A very Merry Christmas indeed

I’m still trying to recoop from Christmas. A very good time we all had. Spending some much needed time with family, laughing, and enjoying each other. A very Merry Christmas indeed.

I’ve been back in my crafting mode this weekend and have while I have to wait for some decent lighting in my house to show one of my projects, I can show a scarf that I knitted K. On my little shopping trip to JoAnn’s with my Mother Friday I had each of the girls pick out some yarn. Both picked out Lion Brand Jiffy and Friday night I got to work on a scarf for K. Using the Wavy Gravy pattern from Stitch n Bitch Nation, I whipped this scarf up in no time. Super easy and K. absolutely loves it.

Early Christmas from James

Diana Rupp’s S.E.W. and Amy Butler’s In Stitches

Both have patterns included in the book.

And my first projects from both are going to be the breezy easy wrap skirt from S.E.W. and the wide-leg lounge pants from In Stitches.

Merry Christmas to everyone! I’m taking a nice (long) blogging break and spending some good (fun) time with my family. Wishing everyone well throughout the Holiday Season!

Christmas for my Mom

So, I was racking my brain trying to figure out what in the world to make for my Mom. Not an easy task I tell ya. My Mom is sorda on the picky side and doesn’t really make it easy for gift giving.

Today, L. and I were up in my craft room and I was deciding what I could possibly make her. Then it hit me. Originally it was suppose to be a tote bag with my girls hands on it because my Mom always has work that she takes home with her so I thought a nice stylish bag would be perfect. But after I thought about it more and more, my Mom has tons of tote bags from all those Clinque products she buys. (So much so that she even tries to pass them on to me from time to time with the excuse “Well, just see how it’s made so you can make one” *insert the “huh!” sound here.*)

I don’t know but apparently I’m on this whole “door knob hangy thingy” kick so I decided that that is what I would make her. Two in fact, one for each girl. I got L.’s all completed (which she loved the fact that she got to help me and was even my official “thread cutter”) and was ready for when K. got home from school so that I could get started with hers.

I traced around both girls hands then appliqued them on. Then I had both girls write their names and I transferred it to the fabric. Embroidered over their names added some flowers and hand drawn hearts by both K. and L. It’s backed with the same fabric as the base fabric for the front. Then I made some more drawstring gift bags (they just need ribbon strung threw them but I’m to tired right now to do that) so the girls can give it to my Mom on Sunday when we see her.

Ready to go

I’m 90% complete with my Christmas making list. I got the Christmas Door Knob Hangers done and even made nice little gift bags for them to be put in. Next up, I’ll be making a gift for my Mom. Not sure what just yet. I’m the “let’s-wait-till-the-last-minute-when-panic-mode-hits-me” type of person. While I do have a few ideas, I think that the girls are going to be assisting me in it.

In the meantime, here are some photos of the recently completed drawstring bags that I made using Happythings tutorial that I’ve had luck with in the past.

Chrismas Door Knob Hanger

As I had mentioned yesterday, I was making presents for 2 of K.’s teachers. I have the first one finished and am almost finished with the second one.

It’s a little door knob hanger thingy ma-bob whatever you want to call it. I like it! Using materials from my stash such as scrap fabric, felt, buttons, and embroidery floss. Super fun and super quick to make. I might just have to make one more for myself. Which it does give me an idea for a future project.

K. will be giving this one to her music teacher (who is also a good friend of mine) on Thursday and then the other one will go to her teacher on Friday for the class Christmas party.

Then for the back of it, I had K. write then I embroidered over it (which that also gives me another idea for a future project).

I think it gives it a little extra personal touch.

Handmade Christmas gift – WIP

K.’s class is having a Christmas party and I was thinking and thinking of a gift to make for her teacher and her music teacher. I figured that with time running out it had to be something quick but nice. I thought about making her teacher a pencil case but I have never done zippers before and also I can’t find my zipper foot.

So, after much debating, I finally came up with it. I have to wait to finish it when K. comes home because I need her help with the back part of it. It is really cute and after I get theirs done, I’m thinking of making one for myself.

It’s going to be a door knob hanger and is made with this really nice wool felt that I found up at my Mom’s house, fabric scraps, and buttons from my stash. Everything I am using on this project is all coming from my stash which I love because it means that I don’t have to go out (in this blistering cold weather) and buy things. I’ll post pictures once I get them all done.

Dear Santa,

My Dad emailed this to me and I thought that I would share it.

Dear Santa,

I’ve been a good mom all year. I’ve fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor’s office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.

I was hoping you could spread my list out overseveral Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son’s red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I’ll find anymore free time in the next 18 years. Here are my Christmas wishes: I’d like a pair of legs that don’t ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don’t hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I’d also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you’re hauling big ticket items this year I’d like finger print resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn’t broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone. On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says,”Yes, Mommy” to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don’t fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting “Don’t eat in the living room”and “Take your hands off your brother,” because my voice seems to be just out ofmy children’s hearing range and can only be heard by the dog. If it’s too late to find any of these products, I’d settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don’t mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don’t catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don’t eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,
MOM…!

P.S. One more thing…you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

Glad that’s over

What a week! We all ended up getting the 24 hour flu bug last week. Yuk! All of us picked our spots in the living room and James headed upstairs to the bedroom. Fevers, sickness, medicine, and keeping track of who got what medicine at what time was a complete nightmare. Good thing I always make a chart to keep such things in order. We are all better now and are feeling more on the up and up rather than “leave me alone!“. Which, let me add on a little side note here that I’m glad we keep a library stocked full of DVD’s for such occassions.

After I started feeling better, I felt like making myself some simple, yet cute tops. I had this pattern and fabric in my stash and decided to go through with it. The first fabric I decided to work with was a complete nightmare. It kept catching on my feed dogs, wouldn’t allow me to press open it’s seams, let alone make a nice hem for it. So I here now dub it as my “laundry day” shirt. Or “the shirt I’ll wear when we aren’t expecting company”.

But I kept trucking forward and figured I’d go ahead and finish it that way I can see how it fits and work out any kinks. So I finished the top and I’m glad that the girls were busy with James because they would’ve learned a new word (or two). It actually looks nice once it’s on (if you look past the serious snagging on the front and at the hem) but being that the shirt had been hanging on the hanger like that all day before I took the picture, I swear it sagged because it did not look like that when I completed it.

So, I felt in some way I needed to redeem myself for working with such horrid fabric. Got out another thing of fabric and began cutting out the pattern. I’m in love with this shirt and even though on the pictures they show no sort of undershirt, I get to wear my favorite black lacey cami under it (because it’s a little too low cut for my liking).

It fits me absolutely perfect and I can either dress it up paired with my favorite black pants or dress it down with jeans.

What a day

This morning I was woken up to a very sick little L. Not a good morning for us so far. While I was busy taking care of her (at 6:15a.m.) K. woke up. After I got L. all cleaned up we went downstairs and were very surprised by a beautiful blanket of snow. I checked the local news channel website and sure enough there was no school today for K. So I got one babe home in the “best mood ever” and one babe home that just wants it all to be over with.

My sewing adventure

I love sewing! It’s much quicker than knitting or crocheting and I can usually crank a project out in an evening. Lately, though, I’ve been in the mood to sew clothing. Only this time not for my girls but for myself. I’ve never done this before and while I still have much to learn, I feel as though it’s a good experience. So, this past weekend was my sewing weekend. Started out Friday afternoon when I decided to make myself a top using Simplicity Pattern #4589 that I had purchased a while ago.

While I’m in love with this pattern and more than thrilled with how it came out (considering it was my first time), I absolutely HATE fusible interfacing for garment making. I had the worst time trying to get the collar to come together correctly. It’s fine now and just needs a good ironing. I will, however, make this pattern again now that I have some good knowledge under my belt. Also, I wasn’t sure how to hem the sleeves (I usually just ignore directions and do my own thing) so I added some bias tape to the sleeves and the hem on the bottom. I actually like it like that. The fabric I picked up while out thrifting one day and I think that next time I use this pattern I will try it with a knit fabric.

Another sewing adventure that I’m going to be taking is dress making. While browsing Craftster.org one day, I fell completely in love with McCall’s #5137 that a fellow Craftster had made. After showing James the dress, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Thinking of what type of fabric to use, if I could even make it, and other mind rambles. While we were at Walmart last night James told me to go over to the craft section and see if they had the pattern. Sure enough they did and I got the last one in my size!

I’m going to make it in View A (which is the lovely lady in front) and while I’m not sure what fabric I’m going to use yet (although I’m completely in love with the yellow on this little number), I’m thinking that it would make a lovely Spring/Summer dress. Which is good considering that this is not even Winter yet.

All in all, I think I found my new found passion of garment making. Not only for my girls (there at that cute age where I can make us all matching outfits *wink wink*) but as well as for myself. Plus, I have some really helpful books to help me along the way.