjoy as much of this ride as we can. I'd like to say THANK YOU for all of the kind comments you leave. Keep 'em coming! But forgive me if I don't answer as many or I leave fewer for you than I have been. It's just life getting in the way, and that's a good thing. Spending too much time staring at glowing screens can make a girl's eyes hurt, you know?
Tuesday we delivered a newborn rabbit to a wildlife rescue facility. His brothers and sisters met a brutal fate thanks to the neighbors' cat, and we just didn't have the heart to leave him for the same. Then yesterday we found this flightless fellow on our patio with an injured wing. Surely he'll die too, perhaps become a meal for a bird. So it goes. Needless to say, we have been discussing life and death. A lot.
What else have we been up to? Baking. Listening to thunder storms. Learning addition and subtraction. Digging in the dirt. Dancing. Hanging out with friends. Playing outside. Making stuff.
These are for our newest friend, Colette. The booties are from this free pattern, and the bib inspired by my incredibly productive and talented friend, Lori.
I hope to be back (in moderation of course) next week. Have a wonderful weekend!
An old thrifted dress that felt a little too short and a little too dated becomes a preppy, tunic-y top. I opened the side seams and shortened it about 4 inches. It's much better now.
(We like to call ourselves frugal, not cheap.)
I was trying to avoid the awkward standing against the wall head-cut-off self portrait, and in the process mastered the dorky holding the camera in the (dirty) mirror shot. The trouble I was having getting a good photo caused the sour expression. More restyled clothes are in the works. A skirt is fixin' to become a smocky thing. If I can figure it out.
Have a great Tuesday!
Remember a few posts ago, when I was ticking out my list of things to do, I mentioned that I wanted to make new pillow covers? Pretty Springtime ones. Right. Something bad happened.
So, I'm riffling through my fabrics trying to decide on some colors and patterns looking for that perfect combo. Oh, this floral is good. Nice colors. It'll go with the yellow walls and the couch. La de da... Hum de dum... I look for some more fabrics to go with it, because they can't all be the same. Duh. I decide on another floral fabric- the yellow. Hmmmm. That's kind of a lot of floral. I better find something a little more plain and masculine. Doo de doo... Oh, I could use one of those men's shirts I got at the thrift store and do that shirt back trick from before. I find a nice mustard and tan one, lightweight brushed cotton, just right. I start cutting and piecing and sewing. This shirt is perfect. Abercrombie? I don't remember those shirts being good brand name ones. Oh, well. La de da... these are looking pretty good. And it's going quick. Hey look- there are those new shirts that Brian wanted me to shorten the sleeves of... Hum dee dum... we should do that this weeke... INSERT RECORD SCRATCH HERE. Oh, crap. I didn't. D'oh! I did. I cut up his new shirt for pillowcases! Granted it was thrifted too. But it was nice, looked good on him, and fit well (except the sleeves.)
Actually the pillows do look cheerful, and someone seems happy with them. I love you, honey. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I swear I didn't do it on purpose.
Excuse me, friends. Gotta go. I have to Google some good crow recipes now.
(Seriously, have a great weekend, everyone!)
It's the end of February, and I did it. I posted every single day this month. I hope you found a few interesting things thrown in there. Helping me through this dismal time of year, you have been the light at the end of my tunnel. It seems that Spring may actually be just around the corner, and and I am feeling thankful. I am thankful that Spring will arrive and show me the wonder of the cycle of life and the beauty of renewal. I am thankful for my amazing little family. And I am thankful for all of you and the flattering comments you leave. Really. Thank you.
Posting every day has me feeling a little too glued to the computer, so I think I'll take a little blog break for a week or so. I'm anxious to start learning the ins and outs of my new camera (it should be here today or tomorrow), read a little bit, and spend some quality time with my babies. I'm sure I'll be posting way too many pictures on Flickr, so please come visit me there.
I leave you with a few images of my very own Smocket. Click on them to view them larger. It's one thickness of lightweight denim with bound edges. I used the same fabric combo on the patchwork kangaroo pocket that I used on the smaller version. I hoped it might be stylish enough to be worn as a shirt, but though I do like it, it's feeling a little boxy and apron-ish for me. So I think I have a sharp new around-the-house smock .
Take care, everyone. I'll be back soon!
After asking Amy (she's the one who gave me the pattern) if it would be ok with her to share, I turned the Smocket pattern into a .pdf file. I included some simple directions too. There's no copyright here- I didn't invent this pattern- and obviously it's been around the block a few times. Once you've got the basic shape, I'm sure you'll see how simple it is. I do believe I'm going to size it up and make myself a Smocket, maybe with buttons at the shoulders instead of ties. Go forth my friends, smock the world...
Click here to download the file. I think. This is a learning experience for me. Let me know if it doesn't work or you have questions. I'll put a link over in the sidebar soon as well.
Enjoy- I'm excited to see your versions!
What in the heck is it?
It's a smocket.
smock + pocket = smocket.
Amy kindly traced her vintage child's apron and mailed the pattern to me. I used the surprise fabric she sent for the patchwork pocket. It's a happythings smocket. Thank you, Amy! It makes me very happy.
**the pattern can now be found at my main page in the sidebar! Have fun!**
dish cloths, pot holder, and tea towels for my teeny tiny chef.
Wait, oh wait, until tomorrow when you see what her daddy made her...
** Edited 2/13/07 to add: Several of you have asked about the pear fabric. It's from a set of fruity Martha Stewart tea towels from K-Mart that I bought several weeks ago to cut up into smaller towels for this project. (Amy recently used the same fabric to make a really cute patchwork bib.) **
For a swap I'm doing with a new friend:
That Hillary, she's something else! The design is simple and adorable, the pattern and directions are clear and easy to follow, and the whole idea behind selling the pattern instead of the doll- so brilliant. And the freebies get you (or keep you) hooked plus there will be more accessories and friends- oh good grief. Hillary, it's a stroke of crafty genius. Thank you.
If you'd like to flip through a whole slew of these cuties click here.
Wait. One more thing. I really want to thank you all for the kind words about my rant. The bird painting is starting to grow on me just a little and I'm actually considering framing it up and keeping it. (Sorry, Foffie, I'll paint you another.) I'm trying to make some attitude adjustments regarding my own work, so thank you again. I've decided maybe even if I don't adore my own stuff, I'll just lift up my chin and fake it. Then maybe I'll forget the faking-it part and some real confidence will grow.
Translation: Diaper purse
I made this tiny diaper bag for N's birthday gift. I have to admit, there were selfish motivations at work for this bag. Not only has she been enjoying it for days, it also gives us a place to stash all her babies' bottles, spoons, bowls and bibs come the end of a day. She received a lot of baby care items for Christmas and her birthday, and I'm dog tired of hunting them all down every morning. I also intended to make her some reusable diapers like these, but ran out of time. I still will- maybe at nap time today.
My little mama spends a lot of her day caring for her babies- wiping bottoms, feeding, giving baths, pushing them in the stroller. It's hard work, you know, taking care of kids. Yup. You probably know.
My J is having a birthday tomorrow. I was trying to explain to him this morning that his birthdays are nearly as important to me as to him, because it's the day I became a Mommy. But he can't fathom that now. He's too busy; his mind is a blur of rockets and monster trucks and trains that make smoke. He's a little boy and he's almost 6.
He requested a travel cushion similar to one his sister has but with a rocket with smoke (of course!). He wanted it to look like, and I quote, "the rocket that the monkey went up into space in." Alright, then. I went with the Saturn V.
The tan square is a pocket and the back is made from a thrifted men's shirt. I'm going to tuck a comic book and a few action figures in there to complete the gift. This was so fun to make. No planning was necessary really, just cutting and ironing and stitching. There was no cussing or seam ripping involved. It all just sort of fell into place. Although there was a lot of this, "Mom, can I come in there yet?"
Oh, yes. I almost forgot. Look where he wants to go this weekend instead of having a big birthday party. Good grief.
** added: Some of you have asked about how I assembled the rocket. I cut out all of the shapes, used Pellon Wonder-Under to fasten them all down into place, and then zig-zagged (tight and wide) along the edges. I've done this a hundred times before on little patches, but never on something this complicated. I'd have to say it was still a breeze. And Hannah, I like to call it the POOR-man's serger. : ) **
A groovy bag for Zoe, stuffed with art supplies.
And a wet dog. He's old and senile, but sweet.
Well, I can remember when he was sweet.
::
A bag for Releia who won a contest I had FOREVER ago.
I am the World's Biggest Procrastinator. Always have been.
The forcast today: sunny and in the 50's.
If you can't find us, we're at the park.
Happy Winter Solstice everyone!
Isn't this garland with the dragonflies nice? It's from our local Ten Thousand Villages. I love it. It's "all year worthy" I do believe.
Deep breath. The dolls are done. almost. The gifts are purchased. The errands are finished. The bags are nearly packed. It's our year for Christmas in St. Louis and we're off this afternoon. It's time for rich food, sweets and more sweets, family ruckus, quiet time after the kids crash, gifts all around and love. I am READY.
I'll be taking a break from this site too, maybe until the new year has arrived and my head is cleared. (Just in time for the Kim Family Auction. Have you seen the wonderful things that have been donated? Wow. Save your Christmas pennies!) I'm sure I'll still be puttering around at Flickr, posting pictures of the kids and their cousins getting into trouble together.
Happy Holidays, friends. Warm and snuggly wishes to you and yours.
One down, four to go.
This one is named Lanie. She's a birthday gift for one of our absolute favorite people in the world. See her dress here.
I've really got my work cut out for me this weekend, huh? Get it? Cut out... Ha! Ha ha ha ha ha...
Okay, okay. I'll go now.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
I finally finished the bear my friend Heather ordered.
She's a cousin to this bear. You can read Heather's sweet comment on that post and you'll understand the significance of the purple dresses. This gal is feeling playful in her jumper with criss-cross straps.
Now to finish up the baby doll my friend Katherine ordered at the end of August (I know. I'm bad), then I can start my Christmas gifts. Time is flying here. I'm starting to get a little nervous but haven't had the dream yet, so that's good. And I've got a plan, which involves Brian taking a couple of his vacation days, so that's good too. Honey, did you hear that? Please?!
Ok, then. You guys all have a wonderful/relaxing/productive/exciting/restful weekend. You pick the adjective. I'll just be toiling away, hoping you find what you need in the next few days. xo.
I've been doing pretty well with my personal challenge of making thoughtful gifts. This little bag is for my niece who just had a birthday. In the spirit of compromise, I tucked a few DVD thingies for her Video Now player inside the bag. By the way, picking out these little videos made me feel way old and out of touch. I had no idea who any of the teen singer/actresses were. Except Britney. And no way- I won't go there. Sydney is only 7, she's the perfect combination of girlie and sassy, but I don't want to help push her in any way towards slutty/creepy/icky.
I've been in the planning stages of Christmas gifts for quite awhile. Making lists, deciding on fabric and materials, making sketches. I've got a few more things to finish up in my studio (I'm having issues calling it a studio, but it sounds so much more artsy than office), and then I'll get started. The thing is, I can't exactly post photos of them as I go... the recipients might be reading. So forgive me in advance if things get even skimpier than usual around here in the project department.
Hope your week is going well. Did you vote today?!
Good stuff on Halloween:
Breakfast with Maw Maw and Da. A very excited boy asking if today was the day. Twenty-one Kindergartners marching in a costume parade. A little ghost trying to eat a cupcake through the hole in his sheet. Pipe cleaner spiders. Goody bags. Jack-o-lanterns glowing. A fog machine fogging. A wee red cape. Baby Skittle breath. Taking her home to get serious about the gathering of candy. Overhearing this: "Trick or Treat. Thank you. Don't you have Snickers? Da wants Snickers."
The little contest:
We heard a lot of this, "Hi, there! Uh, what are you?"
I guess J's costume isn't as obvious as I thought. So, the first person who correctly guesses what he is will win a little handmade surprise. I'm not sure what, but I'll think of something.(And don't play if you already know cuz I've told you. Or you asked him. At our party. Or on the phone. You know who you are.)
Someone already guessed correctly this morning! He is a fire ant! Releia, I'll email you soon for your postal address. Thanks!!
I hope you had a wonderful Halloween too! And much luck to you dealing with the tummy aches and sugar-induced tantrums.
Our big Halloween party went well last night. This was the ninth year. Gone are the days of moving the furniture to create a dance floor, 2:00 a.m. conga lines, and kegs of cheap beer. As more children join the mix it gets earlier and tamer. But that's fine by me. I am having so much fun reliving Halloween through these kids.
I didn't get pictures of J and N in their get-ups, but I will Tuesday for the real deal. J always comes up with the wackiest ideas for his costumes and this year is no exception. You'll see. He's a goof ball. (Look at him two years ago as a mail carrier. I swear. He picked it on his own and was he ever a hit.) Actually, I didn't take any pictures at the party at all. I don't know what got into me?! I guess I just felt too busy.
I'm wondering if a day will come that they won't want me to make the costumes anymore, choosing a store-bought one instead. That'll be a sad day for me. There's usually lots of polyester felt and glue involved and thrifting for various components. I have a great time putting them together. And then when they try them on for the first time- oh, I could just eat them up!
Since many last minute projects were finished and the house is still fairly clean, we're recovering nicely. We plan on spending all of today lounging around, watching football and napping. Boy, does it feel good.
(Click on any of these photos to see them a little larger.)
My dear friend, Suzy, ordered an apron for her daughter at the beginning of the summer. Now it's mid-October and it's finally done. Her daughter adores horses and I hunted and hunted for a nice print. Long after I bought the green, Vicki wrote about this fabric. Seeing that made my heart sink; it would have been perfect. But I made due with what I had, and I think it turned out pretty well anyway. The little removable ribbon is just an extra. A please forgive my procrastination extra, if you will.
This apron is for my niece who just had her 5th birthday. She's been in need of a proper white cotton half apron to transform herself into Cinderella. Not the fancy Cinderella, but the poor servant Cinderella. Because I am who I am, I added the extra stitching to the hem. Included is a little white bandanna to hold her hair out of her face as she toils away. There's little doubt that her sister will be coerced into playing the role of one of the step sisters...
** Added 10/29/06: Looks like she likes it! **
I have decided that painting murals and faux finishes is just not enough to keep me busy (read: not poor). The jobs dry up just when we've gotten used to the extra money. So I have been contemplating "expanding". I have always sewed little things for friends now and then, but I was painting at a client's house last Saturday when she asked me if I know a seamstress. Uh, maybe. "What do you need done?" Anything but a slipcover, please not a slipcover. She says she's got some fabric with which she wants to make a bumper pad for her daughter's crib. Confidently, I tell her that I can do it. I think. A bumper? Not too hard, essentially a long tube with batting, right? She also has a dust ruffle for the same crib that needs to be shortened, and getting all cocky, I tell her I can use the scraps from the ruffle for piping along the top of the bumper. Turns out sewing piping between all that batting is tough!
So here it is, all done. Did I choose the fabric? Nope. It is lovely. She got it here. Did I pick out the ruffle, the pretty silky purple that's peeking out there on the bottom right? Nope. But I DID learn some lessons:
No. 1- I learned that it always takes longer than you think to sew something.
No. 2- I learned that piping is tricky.
No. 3- I learned why tailors and seamstresses charge so stinkin' much!
My guys love their sports. The conversation usually goes like this:
J: "Hey Dad, wanna hit some baseballs?"
Bri: "Sure, kiddo." (Brian never has the heart to turn him down.)
J: (As they walk out the door) "And then we can play soccer, and after that we can play football, and mommy can pretend to tailgate and then we'll play catch and then..."
Thus begins the kicking, running, jumping, throwing, and inevitably the tackling, tickling and giggling. It's so sweet, you could eat them up.
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My "to make" list has gotten very long. I have lots of orders pending and several birthday presents to make. I've chosen to avoid it all together by taking on something very simple. Do you have a pile like this? A stack of clothing that needs minor alterations or repairs- a split seam here, a stain to cover there. Maybe a strange logo to hide. It's nothing a green polka dot space shuttle won't fix. As soon as I'm done with this pile, for the love of Pete, I'm going to get started on the bigger projects. If you've ordered something from me, I haven't forgotten. It'll be done right away. Well, soon. OK, soon-ish.
We've gotten a little taste of Fall weather of late. Although Gary is predicting 80's by the end of the week, we're enjoying this first bit of the season. My morning coffee even tastes better when the weather takes a cooler turn.
:: cooling thunderstorms, puddles ::
:: snuggly new throw pillows for the couch ::
:: soccer games with new friends ::
:: evening trips around the block ::
:: falling leaves ::
But it won't officially be Fall until we go to the Apple Fest in Weston, MO. It's just one of my favorite days of the year.
This slipcover has taken over my life, the dining room table, and sun room for two weeks. I have to add a few bits of strategically placed Velcro and a couple of ties, and it will be completely done. Here it is looking all prim and tucked in for the photograph. In reality it looks a little more frumpy and lived on, because well, it is. But it is so much better than the old upholstery. Now I can make some new cases in warm Fall colors for the throw pillows.
It took 21 yards of fabric, 4 spools of thread, and many many cuss words. Even a little blood was shed. Right now, I'm going to go open the windows, relax on this new couch, and read for my book club.
(and a peek for Angela.)
When Angela requested that we flash her a quick peek of our living rooms, I didn't play. Our living room is a disaster. Brian is starting to make progress on the hole in the wall, but it is still not quite done. The wallpaper is semi-torn off the walls. Plus all of the extras (sink, plumbing parts, tile, grout, drywall scraps) for the bathroom remodel are still stacked in there by the fireplace. You don't want to see it. Trust me.
So instead here's the sun room:
I posted a picture of this room a long time ago on my old site. (I took this picture last winter. Look at the snow in the yard!) This is where we do most of our living. The television is in there in the corner on the right, you can't see it from this angle, and the cabinets below the shelves on the left hold the kids' toys. The door to the back patio is on the right, and it opens and slams shut approximately every 30 seconds. This is a high traffic room.
So my w.i.p. is the couch. Purchased second-hand at a consignment shop, it is perfect for us. It's 9 feet long, super sturdy, and so comfy. We call it The World's Longest Couch. One of us can lay flat and there is still room for two more of us at the other end! The problem: the fabric is bad- 1970's garage sale bad. So I have a big project; I am going to sew a slipcover for that couch. Now's the time. I'm going to tackle it this weekend. I've had the fabric quite awhile- a heavy, washable, light khaki fabric with a nubby canvas/linen feel. How long do you suppose it will take me to finish? Wish me luck. Please.
Have a great weekend everyone. And may your projects go smoothly as well!
My niece Jill just turned two. I made her an apron with a patchwork pocket. With plenty of growing room, it should last awhile. Heaven knows with two older sisters, she doesn't need more toys or clothes. My reluctant model looks quite fetching, I think.
Hannah got me thinking about gift-giving and how it has lost some of its charm. It seems that sometimes we give gifts out of obligation not thoughtfulness, and I want to change my approach. It's not that I don't appreciate store-bought gifts from others. I do! But I have always enjoyed the thought and work that goes into making something for someone; I ought to do it more. I'm going to try to make nearly all of my presents or support fellow artists and buy their handmade items. I'm guessing most of my friends and family will appreciate this more anyway. The only wrinkle in this plan is that I can think of very few 6 year old boys who'd appreciate a handmade patchwork apron, or a painting, or cute little bag as a birthday gift! So I predict I'll be buying some rockets and Transformers along the way too.
Of course there will be oh-so-much planning and making to do for the winter holidays. I better get started soon!
...two other little people were jealous.
Z. is here today, and when I asked her to model this morning for the photograph, she and J squawked for their own bracelets. Squawk and you shall receive.
This is an instant gratification project. Quick, easy, cute. I've used a few bits of the fabric I lucked into while visiting one of my favorite sites. Yes, I'm a lucky, lucky girl.
