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Tracing +
Cutting +
Sewing =
Wee yo-yo's.
I am home again and crazy busy. Working on my ornaments for the holiday ornament exchange (supposed to be in the mail tomorrow....). Still to do: a birthday shirt, goody bags, presents to wrap, tie one on, finish putting up Christmas decorations, bake a cake, procure school party snack. Not necessarily in that order.
See you when I come up for air.
Who doesn't like a good swap? I returned home on Saturday to find this in my mailbox:
This gorgeous felted poppy pin was made for me by Sarah. Not only did she make this for me, she is kind enough to share her pattern. You can find it here. When I first saw it on her site, I knew it would look great on my black and white check winter coat. But the more I thought about it, I knew that it would be even better on my very own flapper hat.
I knit this in the car while traveling to Chicago for Thanksgiving. Once again, I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran....love that yarn! And like the others, this one knit up fast and easy. Woo hoo! It is the best color green and fits perfectly.
I was right - they were made for each other. Thanks Sarah! You've got me smiling!
Much has happened in the last day.
We came home from Chicago yesterday afternoon just so we could get our Christmas trees. After we got home from the tree lot, our vet called to let us know that Breezer, our 13 year old black lab, had died. Although Fatty and I knew that she was old and somewhat felt the end nearing, it was still a shock. Fatty and I started dating two days before he got Breezer so the three of us have always been together. It's very surreal - I keep feeling like something isn't right and then realize that, oh yeah, Breezer isn't here. I am sad that I didn't get to say a proper good-bye and at the same time, I feel very fortunate that we didn't have to make a decision regarding her life, that she didn't die in front of the girls and that we didn't wake up one morning to find her dead on her dog bed. She was a great dog and a wonderful pet. I am missing her already.
Then this morning we received a call letting us know that Fatty's grandfather passed away. He had been ill, but it still came as a surprise - I guess it always does. We are packing up the car and going to pay our respects on Tuesday. Ralph was a good man and, although I didn't know him well, I enjoyed spending time with him each and every time I saw him.
A couple of hours later, Fatty learned that one of his employees died suddenly this morning. He was a 25 year old young man engaged to be married that died without warning and with no apparent cause. Such a tragedy to lose such a young person whose life was really just at its beginning.
I am counting my blessings. First on the list, the gift of life.
We just returned from Thanksgiving at my parents' house. It was a nice holiday with great food and better company. I am thankful for many things, but mostly for my family - the small one that lives in this house and the big extended one. They are my biggest blessings and I am grateful to have them in my life.
Hope you all enjoyed your holiday too!
Kate is home sick, but I dragged her to the fabric store to pick up some sequins for a project.
Got these and then some other things...
Yes, I have a disease....I am addicted to fabric.
At least five of these are earmarked for specific projects/gifts. I know it's not a great excuse, but I am trying hard to justify it, ok? Oh yeah, and then there was the quick stop at the yarn store...under $20 in yarn to knit something for MYSELF. Now that is good. I never do that. Knit for myself, that is.
I am putting a movie on and settling Kate on the couch with a bunch of tissues so I can rake the yard. Once I get that done, it's more laundry. An exciting life I lead, huh? We hit the road tomorrow for the holiday weekend. I am trying to consolidate a bunch of little crafts so I don't get twitchy while Fatty drives. I will show and tell when we return. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Fatty and I arrived home last night. We had a great weekend getaway to Jamaica! And no, it wasn't his birthday present. You see, Fatty sells beer and those good folks at Red Stripe treated us to four days away which just happened to coincide with his birthday. Nice, huh? So thank you Red Stripe! We ate and drank far too much, but had a nice relaxing weekend. I wish I could say the same for my parents who flew in to watch the girls - the furnace went out, Kate was sick and there were some issues with our alarm system. Yikes...we owe them big!
Some nice mail was waiting for me when I got home. First a package from Superbuzzy...
They have lots of cute things over at their site. I don't have any grand plans for these new fabrics, but I still have two Archies to make and all of the dolls' accessories....these might just fit the bill.
I also got these sweet postcards from Alicia. Do I ever love her style!! Just the perfect thing to put me in the Christmas spirit.
And speaking of the holidays...there is nothing quite like putting a bathing suit on the week before Thanksgiving to remind me that a little pie will take me a long way!
Oh....lest I forget.... Big Birthday Greetings headed your way Nolan! Hope you have a great day!
Remember this pile of fabric? Well, I kept editing and settled on this combination.
It's a reversible patchwork headband! I sent this to Sarah on Wednesday and am hoping she has it by now. If she doesn't, I guess I just let the cat out of the bag. Oops, sorry!
I just love simple patchwork and will definitely make more of these soon!
Today Fatty is 41 years young. Let me tell you about him: he's a loyal friend, a patient and caring father, a thoughtful and loving husband. He picks out books for me, gives me foot rubs and makes me laugh. He is silly and loves a good pun. He loves to travel, eat good food, listen to music, and ride his bikes. He puts up with my messiness and my moods. I couldn't ask for a better companion and friend. I feel blessed to have found him and lucky to have him. Happy Birthday Fatty! I love you.
This is what you get when you mix 20 minutes in the carpool line on Wednesday, some size 17 needles and super bulky yarn. 20 more minutes and I will be finished with this one. Gotta love the carpool crafting!
Here's a sock dog that I am working on for Jane's good buddy Annabel. I have to finish it tonight so she can take it to the birthday party this weekend. You see, Fatty and I are going out of town tomorrow morning and will return on Sunday. I have been a busy girl the last couple of days so I have some posts already set and ready to publish while I am gone. Tricky, huh? No? Well, I thought so.
Have a great weekend!
When you are the birthday girl, you need a birthday shirt. I made this for Kate last week. I shamelessly stole the idea from Georgia who used these three images on the card she made Kate. So, thanks Georgia...it was great inspiration!
The gingham rectangle on the left is a domino. It needs a thicker border, but oh well, I don't think I will be re-doing it any time soon. The traced hand is Kate's - actual size.
Ok - enough birthday stuff (for a couple of days, at least). This week is going to be a crazy one for me so I may just pop in here and there and post some quick photos. Hope you all have a good Monday!
My baby turns five today. For whatever reason, I find this so bittersweet. I know I was this way when Jane turned five, too. It is such a little number signaling a big transition - Kate is no longer my baby, no longer my toddler, she is my child. In her words, a big kid.
And what a big kid she is! She is sweet and charming, stubborn and defiant, confident in her abilities, but scared of the dark. She has a beautiful smile and an endless curiosity. Her imagination amazes me: I have never met a child with so many imaginary friends all who have their own complex stories that she keeps consistent when changing them constantly. She is so grown up and she is still so young. I love the way she says, "Eeee" instead of "Um" when asking a question. And how she talks out of the side of her mouth when she has something clever to say. And how she has declared, at this young age, that she will go to Texas on her honeymoon.
Kate, I am blessed to have you. You tolerate my singing, you keep me on my toes, you test my patience, you melt my heart, you help make my world go round. Happy Birthday Big Girl! You will always be my baby. I love you, bug - more than you know!
I am feeling very scattered today - my mind is going in ten different directions and every surface in this house is covered with something. Here's a peek:
I made envelopes for the soap out of wax paper (bad idea - it doesn't sew very well) and got some stickers made on the xyron before my adhesive roll ran out. Ugh.
Some shirts waiting to be appliqued.
A pile of fabrics that I have been fussing with and editing every time I walk by.
And this mountain of clothes that just keeps getting larger - it just never ends.
Here's hoping for works completed.
Three out of the four members of our family have birthdays in the next 3 weeks - everyone, but me. Kate is up first so we spent the day making favors for her party.
Ta da! Soap!
We had a great time making these letter soaps. I melted the glycerin blocks in the microwave, Kate chose the colors, mixed them up and I poured the hot liquid into the molds. The best part? It is super easy to clean up afterward. Just use water! Tomorrow we are finishing off the goody bags and then Saturday is party time. She can barely wait!
Apparently I have received many comments in the last couple of days of which I was unaware. I do try to respond to all of you individually and I am so sorry if you are waiting for a response. I appreciate all the comments I receive and I like to respond to them in kind. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, Typepad has not kept up its end of the deal as far as comments are concerned....I will try to make it up to you all. I am trying to be patient (not my strong suit, for sure) - please be patient with me.
Gratuitous shot of the girls because I cannot post without a photo!
I won't bore you all with the details of my craft supply odyssey today. It is over and I have what I need now, but, man, it was hard getting it. Instead, I'll share the bright spots...
The maple in front of our house has finally reached its peak - I love this tree and its red leaves. And, yes, it is probably time for the spider webs to come down.
Tomorrow's Friday's birthday girl, Lisa, will be getting this belt tonight over good Mexican food and margaritas. Yummy yum yum! Time to pick up the babysitter.
Did you vote? I did.
My sewing room (I have trouble calling it a studio) is a walk-in closet on our third floor. It is adjacent to the kids' playroom/guest room. When we looked at this house for the first time, I am pretty sure that I didn't even see it. Fatty was the one who pointed it out. So, lucky me, I have my own sewing room.
And this closet, like my clothes closet, is a mess. So I am outing myself in an attempt to get it cleaned up, organized and maybe even stylish.
The built-in's were already there - I had new shelves cut to fit them and painted the walls and trim this summer. That pile of pillows could use some sorting and probably some tossing.
My work table is mostly cleaned off - that is only because I have been sewing a lot this past week. The collage and some other art need to be hung on the walls. Maybe some kind of thread storage too.
But, then there is this pile UNDER the table that needs major folding and sorting.
More bits and scraps that need to be put away or tossed.
I like this window and the shelf below it. The vintage fan is for the hot summer because there is no vent in here. I would love to see more cute accessories lined up on this shelf. In my dreams, it might look like my personal version of this or maybe this.
Here goes nothing!
I spent most of the day sewing, but don't have anything to show for it. No photos, that is. That's okay, though. I finished the project and was very happy with the results. Now it's packaged up and on its way. All good - very good.
I have no reason to show you Fatty's truck other than I love it. It makes me smile: all that turquoise with chrome and a little red to spice it up - vintage and smart. So there - that is reason enough.
Here's my nephew Ian modeling the shirt I made for him awhile back. I snapped this photo today before he and his parents started their road trip home. We had a fun weekend hanging out with my brothers and their families. Playing the ponies, eating and drinking too much, and staying up late have left me dragging. I have a long list of things to do and some deadlines to meet, but am not feeling productive at all. A nap on the couch while the girls watch Alice In Wonderland sounds like heaven. Catching some Zs will energize me - at least, that is my hope. Keep your fingers crossed - I am off in search of a cozy blanket....
