Monday, September 03, 2012

Labor Day

Happy Labor Day!  I am very much enjoying a job that has paid holidays, and wishing my husband could share this benefit with me.  I am also very thankful for a mother-in-law who took my children to the park and to lunch toda!  With that break I did a little laboring of my own:

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Here I am piecing my first quilt (this is from a few days ago).  I set a self-imposed deadline of today to finish this little quilt for my baby girl.  I am proud to say I made it!  Onward with the Christmas crafting!  (If only I were kidding...This year will involve more woodworking.)
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Most of the fabric is Heather Ross' Crafty Chloe line from Hancock Fabrics. The rest is from bed sheets that are no longer serviceable.  I used our old cloth diapers for the batting, and let me tell you, those diapers are dense!  You see, I am trying to keep myself on a strict budget.  The more things I use that I already own the better.  Repeat after me thrifty =crafty.  I don't think I'll be making anymore quilts in the near future.  But for now, both my little ones have their very own quilt made just for them by family. 

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Overheard This Week

Boy, it sure was nice of Uncle E to come for a visit.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Overheard This Week

Son: Do you think that little girl in the restaurant will find her Daddy?
Husband: It was a small restaurant, I'm sure she already has.  How would you find Mama or I if you were lost?
Son:  I would look for you in your gray shirt and Mama's hair and face.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

A Bit of Sewing

I wanted a pair of shoes, not just any shoes these shoes.  But, I have this issue with spending all my money on crafting supplies.  Instead I made a skirt:

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It's the skirt from the Saturday Night Silk Jersey Set from Heather Ross' book Weekend Sewing. I adore that book... I used a lycra/cotton jersey fabric I had on hand and my most favorite supply of right now, fold over elastic!
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 I don't think I will make a casing again, well at least not for a skirt!  Now, I just need to find someway to massage to budget to include those shoes!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Overheard This Week

Son: Mama, did you know that some people have gears inside of them?
Me: Why do you think that?
Son: Because some people are really robots, and robots have gears in them.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Overheard This Week

Son: (Looking at a bottle of barbeque sauce) Mama is this sauce made out of that guy?
Me: No, that's Moe's sauce, it isn't made out of him.
Son: Oh, he made all of this sauce!

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Overheard This Week

(Learning to set up a chess board) This coupon goes here, and the cream goes next to the king to protect him.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Overheard This Week

Mama I want the fairies to come and make my toys real.  I've never seen a real toy on our world before.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Day Five

A week of noticing. (With a nod to Habit)
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The cat, the kids, and I really miss my husband. I'm so glad he'll be back tonight!

Wednesday, May 09, 2012

Day Four

A week of noticing. (With a nod to Habit) 2012-05-09 20.15.24.jpg It was so light, I didn't realize we stayed past their bedtime.

Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Day Three

A week of noticing. (With a nod to Habit)

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The kids love the tomato planter so much.  Too bad they still won't eat the tomatoes.

Monday, May 07, 2012

Day Two

A week of noticing. (With a nod to Habit)
2012-05-07 20.20.19.jpg We had a dinner picnic, even the fairies were invited.

Sunday, May 06, 2012

Day One

A week of noticing. (With a nod to Habit)2012-05-06 10.04.29.jpg
Today I planted that bulb I was forcing for winter. Instead of feeling like I was far behind, I felt like I was finally getting something done.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

KCWC-Kids Clothing Week Challenge!

Well today is day 3.  I won't be doing my sewing until after the kiddos are asleep, but so far I've made my goal each night!  Here's a peek at the shorts I'm making for my little girl:

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Dreams of Heather Ross beauty are running through my head because my little boy will have the same shorts only with the main color yellow and the sides blue!  They are the Treasure Pocket Pants from Sewing for Boys.  It's the April pattern for the sew-along at Boy oh boy oh boy.  I don't think I'll be able to count mine though, because you are supposed to have an embellishment, and I think they already look perfect just in that fabric!  What are you making this week?

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Overheard This Week

Mama people just have bellies, but penguins have tummies.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Kids Clothes Week Challenge

Have you heard of KCWC?  I hadn't until this year.  I really think it'll be just the thing to get me sewing again.  I haven't been sewing much.  Kids clothes take less fabric, I have 2 books full of patterns for them.  This will be a good free jumpstart.  The only rules are work 1 hour each night on a sewing related activity.  I think I can commit to that for a week.  How about you?

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Overheard This Week

Mama, my body doesn't want to take a nap right now.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

The New Hobby

I don't know why it took me so long to try out needle felting.  I've known about it for years.  My favorite craft store in Denver has their own super cute kits.  I've seen really cool felted items made by fellow crafters, I guess I just thought it was too freeform for me.  Well, that has all changed.  Every year I make an easter bunny for my kids (2011, 2010), and this year I had many different thoughts on what to make.  I was browsing Etsy for inspiration when I kept coming across these really cute needle felted bunnies.  My main inspiration was from the amazingly talented fairyfolk shop.  I just couldn't get her cute bunnies out of my mind.  Then I realized I already owned everything I needed to try!  I bought a gnome felting kit at Rhinebeck this past fall, and I accidentally ordered the fiber Phat fiber box a few years ago, oops!  Well here's my version, I still want one of fairyfolk's bunnies in an egg though!
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Hope the kids like it.  It's gonna be tough not to give it to them beforehand!

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Overheard This Week

Son: Hey Mama! Mommmeeee! Mama! Mama! Mama!  Mama!  I have something to tell you!  Maaaamaaa!
Me: What is it?
Son: I forgot to tell you something. Goodnight, sleeptight, don't let the bedbugs bite you or your shoes!

Sunday, March 04, 2012

Dreaming...

The funny thing about not really having winter weather, is that you still get into that winter mindset.  I've been daydreaming and planning, but the thing is, the good weather is now, and the summer?  Well that's the inside season!  I've been dreaming about this workshop.  I love Heather Ross, her sewing book, and all her gorgeous fabric.  Plus, this workshop is in Vermont!  Well, I won't be able to go this year, and probably not next year either, but if I save my pennies maybe I can go after that!
Until then, I need to figure out what to make out of my Heather Ross fabrics I've been hoarding...
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Sunday, February 19, 2012

Overheard This Week

Mama did you see that boy on the tv?  He burped out a snail!  I wish I could burp out a snail.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Overheard This Week

Son: Sister did you make this telescope?
Daughter: Uh-huh.
Son: Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, this is so awesome!  Mama I have a new name for sister, Best Telescope Maker!
(The telescope in question, is infact a rolled up piece of paper.)

Sunday, February 05, 2012

Overheard This Week

Sister, you are going to have to go kiss that bear somewhere else, I am busy.  Please, just go kiss that bear somewhere else!

Saturday, February 04, 2012

A Bit of Magic

We received a really nice art desk/Easel from my brother's family and put it under my son's loft bed.  We're working on rearranging the kids' room.  It's quite dark under the bed and so I decided to hang up some lights I bought months ago.  It really added some needed lighting and color.  Plus the kids just loved helping hang the laterns.  I did however discover we are 8 lanterns short of what the package says we ought to have, oh well.
Now we just need some art on the walls.  These lights should help with that!

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

What A Difference Wool Makes

Sometimes I'm stubborn, okay most of the time.  I hadn't worked with felt much since childhood and figured, you know felt is felt.  I do strive to use natural materials, but aren't there always exceptions?  Since having my kids I have been looking at more kid centered crafts, and many of these involve felt.  On the websites and books they usually state to use wool felt.  I did the price comparison and wool felt is quite a bit more expensive.  So, I just kept using the other stuff.  I finally decided a month or so ago that if everyone keeps talking about it, then it must be worth using.  So I ordered some (as I haven't found a local shop that carries it).  Okay, everyone is right!  I am never going back.  It's amazing how much nicer to work with the wool is.  Plus the wool just looks nicer to start with. 
I made my son his birthday crown last year using, you guessed it, the poly felt. (The stars are wool as they were added this year).
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I made my daughter's out of the wool felt this year.

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Yes, L's has had a year of rough play behind it, so maybe next year I should pull them out to compare again.  But I think these pictures speak for themselves.  I didn't use a pattern, just what I remembered from reading The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections. Which if you haven't checked out this book, you should.  I now know that birthday crowns are a Waldorf tradition, but reading this book was my first introduction to them.
I'd like to say that from now on I'll listen when people call for a better quality material.  Yes, let's leave it there, I'd like to say that I'll listen.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Popsicles in January

2012-01-29 12.19.32.jpgWhen my little man asked for popsicles the other day, I thought why not?  It's not like Texas is very wintry during the winter.  
We had all the ingredients, but I couldn't find my molds or toothpicks for the old standby ice cube tray trick.  After work the next day I stopped at a kitchenware store (oh, what a delight!  Good thing I stuck to my mission because there were so many wonders there).  Buying popsicle molds in January is not the easiest, but what was lacking in choice was made up for by the clearance price!  We now have new popsicle molds, and my little ones got to make their wanted treats.  
I like this recipe Banana Bluebery Swirl, I really like having the yogurt, but juice works perfectly too!
These are the Prepara Volcano 4-Piece Pop Set. They are a little bit finicky about popping out of the cups but if you place them in a very warm bowl of water for a minute or two they release just fine.  One thing that is a bit odd about them is they are hollow in the center.  At first I didn't like this, but since using them, I've discovered it cuts  the portion size down perfectly for smaller children. (This is just my personal view, I am not advertising for anyone.)
 

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Overheard This Week

Son: Why is Sam I Am bamming with those pointers?
Me: He's not bamming, he's pointing to here and there.
Son: Why?
Me: Because he's asking will you eat them here or there, and he points to help get his idea across.
Son: Why?
Me: I don't know you'll have to ask Sam I Am.
Son: Silly Mama, characters in books don't talk.

Monday, January 23, 2012

January Shirt

One of my New Year's resolutions is to make a piece of clothing for each child each month.  Well, at least I can say I'm on track!  I made the Long Sleeve Raglan Tee from Sewing for Boys: 24 Projects to Create a Handmade Wardrobe:
I used to work for a certain natural foods retailer who loves to give their employees tshirts.  Which means I now have a fairly sizeable collection of shirts that I no longer wear.  Since I had two of these guys I thought my little man might like an all green long sleeve shirt.  I also forgot to get a picture of the completed shirt until after my little man was wearing it and being quite uncooperative for photos!
I added a dinosaur applique ala Alabama Stitch Book: Projects and Stories Celebrating Hand-Sewing, Quilting and Embroidery for Contemporary Sustainable Style.  I used another old vendor shirt in a nice bright yellow.  We also went to see an animatronic dinosaur exhibit at a  local museum where my son proudly wore his mama made shirt!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Overheard This Week

Me: Goodnight sweet prince.
Son: Why did you say that word "prince"?
Me: Because a prince is the boy form of princess, so your sister is a sweet princess and you are a sweet prince.
Son: Stop saying that word.
Me: Why?  Would you rather be a princess?
Son: No, I just want to be a boy who isn't a prince or a princess.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Watch This

I had never heard of Bud Nip before watching this video last night.  Now I have another reason to add to why I strive to eat organic.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Overheard This Week

Son: Mama can you see your eyes?
Me: No, can you see your eyes?
Son: NO! Why can't I see my eyes?

Sunday, January 01, 2012

Overheard This Week

"Yee haw!  Yee haw!" Yelled by my almost 2 year old as she ran across the livingroom to jump on her brother's back for a horsey ride.