greenclogs

scrappy Sunday sewing

I snuck away for a while this afternoon and pulled out the scrap bins for some Christmas sewing. I tend to forget how much fun it is to sew from the scrap bins - I find all kinds of fun treasures in there from fabrics that are otherwise all used up. We can't talk about what these are for, of course. They're a Christmas surprise!

Next up (and halfway done as of now) is the sweet Semi-Fantastic Mr. Fox for little Kit. I was kind of a cheater, because I bought the kit instead of just the pattern and I'm so glad I did. It was great to just dive in and sew without gathering supplies, making fabric decisions, etc. I'm sure there are more of them in our future that will involve all of that, but using the kit is perfect for a quick Christmas project. I have enough overly ambitious projects on my plate. 

Time for some Harry Potter marathon, baby snuggling, and knitting. I hope your Sunday was as good as mine.

stuffing away

Whoops! I let a few days pass again. Sorry about that. I don't have a lot to report that is photo-worthy right now, hence the lack of posts. I'm on softie week in my Christmas crafting and there can be only so many photos of unfinished doll bodies. The good news is that the bodies are stuffed and waiting for hair and faces. Since I'm feeling intimidated by the wig making, I cut out and started sewing the other softies on the list. This way all of the bodies are done and it becomes all about leaving enough time for the details. The details always take way more time than I think they will Does that happen to you too? This robot is awaiting his details - a face and a front control panel, but at least he's fully stuffed and ready. He has a space boy friend to go with him who is cut and ready to be sewn as soon as I hit save on this post. However, I really need to find my red and white felt scraps and they are MIA. The kids like to steal them for their own projects. Sounds like some digging in Gunnar's room is in order. 

Add in a library run to return some library books that are due today, a trip to the zoo with Annika (consolation prize for not being included in Gunnar's best friend's birthday party), turkey soup making and house cleaning, and it's a busy busy day.

Of course, I keep getting distracted because my copy of this book arrived on my doorstep late yesterday. I was a contributing photographer to the book, so I keep looking at how great my kids look on those full bleed chapter pages. So exciting! I should be getting an extra copy for a giveaway in the next week or so, so stay tuned. 

That's it for today. Spaceboy is calling my name.

crazy basil lady

I was hopping on my bike this morning, ready to ride back home from the kids' school, and I was stopped by one of the moms in the garden. They were pulling out a couple of huge basil plants so they could put in some new things, and asked if I wanted one. I, of course, jumped at the chance. I grabbed it and rode home past the multi-million dollar homes (so unlike my own, and one of these days, we'll vent about those homes) near the school. I passed the $500 per night hotels on the edge of Old Scottsdale. I moseyed back into my quiet little neighborhood and brought it home. On my way home, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a window and figured out why people had been staring at me all the way home. 

That basil plant was nearly a foot over my head, waving in the breeze. No wonder all of the fancy people were looking at me like I was a total rube. I looked like one! Small price to pay for all that basil. So here's the question - pick off the leaves and make pesto or try to replant it? The think is like a small tree with a huge root system. Has anyone successfully replanted basil?

In crafty news, I'm making progress on Annika's dolls.

See those legs? Yeah, the top seams are sewn the wrong way. Because I am so smart that I can read the directions, look at the picture, and still blind stitch the openings on all six legs the wrong way. Nice. Ripped those babies out and redid them last night, post-photo, and sewed legs on one doll. Annika has now figured out that these are dolls, so they have to be hidden from here on out. She is disappointed that none of them are for her and thinks it's really not fair. Hopefully she'll be pleasantly surprised. 

Happy Monday!

little of this, little of that

Someone is riding her bike without training wheels and rode to school today without them for the first time. She is very very proud, as am I. That same someone also has a new buddy who lives only one block away and is the other pea in her pod. It's so great to see them together. 

A snapshot of what I did today. Cutting out dolls (I really need one of those tiny rotary cutters) and doll clothes, working on some Christmas and winter themed cards for the shop. They'll go in this weekend, for all of you who are procrastinators like me. 

Lastly, a question. How on earth do you organize your scrap fabric? I was digging through my bin today and it was such a pain. There has to be a better solution that isn't hard to maintain. Smarter people?Ideally people who aren't naturally organized but really try to be? What do you do?

all you need is love

Yesterday I attended a baby shower for a cousin from the branch of the family that can purchase anything they want. Knowing that she would literally be showered with all of the gifts from the registry and then some, I decided to go for unique and practical. I've had the Pointy Kitty pattern all cut out and sitting in my basket for months now, so I finally decided to conquer his little pointy parts and make him for her the baby.

I amended it slightly, skipping the stripe on the back (ran out of time) and embroidering the eyes and nose since it's for a baby. I love this little kitty now that he's done, but I've never had such a hard time stuffing anything as much as that little tail. I used a chopstick to do the best I could without poking a hole in the fabric. Any tips from others who have made it? Because according to my children, I have two more of these in my near future.

Also checked off on the "try this" checklist were freezer paper stenciled t-shirts. They're not 100% sure that it's a girl, so I went more unisex with the designs and color.

This is moving from the "try this" list to the "do often" list. It was such a fun and rewarding project that I know will get a lot of use. The mommy to be was so happy with all of it.

I was astonished by all the stuff at this baby shower - all the gadgets that people think are necessary to child rearing. There are some things that definitely make life easier. After all, the bouncy seat was the only thing that allowed me to take a shower when Annika was a baby. But as I watched all of this, I wondered if those things are all on the market because people need something to give to new parents, something different and hopefully useful. Or maybe they help people who are walking into the world of babydom to feel like they're armed with the tools they need for success in something new and so different from anything they've ever done.

As we walked into the party, we filled out a card with our words of wisdom for the new parents. I filled mine out but after watching her become dwarfed and overwhelmed by all these things, I wanted to go take it back and write a new one. My real advice to the new parents?

All you need is love.

thinking about spring

This little guy has been sitting sadly on the shelf waiting to be finished for, ahem, nearly a year. All he needed was blind-stitching on his rear, a face, and some overalls to wear. I'm not sure what stopped me from finishing him other than inertia and crafting ADD, but today Annika and I picked him back up and finished him. He's the Big Footed Bunny from Wee Wonderfuls. This pattern is really fun to make and very well written. The only change I made is that I embroidered the eyes because he's going to a household with a 2 year old and a baby on the way. Now Annika thinks I should make the one for her that I cut out at the same time as this one. Maybe it's time.

Something about finishing made me start to think about spring - about plants coming out of dormancy, about creative rebirth that seems to happen around this time in my mind. Plans are fermenting again for herb gardens and photography shoots and day trips to see the sights and fresh, clean spaces for creating and playing. I'm sure this feels really early to those of you who are socked in with snow, but when I was in the yard today, I noticed tight buds on the fig tree and the lantana coming out of dormancy. Spring is sneaking up on us here in the desert and it's my favorite time of year. Bring on the orange blossoms and Spring Training visitors and campfires in the back yard with s'moritos inspired by Tracy. I'm ready. 

lazy Sunday and the elephant dance

It's 3PM on Sunday and we're all still sitting here in our pjs. Today is one of those lazy but busy family days - playing Jenga and Skip-Bo, creating Polly Pocket villages, drinking homemade smoothies, baking cardamom bread. Most importantly, we finally finished Annika's elephant.

Meet Peanut.

Peanut decided to take over Annika's trike but was frustrated that she couldn't reach the pedals. So she decided to show Moomo who was boss instead. She saw Erin's elephants and knew what she had to do.

As a follow-up to Friday's post. Annika and I had a great day and she seems fired up for school tomorrow, so the fingers are crossed. Meanwhile, we're all ready for Valentine's Day thanks to the trusty print gocco.

Here's to a good week of school!