Patterns!

I am proud to say that this past week I created not one but two patterns!  The first is a doll pattern that I am still tweaking, but it is a pattern.  Drafted by myself onto paper to be replicated by me at any time I see fit.  The second is a simple bag.
I moved to Texas in October of 2010.  I was living with my inlaws and feeling very, well lost.  I decided I wanted to make my children Halloween candy bags, you know nothing fancy just a little bag.  Shall we say my sense of scaling was off?  I made 2 huge tote bags that we could have carried the children in, and neither of the children could actually carry.  So this year, back to the drawing board.  Here is one of last year's bags:

Just imagine a two year old inside it with a bit of room, you get the idea...

My work is having a craft fair at the end of September and since I'm crafty they asked me if I want to sell anything at the employee table. I'm a little panicked as I've never sold any of my crafts before. I'm also lacking capital to buy raw materials. Which prompted me to remake the bags, and with the extra material I would be able to have a few to sell. Just like that:

Overheard This Week

Daddy why do you have to go to work?  Is it so we can buy cheese?

Dolls!

I have been bitten by the doll bug.  I am busy making little dollies and trying to come up with a pattern that is versatile enough that I can make it many times without getting bored.  There is so much to dollmaking that I never thought about before.  Right now I have these books checked out from the library:

I am going through them line by line, then dreaming, and doing.  I do find though, that I have a very strong opinion about what I like and what I don't like. 

Overheard This Week

I can't see myself growing!

Goodies

So, almost a month ago (!) the family and I made a short trip to Denver.  Too short of a trip honestly.  I got to see some friends and have a bit of time.  The highlight for me of course was getting to go to the lovely shop of wonderment that is Fancy Tiger!  I had been holding myself back from buying all sorts of lovelies so I could buy a whole bunch of beauty there!  So without much ado my scores:
Fabric

Yarn

Can you guess what I'll be making this fall?  Have any ideas of what those fabrics need to be made into?  If you look to the far bottom left and far right in the fabric photo you will see my fat quarters of the limited 5th anniversary Fancy Tiger print.  I was one weekend too late to join in on the festivities, but thanks to an amazing friend they saved me some.  In case you hadn't guessed all of Molly's hair was purchased during this trip(with the exception of the brown which I did buy at Fancy Tiger just like 2 years ago!).  I know what you are thinking, the yarn purchases looks a bit on the small side right?  Well that's because in October I am going to Rhinebeck!  I fully intend to increase my yarn stash while there.

Swaps and Things!

I have signed up for two craft swaps.  What is a craft swap you may ask?  Well it can be many things.  The ones I am a part of are through Ravelry, you sign up and are assigned a partner, there are specific classes of things you make ie. a dishcloth and then you mail it to your partner and they mail you one too!  I'm kinda excited about the whole thing.  I also discovered this website, and I may participate.  I love the idea of making something to send to a complete stranger to help cheer them up.

Overheard This Week

Son: Mama the mouses took my cars and broke them.
Me: The mice took your cars?
Son: No, not the mice the mouses.
Me: Oh, the plural of mouse is mice, not mouses, it's an odd word.  And we don't have mice in the house.
Son: Well, if we don't have mice then who will steal my cars and break them?

And Molly Too

I just finished a doll for my daughter.  These little dolls are addictive!  I'm already planning the next one, outfit and all.  Molly was made from a pattern in the Growing Up Sew Liberated book.  I did however do a crochet cap wig and did not sew the hair as the instructions in the book gave.  I think she came out nicely, and my little girl hardly has let go of her since I handed her over.

Overheard This Week

Son: Mama this is a good dinner.  This is the goodest dinner you've ever made!
Daddy: Is it better than the pot roast?
Son: Pot roast? Pot roast!  Pots are not good to eat!  Pot roast is bad for you.

The Tent is Done!

I have been working on this project since mid June when I received Growing Up Sew Liberated in the mail.  I let my kids look at it and pick out one project each I would make them.  My son of course chose the tent.  My daughter, not quite understanding chose one of the babies photographed in the book.  I informed her that although I am capable of making a baby, I am not planning on making anymore, so she needs to choose a project made of cloth.  She is still debating... but in the mean time I started the tent!  Canvas can get very thick quickly.  I don't think I'll be making anymore tents for some time to come, but I am very happy with it!  So are the kids! 

Dance Party

Today was 110 degrees here in Texas.  Thus there was no outside time for the little ones.  We have found though, that a little dance party to Duran Duran does wonders!

Another Pizza Post

I really am in love with Pizza right now.  Maybe it was this post that made me start thinking about it, and maybe it was my success earlier this year with this recipe that made me think about pizza from scratch.  Whatever it is, my children love pizza and with the heirloom tomatoes on sale and my laziness (really making 3 crusts at once leaves you with free time on the other days) it's a winner!  Tonight we had pizza with a tiny bit of sauce covered in heirloom tomatoes with a sprinkle of salt on each tomatoe, a generous sprinkling of thyme, pepperonis, some spinach coated in olive oil on one half, this baked for 20 minutes before adding the full fat mozzarella and baking for another 5.