Recovering

With my needles to keep me company I am spending the weekend healing from some awful wisdom teeth extractions. The weather outside is perfect for an evening walk but I just don't think my face which is a little reminiscent of Quagmire can take it. It is strange how I can miss my boys even though I have been in the same house with them for the past 3 days. Heal body Heal!

On the bright side:
1)The projects on my needles are slowly but surely turning into wearable objects
2)The fall like weather is perfect for soup and mashed potatoes
3)Less than a month until a weekend away with the husband (so excited)
4)My hat matches one of my couches, very important requirement in selecting a yarn.
5)Election day and change are just around the corner.

 

 

Little Softies, me and the toys

4 Fabric markers +1 old curtain + 4 year old creative mind = Sew much fun

Tagged

I have been tagged by Sophie Hurray, my first tag!
Rules
1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website
Six random useless facts about me. Ok, here we go

1) I have worked as a florist, a dog groomer, a child photographer, in a preschool, at a dry cleaner, even in a bar in Mexico, the only job I loved was a photographer. Overall though I hate actual jobs.
2) Before I had kids, I never wanted kids, I was going to travel the world. I now can not imagine my world without them.
3) I am going through a creative rut. I am convinced it is my house and moving will solve this problem. My house and I just don't vibe.
4) My favorite colors are brown and yellow, together, alone, I just love them.
5) My dream is to have Alpacas. I have even googled "Alpaca feet" I was very curious as to what the bottom of their feet look like. I did not find any good pictures. The next time I see an alpaca I will get a good look.
6) I love cereal nothing fancy or sugary. I could eat it every meal, I don't but I could. We have cereal for dinner every Thursday.

I made this shirt a couple of weeks ago. I love this fabric, I bought just enough for the shirt and when I went back it was gone. I have no idea who makes it, any ideas?? The pattern is Built By Wendy 3835. So simple so fast. Next time I will make the elastic on the sleeves and neckline a little looser and account for the fact my right arm is a tad bit bigger than my left (I never realized this and have become slightly paranoid about it) My goal is to make a couple more this week. I have not been making anything and am feeling a little frustrated with my self. I am in a creative funk.
The house I so wanted in this post is not going to be ours. We found out it will probably not be anyones. We knew it was a fixer but after we found everything out sadly realized it is more of a goner. The soil around the entire house is contaminated due to the awful previous owner and an illegal septic tank, ew. The poor house is literally falling apart and will probably be gone soon. It is so sad that such a neat house will never be lived in. I am glad we found everything before we got too invested in but it was still disappointing. We are trying to rent our house out now and what happens after that is up in the air. We are contemplating a BIG move to Austin. I have never even been there. We just kind of chose it. I have never lived anywhere but San Diego. The thought of moving makes me want to vomit but it might be a good thing for once. I think a change would be exciting. I think exploring a new city as a family will be an adventure and maybe that is what we need. Any Austin fans out there who can help convince me? Anyone want to rent my house?

Forest Friends

We had our Cub's much anticipated Forest Friends Party at the lake last weekend. The kids had a blast, the weather completely cooperated and it was perfect. This is not to say that I was not totally stressed out leading up to the party or the fact that I may or may not have thrown a vegan chocolate cake that I made on the kitchen floor out of frustration only to call my mom and beg her to bring a new one the day of the party. Once we got to our site it was relaxing and of course I forgot about the torture I put myself through before hand.


Cubby decided he was going to wear his playsuit I made with a little persuasion from our buddy chocolate. He looks so darling though the bribery was more than worth it.

The kids decorated Forest Fairy hats that I sewed up from the Bend The Rules Sewing pattern with silk flowers and leaves. In Blake's case, "I just want one red feather sticking out of the top of my hat." They also decorated oatmeal boxes for drums.


They ran around freely sometimes with Owl Masks I printed, laminated and cute out from here.

Daddy discovered that the grass was full of ladybugs.

Cubby banged on his new drum (and has not stopped since). He even humored me by wearing his birthday crown for a few shots.

My baby is so soon to turn 2. Today was his last day as an official 1 year old but tomorrow it is an entirely different story. Tomorrow he will be TWO! I am hanging on to 1 as long as I can so if anyone is wondering my youngest son is 1. I am saying it as long as I possibly can. Hanging on to every second of todddlerhood that I can. Tomorrow I will face the reality but for now I am going to hang out here in the land of denial where all of us moms go the day before our babies get a little older.

I am working on it!

I have a few works in progress. I get bored with things before I finish, start five new things and never finish any of them. I always have something to do though. This is some evidence of my crafting ADD. 1) a pocket for a sling bag I am working on from my own pattern 2) a blanket from Stitch n Bitch I am knitting and have been knitting a little (very little) at a time since I was pregnant with the Cub, I may finish it by his 2nd birthday. 3) Day of the week dish towels, I am not loving the way she is coming out, my beginning embroidery is not doing her cuteness any justice. Not pictured, I have started Built by Wendy 3835 and Simplicity 3507. I also have some fabric waiting for me to cut it up to be a quilt, I am dying to work on this Cathedral Window Quilt with instructions on Hyenas in Petticoats. Some day I will finish everything and not know what to do with my evenings, right?

This is....

My demon, fear. I have over the years acquired a lot of fears. They cause me a lot of anxiety and stop me from doing things that I think I would do otherwise. I am trying with all of my might to get rid of many of these fears and not let them control my life. I figure maybe I can trick them into thinking I am not afraid and they will go away, kind of like an opossum playing dead. I have been getting a lot better in conquering this demon and at times it returns with full strength backed by an army of germs, death, failure and separation. I just have to remember I am strong and if I can't control it not to worry about it.
I don't have an image to go with this week if I could have taken a picture of the deadly seahorse I would have, seahorses are one of my fears( the most ridiculous one).
They are creepy.
Thanks to Drewzel for this weeks thought provoking topic.


On a totally unrelated note, I made these wide leg pants from Amy Butler's In Stitches. This book is so great! Sorry about the wrinkles, I finished them late last night and they were just begging to be worn to bed and then for the most part of the day. I think I am going to make myself a pair of these a day! There is nothing like wearing a new pair of jammies every night especially when they are this comfy.

I was having a little sneaky relaxing minute when the boys found me. My 4 year old took this picture with my SLR camera that weighs about as much as he does. He saw my lounging in bed and looked confused, "What are you doing? Can I take your picture?"
"Relaxing and sure"
Relaxing over, jumping started.

Eastery Goodness

We had a pretty great Easter aside from some funky family stuff, what are families for though?
I love how magical holidays are to the kids. Blake was very interested in the Easter Bunny and how he got in the house and fit in in the tent to hide a basket. I always wonder how convincing I am answering these questions right off of the top of my head. I need some kind of reference book. This is such a great age, it is going to be sad when he questions magic and what I tell him. Blake wanted me to take this picture of him with his "favorite Easter present"Craft Sticks! I love this boy! Craft Sticks were his favorite. The answer may have changed if I ask now but it brings me pride that at one point he loved Craft Sticks enough to ask me to take a picture of him with them. Cubs loved his owl books, one of which was Little Hoot
It is such a cute book and the illustrations are wonderful! We have checked this out at the library and he was very sad to return it, now it is his forever. That little guy just loves owls!

I made this apron for my sister for Easter. I really wanted to snag it for my self but I gave it up. I tried to get her to take a picture in it but apparently her animal print shirt did not match the spring floral so here is me in her apron. I was having a weird bra day so please excuse that, at least now I know, it is amazing what a picture will reveal.

Now on to some new projects, I would really like to make myself a couple of summer outfits. I am going to use some patterns from Sew U and try a couple of my own. I don't have any patterns for tops though. Does anyone have any patterns they love?

Pay it Forward Exchange

I found out about this fun exchange on Who Put Me In This Minivan and followed it here to Meg's blog where I was lucky enough to get in. I am excited to see what she is going to make and excited to send something out myself so here it goes, this is how it works.....
“I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this Paying It Forward exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, which is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. (if you have one)”

Hurry Hurry!

Pretty in Pink

I finished my first dress yesterday for my niece! It is certainly not perfect but I am a little proud that it can at least fit on a human body, this is more than I was expecting from my first (non pajama) garment. The hem is not super straight but besides that everything is pretty right on. I will just say that the hem was just a creative decision! It is from Simplicity 7454 circa 1967. I just love this short simple style on little girls.


Sewing for boys is so much harder or should I say finding things to sew for boys. I have spotted a few patterns that I would like to try including the Favorite Things Hooded Jacket .
A few months ago I bought a couple of 40s vintage patterns but I think I need a little more practice before I tackle them, they are for coats, maybe I will have it down before next winter comes along.
That is not a super fancy soft focus editing technique on the bottom of the picture above it is smudge in the perfect shape of a teeny tiny finger, I wonder where that could have come from?

Thats a big Chicken!

This is an idea that had been stewing in my head for a while and I finally got it out! I had wanted to make a barn for Cubby since I donated the annoying plastic one that he rarely played with. I wanted something he could drag around the house with out banging into everything.

I made this one that I love and so does he! He can carry it around the house and even in the car. A little set farmers are in the works. I am no working on a special take along house and some creatures for Blake.

Blake was a gosling in the play Charlotte's Web this weekend. All he had to do was walk across the stage with Mama Goose, stop and wave. How that little walk made me fill with pride, only a mom! Could a gosling be any cuter?
We are dealing with a serious case of the "Mine" around here with Cubby! I am so happy that he is talking more but that is the last word I want to hear! I am not sure where it came from but I sure wish it would go back. What do you even do about that?

There are some days......

I have been working on little projects here and there trying to avoid finishing my Amy Butler Messenger bag. I hate cutting and I need to re-cut the strap so it the the plague of sewing project that I am avoiding at all costs with made up projects. I made this little chirp bird for Cubby because in a puppy tragic accident his favorite little owl was decapitated and then ingested. Although he likes his bird it is not a sufficient replacement. I guess nothing can replace the love a boy can have for his owl. I have made a couple of aprons (below) for the boys which are not totally finished but what ever is when I am working on it? It was my fist embroidery idea/ attempt. I really had no idea what I doing I just drew it on and went for it. I have since checked out a book from my beloved library and ordered this pattern for some dish towels. We will see how it goes. I just like to have a project that I can work on while on the couch. My poor knitting needles are feeling neglected at the moment. I guess I could finish the scarf I am working on but finishing is not really my style when it comes to knitting, I am more of a starter.

We made the yummiest chocolate chip cookies yesterday! Mr. Larry joined me, Mr. Larry is Blake's alter ego who is very helpful. He stops by almost on a daily basis and asks if I need help cooking or cleaning. He asks a lot of questions about Blake, forgets my name a lot, talks about how hard it is being old, and tells me tales of his childhood. He is very good company and who doesn't love a guest that loves to clean things with a spray bottle? He is a good old chap.
I am not sure where I got the idea to add in sour cream and vanilla soy milk to the cookies but it was such a great idea wherever it came from! I didn't think to add a little more flour though so they came out a little more like chocolate chip cookie chips but they still taste great. Cubby perfect saying "cookie dough" but said "EEEWWW" every time I tried to get him to taste it. He like to stir though. I love cooking with the kids, oops, I mean Mr. Larry and the Cub!

Valentine Handmades

My favorite Valentine's Day picture, it fills me with love.

Hearts for Blake's friends at school

Cake Balls, a recipe that I think was created by the devil because they are so sinfully yummy. I made mine with strawberry cake and white chocolate. They are actually white and not yellow like the picture. I should have made sure to give them all away because I had cake balls for lunch yesterday. Healthy, right?