I blew the dust off and fired up the old machine for the first time in months. Months. And I managed to eek out some gifts. Three sets of pj’s, a bathrobe and an infinity scarf using this tutorial. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posts Tagged ‘Handmade Gifts’
Monday, December 26th, 2011
Handmade Holiday
Sunday, December 18th, 2011
Progress
When did we get down to the week before Christmas? Seriously, when?? I’m so behind. I am not at all prepared. But we did a little shopping today and a little baking too.
Chase continues to prove herself to be a great helper in the kitchen. Great. It’s amazing. She rolled all of the pfeffernusse in sugar and thumbprinted all of the strassburgs. Which is what we call them but apparently they’re really called strassburgers and you can use the recipe to make spritz cookies. Who knew.
I even started sewing last night so I’ll get a few things done yet. Maybe not the whole list. Actually, the problem is mostly that I never made a list in the first place. All the same, I made Chase a much needed pair of pj pants last night and made her a cute little dress from this book.
My big plans for the week include figuring out where we stand with Christmas presents, an ultrasound, some more cookies, and making fried doughnuts for dinner. What are your last minute plans?
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Saturday, August 20th, 2011
Back!
We made it. We thought we might not. We thought we might just stop along the road in nowhere, PA, pitch a tent and call it even. By the time we left the girls were falling down (over) tired and whining like nobody’s business. After listening to Magic Treehouse books 9-15 for the 5th time I wished we could “go there” but it didn’t work for me. I spent Friday night recovering and Saturday night catching up on Project Runway. I’m feeling mostly better but am very much looking forward to my sleeping in day tomorrow. Mmm, Sunday. Somebody bring me coffee in bed.
My pictures of the week are all crap. Honestly, what kind of picture is that?! I really captured a moment there. I still can’t remember to take pictures with the people we visit. Mostly, though, I just didn’t pick up my camera. We were pretty unplugged. There were a couple of times that I was able to check my email but I really couldn’t respond to or address anything and that felt pretty good and spilled over into the picture taking I think. I mostly just sat around a lot. I sure do like sitting.
The first day of school is quick approaching. I really have to start thinking about back to school dresses. That’s right TWO! Two big girls go to school this fall. We’ll have to see about that. Things have been more than a little slow in that department. I did do a teensy bit of sewing this afternoon for a special birthday and it always kind of feels weird sharing that stuff but it’s not like I can just show you some other cool thing I made sooo… Chase picked out the fabric for the pouch and the headband. The fairies were part of the G Street picks.
It probably shouldn’t surprise me considering how rarely I go delving into it recently but I was happy to find a black zipper in my stash! I went about it the way I work best. By just randomly cutting and slashing and throwing it together while chasing my kids and yelling into the phone. Well, look at that, I DO know how to put in a zipper.
Chase helped me sew too. Ok, go, faster, too fast! Stop! STOP! We still have all our fingers and it was fun. It’s not really sewing if there’s no chance of a puncture wound, right? We stuffed a little headband that we made in there and I’m wishing I had some knit in something a little less sunny that I could throw together for myself. Maybe if I look hard enough my stash will come through again.
So, dresses… I have to think about it. I must have said that ten times already. Think. I’m moving it to the top of my to-do list. Which reminds me that I just finished I Don’t Know How She Does It. Perfect for the beach. Not too heavy, kept me laughing and made my cry a little but only a little and then I was laughing again. Think Bridget Jones has kids. I read in he acknowledgments that she sold movie rights and thought, hmm, it’s been a while since the book came out guess that never came to fruition but just stumbled upon this. I wonder who Kelsey Grammar plays. Oh, but I almost forgot the best part! I found a copy of Private Life so I can finally read the book I’ve been talking about since December! Just sitting there right on top of the pile not even on the shelf yet!
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Thursday, December 23rd, 2010
The Mermaidens!
And I’m officially done! I did everything I could to sabotage this project. Everything. I started by not reading the instructions. After reading the instructions I decided not to follow them. Then I committed a series of sewing sins. But there they are and, at the end of the day, I decided not to hate them. They kind of don’t look anything like the picture in the book but the girls will never know that.
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Tuesday, December 21st, 2010
Baby Blocks
I’m happy to report that they’re done! I’m planning to let her open them on Christmas Eve. Last year I let Chase open her pyjamas at night but I don’t think I’m going to get to pyjamas this year so I’ll probably let her open her hat. Or her mermaiden if I get to it. Read the rest of this entry »
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Saturday, August 21st, 2010
Two Parties
Two cakes, two outfit changes, two, maybe three goodie bags. The weekend of many parties. So many parties that I could hardly keep it all straight and almost showed up two hours early for one. Whoops.
I have plenty of things on my to do list but I’m recovering tonight from all the time I spent in the last few days cutting felt into tiny pieces. Today’s birthdays were for two of Chase’s very special friends so we made some very special gifts. Chase even helped me do some sewing on the machine.
The thing about making surprises is the waiting. As soon as I pull stuff off the machine I want to run right out and give it to the intended recipient. Sometimes before I even cut off the threads and finish up properly. These two projects didn’t involve too much sewing but I did kill an entire bottle of fabric glue.
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Sunday, August 23rd, 2009
Pink Pixie Hood
I love to knit hats. Probably because they’re quick and easy. I borrowed Baby Beanies by Amanda Keeys from the library but wanted to try so many of the hats that I decided to buy it. I have come to accept that I need to just buy some books outright because by the time I return them to the library I inevitably owe as much as it would cost to buy in fines. There are tons of books out there with so many cute ideas but this one leans toward simple which is just right for me. Read the rest of this entry »
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Monday, August 10th, 2009
Project :: Fat Quarter Diaper Changing Pad
I was going to title this post cloth diaper changing pad but I couldn’t figure out how to place or not place hyphens so that it didn’t sound like a pad for changing cloth diapers instead of a changing pad made out of cloth. Grammar is so tricky. Then, my camera wanted to be tricky. I had exactly enough battery power left in my flash to take exactly two pictures. My flash batteries always disappear very suspiciously. When questioned, Ben said, No, he didn’t know where he could find me a set of batteries. However, upon further probing, it appears that he Read the rest of this entry »
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Wednesday, March 18th, 2009
Hump Day
I made this quick little ‘juice box’ for Chase not too long ago. I got tired of having to drink ‘milk’ everyday so I made some O.J. so at least now I have some options. I used the same template I used to make the milk carton but even so the new one came out about half the size and not at all the same. I could have done a much better job and I still might but it will do for now.
I don’t know, I’ve started to develop a real appreciation for slow projects. Hand-sewing, knitting, stuff like that. More than that even I’m able to take my time with things in a way that I could never do before. Spending a lot of time pinning, basting or marking used to be way down my list of things that are fun to do but lately I take a lot of pleasure in doing things and doing things well. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tuesday, November 25th, 2008
Handmade Gift Ideas :: Play Food
I made these grapes last night. They’re the first in what I hope will materialize into a set of different play foods. A while back I made a pretty successful strawberry and carrot so I’m feeling pretty confident about fruits and veg but I’m less certain about meats and grains. I don’t have that fully worked out yet but hopefully between now and Christmas I’ll have some more info to share on the matter.
I made the grapes from 4 small bags of pompoms. I stitched through some with elasticized thread and others with regular cotton thread. Once I had them all strung I twisted them around each other until I had something that resembled a bunch. You can sew right through the center of the pompoms. I hope it holds. We tossed it around a bit but I don’t know if the elasticized thread will be enough to withstand much pulling. It’s just an experiment, if they don’t last I’ll shell out for some commercially made stuff but until then I’ll keep having fun dreaming this stuff up.