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!

Some Weekend Plans

Headed to K-Town for the holiday weekend - we're going to play in the sunshine, so it better be ready for us.
I do have some crafty/baking plans in the works.

• Going to test out the first cookie recipe - what better place to do that than at Gran's house?
• Need to find a bit o' fabric - headed to Craft Warehouse to see what we see
• Going through scraps for more doll clothes options - Laurel LOVES to dress up every animal (and she has a lot) in whatever doll clothes she has - I've got some sewing to do!

Nothing big. I've got a quiz - blech - in accounting on Tuesday, so I have to study some, but not much. And practice some French, but not much. Going to be a fun weekend!

Happy Memorial Day to all! Please, remember why it's a long weekend - it's not just for barbecues.

Reporting in!

I think I did alright. Here's the final tally:

• No sewing got done. I'm okay with this. It was sunny out, and we played outside. I did get a lot of cutting done in the morning and even did some on the back porch while the kids played.


• I got all the cutting done - whole lotta bias stuff, which is a pain. I did have to go buy a new cutting ruler thingy. Sigh. I'll probably find my old one when we eventually move out of here.


• We prepared Laurel's talk on Sunday morning - she "wrote" it herself - she told me what to write down and that's what she said. She was so great! Not shy at all and spoke up loud and clear. We did her hair in a "ballerina bun" with a big ol' pink flower. She looked adorable!


• The Strawberry Shortcake Cookies were post-poned to tonight for FHE. So. Good. Really. When Martha finally posts the recipe on her website, I'll link it. Not too sweet and just delicious. Would be great with some vanilla ice cream.


• The girl time sort of happened - we got to hang out together while the boys were napping. We've got big plans for when they go on the Father and Sons Camp-out in a few weeks - we're going out to dinner and doing girly things. I loved the Father and Sons when I was a kid - just me and mom!

I like this accountability thing - I'll do it again, when I've got a big ol' list of things to do. Oh, wait. I always have that. I'll do it again in a few weeks once school is out and I'm chaining myself to my sewing machine for a week.

Weekend Project Plans

Tip for using Blogger: Don't EVER hit CTRL A (to highlight your text if you want to try to cut and paste it or whatever) because it deletes everything you just wrote. Very annoying.

Moving on. I'm going for accountability here by posting my plans for Saturday. Even if I only accomplish half if what I have planned, I'll be happy.
So here is my list:

1. Find (or buy a new one) my clear quilt cutting guide thing-y that has been missing since Christmas. I need this for project 2.
2. Cut binding, ties and straps for Emmeline aprons. By the way, check out the fabric swatches below from my latest find for this one - I've got to finish it by the Fourth of July. Not that I'll look very fetching in it. Let's just hope the skirt of the apron covers my big ol' belly by then!
3. Finish sewing brown polka dot apron - the one that has been waiting for Aaron to remove the buttons and pins my boys thought were missing from the inner workings of my sewing machine.
4. Cut the ties for the Christmas aprons I'm making.
5. Have some girl time with Laurel. We're painting our toenails and going over to the mall and wandering around a bit - she needs it almost as much as I do.
6. Work on Laurel's talk for Primary - this is not optional, although could wait until Sunday morning.
7. Bake some cookies with the kids - this might also wait until Sunday. I found a recipe in my latest Martha Stewart Living for Strawberry Shortcake Cookies and we are so trying them out. I'd link it, but she doesn't have it up on her site. I'll post it later.

The binding, ties, and straps: Side one:

Side two:

Isn't that the cutest fabric you ever saw? I want to make shortcake and pies all the live long day!

I'll post again on Sunday and let you know how things turned out. Here's hoping I'm uber-productive. Right. Because husbands and children are so cooperative!

Aprons Anonymous

I feel compelled to start an apron support group. Something to help those of us who are a might bit too obsessed with accumulating these aprons. I said in an earlier post that I have about six more in the works. I think that was a lie. Okay, I know it was. Here's what's cookin' 'round here:

This one, the one on the far right, I'm making out of a really pretty light green with white flowers. Love it!
This one is being made in several color schemes. Christmas ones that are reversible and then a brown with white flowers that I'm trying to find a coordinating fabric for so I can make it reversible too.

Then there is the "Jane Austen" apron, as I call it. It's so Elizabeth Bennet, isn't it? I mean, if she were inclined to cook, she would wear something like this? Regardless, I love it. So much, in fact that I'm making, umm, well, the count is at four right now, but it could go higher depending on my latest fabric find.

So that is only seven, but then I have several cuts of fabric that haven't found the right pattern partner just yet. But I think the seven is a good start, right.

Some women collect shoes. I like these better.

If you would like to join my support group, feel free. It's quite fun, and doesn't hurt anyone (the bank account does not count!). It's bad though - I've already gotten Laurel started. She has four or five of her own. And she's getting more - every time she sees me cutting out a new one, she wants a new one. I can't say no. I'm helpless!

Oh, and pictures will come as I finish them. I promise. I won't be modeling them until I get my pre-baby bod back (or some form of it), but you can see the finished apron hanging up.

I did it!

Here's the Martha Stewart baking blog, if you're interested. Well, it's not dedicated to her, or about her. I'm just using her Cookies cookbook.
Join in if you want. I'll list you as a contributor if you post your e-mail.
Happy baking!

http://sunday-cookies.blogspot.com/