Sweet Taters

Little Men

2012-02-10T11:21:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd put up a picture of the little men I made for the boys for Christmas this year. I used the Eddie pattern from Wee Wonderfuls: 24 Dolls to Sew and Love by Hillary Lang. I used some old onesies from when the boys were younger to make the little shirts, and the pants are made from some cord fabric I've had around for a while now. They were tickled with them, as was I.

Pin Cushion

2012-01-25T11:06:00.000-08:00

I made this dress form pin cushion for my mother for Christmas, using a pattern from the DIY Dish. If you haven't tried out their patterns and ideas, you really need to check them out. I also used another of their ideas for the kids, but I still haven't taken pics of them... Have to do that this afternoon, I guess. :)

Done and Done

2012-01-16T09:09:00.000-08:00

Okay, so a while back, I posted a work in progress. Well, I finally finished it a while back, so I wanted to get it up on the blog so you could see it. I was pretty pleased with how it turned out. If I make another, I will tighten up the bodice just a hair (it's a tad loose), and I will make the straps a bit thinner...I think they are a tad too thick. But all in all, not bad for a first sweater. :) And, though it's been done for a few months now, I just got the boots this past weekend so I could actually wear it. :)

P.S. Ignore the laundry waiting to be folded on the couch. Oops. :)

Old Fashioned Skills...

2012-01-12T13:49:00.000-08:00

Okay, so a friend of mine has this post on her blog, about having skills that some people consider to be "old fahioned." And, of course, it made me want to list my own set of skills, to see what all I have accomplished through the years...

Let's see. I can:
*crochet (mostly self-taught, though my two friends Amy and Anya got me started. THANKS!)
*Knit (self taught, though this is a new skill and I still need some practice...)
*hand quilt (also self-taught)
*crosstitch (also self-taught)
*embroidery (Thanks Maw-maw!)
*sew (with and without a machine...taught me by my mother)
*bake from scratch (thanks Mom!)
*Make my own butter...Note: My brother got me a German butter mold for Christmas. I soooo can't wait to put it to use!!! I could do the whole yogurt, cream cheese stuff, but frankly, not a big fan of either. Oh well. I do make homemade ice cream, though. And just recently homemade slushes/Icees.)
*garden (Thanks Dad and Mom!)
*Can fruits and jams (usually pressure can, but I can water bath can, as well.)
*Make homeade jams and jellies.
*Make homemade from scratch candy...esp. marshmallows. I LOVE homemade marshmallowes!
*grow my own herbs (though the horrible drought this year kind of killed a bunch of mine. Sigh. I do not dry them, though. Tried once, and the potent smell of drying basil just about kicked my husband out of the house with headaches. Oh, well.)
*Camp - and by that, I mean the stuff that goes with it, like setting up a tent, or finding an appropriate stick for roasting marshmallows, sharpening said sick wih pocket knife, making a proper campfire...etc.)
*And though I have not ever made it on my own, I have helped make homemade sausage with my dad.
*Have not raised them on my own, but have a general understanding of raising hogs and goats from my childhood.
*I can put down tile. :) I'm good with grout.
*Write - I know this isn't necessarily an OLD FASHIONED skill, except that I believe it is quickly becoming so as people turn to texts and emails (guilty here) so often that we forget HOW to write, be it a letter, a poem, a story, whatever...

Skills I am looking to learn:
*making soap and other sorts of cosmetics. I want to make lip balm SOOOO bad. Is that weird? :)

Wow, Amy! You're right. Makes you feel right pleased with what you can do when you write it all out, doesn't it? :) Also realized how in sync we seem to be, Amy! Okay, girl, let's start that soap, huh? :)

Fall Pics...a good deal late...

2012-01-12T13:17:00.000-08:00

So, life happens, and I apologize for the fact that I can't keep up with my posts of late. I will try and do better in the future. Consider that a new year's resolution of mine, I guess. :) But anyway, here are pics from our Fall Festival at church (we were supposed to dress up old fashioned, so I made Little Bit and me a patchwork skirt and head scarf from a pattern in Sandi Henderson's Sewing Bits and Pieces.)

The other pics are from Halloween. I didn't make Little Bit's cotume. Rather it was my witch costume my mother made me when I was a little girl. I did get her the cool striped tights and a new hat, as my old hat had long since succombed to moth food. And I painted her face with Ben Nye's Lumiere Palette ...left over from my stash of stage makeup from way back when. (And it is, by far, the most AWESOME stuff to paint faces for Halloween. Once you've tried real stage makeup, the stuff they carry at the costume stores just won't do it for you any more...) I also have the plain color one, too. Not that I love Halloween or anything... :)

I did, however, make the boys' costumes. I painted glow in the dark spider webs on black sweats, and crocheted little spider web/spider hats, and little spider amigurumi to go on their clothes. They, too, had to have their faces painted. Of course.

All in all, it was a very lovely, fun Halloween! I will try and not wait until January to post next year's pics!

I'm Not Stupid...

2012-01-12T08:34:00.001-08:00

Really, I'm not. I took several computer classes in college, and I passed with flying colors...in fact, was that student who finishes before everyone else and winds up having to help everyone else get finished.

So...

What's the deal with my new phone?

:)

Okay, so I got this new phone. Let's call him Al. (Do not try and follow my brain's process to try and figure out how I know that my phone is a boy, or why his name is Al. It will probably only give you a headache...) But while Al is a smartphone, just like his predessessor, runs on the same workings...software...programs...whatever, I just can't figure him out. So, what's the problem? Why can't I figure him out? Why do I get so frustrated trying to do or find what I need?

And there are a couple reasons for that.

First of all, I HATE change. I liked my old phone. Unfortunately, I dropped it, as I'm kind of like a human wrecking ball for mechanical things. I once got someone's tv stuck in French just trying to use the reomote... But I digress.

Really, I should have gotten another one just like it, (or at least the upgraded one like it...they don't make my old one any more) but the salesperson (and my husband, though he completely denies that he swayed my opinion in any way) convinced me this one was better since it was 4G (Yeah, we don't even have 4G here, yet...hopefully by March, though), and it had a lot more storage for music and stuff (okay, that was the deciding factor. I can use my phone like an ipod. Coolness!) And so I thought...well, it looks pretty similar, and it seems to work pretty much the same.

Wrong.

You cannot tell anything about how a phone works in the three minutes you have of pushing buttons to try it out. Because you aren't surfing the net. You aren't texting anyone. You aren't calling anyone. You're just playing with buttons.

And so I get it home...and it doesn't have SWYPE. WHAT?! This is a big problem for me, who types like the dickens. Really, I type fast, and having to slow down to push the tiny little screen buttons one at a time drives me insane. SWYPE does, at least, hurry that along somewhat. I have since found out I can download this, but again, another process, as you can't just go to the app store and get it. It's complicated, for some reason I don't understand.

(Also pretty annoyed that all the programs are different, the apps mostly different, everything in a different place...did I mention I don't like change???)

But the whole SWYPE annoyance brings me to another point.

I'm kinda' lazy in the whole technology scene, and my husband is partly to blame for that. Because he's like an electronical whiz, both in installing and in using it. Really, I think the man can do anything (though he would tell me he couldn't. He's a little modest, which is a good thing, I suppose. LOL). And so, it's just SOOOO much easier to go "Hey, Hun, will you put my music on my phone? I don't know how." Because then someone does it for me, and I can go back to my sewing, or baking, or chasing four year olds around the house. Whatever. Anything but electronical stuff.

Because that is point three.

It doesn't interset me. Sure, I know I'm CAPABLE of learning stuff on the computer. After all, hubby has shown me a thing or two I actually remember (and a heck of a lot of stuff that went in one ear and out the other...). But I don't really WANT to. I'd rather just hand it to him and go ho hum about my way.

And so I stare at Al and wonder if we will ever get along, my phone and I. I've figured out a few things, like how to put instant dial icons on my homepage...which is NOT done like my old phone at all! I also can take pictures and video, and I have sorta' figured out facebook...except why I am not getting alerts as to when I have a facebook message, though I liked the way my old phone did facebook better and have no idea how to get back to that, or if that's even possible. (And my husband doesn't really know how to help me with that one, as he doesn't use facebook, so he doesn't really remember how it was set up.) The voice recognition isn't very good with my accent, but this phone seems to be a hair better than my old one. But just a hair. It still corrects a lot of stuff the wrong way. (See, even my voice is not set to work with technology...) And it is faster. I'll give it that. And I will really like having my music on there...when I get it on there. :)

And of course, there is the case. It's called an Otter Box. And it's supposed to protect my phone from such catastrophies as caused by human wrecking balls such as myself. :) Of course, it makes the phone quite large and look like something Taylor and his men would use in Terra Nova. (Very military looking.)

Shrug. Oh, well. When it's all said and done, it IS just a phone, right? And I'll eventually get it figured out...hopefully before it's time for a new phone...

Christmas Cards

2011-12-02T21:32:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it's that time of year again, and I have to admit it. I get pretty cranky about this card thing...and it's not the sending them. I love to send cards. It's the getting... Sigh. Now, I know you do not send cards to get them or give gifts to get them or the like, and I don't. BUT...it's quite disheartening when you send out, say...50 cards and get back, say...12. I've had years like that. Really, what is wrong with people that they don't send cards any more? I just don't get it. It's so Christmasy, neighborly, friendly, and just well, a tradition.

Now, I don't expect cards back from EVERYONE. Obviously someone old or sick or going through some hard times, I would never in a million years think to expect one back...only, oddly enough, those are usually the people that send them back. It's the ones who have no real excuse other than they just don't want to that really irritate me.

And it's not just the not getting it back. It's the not appreciating them. For instance, I have a friend who I've sent Christmas cards to since...well, I'd say since I've been married, but quite honestly, I did give cards and gifts even in high school to this person. And to this day, I don't think I have EVER received a card back. AND, (here's the deal breaker for me...) no acknowledgement of "thanks for the card" or even better, "I loved the pics of the kids!" Groan. It's just annoying. Don't people have manners any more? I mean, I don't expect a fanfare or a big reward, or even a card, really. A "thank you" or a "I really appreciated the thought" would be nice, though. Something to let me know that my effort even mattered.

Otherwise, why do I bother? Why send out a bunch of personalized cards with my kids' pictures on them and pay out a whole bunch of shipping just to make myself happy?

I guess I sound like a Scrooge, and I'm not, really. Every year I swear I'm not going to send out to who didn't send me one last year, but usually I give in, feeling guilty and send them one anyway. But this year, I may have to just cut a few off. I don't really have the extra money to spend on someone who will likely just throw my thought into the trash can, anyway. I'd rather worry about all my aunts and uncles and cousins who live so far away and who go on and and on to my mother about how glad they were to get the pics of the kids, as they don't get to see them much. For them, I will fork out the money for the cards and the postage with a happy smile, regardless of the card I do or do not get in return. Because I made them smile, and that's what it's supposed to be about, isn't it?

But now presents and what THAT has turned into...oh, that's a whole 'nother post. :)

Knit and Purl

2011-11-16T08:11:00.000-08:00

I can KNIT!!! Okay, so I've JUST learned and certainly need lots of practice (esp. with finding the most comfortable way to hold the needles), and I won't be starting any cable or fair isle sweaters any time soon, but come on! I CAN KNIT! And I UNDERSTAND it. Even how to do cable. I haven't TRIED, yet, but I totally get how it's done. It MAKES SENSE. I just can't explain how wonderful it is to have finally figured out something that at one time seemed so foreign and HARD.

And I taught myself. :) But I really didn't have any choice. No one I know (nearby...miss you, Anya) knows how to knit. And though I did know crochet, the two are certainly very different. But I used the Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting and Crocheting... (Yeah, I know...real self-esteem booster, that title!), and I must say that the instructions were pretty straightforward and easy to follow...except purling. I just couldn't grasp that with the way they were explaining it. I knew I was doing something wrong, so I had to go to good ole' youtube to figure that out and SEE someone do it. Turns out I was holding the yarn (as in, the part coming straight from the ball) on the wrong side, so my yarn overs were going the wrong way. Easy fix. :) But you can't ask a book questions or press play to see someone do it. So, a good mix, the book and the video.

Anyway, here's what my first attempt looks like.

Yep. I know it's not perfect, but I KNOW what I did wrong. :) First off, I dropped a stitch in the first or second row. Still trying to figure out how to hold the needles and all... And then you will see some "mess ups" further up, which I know what I did but have hard time explaining. Basically, I set down the whole thing last night to go to bed, picked it up this morning and had a brain lapse of "how the heck do I do this again???" Anyway, I think I've got it now.

So, my first project will actually be a felted rolled pencil case. The stitches are straight-forward and simple. (No increasing or decreasing, yet...unless you count the leaf...) And as it's FELTED afterwards, I figured it would help hide a lot of mistakes caused by yarn tension and the like. Though hopefully there will not be a lot of mistakes. :) We'll see.

Look Who I Found in the Apple Bowl

2011-11-12T20:51:00.000-08:00

She's a sweet little fairy, whom I found hiding out in my apple bowl in the kitchen. I guess even fairies love apples. :)

She's actually a Christmas present for my daughter, who loves fairies. What little girl DOESN'T?? :) But I thought she was adorable and just had to make her. She even has tiny little green wings!! (And my apologies if you can see the glue where I adhered the bow...it hasn't dried, yet, but I couldn't wait to take her picture.)

Hopefully, more pics to come soon of several other projects. Sorry I've been gone for so long...but it's that time of year, where sickness stalks my daughter home from school...or my boys from shopping carts...sigh... I hate being sick. And I hate it worse when my babies are sick. And one of the boys came down with a fever AGAIN today. Not sure if this is something new or a relapse, but as my husband is suffering from a sore throat and a general lousy feeling, looking like somethng new. sigh. Hopefully, it will be short-lived, and we'll all be okay in time for Thanksgiving. I was sick last year with a sinus infection. Fun stuff.

Hope everyone had a lovely Halloween...I need to post pics of my boys' costumes that I made...okay, put that, too, on my ever-growing to do list as the holidays approach at a mad run! :)

Full Hands

2011-10-17T21:29:00.000-07:00

So, I took all three kids to the post office by myself today. Now, I know that people everywhere take lots of kids with them to various locations, and please don't for one moment think that I don't take my kids with me when I go somewhere, or that I think three is some rediculously large number. Of course not. Only know that my kids are EXCEPTIONALLY energetic and playful. :) They are NEVER the kids sitting quietly in the stroller or happily holding mommy's hand as we stroll through a store. Nope. I have the ones who giggle, then break into screaming laughter. The ones who pull things down off all the shelves...or try to. The ones who are EVER loud and rambunctious. Bad? No. Misbehaving? Not usually. Rowdy? Often. :) And they, of course, just feed off the other's excitement when they're together. So, all that to say that we were loud and noticeable (albeit well-behaved) today when we walked up to the counter to mail my packages.

I should also point out that my boys are twins...and toddlers. And identical. So, EVERYONE notices them. I have long noticed that twins have this way of drawing attention everywhere you go, so that perfect strangers think they should just come right up to you and divulge their life story if they, themselves are twins, have twins, are related to twins, know twins, or have ever even met a twin. It's like the "twin club" you automatically get put into whether you intend it or no. And while most of the time, people are nice as pie, and I have never minded the attention, sometimes you can get quite the insulting confrontations. Really? Someone wants to argue with me, their MOTHER, that they're not identical because one of the boys' hair looked darker? (He was sitting in the shade...). Really? If you have nothing better to contribute to the coversation, just smile at the cute twins and keep walking. Though I am always polite and just try to ignore them. Not worth the arguement.

But anyway, post office...

So, we went in, and, of course, all three kids want to be held up to see, so while I'm telling the man (who also is a twin and has a set of twin sisters...see, told you. Twin club.), I have to take turns holding them up to see over the counter. So, then the lady behind me, comments. "Are those twins?"

I smile and say yes.

Then I get the inevitable comment. "Bless you're heart!" Apparently, I am in need of much blessing, as I hear that a LOT. Of course, I'll take all the blessings the Good Lord wants to bestow. :)

I again, just smile. What do you say?

Then the kids are done standing at my side (can't hold their hands while I'm paying), so they are chasing sister over to the side to investigate the door and other things post office-y. And they all seem amazed that I dared bring them all. (Though not offended, at least. I cannot stand to be near people who do not like children. Do they forget they, themselves, were once one as well???)

And then comes the other inevitable comment. The one I hear the most often.
"Boy, you've got your hands full!" I've heard that one so many times, I should really just wear it on a t-shirt and save people the trouble. LOL (Though I am curious to know how people must react to a family of five or six??? I only have three, after all, twins or not.)

So, I just smile and mention it's naptime. Because, it is, and we all had a late night the day before, and my kids get more excited the more tired they are. Odd how kids do that.

They laugh and say "Yours, right?" Meaning my naptime. Again, I laugh and smile, because quite frankly, I could use one, even if it had nothing to do with the kids today.

Seriously, though, the trip was basically uneventful and calm, a quick trip to do an errand. And yet, people, friendly though they may be, act as though I should get an award for daring to bring all three with me alone.

And it brought to mind a Bible passage...

Psalm 127: 4-5
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them...

And it's so true. Children are gifts straight from God. Not accidents or mistakes, nevermind how they got here. And while most people do show their like for children, I am constantly amazed at how many people think three a lot.

Sure, kids are a lot of work, a lot of trouble, take a lot of energy, a lot of money, change your life totally and completely, turn your schedule upside down and rearrange a lot if not all of your plans on many occasions, and yeah, twins are more work than having a singleton. Duh. You just had TWO kids, not one. Obviously, there will be more work included, and esp. if you have another kid already. But kids are also the most fun you will ever have, the most rewarding experience you will ever have, and the most love and enjoyment you will find on this earth. And each new child is more hugs, more kisses, more fun, more joy, more love! (and, yes, more noise. LOL But happy noise is good noise.)

And so yes, my hands are very full. And happy is the woman whose hands are full. :)

In the Quiet...

2011-10-07T22:30:00.000-07:00

I love the house when it's all quiet at night...which is actually quite odd for me, when I am a hands down lover of background noise (the TV or radio is almost always on during the day, even if no one is watching/listening). But there's something about nighttime, when everyone else is in bed, sound asleep, and I'm the only one up in this darkened, quiet house. Sometimes I sew, sometimes I cook (bake), sometimes I read, sometimes I crochet, often I pray. It's a very good time to talk to God, with no distractions. Actually, I was thinking the other day of my "prayer closet" (theoretically, of course...I don't have an ACTUAL closet) because we were discussing ours at a WMU meeting a while back. (That's Women's Missions, by the way, if you were wondering.) The ladies (and the article we were discussing) talked about their "prayer closets" or for those of you unfamiliar with the term, their special place to pray, to talk to God. And honestly, I talk to him a good bit when I'm up sewing at night. Or in my bed as I lie there long after my husband has gone sound asleep. What do I talk about? Anything. Everything. Nothing. Depends on the night. I ask for forgiveness. I ask for help. I ask him to help me be a better mother, to not let little things bother me. I ask to not get so irritated sometimes at silly things. I never ask for patience, because patience is learned by trials, and who wants more of those? I talk to God about things. About what I what, what I think, what I have to do. I pray for my children, for my husband, and for our family's safety. I try to always ask his will, though, when I ask for things, for I know He knows far better what I need than I do. I do know that, and I do trust Him. No one loves me or knows me better. I also know that. And I always tell him I love Him. Because I do. I try to listen, too, to what He wants me to do, but I'm not always as good with the listening part...something I need to work on.

But thinking on this, I must say, I guess I don't really have a special PLACE to pray, though certainly my bed and my sewing room get more formal prayer than most other places. I talk to God off and on throughout my day. I pray for little things. "Please, God, let my child win the game!" (Isn't it wonderful when they beat us at a game without our having to cheat to make it happen? :) ) I pray for practical things. "Please God let it rain." I pray when I'm afraid. "Please God let me kill this spider on the first throw!" And I thank Him. I thank Him for such wonderful children I love. I thank Him for this loving, comforting family and our safe, happy home, when so many in far away countries do not even have a roof over their head, whose countries stay in unrest... I thank Him for little things, like my pumpkin plants not dying, yet. (And yes, I thanked Him for us being able to kill the HUGE spider before it could hide under my dryer and make it impossible for me to wash clothes in there again...) And I thank Him for big things, "Thank you, God, for healing my precious boy and taking away his fever!" or "Thank you, God, for giving me MS, instead of something so very much worse!" I've prayed that a lot. And I mean every word of it. From the beginning, I just kept thinking, relieved, of all the things it wasn't, of all the things God had saved me from. Though don't for one moment think this is any reflection of me. That peace was from God alone. I'm not that good, not that calm, or together. He was there, guiding me, helping me, from day one. And, of course, I've had some ups and downs, though He was with me, helping me through each and every one. And I couldn't have managed without Him, my God, my Savior, my Heavenly Father, my Friend. I honestly don't know how anyone does, even without chronic diseases.

All this to say...I like the quiet, the calm, the peaceful, and we should all take time and remember these words.

"Be still and know that I am God."

Because He is. God. Creator of everything. And even though He is the all powerful, all knowing, MIGHTY God He is, still, He loves me and hears my tiny voice. For I am His.

Praise God for that!

Hidden Treasures

2011-10-07T22:16:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post this link and let everyone know about a blog just started called Hidden Treasures, where they will be auctioning off handmade items to help pay for the adoption of a boy with Down Syndrome from overseas. He is in an orphanage where he has not been treated well and is malnurished. If you want more information, you can find it here... Hidden Treasures. If you do not wish to bid on any items, you can still make a monitary donation towards the adoption of this sweet child. If you cannot do that, you can certainly pray for this child, the orphanage where he currently resides, and the precious family trying to bring him home.

I'm Not a Short Order Cook...I'm a MAMA!

2011-09-20T12:20:00.001-07:00

I have picky eaters. Let's just get that out and said. In fact, we have two particularly picky four year olds...which is interesting to me, as they ate almost EVERYTHING when they were babies.

But now...well, they do not eat vegetables. At least, not unless they are french fried or pureed. Odd, I know, the pureed part, but I think it's a texture thing. Or a particularly stubborn, "Hey, don't change what I'm used to," thing. Not really sure. (Though I cannot stand the texture of pears, so I can totally understand that one...)

And so mealtime has been the constant source of an endless stream of frustration and headaches on my end, crying and frustration on their end.

"Come on, take a bite!!! Just one???"

While Heckyl can usually be conjoled into a bite or two, Jeckyl is another story altogether. He would hold an offensive bite in his mouth for a whole evening if you let him. And I don't. I can't stand it. I'm NOT going to do that to him or me, either one. I can't see as it would actually help anything. It certainly wouldn't make him more apt to try another bite, for that I am certain. I know him. I've met him. He is the stubbornest creature I've ever met...and that's saying a lot, as we're all pretty stubborn in this family.

But I've looked up lots of ideas on picky eaters...and am pretty appalled at what I've found.

Soooo many sites suggest just offering the kid the food, then not feeding them again until they eat it. "No kid will starve themself." But seriously??? I have to ask myself. Has it come to that? Really, starve your child until they bend to your will?? Really?

Now, I could see if we lived in an environment where we could not afford other foods or where things just plain weren't available. But in my home, that is not the case. Is it really such a big deal to give a kid a peanut butter and jelly (all fruit spread) sandwich when we have chili? When I was a kid, I didn't eat chili either. Especially when they eat it all, rather than cry and scream and wail over ONE bite of the chili??? Is that really better?

Offer it, sure. Make it available, sure. FORCE them to eat it, rather than starve??? I think not. Because I know how stubborn my child is, how stubborn his uncle and grandfather are, and I guarantee you that all three of them would go to bed hungry, tummy rumbling before they would eat something they hated. (Can't say I feel much different myself.) I know. My father actually did that a lot when he was younger, because he refused to eat certain things. And it NEVER made him want them. These parents who make their kids sit there, but who (the kids, that is) finally relent and eat it so they can have that cookie aren't REALLY picky kids. They're just being difficult. Or maybe they're mildly picky. I have the other extreme. There is no force on earth, save actual starvation, that would force my boys to eat a meal they didn't like.

And so I am done. Done with the arguing and the pleading and the bargaining and the forcing. There's no point. It does no good for anyone, doesn't solve anything and just makes us all fairly miserable at a time that should be a fun together family time. And so, I have decided that it doesn't hurt if my boys like pureed peas or squash. They feed themselves, eat it like applesauce. But they're still getting the NUTRITION. And then they can eat their grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly or pizza or whatever. Does it really have to be that big a deal?

And I try to get creative. I like that book, The Sneaky Chef, though I don't make all the recipes. I like the IDEA of just putting veggies in stuff they already like. I used her white puree (zucchini and cauliflower) last night on their grilled cheese. I spread it over the bread, then toasted the bread, and they were none the wiser. And they like pizza. (I can put zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, and peas all in that good ole' tomato sauce.) And it's not that I'm really trying too hard to HIDE it, just to prepare it in such a way that they LIKE it, and EAT IT readily. That's the main thing. By the way, we LOVE her Sneaky Chef Chili, the adults, that is. LOL And it's much better for me than the canned stuff!!!

All that to say, what's the big deal if my kids are picky? So am I. I don't eat mushrooms or onions, brussel sprouts or asparagus. Big deal. Neither does my daughter, though we both LOVE spinach and other good for us veggies. And my boys are healthy and strong with good appetites, even if they are a bit more finicky (okay, a LOT) than most kids. But so what? Aren't they healthy? Aren't they happy? Isn't THAT what matters, much more than the extra three minutes it will take me to whip up a sandwich or throw some chicken fingers in the oven? No, I'm not a short order cook, I'm a MAMA, and my kids are worth the extra effort.

Workout

2011-09-15T14:21:00.000-07:00

Whoever thought sewing was a relaxing, quiet, NONAEROBIC activity...never tried to shove a queen-sized quilt around in a regular sized sewing machine. I'm just saying...

Pics to come when I can find the camera charger...

A little bird...

2011-09-11T22:49:00.000-07:00

This is MY memory of 9/11 as I experienced it. It is in no way meant to belittle what someone else experienced, nor to neglect those who were cruelly killed or who gave their lives trying to rescue the injured. My heart goes out to any who experienced any kind of loss, and I salute the men and women who died on that horrible day and pray God has given peace to those families who have lost loved ones.

But this blog entry is only of my own remembrance and is not written as a tribute:

Granted, I am writing this a couple hours late for the date, and that I am doing nothing original by posting my memories of 9/11, I was reminded tonight of where I was, what I was doing when it happened.

I was teaching, English, as a matter of fact, to my 10th graders. I remember it was the 10th graders, because I remember one girl, Candace, who was in my class and her reaction when the principal came in to tell us what had just happened. She was worried that the world was coming to an end.

I was just in shock.

But God gave me the sense of mind to remember one of my favorite verses, a verse that has comforted me so many many many times. (If you haven't guessed, this was a private Christian school where thankfully prayer and scripture were welcomed.)

Mark 13:7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. (Just as a side note, this statement is in the Bible in four different places

She thanked me for reading this, as it helped to calm her down, just as it always had me. Oh, she was still upset, still flaberghasted and horrified by what was suddenly happening, but she was not in a blind panic, remembering that God was still in control.

And I was still in just...shock. And then I hear that they're shutting down all the state capitals, and I get worried...what if there are more attacks??? My husband was out of town, across the country working on some electrical system or other in one of the state capital buildings. So, I prayed for his safety. I don't remember if I called him (probably) or he called me first, but he got in touch with me and let me know that he was coming on home, but that they would have to drive, as all airports had been shut down, and they had JUST got their rental vehicle before they shut down all of those as welll. Thank you, God!

And later I found out that he had been in the same airport as the one the flight had left from, only the day before. It just didn't seem real.

So, I spent most of the day going down into the teacher's lounge where I could snatch tidbits from the news, and relaying that to my students, my cell phone allowed to be out on my desk, turned on, as we all waited to hear any news from loved ones. No work was going to be done that day, anyway.

But it was on the drive home where God gave me the comfort I needed. Driving on the same road I always took to get home, I past a small little tree, on my left, and in it, sat a small little songbird. And amidst the chaos in my mind, the news on the radio (there was NO music anywhere to be heard), and the stream of traffic, I saw that ltitle bird, sitting happily in his tree, unaware of all that had gone on around him, and it hit me. The world had not ended, was still going on as it always had, because God was still in control. He was still God, Lord over this world and everything in it, even in the midst of our terrible tragedy. And we were in His hands. And though the day was still dark and horrible, though I still did pack up my clothes to go and sleep at my inalwas that night, God let me have that bit of comfort, and I have NEVER forgotten that little bird and the bit of peace and hope God gave to me through him.

Chicken Parmesan

2011-08-26T09:39:00.001-07:00

Yum! That's all I'm sayin'. :)

Work in Progress

2011-08-20T09:54:00.000-07:00

A little over half-way through... Let's just hope it turns out as nice as the pattern pictue...

Little Lunch Bag

2011-08-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

This is Little Bit's new lunch box. She didn't really need a new backpack, so I let her pick out a new lunch box...or bag, in this case. She was drawn to the cute little owls immediately. You see, penguins are her favorite animals in the world, but in the absence of them, she is drawn to other birds, esp. owls, which is probably partly my doing, as they are my favorite.

But this entry isn't really about the lunch bag, but more of my feelings as her first day of the next school year looms just around the corner, something this little bag brings to mind as I look at it. Everywhere I go, I hear people talk about how they cannot wait for school to start, that the kids are driving them crazy, and they want to get back to some semblance of normalcy, and get those kids out of the house for a while!

I am not one of those people.

I hate when she has to go back to school. I get giddy over holidays and three day weekends. I love half days, when she comes home early. And more than once have I seriously considered the benefits of home schooling...

Except for one tiny detail. She LOVES school. Loves it the way I did when I was little, loves to learn, loves to explore, loves playing with her friends, and ADORES reading of any kind. (Something this school pushes more than any school I've ever seen in the past...they devote more time to that during the day than all of the other subjects combined.) And so, I smile for her, and tell her I am happy she likes school, that I will miss her, but I am happy for her. And she smiles and hugs me, and tells me she will miss me, too, but she can tell me all about her day when she gets home.

Her first day last year, I cleaned the whole house for being at a loss of what to do with myself. Granted, I got used to it, of course, as we all must, but still... I dread that first day, even as she counts down the days.

We went to orientation, and MY stomach was all in a knot, nearly sick, as I walked into this new, foreign classroom and sat at her little desk to fill out rediculous amounts of paperwork. She went off to explore the room with her brothers, their daddy on their heels to make sure the boys didn't tear the room to pieces. And I sat there and filled out form after form, wondering what this teacher would be like. Would she be kind? Sweet? Or rediculously strict and uncaring. I don't really think the latter. She seemed nice enough, if not a bit rattled by all the parents and kids piling into her room. (It was quite crowded.) Though one or two sentences isn't enough to really know a person or how she will conduct her classroom.

Although, I don't worry of Little Bit's reaction to starting a new year in a classroom with none of her old friends from last year... No, not her. She's the most un-shy person you can imagine. (She makes friends with people in lines at stores...) So bubbly and happy and friendly and smart as a whip, too. She is nice to everyone, says that her whole class are her friends, and that makes me happy, that she will not be the one to judge a person by the color of their hair or style of clothing. If she gets into trouble, it will probably be for talking with a new friend or running because she's so excited, she can't stand it. She wants to explore the world, to learn it all, to see everything. But it's hard for a mother...who has to hear about it later over supper, who used to get to experience everything with her. But I can't go...

And so I can only pack her little lunch bag with a few of her favorite things and hope it brings a smile to her face to know Mama is thinking of her.

And next year, it's the boys' turn. sigh... I think I need a cookie...

Homemade Chicken Stock

2011-08-15T15:34:00.000-07:00

I finally got the opportunity to make my own homemade chicken stock. We had purchased a rotisserie chicken from the store the other day, and when everyone had eaten all they wanted, I kept the carcass for myself, threw some water, herbs, veggies, and spices into a pot and made stock. :) Just pour it up through a strainer and WAH-LAH, stock! (I stuck it in the fridge overnight, then pulled off the fat that had settled and cooled on top, then froze it for later use.) :) Makes you feel good to get something for "almost" nothing. (granted, the herbs and spices and carrots and heat from the stove actually DO cost something but not much.) And it made a good bit, is very flavorful and no added preservatives or anything I don't want in there. :) Healthy, handy, and frugal. Awesome!

Easter...late...

2011-08-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I've been VERY VERY slow at posting pics of stuff I've made lately. (Sheepish grin) But better late than never, right??? At any rate, this is one of two little airplane/rocket amigurumi I made for the boys to go in their basket. (The other was AWAL at the time of taking this picture...I did later find it, though now have no idea where it is again...such is the life of toys at this house...)

And this is a pic of Little Bit's new owl friend. I got the pattern from Sewing Bits and Pieces: 35 Projects Using Fabric Scraps by Sandi Henderson, an awesome book that I intend to use many more patterns from. (I've also made the pennant banner that now hangs in my daughter's room. VERY cute!) But she loves her, and that's what counts, anyway. Oh, her name is Holly. (Her baby, who I also made from my own pattern, is named Hooey. She's quite creative with her names, what can I say?!)

Back at the Machine

2011-07-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems like forever since I've sewn...things just keep happening to keep me from it, and when I have a free moment, I just haven't felt like it. I have been working on a crochet project, which I will show when finished. Crochet is always so nice to work on while you watch TV or something, and then I can still converse with hubby while doing something physically productive. A good mix. :) Anyway, I made these pj pants for the boys' birthday....I always try to make them new pj's for their birthday. Not sure why, only that it's sort of become a tradition now. Anyway, they're super warm and cuddly, and they like them. I fell in LOVE with the lobster material. Just so odd, I know. But I like odd. :)

And I made this shirt for Little Bit finally...only had it cut out forever. In fact, I kinda' had to sew my seams small just to give her a little more room, as she's grown since I cut it out... But I just haven't had time...or felt like it...or whatever... Life happens. You know how it goes. See above... But I was pleased with how it turned out. Owls and all. I especially like the little cap sleeves. How sweet! And just in time for back to school. I have another one almost finished made mostly like it. I will show it when it's finished, too. But I thought these would be super cute with jeans or a denim skirt and maybe a cardigan thrown over it. :)

Extreme Couponing

2011-06-01T11:39:00.001-07:00

Okay, so apparently this new craze of extreme couponing has come upon us. I watched the special on TLC that followed four extreme couponers and have now seen a couple episodes of the regular TV show that came from it. And I have to say that I see several flaws in this idea.

First of all, let me start off by saying that I would LOVE to get, say $600 worth of groceries for $2. Uh. yeah. Who wouldn't? And just to clarify, yes, I am an avid coupon user (I average $25-40 in coupon savings per big grocery trip, which I consider a pretty decent savings), and I think I have only paid full price for maybe two children's clothing items since my daughter was a baby. I love to shop the sale rack, and I'm pretty dang good at catching the sales on kids' clothes, as a matter of fact (as well as my own clothes). I also like to catch good deals at yard sales and of course am in love with thrift stores and the like. This said, so that you know I am not one of these "must pay full price or it's not worth anything" people. I don't even think I know any of those...

Okay...but why I think this extreme couponing thing is not as easy as they make it look...

1. The freebies. Well, they aren't free, actually. Most of these people subscribe to many different newspapers or coupon clipping services, which cost money. And they scout out the sales and wind up going to grocery stores sometimes 3 or 4 different times a week to catch what's on sale where and when. Uh. I don't know about you, but gas is high where I live. That DOES count. And don't forget about the storage. One lady had 4 freezers...that most certainly has to add to her monthly electric bill. Now, while they may still be coming out better than if they had bought them outright, my point is not that it's a bad deal. Only that it is NOT free, and I kinda' get tired of them saying so.

2. Most grocery stores do not double coupons, which is key in extreme couponing. I only know of one around here that does it...I just recently learned this, so I haven't tried it out. And naturally, it's not next to my house. So more gas.

3. The TIME. Now, to those people who say "I don't have time to coupon..." I have to say, uh, yeah, you should. I usually spend about an hour or two (that's including the many interruptions of having children coming and asking me questions or trying to take over the mouse for me. I could get done a lot faster if I was alone.) to get enough coupons online to save me what I mentioned above. Most certainly worth it. But time is worth something, and some of these people on the show spend WAY more time than that scouting coupons. One woman worked 40 hours a week and said she likely spent 30 hours a week couponing. UH...I'm not sure where she figured in time to relax or play with her toddler. A free can of spagetti sauce isn't worth THAT to me. Not even 20 of them. And don't get me started on the dumpster diving...

4. No brand loyalty. You can't POSSIBLY have brand loyalty and extreme coupon. You have to take any coupon you get and double it whenever that brand goes on sale. Now, I, by no means, have to have the most expensive product, nor do I have any problem buying the cheaper store brand ON SOME ITEMS. But there are SOME things that I like MY brand and do not want any other imposter in my home. Like Heinz ketchup, for example. Were I to bring home a store brand, my family (including myself) would revolt! And makeup. Again, I cannot always just buy the cheapest. For example, Maybelline and my face just don't get along so well. And when I do find something I like a lot, I want to buy THAT item, not risk buying up 20 of something I might not like. Also, I worry that manufactuers will stop offering as many coupons with the rise in number of extreme couponers, who have no brand loyalty. shrug. Let's hope not.

5. Storage Space. I am NOT giving up a room or building on an addition to hold my "stash." I do have space in my closet for some overage that I've bought on sale. As I told you, I do shop sales, and I do like coupons, and if it's something I KNOW I use, then sure, I'll buy 3 or so. 3...not 30... Though I do want another freezer for things such as sales and summer produce. I simply have an additional fridge (a must for a family of five who all are in love with milk), and I want an actual freezer, as we pick lots of berries and stuff in the summer, and it's hard to have room for all of that, plus the normal grocery stuff...and homemade ice cream. Yum. :)

6. Does anyone need 300 deodorants? I mean, really. Who sweats THAT much? So many of these people on TV have hundreds of items. (One woman worrying because she had ONLY 10 hand soaps left over...so she bought a HUNDRED. "Why not? It's free.") Uh...how about sharing your wealth, not becoming the next person on the other show, Hoarders. I did finally see one couple who couponed for what they needed and the great excess they had gained, gave to charities and their church. Now, THAT's a reason to get 100 soaps. To help people. One woman in particular, I think would have had a fit had someone taken away ONE of her "free" candy bars. She was even mean to her husband who was helping her! And no one mentions how a lot of this stuff will, indeed, go bad before you can use it, even if you are rotating your stash. Unless you plan on eating noodle meals EVERY day.

7. Nutrition. Anyone looking at what those people are buying? Candy bars, Cokes, noodle meals, fatty frozen dinners...I did see some spagetti sauce, which could be considered healthy. But really... Notice, if you will, MOST of these extreme couponers they've shown are quite overweight. (No, not all, but many.) Convenience food should be a sometimes thing, not a daily meal. It's just not good for you. I am reminded of the show Heavy and how the nutritionist said you should stick to the outside aisles...nothing canned or processed. Hmm...a good thing to think about...

There are, of course, SOME good things.
No impulse buys, for instance, which can kill anyone's shopping budget. And teaching your kids about money and budgeting, which is always good. And having a small stash is certainly not a bad thing to have on hand. One never knows when something like bad weather (think hurricanes or tornados) can hinder simple things like getting groceries. Or just a month that has too many unexpected expenses. Gotta' fix the truck? Okay, well, we'll use our stash and back off on the shopping this month. But I don't think it should take over your life or house like it has obviously done in these people's lives.

That said, to each their own. I suppose it doesn't hurt me at all if someone wants to spend every waking moment clipping coupons and organizing spagetti sauce. :)

Clothesline Apron

2011-05-26T11:41:00.000-07:00

I love to hang up my clothes to dry outside on the clothesline. Let's just ignore for a moment the green-ness of it, of the energy we're saving or the money we save by not using the dryer so much. It's also very relaxing, very calm, and extremely satisfying. I feel much more like I've accomplished something than I do when I load up my dryer. And usually the kids play in the sandbox while I work, so it's a win-win fun situation for all. :) (Though I have been known to get busy and forget to bring them in before the dew sets in, completely negating all the work I did...shrug. Well organized and completely on task, I am not, nor will I ever be. Let's just be honest here.)

But anyway, to my point...I've been carrying around my clothespins in the plastic bag they came in. Not very attractive or even very practical. It's a small, narrow ziploc-type bag, and so hard to reload with pins as you pull clothes off the line. Often I just chunk them in the basket with the clothes and run the risk of them falling through the holes onto the ground (and either getting found by my children-- who have been known to smoosh fingers in them--or by the lawnmower, and we know how that would go...) I kept saying...I need to make a bag to hold them, but we all know how THAT goes. I've been saying that since last year...

So, recently, I purchased this book One-Yard Wonders by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins, and lo and behold, it had a clothesline apron in there, all pretty and polished, and I knew I had to make it.

And so I did. Yesterday.

My only complaint, really, was it's a bit too small. Once I've put all my clothespins in there, it looks very misshapen and overstuffed...because it is. shrug. We'll see how it holds up. At any rate, it's very cute, and now I want to make a new apron for the kitchen. Hmm...which pattern to choose?

Pink

2011-05-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

Anyone that knows my daughter knows that nowhere in the words to describe her do the words DAINTY, GENTLE or CAREFUL appear. Seriously, the girl is "rough as the cobb," as my mother would say. She is so tough on shoes and pants, that I'm doing good for either pair to last a month without a hole. I mean, really, how many kids tear up a new pair of shoes from the INSIDE out??? (And how do you do that anyway???) The state of her torn jeans is such that I'm beginning to wonder if they have her playing tackle football at recess...and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if she was. She is equally rough on toys...she even broke the handle of a tupperware teacup I bought her for her toy kitchen. Tupperware. (me shaking my head). And my old talking Bugs Bunny doll that somehow managed to survive years of my own childhood abuse, and many more years in storage in an attic I'm pretty sure gets hot enough to bake cakes...she had it beheaded within five minutes. Not on purpose, mind you. But still.

But even though she is more likely to be seen playing football than dolls, that she is in no way a prissy, girly-girl...still, we have entered the PINK stage.

sigh. She's driving me nuts. Pink PINK PINK....oh, and purple. Purple is okay.

I am NOT a pink kind of person, usually. Not that it's an evil color or anything, only, well, orange is my favorite, and I don't wear a lot of pink, either. When Little Bit was born, I even scoured the stores to find her a nice little coming home dress that was NOT pink!!! (Finally found a cute one that was mint green with tiny little pink ribbon roses at the yoke) And I dressed her in a lot of NOT pink when she was little, though I did not shy away from pink entirely. I'm not, like, insane about it or anything. I just don't really like pink that much.

But now I have to practically argue with her to get her to wear any other color. sigh. Here we go...

Of course, having thought back onto my own childhood, I, too, was pretty much a tomboy. I never wore dresses or my hair down unless we were going to church, and I could often be found outside digging for worms. And even I had a pink and purple stage--I remember it, actually. Though I favored purple, which Little Bit used to. shrug. Maybe she's just up for a change. Of course...once I got a little older, I threw off anything pink...or lacy...or ruffled... Yeah, probably just a phase. :)

Let's hope so...I don't have a lot of pink fabric in my stash. LOL

Pretty Spring Flowers

2011-04-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

Spring is in full bloom at my house, and all the flowers are coming out of hiding, enjoying the nice spring weather. My roses are finally blooming, happily, including my two new bushes I recently planted. I think I have 10 total, now. I plan to put one in the front soon, though to replace some plants that didn't make it through last summer's drought that I didn't like enough to replant. (from the people who lived here before) The boys try to pick everything they find blooming, including the roses, which scares me to death. Finally, they're sorta' starting to get it, and will say. "I can't pick those. They will hurt me." Bless them! I also recently planted a raised garden bed, but that will be another post. I hope you all have a lovely Tuesday!

Easter Goodies

2011-04-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd share a couple things I got finished for my shop for Easter. Running kind of late, I know, but I'm also working to get some stuff done for the craft fair in early May (which may not happen unless I REALLY get on the ball!)
Here's a sock rabbit, a little amigurumi rabbit, and a couple amigurumi Easter eggs with a little rattle inside, for those kiddies too little for the real eggs...or the chocolate ones. :)

Lemon Lime Sherbet

2011-03-27T14:31:00.000-07:00

This is the baby blanket I made for a dear friend of mine's new baby girl. I decided to name it lemon lime sherbet because of the lovely colors of white, pale green, and pale yellow. It reminded me so much of those colors in sherbet. :) It's actually some baby yarn I bought at a cute little yarn store in Cambridge, England. I had actually bought it to make my twins' blankets, but then decided instead to make them out of a much thicker (and warmer) yarn, which turned out to be pretty smart, given how cool it got very quickly after they were born. Anyway, so I decided to make it for my friend's baby, and I am quite pleased with how it turned out.

The bunny is actually a freebie pattern from Wee Wonderfuls website. I embroidered the little bunny and stuffed it. I thought it would make a good new baby toy for when she starts being able to grasp things, because she can gnaw on it to her heart's content, and it's just the right size for little hands. I hope she enjoys it! :)

I just LOVE making baby things!!! It's such a happy project, and each stitch was filled with love and prayers for this new little person to be welcomed in the world!

Happy bithday, little Rachel!!!

Old Sink, New Sink

2011-03-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

We've been wanting to replace not only our faucet in the kitchen, but also the sink, itself, for some time now. Our first choice was cast-iron, which I still love and plan to have in my "gonna' stay here" home one day. And we did, in fact, purchase one, brought it home, and would you believe it...it was WARPED! CAST IRON! But sure enough, it was not straight and would not fit flush with our countertop (and yes, we checked it was not the countertop, but levels don't lie. The sink was NOT straight.) That, plus after careful consideration that we weren't sure our current cabinets were set up to hold that kind of weight for any prolonged amount of time, we finally just went with stainless steel. We, are, of course, trying to fix up our house as nice as possible but also trying to be frugal on what we invest in it, as we know we will eventually sell.

Anyway, this sink is a good 2 inches deeper. LOVE that feature way more than I thought I would. And it also has completely flat bottoms, as opposed to our old one that has curved corners on the bottom. So, more room, over all.

I love it. I don't even have to say a word about the faucet with sprayer. Come on! Just LOOK! :) It's awesome. Esp. since we still had the contractor grade one with broken sprayer. Fun.

So, I am very very very happy with this new addition to my kitchen (along with my new convection oven, but that's another post...) and proud of my wonderful hubby who is so good with tools!

Before:

After:

Pray!

2011-03-15T21:17:00.000-07:00

Just want to remind everyone out there to pray for all the people going through so much fear and saddness in Japan. May God help them all!

AGH day(s)...

2011-03-09T21:26:00.000-08:00

Okay, trying to sew. Really I am. I actually decided I would do my best to sew a little every day this week...and I have, only I've been having really BAD sewing days. Let's just say had I been sewing on a shirt, I would have sewn the sleeve to the neckhole or something...only to take it out and do the same mistake again about four times. Yeah. Very annoying. Only I haven't been making a shirt. I've been making this car seat cover for a friend of mine. Her baby boy is due soon. :) (Yea!) And though it really should have been a simple project and not have given me any trouble at all, Murphey really threw me a curve ball, because pretty much all that could go wrong, did, the most annoying of which was someone messing with the tension on my machine (I think it was the girl...) and getting it so messed up that I didn't think I'd ever get it straight and still am not totally convinced it's through giving me grief. But...after about three days of aggrivation, I have finally finished it! (Cue the music!) It's actually pretty darn cute, if I may say so myself. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the froggie and mushroom fabric. Forgive the picture, though. It's on a chair...I don't have any baby car seats to try it out on. Mine are all too big now.

But here it is. TAH DAH! Something finally made this week! LOL

Disappeared...

2011-03-02T13:58:00.000-08:00

No, I haven't disappeared from the planet. LOL Sorry to say we've all had a recurring dose of "the crud" and I haven't had much time for (or felt up to) blogging or doing anything very interesting lately. So, my apologies and bear with me. I hope to be back soon.

Make-ahead Sandwiches

2011-02-03T18:21:00.000-08:00

As a stay-at-home mother of three kids, there are two things I can never have enough of...time and money. So, when I can find something that saves me BOTH, I'm thrilled. :) And here is one solution to popping together quick lunches to take to school in the morning. Little peanut butter and jelly sandwich pockets that I make myself with my cool little gadget from Pampered Chef (and I am SO gonna' make some Nutella ones, as well), only these are so much healthier than the frozen store-bought ones, as this is all fruit spread and whole wheat bread, which Little Bit likes better anyway. Happiness for me! But to monopolize on time and handy-ness (washing the cutter ONCE a week, rather than every morning), I make up several at once, then wrap in plastic wrap and then pop them all in one big reusable freezer bag. Wah-lah. I just saved myself five minutes on a school morning, which, as far as I'm concerned, is priceless.

Felted Wool Pillow

2011-01-28T12:33:00.000-08:00

I have had these sweaters laying around for some time, that I didn't know what to do with. For starters, they didn't fit me any more. They were pre-baby sweaters, and there's just no way they're ever gonna' fit my body ever again. LOL Add that to a couple happy moth holes, and these were perfect candidates for a new project I wanted to try--felted wool.

So, I felted the sweaters (which anyone with a washer and dryer can easily do), then couldn't figure out WHAT to do with them. After staring at them for a full week, wondering what the perfect project would be...after all, I loved these sweaters and wanted to keep them around, the whole reason I hadn't thrown them out in the first place...I decided to cut them apart and make a throw pillow for my bed. I love it! I kept the little (now much SMALLER) pocket on the front of my lighter sweater as an accent for the pillow, and it's just so darn CUTE! I love love love it! And soooo soft and comfy to prop up on while on the computer or reading a book or something. Happy, happy, happy! I also love the fabric I chose for the backing. It's various fairy tale words: "Happily ever after," "Once upon a time," "Fee Fi Fo Fum," and the like. :) Too cute, and perfect for a sleepy time throw pillow. :) And it will look just so darling with my new quilt when I get it finished. :)

Quilt pieced...finally...

2011-01-26T13:33:00.000-08:00

I've had this fabric waiting to be put into a quilt since probably last spring. It's been a while, for sure. But it's always something ELSE that has to get done first, a gift for someone, an order for etsy. Something. But I FINALLY got around to piecing this lovely quilt to go on my bed...now it's actually supposed to be a large throw for the foot of my (Queen size) bed...I often get cold when hubby is not, so I need something to pull over MY side of the bed. BUT, it ended up being actually a full-size quilt which will still serve the same purpose, but will also work for a guest bed or something down the road.

The first task was deciding on a pattern. As it was going to be on OUR bed, I was trying to pick something hubby would like, as well as me. Which is tough, let me tell you. We're both very picky...and in two totally different directions sometimes. LOL He's probably not overly thrilled with the mermaids, but as it wasn't pink or flowers or something, I think he'll deal with it nicely enough. :) And orange IS my favorite color, and one he likes as well. So, I picked out four or five patterns I liked, and let him pick of those. He chose this one, which is fine by me, as it was easy and quick to piece together, if not cut. (For cutting, there were lots of 7/8" and stuff like that, which I hate having to cut. But it went smoothly enough.)

And after two days of sewing (and potty training, and making meals, and snacks, and being interrupted about a thousand times an hour...) here it is. I hope to sandwich it either tonight before bed, or tomorrow night. I've learned sandwiching (and pin basting) doesn't work well with little ones running around. LOL I plan on hand quilting it, though, so it will be a few weeks before it gets to grace my bed...probably just in time for it to be warm enough that I don't need it...but isn't that how it works? :)

DIY Dish

2011-01-19T11:55:00.000-08:00

I love this program, the DIY Dish. They are a very talented pair of sisters, who tell all sorts of ideas for craft projects, all of them easy enough even for someone new to crafting. This one, the Valentine one, shows some awesome ways to use Therm-o-web, a product I've loved for years, though I'd never known about the fabric laminating film, to make things like wipe-off bibs (yes!) and placemats that your kids won't ruin in one meal. :) Definately gonna' have to try that! Also, there's a cool giveaway at the end. Let's keep our fingers crossed for me, huh? LOL

Christmas Presents

2011-01-03T10:45:00.000-08:00

Here's some presents I made for Little Bit for Christmas. One is her quilt, which I freehanded appliqued. I wanted to do fall images, and I absolutely fell in LOVE with this fabric a while back. I thought it was very "HER". But she didn't have a quilt that I had made her, except for a Halloween quilt, so it was time she had her own. I didn't quilt before she was born, so she didn't get a baby quilt like the boys did. And then they got their new farm quilt this Christmas, too, so she needed one as well. I think it turned out nicely.

The other is a little kitty doll, that we have lovingly named Kit. It's from the Wee Wonderfuls pattern for Kit, Louise, and Chloe, but with the adjustments to make it into a cat from the free tutorial by Sew Liberated. Because, just like her nieces, my daughter is soooo a stuffed animal girl and not really into dolls that much. I made her a little quilt for her kitty, too, that works with her doll bed my father made her last Christmas. I used the scraps leftover from her quilt, as I did for the cat's clothes, too. She is made from cashmere wool suiting with hand dyed wool for the eyes. And the best part, she was made ENTIRELY from scraps and leftovers--clothes, quilt, body (even stuffing), even the little drawstring bag to keep the clothes in. EVERYTHING was leftovers, so she was totally free!!! I love projects like that, when you can take your scraps and turn it into something so lovely. :) Just makes me feel like I accomplished something cool all the more! (Oh, and all the clothes coordinate, so she can mix and match the shirts and dresses. And I added a little snap to the cat's head to let her change out little bows. My daughter liked that feature. :) )

Warm and Cozy

2010-12-14T11:36:00.000-08:00

Warm and cozy flannel pajama pants, cut out and ready to be sewn. Now...if we can all just get over being sick so I can make them!

The boys' quilts

2010-12-07T20:08:00.000-08:00

Here are the pics of the boys' quilts for Christmas. They are hand quilted in the center panel and tied around the borders, largely because I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with the borders. :) But I really liked how they turned out, and I think the boys will love the ties to mess with. :) The backing is made out of soft flannel...cozy and warm, just right for the weather lately! I only have to finish the binding on one, and I'm nearly finished with Little Bit's, too. (which looks nothing like these). I just started the binding tonight. Pics to come soon!

Old and New

2010-11-30T06:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I finished my throw/afghan, and I wanted to share with you the finished project. It's very "Fall" and VERY warm and cozy. :) I used Wool Ease from Lion Brand Yarn, so I get the washability but still have the warmth and lovliness that is wool. :) It matches the quilt in my living room almost perfectly. (I wish these pictures really did the color justice. They are much more "full" than they appear in these shots. My apologies.)

And the next is a photo of my newest crochet project. :) (To be announced)

Note: The latter was a picture of a scarf I crocheted for one of my dearest friends for Christmas, and wouldn't ya' know it, I FORGOT to take a picture of the finished project. Naturally. I...uh...do that a lot with gifts. I get so excited to send them on, that I don't take the time to shoot a picture of it. shrug. Oh, well. It turned out nice, and I want one. :) Of course, now that it's springtime...

Pie Making

2010-11-22T16:18:00.000-08:00

I love to bake. And though I do like pumpkin pies, I've never actually made one. Usually, it's apple or pecan or a fruit cobbler or crumble. But I wanted to make pumpkin pie...good ole' fashioned festive pumpkin pie. So, I made two...one for church yesterday (We had our Thanksgiving potluck after Sunday morning service) and one to freeze to eat on Thanksgiving with the family. Since I had to make one for Sunday, it seemed kind of non-productive to not go ahead and make them all at once...and so I froze it. shrug. It will have to do. I only have about a thousand things to do that day. :)

And so, at about 9 pm, I got my rolling cloth out and had at it. (Yeah, I can also be kind of a night owl...hmm...maybe THAT's why I like owls so much??? LOL) Anyway, a nice helping of Celtic music on the ipod, a nice quiet, dark house (everywhere but the kitchen where I was...and the bedroom where my husband was running on the treadmill), and I was in baker's bliss. :)

Now...I just have to make something CHOCOLATE. :)

Ready to Assemble

2010-11-17T08:24:00.000-08:00

Finally finished all my blocks, the other day, and now I'm ready to assemble them all. I'll let you see the finished product when I get it done. (Oh, these are the smaller blocks...For some of the bigger blocks, I'm sewing four of them together to make one bigger block, to add variety...)

Cookie Costumes

2010-11-16T18:22:00.001-08:00

Been working on these for a friend of mine. I am pleased with how they turned out. Very easy to wear, over jeans or shorts or whatever, depending on the weather, and easy for a child to take on/off.
(I do apologize for the lousy lighting. Sigh. I really should either get some brighter hall lights, or do all my picture taking outside. LOL But as I had to mail these out right away, I was in a hurry to get a quick shot of them.)

Queen Bee

2010-11-15T11:18:00.000-08:00

I couldn't think of anything to be for Halloween this year...at least that I had the time and money to invest into. :) I would have loved to have been Alice from the new movie, but there was no way I had that kind of extra money to put into a costume I'd wear once, maybe twice, nor did I have the time to invest in making it. So...Martha Stewart came in handy this year. This was on her show, and I thought..."HEY! I can do that!" It was cool, because it wasn't hard (but very time consuming), and it wouldn't scare the kids (vampires are out for now), and VERY cheap. :) Cheap is good. I had forgotten I even had this yarn leftover, so that was a plus. :)

I will say this, though...the first picture was taken before the rest of my makeup, and the second one after our Fall Festival at church AND trick or treating, so my bees are looking a little tired and sad in THAT one. shrug. Should have taken a better picture BEFORE leaving, huh?

NOTE: No, I do not have jaundice. LOL I have yellow sparkle fairy dust (Ben Nye Stage Makeup...gotta' love it!) on for "pollen" but it doesn't show up very well in the hallway where we took the picture. Not the best lighting, but it was too dark outside to do pics.

They're Supposed to Be Bees...

2010-10-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

But do they look like them? (Though by looking, I can easily see which ones were the first and which ones were the last ones I made...the last ones look better. LOL)

This is my attempt at part of Halloween costume that is to be continued...

Getting Festive

2010-10-21T09:21:00.001-07:00

Well, I'm finally getting around to decorating for Halloween...and I sooo love Halloween--always have. I mean, dressing up in costume, pretending to be someone of fantasy, and then getting fed mounds of candy for your efforts...and, of course, add in all the beautiful fall colors, the pretty plump orange pumkins (my very favorite color!), the nice cooler weather, not to mention it's the start of all the holiday season...so much still to look forward to. I mean, come on! What's NOT to love about it?!

Of course, the boys aren't really into costumes...as in, they HATE to put anything on their head or wear anything that's not absolutely comfortable, so they're going to be the same thing they were last year--skeletons (The bones are printed on sweats, so they like those. LOL) Still, never thought I'd see the day when I was okay with the same costume two years in a row (New costumes is half the fun!) shrug. Kids have their own way of doing things, that's for sure! :) They do, at least, love the IDEA of Halloween and are totally into the ghosts (which they call "Boos"), bats, and pumpkins. You should have seen them at the grocery store, going down the frozen food aisle the other week... It was done up elaborately in ghosts, bats, skeletons, the works! The boys would both go "It's a BOO! Agh!" then shiver and say "I skeered!" And then both would break out into very loud giggles. They love PRETENDING to be scared! So funny!

And now if Little Bit can just make up her MIND, I'll be all set...that is, if I finish my hat in time...(pics later...when I get it done...)

A nice day at the beach

2010-10-18T08:43:00.001-07:00

Hard to believe it's Fall already! Especially on sunny, pretty days like this!

Crocheted Purse

2010-09-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

This is a new little passport bag-style purse I made for Little Bit. It was supposed to be for her birthday, but it actually came around about four days later. Oh, well. It's a little too Pepto Bismol pink for my liking, but she loves it. She's going through this pink phase. I guess every little girl does. I was mostly a tom boy when I was little, and I STILL had that pink and purple stage. Go figure. But she really likes the beads on it, too, and I was quite pleased with how that turned out. They're not sewn on separately, but actually crocheted right in. That way, it not only looks nice, but they're a lot sturdier, which is good when I have two three-year-olds running around the house. I need to make me one like this, only in fall colors (and no beads). Would be nice to grab when I just have to run to the store and don't want to take my tote bag of a purse with me. :)

Homemade Butter

2010-09-22T10:46:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally did it, after talking about it for months and months. I've finally made my very own homemade butter. And am AMAZED at how quick and easy it was. Seriously. Just popped the cream into the food processor and BAM! In just a few minutes...not even that long, I had butter. I must've had it at EXACTLY the right temp. or whatever, because it didn't even take the 5-8 min. everyone online said it should have. More like two. Cool.

Of course I did have to pour up the buttermilk and then rinse the butter repeatedly with ice water until it ran clear (which was easy enough)...then get all the leftover water out. (If you've never made butter, the ice water doesn't mix with the butter, but you have to squish and mash the butter really good to get all the remaining droplets that stick in all the little nooks and crannies.) That last part was slightly a pain (and stupidly, I let a big hunk of the butter fall into a dirty bowl in the sink while trying to do this...I didn't have it squished good to the side...sigh), but I think it would be much easier if I could find my cheesecloth, which, of course, I can't. Naturally. And the store didn't have any that I could find, so I guess I'll have to order me some more or wait until I go to the kitchen store next time.

But back to the butter...I saved some just salted, then jazzed up the other as honey butter. And oh my goodness, it's good! I tried some on some homemade blueberry mini muffins just last night, and "OH! MAN!" I am seriously going to start doing this on a regular basis. I am most certainly sold on this and esp. the honey butter, though my Little Bit insists the plain butter is best. SHRUG Go figure. To each his own, huh? :) Still, never thought I'd see the day when my child was telling me the plain was better than the SWEET. Kind of odd. Oh, well. :)

Anyway, this is what they looked like, only there was much more...this is after having eaten a big portion of it...

Migraines

2010-09-20T09:56:00.001-07:00

I want to apologized for being scarce lately, but I have been hit with a plague of migraines these past few weeks and so, of course, haven't gotten nearly as much done as I would have liked. I will try and be back soon with a few pics of some stuff I finished a bit ago. Despite the pain and suffering over here, I am optimistic things will be much better soon, as I can already feel Fall in the air, see it in the angle of the sun, despite the still 90 degrees temps during the day. Fall is coming, and that always makes me happy!

Happy Monday everybody!

Stop Its

2010-08-25T05:55:00.000-07:00

This was just too funny not to share. For some reason, unbeknownst to all but them, my baby boys have decided that Cocoa Puffs are called "Stop Its." You can imagine the look on my face the first time they asked for these. And how hard I laughed when I figured out what they were talking about. The ONLY (and I mean ONLY) thing I can think of is one of the first days I offered them some, one of them (I don't remember which one now) was trying to take his brother's, and he didn't like it. (Get it? Stop its?) So, I figured maybe that was it...they think of them as those things they have to defend from the other, maybe? LOL They are so hilarious, my babies. And SOOOO in sync with each other. They are, of course, identical twins, so this makes sense, but it constantly amazes me how they ALWAYS understand each other, even when they say things that apparently make no sense to me. Like Stop Its. :)

And I still get a little giggle every time I get to say, "Hurry up and eat your stop its, hun." :)

One More

2010-08-18T07:57:00.001-07:00

And here we go again. Same pattern, different sleeves and a contrasting strip sewn to the bottom (that matches the sleeves and bodice). This is my favorite pattern for her so far, though she's about to outgrow it...I'm having to alter it already. Wanted to get a few more tops out of it before I couldn't use it any more.

And the plus...I made the whole thing (minus cutting out, which I already did) in one day! WITH (and here's the clencher) the kids playing around me. I put my old machine in the kitchen and went at it while they played. AND I even took them, GASP, in my sewing room to do the button holes (my new machine does that SO much better.) And they didn't destroy anything! LOL Finally, the boys are getting old enough to start (slowly) taking them with me in the sewing room. They're just so rambunctious and there's so much for them to get hurt on in there, that I've tried to keep them out most of the time. But it's coming!! Yea!!

New Fall Top

2010-08-18T07:55:00.001-07:00

I love the way this top turned out for my Little Bit. The sleeves are a tad bit longer, the brown fabric, a bit thicker (for fall), and the colors, perfect. What makes it even better was it was practically a freebie. The pattern is from fabric.com's grab bag of cottom remnants, and the brown is leftover from something I made myself years ago...not even sure any more, to be honest. Anyway, she loves it, and so do I. I especially like the flower-shaped mother of pearl buttons at the back. The finishing touch. :)

Repurposed Dress

2010-08-18T07:51:00.001-07:00

My Little Bit has grown a lot lately, right out of a lot of her dresses! And so I was left with a couple (and one in particular) dresses that I just HATED to put away. You might remember this one I made a while back. Anyway, it dawned on me that the same pattern for this dress is the same one I used to make her some tops, so I just lopped off the bottom, hemmed it up nice and neat and WAH-LAH. New shirt. :) She likes it, and it's the perfect length to wear to school with the jeans. It's very cute, and she's very happy with it. After all, this was the dress she designed. :)

Getting Ready for School

2010-08-13T12:06:00.000-07:00

I promised Little Bit I'd make her a pencil case out of her favorite new "penguin" material (it actually has a LOT of other animals on it, but THAT's the one she zones in on, of course!). But it was kinda' thin, and I was afraid she'd rip it or poke a sharpened pencil through it. (She is certainly NOT dainty or even CAREFUL with anything...more like a tornado through a china shop most days.) So, I opted for denim with a reverse applique of one of the little penguins. I used the adorable pattern/tutorial from orange flower. I didn't do the pieced fabric, as the tutorial did, so I just kinda' quilted in little patterns over the whole thing and used coordinating (with the penguin fabric) dots for the inside. I think it turned out quite nice. :) (Though sewing the second half of the zipper up was a PAIN AND A HALF!) Still, success. And she loves it, which is what matters, anyway. :)

(note: I really need to find a better place to take pictures...the lighting stinks!)

Amigurumi II

2010-08-12T07:31:00.001-07:00

For the boys' birthday, I made them two little arigurumi elephants.

I thought they turned out cute, especially considering they were pretty much my first attempt at amigurumi. I was pleased. They like them, taking their trunks and moving them and making very adorable baby elephant noises that I cannot replicate either in type or in person. :)

Earrings

2010-08-09T18:19:00.001-07:00

I told Little Bit she could get her ears pierced if she wanted to, when she turned five. At first, when she turned five, she didnn't want to, but then, some 10 months later, she decided she was brave enough. And here they are...

She was so sweet and so terrified and so brave.
I was very VERY proud of her.
She seemed to age three years that day.
I think I aged about thirty. Sigh...

Amigurumi

2010-08-06T08:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a "Happy Friday!" from a little purple penguin friend. She was Little Bit's "Happy Brother's Birthday" present. She loved her and named her Annie.

New Skirt

2010-08-05T07:32:00.000-07:00

I have had this skirt for me cut out for well over a year now. (Tells how often I actually sew for MYSELF, right? LOL) I kept pushing it aside, needing to work on more urgent projects, like clothes for the kids, or more interesting projects, like my fall quilt. But FINALLY, I got around to this the other day. And while I won't put it in my favorite things ever catagory, I'm fairly pleased with it, I must say.

New Look 6811

I will say that I shouldn't have used such a busy fabric and still did the pockets. They blend in and you can't even see them. It would have made more sense to just do simple ones for all that they almost disappear into the pattern. Also, as cute as I thought the fabric was (and I wasn't about to use expensive or my favorite to try out a pattern I wasn't sure I'd like anyway), it's really hard to match, actually, and I don't think this particular shade of pink (almost a salmon, but not exactly) is actually anyone's color. LOL Also, since I cut it out a YEAR ago, I've actually lost a smidge of weight since then (no complaining here) and it's a tad too big. (ah. Darn.) Of course, I had added a little bit of width to it, so now I can make it exactly by the pattern and not have to worry about that. So, that's good. :) But all in all, I have to say it's a simple, good pattern, and a nice skirt. :) Best of all, it's COMFORTABLE!! Which is a HUGE plus for me. I think I will definately use this pattern again, though this time, I will use a khaki or a linen for it, maybe, and I think I want one long one for this fall. (Though as hot as it's been lately, it's hard to think it will EVER be cool again! LOL)

Squares and More Squares

2010-07-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

As I've recently mentioned, I've just learned how to crochet. Or at least, how to read patterns and crochet in the round and...gasp...make granny squares (giggle). Long, long, long ago, my grandmother taught me how to make a granny square, and for the life of me, I'd forgotten it all. I tried once, about two years ago, with very little success, but later, when I had more time to sit and actually pay close attention to what I was doing, the steps just fell into place like it was the easiest thing in the world. And so, because it's fun and kinda' addictive...and pretty cool looking, I think...I decided to make an afghan for me, using some of my favorite yarn. Or, I should say, my favorite affordable yarn. Oh, I could happily pick out some nicer, more luxurious yarns...cashmere? lambswool? But I also didn't really want to spend $100 or more on my afghan. LOL Plus, I wanted something easy to throw in the wash for when, say, my sweet little baby throws up on it. (As all parents know will likely happen eventually.) I also didn't want to do the traditional little squares, so I'm doing a lot fewer BIGGER squares (note the hot wheel car for reference to size...they're pretty big.) in the colors of my living room. And I think it's going to turn out quite nicely. I plan on doing some sort of border, too, but I'm undecided on the color. In reality, it may wind up being whichever color I have the most leftover in the end. LOL

Oh, the yarn. Guess I could tell WHAT I'm using, huh? It's Lion Brand Yarn's Wool Ease in various colors. As I said, they match my living room, especially the wall quilt I made that hangs in my living room.

I'm quite excited about the whole thing, since it practically makes itself while I sit and watch TV at night with the hubby or ride in the car. I hardly have to even think about what I'm doing now, and since I'm the kind of person who can't STAND to sit and not DO something (watch TV while not sewing or something? Gasp! Are you KIDDING???), this is a WONDERFUL project to pull out or take along with me somewhere. Esp. since it's not big and bulky (yet. As they're still in individual squares). It's hard to take, say, a quilt in the car to work on. Anyway, I'll have to keep you updated on my progress. I also want to make Little Bit and me some new ponchos for this fall. We'll see how that goes, as well.

:) Happy Wednesday to all!

Soup and Blueberry Jam

2010-07-26T20:01:00.000-07:00

Well, I've begun my preserving for this year, that is, if you don't count freezing, as I've already frozen quite a LOT of hand-picked blueberries from the farm nearby. But I managed 13 pints, if I remember correctly, of homemade vegetable soup and 7 and a half jelly jars (1/2 pints) of blueberry jam. I also put up five quarts of frozen fresh corn. I'm quite pleased with myself, though I am hardly finished. I plan to make some blackberry and strawberry jams, as well. Hopefully, in the next week or so, though this week I've a birthday party to plan. :)

Book Guilt

2010-07-09T17:35:00.000-07:00

I love books. Books of all kind. Romance, Sci-fi, fantasy (my fav.), classics, history... And not just fiction. Not only do I love fiction, but those informative books that tell how people lived way back when. Life in a Mideval Castle/Village/City are some of my particular favorites. But I also love cook books, sewing books, crafting books. And it's not just the information, either. Sure, I can get loads of patterns, recipes, stories, etc. online. I could even go out and buy one of those Kindle reader things (which I'm sure is way cool if you do a lot of traveling), BUT I love BOOKS. I guess I'm a purist, because I love how they FEEL in my hand, the way the pages FEEL against your fingers and SOUND as you turn them in the middle of the night, when you're the only one awake in a quiet, dark house, everyone else having long gone to sleep. I just love books.

But here's the guilt. It's this little place on the internet. sigh. I've heard tales that most of the little privately owned bookstores, and even some of the larger chains, are in danger from a certain online discount store. And I feel for those other companies, I really do. I get so sad to see any store close, BUT...here's the thing. I'm not helping, because I, too, shop online. sigh. But what am I supposed to do when I can get my coveted cookbook for $10 cheaper online!!! (plus free shipping) And when I usually order two or three at a time, it adds up quick! And as a stay at home mother of three, I try to take stock of every dollar, to save where I can, to be thrifty. And so, what am I to do??? I can't afford to go buy my books at the local bookstores. Maybe once in a blue moon. (I always buy journals where I can see them and put my hands on them, not online). I feel guilty about it. I do. But I really don't see that I have much choice, that my hand is forced in the matter. Unless the bookstores find SOME way to make it more comparable, I can't do much to help them out...

sigh.

Anyone else feel my pain?

New Fabric

2010-06-30T21:08:00.000-07:00

So, here's my new mini stash to add to my not so mini one in the sewing room. Not sure what the Dick and Jane fabric's gonna' be for...it was just too cute not to pick up a bit. Maybe a zippered pouch for me? The orange is going to be a lunch bag and a pencil case for my daughter, with the dots for the lining. She's MADLY in love with penguins, and when I saw this, I knew she'd have a fit over it. I was right. She's beside herself excited over it. :) Feels good to know you picked the right one, hmm? I'll have to show you stuff as I get it ready for back to school in the next few weeks.

Snobby Shop

2010-06-24T15:24:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been in one of those stores, where you felt you were just, well, not welcome? Somewhere where the service was so non-existant and snooty you felt as if they'd really rather you not have bothered stopping in at all? You kinda' start to wonder if, in fact, the shop is just a front for something else, and they want you gone as soon as possible. LOL Because if they treat everyone this way, HOW could they ever sell a thing??? Or maybe you have to be in the club to shop there???

Well, I went to one recently, a yarn/knitting/crochet store not too far from where I live. I've passed it so many times. It was one of those, "I'd love to stop in and see what they have one day when I have time." Only I never had time. Well, the other day, I finally did...

It's a cute store, that much I could tell from the window, though it's very small. And right at the front of the store are chairs set up for knitting/crocheting, but as my daughter and I stepped inside, the three or so women sitting there, (at least one of which I know worked there), didn't so much as smile our way, say hello, how are you, or even acknowledge our presence, to tell you the truth. In fact, they seemed to get quieter, like I was disturbing their current conversation.

Anyway, we (my daughter and I) looked around for a good while before ANYONE bothered to come and ask if we needed any help or anything. And when she did, it felt more like, "Can I help you with anything so I can get you out of here?" The woman gave off no kind of genuine helpfulness. Of course, I was just looking, I didn't need help, but I really think that fact annoyed her. Really, I think my being there in the first place annoyed her.

And though they had a LOT of NICE NICE yarns, they were sooooo EXPENSIVE. In my sheltered crochet existance, I have never seen a skein of yarn that cost over $35!!! (and up...very much up...) Granted, I'm sure they existed somewhere, some nice luxurious blend of cashmere or something, but it was almost EVERYTHING IN THE STORE!!! Even what I thought would be considered fairly "normal" yarn. (and we're talking small skeins, barely big enough to make a small scarf.) And as I'm still kind of a novice going on intermediate, I can't really justify spending that much on a project I'm not 100% sure I can pull off anyway. Not that I was expecting to pay a buck for it, either, but the cheapest I found (a reasonable $3)--it was the ONLY one in the store that price that I saw. Most were at least $10 and up. And as I said, I'm still learning, so I didn't want to invest that much, and quite frankly, they weren't really making me want to give them my money anyway. I could literally FEEL the "get out of here" vibes coming off of them. So, I grabbed up my daughter, and we went back to the car.

Later, I went by Michael's and got some lovely green Wool-Ease from Lion Brand Yarn that was more suited to my experiments...I'm now working on a throw. I will show you a pic when I get more done, but it's coming along quite nicely.

And I won't be going back to the snobby shop. I'll order online if I need some specialty yarn later down the road.

My Cat's on a Mission

2010-06-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

I really don't like snakes. I mean, they're not the stuff my nightmares are made of. I don't have a phobia of them or anything. I just really, really don't like them. I don't mourn one if it gets hit by a car or meets some other untimely death. I am also not above sending out my dear hubby after one. But it's not like I wish them ALL death and torment. I do know that some of them are good, keeping the rodents and vermin at bay. I just don't want them in MY yard.

Well, we've had a run of them in our backyard lately. They're not poisonous ones, just black racers, I think. And as they're all fairly the same size, I'm surmising they all hatched together nearby, and that's why they are in sudden abundance. But it's freaking me out. I'm afraid to take the kids in the backyard, as even non-poisonous snakes can bite or just plain scare us.

Also, it's not helping that the backyard needs cutting BADLY, as we've had so much rain, it just grows and grows, and it's usually too wet and nasty to cut grass of late. (And don't get me started on the HEAT!!!) And our neighbors vine-thing has grown over our fence and down and is starting to actualy grow underneath our kids' playground, so that's got to go. Hubby's gonna' have to get out there and whack off what's hanging over. Today one was was trying to climb up the fence (and succeeding) while a bird dive bombed him, apparently trying to protect its nest, which I belive is in the vines somewhere. It was very freaky to see that snake striking at the bird, and the bird attacking it back.

BUT, this DOES explain my cat's insane (since the heat index is well above 100 lately, and he's a long-haired cat) desire to be outside at all hours of the day. He comes in to eat and drink, then cries to go right back out. He's already killed two of them. I think he thinks he's on a mission to save and protect his yard and family. It's very honorable of him. I should probably go buy him a case of his favorite gravied cat food. :)

Finished Projects

2010-06-18T18:57:00.001-07:00

So, I finally finished that quilt and had to post my pics. Hand quilted and bound--I'm quite happy with how it turned out. It's just a throw, of course, not big enough for a bed, but that's what I wanted it for. I already have hopes for Fall. :) (Note: I now know I should not take pictures in my living room at night. The color quality just stinks. Really, the colors in the quilt are MUCH brighter than they appear. Hmm...I'll have to take another picture outside...when we get some sun.)

And these are some soft books I made for my boys, for their birthday, since they are madly in love with anything farms and tractor. I'm also making them a farm quilt, too, and a wall hanging for their room. Maybe I'll get those done in time for their birthday. We'll see. I'm working on a quilt for my daughter's birthday, too, but I've got a little longer for that one. So, as you can see, I'm not at all busy. Ha! Hope you have a great weekend! I plan to.

In Progress

2010-06-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

These are part of my plans for this weekend. Getting my binding put on my quilt (that I finished HAND quilting yesterday--yea!) and finishing a much thinner, more lightweight pair of fingerless gloves for this fall. One down. :) Making this one out of sock weight yarn, and it takes a good bit longer with all those tiny stitches. :)

Also, making food for a baby shower for a friend of mine. Petit Fours, cheese straws, and homemade mints. I'll let you know how they turned out!

Oh, and hubby wants carrot cupcakes. Just because I didn't have enough to do, huh? LOL It's okay. It's rare he asks for something, so I love it when he does. Usually it's "Whatever you want to do is fine." I love to cook for people, though, so sometimes a request is a nice thing. :)

Scenes from my Garden

2010-06-09T12:59:00.000-07:00

The one part I really REALLY love about Spring/Summer is all the pretty flowers in bloom. I love to dig in the dirt and plant things, have ever since I was a kid. Unfortunately, we don't have a veggie garden this year, though I do have several herbs up and growing. I love to pick fresh herbs to use in my cooking. Mmm. Basil's one of my very favorites. We might plant a few late tomatoes and cucumbers, but we'll see. My poor husband has hurt his knee and isn't much for digging me up a bed. It also doesn't help that it's about 106 in the shade already...and it's just JUNE! What will AUGUST be like???

Sock Monsters

2010-06-07T10:56:00.001-07:00

Just thought I'd share some new sock monster pics. They're about to go up in my shop.

Hope you have a great Monday!

Little Bit Warmers

2010-06-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

So, here's Little Bit's much smaller version.

She loves them, which makes me feel wonderful, of course. :) I had fun making them, as I did it after she went to bed, and I had to keep sneaking into her room and measuring it against her little hands while she was asleep. Bless her, the girl can sleep through anything! She wanted a brown pair, but I used up some of my leftover orange first and trimmed it in brown. I might wind up making her an opposite pair, too, brown trimmd in orange. And I did make these a HAIR too big, so there's room to grow. They're for winter, which is quite a ways away at the moment.

Wrist Warmers

2010-05-29T16:39:00.000-07:00

So, I have this weird fascination with fingerless gloves. Not sure why, except they just seem so freakin' COOL. :) Maybe it's my love of fantasy/sci-fi. I mean, of course the rougue mercenary archer's gonna' have a pair (made in leather, of course, and looking like they're about a hundred years old...still cool...), or the guys on the run from the mad robots, living underground like in Terminator. They have to have a pair. C'mon. BUT, as I'm not a mercenary archer, nor on the run from mad robots, mine are much more "cozy" in a nice thick, chunky rust-colored acrylic yarn. (Lion Brand Yarn Jiffy in Rust color) They are warm and cozy and soft and were super easy to make. I think they will go great with my orange wool coat, or just with a nice long sleeve t-shirt. And it will free up my fingers, which I love, since I HATE how you can never grip anything properly wearing REAL gloves or (shudder) mittens! (I HATE mittens for that very reason.) Anyway, I was quite pleased with how they turned out and will be making me another, longer (to the elbows) pair probably out of the same yarn in brown. My Little Bit has also requested a pair in brown to wear to school in the fall when it gets cooler. :) I was, of course, flattered. Maybe she'll have my taste in movies, too.

Craft Fair

2010-05-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple pics from the craft fair I recently attended on base. It was a pretty good turn out, better than last year, though it's a relatively low-key, small event. Just fun and friends. Speaking of friends, that's my friend Julie in the picture there. She came to help out and keep me company. (And sell her Mary Kay.)
Of course, as soon as I came home, I dropped my camera and killed it, so I haven't had the chance to put any of my new items in my shop just yet. (naturally) But we just recently got our new camera (I think hubby was actually relieved I dropped it so he had an excuse to finally get the one he really wanted...) So, now, as soon as I figure out all the new buttons, I'll post it all. :)
Happy Wednesday!

Why you should wear shoes on an old deck...

2010-05-17T08:54:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is why you should most DEFINATELY wear shoes. As a lover of barefoot-ness, I have always had trouble taking the time or incentive to put on my shoes, and as a result, I have often had to endure the occasional ant bite, but THIS time, it was much worse.
I had gone out to water my plants. Simple enough, right? I mean, I was only going to go on the deck, not actually go into the weeds...er, grass, so I didn't see why I would actually need my shoes, right? Yeah, this was the thinking BEFORE I tripped and RAMMED my foot into an old jagged portion that had separated from the rest of the board. I ripped a gash in the bottom of my foot and got a HUGE splinter through the bottom of my big toe. Once in the house (hobbling, of course), I managed to get the mangled wad of skin cut off of my foot (there was no way THAT was laying down again), and the big splinter out. I poured hydrogen peroxide over it all (WOW, did it bubble!), but I could tell I wasn't going to have the guts to dig out the rest of the wood still stuck in my foot (in little tiny pieces). So, off to the ER we go. First, to get a tetnus (it had been over ten years since mine. Oops.) Then to have it irrigated. This sounds so harmless, doesn't it? Yeah, I 'bout came up off the bed, when they "pressure washed" wood out of my cuts. Ow. To put it mildly. I have to admit, though. Even I was impressed with how many little slivers of wood floated around in the water. There was no way I would have EVER gotten that all out! But, alas, it wasn't over, yet. There was ONE piece still stuck in my toe that they just couldn't wash out, no matter how HARD they injected water into the hole in my foot. So, here comes the needle. My mother informed me that they would at least deaden it at the doctor before digging around in there, as opposed to having my husband try it. Wrong. They didn't. And again. Much Ow. He kept having to stop to wipe up the blood so he could see what he was doing again. (Ew) About fifteen minutes or so of this (it just WOULDN'T budge), and about the time I start to get really woozy and queasy, they do finally manage to get it out and me all bandaged up, sending me home with bright purple bandages and a prescription for antibiotics.

Ah, well, I'd been wondering what to do for a Friday night, huh? :)

Cheese Danish

2010-05-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Cheese danishes. Almost to the point of wrong-ness. LOL There are few things more delightful to me than a fresh (still warm) cheese danish (or if you can't get right out of the oven, you can nuke one for a few seconds until it's nice and warm and soft again), drizzled in a glaze icing with a nice tall glass of milk. It's almost heavenly. But these were things you bought at the bakery or enjoyed at some luncheon that someone bought and brought from who know's where. This was not something you make at home. Was it? And then one day, I was watching the Barefoot Contessa as she made her own version of the EASY cheese danish, and something inside me clicked...and rejoiced! I COULD MAKE MY OWN????? So, I can guarantee you I went right out to get the ingredients (though I do cook often, I generally bake "normal" at home goodies (cookies, cakes, brownies, muffins, etc), and I had never before enjoyed the wonders of frozen puff pastry. Oh, yeah, it's probably better for all had I NOT found this out.) But I whipped them up and BAM, perfection. :)

Delicious, delectable, de-LIGHT-FUL! (Those of you who have watched the Upside Down show regularly might actually appreciate that little reference. Awesome kid show...even if you're not a kid...) I did make a couple minor changes. She only folds two corners, but I found it made an odd shape, and I could only fit half as many on my stone that way, so I made them square, and I added that little drizzle of icing, because, COME ON! You gotta' have icing! What was she thinking?! LOL No, really, they'd be very good without the icing, but I much prefer them WITH, I can promise you. And I don't put too much, as you can see, just enough to give it that extra little boost of sweetness to compliment my deliciously tall glass of extra cold milk (If you put it in the freeze for about ten minutes or so, you actually get a tiny sheet of ice on top. Ah...I'm actually shivering with anticipation... The only drawback...I wouldn't exactly call this a "cheaper" version of the dessert/breakfast/snack, though I guess it would depend on where you buy yours and so on. The puff pastry itself isn't exactly cheap, as a whole box will only make eight, though it probably comes out about the same as buying them at some decently priced bakery. But, I'm serious, just the JOY of being able to say, "hey, I made cheese danishes today." is enough satisfaction for me to say, "Oh, yes. It was worth every penny."

Twin Re-joining Syndrome

2010-05-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so my boys have this not so lovely little condition. It's called Twin Re-joining syndrome and it occurs when their now separate molecules attempt to occupy the same space at the same moment, or re-combine with one another. The symptoms are quite stressing as both boys will repeatedly run SMACK into one another on a depressingly frequent basis. And, friends, I'm not talking a little bump on the noggin. I'm talking, full body, head-to-toe impact that sends both of them sprawling flat on their backs, screaming in agony as the new knots start to form on their foreheads. This is, I have decided, their bodies trying to rejoin, as apparently they aren't content to be only near each other and will repeatedly try to occupy the same space at precisely the same moment. As I've said, this occurs sometimes more than once a day, with no warning, whatsoever. It can occur in any area of the house, completely randomly, completely sporadic. And as you can see, quite stressful! I'm not sure what you can do about it, only that hopefully as they grow older, their little twin molecules will become happy in their single little bodies and stop this very frustrating habit. Until then I can only stock up on ice packs. sigh.

Easter Clothes

2010-04-01T20:24:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd post a pic of the kids' clothes for Easter. Yes, they match. I couldn't help myself. :) They're so little, figured it would be the only time I could get away with it! And Little Bit wanted a dress made out of the same fabric I used for the boys' shirts, too, so it was just too cute an opportunity.

(Sorry for the blurry image of the dress...Our son has dropped (thrown) the camera, and it's not always very clear any more...sigh)

Thursday

2010-03-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

So, this is what we did this morning. :) Fun stuff.
(I like the blurry action shot, because it's so realistic...they were so excited, they couldn't stand still. :) )

Package!

2010-03-22T11:29:00.001-07:00

I love packages in the mail! I'm just like a kid, waiting on them. Even FAST shipping is too slow for me. But my package came today, and I can't wait to start cutting out my next projects. The swiss dot will probably wind up a shirt for me...or maybe even a short dress. I really haven't decided, yet. The Heather Ross prints are for a broomstick skirt for me, except the brown piece. I bought that for cute little button-up shirts for the boys...it's so hard, lately, for me to find something I like for them. Most prints I like are either too girly, too cutesy, too baby-ish, or too expensive. LOL But I think this will work, plus the fabric is super soft, like all Heather Ross's is, not at all stiff like a lot of quilting cottons are.
Anyway, thought I'd share my excitement. I'll have to show you what I come up with...but, alas, not today. Today, I'm off to plant some of my seedlings in bigger pots. But that sounds like fun, too...only if it were just a teeny bit warmer!

Chirp Chrip Tweet Tweet!

2010-03-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

Thought I would share what I made for the little ones' Easter baskets this year. I made two like this for the boys, and I'm working on a pink one for her. I was happily surprised with how EASY and quick it was, and also how CUTE they turned out! And so soft and cuddly, too! I think they will like them, and I think they'll look just adorable all snuggled in the basket with their candy. :)

Monsters

2010-03-19T14:34:00.000-07:00

So, I'm debating about doing the craft fair again this year. (shrug) I haven't decided if I want to go, yet, or not. But either way, I figured I'd do well to make up some monsters...they were quite a hit last year, and my etsy shop has been void of them for a while--I've found I get tired of making the same thing over and over again, so I have to take a break every now and then and work on other stuff...like clothes for me, the kids, etc. That needs to be done anyway. :) But I thought it might do well to get a few in etsy before Easter. Someone might be needing a little monster for a basket. :) You never know.

But here they are, the fruits of several nights' labor in front of the TV. :)

A Calm, Productive Afternoon

2010-03-18T14:26:00.000-07:00

Here's a stack of fabrics that I cut out into clothes for the kids. The animal print is for shirts for the boys and a dress for Little Bit for Easter. The others are for shirts for Little Bit for her first year of school this fall. sigh. Is it really time? And here's a shot of the patterns I used.

And lastly, what Little Bit did while I cut out fabrics and we talked. :) A nice afternoon. Oh, and the boys actually took NAPS! What more can one ask for?

Off for a walk now to enjoy this nice weather with my family. Hope your day was as nice and productive as mine!

Addicted

2010-03-04T13:10:00.000-08:00

I love these things. WAY more than I remembered. I look at them, and I am instantly transported back in time to when I was about six or seven year old, hunting Easter eggs at my grandmother's house. She used to buy these kind and hide them in the grass. Weird how one little piece of candy can do so much to jog your memory...I hadn't thought about that in years.

And unfortunately, now I can't stop eating them! :)

Happy Mistake

2010-03-01T13:35:00.001-08:00

This is the little flower tutu or "Fairy Skirt" (as Little Bit calls it...) I made it for her for Christmas, and she absolutely loved it...and ripped a hole in it the very same day (sigh). So, I FINALLY got around to fixing it today, but the thing is, I couldn't really figure out how to do it with it looking like anything, you know? Tulle isn't so very easy to stitch, at least where you can't see the stitches VERY well, and the tear was quite large and obvious. SO...I just sewed it up with purple thread, then got the idea to sew on a little purple felt heart patch, and my daughter thinks I'm a genius! LOL Got to admit, though, turned out pretty well. :) I love happy mistakes, don't you?

Work in Progress

2010-02-28T15:42:00.000-08:00

This is what I like to do on a lazy Sunday afternoon, when the boys are asleep and Little Bit is outside helping her Daddy clean up the truck, the sounds of outside (the wind, the neighbor's windchimes, the birds) mixing with the comforting sounds of home (the dishwasher and the dryer going). This time is precious to me, and fleeting, too, as we will soon have to jump up and hurry and get supper ready and eat (I never start supper soon enough on Sundays...) and get ready for church.

I have also learned that, impatient though I usually am, there is just something so insanely satisfying about quilting something by HAND. I just love it, and, naturally, I'm doubly proud of my creation when I get it finished. All that time and work put into it, and I usually sit and work on it at night while Jason and I watch TV at night, and it's interesting. I can look at a quilt and remember practically EVERY show or movie we watched together. My last hand-quilted project was a compilation of Bones episodes and Into the Wild. Go figure, but I don't think I'll ever forget that. shrug. Weird how the memory works.

I told myself I wanted this one done, that I was just going to do it on the machine and have it done within a day or two, but it just kept calling me, beckoning me to get out that old quilting hoop and have at it. And so, the quilt won out, I suppose, over my impatient nature. And yes, I am perfectly aware that my stitches aren't perfect, and I rather prefer the bigger ones, opposed to the ones that are tiny and hidden. Truly, I'm not using excuses here. I like that old, folksy look, where I can see each stitch, each step of slow labor and smile, because I am happy with how it turned out...

And here I go, again. But oh, isn't it worthwhile. :)

Bot

2010-02-09T18:52:00.000-08:00

Okay, my boys are IN LOVE with the new Nick Jr. show Team UmiZoomi. (My daughter, too.) But the boys scream "Bot!" "Bot!" every time it starts to come on. So, I figured for Valentine's Day, a little "Bot" of their own would be good. :) So, as I've already made them Spaceboy for Christmas (who looks a little like Geo from the show), I turned to a cute little pattern by Hilary Lang at Wee Wonderfuls. Anyway, I was pleased with how they turned out. And, my daughter calls them "robot friends." Too cute. Now, let's just hope the boys are as impressed!

Awesome Muffins

2010-01-19T08:17:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd share these...These are very possibly the best muffins EVER! They're actually supposed to be Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins, but I'm not really much of a pumpkin fan, so I switched them out for sweet potato, but I'm telling you! Wonderful! It's an Emeril recipe from foodnetwork, though I switched out the pumpkin, put the cranberries in the food processor (for the kids' sake, though I actually like it better that way, myself--distributes the craisins all over, so you get a little in every bite), and I also made them mini size, again, for the kids. But who doesn't like a mini muffin? :)

Homemade Pretzels and Recycling

2010-01-12T12:54:00.000-08:00

The first photo is of the delicious pretzels we made the other night, hubby and me. He is absolutely addicted to these big soft pretzels but gets mad at the mall when they want $3 or more for one. And so I became determined to make my own at home and dang it, but these were so good, I just had to post a picture. :) Thank you, Mr. Alton Brown!

The next pictures are of my Little Bit and her version of recycling. See, I make felt cookies for my etsy shop, and I had one from long ago that was a trial as I was determining how best to sew up the edges. Anyway, Little Bit wanted it to play with, so I gave it to her. Skip ahead several weeks... So, I have this Kimochi bear thing that my dear friend gave me for Christmas a while back. It's the cutest big green bear that "eats" emotions. The little emotions are little round "people" that fit into his mouth and stomach. My daughter FELL IN LOVE with him and plays with him all the time in my sewing room as I sew (because that room is his home, and he doesn't want to leave it, as she informed me.) Well, as I was cutting off my way too long pants to hem them today, and she asks me for the cut off part. I ask her why, and she tells me that she wants to use it to make arms and legs for her little "K'mochin." (What she calls the people.) At this point, I'm looking at her like she's lost her mind, having no idea what she's talking about. So, she tells me that that's "recycling" when you use something old to make something. To which, of course, I'm thrilled to hear her say. Well, I gave her my fabric marking pen, and she gave it a face, then she told me how to cut out the fabric to make "bumps" for the arms and legs. She wanted to glue them, but I convinced her sewing would be a bit more sturdy, and so, her new "Happy K'mochin" was born. And naturally, happy is a fitting name for him...and her.

Space Boys and a Potholder

2010-01-06T10:45:00.000-08:00

I am SLOWLY getting to take pics of and post the Christmas presents I made for the kids. Here is one of the boys' gifts, two Space Boys from Hillary Lang's wonderful pattern. The boys like them, as does my daughter. She made them hold hands for the picture. Too cute. Anyway, I was pleased with how they turned out. I plan on making the robot, too, but I just haven't had time to get him finished.

And this is a little potholder I made from my scraps. I got to playing around with my leftovers from a quilt I'm making, and I've really been wanting to try out my new walking foot, as well as this thermo. batting stuff I bought. So, I thought, "Hey! Why not make a potholder?" Besides, mine have the uncanny and inconvenient habit of getting up and walking off somewhere, so a new one is always welcome in the drawer. :) Anyway, it's a little wonky...I got in a hurry (you tend to do that close to 2am...) and my binding is a little wrong. shrug. It's just a potholder, and I was just playing around, so I didn't feel it worth it to take it out and redo it. Besides, a couple times of spilled spagetti sauce on it, and it won't look so great anyway. :)

Thrifty me!

2009-12-31T13:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I realize two things...1. I am not very good at remembering to take the time to sit down and blog about what I've done and 2. I suppose that this makes it look like I accomplish nothing. Not true. Really, it isn't. :)

Anyway, I did these pants of Little Bit's so long ago, but I never got around to taking a picture and posting them, though I am so incredibly proud of myself for them.

First of all, I got the pants (actually THREE pairs of pants, two jeans and one kind of parachute pants material khakis) for 10 cents a piece at a yard sale!!! I so love good finds like that. The only thing wrong with them....holes in the knees. Naturally. What kid doesn't wear holes in the knees of their pants??? But I'm looking at them, and inspiration struck. I thought, "Hey, I can put patches over them, and they'll be good to at least wear to play in, so I won't have to worry about her messing up her good ones outside in the back yard..." That was the plan, then I got the patches and more inspiration struck. "Hey, what if I cut the patches into cute shapes and embellish with embroidery?" Is it wrong to like her play clothes more than her "nice" ones???

Anyway, she loves them, and I got away paying only about $2 a pair for them. (Though the khakis were fine, only missing a button, I think, and needed no such attention). She esp. likes THIS pair in the pics, because of the little bird. I admit it, though, I like it, too. She and I kind of have this weird thing for birds. Go figure. For Christmas, she picked out a blank journal with a bird on a branch on the cover. I, of course, LOVE it. (I would have loved anything she picked out, but dang it, if the girl doesn't have taste!) :)

So, not a very festive post, but at least I managed to get something up for the month of December. :)

Happy New Year all!

You have to try this!!!

2009-11-04T08:46:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Amy Karol at her angry chicken blog site, I found this cool little website that lets you take clothes, shoes, etc. and mix and match them to make your own little wardrobe combination. Polyvore VERY ADDICTIVE, just as she warned it would be. Well, here it is...a piece of my wishful closet, though technically, I do have some things that look like some of this stuff... Actually, it's a pretty darn good representation of how I dress...

Lori's closet by celtic19 featuring J Crew

Some of it, of course, I will never be able to afford...the boots are over a thousand dollars!!! Yeah, right. But some other things, like the J.Crew shorts are actually rather affordable (on sale!). Really neat! You have to try this!

New Dress and Late Night Marshmallows

2009-10-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

Here is the other dress I finally finished for Little Bit. I love the wooden buttons in the back...though I should have made sure she had it on straight before I snapped the photo...really, it's straight! She just wiggles around a LOT. LOL Now, save a few pairs of play pants, she's pretty much done for Fall, so that's good. Now I can get on to making those Christmas presents. But she likes the dress. I asked her which one she liked best, this one or the green one, to which she replied, "I like both of them. I like all the dresses you make for me, mama." To which, I beamed, appropriately. Ah, nothing like the praise of your children to give you an instant self-esteem boost. :)

Yes, this is me (pardon the poor photography)...roasting marshmallows over my stove. Sigh. I think I need camping therapy. LOL Of course, it was my HUSBAND who got the idea to do this for a snack last night, who also got the idea to use our bamboo kabob skewers to roast them on (forks get hot...) It took every ounce I had not to bring out the chocolate and graham crackers, too... Mmmmmm....smores.... And so then I start in on this tirade about how we really need to go camping, this fall/winter. In a cabin, of course. I don't really trust tents with very small children...afraid they'll just up and leave in the middle of the night...not to mention there's nowhere to "put" them to keep them from running off. They're too young to "obey" when you say "stop!" "come back!" but they're too old (and too big) to be content in a play yard or something. Of course, it wouldn't be half as hard if they're weren't TWO. That makes a HUGE difference, esp. when they almost always run off in OPPOSITE directions. And you can only run one way at once... You know, I bet that's what they're talking about at night in their beds...plotting how best to escape. LOL Funny thing is, I could see that...

Chocolate Owls

2009-10-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

I love Halloween. I mean, REALLY love Halloween. There's just something about it that really gets me happy. Part of it is the weather. I am totally a FALL girl, so I love bright plump pumpkins and brilliantly colored leaves everywhere. I love the crunch it makes when you walk on them, the cool breeze blowing. Blue jean weather, I call it. And I love it!!! Add to that my love of dressing up I've had since a kid and an unsatiable addiction to all things chocolate, and you can see how this is an amazingly fun holiday for me. :) I generally decorate the whole house, though I've had to scale back now that I have small children...hard to put out breakables when you have a little boy who thinks he's supposed to throw everything. But still, it's just so much FUN!!! And one more thing I enjoy...making treats. :) There's just something about fall weather that sets me in baking mode, and I want to make EVERYTHING. Not a great thing when you're on a diet, but very hard to fight this baking urge I get...which is why we had cupcakes at 10:00 at night two nights ago...

And though it isn't baking, I have found a new fun pasttime in making chocolate lollipops for the kids. Little Bit LOVES them. I have to limit her, else she eat the whole batch in one sitting!!! (That's my girl! She gets it honest!!!) But I was quite happy with how they turned out, esp. since I forgot to buy a paint brush to do the little details... oops. Still, they turned out rather nice, and very tasty! And super easy to do, really! I'm going to have to get some turkey molds or something for next month, though I suppose owls can be a whole fall thing, hmm?

New Dress

2009-10-14T09:38:00.000-07:00

I had ordered this material a while back, (It's from the Chocolate Lollipop line from Anna Maria Horner--Love her!) and Little Bit fell madly in love with it and wanted a dress made out of it, so here it is, her very own creation, though I picked the pattern. I did have to add a strip to the bottom, however, to make up for the fact that she grew a lot since I cut it out...my own fault...I think it was March or April when I cut the thing out. I shouldn't have waited so long to get it sewn up! But she loves it. And it suits her. It really does.

Hoot!

2009-09-21T11:07:00.000-07:00

I love owls. Oddly so, but there's just something about a cute, round, little fat owl, that just gets me. :) And I have a thing for birds anyway...except parrots. I actually hate parrots. They really freak me out... But I digress.

Anyway, last year I made Little Bit a little owl appliqued hoodie that she fell immediately in love with and was very sad when she outgrew it, so I promised to make her another one. And here it is. THIS year's version of the owl hoodie. I have a feeling I might be making these yearly for the next few years at least. LOL I changed it up a bit this year, letting her pick out the colors for the most part and adding a little fingernail moon in the "sky." I wondered about stars, but I think I would only get mad at all the little sharp turns and points, so I'll just wait on those...maybe next year. :) Anyway, she's quite happy with it, so then, so am I.

By the way, have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE my new sewing machine???

Totally Unrelated Pictures

2009-08-13T11:41:00.001-07:00

Okay, so here's a peek into what's going on in my life. First, I'm still working on fall things for my brood, and here's a picture of Little Bit's crocheted purse I made for her a bit back(I made a bigger one for me that consequently matches NOTHING I own...shrug). Naturally, she keeps it stuffed with crayons and tiny stuffed animals and other things that are much too big and heavy and are causing it to pull to much on the strap. Naturally. :)

And then here's a couple pictures of the only thing left growing in my garden, though it's still going strong...so far... If only we could have consistent rain... But anyway, here's my okra, of which I'm quite proud, even if there's not a whole lot of it. Still, it's growing and doing well, and that's something...

And then, finally, a nice picture of yesterday evening's snack...chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. :) Yum! Think they look good? They tasted even better, I promise!!! They're so soft and chewy, and the chocolate stayed all soft and melty. Yum... Why don't I make these more often??? I really don't know. Of course, Jason just complains "I like raisins better...You should have made raisin ones..." Grumble, grumble. Some people just don't know what's good. :)

Easiest Shirt EVER!

2009-08-12T11:48:00.000-07:00

I just finished making this shirt for Little Bit (out of some scraps from one I cut out for myself, no less--so practically a freebie, there), and I LOVE it. It has got to be the easiest shirt ever! Took me (not counting cut out time) maybe thirty minutes to make, and that's counting in the time it took to thread all the elastic through, which everyone knows can be a pain at times. Anyway, I was so happy with this pattern, I just had to share. :) Definately gonna' be more like this sometime soon. I have the perfect crinkly cotton/gauze just waiting for a good pattern, and this is it!

(note...the bottom's not crooked, just the way she's standing and it's flow-y fabric...)

Remembering

2009-08-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

Well, Little Bit's birthday is coming up. I can't believe she's actually going to be FIVE!!!! Where did the time go??? Seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital...I still remember the ride home, and that weird feeling I got when we walked in the door of our tiny little one bedroom apartment, gazing at that tiny little perfect person still sitting, asleep, in her carseat and thinking, "Okay, I'm a mama...Now what do I do?!" LOL And Merlin crept up next to where her carseat sat, so he could smell her. He wasn't very impressed one way or another...though he did later start sleeping under her bassinet like he was guarding her. I remember how even though they told me she couldn't see more than a few inches from her face, she could watch her mobile and move her eyes and head to follow the little animals as they spun around and around. She LOVED it. I remember, too, how I couldn't sleep with her in the same room as I was, because she was such a loud sleeper, and I jumped up like I was shot every sound she made (so much for MY deep sleeping!) I remember a few weeks later, when she slept though the night, one week less than two months old, and I just about had a heart attack, to realize I'd slept that long and she hadn't woken me! I remember how she HATED baby cereal, and I later discovered, pretty much ALL baby food, in general. I remember how she stopped taking her pacie as soon as she realized she couldn't get food out of it. And how she's ALWAYS loved milk, even to this day. In fact, she wouldn't even let you turn it chocolate until just a few months ago. She's a purist, what can I say? LOL I remember rocking her to sleep EVERY night as I sang to her. I remember how after she started talking, every animal, two legged or four, was a dog. And when she started calling them by their real names, Rhino somehow became "Nano." I remember, too, how when she got older, we discovered she LOVED to drink water, and later, still, root beer, still a personal favorite of us both. I remember every little pair of shoes I've bought her, every jacket, every sweater. And I still have them all, packed up in hopes that one day I might get one more sweet baby girl, and eventually make her (or them) a baby quilt out of them. I remember her first word was Mama, and she used to say it over and over and over, and I never got tired of hearing it. I remember how when she started crawling, she could only go in reverse and how cute (and annoying) it was, esp. when she got "stuck" against a wall and would scream, thinking she was stuck there forever. I remember her Peek-a-Blocks and Roll-a-rounds, Bear in the Big Blue House, and Blue's Clues (now the boys' favorite show...). Oh, there are just so many memories. I could go on and on and on forever, I think. But for now, I will stop, and look at the little owl I made her, and smile, happily reminded of so many "happies" she has brought into my life. Who knew a little pile of wool could bring on so many memories?

Jewelry!

2009-08-09T14:17:00.000-07:00

I am very proud of myself...one, for adding to my etsy listings with new bracelets, but also, (and a little embarrassedly...) for learning how to use my camera to take close up shots. :) I'd taken forever to list this jewelry for that very reason...all my pictures were so far away to be in focus that you couldn't even tell any details. So, what was the point in even paying to list it, I figured. But now you can see them! I mean, I'm no photographer, but I think they turned out rather nice, and I'm happy with them, at any rate. :)

Now, my goal for this coming week...clothes. Me and my daughter and the boys. Lots of clothes to sew up and start getting ready for this fall (and birthdays...)

New Tunic

2009-08-06T09:44:00.000-07:00

So, I finished a tunic/shirt I had in mind for this fall. It's officially called a "summer" tunic (from Heather Ross's book, Weekend Sewing), but I'm assuming she didn't have Florida summers in mind. It will be perfect for this fall, however, when the evenings start to get a little chilled. As well as I think it did turn out (and it's super comfortable), I think it would look a little better in a slightly thinner fabric. I'm worried this one was just a hair too stiff to flow just right. I'd been worried about that when I cut it out, but it's very soft, and I got it on sale, so I thought I'd give it a go. You just hate to try a brand new pattern on your expensive stuff FIRST, before you know if you like the way it will turn out, you know? Anyway, it's a pretty simple pattern. Shouldn't have any trouble turning out about two or three more of them. :) I've already got the fabric lined up and waiting, one of which I've had for over a year, staring at me while I wondered what to do with it. It's a thin gauzy-like material, but very Bohemian looking with brown and greens...very pretty. I can't wait to see how it will turn out. I'll let you know... (By the way, let me also apologize for my lack of self-photography skills...or proper lighting...)

New Skirt

2009-07-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

I'm working on getting some late summer/fall clothes made up for me and the kids. I finally finished skirt # 2 for Little Bit. Only had it cute out for over a month, I think. LOL I think it looks quite cute with her little tank top, or with tights and a long sleeve tee for this fall. :) I just love versatility. :) Here she is, modeling it for me, though I had to keep telling her to "stand normal" instead of posing. (Though I did capture of few of those for me and the grandparents, of course.)

Repurposed Shirt

2009-07-12T18:24:00.000-07:00

Okay, so Amy Karol has so completely got me addicted to cutting up my t-shirts to make thin little summery cardigans! I've always been fascinated and even tempted to repurpose/refashion some of my old clothes...and especially t-shirts, but I just didn't know where to start, and it's hard when you think..."Well, what if it doesn't turn out right???" But this is sooooo super easy! Check it out here. This is my second one...I'll have to post a pic of my first. It's actually my favorite. :) And to top it off, J. Crew has in their web shop a cardigan made EXACTLY like this, except with some added chiffon ruffled trim...hmm...I may have to try that...