We Have A Winner

I managed to finish off the bibs I made for John (and fixed version 1 that wasn't quite right). The old nasty bibs are in the trash ... bye bye bibs - bye bye!

I plan to make maybe one or two more but I ran out of snaps! I'd say this type of bib is a definite winner ;-)

Oh yeah ... and as for winners - how about the winner of the pillow case turned top turned into unfinished top ... I asked Henry to pick a number 1 -6. He said 'I like a number that's over 100 but I don't know which one it is'. After much encouragement (bribery) he chose number 5 which makes Sarah Doyle the winner! Sarah - just email me someofakind at gmail dot com or leave me a comment with your address (I won't publish it!) and when I get back from the beach I'll get it mailed out to you.

Now I'm off to do some last minute packing and if I'm lucky paint my toe nails!

Reunited

Have you ever been in a rush to finish something? Actually, to finish lots of things in a very short period of time ... I won't give all the gory details lest you fall asleep while reading. I will say that we've had quite a bit going on here and we are headed to the beach in two days (but who's counting - we haven't been to the beach for a week in over 5 years ... but again, who's counting!).



Over the years we've tackled our old house room by room as we could afford to do so (most walls are wall papered and then painted over) - John's room was the worst offender - the paper was peeling and bubbling. Once the (painted over) paper was down our plaster was in dire need of repair ... everywhere. They finished late Tuesday. I cleaned (and cleaned) all day yesterday. This was one of those 'not just clean the room' but both sets of stairs and anywhere else the plaster dust made it. I swear that plaster dust is finer than baby powder. My body aches today!



Cut to the chase Adrienne ... I haven't been able to pack because our house has been such a wreck and when I had a chance (while John was sleeping in our room) I couldn't get into our bedroom or John's. Oy! The discomfort has been worth it - John now has a big boy room (no more yellow and blue toile). How do they grow so fast? Gotta stop feeding them - maybe that will slow 'em down ;-P



Ok - cutting to the real story behind this post. My mother-in-law's bday is Friday. She wanted/needs a new make up bag. I had an impulse purchase the other day while I was dreaming of and drooling over sergers - Amy Butler's Stash & Dash Bags. I decided to make the toiletry bag with some scraps that I thought my MIL would like. I lined it with the ProCare and added and interior pocket.





Boy did I think I was smart. Not only did I finish her present before we left town but I really liked how it turned out ... until I took a better look.







I missed the end of the zipper ... and then I opened it up and took a peek. DOH!

I managed to not 'seal off' the inside. sigh.

So, my MIL is going to see her present today only for me to put it in my bag with my seam ripper. I will have several hours to make up for lost time with Jack (the ripper).

Crochet-Along

So ... the other day, Angela and I were solving all the worlds problems, talking yarn, washcloths, fabric, swim lessons and so on and so on ... while our children were doing this ...


Then it hit us ~ like when scooters/bikes collide. We need a project. Some motivation to help us get some Christmas presents done early.

Here are the guidelines:

- Try and step out of your comfort zone - try something new! Don't crochet you say? Never a better time to start we say!

- Make something for yourself!!!! Novel I know.

- Feel free to copy the {awesome} picture {Angela took} for your sidebar and link to the Flickr group

- Official deadline is Nov. 20th but there's nothing sayin' you can't keep hookin ;-P

Ready. Set. Wind!

Busted

When will I learn? I think never.


Must measure twice, cut once.


I just seam to keep forgetting to measure.


I've been itching to make this pillow case top and recently scored a cute one at Goodwill. I've been a little hesitant to make any tops since my last go round (I still haven't fixed that shirt. I tried picking out the french seams - pain in the watoosie - and it still didn't fit).


I thought for sure this top would work. Nope.

First problem I had was with the elastic thread. My machine just didn't like it. Gobbled it right up. Ok - no worries I say to myself. We'll just go back to the basics - baste and pull to make the gathers.



Five rows later and about 5 inches to short on the width to make it across my chest. I didn't measure. I needed to make the larger size.

I was planning on making it a pool cover up because the fabric was so sheer. It's the full length of the pillow case minus what I cut for the straps and folded for the hem - 24-ish inches.

This Seinfeld episode kept going through my mind ... only (after two kids) they're mine but they ain't spectacular anymore!

I hate to just chuck this pillow case - if you measure up (he he) and want to finish off this top leave me a comment and I'll draw a name at random on Friday the 24th.

Feel free to humor me with you sewing mishaps where you've been busted ...

Gotcha Covered

I found these great bibs when Henry was little that were huge and caught just about every piece of food that he dropped (when he would actually wear the bib but that would be a whole 'nother post about what battles to fight when you have a toddler ... I digress). So ... these bib's have been around for some time and let's just say you won't see a picture of them here lest you call child protective services on me for still using them on John. See, these bibs cannot be washed. You have to wash (scrub the living hell out of them) every time they get dirty. Let's just say they've seen better days.

Since John is our last, I am NOT paying to purchase more bibs for him that

1) Will only get funky gross like the current ones

2) I'm hoping that soon he will be less messy (wishful thinking)

3) I can sew (really, I know it's been a while but I still can!!!)

I decided to trace the bib that was so rockin' to get my pattern, bought some iron on vinyl and went to town.

I ran into some trouble with my snaps and could not finish off the bottom of the bib the way I intended. I remedied that by ordering this awesome snap setter from Nancy's Notions. This version only has a small pocket to catch strays and is not leak proof on the side of the pocket - version 2 is in currently in the works.

I lined the back with ProCare (the same stuff I used for their lunch totes) so that this bib is water (and food) proof but washable. Nothing like a little more laundry.

Despite the small pocket, I'd say that the recipient doesn't seem to mind ...

I guess he knows Mama's always got him covered.

His And Hers

The third project for Craft Hope is blankets (along with a few other much needed items).

I used fleece to make two blankets and two hankies. They are so soft but light enough to swaddle a sweet little one to give them some comfort.

His

And Hers

The deadline for the blankets to be received (so they can then be shipped to India the next day) is July 25 ... there is still time if you want to participate!

Long Time No Post

Hello.

My name is Adrienne.

I succumb to fits of random sewing, reading, crocheting, cooking and cleaning.

I seem to be having none of those impulses right now.


Oh wait! Wait! I do have something to share!!!! Melanie hosted a Cozy Crochet swap and I somehow mustered up the time to participate. Would you look at these great goodies that Ruth sent me:

Two magazines, a journal, mug filled with flavored teas (I'm thinking I see a big jug of sun tea brewing soon ...) and

four coasters, a tiny bowl, and a coffee cozy. I totally raked it in. I can't wait to sit down and read the magazines - they look like they have some great articles in them. She's so sweet!

Here's what I sent Ruth:

A market bag to keep her groceries nice and cozy (and green!).

A tea wallet and some tea for when she in on the go and needs a hot cup of something warm.

I do have a few other things that I've 'crafted' - just no pictures. Time seems to be my enemy these days. I'm still working on my little surprise project and have a few more things up my metaphorical sleeve (I'm referring of course to the shirts I hope to make before summer is over). I don't know if I will actually get any Christmas presents sewn this July or not ... but that's ok. I still have 164 more days left ;-)

All kidding aside, Ruth's stationary had the first few lines of the Serenity Prayer on it. Words to live by indeed. Here's to serenity, courage, wisdom ... and more time for crafting!

Insert Post Title

One little soul wanted (or maybe just made a wrong turn) to visit.



It was quite unconventional how he introduced himself; making a mess as well.





He came a knocking (or rather scratching) from inside our fireplace tearing out the insulation as he made his way about. Thankfully our fierce guard cat stood watch. (Ignore the rusting cover which totally baffles me - it's a fireplace cover ... no water ever has touched there ... I digress)





At first we thought it was a squirrel. Then a mole because our little friend was moving the fireplace cover - it had to be something big. DH went to the basement to get all the necessary tools to contain and well ... take care of business if necessary.

Turns our our little furry friend was a

Beetle!

We did what any family of inquiring minds would do.

We put him in a glass container and watched.

And watched, and watched ... but only for 24 hours. Now it was time to set him free.


First, we must dress for the occasion. It's not everyday you get to give a beetle back his freedom.

Then one last prod ahem I mean goodbye

And then it's playtime! Or from my perspective ... let's see if I can get the Christmas card picture ... here are two that I just love (the boys and the pics!)

The boots on the wrong feet and band aids just really say it all!

I had so many different post titles for this I just couldn't decide ...

Beetlemania

Beetle Juice

Invasion Of The Not So Killer Beetle

Oy! The stress of blogging ;-) Hope whatever invasion you my encounter will be a pleasant one!

Turn The Page ... Tuesday

Have you ever read a book that made your chest just ache when you were finished? You felt like it just couldn't be done ... there was more, so much more that needed to be said, written, and finished. The package wasn't complete. I need ribbon, bows, happy endings ...


I know, that is a silly question isn't it. Of coarse you've read a book like that before. The characters stay with you. When you are not reading the book (like, let's say you are actually cleaning your house instead), you cannot get the people (who have now become your friends or enemies) out of your head. You wake up wondering what will happen next and try to sneak a few pages here and there throughout the whole day until you are actually able to dig back in. The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve is one of those books. You will not be disappointed. You will not be able to put it down. Never in a million years would I have guessed all the twists and turns. I was hungering for more. I wanted Kathryn and her daughter to be OK. I wanted a happy ending. I will not spoil it for you, no worries there, but I will say that I could have kept on reading and reading and reading ... I guess that's why Anita Shreve is such a gifted writer - she had me hooked from the beginning right to the very end.


From the very start of the book you know that Kathyrn's husband (the pilot) died in a plane crash. What evolves from the wreckage (both of the plane and their lives) is unimaginable. You will not be able to read fast enough.


This is actually the fourth book I've read by Anita Shreve - she has a talent for helping you find your way through the story. Her descriptions are so clear but not overly done that you could close your eyes and see what they are seeing; feel what they are feeling.

I'm issuing a little challenge for your July reading ... read a classic. How about one you "read" in high school (you know you used cliff notes too) or maybe pull a book off your shelf that was your great aunt's twice removed that you somehow inherited.

Let me know if you post a TTPT post and I'll link to you. Happy reading!

The Stitching Surgeon

Paula

Heather Jane

more to come ... keep checking back ~