Thanks to my friend Marcia for making aware of the Holiday Ornament Swap organized by cake + pie and freshly{blended}.  I am in the brainstorming stage and have a couple ideas that could work.  This is going to be fun!  You want in?  You can still sign up - the deadline is November 1st.

 

It's raining here and has been for a couple days.  Yuck!  It's hard to get a good photo in this gloomy weather so here's a little something from a couple of weeks ago.

It's a paper trophy honoring my fashionable friend Kelly that I made the Sunday we were in New York.  She out shined us all walking the streets of Manhattan.   When I saw this photo on the front of the Fashion (maybe Style?) section, I knew what I had to do.   All it took was newspaper, some scotch tape and some scissors.  I wish I could say that it was usable, but alas, the clasp is inoperable and the scotch tape is not so sturdy.  It made me think some about sculpture and what it takes to make it.  Also, constructing something three dimensional out of something other than fabric took me out of my box so to speak.  I think I'd like to get my hands dirty again. 

Speaking of dirt, to say my hands were filthy when I finished is an understatement.  I have never seen so much black water in a pristine white hotel sink.  Oh well, I had fun!

A work in progress a day early...Kate's Glinda costume

And look what arrived on our doorstep this morning - hot rollers!  Glinda would not be complete without the curls.  Good thing I was a girl in the 80's - all that big hair!  Thanks for sending them Mom.

All the costume sewing has left me little time to do something for myself so I took my big pile of unread magazines...

...and got a pedicure.  Aahhh - relaxation!

Finn - I made this t-shirt for our nephew, Finn, who turned two on Sunday.  Happy Birthday Kiddo!  Hope you had a ball! (note to his parents:  pun intended!)

Failure to post - issues with typepad last night - so frustrating!  Anyone else have problems?

Finishing Flapper Hat - almost done and so cute, I tell you.

Flying - off to school we go.

Late yesterday afternoon, I decided I was in the mood for soup.  I was thinking something along the chicken noodle variety, but when flipping through Barefoot Contessa Family Style, I found this:   Roasted Winter Vegetable Soup.  A quick trip to the store and an hour later, we were in business.  Yum!

While the soup was simmering, I also made these delicious pumpkin cupcakes.  Thanks goes to Amy and Mailorder for that yummy recipe.  Topped with cream cheese frosting, these are the things that autumn-y dreams are made of.

After we finished eating and got the kiddos in bed, I curled up on the couch with a blanket and some knitting and watched TV.  The perfect end to a very nice Sunday.

Success!  I finished the Dorothy costume with time to spare.  And even better, Jane loves it!  She was giddy with anticipation as we braided her hair and got ready to go to the party.  She spent quite a few minutes in front of the mirror, twirling around and admiring her shoes.  Doesn't she look cute?

The costume came together surprisingly well.  I had a few issues with the zipper.  I am not sure what the problem was, as I have successfully sewn zips many times.  It was close to 11:00 at night and my eyesight was getting a bit blurry - that might have had something to do with it.  I finally stopped caring after try number two, repeating to myself, "It is only a costume."  But overall, it looked difficult, but really was pretty easy.

But in the end, the zipper came back to haunt me.  Jane had a little mishap in the jumpie - one of her buttons got caught in the mesh side.  Her friends literally ripped her free.

I don't know if she was more upset that the dress had ripped or that people could see her back.  Not to worry - it is all fixable.  The rips are on the seams and can be easily re-sewn.  I'll just have to deal with that zipper one more time.  Wish me luck.

Jane:  Mom, I got some mail!

Me:  Great!

Jane:  Read it, please.

Me:  OK.  Oh, it's a Halloween party at N's house.

Jane:  Yay! (lots of jumping and high-pitched shrieking)  When?

Me (scanning the invitation):  Um, tomorrow?  Yeah, tomorrow. (Panic starts to set in)

Jane:  Do I wear my costume?

Me (wishing I could lie): Yes, you CAN, but you DON'T HAVE TO, wear a costume.

Jane:  Uh, you'd better get sewing.

Me:   I think you're right.

Looks like it's going to be a long night.  At least I already have this much done.  And thank goodness Kate wasn't invited!  I'd really be screwed then.

This is my all-time favorite wall in my house.  No room for discussion - I love it!

Um, this is the clean version of our desk, but as I am looking at the photo I'm thinking it could use a little more straightening.  Maybe later.