One gift, done

The good news is that I finished a gift for a friend just in time for the party. The bad news is I forgot to take a picture. Uggh. I kept trying to remind myself along the way and then I rushed out for the party and forgot. Welcome to life with kids, I guess!

I made her three aprons and a jar of homemade oatmeal pancake mix. Now she can cook with her 3 and 1 year old boys and not worry if they are wearing the results! I think the aprons were very cute, though a bit homespun looking (there is one crooked pocket and the waist ties are way too long, for example).

It was fun coming up with the idea and making it myself. I will try to do this more and more for gifts or around here.

I just got two full rubbermaid totes of fabric from my mother and aunt, so there is lots to choose from. Crying baby indicates a need to go now.

BAD Mood

Here is why I am grouchy right now: I attempted to make doll jeans. I was so proud of myself, I looked at a pair and made my own pattern. Then, I fixed the elastic on the pair that I had copied (before anyone gets mad at the copying thing - my mom made the originals), then I tried to do the elastic on the ones I made. This is how I learned that baby elastic is not so good with denim. Probably this would be a "duh" for some people, but I didn't know that. After SEVERAL attempts to make it all work, I have decided they cannot be saved. I don't even want to look at the sewing machine right now. All of the excitement has been sucked out of me. Maybe I'll go to Goodwill and buy some baby clothes for them to use.

Projects and pictures

Okay, so I have made the tops of two quilts using the online instructions I found here: http://www.capitalquilts.com/freeproject/infantsnug.htm. The one pictured is for my niece and the second one I made is for a friend's little girl (I'm hoping to make a coordinating toy to go with). I am such a newbie that, sadly, the second quilt is totally uneven across the bottom.

I also made the bag (pictured above) last week to give my teenage cousin as a birthday gift (I filled it with "beach" stuff like a beach towel, sunscreen, magazines, etc.). I winged the bag and was quite happy, though I have some changes in mid for next time.

I have also made a dress (out of our former shower curtain) for Princess Buttercup that went straight into the dress-up bin. My sister laughed at my choice of practice fabric calling me "Maria Von Trap" (sp?) and bringing up the movie Enchanted. Considering the sad state of the garment, I am thankful I decided to practice before using the fabrics I purchased.

The bottom picture just happens to be a pair of adorable tootsies that are currently at rest in my bedroom tonight so that I can paint his. No time to ramble today, it's 8:43 PM and I have to start painting a room. Goodnight (I hope).

Return of this turtle

Wow, I guess the blog is aptly named! Time sorta flew by. I think I got frustrated trying to figure out some blogging tricks way back in January and gave up! Also, I was spending an inordinate amount of time online and too little time in "real life."

Anyway, a tentative fresh start. I did make Princess Buttercup a dress out of a men's shirt following this tutorial: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=170402.0. It turned out super cute AND it is so my kind of pattern. I am such a newbie with the language of store bought patterns that I have abandoned several because I get overwhelmed. Add them to my "to do" list - I will have to enlist my mom's help.

I have also learned to knit since my last post=) I took a knitting class here at a local shop and started a scarf. Since then I have started another scarf and a dish cloth (notice a trend?). I did finish knitting two mini blankets for the kids' dolls/stuffed animals to enjoy.

I have also made two sets of basic cafe curtains for my sister's nursery. We are waiting for the arrival of her little munchkin any day now. She's been 4 cm dilated and 100% effaced for almost a week now! I think she's ready to give up at this point - the baby has decided to stay in.

I do have pics of the shirt dress on Princess Buttercup and maybe someday I will post them! I am still a little nervous about putting pictures of the kids online, so I'll see what I can do with cropping.

I am currently experimenting with yoyos. We'll see where it goes.

There, now, the post is rather dull, yes, but as I am pretty much the only one that reads it, I feel that I have accomplished the goal of getting back in the saddle - a more time consuming endeavor than I originally intended considering that I forgot my password and had to go through the whole rigmarole of setting up a new one.

Above, below, and beyond

At bedtime, Princess Buttercup and I often have exchanges such as "I love you to the moon and back" or "I love you to infinity and beyond" stealing our good nights from favorite books or movies. Not wanting to miss out on the action, Little Man said to me "I love you above, below, and beyond." How sweet is that?! When I asked him where he came up with that, he said "That's what you say, Mommy." I prefer his version to the original.

Welcome New Year

I am way too lazy to put a picture up right this minute, but I will get one of a project I accomplished this week later.

So, New Year's resolutions. I don't recall really making any serious ones in the past because I realize that you are basically ensuring that you won't follow them by making them into somewhat of a chore. But, I do always like the idea of setting goals (I know, not a big difference, but somehow the wording changes the feel. Anyway, the other night before bed, I made a list of craft goals for the year by month. I have been spending so much time surfing to get the juices flowing and considering all of the great ideas out there and coming up with my own that I get on overload and can't remember what I wanted to do. Of course, since coming up with the list, I have worked on two projects around the house that weren't even on the list.

My husband made me a shelf for Christmas so the kids could hang up coats and bags and we could have a handy place for hats and mittens. I wanted baskets and was not impressed with the price or selection that I found in the size I needed so I proceeded to get the other stuff I needed like baby wipes, diapers, and baby food. It occurred to me that the wipes containers were the perfect size, so I bought 5 packs, came home, stuck the wipes in some Ziploc bags, steamed off the labels, and covered the boxes with fabric. Perfect! Now each one of us has a little bin for one hat and one set of gloves. I actually remembered, and could find, my gloves three times yesterday - hooray! since my hands are so chapped my knuckles have started to bleed.

It's Almost Here

"Even if you win a battle, as long as the enemy's got a heart that's beating and a brain that's working, you'd better be prepared for a counterattack."
Ida B. by Katherine Hannigan

After over six years of repressing any reaction when frustrated with my sister-in-law, I reacted in October. My husband and I were trying to make some changes to our holiday schedule well in advance to avoid stress and let's just say that it wasn't received well by his side. When I spoke to his sister, I shared much of what had been bottled up for years. I don't know if anyone can relate, but I tend to hold in my feelings (with the exception of those for my poor husband) of frustration out of politeness and in hopes of avoiding conflict for so long that when they do come out, they are a bit like a landslide. While I may have been justified, I would probably have been more effective to have reacted to each incident over the years. Of course, if you feel that choosing battles is important, you don't want to make a big deal out of every little thing. Anyhow, since that conversation in October, there has been very little contact with Sis and I am waiting and waiting for the counterattack. I know it's coming. It's only a matter of time.

We've been making lots of cookies and candy around here. Yesterday was molasses cookies. The recipe is from my great-grandmother and the cookies are delicious. Enjoy!

Molasses Cookies

3/4 cup marg.
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 tsp baking soda
2 cups sifted flour
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt

Melt marg. in sauce pan over low heat. Remove and let cool. Add sugar, molasses, and eggs. Beat well. Add flour and dry ingredients. Chill. Form balls. Roll in sugar and bake on cookie sheet 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Note: I melted the margarine in the microwave - Great-Grandma Emma didn't have that option in her day. Also, I sprayed the cookie sheets with cooking spray.



Craft To Do List:
(starting my New Year's Resolutions early)

Cap for Little Man
Car seat organizer
Shopping bag with pouch
towel animals (by Princess Buttercup's March birthday)
doll
doll bed mattress (take two)
frog softie, baby bib and slippers (gift needed by April)