Curiosity

Almost killed the Caterpillar.

Poor little fella. He was tossed around, picked up, put down, in the sand box ... only to barely miss his demise under a curious (but strong) 18 month old finger. Are there Caterpillar angels?

Breakin' The Bank

DH likes to say, "No matter how much (or little) you make - you spend it."

Ain't that the truth.

Oy With The Poodles Already tagged me for 5 budget busters. So here's a list of what's breakin' my piggy bank:


1) Books - good grief - I have so many - some might not get read until children are grown and DH is retired! Same for the boys ... too many! need.to.go.to.library.more.

2) Fabric!!! Need I say more.

3) Food / Wine - I try to buy as much organic as I can and that at times can be a bit expensive. Unfortunately, our selection is limited therefore prices can be high. When I am in my 'planning meals' state of mind, I do much better but let's face it ... only when there is a full moon does that happen. And for the wine ... well, if I'm cooking - I want a good glass (or two!) of vino.

4) Gadgets - I love anything that can do 'something special' or make life easier ... not only does it spend money but they end up taking up valuable space and adding to my clutter problem!

5) Cleaning products - I am always looking for the product that will clean in a flash, save the environment, and make my 75 year old original fixtures/floors/toilets/tub shine ... yeah good luck, I know. That's a budget breaker.

What's bustin' your budget? Take up the tag if you dare ...

Speaking of fabric breaking my piggy bank ... I was able to use some left over fabric to make the super hero cape. The H is a little bigger than I anticipated ... reminds me of the road sign for a hospital or a helicoper landing pad ... I don't particularly care for that irony. Henry really dug this and wanted to know when his was coming. I think I am going to give this one to Henry and make another for Hayden. They are so fast and easy to whip up. I tried to link to the tutorial but it's no longer available. If anyone wants info on it I'd be glad to send it your way.

You know ... something else to add to your to-sew list and another excuse to run to the fabric store! Break open that piggy bank ...

I Scream, You Scream

We all scream for ice cream!

DH had made a Sam's run the other day and spotted an ice cream maker. The man who dislikes dessert but LOVES ice cream walked right past it. He mentions this to me and what a great deal it was ... our conversation went something like this:

DH "I saw this great Cuisinart ice cream maker at Sam's today."

Me (hmmm ... he mentioned a products name ... he never notices things like that) "Yeah ... and"

DH "It was pretty cool. Stainless."

Me (where is he going with this) " Uh huh."

DH "I think Henry would like it. To make ice-cream."

Me (you mean YOU would like it) "Sure. He probably would - especially the end result."

DH "You know we could make some really health stuff instead of eating Ben & Jerry's."

Me (since when do care whether something is healthy or not) "Right."
DH "Why don't you go back tomorrow and get it."

Me (don't have to ask me twice - consider it done!) "Ok honey."

Our inaugural batch was mint chocolate chip.

Mmmm Mmmm

I see lots of this in our future!

I did get to make a tote this weekend. (Sorry for the bad pic)

This is for a little girl who's brother has a liver disease - he has had to take chemo even though he does not have cancer. As you can imagine this family is in constant disruption - in and out of the hospital b/c little Hayden (he's 5 years old) doesn't have an immune system to speak of. I wanted to make sure she felt special. I have several projects I need to finished before May(d) for Me begins. One of which is a super hero cape for her brother Hayden. He's my hero. What a strong little person he is. Please add them to your prayer list.

Tote info - I made the one from Lotta's book. The little girl takes Karate - thus the Asian theme. Fast and easy. I finished off the seams vs zig-zagging them as she suggested. That just feels too unfinished to me.

My house (thanks to some elbow grease from DH) no longer is on the FEMA watch list ... so on with the sewing! I've been tagged by Oy With the Poodles Already ... stay tuned ... this is a new one :)

Air Traffic Control, Can You Read Me?

We went to visit DH's sister this past weekend for a little get away. More like a little insanity ... nothing like an 18 month old in a 3 story townhouse that is not too child friendly. Let's just say we underestimated the three S's of toddler hood [speed, strength, and stamina].

We did however have a few memorable moments other than breaking glass and chemical spills. We went to Gravelly Point for some entertainment and a picnic. The boys had a blast. ALL of them. DH used to go there as a kid and was excited to take share a fond memory with his boys. Here are a few shots from the day.

Yup - we were that close.

You know they were wondering who this crazy lady is taking pictures - I'm sure they did some fancy scanning of the grounds all CIA / FBI - ish and realized I was just a rube tourist!

Next thing you know we see this ....

I thought those things only existed in Bond movies .... I've gotta get out more.

And since we have a transportation theme going here, I should take this opportunity to share - I am convinced that in my back yard I have the buzzziest airport in the world; otherwise know as my apple tree. We were out there the other evening and you would not believe how many bees were zipping around. Tried as I might, I could not get a decent picture of the (almost) swarm. What I did get was a picture of two bees doing a tango ...

Look closely, right there, in the middle, you can barely make out the second bee {or any bee for that matter}. I know, it feels like we are spying through their bedroom window. Really, it's ok. It only lasted as long as it took me to take the picture.

DH and I were cracking jokes about one taking off and 100 more coming in for their landing. All you could hear was" zzzzz....bbbbsssszzz...zzzzzzzzz".

I can picture them now back in their hive dancing for the queen and all the other bees now ... crazzzzzy.

Don't forget about May(d) for Me!

May(d) For Me

I have officially declared the month of May May(d) for Me.

I have decided that the only way I am actually going to make the spring / summer clothes that I have (too many) patterns for is to make myself accountable.

Will you join me? Declare May your May(d) for Me month and post your progress on Flicker.


I have tried in vain to create a side button with a link to the Flicker group but don't have a clue how to do so. It's open season ... come up with a cool button (in your free time) that I like and I'll have a goodie bag on it's way to you. Just leave me a comment when you have created one and we'll go from there.

Come on and get your 'tion' ... you know, your motivation, inspiration, and a lot of celebration!

Rain Drops Were Falling On My Head

We have had a great deal of rain this spring , or maybe it just seems that way. No complaints really - we've actually been doing some rain dances - want to avoid drought!

Our cherry tree has taken a beating ...

Betcha didn't know it snows pink here in Virginia!

The one and only of my Irises to bloom as of yet ...

Thanks for all the funny comments regarding my domesticity. I can always us a good laugh - especially when I'm being attacked by dust bunnies that can talk - yikes!

I found this funny article the other day. Thought you might enjoy it: How to set up a rain barrel. We plan to do this ourselves ... well, hopefully not quite that way. Here's a serious article on 'how to'. Hope you are getting rained on in your neck of the woods ... you know what I mean ;0)

Domestic Diva

That is what I need to become for the rest of this week(end). My house needs a major overhaul. You know, one of those top to bottom, pull out the real mop, put away the clutter, take to Goodwill what hasn't see the light of day for at least a year, and get to work kinda weeks. I still plan to post but I'm pretty confident that there will be no sewing to speak of ...

A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do. Wish me luck ladies. I'm goin' in.

100th Post Extravaganza

Well, ok, maybe not an extravaganza ... but a celebration none the less. I loved all your comments about your favorite flower and why it was so. It really got me thinking about my what favorite flower is - I just decided that I'm so darn glad to see / receive / smell flowers that I pretty much like them all! What that says about me I don't know, but I sure do love flowers.

So, on to the goodies. I decided to use the Random Number Generator ...

And the winner of The Language of Flowers is Kerri. If you haven't checked out her blog - do so - it's really cool and she's oh so talented!


Kerri, leave me a comment with your mailing address (I won't publish it for blog land to read) and I'll send you your winnings!


Looking forward to 100 more posts, give aways, and maybe a less serious, more cooperative Random Number Generator ...

Knock Knock

Who's there?

Orange.

Orange Who?

Orange you glad it's spring and this is post number 99!

This Beauty is ...

A beast! Not because it was hard to make but because I completely had a major brain malfunction and reversed the measurements. In other words - the purse is HUGE. I don't know what happened (because I've made one of these before) but somehow I had an unbelievable laps in gray matter usage.

The silver lining ... I actually dig this version. It can hold a TON of stuff. I am all about a purse that can hang and hold some stuff. I did make a few other changes this go round (on purpose). I made the straps longer and I added a few more pockets for a cell phone and lip stick. Just because you are carrying wipes, diapers, and Thomas the Train does not mean you have to forgo having luscious lips ...

I used some of Amy Butlers new Midwest Modern. I am in love with this fabric. I bought this before I knew that my swap for BTR loved Amy Butler. I saw on her blog that she just bought this exact fabric for something else ... gotta love good fabric karma :-) I just hope she loves it super-sized!

Fallen For Freddo

A childhood friend of DH's lives in Melbourne (his wife's a darling little Aussie gal) and whenever they are in town we get together. It is not unusual that they bring over goodies for the boys; and this time (as always) he didn't let them (me) down.




Have you had these? DH hasn't, neither have the boys. I've hoarded them. They are so unbelievably good! I'm down to my last two. Move over Hershey's, Ghiradelli, and Nestle ...

I've got to find - more - Freddo!

T is For ...

Tea

I've decided it's my party (not Boston's) and I can drink tea if I want to ... and eat lemon pound cake right before lunch.


Now I'm a coffee in the AM kinda gal but a good cup of tea in the afternoon (or anytime really) is always comforting. Here's were you can help me have my party, eat my cake and have a cup of tea ... I'm looking for a good cup of tea. I enjoy the blend pictured but it's not exactly what I'm looking for. At one time I adored Earl Gray but have wondered away from ol' EG. What's your favorite tea?

Totes

I finished 2 more totes. These are for my sister-in-laws bday. I just love these Amy Butler fabrics.

There will be more of these in my future. Tutorial here. (note I reverse the pocket so that you can use it - curved end towards the top - stitching leaving the curved part open to actually create a pocket)

THANK YOU!!!

For all of your lovely commets. I wish I could email each person every time a comment is left but b/c blogger is set up the way it is, I can't. I just love to hear from you all and so enjoy reading your blogs and checking our your craft adventures. So THANK YOU for stopping by and know that your words mean so much to this stay at home mom who's conversations go something like this "MAMMA - I need to go potty." "MAMMA John took the toy away from me." "MaMaMaMa - ea- ea - ea - mo - mo - mo (eat more)".

Tagged

UK lass in Us tagged me the other day and Periwinkle had a neat little tag that she left 'open' for who wanted to play. I think I'll combine the two (7 weird / random facts and a Q&A) and do the same - whoever wishes to play along, please do!

4 Places I have been: Switzerland, Germany, San Francisco, New Orleans

4 People I email: DH, my college roommates/sorority sisters (7 of them!)

4 Places I have lived: Russellville, Arkansas; Port Clinton, Ohio; Radford, Virginia; and where I live now in VA ... (If you count where I spent most of my childhood summers then add Nanuet, NY to the list)

4 Things to eat: pizza, chocolate Freddo (more on that in another post...), a western (hamburger with an egg, ketchup, and mustard - mmm- mmm good), anything Mexican

4 Movies I'd watch again: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Dead Poets Society, It's a Wonderful Life, 10 Commandments

4 TV shoes I watch: Ha - I'm too tired once the boys go to bed! No TV for me :-(

4 Places I'd rather be: Gosh ... no where else really, maybe at the beach but with my DH and boys ... I would like to go to Europe again

4 Things to look forward to: Watching my boys grow up, DH and I getting to travel again (one day), sewing some clothes for me, continuing to work on our 75 year old house

7 Random / weird things...

1) I'd say the fact that I like egg and hamburger together would be considered weird ...

2) I was voted 'Most Spirited' in high school - translation - most obnoxious at football games

3) My dad is a nuclear engineer - masters in physics - I cannot balance my checkbook w/o a calculator - I got the short end of the stick when it came to DNA for math and science!

4) I cannot sing - I barely do it with the radio up loud b/c I am so bad. I practically whisper in church

5) I love to dance (not great at that either but I don't care)

6) I've helped fly an airplane (my dad was a pilot)

7) I've seen 2 ghosts (deceased family members)

And now that I've completely freaked you out ... I hope you'll come back to visit again or I just might have to haunt you! ;-) Just kidding - happy day! (This is post #96!)

Seeing Red

In a flash ...

In a fancy fixed-up Ford ...

In a field by a shed ...

In a football stadium on an almost four year old's fast and fancy feet ...

Finish to Start

(Post 94 - give away at 100!)

Busy weekend over here ...

I finished a GREAT book. Grace at Low Tide by Beth Webb Hart. I'm so bad at describing a book but here goes: It is a wonderful story of a teenager coming of age while her world gets rocked over and over again. Her faith keeps her focused and generally headed in the right direction. One thing is for sure, you couldn't pay me enough money to be a teenager again! I'm happy to be right where I am. ;-) As you can see, my shelf is overflowing with books in the queue (there is another shelf just like it). Books are like fabric, you can never have too many.

I've started Sixpence in Her Shoe by Phyllis McGinley (see sidebar for cover). It was written in the 60's but still seems to fit today. Being a housewife / mom is the oldest and most honorable profession and her topic for the book. It's great. There I go again ... I guess you've figured out by now I wasn't an English major.

I finished my Sophia Bag! Yippee. It's already jam packed with stuff. Doesn't take me long to fill a good bag up!

I've started working on my BTRS beauty bag. I just love LOVE love this Amy Butler fabric. I'm going to try to squeeze out a purse for me from it as well. I might try a Lola...again tutorial. Decisions, decisions.

And last but not least - my blogging friend The Stitching Surgeon has just opened an Etsy store! Leave her a comment (and say that I sent you) to be eligible for some goodies. Better yet - get started shopping!

This is her banner for the store:

Just too cool! Best wishes to the Doc :-)

Body Double

I'd thought I would share a little wish of mine. I soooo want to be able to sew clothing. I have such a hard time finding clothes that fit properly and the tailor situation in town isn't the greatest (or inexpensive). I want to buy a dressform but I don't want to spend the money for a passing fancy (or get way in over my head). So, I checked out this book from the library The Zapp Method of Couture Sewing.

It's very interesting and easy to read. Now, I haven't tried to put any of her instructions to use mind you (I've only gleaned the book). I might actually purchase this one - so far it appears to be a keeper. Same with this one Fantastic Fit For Everybody: How to Alter Patterns to Flatter Your Figure .

Two other books that I'm interested in but I'd have to have the library order them ... Do you love what you sew? and Sewing Secrets from the Fashion Industry: Proven Methods to Help You Sew Like the Pros. I'm just going to try to digest the two I've got first (in my spare time - ha!).

I already have a few patterns that might need to be adjusted. Amy Butler's Lotus tunic and cami, and this McCall's dress. I might need to stock up on some cheap fabric (muslin) and make up mock outfits and try them on - the cut into the real fabric. I have a long way to go considering math / measuring is not a strength of mind (lest I remind you of my curtains) ~ a gal can dream can't she?!

WIP's update - I finished the dishtowel - put the curtains aside for now - received my fabric for the BTRS and got it in the wash (some of Amy Butler's new fabric - beautiful!) - I have 4 pairs of pants that DH wants me make into shorts - Sophia is just looking at me waiting for her feet and lining to be put in - and the dishcloth is just over half way done. It's supposed to be rainy here this weekend so maybe I'll make some progress ;-)

Hope you have a weekend filled with happy stitches and no seam ripping!

Don't forget about my 100th post give away! (FYI - This is post number 93!)

Open Wide

Henry went to the denist today for the first time. Upon leaving our conversation went something like this:

Me: Henry, I am so proud of you. You did a great job for Dr. Bo.

Henry: Yup. I was sooo good that we can come back and do it again.

WIP's

Do you ever feel like breakfast, lunch, and dinner are works in progress? It's never ending. Well, sometimes, you just gotta have dinner from a box.


If you haven't already tried these Thai Kitchen stir-fry's, do so. They are so yummy. Add some fresh cilantro and party peanuts and you are set.

(Don't forget about my 100th post give away!)

Here are my real WIP's. A dish cloth, a dish towel, and curtains.

Somehow I totally managed to mis-measure the curtains. Typical. No fear, I have my lovely seam ripper already on the job. I have to add panels down each side to make them fit. Thankfully (I think) I have enough fabric. The dish towel just needs to be sewn into place and the dish cloth only has 4 more inches to go!

Nothing like a post about food AND wip's. Two of my favorite things!

The Language Of ...

This is my 90th post.

Wow.

I was nervous about starting a blog but did it anyway. I'm so glad. So .... in honor of my 100th post I am going to have a little give away. I stumbled upon this sweet book the other day and thought it was perfect for this occasion.

The cover caught my eye; so I picked it up and began reading the introduction:

"Years ago, flowers spoke louder than words, and the most subtle way of expressing an intimate thought was by offering a token blossom or a bouquet of flowers.

The language of flowers, which was actively cultivated like a garden or an art, relied on petals and foliage to convey feeling and emotions instead of words."

I am tickled that so many of you have dropped by and left me 'petals and foliage'. I blog to document my sewing and family's life together - thanks for visiting my garden and watching us grow.

To be eligible to receive my token of gratitude, leave a comment for this post and tell me what your favorite flower is and why - just for fun! The winner will be announced at the 100th post (assuming that all goes well, that would be in about 2 weeks).

May all your seeds planted flourish.

What A Little Moonlight Can Do

A little moon light makes me purruse on Etsy.

I bought purse feet for my Sophia and some nickel purse frames to try out her tutorial. Fast and free shipping at Meow Craft no matter where you are! Who wouldn't want to receive such a nicely wrapped present ... umm ... purchase.

A little moonlight (er - sunlight) can make working with wads and wads of fabric more tolerable.

I'm @*&%$* under my breath trying to flatten out too many yards of fabric (lining for the sewing room curtains) and what do I see? My sweet Rhododendron in bloom. Ahhh ...

A little moonlight can cause DH and myself to get grandma to come and babysit so we can have a date.Just ignore the fact I look pregnant (I'm not - I'm just blaming the photographer!)

Now for the inspiration for the post title - Billie Holiday - man could she sing.

Inheritance

Having crafty family members is definitely a bonus.

A few goodies from my Grammy's sewing box ...

Yarn from DH's darling grandmother GG. GG passed away 4 years ago from complications of a fractured pelvis. She was in her early 90's and suffered from Alzheimer's. In this pile of yarn I found lots of notes that she had scribbled and squirreled away for 'safe keeping' I'm sure. The best thing about this stash ... it still smells like her. A wonderful surprise.

Vintage knitting basket from GG.

And my favorite find of GG's ...
Sold for 29 cents in 1959 - awesome.

While we are on the subject of passing things on ... I think John inherited my pension for writing ... his autograph on the kitchen bar stool.

Biased

Yup. I'm biased. I now prefer to make my bias tape with this lovely contraption. I was inspired by Kris's quilt so I pulled out my BTRS book to take a peek at the instructions again. In doing so, I read the section about making your own bias tape. Hmmm...the wheels are a-turnin'...maybe a trip to JoAnn's is in order.

Well, we made it to JoAnn's but not just for that. I was also looking for ready made bias tape to match the grey in the fabric above. No such luck - not even close. So, armed with my new knowledge (and my bias tape maker) I set off to make my own. Not perfect but good enough for what I needed this batch for. I am making a reusable grocery tote. If you look closely you can see it attached to what will be the pocket of the tote.

Hope you have a warm weather, fun filled, lots of sewing weekend!

Open Wide

These Dogwood blooms look like they are singing Spring - yipee!

Remember this tree (with ice on it)? Well, she's transformed once again. When she's in full bloom and the wind is blowing it looks like pink snow is falling from the sky. Don't worry, I'll take pictures ;-)