What Have You Done Now?

When I got home yesterday from my girls weekend and Henry saw my toes (I had a pedicure) the first words out of his mouth weren't "I missed you Mamma" or "I'm glad you are home", they were "What have you done now?" while looking at my feet. I had to laugh. He apparently has heard that question somewhere before ...

Although I hate to do it, this is going to be a picture-less post. I am still waiting for all the pictures to come in from everyone. We had waaayyy too much fun (if that's possible).

We had a blast. Hope you had a great weekend too.

Project Playroom

I've taken the first steps in organizing the exposed playroom - I took pictures of toys to then make labels for the storage bins. One would think this would be a simple task to accomplish ... it would have been if I was alone. I had the bright idea that the boys could help. It felt a lot like trying to take the Christmas card picture only this time I was yelling for them to leave Diego alone ... no put the trains back ... John, stop throwing the balls ... sigh.

So here's how far I've gotten.

I was going to label each picture with words - "car", "Elmo" but it just got too time consuming and the pictures are so small that it just looked funny. I need to now cut out the pictures and laminate them. I plan to use that no sew Velcro to attach them to the bins. If anyone wants these pics I'll happily send them your way ... I'd love to save you the ahhh .... joys of photographing toys that are in constant motion ...

Have a great weekend ... I hope you get to expose yourself too ;-)

Where It's Always Like Friday

I am just giddy. Two girls weekends within two months of each other. So random and so special! We usually only get to see each other once a year if we are lucky ... I'd say we're pretty lucky this year. This is what the hostess sent us ... she really knows how to make us feel special (and laugh out loud - 'management' is she and her DH):

The invitation ...

What I will be doing ...

If this actually happens ... I will post unflattering pictures ...

Just in case we have forgotten how to pack for a girls only weekend ...

How Low Can You Go

Apparently, pretty low. I'll cut to the chase (ok - not really). A month or so ago I participated in a name swap hosted by Mindy (hang with me here ... none of this is the low part). Fun Fun Fun. Rachel sent me this fabulous fabric (and a bunch of other cool stuff) ... I had big plans for it ... just didn't know what. Then something happened ... the new sew along theme was announced ... an aaahHA! moment happens. Skirts. I need more skirts. Really, I do. I decided to dust off Sew What! Skirts and get to measuring. I had high hopes that my measurements had changed since last summer.

Still reading? Good ... I promise, I'm almost there ... the good news (besides that I'm almost done babbling) is that my waist measurement did go down a few inches ... the not so good ... my hips are the same. c'est la vie. (I am telling you this for a reason - really!) The book has this great formula on how to use your measurement to create a skirt that fits. I recalculated (or so I thought) and began to make a muslin skirt as a test run. When I tried it on it did seam to fit a little low ... since I'd never made a 'demo' before I figured that once the facing was put in it would scoot up a bit.

Soooo ... it's time to cut into the awesome circus fabric ... I make the skirt - LOVE it and then discover it sits 3 inches below my belly button! YOWSA. Now I like things that ride a little lower ... but this ... this is a bit low. The night before I gave it the inaugural wearing (just to see if I could live with it so low) I dreamt all night how I was going to fix it without ripping out any seams ... I dreamt about it a lot ... coulda been the fever.

Then I wore it. It actually worked. It was comfortable. I didn't feel like I was about to lose my skirt at any moment. Good thing those hips that have birthed two of the loves of my life hadn't changed.

How did it end up so big if the book is so awesome ... user error. I wrote down my waist measurement on the page but didn't adjust the formula. Will I ever learn to slow down? Doubtful. I think it's genetic ... another bunny trail as my girlfriend calls it ... hang with me ... my dad is one of the smartest people I know (nuclear engineer) but he'll be the first to injure himself while walking. That's right. Walking. See, I come by it naturally.

You still here? Drum roll please ...



I followed the pattern for the A-line. Yes, ladies and gentlemen ... there is a zipper. AND it works! Did I say I loved this skirt? You will see more from Sew What! Skirts coming to a blog near you ...

Between Brothers

Last night while putting John to bed Henry leans up the to crib and blows John a kiss.

Henry: Night night John. I love you and I'll never forget you.

John: Nigh nigh Nenny.

102

I wish that the title of this post was some radio station with call letters after it ... It was my temperature Sunday night. Random. The only other symptom that something was askew - my stomach felt like ... hmmm ... a hot air balloon. No nausea or other GI issues. Weird. Monday my stomach didn't feel like it was going to pop but hurt like I had done 500 sit ups ... ok ... who am I kidding ... like I had done 10. DH has some issues Saturday night but so far the boys are ok. The worst part was the lack of food in the house. I was planning to go to the grocery store on Sunday to pick up a few odds and ends ... we didn't even have popcorn! PB&J it was for Henry and DH. John's so picky that toast and some cheese made him happy.


Thankfully all is well now ... I think (hope). I thought I had another fever yesterday afternoon and finally at 12:30 AM when I couldn't sleep I took my tempertature (101.4). No fever now and no other symptoms. So weird. I guess I need to call the MD.

I've begun my list of projects for Christmas in July and have fabric for quite a few of them. My only problem is being able to put all the other projects on hold. The way I look at is like this: If I only make 2 or 3 presents well, that's more than I started with.

As if I don't have enough to do ... I'm going to expose myself. Yes, you read that right. Chikaustin is having an organization party - you decide ... is it your linen closet? Your kitchen? Or in my case my whole house ... I plan to share (expose) the boys playroom - before - during? - and after. It's a disaster. I'm sure there are more Teddy Grahams and Goldfish under the furniture than I care to know about. I might have to bring the haz-mat suit back.

I better go take my temperature again ... I must still be feverish to tackle this room!

Mail Call

I don't know if it's a good thing that I've seen my mail men several times in the past week ... not because they aren't nice people (we have several delivery people) but because it's burning a hole in my bank account! Here are some of the goodies I've acquired (and their soon to be fate:

Etsuko Fuyura

ECHINO

Butterfly Stripes (Rust)

Flower (Deep Red/Beige Flower w/ Teal Dove)

I ordered these from Kris to make this cover for my KitchenAid. It gets a little ... dusty from time to time. The picture does not do this fabric justice ... it is just beautiful!

I also bought Amy Butler's Blue Sky Hats pattern (still searching for fabric) and this awesome wet bag to use at the pool. I think I have paid for Kris's kids first year of college - ok, maybe just for a set of braces! (smile) (Let me clarify - she's not expensive ... I've just ordered a ton of stuff!)

But wait! There's more! A little surprise ... some of Amy Butler's Midwest Modern (brown) as a bonus ... thank you so much Kris!

And then there are the books ... I fell in love with the sweet chemise in Simple Sewing With a French Twist. I can't wait to make it. This book is such eye candy. Gorgeous pictures and some pretty cool projects (shoe covers, bathrobe, laundry bags...). I also spotted (while blog lurking) the SEW Everything Workshop and decided that it was needed as well to add to the Some-of-a-Kind-too-many-books collection.

I figure these are a little happy birthday to me - only two months early ...

Henry and John also got some mail not too long ago - a postcard from Milo (Periwinkle's big little fella). Henry was just tickled to get some mail from "really really really REALLY far away".

I am also lusting for one of these dolls and these little people from Erica Daley. I am wishing for them to magically appear in my mail box. I can see a whole Some of a Kind family (cat included) on my bookshelf ... I need these like I need ... more books and fabric! :0)

Christmas In July

I'm already planning for Christmas (or at least trying to). Last year's December was chaos. I had decided (in November) that I wanted to dust off my sewing machine again and make every ones Christmas presents. I made quite a few presents but not as many as I wanted. I also had waaayyy too many late nights.

I'm trying to get ahead of the game and actually enjoy the process of making every ones gifts because I will have plenty of time to spare (I did it - I just cursed myself).

Will you join me? Let's have Christmas in July Sew Along. Designate July as your getting organized, cutting out fabric, and get sewing (or crafting) presents month! I haven't set up a flickr group but if enough people let me know they want to participate I will. Then we can admire and be inspired by your gifts ... the only drawback I see is wanting to be adopted by each and every one of you so I could make your 'list' (big cheesy grin).

Here's a picture you can copy for your sidebar (if we do flickr you can add the link). If you have trouble copying it just leave me your email in the comments (I won't publish it for blog-land to see) and I'll send it to you. You can add this link: http://someofakind.blogspot.com/2008/06/christmas-in-july.html
that will direct those who are interested to this post (assuming for now no flickr).

I know it's still June ... I'm really trying to get ahead! Never mind the office curtains (and these for the playroom) thatI still have not finished or the dress that's waiting to be made or the skirt for the sew along or ... Do I hear jingle bells? Ho! Ho! Ho!

Where The Wild Things Are

Nope, not the book. Just our back yard.

We've had quite a few visitors over the years ... some less desirable than others ... a family of skunks, ground hogs, deer (with racks like you would not believe), black snakes, and even a gray fox. This was our first turtle siting.

The boys were very excited.

A close up before he was shown the way out ... we didn't want him to meet our lawnmower.

Crossing to the other side ... with a little shove ... ahem ... help.


Hope you make some pleasant discoveries this weekend.

Tote-able Towels

When I had stumbled upon this tutorial I thought it would be a fast and easy project to make for the boys. Well, it would have been both if you weren't me - ha! With that said, Henry just LOVES to carry his towel to the pool and John ... well ... he just loves whatever Henry loves. (so sweet! That is until they start playing tug of war with a toy and someone ends up bleeding and screaming ... )

Sorry for the poor picture quality. I was impatient (imagine that) and wanted to get the pics taken before little boys could use them as weapons (ok - they're really not that bad - the kids - not the pics - they are bad).

Henry wanted footballs and an orange towel. John got what I wanted. All is fair in love and sewing ...

100% cotton towels from Wal-Mart. Fabric in stash.

So. What did I learn? Cute project. Kids will like. And ... the rest of the story:

1. Use a denim needle. It gets really thick in the corners.


2. Use the zig-zag stitch. Definitely helps reinforce where the 'loops' are and to make sure you catch all the fabric on the other side.


3. Make sure your fabric is lined up on each side. I thought it was on both towels and it wasn't. Any tips out there? I'm sure it's a no brainer but somehow I'm not there ...
   
4. I added an extra 'loop' on Henry's towel (see picture above). I had made John's first and of course Henry had to demo it. He nearly tripped over the tie. I didn't realize until that moment that the big loop would be a tripping hazard. I added the second loop so I could at least run the long loop through both to get it off the ground - make sense?

Finally I would actually put the big loop closer in - more like 10 inches vs the 12-14 inches she recommends. I did 12 and it seems to wide for such little folks. Same consideration with how long the long loop is. Henry wears his over his shoulder across his chest to make it the right length. Henry and John don't seem to mind ... and that's all that matters to me!

End Of Track

So my Easy stitch 'n save M5292 by McCall's is already proving to be difficult and potentially costly. I need help. I'll cut to the chase. I only have the first page of the directions. Anyone out there have this pattern or know of how I can get the second page (free preferably)?





I'll spare you the thoughts that ran through my mind when I realized this. Henry was standing next to me so they were not vocalized. I bought this pattern brand new ... grrrrrr!


The good news ... the first page actually takes you pretty far. The bad news ... there is a zipper and I don't have the directions on when to put it in. I think I could actually figure it out but you ladies are so resourceful that I thought I'd send out an S.O.S. I already have ripped out enough seams to last a lifetime ;o} Thanks a million!

Oh Mamma!

We had some major storms the other evening and into the night. We had the weather radio on and our emergency plan in place (DH is ever so prepared). We don't like to mess with big mamma ... you know ... Mother Nature. Here's what we found in our yard once the skies were clear:

You can't really tell from the picture but it is a very large limb from our walnut tree. It now rests on top of (towers over) our compost pile.

And speaking of mothers - I can hear my mom's voice as I write the rest of this post "Slllooowww dowwnnn Adrienne. Take your time." Yea. I know. I know.

Oops! I did it again ... this is the mess I've created this time. I'm not exactly sure how I managed to gum it up. Regardless, there was some seam ripping that had to be done. sigh.

Check back tomorrow for the finished towels and some things I learned along the way.

A Matter Of Words - Part 2

Some of you may remember this post. I wasn't too thrilled with with some parts of the pattern and working with the knit. I really did like the shirt (turns out there are tiny holes from where I had to rip out stitches - right where the pleats are - can't wear the shirt - thought it would correct itself in the wash ... it didn't. bummer.) Sooooo any-who, I decided to give it another go. This time armed with the experience of making it once already, this tutorial (thank you Kris), and cotton fabric. I did have to take in the sides a bit and did not add the tie to the shirt ... it's maternity enough looking! (no, I'm not pregnant!)

I've already worn it once and can't wait to wash it and wear it again! DH was at a loss for words and then said "That's probably the best thing you've made." Ahh ... gee, thanks honey. The fabric was originally destine to become napkins and placements similar to these. It just never happened. So funny the fabric turned out to have ... shall we say ... good shirt karma!

I do want to ... hmm ... become friends? with knit. It's another world to me and I want to figure it out - especially if the sewing clothes is going to stick. I am drooling over Wendy's new book. I have a birthday coming up ... I might just have to put in a request for this one. As an added incentive to sew (as if I need any) the new sew-along is a skirt - any skirt - and the prize ... Wendy's new book. I'm in. Hope you will sew-along too; and don't forget to put your skirts (and whatever else you sew for you) on the Mad(d) For Me! flickr group.

Gardening At Night

Well, we've started to recover from our trip. It's amazing how getting off schedule well ... keeps you off schedule. We were busy with father's day activities and my new obsession [more on that later]. I do have some sewing projects to share this week but just couldn't get them photographed. Hopefully Bernadette will be ready for a photo shoot ... In the meantime here are some pictures that I took last evening ...

The view from my back yard ...

Almost apple pie time ...

Tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Gorgonzola cheese and this ...

How about some salsa ... or maybe Thai with cilantro and chopped peanuts on top ...

Nothing like gardening at night ...

Georgia On My Mind

Part two of our vacation .. hold on tight, it's a heavy picture post ...

DH said it looks like the butterfly is giving me the evil eye - ha!

Picture taking of the picture taking ...

My dad is a big train enthusiast. He's even in train clubs. BIG enthusiast. We went to visit one of his friends who has over 2000 square feet of tracks/trains/stuff! The boys were speechless at first. Then when the initial shock was over they were in heaven. I'll spare you the many photos I took for the boys to look at ... I will share this one just to give you an idea of the details that this guy thought of. Check out the dude under the truck ...

Horsing around and a new lovey ...

The view from dads back porch. See the haze ... it was in the 90's ... in the mountains!

I think Ray Charles sang it best ... Just an old sweet song, keeps Georgia on my mind ...

Puttin' On The Ritz

Shhh-oooow-wwweee ...

We are home from a looong road trip. We packed up and left last Thursday and headed to Georgia. DH had a conference here and they wanted the kiddos to come. Don't have to ask me twice. Man oh man was it fun. I am still in recovery mode. After the conference we headed to the Chattahoochee National Forest where my dad lives. We made it home safe and sound Tuesday night with two - no - make that four very tuckered out road warriors. No sewing to speak of. Lot's of reading [man are we going to change things up here - but that's another post], a little knitting (2 rows count!), and way, way, way too much eating!


I have so many pictures I want to share but goodness ... it's just - too much. So, today and tomorrow will share just a few (ok - a lot).

Today will be Puttin' on the Ritz portion of our trip ...

When we stopped for our picnic lunch this is what my car said the temperature was ...

(It later read 102!)

little guy - BIG CHAIR!

bigger guy ... having a BIG TIME!

We are so thankful to have had this opportunity - a safe and uneventful trip. The kiddos were great in the car. Nothing like pacifiers, loveys, and portable DVD players ... with ear phones ...

Done Been Loved

Henry loves his lovey. He has several of these blankets here at home, one at each family members house, and even found one in his classroom at school last year! This one though is the lovey. All the others have names except this one - it's just lovey. Plain and simple.

My mom graciously volunteered I don't have a clue as what to do to try to save lovey from it's ultimate demise .... as she was going out the door Henry begins to panic, "You will bring lovey back - SOON?! Tomorrow - lovey will be fixed? Tomorrow?"

It was about 2 weeks that a substitute lovey was used ... with much fanfare from me - "Isn't this lovey just great - its blue - it's so soft" only to fall on deaf ears. "Mom, When is my lovey coming back."

Here he is just giddy. Lovey is whole again!

My sweet Henry, lovey has done been loved.

Purple Haze

That's what you will feel like you are in after reading this post. Consider yourself warned. This is a picture heavy purple post.

On to the purple pretties ...

I had a fat quarter of this awesome fabric (Echino - Medley Stripe - Purple) from Kris that I had been dying to make something out of ... but what? Then the perfect opportunity came. One of DH's coworkers is having a little girl - she preferred purple over pink - cutting time!

Baby Carly got the bib on the right and the burp cloth with her name on it. The other bib and 2 burp cloths are to be saved for when I'm in a pinch. I figured if I was cutting and sewing I'd keep going!

Do you smell that? It's my lavender bush ... ahhhh.

My neighbors Iris. They were HUGE!

Our Irises.

And since you are still reading this post I'm assuming you are not completely purpled out ... Do you remember this song? I actually saw them in concert! And since I am confessing my preteen taste in music ... any of you remember these guys? Saturday Night and I Only Want to Be With You were two of my favorites ... nothing like the '70's for music and fashion ;-)

Hope you have a purple-licious day!

The Ties That Bind

It was over 3o years ago that my DH's grandfather bought this hammock. DH was with him and remembers it like it was yesterday.

DH's grandparents pulled this out on 'special occasions'. Lots of wonderful memories made on and around this hammock.

We've had it for some time now ... maybe 8 years ... we kept saying we needed to get a stand for it but kept putting it off. It's been hanging in our basement just waiting to have someone climb on and read a book, take a nap, or better yet, cuddle with little boys.

Now as I relax on Pop and G's hammock I think of them and how proud they would be of their only grandson. I run my hand across the rope where they once held him in their lap ... and smile for the ties that bind are still as strong as ever.

As If ...

I need any more books.

The good news ... I've already read Fortunes Rocks. When I stumbled upon this at a local bookstore that sells used books - I had to have it. I will read it again ... one day... in my spare time. My Ishmael just rang a bell ... looked familiar. Anyone read it?

Here's to a relaxing weekend ... preferably spent reading.