Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Pants!

My mom and I went to the Goodwill Outlet Store last week.  We didn't get a huge load, but found some fun stuff.  Of course!  One of my finds was a Gap XL blouse in a lightweight, light pink cotton.  It had a beautiful eyelet hem on the body and sleeves.
Today, I cut off the sleeves and turned them into pants for Baby M.  I should have taken pictures of the process I know!  Sorry.  I couldn't even find a picture of the shirt since I cut it up before taking a picture.  Oh well.  It was very simple, really.  I cut off the sleeves. They were raglan, so that gave me more length to work with.  Then I eyeballed a crotch curve.  I used the sleeve seam as the pants inseam.  When I got the pants put together, I realized there just wasn't enough width in the back.  So I took out the back seam and put in a triangle of fabric.  It looks a little sloppy, but I plan to make a tunic-style top to wear with them for summer, so I'm not too worried about it.
The body of the shirt will be a skirt.
Here's pictures.  Oh, and they need some ironing too.  But I have to un-bury my ironing board.  I'll get there.



Friday, January 07, 2011

New Year, New Projects

If you know me, you know I like to have projects going.  Mustn't be bored.  No! NO!  Not that my life has much risk of leading to boredom of any kind.  But better safe than sorry right?  So, some of my projects for the new year...
First, a crafty project.  I love, love, love crafts.  You may have picked up on that.  Did you?  One craft that I haven't done since I was little is embroidery.  I like it, it's beautiful, I just didn't feel much need to do it.  But I have been drawn to it again.  The universe aligned and I'm back to embroidery.  :-)  My kids are getting a little bigger and a little more independent.  So having a needle, thread and work with teeny stitches is becoming more realistic.  Then, Alicia Paulson came out with her new book, Embroidery Companion.  If you craft, you really should check out her books.  The other is Stitched In Time.  It is a beautiful collection of crafts.
Anyway, the amazing Annette at A Simple Breath is hosting a year long sew-along for the Embroidery Companion.  "Just the thing," I thought!  A group of crafters, all working on the same project each month, providing me with some motivation and accountability!  So, I am currently working on the first project--Tea Towels!  Fun!  I am enjoying it very much, but I am having to do it in such teeny-short bursts I fear I am going to have 12 more UFO's at the end of 2011.  Some things to work on in 2012 I guess!

Next up is a more intellectual pursuit.  I have been feeling for sometime that something is missing and that something is ritual and seasonal awareness.  Apparently I am not alone!  I have found that several of my friends were feeling the same way.  To support each other in attempting to bring this to our lives, we have started a blog called, Motherwheel: LDS Families Celebrating the Seasons.  We just launched this week!  Currently there are introductions to the families participating and some basic information.  We plan to share our experiences as we celebrate the 8 Sabbats of the Wheel of the Year.  I am also currently working on some book reviews to share as well as some informational posts. One about references to the New Moon in the Bible and one about some history of the symbol of the serpent. Aaaand, I am taking a year-long class related to this project.  The classes are once a month and sound just about perfect.  My brain is swimming I tell ya! Hopefully I get really good at the embroidery so it can allow my brain some wandering time.

Of course, later in the year, I also have the garden to keep me busy.  This will be the first  Spring I can plant super early, so I am making some plans of what to plant.  Yum!  I hope this is the year my kids magically start liking vegetables.  LOL
I talked to the kids some about their role in the planting.  They are looking forward to being a part of the garden again.  They really do enjoy it.  M and G are thinking about starting extra seeds this year to sell to people they know.  I think it would be an excellent way for them to make some extra money.

And finally, for now at least (ha!), I took the plunge and purchased the kit from LearningHerbs.com.  Hooray!  I love herbs and we use a fair bit of herbal remedies, but I get frustrated with my lack of knowledge.  I had looked into herbalist classes in the past, but couldn't figure out how to make the time and effort to do that.  But this is a kit that takes the learning through project by project.  Hopefully, by the end of my kit experience, I will have enough basic knowledge to continue to self-teach until I feel ready to take full-on classes.  Or maybe I will be satisfied for a time with my level of knowledge.  Who knows? At any rate, my kit should arrive in a few days.

So, now that I write that all out, I can say I look pretty crazy.  Good thing one of my other projects is to work on including the kids in more housework.  I apparently just scheduled my 24 hours and didn't leave room for much else!  If you see me dinking around Facebook, ask me how I'm doing and if I have time to be there.  The answer will probably be No.  At least I have guaranteed no boredom for another year.  :-)

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Family Photo Session

C had a photo shoot on Friday, so he left the studio set up and we took some family pictures on Saturday Morning.  His studio is in the bonus room, so it is temporary.  He sets it up when he has a shoot and then has to get it all taken down before the kids do too much exploring.
Anyway, taking family pictures with 4 busy kids is such an adventure.  C still has to go through them and adjust some things, but I just had to share this one.  It cracks me up!

When AuntJ saw it, she remarked that it looks like a "hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil" kind of shot. hahaha

Oh, and I love, love this one.  Even though she is almost 20 months old, Little M has to take frequent breaks for Bahb.  Milk.  She does love her milk!

Saturday, December 04, 2010

Cookin' Somethin' Outta Nuthin': Little Plumb Cakes

Cookin' Somethin' Outta Nuthin': Little Plumb Cakes


I'mn cross posting this because these cookies are so yummy and I know lots of people are looking for holiday baking recipes. I also describe how to make candied goodies. Go check it out!

Friday, December 03, 2010

What's keeping me warm


I bought this sweater a year ago with a birthday gift card.  I heart Anthropologie.  It turns out I'm wearing it a lot these days.
You can find me standing around, wearing my sweater, and holding a steaming mug of tea.
Hey.  At least it's sunny today!  But you know what I learned those years in Moscow at the UofI?  Sun in winter = colder day.

Also going on:  My sewing got all spiffed up by my Mum.  What an awesome birthday present, eh?  So I'been taking advantage of being able to find things by making a mess lol.  My daughter is potty learning.  At 19 months.  And she is teeny.  They don't make panties in a size 12 mos.  So I'm sewing away, making panties and training panties.  Pretty ones too.  I knew I'd eventually have a use for rose print knit scraps.  :-)

And I can't say too much publicly about my knitting project.  But it is loads of fun and involves this yarn in colorway chlorophyll.  Yum!
I have a million more projects I'd like to be working on.  But I have 5 very important projects whom I love very much.  Someday more of them will be a bit more self-sufficient.  SOME of them may even learn to not fiddle with things they shouldn't in the sewing room.  Maybe.
Now, off to make some dinner--that reminds me. I have oodles of recipes I need to get posted to the cooking blog.  Including chocolate syrup!  Then I'm heading to Alicia Paulson book signing up in Portland tonight.  Lucky Me!!  Just makes me aware of my lack of a really cute purse when I go out on my own sans diaper bag. :-(  But I'll have fun neverless.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Lost tooth!


I think the picture pretty much sums it up.
He has been wiggling it like mad lately, and it finally fell out just before school today.  He was a a little concerned about the whole blood thing, but was reassured pretty quickly.  M helped him wrap it up in a tissue and stash it in a sandwich baggy until bedtime.  He is still pondering whether or not to let the tooth fairy take it or keep it for himself.  The latter requires a written letter around here. We'll see what he decides.

Sunday, September 05, 2010

Do you miss me?

LOL
If you are friends with me on facebook, probably not.  :-)

Just had to share a find for my natural family living friends.  You all probably already knew about it, but I just found it and am loving it.  It is Rhythm of the Home online magazine.  Beautiful!  It really speaks to me.  I'm putting a link in the sidebar for my own reference if you forget and need help finding it again too.
Anyway, I'll try to share more pictures in the near future