Cheers!

Happy New Year! And before you call the police, Henry is drinking sparkling apple juice. :) The adults however had the real deal. Dinner went remarkably well and we actually got to eat together. That was a feat in of itself because we had a 3 1/2 year old, a 22 month old, and a 14 month old. Resolutions you ask? First off to figure out how to post pictures in my blog instead of all at the top...there goes that reading directions thing again.

Lemons and Limes

When I was trying to get the kitchen cleaned up after breakfast and begin tonight's dinner I had a little help. John became fascinated with Henry's apron. Of course once Henry saw how tickled I was and the camera was out...on went the Home Depot apron. My dad gave the apron to H a while back when he was visiting. I forgot that dad taught H to say "Hi, I'm Henry. How may I help you?" when he had it on. More giggling in the kitchen...meanwhile J kept trying to put lemons and limes in our trash can (it opens on its own - we can, and do, turn it off!).

We are having friends over tonight for an early celebration. They have a 22 month old...we'll see how far we get through dinner before someone melts down...we'll just get John back in the kitchen to turn those lemons into lemonade and all will be well! Wishing you all a safe and fun end to 2007. See you in 2008...

Knit One, Purl Two...

I hope Santa was good to you! He was to us...I really, I mean really want to learn to knit and my mom got this kit for me and I just can't wait to dig in. I have to admit though...I'm a little nervous. I mean, it seams as if I'll actually have to read AND follow directions...correctly. Not my strong point - ha!

Henry was a Shepard in the Christmas pageant at church and basically nudged Joseph out his spot so he could sit next to baby Jesus. Aside from that, picking his nose, and yelling out 'hey' during Away in a Manger (children sang: asleep on the hay...then Henry...HEY!" he did a great job. "Mommy, why did it take so long?" was his answer to "You did a great job - did you have fun?".

Off to the many loads of laundry that await!

Not a Creature Was Stirring

Except mamma mouse...I finished the picnic placemats and a Lindie Bag with a zippered pouch. Wrapping was completed last night so all that is left is to cook, eat, and be merry!

Over the River and Through the Woods

More like over the Atlantic and through Virginia...look what arrived for me today from London! These are my goodies from Gill, my gift exchange partner for the Holiday Traditions Exchange 2007 . A pin cushion, some yo yo's, a handmade card, chocolate, a little cake...just to name a few...Thanks so much Gill for sharing your traditions and great talent! Once Gill receives her package I'll post her goodies.

One Two Three...Where's Four?

1234 ...but where is placemat number four? Waiting to have the seams ripped out and redone. Ugh. I wasn't paying attention (as usual) and layered my fabrics wrong. I'm following Amy's placemat directions from Bend the Rules and using fleece to line them. The three completed are oh so nice. I really like how they turned out and how they feel. Not stiff but soft and functional. I have the pink floral, a green floral, and the stripe that I'm going to make napkins out of. This is all I got done today because we spent the morning at the doctors office. Ear infection for one and a nasty wheezing chest cold for the other. Tis the season for yuck. Nothing like a 3 1/2 year on on steroids...as if he did not have enough energy. Here's to speedy recoveries!

All wrapped up...sorta

I was able to finish 8 napkins today. That's as far as I was able to get. Still 8 more napkins to go, 4 placemats, 4 picnic placemats - from Simple Sewing - 2 purses, and a few zippered pouches. For some reason the song Under Pressure comes to mind...

That all aside, my husband and I were just talking today about how incredibly blessed we are. Two healthy, active, and very funny little boys...a home we love and a family we would choose to keep if we had to choose - ha! ... and the list goes on and on...I hope that you all are able to count your blessings as well and not feel so 'under pressure' this Christmas. God Bless!

Hot Hot Hot

Check out this delicious tin of spicy chex mix! A friend of ours makes this every year as Christmas gifts and we are one of the lucky recipients. It's soooo good. She ads lots of cayenne pepper to give it a good kick. The apron was fun and fast to whip up. It's from Bend the Rules. Henry woke early from his nap so he 'helped' me make it. "Look daddy what mommy and I made today...I got to push the buttons" (on the sewing machine). Thanks goodness that was enough to keep him interested so I could finish. This fabric was a $2 / yard find at Wal-Mart. I did finish 4 napkins and have 4 more to go for this particular set. I'll show ya a pic when I'm done.

Zat you Santa Clause?

Nope. Just little ol' me sewing, cutting, sewing, ripping out seams and sewing some more. Have I said how much I LOVE my new Bernina....ok, I promise, no more gushing. Above is a picture of a purse I made for my sister-in-law. I really like how it turned out except for where it meets at the shoulder. I need to redo that part and ad a button to the front for the closure. I used this tutorial but lined it with cotton flannel to give it some weight. The pocket picture is streaked for some reason...need a new camera but the sewing machine took priority :) Just ignore the lovely green paint peeking through...some previous owner loved green and blue - go figure. The foyer is our next painting project (which is wallpapered over as well - joy). Oh...and the fat cat, his name is Gallagher - he came with the marriage (translation: I am the cat lover, my husband is cat tolerant). I plan to make a zippered pouch using this tutorial to match. And if I have enough time (ha) I want to make a no cash wallet from Bend the Rules. I also had to do some emergency Lovey repair. Henry was very distraught and couldn't sleep until I sewed up the holes. I am off to make some napkins and place mats for friends and my dad and a Christmas apron for me. Ho Ho Ho!

Oh Brother, where art thou?

On it's way out the door! Brother, you have been a faithful machine but your replacement has arrived.

The cape finally got made but this time without any trouble, gobbled up thread, or a gummed up needle. Sorry for the dark/fuzzy pictures. I had a reluctant model. I used this tutorial but did a few things differently. I lined the cape and did the applique another way. I was was afraid of reversing the letter...

This baby purrs as it sews. I think I'm in love.

Oh Christmas Tree...

As you can see, it's no longer snowing in our living room. We have returned to some semblance of normalcy - whatever that is! Furniture is back in its place and only a few plastic toys have made their way back in (they sure are aggressive little things). Pictures aren't hung yet - we're having some 'commitment issues' - too much pressure for freshly painted plaster walls. We waited until our littlest fella went to sleep tonight and had our biggest little fella put some ornaments on the tree. We only lost a few pine needles in the process. The star was a different story. My poor husband had to keep cutting...and cutting the top to fit the star. It finally made it to it's rightful home, sticky hands and all. I have to admit - I love the smell of a fresh cut Christmas tree. I did get to make another tote today...the Bernina will be waiting for me tomorrow. Yippee!

It's raining totes

I figured I better get some pictures up of what I've actually made since this blog is supposed to be about sewing! Here are some of the totes that I have finished for Christmas presents. They fold up so nicely and are very durable. I used 100% cotton fabric (Amy Butler) but if you really want heavy duty you could use a canvas. You would be amazed how many groceries fit in there. I feel so...green when I go grocery shopping and come home with zero plastic bags. I used this tutorial but turned the pocket around so you could actually use it. Only 3 more to go...

Where there's smoke...there's a fire

Well, the Bernina is on it's way. No sewing to speak of these days; at least until I can pick it up on Thursday. Then it I will turn into the mad sewer! The living room is finally done and the tree has lights - all in time for my DH 40th birthday on Sunday. He was very adamant about NO PARTY, so it was just family and LOTS of candles. The smoke had us worried we would set off the smoke alarms (thankfully it didn't). Once the tree is decorated I'll post some pictures. I just love this time of year. I keep reminding myself of the 'reason for the season' so I don't get so stressed over the fact that I haven't finished making most of my presents. A good friend of mine is trying to 'cut back on the giving' to her son and came up with what I think is a wonderful (and very inspired - no pun intended) solution. Santa is only bringing 3 gifts - Jesus received 3 gifts therefore Santa follows the ultimate protocol....

Speaking of gifts - I participated in the Holiday Traditions Exchange 2007 that sweet Meg McElwee at Montessori by Hand so graciously organized and have met via email a very lovely person. I am so excited to exchange handmade gifts and our family traditions and also to learn of hers. I'll post the goodies I sent and what I received later...don't want to spoil her surprise. You should check out Gill's blog Moss Stitch.

Ice Ice Baby....

No more snow, just ice. It pretty much blindsided people this morning. Sadly there were many, many car accidents. My husband slipped and slided his way to work and watched many others do the same. When he was leaving the YMCA an unfortunate mom was taking her child to the daycare and slipped and fell. My sweet hubbie had to carry her child in for her because she hit her head on the pavement...We hope she is ok and doesn't have too terrible of a heachache today. How scary! I can't imagine how out of control she must have felt at that moment. I know my husband was a little unnerved by the experience. You never like to see someone hurt or a child at risk of being hurt.

On an happier note, my living room is almost done...yippee! It's so nice when you begin to make things your own...and actually hang pictures where you want them and not where there were already holes. Plaster walls are wonderful but so temperamental.

My sewing has hit a minor (maybe major glitch) just in time for Christmas. That great cape has caused me a fit. Basically the short story is my thread continues to get stuck and I nearly ripped my fabric trying to undo it. UGH. I went to a sewing shop yesterday and there is nothing we can find wrong - it figures. Just like a car - it never makes the clunk/chug/spurt smoke for the mechanic. User error could certainly be the culprit :-] but the one thing I do know, I can't finish the cape with this machine. I can finish the other projects but not this one (which has to be shipped across the country soon). My husband made a deal with me: If I get a new sewing machine it cannot be in our bedroom (now called the FEMA room- note the pictures - no window treatments - no real bedding - we still live like we are in college). YIPEE! You can bet if I can get out of the house tomorrow I'll be revisiting my local sewing machine retailer. Bye bye Brother, hello BERNINA.

It's snowing

It is snowing here and beginning to stick to the ground; so pretty. I love it when it snows...except when I have to get in the car and drive somewhere - then it is a nightmare. I am a perfectly capable driver in inclement weather (my parents are from New York after all) - it's the other drivers that scare me! He he. It's also snowing inside my home...above are pictures of my living room. The pile on the floor is a portion of the 2 layers of painted over wallpaper to be exact. Try keeping a 3 1/2 year old out of there. Fun. We have since discovered that our ceilings are wallpapered / painted over too. Ugh. The ceilings will have to wait for another day...and another dollar! Our house was built in 1933 and solid - no complains for the architect or the builder...just for the long list of previous owners - ha! Sorry the pictures are a little off - maybe I'll actually read some directions on how to post pictures where I want them to go. I never made it to the cape...that is today's project. I did finish 2 grocery totes...more about those later. Off to check on the painters.

No time like Christmas card time...

Well, I've been such a voyeur for so long reading everyones lovely blogs that I finally bit the bullet and created my own. What do I plan to blog about? Your guess is as good as mine! I hope I get the hang of posting and putting in pictures. I love to see what my contemporaries are up to and hopefully I can join in as well. (I've already discovered the spell check - awesome - it's like my seam ripper - hate to use it but glad you have it.) You will see much of my sewing inspiration has come from the links on the side. So many talented ladies...The picture is my attempt at getting the photo for our Christmas cards...ahhhh...nothing like putting you in the spirit of things. I was so excited because I made the pants and longall and just knew that they would smile and sit still. They smiled alot actually, just not at the same time! I'm off to make a dent in my Christmas sewing...pocket books, grocery totes, zippered pouches, and a cape for a pretty neat 6 year old magician.