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.

Note to self

Cut out all possible sewing patterns before the last 10-12 weeks of pregnancy. Sitting and cutting is AWFUL right now. I just want to get some sewing done before the baby comes. My legs are killing me at the end of every day. yuck.

Old year/new year

I'm trying to decide what to start for the new year of sewing. All the fabric in the house is officially stash fabric. Lots and lots and lots of it. That's OK though. I'm going to use it. Most of it has been sorted and it's easier to see what I have. So much of it was my mom's. :(

I think I'm going to finish some projects in my mend/UFO boxes and work on the diaper bag first. Over all, I'd like to use a yard from the stash for every yard I buy. Using 2 yards would be best budget-wise. It's a lot of fun to keep track of this info as well as being pretty motivating. Here's all the info from last year.

• 16 3/8 yards out
• 58.5 yards to date added

Completed sewing projects

• tunics, robes for WLCD puppets
• 4 Christmas dresses
  
• Holly jammies for H
• shirt for L
• several pads
• 3 bibs
• skirt and shirt for H
• pink diaper for O
• 2 leotards

Christmas dresses, part 65

They are still not finished. These are taking so long, I'm tired of looking at them. Note to self: start in Oct. next year. The zippers need to be double-checked because the pull came off of one. They all still need to be hemmed. And they all still need to have the lining attached to the bodice.

Today I did some more cleaning around the LR that needed to be done. Sort and toss.

I really want to play with my new sewing machine, but that part of the room is a mess so it's hard to work over there. sigh. That is work the kids can do but won't.

The 3-hour glucose test yest really messed me up! My legs hurt so much. Charlie gave me a benadryl and the rest of the day I had to sleep it off. I just want to have passed the test. I don't have much longer until my EDD, but I don't feel like dietary changes right now.

Christmas dresses

Ugh! I didn't have enough of the original material to make any skirts. So I had to find another fabric to use. Next time I'm ordering it all online. Early. With extra. Last night and today I got all the pieces cut out except for E's skirt. Fun, fun. I need floor space for those pieces. They are huge. The 6 yds I got of the dark green made L's and H's skirt. Got 5 more for E and O. I also found about 3 yards of this cute crafty material.

But, I did get a lot of cookie dough made with Beth last Wed. Now I have to bake it all up. The ones I have baked taste good. Walnut cut-outs. Charlie and the kids just made drop cookies instead of rolling them out. They taste like pecan sandies.

Then this morning we discovered that our van's rear door window had been broken. According the the deputy there were several other cars with the same thing. They believe some kids spent their Saturday night shooting pellets with a slingshot at vehicle windows. It gave me the impetus to clean the van and the truck. Much work, but pretty satisfactory to be done.

I love deliveries

My Sew Baby order came today. I got a fleece sock pattern. I'm not sure it's the one I want, but I'm going to try it. It has ribbing around the top. My RTW fleece socks don't. Ribbing would just be one more thing to buy. I've got a lot of workable fleece.

The Amy Butler Nappy Bag pattern came, too. I really want some funky fabric to use for it. Trying to remember to use the stash fabric, but there are some really cool, unique fabrics out there.

Some pretty pink and tan floral stretch poplin (1 yd) was also in the package. So were some freebies. A big snowman patch, a small stocking patch, a red boy's polo-style collar, and a girl's white/red scalloped collar.

So many fun things to play with as soon as I have more time.

Tunics, robes, and headscarves....oh my!

So far I've gotten 3 robes (1 more only needs a hem), 1 tunic, and 1 belt done. Several more robes and tunics are cut out. So much is "close enough," but I don't like having vague directions. Not nit-picking is great, but I hate not knowing exactly what to do.

Charlie got the broken window replaced. He feels good! He and J tried to burn all our yard debris, too, but that didn't work. It was pretty windy today.

O was really steppin' high today. She did so good walking! She is also mastering a good bit of sign language.

A lot to do

Beth and I are making cookies for Christmas. LOTS of cookies. Six different types, dozens and dozens of cookies. I'm entering all the recipes into mastercook. I'm afraid that I'm multiplying and such all wrong.

I've also started sewing for WLCD. This year I'm clothing the puppets. One tunic/robe and one head covering done so far. I'm never sure that I'm doing what Barbara wants. She usually gives me a bunch of fabric, some already cut out, and very limited directions. It always works out, but I hate feeling like I'm doing it wrong. I want to do a good job.

I'm also still going through the fabric stash. That is getting very tedious. It feels so good to see nice stacks of fabric though. Then it makes me want to use it all. Kinda cool. The Christmas dresses are next. The green fabric and a muslin fabric have been washed and are waiting to be cut out for the girls. The organizing is great, but it is so hard to get us all used to putting things back.