Sometimes I really, really appreciate my sewing machine...

The real sash is pinky-purple, this is a stop-gap for the purpose of photography :)





Pardon my bragging :)

A super-fun new thing!

I have MADE something again! And you get to hear all about how I made it! Lucky you!!

I found this tutorial during a late-night web-surfing session some little while ago and recently pulled it out of the black hole that is my bookmarks folder and dusted it off and gave it a try. It was fantastic! I took this:



An old shirt of mine from high school (yes I know, should have tossed it out years ago, buit what can I say? I like the fabric...)

And turned it into this:



A little wrinkled from lots of wear in the last two days :)

I modified the sleeves from the original tutorial because I wanted to keep all this delicious edging:



You can go here to find that modification.

Isn't it cool how the front



Becomes the back?



Let me tell you, coming from someone who loves buttons and hates to make buttonholes, this trick will make your life sooo much easier! And look! All that cute edging is there with no effort on my part! Is that cool or what??

Create It Forward

The first five people to respond to this post will get something handmade by me.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done this year (2009).
4. You have no clue what it's going to be.
5. It will be something made in the real world and not something over the internet.

Here's the fine print:
In return, all you need to do is post this text into a blog of your own and make 5 things for 5 others. No cheating; if you want something from me you have to post this on your site and follow through. You do not have to be particularly artsy-fartsy to do this. Really. Just be creative.

Getting back into the swing of things.

It's kind of hard to get back into our schedule. I've gotten used to drifting from one task to the next and my psyche is currently resisting the return to a strict routine. So I've declared a Low Expectations Week around here. This entails a difficult shift in perception for me since I tend to weigh my value as a person based on how much I accomplish in a day. I know, talk about setting yourself up for failure! Especially with two kids...

But anyway. Basically, I'm trying to get one or two school subjects (primarily music) done each day. Try to be exercised and showered by the time the kids get up from naps. Try to have dinner ready and the house reasonably tidy by the time Jeremiah gets home. Like I said, low, low expectations.

I am still allowing myself to binge on projects, however. A carryover from the pre-Christmas frenzy to finish gifts in enough time to wrap them before Christmas morning. I'm on a bag kick right now. Check out these awesome patterns I found. I also bought this fabric, which arrived yesterday and was so inspiring that I promptly turned it into this last night before bed. (it's reversible!)

From Blog 1-6-09

From Blog 1-6-09

I think I'm actually going to keep it. It was going to be a gift for a friend, but... What can I say? I've fallen in love with it!


I'm still hoping to figure out what to do with my front door curtains before going back into full-time school.

From Blog 1-6-09

Yes, that's blue masking tape holding them up. I didn't want to do anything permanent until I decided exactly what I wanted to do with them. At least it matches the walls... I can't decide exactly what to do with it, but those pieces are hand embroidered by my great-grandmother, so they need to be on display

From Blog 1-6-09

And I finally framed and hung the print from our beach trip last summer. Isn't it cute??

From Blog 1-6-09

So all in all, it won't be a completely unproductive week, I guess. Perhaps my sense of self-worth will survive.

Moms for Modesty

Sofi is six this year. Six years old (but in a size 8) which apparently is the new 35. The new slightly racey 35. Or, if you will pardon a glimpse of my southern roots, Fast. Or maybe, Trashy. So six is the new, Fast, Trashy 35. See?




Seriously, would you put your six-year-old in any of the above? It's really troubling to me. Sofi is still just a child. I don't want her dressing in such a revealing/sassy way even when she is a teenager, much less now. But what are we to do? This is what the T@rgets and W@lmarts of the world have for those unfortunates who wear a size 8 at age six. Or any age under 30.

It didn't use to be much of an issue. I had time to sew and made most of her clothing. Plus, until this year, she was in children's sizes where the styles are a little more reasonable. but now school and Judah haev eaten up most of my sewing time and creative energy. So I'm kind of stuck. I've been trying to buy nice things on Ebay from places like Old Navy and The Gap, where classic is still in style (for the most part).

Well, now you can at least make your voice heard. Moms for Modesty is an online petition that allows me to voice my indignation at the trend of girl's fashion in this country. They have a blog where they are gathering on-line "signatures" to a petition about modesty in girl's fashion and dress. I've signed their petition, will you? You can read their mission statement and grab a button for your own blog at their site. And leave me a note to tell me you did, so I know I am not soapboxing in vain here...

What I have been doing while I've been sick, instead of blogging

The reason these p.j.s look so weird is that he's wearing them on top of his clothes


This is what I call a "Paddington Bear coat"



Yes, they are puppy dog buttons :)


Now I am almost ready for fall. Each kid needs a pair of corduroys and Judah needs a sweater or two and then... let it snow!!