Making my case

Today is the last day of school.  Well, really, tomorrow is the official last day, but the girls won't be there.  We will be on a plane, headed to the beach on tickets bought before we had all those snow days this past winter.  Last night, while I should have been packing, I made something to take along with us.

My parents gave me a new camera for my birthday  (thanks Mom and Dad!).  I really wanted a small point and shoot for those times when it is not practical to carry my trusty rebel.  I picked out this little Canon that easily fits in my pocket.  Of course, the camera did not come with a case and I didn't think to buy one.  So I grabbed some fabric, batting and bias tape and made one.

Well, make that two.  The flip needed one, too.

I did some free motion quilting on the pink one and used the walking foot on the yellow one.  The coordinating print at the top of each bag is the lining, which I made longer, brought over the top and sewed down to make a casing.  It was hard to maneuver such a small item on the machine, but I plowed ahead puckers and all.  If I do this again, which I doubt, I will try a different method.

So there you go.  Classic Erin procrastination.  I really should have been packing.

We'll be gone for a week - I doubt I will post while we are away, but you never know.  See you soon, friends.  Take care.

My friends made me do it

Sometimes I get an idea in my head and then I lose it.  Just like Rachel said.  Other times, it sticks and it won't go away.  My latest project had been floating around in there for a long time.  I completely and totally blame it on Leslie.  You see, she made those lounge pants.  My friend Suzanne saw that post and made her own.  But Suzanne never uses a pattern.  She wings it.  She just traced a pair of pants she owned and made herself a pair.  And then she made some for her girls.

There are plenty of things I can sew without a pattern.  But when it comes to clothes, I am pattern follower.    I don't sew many clothes - that is probably why.  I used to sew dresses for the girls.  I even made them some skirts and tops, but not so much any more.  Jane got picky, I got my feelings hurt and lost the desire.  Pajama pants, though....I thought Jane might just go for that.

On Sunday, I channeled my inner-Suzanne and traced a pair of Jane's flannel p.j. pants.  I added seam allowances, and then tried to figure out how in the heck to fit a pair of girls' size 8 p.j. pants on one width of fabric.  They just fit.  Just.

I used my serger to stitch these up.  FAST.  Super FAST.  Just how I like my projects.  I added button holes on either side of the front center seam so I could add a mock ribbon tie.  There is a full circle of elastic in the casing - each 12 inch length of ribbon is sewn to the elastic just inside the button holes.  This way there is no chance of my-pants-won't-stay-up issues, but they still have that cute touch.

Jane was not very happy with the fabric choices.  She sees all that fabric in the sewing room and thinks I can just make anything out of a fat quarter.  Hmmm....that would be nice, but I needed 1 1/4 yards and the pickings were kind of slim.  Not bad if you like say, green.  Or pink.  Just not much blue.  Or red.  The one I thought she would like, she didn't.  Instead of listening to her whine, I just chose for her.  I figured Kate would get two pairs if Jane never wore hers.

See, Kate is happy with almost anything.  Well, anything pink, that is.

I wish I had enough red ric rac to trim the hem of Jane's pair, but oh well.  I'm still going to call these a success.  Jane has worn them two nights in a row.  If that doesn't make them a winner, I don't know what does.

So you see, Leslie, it is your fault.  In a roundabout, very good, inspiring kind of way.  You, too, Suzanne.  You, too.

Thank goodness for friends.

No work and no school

Here I am - blogging in the afternoon again.  It's been a wonderfully long weekend.  The girls were out of school at noon on Thursday and they go back tomorrow morning.  Fatty and I took them on an overnight getaway Friday.  We went here.  It was incredibly fun and 24 hours away was just the right length of time.  We had friends for dinner last night and today the girls and I stayed in our p.j.'s until noon.

Jane put together a Playmobil set - all by herself.  Kate made lunch for the two of them (rice cakes with peanut butter, anyone?).  They cleaned the playroom and put their clothes away.  It was a nice change of pace.  They had no school and I pretty much had the day off.  That was a nice treat.

I am headed back to Telluride on Wednesday with some girlfriends for a long weekend.  I'm not sure if I will be around the blog or not.  Stay well friends.

Two Hats

Jane requested a hat with ear flaps this year.  Her flapper hat disappeared some time over the summer.  I really wonder where it could have gone.  And as I am typing this, I think I should probably check the camping bag we took to Telluride last July.  That may be the only place I haven't looked.

Back to the hat....Leslie pointed me towards Through the Loops and the Thorpe hat.  Perfect.  I bought the yarn right before Christmas, thinking that I might actually have time to knit it up before gift giving started.  I did finish it with time to spare, but since it fit me, I frogged it.  I threw the yarn and needles in my suitcase for some vacation knitting.

Pattern:  Thorpe by Kirsten Kapur
Yarn:  ggh Savanna, 1 ball in turquoie, 1 ball in green (I don't have the numbers - sorry)
Needles:  size 8 double points
Modifications:  I added pom poms to the braids and the top of the hat.  You know we are all about the pom poms here.
Notes:  Fast and easy - just the way I like hats to knit up.  The hardest part for me was casting on the four stitches and joining them without my addis flying to the floor.  I think it took about five tries to get it right - both times.  Also, like Leslie, I learned how to half double crochet.  Cool.  Thank you You Tube.

Here's Kate's version - sorry for the bad photo.  For hers, I switched to pink yarn for the garter stitch portion.  Mostly because I wanted to see if I could get by with the remaining green from Jane's hat.  I wasn't so lucky.  Oh well.  Also, Kate did not want the braids.  Despite my best efforts, I could not get her to change her mind.  Fatty thought the pom poms would look like giant earrings hanging off her hat.  In reality, it is super cute on her.  And she loves it - that is what matters, right?

And they are finished right in time.  It's snowing!

Our Handmade Christmas - For Our Daughters

Get your cup of coffee and settle in.  This is a long one.

Let's start with Fatty's gifts for the girls.  Remember how I told him that he could burn me a CD and I would be happy?  Well, that is what he did for the girls.  Jane and Kate both have CD players in their rooms and are constantly asking us to make them copies of our CDs.  So Fatty spent the better part of a Sunday creating playlists for each of them on itunes.  He burned the CDs and put them in a CD case of their own.  They loved this.

Jane's disc:
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police
Way Back When - Donna the Buffalo
Shine - Dolly Parton
Lakes of Pontchartain - The Be Good Tanyas
Penny Lane - The Beatles
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me - The Jayhawks
My Right Versus Yours - The New Pornographers
Laughing - R.E.M.
Singular Girl - Rhett Miller
Children of December - The Slip
6 String Belief - Son Volt
Mysterious Ways - U2
The Long Cut - Uncle Tupelo
Everything I Do - Whiskeytown

Kate's disc:
Silver Lining - Rilo Kiley
Walking On The Moon - The Police
Hello, Goodbye - The Beatles
Teach Your Children - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Waiting for the Sun - The Jayhawks
Blankets - The Gourds
Life Is Just A Tire Swing - Jimmy Buffett
Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash
Catapult - R.E.M.
Get Off My Cloud - The Rolling Stones
Windfall - Son Volt
One - U2
We've Been Had - Uncle Tupelo
Either Way - Wilco

And me....well, I knitted ponchos for the girls.  Completely inspired by the one Kristin made for her daughter, I started with Kate's.

This is the back so you can see the hood.  Kristin told me that she wished she could make the hood bigger - I am so glad she did.  Kate has a big noggin, so I made some adjustments to accommodate it.

I also added pom poms to the drawsting for a little whimsy.  I would be lying if I told you that I didn't think they would add to the appeal.  My kids are all about the pom poms.

When it came time to knit Jane's, my plan was to make it the same, but just in a different color.  When it came time to pick up the stitches for the hood, I hesitated.  Given her pickiness in clothing, I wasn't sure if the hood was such a good idea.  I knew she would like the pom poms, but I wasn't convinced that she would want the hood.  I asked Fatty what he thought and he agreed with me.  I decided to leave the hood off and if she really wanted it, I could always add it on later.

Without the hood, it needed something.  I added a sweet flower pin, in her favorite color turquoise.  I actually showed her 5 fabrics and asked if I were to make her something out of one or two of them, which would she want.  She chose two Denyse Schmidt prints and I pulled out my copy of Blair's great pattern and whipped this up in less than fifteen minutes.  I took the Sarah route and cut circles with my pinking sheers instead of the scallops because time was not on my side.

For you knitters out there, here is the scoop:
Pattern:  Knitting Pure and Simple, Children's Ponch (#243)
Yarn:  Nashua, Creative Focus Worsted, 3 skeins of hot pink for Kate and brown for Jane (I probably could have done Jane's with two if I had made it about 1/2" shorter)
Needles:  16" and 32" circulars, size 8
Modifications:  I added 1" of length to Kate's hood and made 3 sets of increases along the center back of the hood to allow more room for her big head.  I added pom poms to the i-cord drawstring on Kate's also.  Jane's didn't get a hood.
Notes:  This pattern runs small.  My girls wear about a size 8 - I knit the size 10 to 12.

Kate loves hers - she wore it all Christmas day!  I was standing in my brother's kitchen and saw her running in the back yard, hood on, pom poms flying with a huge smile one her face.  I wish I could have captured it on film.

And Jane....well, at first I think she was disappointed she didn't have pom poms.  But I knew that was a gamble.  In the end, I think it paid off.   She has decided against the hood which is fine by me.  She wears her poncho all the time - sometimes with the pin, sometimes without.  She would sleep in it if she could.  Well, if I would let her.

Little does she know that by loving something I made her, she gave me the best Christmas present of all.

Our Handmade Christmas - From Sister to Sister

Jane and Kate jumped aboard my handmade plan from the start.  We had a lot of fun discussing what they would make each other.  Jane knew right away that she wanted to make Kate some jewelry.  She had received a huge bead kit for her birthday (thank you Auntie Heather and Uncle Tiger!) and some extremely coveted shrinky dinks from one of her friends.  The Saturday before Christmas, Fatty and I split up.  He took Jane to my brother Ryan's house where she crafted while the men bottled their home brewed beer.  I sent her with a bag of supplies, some loose direction (i.e., make sure you punch the holes right so the charm will fit!) and she came home with her gift to Kate held in her balled up hand.  She insisted on making a fabric bag to hold her creation.

And inside was this:

A very pink bracelet with two heart charms and one that says princess.  Kate was over the moon!

Kate's gift for Jane was guided a bit by me.  She had all kinds of grandiose ideas that were not feasible, especially a jewelry box that she wanted to make, not just decorate.  I told her that we would take a trip to the craft store together and that I thought a picture frame might be nice for Jane.  The great thing about Kate is that she is flexible so she was fine with my suggestion right away.

One trip to Michael's later we came home with a $1 frame, paint, glue and that irresistible Martha Stewart glitter (it's so sparkly!).  Kate also picked out a small cutout to put on the frame because she knows Jane has a thing for monkeys.  Thank goodness I had some extra photos on hand from our Christmas cards.  Not only did it fit the frame, but it actually matches!

Jane loves it - it is her favorite color with her favorite animal with lots of sparkle allure.  She has it sitting next to her bed so she can see it first thing in the morning.  And Kate wants to make more - I think that may have something to do with the glitter.

As for me, I think they outdid themselves again.  They both made something that their sister would like, not necessarily something that they would want.  They worked hard to get them finished on time and then wrapped them up, too.  And they were gracious recipients.  I am proud of them.  I know in my heart that they not only appreciate handmade, but they might actually enjoy giving and receiving it too.

Our Handmade Christmas - For the mom

I was completely taken aback by the gifts the girls and Fatty made for me.  I really thought I would get some paint-your-own pottery.  The girls love to do that and it would be easy enough for all three of them to accomplish when they went on their secret mission.  I was wrong.  So wrong.

Instead, Fatty took the girls to blow glass!  Blow glass, people.  I have never blown glass and I had no idea that six and eight year olds would be able to blow glass.  Well, they did.  And I was flabbergasted when I opened the package.  Inside were three gorgeous ornaments, each unique and lovely.  If the packages hadn't said who they were from, I think I could have guessed.  All three glass blowers thought of my tastes, but they each put a great deal of their own personality into their creations.

White, blue and green from Jane

White, pink, purple and red from Kate

Green, red and yellow from Fatty

They outdid themselves, didn't they?  I am in awe of this gift.  I think these are too pretty to sit in a box all year long, waiting for December to be hung.  I am going to hang them in front of a window next to our kitchen where I can admire them all year long. 

Lucky, lucky me.

Inspiration right in front of my nose

I am in the midst of crazy, last-minute sewing to finish up our gifts for our six nephews.  They all have to be mailed and I really need to have it out the door tomorrow.  All was going well until I cut through a seam on one item last week.  Yikes.  I really don't have time to re-do this item, so I have been scrambling brainstorming to think of something else I can complete in my limited time.  I also wanted to make the boys appliqued shirts and had a hard time coming up with fresh ideas.

Sunday morning, Kate was up earlier than Jane.  I asked her if she had any ideas for the boys.  With ten minutes, a stack of paper and a marker, she came up with more ideas than I did in days of thinking it over.

According to Kate, boys like things like spiders and ants.  Turtles and lions, too.  She gave me enough good ideas to jump start my brain.  Thanks for the inspiration, Kate.  You also reminded me to keep it simple.  I swear that sometimes I just forget.  Simple = fast and good.

I had four t-shirts finished in two hours and the other two got completed last night.  It felt good to check that item off the list.  I should be able to check the next one off later today.

It is beginning to feel a bit like Christmas.

Coming up for air

Thanks for all the sweet birthday wishes for Jane.  When I got to my inbox yesterday, there were over 100 emails waiting to be answered so I made the executive decision not to reply to the birthday comments.  I really do appreciate you all coming by and wishing my sweet girl a happy day.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Ok....big exhale.  Three birthdays and Thanksgiving in three weeks time is enough to bog anyone down.  It's been busy here - the crazy, good busy.  I am a bit behind on the Christmas shopping and definitely don't have all my decorating finished.  The advent calender is empty, but I am hoping to rectify that situation today.  Time to get all my ducks in a row so I can get to the fun stuff - sewing and knitting!

Jane had her birthday party at our house on Saturday.  This is the second time we have decorated gingerbread houses for her birthday and I really think that this is my favorite kids' party idea.  It's fun for them, requires little work from me (I use the Wilton kits - bought on sale at Target and put together before the party), and provides a good activity and party favor at the same time.  The kit is great for a family activity, too, or you can do as I did last year and leave it for a babysitter to make with your kids when you are out at all those Christmas parties.

After we finished decorating the houses, we had chocolate cupcakes and peppermint ice cream - yum! - and a little impromptu dance party.  Eight is pretty great.

More good stuff coming later this week including my adventures with the print gocco, some finished knitting and hopefully some sewing, too.  Enjoy your Monday.

8

My little girl turns eight today.  Eight.  I know I said this last year, but time goes so fast.  Already?  Wow.  It went by in a flash.  But then again, the last eight years have been packed full of so much goodness that I can't imagine life without her.  She is large-hearted, kind, compassionate and friendly.  She is sweet to her sister and polite to adults.  Well, most of the time.  She is a picky eater and definitely opinionated about her clothes.  She's extremely creative and, at times, a little too hard on herself.  That's okay.  I am proud of her and the person she is becoming.  Seven was good.  But eight...I think eight is great.

Happy Birthday Jane.

The randomness of my thoughts

This morning I have been to the post office, Target and Toys R Us.  I think I have everything I need for the soon-to-be 8 year-old's birthday this weekend.  I snagged some goodies for Christmas, too.  Jones Candy Cane Soda, anyone?  Sounds delicious to me.  Gingerbread Man didn't sound as appealing, but if anyone has tried it, I'd love to hear your verdict.

Yeah, more knitting.  This time it is a Christmas gift for Kate.  A sweet hooded poncho like the one Kristin made.  The brown yarn in the bag is to make one for Jane.  So far, they haven't asked what I am making.  I think I am going to have to limit this to nights and carpool time.   Then they surely won't be able to figure it out.  They want me to make them hats, too, and are very specific that they have ear flaps and pom poms.  Allrighty then - that is what I will do.

I need to go outside and rake today.  It's supposed to be in the high 50's and then the temperature is going to drop so I think this is my last chance.  The Christmas tree will be put up tomorrow and decorated on Friday night just in time for the birthday party on Saturday.  I also want to start on my Christmas cards.  I ordered prints of the photos so I just need to get over my huge fear of my print gocco.  Encouraging words welcomed.

I am participating in the Holiday Ornament Exchange again this year.  Again, I am at a loss as to what to make.  I was thinking embroidery on felt like last year, but my design is rather elaborate.  I just don't think I could get 10 done and in the mail by the 10th.  I have two back up ideas, though.  I guess I should just pick one and run with it.

Speaking of runs, I could use some exercise today too.  Other than leaf raking, that is.  Time to get on it.  Later gators.

6

Has it really been another year?  Truly?  It is so hard to believe.  It really doesn't seem possible that she is already six.

She makes me laugh and sometimes cry.  She is sweet and stubborn and funny and kind.  She can be a bit sassy, too.  Five was good to her - so much better than four.  I love the little person she has become.  It makes me want to squeeze her and not let go, but that just wouldn't be fair.  She wouldn't stand for it either.  No, it just wouldn't do.

So fare thee well five....and hello six.  I think it's going to be a good year.  Happy Birthday Kate.

It's contagious

Something new on the needles, in a lovely shade of green.

No, it's not mine.  It belongs to the newest knitter in the house.  She decided to keep it in this bag with a zippered top to keep out the yarn thief.  That silly cat.

Dreams do come true

Do you remember Jane's shirt designs?  I shared this version awhile back.  After reading all those encouraging comments, Jane was determined to see one of her designs become reality.  Many more drawings later, she settled on this for herself:

For this artist it is all in the details.  For this mom it is all about practical.  So we compromised and started production.  I channeled my inner Hannah and printed the words straight from my computer on to freezer paper.  I cut out the stencil, leaving the "o" intact.   I found a long-sleeved striped t-shirt from Target in an acceptable color combination and then paired it with a short-sleeved shirt (also from Target) we already had.  Jane did the painting.

Jane chose the fabric for the star and I did the applique on my sewing machine.   I cut the sleeves off of the striped shirt at the shoulder seams and then grappled with how I was going to attach them without some weird visible stitching.  I decided to sew them into the short-sleeved t-shirt at the shoulder seam allowance and it worked perfectly.  The key part:  I don't think that this would have worked if the shirts were different brands.  Both sleeves had the exact same profile.

See that smile?  Jane is one happy girl.  She designed it and we made it.  She wants to wear it.  All the time.  I couldn't be happier, either.  The experience was a good reminder for me that dreams can come true.   You just need to chase them a bit.

Jane also designed a shirt for Kate.  You can see it here.

A future in fashion?

I found this drawing on the family room floor.  It's Jane's work.  She is designing a whole line of shirts.  I love her color combination and the composition on this one.  And the message is spot on.

My girl rocks.

Off they go

The girls started school yesterday and they were ready.  Kate seemed a bit nervous the night before...kindergarten at a new school will do that for you.  I bought them each an alarm clock with a cd player.  Jane was up at 6:30 complaining that her alarm didn't wake her up.  Well, hon, that's because it is set for 6:45.  Oh.  Kate was awake in bed waiting for hers to beep.  So cute.  Kate asked me to put her hair in pig tails which I just love on her, but she doesn't ever want (be still my heart!).  They barely ate any breakfast and were ready to leave about 20 minutes before we needed to.  That left us plenty of time for the photo shoot.

We hopped in the car and before we pulled out of the driveway, I told them my expectations:  do your best, be nice to your classmates, use your manners, listen to your teacher and say good-bye to me every day before you get out of the car.  They almost forgot the last one.

The principal greeted us at school and asked Jane if she was going to help Kate.  Sure thing, said Jane.  They jumped out of the car with big smiles on their faces.  And me, I was smiling, too.  I was almost as excited as they were.   As I drove away, I looked in the rear view mirror and saw Jane holding Kate's hand.  That's when I got teary.  It was the kind of moment I wish I had on film.  It was so sweet.

The tears didn't last long.  I got home, put on my running shoes and got some exercise.  Then came home and drank coffee, read blogs, flicked around on flickr and sewed.  And today, I am doing it again.  And tomorrow, more of the same.  Back to school never felt so good.

Marshmellows, Graham Crackers and Chocolate

When we are in Telluride, the kids are all about s'mores.

Good times, people.  Good times.

Creative Summer

Here is something I love:

Kate is at it again.  She asked me if she could embroider something to make a pillow.  Of course!  She drew this frog and I traced the back side of the drawing with a transfer pencil and then ironed it onto this cotton.  She worked on it for about 30 minutes a couple of days ago and then put it down.  This is why it takes her six months.

Not to be left out, Jane is working on a swan from the Sublime Stitching book.  She really wasn't interested in stitching one of her own drawings.  She is a wonderful little artist, but she likes lots of details and that doesn't always come across well with embroidery floss.

Something else I love:  the Creative Summer flickr group started by Molly.  Wow!  There are lots of great ideas over there and I plan posting as much as I can.  I am especially enamored with Mama Urchin's lily pad toss game.  Such a wonderful idea.

What creative things are you doing with your kids this summer?

This tree grew in only six months

...or it took Kate six months to embroider this shirt.  You choose the title.

She started this embroidery project in January.  The drawing is her own - I used a transfer pencil to trace it and then ironed it on to the shirt.  She picked it up now and again over the course of six months - most often when I was embroidering something.  She did the trunk first, then the pink flower, then the "hair", as she calls it.  I did the face.

When we took the hoop off, it had a nice big ring around it.  Yep, a big white circle where the hoop was and dirt and food and finger marks everywhere else.  I popped in the wash after a liberal application of stain stick and - voila! - a perfectly white tee!  Well, a white tee with a super cute smiley tree worn by a very proud five year old.

That's my girl.

Fashion Shoot

Meg sent me this amazing vintage blue dress for Kate.  When it arrived on Saturday, she immediately tried it on, then took it off because she didn't want to get it dirty.  It fits perfectly, has lots of twirl and made this little girls eyes light up like a Christmas tree.  She wore it to church yesterday - so stinkin' cute, I tell you.  Thank you so much Meg - she really loves it.

And would you believe this?

Jane came downstairs this morning wearing the shirt.  Yes, the one I made her.  I quickly grabbed the camera for documentation and she was happy to oblige her mom.  Hmmm...I am not sure what prompted it, but I am not complaining.  In fact, I see it as a sign.  I think it's going to be a good day.