Three Little Cuties*
I have project ADHD. For reals. Sometimes I can’t stay focused on one project long enough to finish it (or even get past the first exciting “NEW!” phase before I get sidetracked by something else. So this week I have my newish projects include: printing my own postcards/notecards/”business” cards with those pictures of Beauty project, an ongoing quilt project that has required a lot more math than I had at first assumed. And sixteenths of inches. Lame. And then last night I got all excited about these new little cuties. And all of this at the same time. Sheesh. But, these new one’s ARE cute, aren’t they!
[ Rufus dog pattern from hop.skip.jump. ]
Excuse me while I give myself a stern talking to.
“Ok self, listen up. Stop adding things to your list. We’ve got enough stuff on it and we really need to start some crossing things off the list. (I’m a crosser, not a checker). I’ve got a NEW list for you to stick to. Pay attention, these are in order.
- 1)Finish two quilt tops this week.
- 2) Notecards- wait for coupon and then combine with giftcard and get for free. Awesome! So maybe this should have been number three…
- 3) These patterns? Well, hold them and love them and start thinking about Christmas.
- 4) And the rest of that stack of things to do and places to go and drawers to organize and laundry to fold? Well, think about that tomorrow. You are much more successful with three item lists.”
[ Gerald Giraffe pattern from hop.skip.jump ]
(Except for maybe this next one. I might need to make this doll right now. Or maybe four. They look cute in fours! List is out the window.)
[ Poppy Doll pattern from hop.skip.jump ]
I love this doll, so simple, so perfect, so on the way to my house. inbox.
Oh, and one more thing for that list
- 5) Justify purchasing three patterns (they were on sale!) by telling yourself that you returned half of the shirts you bought yesterday, and a sweater from last Christmas. (Really. It’s been sitting in the bag with the tags and the receipt for MONTHS. And thank you Kohl’s for giving me all my money back. And good luck selling a sweater in July.)
The Hop. Skip. Jump Shop is the brainchild of Australian designer/artist Fiona where she sells her patterns and a few amazing softies. She also has an adorable blog which was one of the very first that I ever bookmarked. You know, back in those days when I had no idea what a google reader was. I don’t know how I survived.
Now, I’m going to see what I can do with this Thursday of mine. I guess I’ll start with number 1- Work on those quilts. I’ve got everything cut (I think) and now I just need to start sewing. If I am lucky maybe I can get Scott to do the pressing of seams for me? Wish me luck on that one! What’s on your to do list?
- 6) I almost forgot. I am going to make a cherry pie today, well, if I can get enough cherries pitted and into my bowl before they make it into my mouth. I love fresh cherries!
*From Title: Ok, so it’s 10 little cuties if you count them all up, but I told you, I’m good with lists of three.
A Little Sewing Love
My friend Danielle emailed me a link last night to maybe the coolest thing ever. (Ok, not really. My typewriter is the coolest thing ever. This is close.)
Elizabeth Hartman, the brilliant mind behind Oh Fransson! recently discovered this gem at her local Goodwill. I know. I’m DYING! Pink! Vintage! Sewing Machine! !!!! No disrespect to Bluebird, my own vintage turquoise machine, but I would trade her in a heart beat for this beauty. I mean look at her! She’s PINK!! And came with a whole pile of feet!!! (I better throw in a few more exclamation points for good measure.) !!! !! !
She paid just $40 for the machine, the sewing cabinet and a drawer full of feet and manuals and accessories. I think that is what Thrifting Heaven is going to be like. You can read the whole post here, or check out her flickr set to see even more glorious pictures.
Creamie and I have been having a great week so far. I’ll post some pictures soon, but today I’m going to be cutting and sewing like mad. I’ve got a (self imposed) deadline!
A New Project
I have finally finished a painting project! I don’t know what it is about painting, but I just don’t like it. I bought this chair at a thrift store ages ago for $5. And it took me months to get around to recovering the seat. And a few more months to start painting, and finally on Saturday afternoon during naptime I finished it up.
It used to be a hideous color of dirty honey oak. But I really liked all the twirly curvy lines on it. I covered the seat cushion with some fabric I’ve had for months, and I just realized on Saturday that it is exactly the same color as the walls in my crafty room. It’s just cotton, so it might not last long, but it was less than $1 for the scrap, so I don’t really mind. Besides, it probably won’t get a ton of wear anyway. I don’t actually sit on it very often. I usually sit on a little stool when I’m at my desk. It just seems more comfortable.
My next project is going to be pretty fun. I am still just as in love with Beauty as I have always been, (and I think I always will be) but now I am going to put her to work. I am hoping to make some notecards with these photos. And I don’t know that I would sell them, but I sure like them!
I got this idea yesterday night and unfortunately it’s pretty cloudy and overcast today (hence the awkward photo of my chair as well). So these pics aren’t exactly how I’d like them. Yet. But I love the idea, and just because they aren’t perfect doesn’t mean I’m not going to use them today. Beacuse as soon as Creamie wakes up we are going to get a pile of them printed. I have some mail to send!
Tonight we are going to a 10 year reunion of sorts. I am going to see a lot of my friends from Russia that I haven’t seen in so so long. I can’t wait to see everyone! Happy Monday!
Summer time
Today is Pioneer Day, a state holiday to commemorate the first settlers who came out West and finally made it to this dry parched desert I call home. And to celebrate them, and all those that came after (some of whom I belong to) I am going to hang out with family, build a big fire to cook our dinner and then do a lot of fireworks.
[ Corn on the Cob Cupcakes by Martha ]
And one day I am seriously going to make these for a party. But not today, I’ve got watermelon to cut and things to do and places to be. Have a happy weekend!
Another Apron
I am guest posting for Sew&Tell over at Amylouwho today! Go check her/me out. And here is another project I finished yesterday to add to Sew&Tell for this week. I just can’t help making aprons. They are easy for me to throw together (though if I ever decide to use an actual pattern and directions and stuff I’m sure I’ll be lost) and they have a great big cuteness factor. My niece is turning four next week and this is her present.
I actually have six niece and nephew birthday’s before the end of August, and I’ve only got one more gift to make. I’ve never been so prepared and ahead of schedule in my life. And actually, if it hadn’t been for Danielle I wouldn’t have even thought to make an apron for little D.
Danielle and I are d0ing a swap of sorts, and she sent me this scrap from her stash. She made a dress out of it for another small girl a while back. But as soon as I saw this little scrap with the cute border print I knew it was going to be just enough to make a little girl’s apron. (I’ve got a few other bitty pieces which I already have plans for.)
I probably would never have picked out this fabric to purchase myself. And Danielle isn’t some crazy ladybug lady either. But little girl’s love this kind of thing, and I’m sure both of them are/will be happy with their new stuff. I didn’t have anything to line this apron with to make it reversible, which is kind of a bummer. I think making them reversible requires much less work. No pressing under tiny little seams which always gives me a few steam burns from the iron.
I do love how the sash turned out with the little bit of border print on the ends. And while I was making the long skinny ties I came up with a much more brilliant way to turn long skinny ties. I’ll share that sometime soon. (And then someone can point out to me that “Duh, of course that is what you do. And if you had just googled it first then you’d have seen these 18 million tutorials to teach you exactly that.” But you can hold off on saying that until I post it : o) .) The best part about using someone else’s stuff to make things with? It is free. And I am all about free projects.
So I learned something in the 10 minutes it took to photograph this little number. Do you want to know? Here goes. A) It is much much easier to get a good picture of an article of clothing if you can put it on the person it is intended for and take a picture. Creamie is too little to model this one for me. B) If you can hang it on a hanger photographing is also easier. C) If all else fails, take down all the pictures from the only bit of wallspace in the living room and use that as a backdrop. D) I really need different colored walls to make this look good. E) Next time I buy/build/decorate a house, I am going to have a specific spot where I can take photos of clothing. I mean, it will have other purposes as well, but it may or may not be designed with this particular idea in mind. F) You really shouldn’t make ABC lists that go any farther than D.
Happy Weekend! I’m going to a party tonight and a few parties tomorrow and probably one on Sunday and then another Monday evening. I’m all about the summer BBQ. (Also, it’s a State Holiday Weekend so the more the merrier!)
New Pattern!
So you know Creamie’s little raincoat I made? Well Austrailian designer Toni Coward of Make it Perfect patterns has just released this pattern in a larger size. Her original was a 6 month to 5 years, and the new Big Uptown Girl is 6 to 10 years old. I think I’m going to be making one in every size for everyone I know. (But not really…. maybe.)
To celebrate all her hard work she is giving away one of her new larger patterns over on her blog. I’d tell you to go check it out, but I really don’t want any competition. So don’t click this link : o)
Brick Walls
Last night I was cleaning up a few stacks of paper and I came across a scrap that had a quickly scribbled note. And it was too good not to share! This was something I wrote while driving (I was being very careful, you can be sure) after I had picked up my 6 year old nephews from kindergarten one day. We had been talking about what they wanted to do when they grew up.
Dylan: One day when I’m a daddy I’m going to build a brick wall and then put DYNAMITE around it and BLOW IT UP!
Me: (stifling laughter I am sure) Really? Why are you going to do that?
Dylan: Well, you’ve got to build SOMETHING to blow up.
[ image ]
Brick walls, consider yourself warned.
Tutorial Roundup
The paperwork project I started yesterday is shrinking. Slowly. I’ve still got miles of paper to deal with, don’t get me wrong, but at least right now I can see the tunnel. No end or light in sight, but the tunnel is clearly visible. I hope that by tomorrow I’ll have a little better handle on it. But that means I was working on that tunnel instead of spending my day dreaming up cute projects and making fun stuff. So here is a roundup of fun projects tutorials that are on my to-do list. I’m sure you’ll find one to add to yours!
Peek a Boo Toy Sack from Make It Perfect
Yeah, I want one in every color, for every toy and for every project in my whole house.
Reusable Swiffer Dust Cloths from Sew Much Ado
I wish I had seen this tutorial before I purchased the jumbo size refill box at Costco. She also has a tutorial to make reusable Swiffer Sweeper cloths.
Gathered Clutch Tutorial by Anna at Noodlehead
Anna posted this tutorial as part of the Celebrating Mom gig that dana and disney put together for Mother’s Day. So cute, but it has a zipper, so I’m afraid.
Recycled Newspaper Gift Bags from How About Orange
These are so going to be a part of every gift giving occasion!
But before I do any of those I really need to make Creamie some new pajama’s. Not only has she grown out of her current jammies, but they are the kind that snap all the way up the front. And she thinks it is hilarious to unsnap them before she goes to sleep. Every single night. Which wouldn’t worry me, I mean, a kid can sleep with their pajama’s off in the summer. Except for that one little issue that she knows how to take her diaper off too. And keeping her pajama’s on is my first line of defense. So maybe I’ll cut apart some of my old t-shirts and make her a few of these for bedtime. I can’t bring myself to pay good money for ugly pajamas. And that is the real reason all of her jammies are too small in the first place. Everything that is under $20 (for pajamas for a one year old!) is either scratchy fabric, or ugly, or plastered with character prints which I am so not in favor of. So mom, I’m coming to borrow your serger. Jammies here we come.
The 90 Minute Shirt by Dana at Made
Part of her Celebrate the Boy Month it looks like perfect jammies to me!
What are some of your favorite online tutorials? I’m always looking for some new one’s, so leave a favorite in the comments and share the love.
Piles of Paperwork
I have been buried, and there is only a very slim chance that I will make it up for air before Thursday, or sometime in October.
[ source unknown ]
I’ve been working on the stacks of paperwork that have been accumulating in my husbands office for more than a year. That’s right. A YEAR. Monday I spent more than 12 hours shuffling through stacks and stacks of paper. And now all those stacks are at least organized by subject and date and some of them are put away. I am happy to announce that 2009 is officially organized and labeled and filed. And only 7 months late. Today I’ll be working on 2010. Wish me luck!
A New Dress
In between farmers markets and family reunions I made Creamie a new dress over the weekend. It has a shirred top, similar to her 4th of July dress I made a few weeks ago. It was easy, fast and the results are super cute, and that is my kind of project. I am loving the versatility of this pattern by dana at made. (And to make me like her even more (if that were possible) dana recently featured a picture of Creamie in her 4th of July dress in this post!)
I actually bought this fabric more than a year ago. Purple really isn’t my color, like at all. I’m actually going to call this lavender, that makes it seem less awful in my mind. But, there’s a story here, ready? Creamie was a very strong baby, holding her head up by the time she was two days old and standing up while holding onto one (yes, just one) of my fingers before she hit 2 months. She was just so interested in moving and seeing things that she wasn’t about to sit still. I think she was just impatient to get going, like her mother. Sometimes as she would stretch her neck and turn her head to see what was going on she looked just like a turtle, peeking out of her blankets. And Scott started calling her Tortuguita, which means “little turtle” in Spanish. It was right about this time that I saw this fabric, designed by Anna Griffin.
And the first two times I saw it I didn’t buy it. It had two major flaws. Number 1: It was purple. Number 2: It had turtles printed on it. I’m not really a turtle prints kind of girl. And it took some time to come to terms with both of these in my mind. But I finally caved and brought it home with the intent to make her a dress. Eventually. And then six months later I saw these little lavender Mary Jane shoes on clearance for $3. They were a near perfect match, but only in one size. So I decided to wait until she grew into the shoes to make the dress so she could wear them together. Brilliant of me, right? Actually it was probably more a case of “oh-good-now-I-can-procrastinate-this-project-a-little-longer-without-having-to-feel-guilty-about-starting-new-projects.”
At any rate it is now 16+ months after I purchased the turtle fabric and I have a finished project. And I have come to terms with the little lavender turtles and now I actually like them. It probably had a lot to do with finding the coordinating lavender and lime green print for the hem and the sash. You can’t go wrong with a little lime green, right? This dress is complete with puffy sleeves (no pattern for those, I made those up as I went and only had to pick them out once, which I consider very successful), a long lavender sash and matching MaryJanes. This is probably my new favorite. I love how she looks in it. And as long as she can collect a handful of sticks she likes whatever she is wearing.
I made this hem six inches deep so that I can let it out as she grows and hopefully this dress will last more than her standard three months. Not that I mind. When she grows out of this round of dresses I will have the perfect excuse to make a few more. What did you get done with your weekend?
pinksuedeshoe 