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Yesterday was the kind of January day I need more often. The kind where you get a surprise snow shower and have plenty of knitting and reading, and a full tank of propane to keep the fireplace lit all day.
The snow barely stuck and was over too quickly, but it was lovely while it lasted. Oona kept begging to go play in it – but it was too wet and muddy out.
I did manage to block a sweater I finished back in November after we finished up school for the day, and installed our new National Geographic Complete Collection onto my computer (the girls will be using this for social studies).
Paul will be having back surgery soon (nothing to worry about – we are looking forward to some relief for his pain) and I am hoping for winter to finally show up in force afterwards since he will have a several week recovery at home (and we won’t have to go anywhere). For now the kids are indignant that the sun is out and temperatures are hanging in the 50′s. So am I.
As the days race toward Christmas it is getting more and more difficult to keep the kids focused on schoolwork. They’ve got the proverbial “visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads”.
Admittedly, I do as well. If I weren’t so busy with the business of school, housework, grocery shopping and all the other mundane tasks that take up my time I would be spending my days on holiday crafts and making every corner of the house bright.
Today I relented somewhat, and after some perfunctory math and writing exercises we dove into some paper crafts. Hand prints on brown paper became reindeer ornaments, colored construction paper became the backdrop for wintery tomten pictures.
I am quite taken with Scandinavian style and folklore, and the tomten is no exception. I think I like him particularly because of his traditional connection to farmers. On a lark I traced out a paper cut design to see if I could make a reasonable garland from red paper.
Well, it is reasonable. I didn’t say I was making a stellar garland. I wanted this for over the kitchen sink, and that is where these little fellows hang, for now. The construction paper was a bit too something. Not quite right for this project. Tissue paper was too thin. I am thinking I will re-do this not on paper, but perhaps on felt. Much sturdier, no need for tape. That way it can also be reused every year. Perhaps some single appliques for pillows even?
This holiday season is going to fly by way too quickly for me to accomplish all of the blissfully fun things I want to do. St. Lucia’s Day is coming up soon and there are buns to bake. The solstice will be here not long after and there will be celebrating to be done then. Before we know it SAnta will be making his yearly deliveries and just like that it will be over.
But, then I suppose the season wouldn’t be so special if it weren’t also so very fleeting.
I’ve been desperately trying to follow the example of my friend Marie Grace and make Sundays all about sewing. There always seems however, to be something going on that needs my attention and so yesterday was the first Sunday that I was able to throw down roots in the craft room and say “Sewing Only!”
It went more slowly than I would have liked. This was mostly because I had to clean a path to the sewing machine and neaten up my space a bit. This is problem numero uno with having your craft room in a corner of the playroom.
I managed to finish a dress I had started a month or so ago for Oona (pics later) and I started on a simple throw quilt for the couch in a christmas-y pattern that matches my tablecloth (who doesn’t love a nice red and white toile for christmas?). All that it is composed of is two lengths of coordinating fabric with some wool batting sandwiched between and some top – stitching. No piecing to do, no applique. I am using an old “Favorite Things” pattern called “French Bedroom“.
Which brings me to my second problem with Sewing Sunday. I always seem to have “help”. Especially when working on a cozy wool – filled blanket.
See there in the background? Occasionally a paw will reach forth and grab at my work, making for slow going. Then, this happens:
He makes himself comfortable right where I need him NOT to be.
As “helpful” as all this is, it is still an improvement over his “help” earlier in the day. You see, I started off Sewing Sunday with him knocking a full glass of water into my lap as I sat at my desk getting my sewing supplies in order.
Anyway I got a fair amount of work done on the quilt before retiring to bed, where the cat promptly deposited himself on my face for the night.
The end.
I’ve been spending most of the hot days lately inside the craft room, air conditioning on full blast, sewing. I just can’t get myself to knit when it’s this brutal out. I still have piles of unfinished sewing to get to, but this is what I’ve finished up this week.
First, an Oliver & S dress for Oona.
Next up I have been working on some new pj pants for everyone. The pattern is from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. So far Oona and Neve’s are finished, using fabric sent to us by the always delightful Jellenp.
They’ve been wearing them non – stop and I can’t wait to finish mine so I can be all comfortable, too!
Lastly for now I am pleased to have finished my Traveler Dress from Sew Lisette. I had to make some adjustments to the pattern for it to fit properly (the waist was far too low and I had a bit of trouble with the collar) but I am really happy with how it looks on me. The fabric is from Anna Maria Horner and I just adore it.
I may have to make one in the orange version of this fabric, too.
As I mentioned last time, the kids are away this week and so the pressure is on to get things done before they get back. It’s actually more difficult than I would have thought, because with no one needing me every ten seconds I can lose myself in things for a lot longer than I probably should and before I know it I’ve spent far too long reading rather than cleaning.
It’s okay. Relaxation is good for me, too.
Yesterday I spent the day with Susan and Caroline over at the farm working on sewing projects. We had all been lusting after a dress made with this pattern, and it just so happened that I have it. We played with fabrics and zippers and sewing machines and in the end managed to finish a skirt from this Amy Butler pattern. We’re not necessarily the most productive team when we’re having too much fun enjoying each others’ company. But it was just what I needed to break up a week of sequestering myself for the purpose of house cleansing. Being around the animals and hearing the sweet “baaahs” and “maaahs” is wonderfully rejuvenating.
And now, on to the BIG news.
I will be shortly giving away 3 skeins of Noro Silk Garden RIGHT HERE to one lucky reader.
Details to come!!!!!!
Gratuitous Wren picture. Lord, I love that lamb!
This week the girls are staying with their grandparents in New York and the pressure is on to get things done!
Don’t worry, I am making sure to have plenty of relaxing down time as well. Lots of Japser – cat cuddle time is happening, lots of knitting time with Gulliver in my lap, lots of catching up on the tv I can’t watch with kids around.
BUT.
Also lots of cleaning out, throwing away, packing up for storage, weeding, steam cleaning, etc. You get the idea.
Even better, lots of knitting and sewing. I am getting ready to put the finishing touches on a strip patchwork quilt using all of my precious discontinued Heather Ross fabrics.
It’s looking better than I could have hoped, and I found a queen – sized flat sheet at WalMart that looks very similar to one of the Heather Ross polka dot fabrics. It’s doing nicely as my quilt backing.
But it won’t get done tonight.
Tonight I am taking Maddie to PF Chang’s as a belated birthday gift.
Hooray!
Susan was kind enough to let me borrow her serger last week. I had a pile of fabric scraps that were too small for any real projects and too big to throw away, so I thought “napkins”! And “dishtowels”!
The serger sat for a week before I had time to use it (newborn lambies are much more fun to play with!) but last night I sat down a sewed up a whole big pile o’ cloth napkins.
There’s no real matching sets to speak of, they’re not all exactly the same size. But I love, love, LOVE how they came out. The serged edges look so much nicer than a plain fold – over hem would.
Now I am thinking about all of the cute clothing projects I could finish up with such lovely seams!
I give you, for your dose of Halloween cuteness, Oona’s lamb costume:
Can you stand it?
I finished it last night after much cursing and breaking no less than 2 sewing machine needles.
I think she should dress like this all the time, don’t you?
I finished sewing up Maddie’s Halloween costume last night and I am rather proud, if I do say so myself. I wanted to get some pictures of her modeling it, but then I thought better of it. She’s going as a “Ventriloquist Dummy”, but wanted me to make her a corset/bustier top. I wasn’t sure how appropriate it would be to post her in it.
So, even though it doesn’t do the sewing justice, here’s what it looks like (and please look away from the liner fabric- it’s just a costume, afterall).
Still to be completed are Emily’s “Legend of Zelda” costume, Neve’s “Flamingo Princess” costume, and Oona’s Lamb costume.
I am so happy to be able to say that! This marks the first day of my favorite time of the year. It’s when I am always at my happiest and the weather at my most favorite. Before long we’ll see the leaves turning and the air will be crisp and there will be soup and bread and cookies going non – stop in my kitchen. It also means Halloween is around the corner – and we looooove Halloween here. If I can get my act together and get organized enough I may try and throw a Halloween party.
There are lots of projects going on here right now as I make my final push before home school starts next Tuesday (any my birthday on Wednesday, woohoo!). There are dresses and shirts and sweaters started for all the girls. I am actually even running out of fabric! Imagine that!!!! I’ll need to start buying more!
Among the finished projects are these:
I made each of the girls a shirt with one of our animals on it. Oona got Finnigan as a newborn. Neve got one with Jasper cat and Emily’s has Big Jim the rooster.
Each girl also got a pair of these baggy black linen capris with lace trim, from the book Carefree Clothes for Girls by Junko Okawa.
I also finished another yoga suit for Oona. I am really thinking I am going to work out a way to make this pattern for adults as well, since it looks so incredibly comfortable and flattering!
Unfortunately it has been way too hot to do much work outside. We’ve gotten some good swim time in since there’s been no rain, but I am hoping to get some yardwork done before too long. My raised garden beds need some weeding. The good news is my acorn squash is doing well…….AND the arugula I planted in the spring has re-sprouted and is growing in again! Hooray for September!
