Help me convince my husband

Clothes and I don't seem to get along. I'm shaped funny. (Okay, here comes full disclosure, but I'm not bragging!). I have a large bust (thanks to my paternal grandmother) and smallish/normalish waist and hips.

You'd think I'd be loving life, but I'm not. It is impossible to find appropriate clothes to fit my figure. I say appropriate because Victoria's Secret seems to get it, but that's about it. (I do like their t-shirts.)

I'm not about to start dressing like a 20-year-old party girl. Not happening.

So I want a dress form. So I can buy the patterns I like and make the clothes I want rather than getting frustrated every Sunday morning before church because I can't find anything to wear. I'd also like to be able to adjust the stuff I buy so that, oh, I don't know, I can look in the mirror and see that I have a waist. Apparently clothing makers think that if you have a large bust, you must not have a waist to go with it.

Oh, and having babies has really messed up my shape too.

So I'm working on Aaron to get a dress form for me for Christmas. Or my birthday. But I want one.

Any advice on getting one?

Christmas Sewing

We woke up to snowfall this morning, and I have been known to listen to Christmas music while crafting, so I thought I'd share some of the crafting I'd like to get done for this Christmas.

And yes, my mother will think I'm crazy, given that I've got a one-month-old and four other rowdies running around. But I enjoy being ambitious! All links will take you to the tutorial or the pattern.

Okay, first, a little tissue holder for those I know who carry tissues in their purse. If I had a matchy matchy one with my bag, I just might be responsible enough to carry some myself. These are super easy and super cute.

For Miss Caroline (and maybe my nephew Jackson), I found these cute little stuffed turtles. Might I add that I can get Laurel and William to enthusiastically stuff things for me so I don't have to? I'm shameless, but resourceful!
I bought this pattern for stockings last year just after Christmas. I've got them cut out, mostly, but I'm struggling with how to get their names on them.
This is a two part gift. I thought Jackson would like to have something to throw a ball into, and these round nesting baskets were just the thing.
A mug rug (not this one - just an example for those who don't know what a mug rug is) for a special person. I've got it all designed and the fabric chosen. Just have to sew it up and ship it off.
Fabric beach balls, to throw into those round nesting baskets.
Stuffed dinosaurs for all my crazies, because I know they'd love them.
A crochet hook clutch for Laurel, who is learning to crochet at Activity Day and loving it. So far, she's made the world's longest and skinniest scarf for her stuffed flamingo. Hopefully she'll learn some more stitches this week.
An art bag for Laurel - I've searched high and low and this one is perfect for her. But complicated. We'll see if it gets done or not.

I've got other, top secret ideas, but these are just a few. They won't all get done, but I'll have fun trying.

I'm also creating my first tree skirt. This is uncharted territory for me because I can't find what I want anywhere, be it finished product or pattern, so I'm having to design it myself. Easy-peasy for some of you, but I'm challenged that way. Here's hoping it turns out, because the picture in my head is awesome!

Happy sewing (back to making little white dresses for me!).

Christmas Quilts

There is no denying that Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love love LOVE it! So I have quilts in the works.

First, I'm making this quilt with this fabric, fussy cut as the center squares and then surrounded by a whole mess o' red and white prints.
I'm using a white on white snowflake print for the sashing. So cute!

Next, I just discovered my new favorite pattern designer and ordered two right off.


I'm going to make both using this line of fabric:

Pretty cute, eh?

School starts for me soon, but I will make as much time as possible for sewing.

Yes, Sir Mommy!

The title is my latest quote from Mr. Jamers. He salutes me and says "Yes, sir Mommy!" LOVE it. So I'm reporting on my progress. No pictures because I prefer natural light and what natural light we've had lately has been gray and drizzly. Thank you, no. So pictures will come later. I will prove to you that I have done what I said I would do!

So what did I do last week?

• Sewed three bags - I had to. I'm giving one away and I liked it so much, I wanted one for myself. So now I can give two away and still have one. Make sense? I hope so.
• Sewed white borders on all 4 - count 'em - Matchbox quilts. Now they are ready to be quilted. By whom....that's for another day!
• Finished cutting my fabric stash for my red/aqua quilt
• Cut the squares for my double nine-patch - this is the layout I chose, although I'm going to make mine 3X4 - two of them because I have a boatload of nine patch squares!
  

So, what is on the agenda for this week?

• Sew that darned apron for my neighbor - I keep forgetting to get interfacing - dragging four children into a fabric store for a smidgen of interfacing is not my idea of a good time. I'm going to Mom's on Sunday, so maybe I'll just take it with me...
• Sew the double nine patch blocks together
• Figure out cutting requirements for the nine patch setting squares and triangles
• Doll clothes, if I can fit them in!

Happy sewing week to all!

Next Week

I have big plans next week. BIG plans. I've finished the pink/green version of my Sent with Love Matchbox quilt. I'll finish the red/pink one on Monday. Pictures forthcoming, I promise. I've got quite a lot of the squares cut for my red/aqua quilt, but I think I want more variety, so that project is currently on hold. Now I'm finishing up my Love U nine patch quilts - I've got enough nine patch blocks to make two lap quilts. I'm in a lap quilt phase these days. Don't know what it is.

I want to make a quilt for each of my boys, especially since we plan on getting bunk beds for them when we move. William is in love with a quilt we received as a wedding gift. It's getting pretty shabby though, having gone through the washing machine quite a number of times. I'd like to make him something in his favorite color: green. I'm thinking a zig zag quilt or a single Irish chain. Needs to be manly though. Any ideas?

I've been liking pinwheel quilts for a while, and I've found my one true pinwheel love right here:


Some call it a Dutch pinwheel. Whatever it is, it is awesomeness in quilt form. I'm going to bust out my scraps and make something fun and special. This may be an ongoing project, but I'm totally planning on having fun with it.

So, to recap, for next week:
The apron for my neighbor
The 2 fun bags, one of which will also go to the neighbor
Finish red/pink matchbox quilt
Cut sashing for nine patch quilts

Maybe start sewing nine patch together, but I'll have to get my layout squared away first, and that may take a while.

Happy sewing! Oh, and we're making a donut cake tomorrow. I'll report, don't worry. Will is SO excited!

Project Completed!

For my birthday, Aaron got me a little Netbook. I wanted to be able to carry it around in my bag, but didn't want things like fishy cracker crumbs to get into the little nooks and crannies. So I found this tutorial and decided I must have one.

Then I got lazy. I looked around to buy one, but they are all boring and ugly. I wanted cuteness. So I went back to plan A and whipped this up today. Even with a fussy teething baby afoot, lunch for all the kids and several other interruptions, I still finished it in a couple of hours.

I'm liking it.

Here's my little Netbook with it's new "sleeping bag" as Laurel calls it. I can even have it plugged in and charging while it's in the sleeve. This I like.

And let's be honest about two things. First, cupcakes make everything better. And second, is anyone at all surprised that I made one food related?

P.S. Oh, and I finally learned how to use my walking foot on my sewing machine. Awesomeness!

Big Plans

We've got a whole week at Gran and Opa's house and I've got some big ol' plans.

In no particular order:

Rainbow cupcakes with Adrienne and her girls for St. Patty's Day! It's a homeschool party. We're going to watch Pollyanna and talk about prisms and eat rainbow cupcakes. Life will be good. Oh, and play outside and get dirty. Love it!


I got this pillowcase pattern and I'm going to make some fun pillowcases for Christmas gifts. Shh. If you get one, be surprised!

I love this bag. LOVE. THIS. BAG. I'm making more. For gifts. Because who couldn't use a few extra bags around?
Laurel is loving skirts, so I've got a few in the works for her. She chose the fabric and I'll whip them up. Adrienne, can we just have a sewing fest at your place? Henry and Phoebe will let us do that, right?
Something tells me that just won't happen!
For my birthday. I'm still going to have a Lemon Meringue Cake. But I think I want these too. Fauxstess cupcakes. I've got a killer recipe that I'll share once we try it. Super yum!
This book has a lot of super cute ideas, all with one yard of fabric. Hence the name. There are some grocery bags that I think would make great Christmas gifts. Found some supercute fabric and so I'll at least be cutting things out.
Crazy? yes. Super ambitious? Certainly. Will I get it all done? Doubtful. But it's fun to think about!

And before you ask, I will be writing too. But the writing schedule starts when spring quarter begins. And sewing will be my reward for getting my writing done. It's gonna work, I tell ya!

Big Plans for Thanksgiving

I received a lovely gift from a very special person with strict instructions to spend it on myself. I have a tendency to buy things for the kids all the time, especially around this time of year with birthdays and Christmas.

I wanted to use the funds to create a memory something. So I bought fabric. First, I bought this:

in jelly roll and layer cake form (by the way, I love Moda's pre-cuts and their names). I'm going to make this quilt, found here:

Then I found this fabric.

For this quilt:

Online, free pattern found here. My goal is to get at least one quilt top done over the Thanksgiving weekend. And have the pieces cut for the other one. We'll be at me parents', so I'll have extra hands with the munchkins. I just might git 'er done!

One Project Down, A Billion to Go!

Mel's apron is done and it's so cute! I wish I had a model - sorry, I'm so not volunteering my pregnant self to model it. Wouldn't look nearly as cute as on someone with less of a belly! I love the colors and the fabric and this is one of my favorite patterns. I'll be sending it to this site for their, oh, quarterly, I think, apron photo blog. The theme is plaid this time around and I love this green plaid!

So, more to do, but then, I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have a billion projects in the works. Probably just find more projects.

Can She Get It All Done?

I am a deadline person - I like knowing when things are supposed to happen. Unfortunately, with babies, you don't get to. So I'm trying to get things done, not knowing when I'll have to stop and have a baby!

I found this diaper/wipe case on etsy - here - and I'm making one to match my new diaper bag.

The new diaper bag, but it's only going to be in one fabric, not three.

And a matchy-matchy changing mat to go with it all - another Etsy purchase here if you want one. I have to say, I do like the PDF patterns I can find there. So nice to get them within 24 hours.

Also on the list - I've got Mel's apron cut out and I'm going to try to get it sewn today and tomorrow. And I've got three of the four pillowcases/shams for Laurel's new room cut out - I'll get started on those soon. I still have some notion purchases to make, and I'm waiting on the fabric for the outer borders, but it's coming along. Her room is going to be so cute when we're done with it! This is one of those times where I'm glad I just have one girl - I can spoil her much easier this way.

Happy crafting day!

One More Apron

Note: This is not my apron. This is the pattern - from the book A is for Apron - I have made this apron twice for myself and now I'm making another, but this time, for my midwife Mel. She was over for our home visit last week and was admiring my wall o' aprons. She loves wearing bright colors and I think I found the perfect fabrics for her.
This solid pink will be the waistband, ties and neck strap.

This plaid will be one side of the apron . . .

And the butterflies will be the other side!

I might end up loving it so much I'll have to make another one. Heaven help us - I'm going to need a new wall! This is getting WAY out of hand, but it's a rather harmless little vice, wouldn't you think?

Nesting

On my list of things to do before Mr. Henry decides to arrive is complete a whole bunch of sewing projects. I've been a busy sewing bee this week, cranking out quite a few things (and dreaming up more - a not so good habit I can't seem to kick!). Here's what is finished this week -

Doll clothes for Laurel's dolls and animals - I want to get her a set of nesting suitcases like these so she can pack up all her doll clothes in them. I'm thinking the purple ones. She loves to dress all her animals up in outfits - doesn't matter to her if it's Will's sock monkey or James' teddy bear. They get clothes and hats and shoes too. I can't wait until she's old enough for an American Girl doll. In the meantime, I'm happily producing little outfits for her - I love that they are small enough I can use my scrap pile. Most of these are from scraps from a couple of aprons I just made.


Another apron for the bumble bee - this one is reversible and I just love it. I'm going to enter it at this site - they do quarterly apron themes and this one is for an apron and a pie recipe. So I'll photograph Laurel in this one with a lemon meringue pie - since this is the lemon meringue apron! She looks so sunshiney and bright in it - I love it! That photo will come soon.


A sleeping bag for Laurel's doll - she needed one of her own so she can go camping with us.

Perfecting the sticky bun recipe - these were too pretty to not photograph. The caramel was a tad too done but it made for a really pretty picture. The ones I made for Father's Day for Aaron were a disaster. You can't win for trying - I had put a cookie sheet underneath them in the oven so that the caramel wouldn't get on the bottom of the oven and burn. Well, that made the tops just doughy and icky. This time, I didn't put the cookie sheet, which meant we had burnt caramel and smoke, but they sure were tasty. I'll make another, hopefully final, perfect batch again this summer. I'm determined to get these perfect.

And I found this bag pattern and am making many versions of it - I even modified it so I can make a smaller version for Laurel - she loves to have a bag to take to church and in the car. This is the Christmas version. It's the perfect project bag size - carrying around knitting, crocheting, a book, etc. Even might make a decent diaper bag. No pockets, but then I don't like pockets all that much. Just get in the way.

As for the started but not finished projects, here's the list (off the top of my head):

• Two quilt tops - just fun, snuggly ones to have handy - both in very bright colors
• A picnic blanket - just needs some rick rack and I'll have it finished
• Two aprons - adorable ones made from the same yellow/white fabric that I made Laurel's - this one is very frou frou and all I need is some very wide ribbon for the ties and they are done
• Several other bags - so much fun and I really just need the interfacing on these ones
• More doll clothes
• Another doll sleeping bag - brown and pink
• And I'm taking part in TWD now - so I'll be baking a Perfect Party Cake this week
• And a 4th of July dessert on Saturday

I'm so glad summer is so busy and the time is going by so quickly. August will be here before you know it!

Countdown to C-Day (craft-day)

Just one week to go (two quizzes, two finals) and then I'm in Kennewick with the sewing machine set up with a good view of the backyard. I'll be sewing like a crazy person, but I'm so excited to get these projects done. I have them all organized in plastic ziplock bags, waiting to be put together. A few more notions to buy (rick rack, mostly!) and I'll be golden.

The problem with me is, I keep finding more and more projects to add to the list. I just found these and I think they are adorable:

This stroller blanket is brilliant - how many times have I had to pick up the blanket after running over it and getting it all muddy - this one is awesome! I found the link here for the tutorial - free and all! Definitely going to be making one. And Adrienne - don't make one for you because I've got dibs!
I can't decide which of these two bag patterns I like better. I bought the second already, but then I found this one:

I don't like boring diaper bags. I want one in bright colors without Winnie-the-pooh on it. I don't want black - looks too much like the ones they hand out in hospitals and that doesn't appeal to me at all. So I'm making one for myself out of fabric I adore. I just have to find the right fabric!

This one you can make out of a single fabric or use several to make it fun. I can't decide, but I will sooner or later!

Let's hope I survive (and pass everything!) this week so I can relax and play next week.

Crafting right along!

School's almost out and I'm so ready to be done. I want to sit and sew and get projects done instead of just getting them started. I have to get some notions for them before I can really hit the sewing hard, but that won't be difficult - rick rack and the like. Then I can crank them out.

I found this pattern on etsy and I'm trying to decide if I should get it and make a whole bunch of them for Laurel for her birthday - a little bee family. I think she'd like it, but I'm still debating it. Don't know why. I think it's so cute!

That's all for now. I can't wait to post pictures of my finished projects!