Keeping busy

I just love having a holiday deadline to work against. After floundering in January, I'm firing on all cylinders as I prepare for Valentine's day. In the midst of creating special Valentine gifts, I decided that we just had to have a holiday banner, so here it is.


This is based on the birthday banner in Alicia Paulson's book, Stitched in Time. The red and white gingham is still from that thrifted sheet, and I used a ribbon that I had in my stash.


Then I decided it was time to get down to business on the gifts. I have been spending some careful quality time with my exacto knife this week. First I had to cut out the design on the freezer paper.

Then iron the freezer paper to the shirt.

Have fun painting!

And add a special label--it's ribbon. I found this at the craft store on Monday, and I decided to add it to each shirt (even Bobby's--he's not getting a homemade shirt, but I want it to have a special touch).

I still have another shirt to do, so you'll have to wait for the final reveal.

Of course, if we keep having two hour delays like we did today, I'm really going to be feeling the pressure to get it all done.

The sun is out now, but it was a lovely surprise this morning. And the weather forecasters are already teasing about another potential storm this weekend, so we may have more snowy fun soon.

Super-quick

I know that at least once a month I mention how much I love my library. Really, the online hold system is so awesome--just type in what you're looking for, and click "place hold," and they'll email you when it's ready to be checked out. How could you not love it?

Yesterday, I was back in the library (I had gotten an email, of course; a book was waiting for me). And I happened upon this lovely book.
As I was flipping through the pages, I found this project.

My girls bring their lunch to school every day except Fridays. On Fridays, they get to buy, and it's very exciting for them. I usually put their lunch money in an envelope and send them off. But now, they'll have these to keep their lunch money in:

I added a strap so it can go around a wrist, if need be. The one in front is made from leftovers of a thrifted and felted sweater. The other one is made from scraps leftover from a skirt. The zippers are from a big thrifting score--a gallon ziplock bag of zippers for $5.00. I've used them for all the pencil pouches I've made over the last year. These were done in under half an hour.

I know they're going to be tickled when they get home from school. Good thing tomorrow is Friday so they can put them to use immediately!

Rainy Days and Mondays

But what if the rainy day IS a Monday?


Well, in that case, I check the sump a few times to make sure it's not about to overflow; I get a big enough bowl to put under the mystery only-happens-every-14-months-or-so- leak in the family room ceiling; I let the kids stay in their pajamas all day (because they're off from school); and then I get to work:


Sewing an Everything Tote from Weekend Sewing. Just because I found this red and white gingham sheet at the thrift store and it looks so cute with this leftover denim.

Then I finish sewing covers for our new floor cushions.

These floor cushions are actually re-purposed pillows from our bedroom. When we first moved here, I bought these euro shams (and these giant pillows) to go on our new bed (because we finally had a bedroom big enough for a king-sized bed). After a time, we tired of putting the pillows on the bed in the morning and then taking them off the bed in the evening, so the pillows have been sitting in a corner in our room. For a few years.

Since the kids love to take every throw pillow off the couch to sit on while they watch TV, I figured I'd give them the bigger pillows to sit on. I'm secretly hoping this will cause them to stop throwing the throw pillows on the floor. The fabric is mostly all leftovers. I did find some of the smaller gingham check on a clearance at Jo-ann last week ($2/yard remnant!). It's a home dec weight, so it should stand up to some abuse.

And even though the rain eventually stopped (and the sun did actually come out for a few minutes), dinner was straight comfort food, courtesy of Julia.

A delicious end to a productive day.

Sneak peek

A couple of nights ago, I just couldn't sleep. I had a million things going through my mind, and I just couldn't turn it off. I've been spinning my wheels creatively the last couple of weeks. (I was between knitting projects...that's never a good thing!) Anyway, earlier in the week I had decided to go ahead and focus on the kids' Valentine's day presents. They are usually homemade, with a little candy thrown in for fun. Last year I made appliqued t-shirts for the kids. The girls loved theirs, Bobby thought his was stupid and he never wore his.

Here are last year's shirts:



This year, I decided that I would just buy a new shirt for Bobby (and Old Navy had a cool Spiderman shirt, so I know he'll love it) and I'm making shirts for the girls.

So while I was tossing and turning the other night, I kept thinking "peace, love and something . . . music? no. candy? what sort of candy is easily identifiable and can be stenciled? candy cane? no. Wait! KISSES! Hershey kisses!"

Then I was so excited that I had figured it out I couldn't go back to sleep.

So this is where I am in the process now. I found all the graphics (thank you google image search--another new trick I just learned!) Now I just need to sit down with my exacto knife and some freezer paper and I'll be on my way.

I decided to give a sneak peek just to share the idea--please feel free to borrow and improve upon it.

And for their cards, I'm using Jennifer's fabric card tutorial that is over on Sew, Mama, Sew.

So I feel my crafting mojo returning, which is a good thing. A mojo-less mama is not good. And I have a new knitting project! Happy weekend to you all. I'll be out in the cold again selling Girl Scout Cookies.

Sew Connected: December

December was our last month for Sew Connected. Audrey is making an alphabet I Spy quilt for her daughter. She sent out different letters to everyone. She sent me "S".

This block required a lot of planning. I wanted to fit the embroidered sheep in with the letter--not the easiest task.

One of the things I learned about myself during this year of making quilt blocks for other people is that I'm more of a wing-it type instead of a meticulously-plan-and-sketch-and-calculate-all-the-measurements-including-the-seam-allowances type.

I'm pleased with how it turned out, so I guess all that planning and calculating does pay off!

Family Day

Yesterday morning, we stopped by our church. I had to drop off some mac & cheese I had made. The church was full of volunteers ready to begin a day of service. This is something I'd like to do next year. Our MLK day this year was already booked. We went over to New Jersey to visit with Rob's mom and his sisters. And of course, all the cousins.

We met his mom and one of his sisters at an outlet mall. I can't tell you the last time I went shopping--even window-shopping. It was a treat. I didn't buy anything--and one of the side-effects of being crafty is that I spent more time studying the construction of the garments than the price tags. I can see that the trend for spring appears to be RUFFLES. I think I'm going to be having lots of fun with my sewing machine this spring!

The kids wanted me to take their picture, but first they all had to jockey for position on the tiny kiddie ride.

After we left the outlet mall, we went to my sister-in-law's house. While we were there, Rob and my brother-in-law moved the live Christmas tree. This was funny to watch. Since it was warm and the ground was nice and squishy from all the rain, they went ahead and planted it!

While they were planting the tree, I went down to the barn to visit Cori's chickens. There are a couple of roosters, and their "cock-a-doodle-doo's" are just so funny! NONE of the kids came down to the barn. They really missed out.

And we ended our visit with a family trip over to the cemetery. Rob's dad passed away eleven years ago today. His grandparents and an aunt are also buried at this cemetery, so we paid our respects to all the family members.

So our visit yesterday ended on a somber note. But on the way home the kids were full of questions about Rob's dad and about Aunt Shirley (whom they never met). It was nice to get to tell some stories about family members who are dearly missed.

Quick Knit

Last week, just as the calls from the school nurse began to come in, I cast on. My yarn: the last remaining ball of Misti Alpaca Chunky. My goal: neck warmth! My pattern: none!

After reading over some cowl patterns, I decided to wing it. I wanted this cowl to fit snugly--close enough that I would be able to zip my coat all the way up. My kids walk home from school, and I go over to school with all the other neighborhood moms to wait for them to come out. It is the windiest place on earth, I tell you, and my coat needs to be zipped all the way up, but my neck needs another layer snuggled up against it.

So I cast on 60 stitches and started knitting a 4 x 2 rib. Then I randomly cabled along the length of every other knitted panel. I made a couple of increases as I went (I think I finished with 70 stitches). I kept going until I looked like I was almost out of yarn.

Do you ever go into a yarn shop and find a yarn that is so soft that you want to rub it against your cheek? (I do--want to, that is, I don't actually put it up to my face until I've bought it. Usually I just hold the skein in my hand like a kitten. I stroke it as I walk around the shop. A little yarn kitten. Have I said too much?) Anyway, this is that yarn. It's so very soft, and now I will have it up against my neck and face all winter.