For Christmas the last few years little N has asked for a dress for herself with a matching version for the American Girl doll. These are this year's dresses. I used this pattern which was a little persnickerty (that's a word, right?) and not all that clear, and I've sewn quite a few clothes in my time. My zipper job isn't so hot either. No worries though- they are super cute on them, and she's very happy.
I made this quilted log cabin pillow for some friends that are soon to become new parents. They're good people, through and through, the kind of folks that should be raising kids on this planet of ours. After a quick photoshoot together, it's apparent that they are just giddy about this baby. I'm giddy for them too, knowing only a little something about what lays out ahead of them.
Aren't they adorable?!
So how did your holidays go? I hope they were relaxing. Ours was extraordinarily stress free. I don't know what it was- there were last minute gifts to buy and make, mad dashes to the grocery, B had a decent-ish cold- but somehow we stayed calm and collected and found ourselves dancing around to Frosty the Snowman, smiling an awful lot, feeling grateful.
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If only for the sake of having something to visit about, here's a run down of the few gifts I made:
I think I've talked about this before. My kids ask Santa for one gift, we give them one toy, and I make them something. Between their cousins and grandparents they get plenty. Too much, really. So our three gift limit keeps things simpler for us.
For his mommy-made gift J asked again this year for warm jammies. I sewed up a quick pair of fleecey p.j. pants and bought a thermal shirt to go with it.
N asked Santa for an American Girl doll, so her mommy-made gift was a set of matching dresses. I used this pattern for her dress and I made the blouse from this pattern for the doll dress, shortened the bodice and added a skirt.
My nieces, who are also AG doll crazy, each got a little doll blouse (same pattern) and a little doll skirt (no pattern) and a pair of little doll shoes.
My good friend, Andrea, pinned these little toothpaste travel rolls, so I made her a couple.
And our sweet neighbor, who dotes on our kids and left a gift on our porch, got a last-minute batch of these nuts. (I used almonds.) They were SO good. In fact, I think I'll make some more today!
Oh, and worth mentioning. We ate this savory bread pudding on Christmas morning. Oh my lord- it is rich and delicious. Instant tradition.
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So that's it for Christmas. As soon as we enjoy two dinner parties this weekend, it's time for a fresh new year, a fresh start. Time to clean up and purge and get on with things, whatever this new year holds in store for us.
There's just something about a quilt. Especially one you've made yourself, one that you pull out of the dryer and wrap up in while it's still warm.
This is the Virtual Quilting Bee quilt, and it's completely inspired by this amazing quilt. The back is a piece of thrifted chenille. The backing dictated the size of the quilt. It's about 4 feet x 5 feet- perfect for snuggling on the couch but too small for a bed. I wanted it simple, simple, simple. It's assembled from 12 nine-patch squares (made by the quilting bee ladies) with plain white sashing all around.
I intended it for our bedroom, but I think it'll stay down here. I love it too much not to show it off. And on an entirely related note, I may have the quilting bug. I have something like this one in mind for J's room.
I'm not the only one smitten with the new quilt.
Hello, friends! I came and said I'd be here a little more, and then I up and disappeared again! Sorry. We've been hanging out at home. I had a bad cold last week (so did Brian) that sapped all of my energy. Staying upright was a feat in itself. And now poor N has the cold but is recovering more quickly than I did. It's pretty much the first time any of us have been sick since before Thanksgiving; it's been a nice, healthy winter for us.
:: knock on wood ::
I've been working on my VQB quilt. Remember that? I know- so long ago. I was short a few squares, so I made a couple more myself and assembled the top. It's all sandwiched up and ready to quilt, but my sewing machine is acting up. Again. I'll try to limp through it and get it quilted this weekend, so I can take the machine in on Monday. While I'm hand sewing the binding next week, I plan to watch Downton Abbey. All my internet buddies are raving- gotta see what the fuss is about.
So... all I'm really saying is that I'm hoping to finish a quilt in the next few days. I'll share it soon.
Happy Weekend!
I'm feeling cold and scatter-brained today:
We posted our very last entry at the Noticing Project this morning. It's been such a nice little project- I see the world around me a little differently because of it. I'm sad to see it end, but mostly feeling good and proud.
The habit reunion is over, and they've got new guests for January.
Shanna and Julia made a new desktop calendar.
The kids are back to school. The holiday break was cozy and fun, but enough togetherness is enough, if you know what I mean.
I've been thinking up a list of things I'd like to do in this new year, little and big. I might post them here if I get them organized instead of watching them swirl around in my mind. Maybe later in the week.
In order to finish up home projects I've started, I'm tackling one room at a time. I started with our bedroom. Saturday I repaired our headboard and sewed new pillow cases. Yesterday I reupholstered a little chair that's been in progress for only, oh, maybe about ten years! Next I'm framing and hanging artwork and making a little artsy throw pillow. Perhaps I'll post a short tour of each room as I go. We've done a lot of remodeling, updating, and decorating to this old house on the cheap and we're pretty proud.
January is birthday extravaganza month here at our house, so I'll show you all that too. These children are getting impossibly old. How does that happen?
Well, that's about it. Happy Monday! (Stay warm.)
This year it seems, I made fewer handmade gifts than usual. We're just being more selective and deliberate with gift giving in general. So in my opinion it's good every way I look at it.
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First the p.j. quilts for my nieces in Texas. I explained these here. These two girls still get a big kick out of my handmades, so I will of course keep making for them as long as it tickles them so.
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Next is N's mommy-made gift. This child loves to play restaurant, so I made her a little chef's hat, 4 little checkered dinner napkins, and 4 very empty laminated menus. She can write all the items on with a dry-erase marker and use them over and over. It all goes really well with her daddy-made kitchen and her purchased gift, a little wooden cash register. And just so you know, she likes to serve chicken and milk shakes.
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Last is J's gift. Last year his gift was the tough one, but this year his was a breeze. He asked for warm jammies. I whipped up a pair of flannel pajama pants and bought a long sleeve thermal t-shirt (from Target) to go with them. Done!
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I still have a little painting to finish for my dad, the poor thing. He's been begging for a painting of his beloved (deceased) rooster for over a year, and I promised him I'd do it. He's patient like that. : )
Whatcha think? I finished the coat this weekend. It still feels a little old lady-ish, but I'm embracing it because I really like it. See the little wristlet purse? My mom gave it to me for my birthday. It's covered in felted wool balls. SO cute!
You really should have seen the set up to take this shot. It involved a very precarious swivel-stool-stacked-book tripod and a set of andirons as the stand in for me to focus the auto timer. I would have spent less time actually pulling out the real tripod, but that would have been too easy. And I really need one of those remote shutter thingies.
The windchill is brutal here today, so I think I'll wear this fancy new coat to go pickup the kids from school now. : )
Have a good Wednesday.
I could kiss every single one of you. Thank you so much for your freezing suggestions. I am going to sit down this weekend and pick through recipes and websites and make a menu plan. I'm planning on Monday for my prepare-a-thon day, so maybe Tuesday I'll let you know what I made and perhaps post a nice consolidated list of recipes and resources. Thanks again!
And the coat. Ah yes. I saw this coat at the Anthropologie website (via Erin) and I have been a little obsessed with it. I'm glad I swiped the photo (which they seem to encourage these days!) because it seems to be gone already- it didn't get very good fit reviews. It is so stinkin' cute! As I do with lots of expensive clothing items, I thought, "I could probably do that."
I ran across a coat at a thrift store in St. Louis. It's a little bit swing-ish, wool from Saks, has a nice big collar, and was under $10. My sweet mother-in-law looked at me a little sideways and said, "You don't really want that, do you? It's an old lady coat!" I explained that it's a project coat. And she should just wait and see.
I looked through our stash of old wool sweaters and found some that might work for the sleeves. I also think I'll go buy some new buttons for it. It may not be exactly the same style or color, but I have high hopes.
Whatcha think? Will it be cute?!
Oh well hello there! It sure has been awhile since I visited this place. How are you?
We took a trip to St. Louis for an extended Thanksgiving vacation and soaked up plenty of family time. And the phrase "family time" here means children running amok while the adults eat, drink and laugh about things they find on various internet-phone handheld devices. (We're enjoying Lemony Snicket lately, can you tell?)
A side note: when we were leaving St. Louis, J whispered to his grandpa, "I liked waking up early and doing the crossword with you, Da." Isn't that boy a peach? It wasn't the zoo or the ice skating or the carriage ride through the lights or even running around with his teenage cousins. It was a snuggle and a crossword puzzle with one of his favorite people. Melt.
But being away for a week, even when the visit is just about perfect, makes us very thankful for home. We human animals do love that sense of place we make for ourselves, don't we? J was so happy to sleep in his own bed and N was glad to see her own toys. They have played so well together the last day and a half and everyone has been sleeping like rocks. Rocks on sleeping pills. I was so happy yesterday to drink coffee out of my favorite mug with my best creamer; it was extra delicious.
I finished these little lap quilts in a hurry to deliver in person and avoid the shipping. I was really happy with them. My nieces requested I do something with their outgrown beloved pjs. You can see the finished quilts better HERE and HERE. They were little, maybe 2 1/2 by 3 feet, but quilted crinkly on the front and soft flannel on the back. My mom gave me a helpful hint. If you want to work knit fabrics into a quilt, all you have to do is iron on a little thin interfacing to the back and the stretch/no stretch issue is solved. Thanks, Mom!
So we're already done with presents for that side of the family. Teenage boys just want a little cash in a funny card, and Brian's parents had a long list of around-the-house repairs that they wanted done. Ahhhh. The gift of a super-handy son. The gift that keeps on giving.
So now we're settled at home for the season and happy to be thinking about Christmas decorations and activities.
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p.s. I'll be back tomorrow with some cooking questions for you, so please be ready to dig through your recipe boxes for me.
I'm single-handedly trying to keep economy in the pooper. Just kidding. Sort of.
I've started making my handmade gifts. I keep hearing on NPR about how spending is up a bit and consumer confidence is rising, blah blah blah, but I don't get it. I'm certainly no economist, but isn't that how we got into this mess to begin with? All the overspending? I want my friends who have lost their jobs to find great new ones, and I'd love things to improve for my own small business. But as a simple (also cheap) girl in a very consumer world, I'm just going to keep doing my thang this holiday season and cross my fingers for the economy.
The biggest blessings are not things. No one can argue with that.
My kids get three gifts each year- one from Santa, a purchased one from us, and one Mommy-made gift. I have a great idea for N's handmade present. And J says he just wants me to make him some warm jammies. Sweetie pie. With all the toys from cousins and grandparents they always get MORE than enough.
We've started thinking about simple family activities for our advent calendar. N has requested making gingerbread men because she says "gingerbread tastes sooo good in the winter." She's right. And I want to make some more lanterns around the solstice.
On the 5th we'll go get our tree from here. We got a cedar last year, and although it's not the most traditional species, it was just fine for us. We really had fun with it last time.
It's our year to stay here at home this Christmas. I look forward to a slow and easy holiday season, full of love and good food with friends and family and enjoying simple pleasures. And I am wishing the same for you too, my friends.
Recently two things made me happy, and even though it feels sort of odd, I thought I'd toot my horn a little bit.
My car organizer tutorial is in this calendar! Thank you, Megan, for asking me. I'm tickled pink and honored to be included in this group of bloggers/contributors. There's some really great stuff in there!
Also, awhile back a band from Australia contacted me to see if they could use this photo on the cover of their new album.
I bet you can guess who else is excited about this one.
Hello, friends! We have been...
Picking berries and making gobs of jam,
Hanging around outside waiting for fireflies,
Sewing up a few little girlie summer night gowns,
Enjoying the first few raspberries from our own bushes,
And generally easing into summer.
Happy weekend!
An email came. It's almost time. Suddenly I need a berry picking skirt. A yard of pink madras transfers ownership from N to me. The windows are open in my little studio. I'm sipping (iced) raspberry green tea and and sweet little girl sing-songing drifts in through the screens.
All is well for now.
I hope you have a great weekend. Happy Mother's Day!
for a couple of really simple projects.
some fancified towels for my niece's birthday.
an easy dress from pre-shirred fabric.
ahhhh... instant gratification. how I love thee.
And here are the little crafty things we started on Friday.
I just finished the wool felt egg cozy this morning- very cute and easy**- and I want to make several more. Actually, we didn't finish the decoupaged eggs until yesterday either. (The little girls loved making these and they turned out just lovely.) As I expected, we just got too busy that day eating and drinking and making cookies to get everything done. It was such a fun afternoon!
** The cozy is not my design. My friend Adele found them in the newspaper and we worked from her little clipping; I can't find them anywhere online to give the designer credit. **
Hey there! How's your Monday morning treating you?
We did indeed get ice and snow, but not as much as they originally predicted. The temps never dropped below 32º F and everything is already nearly melted. I dare say all of the flowering and budding trees are a-ok!
What a nice weekend- I had a mural job, we had dinner with new friends, and we're dangerously close to some basement "after" photos. Oh, and there was a very melty snowman too.
I thought while I'm here, I'd show you this other quick thing. Last week I made these two little clips for N and her best friend. Ten minutes and two happy little ones.
These two little girlies. They warm my heart. They are like peas and carrots.
Yes. August is right, but this time it wasn't my fault. Poor Eren packed up and sent her first batch of fabrics and the box was swallowed up by the black hole of lost postage. Eventually she gave up the hunt and sent new fabric.
The second square is for Sarah. You can click through to Flickr to see more details if you're interested. I only have two more squares to finish up for the VQB.
It's a little dreary hear today. I hope it's sunny where you are.
for a tiny little friend of Heather's.
A Little Girlie Purse and a few finger puppets to tuck inside. They are on their way- hope she likes them! Thanks, friend.
These are the little rice packs I made for the kids for Valentine's Day- a little warm hug when I can't give it. (There's a tutorial for the rice packs here and I made the covers out of old wool sweaters and wool felt.)
I was surprised how well they went over! Someone small even woke up in the night hollering and said, "I really want my sheep warm again." Awwwwww. And awww, man! Because it's new and I'm tickled that she likes it so much, I actually stumbled down bleary eyed to the kitchen to reheat it. But just this once. No more middle-of-the-night microwave runs.
Well... maybe if they are feeling sickly, I'll make an exception. ; )
When I dropped off N at school this morning and watched her oooo and ahhhh over all the decorated bags, I instantly felt a pang of guilt for not making her teachers a Valentine. I ran home and sewed these quick little hearts for them. They are quite possibly the sweetest and most patient women on earth- they deserve a Valentine. Or Valentime. However you want to say it.
The thermometer said 4º F this morning. Yeee-ouch. That's not enough degrees. And the highs all week are in the teens with a little snow here and there. J is praying for a snow day.
The teepee is done! Go look at it! It's so cute. (I'm not posting a photo here because of my little McSneakyPants and my track record for accidentally leaving up the website and revealing surprises.) I used this pattern. I was hemming and hawing over it at book club the other night and my friend Char said to go find a pattern. Duh! It was time consuming but very easy. I CANNOT WAIT for him to see it.
Stay warm, kids. I need more hot coffee now.
at the holiday gifties.
Jen, if you want to see up close, go visit Flickr. If not- for the love of Pete- stay here.
Auction season has begun at our elementary school. I donated the tea towels + bamboo serving utensils.
My friend Wyatt asked me to put together an item for him as well. His gift is a handmade linen and cotton chef's apron + a gift box of Penzey's spices.
And as soon as she's done with her lunch, N and I are going to bake something for the bake sale tomorrow.
What shall it be? Banana bread? Brownies? Cheesy bread? Hmmmmm...
A lighter shade but I still love it.
top: a heart ornament from Heather for my N. I buy my kids an ornament every year. This one is more expensive but also infinitely more meaningful than the Target 1/2 price after Christmas sale. Plus how could I resist... my honeypie works for Habitat.
bottom: the fabric for my month of the VQB. We (myself included) seem to have lost some oomph and are a bit behind, but I am still excited about my month. I'll explain more later. : )
I am having a good day.
Meet my new Apple Picking Skirt. I always get the itch for new clothes when the seasons change, so I went digging around in my fabrics and found this old XL men's shirt I thrifted way back. It reminded me of that cute Target dress that I loved but didn't fit me right. An hour later I had myself one really comfy little elastic waist skirt. It was so easy.
Why the Apple Picking Skirt? Don't you think it would look just perfect poofed out around me on a quilt with a basket of apples nearby? If the weather is warm enough Wednesday, we may just find out.
Happy, happy Monday. : )
Sorry about that! I intended to post here early, but we went walking with my mom and got distracted by a biscuit covered in gravy, then a thrift store and an estate sale on the walk back. Surely you know how that goes. ; )
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First up, our Wild Guys:
Sweet Cindy at Skip to My Lou has been hosting a series of guests this week to raise awareness for the Read to Feed program, and she asked me to join in! We looked over one of our favorite books, Where the Wild Things Are, and then made our own Wild Guys. There's a quick step-by-step over there for these funny critters.
They were so simple and turned out pretty cute, but I'm always such a sucker for my kids' artwork. Please go have a look-see and check out all the other guest crafters.
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Up next is the give-away. Remember this artist tote? It's been waiting patiently in the shop. I was going to pull it to re-list later, but it's doing me no good hanging here looking nice in the studio. It's linen and cotton with the little bird on the front and is heavy and hangs low on the hip. The folks who have purchased them in the past have been pleased. Interested? Leave me a comment on this post (don't forget your email address), and I'll draw a name Tuesday morning. It doesn't matter where you live, I'll ship it to you. And hey! My quiet in-town friends. Yes, YOU! Leave a comment. You'll be in the running too.
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Lastly I want to say thank you to all of you, who come here and support me and laugh with me and cheer me on and inspire me and give me advice. It really is a fun place to hang out. I mean it. Thanks.
(Oh, and go wish Rachel a happy birthday, will ya?)
I mentioned the other day that my friend asked me to make her daughter something else- a dress for their upcoming trip to the East Coast and Colonial Williamsburg (or was it Plymouth Plantation?) Either way, I finished it yesterday and it it is adorable.
Made from this pattern, it was the most complicated dress I have ever sewn (and I made my own wedding dress!) I didn't line the bodice to keep it light-weight for the hot weather, so are were more exposed seams on the inside than I would normally like. Other than that, it turned out great, and she really seems to like it.
And the icing on the cake? In a few years after she has outgrown it, little N will probably get to wear it too.
Happy Monday. J and I are going to make some lemon bars now! Shall I save you one?
well... not exactly starving. But isn't that how the saying goes?
I am finding just a little studio time these days. Dearest Emily ordered a custom artist apron, so in my eyes that justifies pulling this one out of the shop to keep for myself. A new apron makes me happy. **smile**
I wanted to remind you that there are still a few items in my Shop Mayfly and also that the Noticing Project Shop is still quietly waiting. We've been thinking up ideas for something new over there. Hopefully more on that soon.
Is your week going well?
xo.
April: Amanda Jean
May: Courtney
I'm really having fun with the Virtual Quilting Bee, even though last month I got a smidge behind. I'm excited to see some of the quilts come together. And I've started thinking about my own quilt, but I'm not until November. I think.
Am I November, Jen? That's a long wait.
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 1" to the height and 2" to the width of the top pocket and 1.5" to the height and 2" to the width of the bottom pocket for hemming. The three pieces I cut were: base- 28" x 19", top pocket- 8 " x 20", bottom pocket- 10.5" 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Some of my non-blogging friends just don't understand. They say, "Uh, geez, you sure have put a lot of work into your blog." And when they do, I am secretly proud. It is work, especially keeping up with all of my friends' blogs. And that's just what I consider you guys. Friends. So in celebration I'll tell you 100 things I like about blogging.
Just kidding. How about 5?
•Inspiration
The beautiful things my fellow bloggers create take my breath away. Knitted things, sewn things, painted and drawn things. Photographs. Your homes. Your families. Wow. I was in a bit of a creative slump, but through your creativity, I am rediscovering my own. Thank you.
•Motivation
I'm prouder than ever of my creative skills. I haven't sewn this much in ages. There's a little pressure to put new things up on the site, and I like that. Instead of watching worthless TV in the evenings, I spend much more time being creative.
And when I'm immersed in such beautiful things, places, and people, it really makes me want to live a more artful life. When I set the table, plan a meal, take the kids on outings, make something new, arrange a room, I try to stand back and think, "If I took a picture right now, would this be blog worthy?" It sounds a little frivolous, but I'm hoping it is something that will make a difference in our lives.
•Community
This crafting community is just amazing. I feel like I have made friends with a lot of you. It's like having pen pals with similar interests all over the world. We get to visit each day and we don't have to wait by the mailbox for weeks. Through blogging I have become closer with old friends and made tons of new friends. And swaps are just incredible- oh, the generosity out there!
•Intellectual stimulation
I'm a work from home mom. I miss co-workers. You all have become my co-workers. Saying things to Brian like, "My blogging friend so and so, just did such and such" used to get me some funny looks, but now he gets it. I know I may not be as eloquent as some, but having the task of writing a little everyday is good for me. I want my posts to be interesting, or at least not too boring, and you can only say "lovely" so many times in one post!
•Record keeping
I don't know how long I'll be blogging, and although I really enjoy it now, I know there will come a day when it becomes a chore. So until then this blog is a nice record of my family's days. Already, when I look back at the early posts, N looks so tiny- and bald.
So now, the give-away. I'm hoping I have enough readers to pull this off, but last night I made this craft apron. It was inspired by Courtney's craft apron, which is marvelous. I made my version a little longer around, not knowing who it will need to fit. It's thick and has pockets, and I prewashed everything together so hopefully it's done all the bleeding it needs to do. What? You're not the crafty type? Use it for a work apron, a gardening apron, or for cooking. All you need to do is leave a comment and include your email address in the appropriate field. I'll draw a name in a week or so and it will be yours. It doesn't matter if you live across the planet or a few blocks away. Please enter!
It's my way of saying: THANK YOU!!
And I do.
I really wanted to play the back-tack game this time around, but I was silly and lazy and missed the sign up. So Tracy agreed to do the swap with me anyway. We decided we'd follow the same rules and stick with the same time frame. The best thing about missing the sign up is we could break the rules a bit and be tardy. Absolutely no pressure. Ahhhhh.
So, here's Tucker. He's got a t for Tracy, but all along I kept thinking of him as a boy, hence the name Tucker. He's made from Jenny's scotty dog pattern, as I'm no expert softie maker and don't know how to design the softies on my own very well. Thank you, Jenny! I really like his clean lines and simplicity. I broke the rules by adding more than one accent color on his Posie-esque collar and he only has four buttons. Gasp! But I think he's pretty cute and was fun to make. Click here to see him lookin' all cool sunning himself in California.
Of course I had to make something for Tracy's little bugs. So I stitched up some quick little bags with ribbon handles. I know, white isn't the best choice for two young girls, but they're completely washable. I tucked a couple of pocket book appropriate candies in them. Oh, and I sent Tracy some licorice hard candy that I found at the dollar store. I think licorice is a hit-or-miss sort of candy, either you love it or hate it, so hopefully someone out there will like it. (I love it.) I couldn't resist the black and white package; it went so well with Tucker. I've said it before, you've GOT to coordinate.
Two of the lesser known Ingalls sisters. (My niece and N.)
OK. Actually? Do.
Here is my submission to May's Tie One On challenge, a Smock to Wear Out. The rules: something stylish enough to wear out of the house, open in the back or on the sides so it can be considered a smock. My goals: cute enough that I actually would wear out and not look like baby number three's on the way. Which is not. I'm very done having babies.
I was inspired by this pink number, which I found through Red Current. (I'm clueless about the Japanese site.) The gathers on it are so great, but it's approaching maternity wear, especially at that length. I looked for a shorter blouse pattern that I could alter, leaving the back open. I settled on Simplicity #4123. I added the muted freezer paper leaves for a little extra something, and the vintage button was my great grandmother's.
Walking around last night in my best runway fashion, I asked Brian, "Am I cute or what?" and he made a funny ppffbbt noise. Hmmm... I just hope he doesn't hate it, cause I really am going to wear it out.
I know, I know. It is a day late- again, but hopefully she'll let me play anyway. She's nice like that! There are a couple more photos on Flickr.
P.S. Thank you for visiting my blog! Please leave a comment if you have time- It makes my day!
I'm in a groove. I stitched up this bag for my friend Kelley. The denim is from a shirt Brian tossed into the Goodwill bag, which I snatched out. The yellow is left over from this and this.
When I was about three, we moved to our new house, the house my parents still live in and from which we now live about two blocks. Kelley lived up the street. My earliest memory of her is her brother pulling her down the street in a red wagon. We went to school together from day one and remained friends the whole time. Sometimes close and sometimes not so close, but never once did I not consider her a friend. One year, her parents decided they were going to relocate to Florida. So, in innocent kid fashion, I gave her a Christmas ornament with my picture in it. Then they decided to stay. Years later, she still kids me that her brother and sister would squawk every year when someone pulled out that ornament. "Oh, come on! Do we really need a picture of Alicia on our tree?!" If I remember right, this is the picture. 
Yikes! I don't blame them! (OK, but look at the picture: take off the long blond hair and who do you see? This little boy?)
Anyway, Kelley ended up getting married and had two great sons. Time has passed, and she is now divorced and remarried to a great guy named Eric. Since her divorce Kelley has been going to college and just graduated with her Bachelor's degree. So she took an unconventional route, but she's come a long way. Way to go, sister! We are all proud of you.
In other sewing adventures...
I made this little travel bag for Patty, who gracefully runs J's school. I LOVE his preschool and tomorrow is his last day. The teachers are the most patient and loving women I have ever met. Seeing them handle the rough situations amazes me. J is fine. Mommy is having a bit of trouble saying goodbye.
Oh, and see my little temporary tags? I tried using my mom's sewing machine to stitch Mayfly on twill tape, but it didn't work very well. I ordered some woven ones from here. I'll let you know how they end up.
Could one entry ramble more or cover more subjects?! I think not.
Thank you, dear Jamilyn, for the cute little pad of paper that says "Compost happens."
You are so thoughtful. Do you know me or what?!
Thank you, Mother Nature, for making peonies smell so sweet, even if your little pollinator friends follow them into the house.
I'm trying my best to do right by you.
Thank you, Mom, for teaching me so much about parenting.
Really, you are the best.
Thank you, J and N, for making me a mom so I can try it all out.
Thank you, J, for doing so well at your baseball and soccer games on Saturday.
May this be the only weekend for awhile that two sport seasons overlap. Too busy.
Thank you, Brian, for taking two days to prepare and smoke the ribs for our Mother's Day Feast.
Yum. It really was a feast.
Thank you, Peggy and Terri, for being the two best preschool teachers ever.
You have made J's introduction to the world of formal education joyous and not so formal. Enjoy the little bags.
Thank you, Blair, for the instructions for the fabric flower pins.
So fast and easy, and the perfect finishing touch for the bags.
Thank you, bloggers and blog readers, for providing me with much-needed creative inspiration and encouragement.
You have taught me how different and yet alike we all are. Wonderful.
Thank YOU for bearing with me through all these thank you's...
Jennifer just emailed some pictures of my niece modeling and I couldn't resist.
It was too hard to pick the cutest one- I included them all!
I am thinking that since Beki had that baby yesterday, and I'm just today sending her gift, that she might be a little bit busy with important stuff like kissing and cuddling and nursing and gazing and probably won't cruise around online and see this sneak peak. Beki, if you're camped out in bed with a nursing baby and a laptop, STOP READING PLEASE!
I made her a little something that I saw in this book from the library. Most of the stuff in there is a little over the top for me, with all the silk and fancy embroidery and beading, but my simplified version of their little flower bowl with a pincushion in the middle turned out very cute.
I know it's a gift and I made it just for my new, sweet internet friend, but I had a really hard time wrapping it up to mail away. I think I might need one.
And then there's a little something for baby Ava, a little fabric covered sketch book for Lily, and a store bought bubble do-hickey for Alex. I feel bad for the daddies. Don't they always get left out?
Click on these pictures to see more shots on Flickr. Also, notice my new labels. They are simple office supply labels for the little things I make and for gift tags. I set it up so that I could tape them 4 at a time to a sheet of paper to run through the printer. Works like a charm!
Laura tagged me for a Ten Simple Pleasures meme so I'll try to get that up later, but I have Sexercise class tonight! Hee hee- it isn't really called that, I just like it. My friend Tobi started Makin' the Moves, a striptease workout class, and it is going to be featured on the news. She emailed to see if I wanted to attend tonight, partly so some of her regulars wouldn't feel pressured to be strippin' on TV and also just because it is so darn fun. I was in her "guinea pig" class. It was great. So if you don't hear from me tonight, it is because I'm off learning to get my sexy groove on!
This is my yellow and white apron for April's Tie One On challenge. It's a day late. And aren't we always more than a dollar short?
It's my very first apron! (to own, not to make.) My kitchen is green and yellow, so the theme was perfect. "You've got to coordinate." My goal was to make something simple, clean and functional (boring?) and something I would really wear. I might shorten the ties a bit, so I can just tie it with a knot instead of bows. I'm not too into bows. The white fabric is from an old sheet, and the yellow was a gift from Tasha. All in all, I'm quite pleased.
Next months theme is a good one; I've already got an idea. Maybe I can finish during May this time!
About 7 years ago (I think), I was working downtown at a little company that handles artwork- crating, shipping, framing, storage- that sort of thing. We were hiring an office assistant and we had two candidates. One was a young lady, a former nanny, who had recently returned to the Midwest from the East coast. The other was Stephanie. My boss and I held multiple interviews with these two women and discussed them. Now, Stephanie will tell you I didn't like her, but I did. She was a little shy, an artist with museum experience, and she had this great voice. It was a bit high pitched with an ever-so-slight twinge of a southern accent now and then. But she seemed a little spacey. I was feeling really swamped at the time with my work load, and I needed someone who was on the ball to help me out, so I actually voted for the other girl. Gasp! What if we would have given her the job?! I'm so sorry, Foff. What was I thinking?!
In the seven years since I met Stephanie (lovingly named Foffie by the children in her life) she has become one of my best friends in the world. She is smart, sweet, incredibly creative, caring and so much fun. And yes, she's a little spacey- she's just herself. She's one of my true soul mates. Not the romantic kind of soul mate, but the I-would-lay-down-on-the-tracks-to-block-the-train-for-you kind. I can't imagine not having her in my life.
She lives in Columbia, MO now, and she came to visit this weekend and it was so good to see her. J ADORES her. "Foffie this, Foffie that...when is Foffie coming back? " Here's Foffie modeling the apron I made her:
The fabric is very funny. I have had it for years and it has always been intended for her. An apron seemed so appropriate for the theme; it says "How to Get a Husband" and has all these antiquated man-catching tips on it including: show him you adore children, don't scold him if he takes a drink, cook special dishes for him, etc.
Two of my favorites:
You see, Stephanie seems to always be hunting for a man. She's had several long term boyfriends during our years together, but she's still not found The One. Melanie, my other good friend who has also come to love Foffie, and I were teasing her about it Friday night. The truth is I don't ever want her to settle for less than The One. The Best One. And I'm confident she'll find him. And if she doesn't, so be it. Then she won't need him. It would mean one less person to share her with anyway! Wink!
Here is the ensemble, including the cookbook. Click on the images to see them bigger. They'll be making their way to TX now to my little niece who's turning two.
Miss M. has kindly agreed to model when she gets them. I thought about asking one of my little models to do it, but he was sleeping on the job.
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