Presents Started

I found a bit of time during naps today to get one present done.  Problem now, I don't have an 18 inch doll to try the dress on to make sure it fits.  Here's hoping it does...I'll make one more and send them out.

Selfish Crafting

I'm a bad aunt, I have missed not one

but two nieces birthdays this month. I do have the supplies purchased to make them their presents, I've even started on them.... Its just tonight I feel more motivated to work on things for me. I need to finish those socks, It is going to happen. I also have a new Alabama inspired skirt I'm working on as well.  I'm also trying to make a dent in my most recent pile of library books...  What are you working on these days?  What should you be working on?

Recharge

I feel like my batteries are drained, and they don't want to recharge. I need something to lift my spirits, I'm thinking a vacation. Unfortunately, I have no way right now to make this happen, but manifestation doesn't happen without thought, right? Right! So I'm thinking New England, nice green, but not evilly hot like it already is here. Forests, stone walls, and houses that look different from one another. Lilacs, oh how I miss lilacs! How do you relax and recharge? I think I'll go drink a little wine and read tonight. Doctor Who can wait, it's already been recorded for a few days anyway.

Happy Easter!

No matter your beliefs I hope you have a wonderful Sunday.  Ours will be full of children in Mama made goodness, egg hunts, and candy overload.

I put in another photo of the outfits since I added cuffs to the pants to match the shirt.

Goals

So I set some pretty lofty goals for myself and Easter gifts.  Wednesday night I decided that I would make a dress and bloomers for my daughter (both from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing) and a pair of pants for my son.  I learned a lot.  I got frustrated, but I did it.  Now let's hope they fit!  I mean who needs measurements, really?

Overheard This Week

Son: Mama do you have any milk left in your boobies?
Me: Nope, it's all gone now.
Son: Did sister drink it all?
Me: Yes, she drank it all and now we get our milk from cows.
Son: Are we cows now?

Gnomes!

Here are some window box gnomes that are inspiring me right now.  More details later.

Disposable

What does this word mean to you? I've gotten into trouble with my family for using this word too much. I remember I was at a friend's apartment and we were talking about cleaning and she was showing off her new disposable bathroom gadget. I just innocently asked why everything had to be disposable now, what was wrong with a toilet brush you reused? I got icy stares from that one.

Another way to think of disposable is buying things that you don't take care of. I have a wonderful friend who loves thrifting, and she's amazing at it. But she treats everything she owns like crap, she says everything can be replaced for a quarter. It blew her mind when I bought something cheap and then treated it like gold. I love getting things cheap, I also like having things last a long time.

I'm not saying I reuse everything I should or could. I use disposable tissues because the idea of a hanky grosses me out, but not as much as it used to. I've been using cloth pads for a decade and used cloth diapers on my children (full disclosure my daughter has not been cloth diapered since the current living situation started). When I had my own house I used cloth napkins, and we still clean the kids up with washcloths after meals.

I think a lot these days about ways to save money. I'm trying to pay off some debt so my family can have their own space again. It seems to me, that one of the best ways is to buy good quality stuff, and less of it that will last longer. Maybe I am the crazy radical environmentalist my parents are always apologizing for.

And Buttons to Sew Before I Sleep

With apologies to Robert Frost.  I am determined to sew on these buttons tonight.  My dear son has been asking for his shirt, and demanding a pair of pants to go with it, so I'm going to at least provide the shirt.

Overheard This Week

Son: There's a bird playhouse.
Daddy: What do the birds play?
Son: Bird Games.
Daddy: Do they play hide and seek?
Son: Yes.
Daddy: Do they play memory?
Son: No, Daddy birds don't have cards, they aren't people!

Almost Alabama...

Have I mentioned that I love the Alabama Stitch Book?  I think maybe I have here, and here.  Well now I am sinking my teeth into the second installment Alabama Studio Style, and have almost finished a project.  It's not a direct project out of the book, but I did use the pattern included and instructions from the book.  I just have a bit more stitching around the neck and I can wear this thing out and about.

Yes, that is the same fabric as the skirt I hope to complete before the end of this decade, it's from the sheets that were on the bed the first night I was a mama and had my little boy snuggled next to me.  Yeah, I can be setimental, I also have the sheets from my daughter's first night, and I think I may use them for a dress!  Yay crafting!

Another Beautiful Day

A great walk/scoot for the whole family.  Hope the weather is amazing for you too.  We are enjoying each day as it comes, and all the new skills to learn.  Here's to hoping for this beautiful weather to stay.

Bubbles

Today was a beautiful day, just right for bubbles.  And a new bubble toy.

April is Here

I think March is my creative month.  I seem to get so much done, and then along comes April and I seem to stagnate.  It's not that I don't have projects I want to work on, it's just that I'd rather read  this book or this book.  So, maybe I'll finish some projects soon, right after I do some reading.

Overheard This Week

Son: Do I have a milk mustache?
Babysitter: Yes.
Son: Daddy has a mustache, Grandaddy has a mustache, and Grandmommy shaved her beard!

Gray Hair

I have a lot of gray hair, I mean I'm probably upwards of 30% at this point.  And you know what's unfair?

You see this photo (I'm the baby in the middle), my mom has no gray hair, and she's older in this photo by several years than I am now.  My sister also recently told me that if I want to look for new jobs she'll help pay for my highlights, because I guess going natural just encourages ageism.  Well, I am embracing my grays, plus it really confuses people because my face looks much younger than you'd expect from the hair.

Stay on the Sunny Side

I just had a big dose of myself from a few months back.  I know I was unpleasant and negative to be around during the whole job ending debacle at the end of summer last year.  I also know I really didn't want to be like that.  I don't want to be cliche but, isn't the saying bloom where you are planted?  So right now I am going to give 5 things I am thankful for, to show how much good is in my life now:
1. Wonderful inlaws who are not only letting us live here practically for free but are providing free childcare as well.
2. A job that has a set schedule.
3. A little boy who tells me something different daily that he loves about me, today it was my armpit hair.  Now how many people are told that someone loves their armpit hair?
4. A little girl who has started running!
5. My library card, I am thankful for libraries in general!

Maybe these aren't deep thoughts, but you have to start somewhere.

Behind the Times

I have always loved crafting.  I started machine sewing and embroidery when I was still in elementary school.  Even seeking out teachers when my mother did not know how to do what I wanted to learn.  It was always something I did and never very publicly, I guess I was worried I might be seen as being even more uncool.  As I got older I learned many things from books and magazines, it is only now, literally this last month that I have realized all the amazingness that the web has to offer.  Yes, I've been on Ravelry for years, and I've been reading Soulemama for well over a year now, but sometimes I'm slow... I just started reading Sew Liberated and she mentioned Sew Mama Sew which I've been pouring over the last few days.  I totally want to make this shirt.  Plus on the Sew Mama Sew blog for April they are talking about PDF patterns... I'm really excited about it!  So look for lots more sewing (and probably less knitting/crocheting) in the coming month.  Oh and if you haven't been there yet you should check out www.mysewingcircle.com.

Overheard This Week

Many bloggers seem to have a weekly thing they do.  So I have decided once a week to share something silly my children have said.  My son was outside and looked up the gutter drain, then asked his grandfather "Is that where the spider goes up?"