8:06 a.m. - First Trip to the Post Office

Stocked up on priority mail supplies and sent out our Christmas cards (yes, you read it right).  I felt compelled to stamp all the envelopes with Happy Valentine's Day because, although they say, "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All," most likely they will show up on Wednesday.  And talk about mixed messages...the photo of the girls was taken on the Fourth of July, they are wearing red and blue sundresses and waving the flag, and the bottom of the card has 2006 on it.  Oh well, better late than never.

9:47 a.m. - Second Trip to the Post Office

Kate's class field trip to buy stamps and mail letters.  She told me not to look!

3:22 p.m. - Third Trip to the Post Office

 

Miniswap package finally sent to Amanda and Max!  To see what we gave, click on the photo.

Chances are that if you are expecting something from me (and there are a few of you who are), your box will go in the mail this week, too.  I have a long list of stuff I need and want to do over the next few days.  So, I think I will be posting more photos and less words.  Now, if I could just remember to take my camera with me when I leave the house, I'll be in good shape.

Thanks for all the apron love...you guys are the best!

This week I have been seeing stripes.  Then I started knitting some.

And knitting random stripes is much harder than I thought.  Next time, I think I'll use this.

That would be the sound of me screaming with excitement!  The spring issue of Adorn hit the newsstands yesterday and I AM IN IT!

Wow!  After I made this pinafore last fall, Adorn's Craft and Decorating Editor, Linda Perrman emailed me and asked if I was interested in making an apron for the tea party story.  Was I ever!  They sent me a great bundle of fabrics from Reprodepot and I got to work.  Here it is...

You can also find me on the contributors page.

I was extremely honored that they wanted to showcase something I made.  I never imagined that I would ever be published in anything, let alone a great magazine!  This would have never happened without Tie One On so a big thank you goes out to Amy Karol.  I am also in good company...bloggers Abby and Lisa are in this issue, too.

I'm off to do more cartwheels.  Go check it out!

While I was away some goodies came in the mail.

This pile is from Superbuzzy.  I couldn't resist these sweet floral stripes (obviously) - they scream summer dresses for the girls.  And the pears?  Well, they are green and I have a thing for green.

Lots of Denyse Schmidt Flea Market Fancy and some Alexander Henry prints - these came in the box from Purl Patchwork.  I like pink, too, you know.  As if you didn't guess...

An update on my jacket....thanks to all your encouragement and tips (you guys rock!), I managed to do the bust adjustment.  I added 3 inches to the length of the jacket also.  Something happened to the sleeves, though, so I am still working on those.  My instructor fitted it and we are adding to the hips and more to the length.  Muslin version number 2 is finished and hopefully by Monday, version 3 will be done and will not need any more adjustments.  I feel like the little engine...I think I can, I think I can, I think I can....

I spent the weekend in Birmingham visiting my good friend Shannon and celebrating her birthday.  We had so much fun!  Shopping, movie, pedicure, dinner, and lots of chatting.  Many thanks to her husband, Andrew, who took their girls to visit his family so Shannon and I could have some good girl time together.  Fatty gets a big pat on the back for manning the home front here.  You guys are the best!  I made her a bird shirt (similar to these), but forgot to take a picture (email me one, Shannon, ok?) and I am working on a knitted bag for her too.  She picked out the yarn while we were shopping and it'll be done later this week. I'll post a photo then.

Today's birthday girl is my sister-in-law Heather.  Happy Happy Birthday to you!  I made her a bunch of gifts for Christmas, and although I think she is probably handmade gift-ed out, I couldn't resist throwing another one in with her birthday package.

I sent hats to the rest of her family for Christmas, so I figured she needed her own.  The flower is from Blair's fabulous tutorial and the hat was made using Sarah's flapper hat pattern.  I wish I could say putting them together was my idea, but, alas, I swiped that and the pinked edges on the flower from Sarah, too.  Thanks Sarah - they are perfect together!

I have made some progress...

I still have a long way to go.  Hope you all have a good weekend.  I'll be back Monday.

I've said it before - I rarely sew for myself.  But I'd like to, I really would.  I see the things Melissa and Julie make and adore them.  I have the patterns, I have plenty of fabric, but I also have fear.  I am not scared of the actual sewing part.  It's the fitting part that stops me cold.

So I am setting out to conquer the unknown.  I actually signed up for a sewing class and we are making a lined jacket.  Yes, you got it right, a lined jacket (I am doing version B with version A pockets).  My first class was on Monday night.  I showed up with my pattern and three yards of muslin.  After being properly measured, I started cutting the muslin using the pattern unaltered.  When it was all sewn up, it was obvious that I needed to add some length (about 3 inches!) and make a bust adjustment.  I get the length thing, but how in the hell you do make a bust adjustment?  I just sat back and watched as my instructor got out her ruler and marker and started drawing lines and then cutting.  Here is what we ended up with...

I completely understood what she did, or at least that is what I thought.  When I took the pattern out today to lengthen it at the waist and adjust the other pattern pieces accordingly, this one was all messed up.  I spent a good half hour trying to put it back together, but, like Humpty Dumpty, I am missing some pieces.

Anyone have any advice?  Books I should look at?  Helpful little websites I should peruse?  Maybe I should just wait until Monday and start over again....

Meg's daughter, Jane, and my Jane had themselves a little swap.  These super crafty girls had been working on their goodies for a few weeks and sent the packages off last Thursday.  Sadly, I don't have photos of the package that arrived.  (Call me a bad blogging mom, but the camera battery was dead and I didn't have the heart to make my sick kid wait to open it all.)  You can see it all here.

Jane was so excited and very happy with the goods!  She loves her hot dog buddy and "J" shirt.  Jane also sent my Jane a cd full of great music.  We've been rocking out in the car!

To see what we sent off, head on over to flickr.

Thanks Jane (and Meg)!  I'd say the whole thing was a hit!