Fabric

I bought a fat quarter from PPQ yesterday. It's a cute flannel for I. I also picked up a yo-yo maker. That thing looks a lot harder than just doing it by hand. I wanted E to have a project to complete. We'll see.

The changing pad is done and took 1.75 yds of stash fabric not including batting. I also adjusted the straps on the shirred top for E. I think it will be cute on her.

Misc.

The one garment a month skirt is cut out. I think it will go together quickly so that I will be able to enter it in the sew-along. It will also qualify for 2 yards of stash. Cool.

The baby changing pad is also almost done. I'm finishing it before I change thread color for the skirt. I like the pad, sorta. It was really fun to sew.

Done!

I finally finished the bug print romper (McCall's 6899, view A) for I. I have to enter it in the stash contest for PR. I was so lazy and tired of looking at it half done. I cheated and just sewed the leg seam instead of making it a snap-crotch. Oh well. He looks cute as a bug in it! 1 yard stash out.

Library day 6/11/08

We went to the library and signed up for the summer reading club. fun. not.

Between the lions, the spider and the lie VIDEO DUE 6/18/08 Returned
Kids' favorite songs 2 VIDEO DUE 6/18/08 Returned
Kipper tiger tales VIDEO DUE 6/18/08 Returned
The Hindenburg NEED TO FIND DUE 7/2/08 NR
You can't buy a dinosaur with a dime : problem solving in dollars and cents DUE 7/2/08 NR
24-hour sewing projects DUE 7/2/08 R
ABCs of serging : a complete guide to serger sewing basics DUE 7/2/08 R
Baa baa, black sheep DUE 7/2/08 R
Creative spa : make your own skin care products DUE 7/2/08 R
I love you just the way you are DUE 7/2/08 R
Moo in the morning DUE 7/2/08 R
One, two, buckle my shoe DUE 7/2/08 R
S.E.W. : sew everything workshop : the complete step-by-step beginner's guide DUE 7/2/08 R
The silver chair DUE 7/2/08 R
Trash to treasure : the year's best creative crafts. DUE 7/2/08 R
When you are happy DUE 7/2/08 R

Sewing update

I cut the pre-shirred fabric for tops for the 4 girls and sewed up the back seam. Now I just need to add straps and hem if necessary. I made self-fabric straps with my serger. I did a rolled hem on the long edges instead of making a tube and turning. The rolled hem thing is so cool! The romper for I is all cut out and the interfacing is fused to the correct pieces. Now I'm cutting out a skirt for me from the Sassy Skirts (TMD) pattern.

Sewing plan

So far here's the the plan for my stash sewing contest on pattern review. Planned after going to Beth's house last night and playing with my sewing machine for a bit.

This one in a lizard print knit for I. It's the same knit that my Mom used to make a shirt for J many years ago. We're saving the shirt for I to wear later.

I have an old Noah's ark fabric print and some blue terry to make the changing pad. I already made the bag.

I want to make the middle skirt out of a tropical print from Mom. It's a dark burgundy that should go with at least two of my tops.

Hopefully I will put more pics on another post. I also want to put up a pic of the fabric choices. More fun every day.

Need a plan

Here is a rough idea of what I want to sew for the contest:

ironing board cover - woven, batting, elastic
nursing shirt -
boxers for Charlie -
pillowcases - woven
shirred dress/top for girls - woven
twirly skirt for O - gingham
gored skirt - woven
- blue eyelet

Location of fabric

1. LR -- print woven (green tub), solid woven (blue tub), solid woven (green footlocker), recycled flannel and terry (tan tub)
2. under bed in spare room -- baby, wool/flannel, seersucker, recycled denim
3. under crib -- print knit, solid woven
4. under bunk beds -- solid knit, woven floral/coordinates, stripes/plaids/checks, corduroy
5. FROG --

On the mend

Cute pun. I've been on a mending kick tonight. I fixed an old canvas bag, the pocket in a pair of J's shorts, and one leg of cut-off-into-shorts also for J. And last night I finished another pad which adds 1/4 yd to my yardage out tally.

I had a class at PPQ. We made a zippered pouch. It is so cool. I want to make more.

Off to mend some more.

Contest

I entered a contest on Pattern Review yesterday. It's a fabric stash contest to see who can sew up the most fabric from her stash in 2 months. It starts 6/1 and ends 7/31. I can gather fabric and patterns but no sewing or cutting until then. That will be a good time to work on my WIP pile. I also want to complete one review before the start date to practice.

Today I put a lot of stuff in boxes in the sleeping room. EJLH now have a box for socks and undies. Many of the toys are now in stackable matching boxes that fit under the new beds that Crunchy Geek got finished yesterday. The space is very cramped, but it looks so much better. This evening I got more boxes. One for my mat/nursing clothes and one for more attic clothes. And a few more for some sewing things. I may use those black bins that go in a 5-gallon bucket for my sewing gear.

Library day

Today we went to the library. It was a fun but also a chore. I'd like to make it a weekly or bi-weekly. The kids have been so good for 2 days now. Maybe tomorrow will be a good day, too. We are going to Jennie's graduation drop-in at church. Tonight was H's K4 musical presentation. What a hoot! K3, K4, and K5 kids all singing. Some were scared, some were nervous, some were hyper, but all were cute.

Here is a list of the books currently out on my card due 6/6:

(vid) Between the lions, but, mama, but... (5/23)
Amazing crochet lace : new fashions inspired by old-fashioned lace (6/4)
Herbal homekeeping (6/4)
The impatient embroiderer (6/4)
Baby signs for bedtime
Curious George visits the library
The Hindenburg
I can't talk yet, but when I do--
Ice-cream Larry
My garden = Mi jardin
A pig is moving in!
Queenie Farmer
Space launch disaster : when liftoff goes wrong
You can't buy a dinosaur with a dime : problem solving in dollars and cents
You're broke because you want to be : how to stop getting by and start getting ahead
Too many time machines : or, the incredible story of how I went back in time, met Babe Ruth, and discovered the secret of home run hitting

Sewing Thursday

Whoohoo! I added a picture!!

It's totally irrelevant, but adorable. I was 11 days old and cute as could be.


Last Thurs. night I finished one place mat purse and almost finished another. I used ribbon from the stash for both. The second one needs a bit more work to finish it. I also have ribbon to make one more. This one will be a purse for me. Beth worked on her pads and I finished the edges of one that was in my bucket. All it needs is a snap.

Tonight is an AWANA event for the leaders so I sewed with Beth last night. She will be there tonight, too. I worked on the baby blanket that I am sewing/crocheting for Mrs. Peterson. Maybe I will get a burp cloth done. It's tedious but going faster than expected.

Not half bad

The Geek family went to Chuck-E-Cheese for L's birthday today. It was a lot more fun than we (the parents) expected. A blast was had by all. O was the funniest! She loved getting the little paper tickets that she traded for candy. L liked her apron and E wanted one, too.

I took kids EJLOI to the health food store while H was at PE. It is emptying the shelves to re-stock for an upgrade. We spent $80 and saved $121. Awesome! I'm going back tomorrow to see if anything is left. I sure hope they don't remodel themselves out of my business. I like that they are close so we can get odd or organic products without the drive to Mt. Pleasant.

I'm looking for school books. ABeka, ToG, things to round out the things I already have.

The last birthday gift

I finished L's apron except for the snap because I need her to try it on first. It is very, very cute though, and used 1 1/4 yds of fabric. While I was at Beth's I started to make a pattern for doll panties. I still haven't figured it out.

Beth told me all about the beef they got. It's a great deal. Maybe Crunchy Geek and I can do that. We'd get bones and everything. Our grains arrived too. Time to get baking and eating better. I did fix a good lunch Friday. It was a chicken and rice dish from "Make a Mix." I also made cream 0f whatever mix to have in the freezer.

New stuff

Last night I went to PPQ for a Janome Club meeting. It's a once-a-month thing where they provide a kit to make something. I just pay for the kit. Last night I made a really cute pillowcase. It would be a great way to use some stash fabric. I'm going to try going again. It wasn't as friendly as I would like, but I think some of the people change which would change the dynamics.

I want to learn how to add pictures to this blog. I have a ton of good pics all over the place. I'm moving them all to picassa web. I still want to print out most of them and use real albums.

I think I need a blog for homeschool because I'm not sure it fits in with the way this blog has turned into a sewing blog.

I did do 20 min. of PM this morning. The kids did it with me instead of the work they were supposed to be doing. I'm also going to do it tomorrow. No time for the Y.

One more birthday gift done

Emily's wallet turned out very cute. I used tan denim from an old pair of jeans and 4 colors of bandanna fabric. I followed directions much better this time than when I made mine. Now I have to finish L's apron. Then there is the catch up on some mending. I'd like to make something for I, J, and Crunchy Geek. Any hope of something for me?

Master Cook has been found!! I'm delirious! We need to get the recipes off the thumb drive. whoohoo! Then I can I start putting in new recipes.

On another note, I have not exercised in a while. I'm sick. I'm cranky. I'm running around like a nut trying to clean. Many plates spinning on sticks.

Finally finished!!

The Amy Butler bag is done! I am so happy because it seems like forever since I finished a project. It's kinda cute, but not as comfortable as I would like. I may wind up using it for another purpose. I used my Birthday fabric and canvas from the stash for the bag. There is some fabric leftover. The reviews on PR all said the lining measurements were off. All total it was 5.75 yds of fabric, 1 from my stash. This is the cover of the pattern. I will look for a pic of the actual bag soon.

Catching up

I worked out at the Y twice last week. It was good to start getting back into the routine of working out. I am planning on going again tomorrow. Today I also saw Dr. B. for my headaches. She does make me feel a bit better, but I think the bite guard will be the most helpful. I need to call the dentist and check on that.

I'm working on the wallet for E and the Nappy Bag for I. I want to finish the bag before we go to the Dramatic Arts Conf. this weekend. I can work on the wallet in Columbia or Beth's house. Crunchy's parents will be there. Maybe it will work out OK. Tammy will be there, too, and that should be some fun. She really likes O. She and Danny are riding up with us on Friday. I wonder in the hotel has a gym.

More later.

Happy Resurrection Sunday

I drove by the Seventh Day Adventist church yesterday (Saturday, their worship day) and wondered how they as a church body celebrated this day? I can't see Easter on any other day of the week.

This evening we went on another family walk. Tonight it was just walking, no bikes or skates. We went around the short block including a stop to the Leviner house to introduce I. Only Joey was able to see him, because Amanda was sick. They are a nice couple, but I don't get them completely. Oh well.

I have sewing to do, but I feel guilty doing something besides cleaning. Maybe E would like a wallet for her birthday. I can make a cool one like mine. I'll look for some unique material. I need to take measurements of all of us to get better fits when I sew. H seemed to like the doll dress I made.

Time to sew.

My how time flies!

It's been 2 months since my last post! Sweet little Isaiah James came on Feb. 12th and I've not done any sewing since my last post. Awful, isn't it?

I finally got back to the sewing machine this past weekend to make something for H's birthday. I made her a doll dress in the pink/green camo she liked. It's cute and super fast. I've cut an apron out for L using the Dick and Jane fabric she likes. I hope it goes together quickly. I need to think of something for E's birthday since it's coming soon.

And finally, tonight I went back to the Y for the first time in ages. I worked out a bit. Just to see how I could do. There were too many people there.

I is crying and wants food now, so more later.