kidding around

It’s been a busy gift giving month! This past weekend I attended a baby shower and wasn’t sure what to give…I figured something for NEXT year would be nice and the gift was a hit! Thank you Thrift store for supplying me with a nice stash of jackets.

My niece Tizzy Kay will be turning 2 this weekend and I HAD to make her something…I don’t think my sister would let me in the door if I had picked something up at Target.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this jacket. I knew I wanted to do something different and a woodland idea came to mind. If I am lucky, I will be making her a red cap to match. Who am I kidding? Once I get an idea I really can’t let it go.

Thanks for the nice response regarding the “Family Dinners”. I think I will reveal my list of 15 meals on Wednesday and share my first photo/recipe. If I had it together, I should start a Flickr group and we all could show what we make…hmm, maybe after my first rotation of meals are complete I will start such a group.

Apparently putting your 4 year old in a leotard will give you plenty of time to sew!

Who knew?!

It’s been busy around here (in a good way), but now I have my list of projects/gifts I need to complete in the next week or so…here’s just a sampling of what is making me happy.

I have posted several times about my guilt with my disorganized photos and lack of baby books for my 3 kids. Well, I am making some progress! This summer, I tackled Ellie’s photos and can now proudly say she has her baby book. I made it very clear as I presented it to her on her birthday that it is mine, but when she is off on her own she may take it with her to keep. There are no fussy pages here, just lots of origami paper and photos.

The best thing, as I was digging around in my boxes of “memories” (it’s so hard for me to do this, I get too sentimental) I discovered the journal I kept while pregnant and her first year of life. To say this is a treasure is an understatement. I used a lot of the entries as commentary throughout her baby book.Simon asked if I kept a journal while pregnant with him, I had to honestly tell him no…BUT all of the sentiments were just multiplied with him and Penelope. Seriously.

This journal was also a gentle reminder of my optimism, naiveness, and commitment to my new baby at the age of 25. I really need to get back in the habit of keeping a journal, it’s so cool to open up such time capsules.

Oh- and I love this page. I had actually printed out this photo of Ellie emphasizing that it was sent over the internet. Back then (now I am sounding old), such technology was mind boggling. At least for this low tech girl.

It’s also really crazy to look at my 3 kids’ photos…

1. Ellie- all prints
2. Simon- all prints, some digital
3. Penny- mostly digital!

Next step, actually printing out what is on my iPhoto…good grief, what can of worms am I opening?!

Happy Thursday!

I know a lot of you dear readers will relate to this statement:
“I can’t believe my baby is growing up!”.

My first baby…the one that changed my world, made me a better person, gave a new meaning to love, filled my day with joy and yes, sometimes stress is now 10. She is wonderful and I am eager to see what the next 10 years will bring her. Thank you Elisabeth Helene for being so compassionate, forgiving and eager!

Like many of you mothers, you re-live your birth story with each of your kids on their special day. Hmmm, I think right about now I was told I was not making much progress and was given pitocin. By evening, I had my little girl in my arms and had forgotten about the contractions, pacing, pain (no epidural, THIS time), tearing, focusing…and was totally in love.

With every birthday, I try to make something for the kids. I love figuring out what I will make and then using that time of creating to reflect on them and their future. That’s what is so cool about “handmade” there IS so much more behind the actual gift! I picked this jacket up a few weeks ago at the thrift store and have one more to make for Peppy.

I did make something else that I am really proud of, but that will wait until next week. Happy weekend!

thanks to hillary…I have the most beautiful spinning fairy in my house! thanks for the gift, hillary! Penny is over the moon!

This is a quick post before I dash off to work…

Ellie has her best pal’s sleepover tomorrow night and she wanted to make something really special. She had the idea, I just was her work horse. Isn’t it cute? Freezer stencil+iron transfer+applique’=CUTE! I think there may be some future gifts down the road. Especially for the girl who dreamed it.

I was all stressed trying to get this gift complete because I have 2 more lined up that need to be finished soon- what can I say, I work well under pressure.

don’t you just love giving a gift that you wished was your very own?

that’s how I feel about this year’s mother’s day gift for my mom. i selfishly want it all for ME because i know i won’t take the time to make it myself. it’s completely practical, but totally fun and summery…her own set of napkins with a cultlery caddy and reusable flatware…

i’m pretty sure she will be thrilled, if not, i can always steal it!

happy mother’s day! i’m not sure why, but this year my mind has been focused on how much i am not a great mother. i hope that this year some of my faults will soon be battles i have won and i will truly feel pride next mother’s day.

I’ve become slightly obsessed with making all things miniature.

This doll quilt will be another gift for Penelope and I love it.

I totally just went with it and tried to NOT coordinate fabrics and do too much measuring- and you know what? It was totally challenging to just cut fabric and randomnly sew it altogether. I have always loved the vintage quilts I stumble upon in the thrift stores or in books and admire the spontaneity of all the pieces. But sheesh, I didn’t think I was so “matchy”.

This process reminds me of my college years as an art major. We were studying Jackson Pollock and our professor had us all out on the lawn painting using Pollock’s method of splattering. It was such a challenge. To just let go of what you think is “right” and just create by listening to music and becoming immersed with the paint. Oh and to ignore the snickers of the other majors passing by.

Okay, enough of that- it’s only a doll quilt. But you know what I mean, right?!

I often find that my most enjoyable and creative projects are for my kids. It’s a natural intention to want to make something appealing AND be actually used. Sure, there are toys out there that will bring lots of fun, but I have found that they are really grateful for the things I make for them. That in itself is inspiring and makes me want to create more for them.

But I don’t always feel very creative. Fortunately, the kitties below brought much creative juices this week. I get to thank my pal and creative genius, Hillary for this…I bought this pattern way back and I am so glad I made it. Not only did I sew one, but 3 cats seemed to be the perfect number for my soon-to-be birthday girl.

Then, I couldn’t stop and decided there had to be a perfect picnic scenario. I created this little picnic blanket for Penny and her many tea parties she hosts, but I am also thinking that an adult version may be on the horizon (maybe in my etsy?). It’s so simple and I can imagine many good times will be made this summer.

The girls are so anxious to introduce themselves to Penny, they almost hopped off the table and ruined the surprise!

I’m gonna shake things up here on the blog. Starting next Monday, I will be sharing my favorite gifts I have made for the kids. I’ll probably just re-post from my archives. This should be fun, I have almost 3 years of posts to look through…A walk down memory lane is always nice.

I’m not much of a “gala” event goer (who is?), but I did want to support my kids’ school. So when a note came home a few weeks ago asking for basket donations, I started thinking what I could contribute.

Since I have been in the world of “table dots” lately, I decided making an extra would be perfect. I also included a handmade banner and was pleased to raid my wool felt and scraps of some of my favorite fabric.

Of course, a birthday is not complete without a cake. So a “Barefoot Contessa” country cake mix (they are good!) was included along with plates, napkins, streamers, mixing bowl, wooden spoons, and balloons. Man, donating something like this was fun…

The not so fun part was ripping out the edging last night at 9:30. The perfectionist in me (I do have a bit!) could not stand how the fabric was getting all “wavy” once I sewed the 2 circle pieces together. I knew that I had not paid much attention to how taut the fabric was…to my dismay I ripped 2 lines of stitches (I thought the double stitch looked cute, heh.). I was so angry I couldn’t even watch TV or talk to my husband.

Whew. I was glad that after I fixed my problem, the “dot” was to my satisfaction.

Unfortunately, this was a huge set back and my etsy shop will not open until next mid-week some time. This is supposed to be fun, right? So I am keeping with the fun and not stressing out…I mean it’s not like people will be banging down my doors…literally!

Thanks for all of the really nice comments lately! I really appreciate every one that is made…I love it and am not so good at responding…please know it makes my day!