I got mail! New stuff new stuff!

Can ya tell I was excited? Jumping up and down! I got a package in the mail today!! First off I LOVE getting mail that's not junk mail, but packages are like mail to the infinte power (there's my mathgeekiness popping out, sorry). AND...to one up just being a package (yes, you could send me an empty box and I'd be thrilled just that someone is thinking of little 'ol me), it contained cool stuff! All kinds of fun fabrics to play with and the best part...a top made by a designer! Ooo la la! I consider her a friend, but she also happens to be dating my brother (one of the wiser decisions he's ever made was to date her, she's way cool- and I'm not just saying that because I know you'll read this either!). I drooled over her line and mentioned I liked this top and here it is in my hot little hands! Hmm, I know my page says I'm not crazy, but I just might be crazy for this top! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I just had to try it on and take a pic! I tried my best "model" pose (ha, ha, ha, ha, ha) to try and do the top justice. However, my dang camera keeps giving me slightly blurred pictures! URGGG! How is that possible when using a timer (hubby was out with a buddy)?!? I had the camera on my mantle, it wasn't moving! I don't get it, but here's the picture anyhow (I'm holding the tag)! Oh, and I had to add a shot of my cute shoes that didn't make the picture, I think they go well with the top. And here's a link to pictures of the whole line, being worn by a REAL model, and taken by a more professional photographer than I'll ever be! To see her fall line go to the August posts, some good drool-worthy apparel!

Make me cozy, cookies and spoons

My husband's quilt is finally done! So now I can comply when he says "Make me cozy". That's a phrase that my 4 year-old initiated whenever he wants to be tucked in or snuggle under a blanket. And eventually we started saying it too, amazing how 'kidspeak' wriggles it's way into a parent's vocabulary!



So here's the finshed blankie:





Next up are some pictures of the kids. Baby girl LOVES cookies, so the other day we made some and then ate them.



See this cookie... it's not yours and it won't be around much longer:





Warm cookies make me SO HAPPY:





And for laughs, big boy learned a new trick:

I thought it was water & East meets West

Okay, I've been meaning to post this funny, albeit embarrassing moment I had a few weeks ago. We were invited to a neighborhood cookout at a friend's house. We were among some of the first to arrive. Hubby and I also had a babysitter coming at 9pm so we could go out so I decided to dress nice for the party and our "date". While looking for things to wear I ran across an old 'water' bra and thought "Why not?". I mean, lets face it, since the breastfeeding has been reduced to a once a day thing, I'm not getting any bigger in that area, so why not enhance? At the party I was outside for a bit and then started getting warm. I went inside to talk to the host and her sister-in-law and cool off. I thought I was sweating a lot because I looked down and my shirt was soaked, but oddly, only on one side. I went to touch it and-yuck, gross, it was some type of petroleum based gel that had come out of the bra! Luckily the host and her SIL are friends of mine, not strangers, but they still thought it was pretty funny, which it was. It was a good thing I didn't live far. I snuck out went home and changed. No one else was the wiser. So beware ladies, when those thing leak it's not like on Will & Grace, it won't squirt out everywhere, it will just trickle down and leave you gooey. And I thought they were filled with water??? Live and learn.

And the other thing I wanted to post about was what I thought was a sharp contrat at the Olympic closing ceremony. Here China had set up a beautiful artistic presentation, only to be followed by Britain's show of Jimmy Page and Leona Lewis. Yeah, real classy. Oh, I like Led Zepplin, don't get me wrong, but the show just seemed so out of place. Maybe it's just me. I'm curious what the opening ceremony will be like in 4 years. We'll just have to wait and see.

What's old is new again

I've been noticing a trend lately when I drive around town with the kiddos. We listen to XM Kids- the only tolerable kids music in my opinion (I'm not a fan of Barney-type music) and I've noticed that most of the bands I already like are doing kids music now. I'm surprised and delighted to hear They Might Be Giants, Barenaked Ladies, and Asylum Street Spankers on the radio! Yes, that's right, Asylum Street Spankers even! For those of you who may not be familiar, I wouldn't run out and buy your kid a Spankers CD quite yet, if you get the wrong one your kid's vocabulary will become quite colorful, but not in the way you'd probably like! But as of right now my favorite song is one of theirs, it's Be Like You. I've added it to my player (that red thing off to the left, to hear a sample just click the super small play button, or to hear the whole song click on the song name and then at last.fm the player is in the upper right) in case you've never heard it. It's a cute song and quite a departure from the Spankers usual fare. When the kiddies go to bed you may want to check out some of their more adult stuff on YouTube, but consider yourself forewarned, it's not for the faint of heart! But it is funny!

Cool for Katz!

I've been dreaming of decorating baby girl's "Big Girl" room lately. Granted, I probably won't start it until summer 2009, maybe spring at earliest, but I want to be prepared! I want to have lots of fun colors and patterns and I want to sew most of it. My inspiration is from the children's book Counting Kisses by Karen Katz.

Baby and I both love this book (especially the 7 loud belly kisses). It's to the point now that when I pick up the book she shoves her feet in my face for 10 toe kisses!

Well, today I sent an e-mail to Karen Katz asking her if she had a fabric line (many of the illustations are fabric art). I expected to get a response in a few days from someone who works for her, but no...I got a response the same day directly from Karen Katz herself! Wow! I am quite impressed! Unfortunately she doesn't have a fabric line, but I've been online fabric drooling shopping and there are many fabrics out there that can create the look I'm going for. While on my quest I also noticed Karen has created toys too! I'd never seen them before but they are very cute! I especially like the Princess Baby doll!

So, if any of you reading this have kids or nieces/nephews and they don't have a Karen Katz book- Christmas is coming! Go get one!

Getting ready

Today I went shopping for fabric! I am going to be getting a booth at my church's Oktoberfest celebration to sell some bags, and hopefully make some $$! Personally I like bright fabrics (I've been eyeing Heather Bailey's new fabrics online, so pretty!), but I figured with it being fall when I will be selling that I should go with more muted colors. My favorite is the Burgundy floral and the Green dots. The red/navy materials can be mixed and matched, so that will be nice for accessories. As you can see in the last photo, the dots on red really aren't that big. I'm sure I will be buying more fabrics, but not until I make things with these (and I won't make anything with these until I finish hubby's blankie). Anyhow, here they are:

The Dog Days of Summer

School starts tomorrow! Whoohoo! Not that I will be kid free, or that it's all day even, but at least it's a bit of a break from the constant questioning of my 4 year-old!

Today I finished a doggie that I had started quite some time ago. He's been hanging around waiting to get his ears sewn on and eyes, nose and mouth embroidered. Today was his lucky day! The pattern is from Teresa Levy's book, “Small Toys to Sew”. On the advice of another blogger I enlarged the pattern more than it called for. I'm glad I did, or this would have been a teacup size pooch! He's made of a soft velvety fabric. I used some scraps, that weren't coated in vinyl, from my son's art smock for the inner ears. I love that fabric. I saw it in flannel the other day and pajama pants sprang to mind! We'll see...

My son was happy. He has been waiting for this doggie ever since I made Guilty Kitty for my daughter. And I'm sure my husband will be glad to have the doggie off the kitchen counter (it was supposed to be there to remind me to finish it, but ended up becoming more of a fixture). Here's some pictures:


Puppy eyes:

Being nosey:

Sharing secrets:

Pals:

Getting wild for a good cause

One of my very good friends got diagnosed with breast cancer a few months ago. She had to undergo a bilateral masectomy and will be starting chemo in a few weeks. She is one of the nicest people I know and I hate that something so crappy is happening to her. She has a 2 year old son who likes playing with both my kiddos, he's so cute! Well, she and her hairdresser had the idea of using pink hair extensions for her friends to show their support. So she gave me one and I put it in about a week ago. It's pretty thin so I can hide it if need be, but for the most part it's out there! I've gotten some looks from it, but once I explain people generally think it's pretty cool. I've thought of getting more, it is an easy way to get wild without dying my hair! I'm also going to run the Race for the Cure the 1st Saturday in October to show support too. Once I set up a page I'll put a link here if anyone wants to show support. I'm so lucky to have my friend, so many others aren't as lucky to catch it early. I totally admire her for being so brave and having such a good attitude too.
Anyhow, here's the hair picture:

Another twirly skirt!

Hurrah! The girl loves to twirl:



"Yep, I like it" (ignore the 'just out of bed' messy hair and 'fresh from breakfast' yogurt face, everyone has those moments, right?)


Here's a close up. I had these fabrics in my stash and was happy to get to use them! I need to start buying more than just a half yard at a time though, she's getting bigger! I had to make this one about an inch shorter than the doll skirt because I just didn't have quite enough fabric. Not a big deal though, I had actually made the doll skirt an inch longer than the tutorial said, so this one is right on. The skirt is made of "Duck Egg Clouds" by Kaffe Fassett and the trim is "Happy Dots/yellow" from Amy Butler's Midwest Modern collection. If you aren't a fabric geek like me, these are designer fabrics- oo, la la! Baby girl is en vogue!

Every girl needs a purse!

So last night I whipped up this little purse, but I was only half paying attention to what I was doing (kept going in the other room to watch Olympics) and rather than being tall and narrow, it ended up short and wide. I'm pretty sure I sewed up the wrong sides. Oh well, It's done and she likes it. She carries around "Nas-na" in it (she can't quite say Nastia). Today I tried on an orange shirt with the skirt. I don't think I like it as much as the brown. In the store the color seemed right but after washing it seems to have faded a little. I think it will work with the next skirt I'm making though. Here she is in action:


I LOVE this one, she's twirling :
Nastia got wet on top from baby's kisses:

One decision made

I went for the one sided doll. I used some leftover lavander so she smells good. I would have appliqued the shirt too but I forgot it was on baby and she was napping. "Tomorrow is another day". The purse will have one of the little pink flowers on it. Now to name the doll, hmmm... maybe Nastia (like the Women's All Around Gymnastics gold medal winner Nastia Liukin)? I have a feeling this doll will get tossed around a lot (she's almost like a bean bag, I used flax seeds for her bottom and polyfil for the rest), so the name seems appropriate. Welcome Nastia, baby girl will be happy to meet you!




I took the pictures near a Russian looking piano music box (in case you were wondering what it is).

The model is awake!

Yep, she's up and the skirt is on. She has been liking it too! But she was a bit grumpy that I wouldn't stop taking her picture, she just wanted to be left alone to play. The pictures really don't do it justice, this skirt is much cuter in person!

Here's the pictures:

Front:


Back:


In action:


Sitting not-so ladylike:


Untucked squatting:


Untucked:


And, my future diva singing:


Now that the skirt is done I have a bit of a dilema. I cut the fabric so I would have two dolls left over. Do I use one to applique on the shirt? Do I use them both to make a stuffed doll? Or... do I use one to applique on the shirt and use the other for a doll but use the "lagoon" (yes, that's the official name of the trim color) material for the back of the doll? Or skip the doll and make a little purse and applique the 2nd doll on the purse? Or keep the doll and applique one of the flowers on the purse? Decisions, decisions, decisions! I wonder if President Bush has it so tough? ;)

Ooo baby, fallin' in love, I'm fallin' in love again

Okay, Is it possible to fall in love more than once? Because I'm in love again, and only a few days later (don't have a heart attack hon, keep reading)! First I fell in love with the dress shirt turned shirt dress, so very easy and so very cute, but now I'm head over heels for a new item! The twirly skirt!

When I found this tutorial I immediately knew what would become of the nesting doll fabric I bought. And it only took me a day to make (not a whole day either, a day of "I'll sew when I can get a break from the kids here and there". If I had to guess, maybe an hour to make? Two at most! And it is ADORABLE! I had it on baby girl earlier to size the waist, but sewed the tie after she went to bed so no modeling pictures tonight. You can bet she'll be wearing this tomorrow though! I'll get action shots then!
The bad lighting in my living room doesnt' do the colors justice, I think the 3rd picture shows the colors most accurately.

Anyhow, just so excited I had to write about it right away! I guess clothes are like children, you CAN love more than one!

The last of the requested shirts

I finally finished the last shirt my son requested. A charachter from Yo Gabba Gabba, the robot Plex. I decided to use a shiny polyester silver for it. Yuck. It looks nice but what a pain! It was so sheer that trying to get the Under Wonder on it and not through it was a pain. Hopefully it won't fall apart. My son loves it and has been wearing it pretty much non-stop since I made it. Let's hope his intrest in the show sticks around until he outgrows the shirt!

Woof in boots

Our dog wears socks. At least that's what my little guy decided yesterday! It was too funny watching him run after the dog trying to put the socks on. Eventually the dog gave in and let himself be a fashion victim.

Ahh, a boy and his dog:


And since this is a doggie post, here's some other poochie pics:

Doggie kisses:


And don't be fooled by the socks incident, our pup's got it good:


I can't believe our faithful canine will be 11 years old on Monday! Time flies when you lie around all day!

How does your garden grow?

My 4 year-old wanted to grow a garden. So we took out books from the library, planned it out and cleared a sunny spot behind our shed. We turned the soil a few weeks ago, fertlized, and this past weekend we planted some seeds and plants. Now I just hope something grows! He's so excited about it! We planted: Basil, oregano, tomatoes, green beans, green peppers, yummy peppers, cherry tomatoes, and zucchini.
Our scarecrow:


Having a garden is hard work:


Who REALLY does the work:


"I want to help too!":

Abracadabra, presto chango!

What once was a dress shirt is now a shirt dress! Thanks to this tutorial for the fab idea!

The best part is when wearing it she points to it and says "Dada's" and smiles. She knows it was his! Too cute.

Here it is: