Do Ah Diddy

What I Want to be When I Grow Up...

2011-11-08T08:45:00.000-06:00

LotuSIGN is a company here in Austin that specializes in interpreting live music.

This is my dream job.

This is a job I would LOVE. Not work.

I will volunteer until forever if I have to...

I am a LotuSIGN groupie!!

Doily Tam

2011-11-04T10:09:00.000-05:00

I love this hat. It took me about 3 hours, too! I modified this vintage doily pattern to do it.

I used sock yarn with a little stretch and a G hook. Made it as big as I wanted, then decreased until I got the head size I needed.

I got compliments on it all day at school. It really is fabulous!

Room Full of Pennies

2011-11-02T08:48:00.000-05:00

Crocheted Rocks

2011-10-31T07:40:00.000-05:00

I got the idea from this post by the Purl Bee.

I didn't follow Margaret's pattern, but she deserves full credit.

These make me happy when skies are grey.

Visions That Make Me Smile...

2011-10-28T08:48:00.000-05:00

Two of the four who inspire me...

When You're 3 Years Old...

2011-10-27T06:13:00.001-05:00

...And Mommy's friend plays "Let's Kick Dirt At Each Other" with you...

...It's so much fun, you wanna play in the dirt with your hands...

...So, you end up looking like this...

...Which really is a lot of work, so you need a nap...

(Personally, I think this moment solidified mommy's friend and his husband's decision to have a boat load of children themselves, someday - not their love , and commitment for each other, or anything like that)

Of course, if you're 10 years old, about to be 11 and your mom points her camera in your general direction, you make a face like this:

Just sayn'.

What I've been up to...

2011-10-21T06:48:00.000-05:00

To be honest, I haven't been very crafty lately.

I've gone back to school this semester. I'm studying to be an ASL interpreter. And while I have previous ASL skill, it's been about 11 years since I signed. At all. So here I am, rediscovering a passion.

School has been taking up much of my time - my school and our home school. But, I'm getting antsy for some yarn in my hands... So, I'm hoping to be back soon. If for nothing than to post some hipstamatic photos! :) That seems to be all the artistic gratification I get lately! Haha!!

Much love and peace to you all!!

Vegetarian Fare: Split Pea Soup

2011-07-20T05:59:00.000-05:00

This is a crock pot recipe and so super easy!

In your crockpot, dump

1 bag of dry split peas

some chopped carrots (sometimes, I add sweet potato, too)

veggie bullion or broth

Fill the crock pot with water - about 2" over the peas and carrots.

Turn on low for 8hrs, or high for 4 hrs

We ate ours with grapes and butter crackers.

My Version: The Nordstrom Crochet Hobo Bag

2011-07-19T07:55:00.001-05:00

I thought this purse was so cute when I saw it on Ravelry. I wanted one, my daughter wanted one, and we were both pretty sure everyone we know would want one.

I had some weird trouble with this bag. The bottom doesn't flare out the way it's supposed to. That's not at all to say that there was something wrong with the pattern. I saw many, many photos of other people's versions of the bag, and they look like the original. I'm sure it was me and my laziness. First of all, I used worsted weight yarn and not chunky. Secondly, my hook was a bit smaller, and then smaller, and smaller for the changes.

End the end, I really like the way it came out! And so did Miss! One thing I discovered about myself is that I am not a bow person. But I did like the thread effect the ribbon made, so I kept that. Also, instead of a snap closure, I added a small bling-bling button. And finally, I didn't have a purse strap on hand, and didn't feel like driving to JoAnn's to get one, so I made one from some faux leather and D rings.

Here's the link to Ravelry and all the photographs. And, here's the direct link to the pattern.

December in July

2011-07-18T07:41:00.000-05:00

I've just started thinking of Christmas gifts. Having four children and, admittedly, make most of their birthday/Christmas gifts sends me on this track. Oh, did I forget to mention - two of my children have December birthdays. That's right! So I begin thinking of the month of December in July.

Here's what I have on my mind so far...

I'm thinking of these...

...for a couple certain ladies I know. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

I've only been knitting for about a week now, but this pattern only uses basic stitches, so I'm hoping to be advanced enough to make them when the time comes.

For my youngest daughter, I'm making an amigarumi doll. I've started using this pattern which is more of guidelines than a pattern. But that's how I like it since I change most patterns to suit my needs and aesthetics anyway. Here's this doll:

I'm only thinking of changing the hair. I like this hair a lot. Embroidering it I think will create less mess than having loose hair. Here's the photo so you can see what I'm talking about:

Alright, I'll continue this little countdown later. Have fun with this. And, please let me know what/if you're making for gifts this year... if you're even thinking of that, yet!

Vegetarian Fare: The BIG Salad

2011-07-14T05:04:00.000-05:00

This salad is pretty straight forward. I ate it for dinner the other night while my children had Sponge Bob macaroni and cheese (hey, it was game night!).

spinach mixture

strawberries

hard boiled eggs

cheese

raw broccoli florets

carrot shreds

flax meal

drizzle of Goddess dressing

Oh, so good!!

My Version of the White Flower Necklace

2011-07-13T06:04:00.000-05:00

I loved this necklace when I saw it on Ravelry! It is so sweet, and delicate - made more so because I used crochet thread, and not worsted weight yarn like the original pattern called for.

Here's my version:

Here's where you can find the original pattern.

Vegetarian Fare: Enchlada Casserole

2011-07-12T06:23:00.001-05:00

Sorry, I took the photo with my iPhone at the last minute, so the picture looks like, well, this. Anyway, this was really good - all the kids gobbled it up. I make the enchiladas into a casserole, because I really don't have the time or inclination to hand roll individual enchiladas. So, I just slap it together like a lasagna and we deal. It's wonderful!

And, I added a secret ingredient:

This lovely came straight out of our garden. I love it!

Here is the list of ingredients:

1 yellow squash, diced teeny tiny (if you have children like mine)

1/2 sweet white onion, chopped

1 can vegetarian refried beans

1 can enchilada sauce (the larger one)

corn tortillas

shredded cheese

Saute the onion in a little oil until it smells really delicious and is almost translucent. Add the squash and saute just until squash is tender.

Spread a little enchilada sauce over the bottom of your casserole dish. Lay a few tortillas down (my dish took three). Then, layer beans, onion/squash mix, cheese, and more sauce over and over until you run out of ingredients.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 min.

Granny Square Halter

2011-07-11T09:25:00.001-05:00

I saw the cutest Granny Square Haltered Neck Top pattern on Ravelry. You should really check it out. It is gorgeous and the child wearing it looks completely comfortable.

In the directions, she has you leave some of the granny squares unfinished and work them together. Well, I just happened to have granny squares around, ready to be used for a blanket I had in mind. So, I cheated and just whip stitched them together. I really like the effect (though, I wasn't sure I was going to). It has a patch-work kinda feel to it that is pleasant.

Of course, my on-hand granny squares were 1/2 " bigger than hers, and my child is a good 4 years younger than hers, so I had to make a few adjustments.

Here's how it turned out:

Yes, this is my ragamuffin!

Another thing that is slightly different, is that I didn't have to put any elastic thread in the back. Somehow, it just fit. I got lucky, I guess. :)

Here's the direct link to the pattern.

Crochet Ring Necklace

2011-07-08T05:52:00.000-05:00

I loved this necklace as soon as I saw it! I didn't have the 1/2" plastic rings the pattern called for, but I did have a TON of 1" keyrings. It worked out well enough.

Here's where you can get the pattern.

Salsa Party Skirt

2011-07-07T05:44:00.000-05:00

I've been enjoying so much making things from other people's patterns recently!

Here's my version of the Salsa Party Skirt:

You can find the pattern here.

Another Crochet Top

2011-07-06T08:01:00.000-05:00

You know, I've wanted to talk about this for a while now, but was never sure how to bring it up. So, I'm just gonna dive right in.

My cuppeth overfloweth.

There. Done.

It's just genetics.

Now, I know there are more women out there who struggle with how to dress this part of their bodies. I've been struggling with it for forever. And I'm 5'2". If a shirt fits the bust, it's usually too big in the shoulder. Now, I'm no itty bitty, but even I have problems with shirts fitting everywhere BUT the bust.

I used to err on the side of being too big. However, that led to a lot of Little Miss whispering to me, "Mommy, your shirt," when we were out in public. Ummm, yea.

Okay, add to it all the fact that finally, after three years, I have weaned Nana (can I get a silent woo hoo!!) and have recently lost 10 lbs (can I get a loud Go On Girl!!). Needless to say, my tops are all over the place in regards to fitting me properly.

So, I've started the refashions. Remember this crochet racerback tank? Well, I've done another crochet refashion that allows for the bra straps to be worn normally.

I added these buttons and crocheted flowers to hide some weird black markings what wouldn't come out in the wash.

I like randomly placed pretties!

It's basically all double crochet. The only thing to remember if you do this is to crochet around the entire edge so the pull is distributed evenly. It ends up looking a lot cleaner, too. But. I'm lazy, so I like to know that all that extra work has a function. :)

Here it is on.

And the back, again.

Easy Tofu Fried Rice

2011-07-05T17:38:00.001-05:00

Recently I've had some people ask me for vegetarian meal ideas. So instead of writing everything out a bunch of times, Imma gonna do it just once. :)

This tofu fried rice is so easy and delicious. It's something all four of my children gobble up!

Here's what you need:

rice

bag mixed veggies

1 container firm/extra firm tofu

vegetable broth, soy sauce

Here's what you do:

First, put your rice on to cook in the rice cooker. There are 6 of us in our family, so I use 2 cups dry rice. While that's cooking, prepare your tofu.

I slice my tofu into two-bite pieces because that's how my kids like it. Once it's sliced, lay it out on the cutting board, lay a clean hand towel over it, them put a heavy saucepan over top. I actually use a long (2 burner long) cast iron comal, with a cast iron skillet over that. The point is to squeeze out as much water from the tofu as you can. I don't leave it long. I'm lazy that way.

Prepare about 1-2 cups veggie broth (I don't measure, remember) with a little soy sauce in a small bowl, and put your squeezed tofu in there and let soak for about 10 min.

Now, heat your skillet with a little oil. Heat it pretty hot - this is the secret to tofu that is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.

Put your soaked tofu in the pan (with OUT the extra broth) For the love of god be careful - you'll get splattered if you're not. So, let that cook, flip it around a bit, and let it get brown and crispy on the outside. When it's done, set it aside.

Pour about 1/2c of the broth/soy sauce mixture into a wok or VERY large skillet. Add your cooked rice, mixed veggies and cook. I admit, I need a LOT more veggies in the picture above, but I was just using what I had on hand which was about 1/4 of a bag. So sad!

So, cook that around until the veggies are cooked. Add the tofu at the last minute just in time to incorporate into the veggie/rice mixture.

Viola! My kids say YUM! :)

Crochet Racerback Tank

2011-07-05T05:51:00.000-05:00

It was a nice weekend refashion project. I have a couple of tank tops that have very long shoulder straps. So, I took one, cut off the straps, and added this pretty crochet to make it a racerback.

Here's the back.

And here's the front.

I don't have a tutorial for this because I don't know exactly how I did it. But, if you have any questions, just ask and I'll do my best to answer.

Cookbook

2011-07-01T15:16:00.001-05:00

My friend is writing a cookbook!! I am so excited, I can't stop gushing about her! She has put so much effort into her passion and now is pursuing something she's wanted for a while now. She is so busy, and I'm not seeing much of my friend anymore, but I know it will be worth it!

And guess what? She's asked ME to help her! Yea, I know. I don't measure. But, I AM NOW. And especially with her recipes, I am following the directions exactly as they as they are written.

Guess what else? Her recipes work out beautifully when you follow the directions and do things like weigh and/or measure ingredients properly. Just check this out:

YUM!!

Raspberry Beanie!!!

2011-06-29T12:03:00.000-05:00

For Sale at

Ravelry

and

Etsy

Embroidery + Skirts = LOVE

2011-06-24T11:18:00.000-05:00

I let Little Miss take my embroidery thread to her friend's house to make friendship bracelets. Well, three months later, I got it back. Hooray!!! So, I've been embroidering and not crocheting (which I've been doing a lot lately).

Here's what I've done:

I got the idea for this from Anna Maria Horner.

Then I did a wavy version on the bottom of this skirt.

And finally, I used the scraps to piece this free hand abstract design onto this skirt.

Yep, love.

Let's see if this works...

2011-06-23T07:59:00.000-05:00

I sure hope so...

Cupcake Hat Pattern for Sale

2011-06-22T12:49:00.000-05:00

This time, it's for real and it is from me. I am selling the pattern to my Cupcake Hat on Ravelry. For only $5, you get the pattern for infant, toddler, child, and adult.

Check it out!

Piecing Together A Blueberry Hat

2011-06-20T09:02:00.000-05:00

Cute, huh? And easy, too!

Just make your favorite plain hat pattern. I made my Child Sock Monkey Hat Pattern in solid blue.

For the top, I used a scrap of darker blue yarn to make a five pointed flower. This is the one I used (again, not changing colors). Lastly, make a stem in green. I just chained up 10, then single crocheted back down.

We've dubbed this "Blueberry Head".

Selling My Free Pattern

2011-06-17T11:54:00.000-05:00

Has anyone heard of Yardsellr??

Well, it turns out, someone is selling my Sock Monkey Hat pattern on this site!

They're even using my photograph. Dishonesty turns my stomach. Every crochet pattern this person is selling is free. So, there you go. I've contacted the seller, and Yardsellr, but still, two days later, the posting remains up. I didn't think I would need a copyright notice, but now there is one on the sidebar of my blog.

I now know I need to keep my eyes open for people selling my free patterns -AND to look out before I buy a pattern. I am also grateful knowing that relatively speaking, my life is blessed and nurtured so this situation is really nothing more than an opportunity to practice tolerance and patience.

I am thankful. :)

Crochet Butterfly

2011-04-04T06:41:00.000-05:00

If you're a total nerd like myself, you are going to geek out over this!!

This is another butterfly thing I made for Nana for her 3rd birthday.

What does this have to do with butterflies?? When I would hand this to someone (adult and child alike), they looked at it politely. But, it was obvious they had no idea what I was so excited about.

Until they saw this:

Oh, yea!!

Is this the coolest thing or what????

Sorry, you'll have to figure out how to make your own. I made mine by feel (usually during Chess Club).

I love the fuzzy purple scraps I used on the edge of the wings.

I never tire of looking at it!!

Butterfly Pillow

2011-04-03T12:40:00.000-05:00

I'm in love with this pillow. It is the most comfortable pillow I have ever layed my head on.

I made it for Nana for her 3rd birthday. She wanted butterfly everything!!

Yay!

DNA for Preschoolers

2011-03-29T07:28:00.000-05:00

I was watching a program on the origin of life on the National Geographic channel a few weeks ago.

It happened that my 4yo son walked by when there was an animation of DNA on the screen.

He immediately had me pause the television and wanted to know WHAT IS THAT.

It's DNA.

WHAT IS DNA?????

Errrrr..well, okay!

So, here's what we did:

First, I explained that our bodies are made up off all kinds of cells - skin cells, eyeball cells, hair cells, bone cells, and so on. DNA is the instructions for how to make a cell. The instructions are contained in the nucleus of the cell like this:

source

He wasn't at all interested in the other parts of the cell, but this visual helped him grasp the concept a little better.

Next, we bought this model kit:

source

On our way to Teacher Heaven, we talked about how all living things are made of DNA: humans, trees, polar bears, etc. He thought this was fascinating.

Now the kit - this was the ticket! There is so much more included than a model of DNA. There is counting, sorting, painting, and patterns - all things naturally interesting at this age.

It was easy for him to remember that backbones are sugar, phosphate, sugar, phosphate because there are so many of them. But, when it came to the adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine neither of us could always remember what connected to what.

So, I came up with this song on the fly:

(sing to the tune of Dry Bones)

The adenine connects to the thymine,

The guanine connects to the cytosine,

The phosphates connect to the sugars,

And that's how we make DNA!!!

I also used this book as a source:

I thought it would be fun because the characters are cartoony and the explanations are basic.

The downside to this book is that my son is is a literal 4yo. So, when he sees the cartoon picture, his eyes get wide and he asks, "Is that in my body?!" Along with the basic explanations are fun commentary. One of the sentences about DNA tells the reader "...most of your DNA is junk - it doesn't mean anything", which most 7 or 8yo would understand, but my literal child asked me,"Am I made of junk?"

The very, very positive side of this book is that it introduced him to RNA which he is stoked about now.

We did talk a bit about what DNA stands for: deoxyribonucleic acid. Taters said it was a very forgetful name. I agree. That's why it's shortened to DNA.

So, I hope this helps. I did so many searches for how to explain DNA to preschoolers and came up with nothing. Most of what I found was geared toward upper elementary and above - even at Teacher Heaven. But, this pieced-together lesson plan worked well for my boy. Score one for mom!

Time4Learning Review Part 2

2011-03-07T06:34:00.000-06:00

So, we've had this month to check out Time4Learning. All in all, it has been a positive experience, but let me get specific with y'all:

Little Miss is 10yo. If she was in a traditional school setting, she would be in 4th grade, but her work is on a 5th grade level. That was not a problem for me except for Reading/Writing. My approach to homeschooling is to really individualize the experience for each student. So, I understand that what works for Miss may not work for Buster, may work for Taters, and not for Nana. In any case, whatever I was doing with Miss in the Reading/Writing area was NOT working. It happens to be her love, but we both ended in tears almost daily. In comes Time4Learning. Now, she looks forward to these subjects. The program is cartoony, but kitchy and fun. She is being challenged just enough. For the parts that are graded, I can have her redo them if if the percent isn't as high as I'd like to know that she understands. I also know she is picking things up because she uses what she learned in daily life. She is also using their Odyssey Writer to write her first book. Her one criticism is that when they are explaining something or giving directions, they speak slowly. Most of the time, she feels she got the message, and tries to move to the next page, but the program doesn't allow that until they are finished speaking. I wouldn't call this a criticism at all. I actually appreciate this very much!

Buster is 9yo. If he were in school, he would be in the 3rd grade. However, his Reading/Writing is on a 2nd grade level, his Math is on a 5th grade level, and the rest of his subjects fall somewhere in-between. One of the bazillion reasons we home school is for this specific reason - so our children can be where they are academically. I don't try to "catch him up" in Reading/Writing, nor do I "hold him back" in Math. This is where I would like a bit of tweaking with Time4Learning. There is a Lower Level Login (prek - 3rd grades) and an Upper Level Login (4th - 8th grades). When they asked for my childrens' grade levels, I explained about Christian. What they gave me was a Lower Level Login for him. I think this is because you get access to every subject offered for a specific grade level. So, he is using the program for 2nd grade Reading/Writing. This he loves! It is just the right amount of a challenge for him.

Taters turns 5yo in May and would begin Kindergarten this coming fall. But, like many children his age, he is a sponge (much as I wish he'd just play all day and not want to do school)! He understands abstract concepts (2+3=), and is reading the beginning Bob books, but his fine motor skills frustrate him to no end. So, he stays away from workbooks which hurts his heart because he desperately wants to be like his older brother and sister doing "real schoolwork". Time4Learning is perfect for this little guy! He is challenged at the kindergarten level, having fun, and able to use what he understands without having to write anything down.

For me, Time4Learning is an oasis. I wish I was being overly dramatic. I didn't realize how much stress and tension I carried around with me until this free trial offer fell into my lap. After three days, I looked up and said, "We're done with school already??" There had been no deep breathing on my part; there were no tears from any little people. Nobody is frustrated, the rest of our subjects go smoothly.

What I'd really like is access to specific subjects. While the monthly charge for all subjects of a grade is far less than I expected, I think an a la carte option would be best for our family. Miss doesn't do any of the other subjects because we've got them covered either at home, or with a co-op. Buster doesn't even look at the other subjects - why would he look at 2nd grade Math when he's doing 5th grade Saxon? Taters is the only one, so far I would like the entire grade level for.

Having said that, I have every intention of continuing our use of Time4Learning.

Time4Learning Review

2011-02-03T14:54:00.000-06:00

Hello Everyone!!

I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience. Time4Learning can be used as a homeschool curriculum, for afterschool enrichment and for summer skill sharpening. Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning.

I've been interested in this curriculum for a while now, so this happens at the perfect time for me!

I can't wait to see how it goes!!

4yo Girl Gift

2011-01-17T06:22:00.000-06:00

I got this idea from The Long Thread.

We'll be giving this to our friend Keily for her 4th birthday.

Decorative Edging Part 4

2011-01-14T06:08:00.000-06:00

I ended up burning the crap out of my hand Christmas Eve. I was crumpled on the kitchen floor hearing this weird noise before I realized I was crying. I overheard the kids saying, "This must really hurt; I've never heard Mommy cry from being in pain before".

Needless to say, I wasn't able to put on pants, let alone a belt one handed. So, I wore a dress. This strappy dress that needed a cardigan. So, I made one from a t-shirt. I love, love this lace. I've just been waiting for a reason to use it.

I really liked the combo.

So easy and it took literally 10 minutes. Even one handed!

Thanks to my baby sister for taking these pictures!

Decorative Edging Part 3

2011-01-13T07:48:00.000-06:00

I added this pretty edging to the collar and pockets of this shirt.

It has a rockabilly feel to it.

I'll pair it with a white shirt next time.

Decorative Edging Part 2

2011-01-11T07:59:00.000-06:00

This tiny edging is so difficult to work with. But, I did it.

I especially love the bow.

Decorative Edging Part 1

2011-01-10T08:11:00.000-06:00

I've recently come into some really pretty decorative edgings.

I added these to a t-shirt.

You like my birthday party temporary tattoo??

Fuzz's Hat

2011-01-03T07:20:00.000-06:00

So, Miss's friend Fuzz was over the other day. Turns out, she reads my blog on a regular basis! :)

Hi Fuzz!!!

She asked me to make her a cupcake hat, and of course, I said yes!

Plus, it gave me the perfect excuse to try my hand at crocheting a cherry instead of using a pompom on top.

iPad Case

2010-12-31T06:29:00.000-06:00

Little Miss's friend Skyler got an iPad for Christmas. We're giving her this case for her January birthday.

See my chalk marks through her name?? I wrote it before learning she is left-handed.

Recognize the inside fabric?? My mother in law sent me a bold of this stuff, so we'll all be seeing a lot of it.

Got the tutorial at Made by Heidi.

DS Case

2010-12-30T06:56:00.002-06:00

We've been really lucky to be around people who are generous. Generous with their time, their love, and their material possessions. This year for Christmas, Little Miss' friend Fuzz got a DSiXL. So she gave Miss her old DS.

Very generous.

So, when Miss asked me to make cases for each device, I said, "Of course!!"

Here's the case for the DS:

The original tutorial found at Mad Quilter doesn't add the strap. That was something extra Miss asked for. I just added them to the back when I attached the flap.

For the DSiXL, I just added 1" to both the length and width of the pieces of fabric I cut.

I didn't bother taking photos of the DSiXL case because I made them to match. So, just imaging the photos above 1' wider and taller.

Button Earrings

2010-12-28T06:40:00.000-06:00

I think these are so pretty.

All I did was snip off the back loop. Then, I used Household Goop to glue earring posts to the back.

Love

Nana's Playhouse

2010-12-27T05:52:00.000-06:00

I've been wanting to show you this for months now, but couldn't get it up until the big day she could see it.

So, here it is!!

I took from many different places. The entire idea came to me when I saw homemade by jill's.

I even ~~stole~~ ~~took~~ designed an entire side after Jill's.

Errr... this is it:

Haha!! Maybe I did steal it! But, it really is cute, isn't it? How could I resist?

I made the apples removable.

Nana thinks they're delicious.

I ~~stole took~~ designed after a couple of other places, too.

This window on the front is from Jill's blog again. Except she gave her flowers stems, and I just used silk ones.

The mailbox idea came from Imaginative Play Toys. I love all the ideas over there. You should check them out.

The girls like the mail.

Chocolate shirts and all!!

I did actually design one side all by myself.

Basket and bugs!!!

Ewwwww, bugs!!!!

Now for the inside.

This idea is from this and that. She lined the entire inside and had four walls with stuff on them on the inside. I'm not that cool. I only did one side.

The big difference is that I used flannel and not felt for the walls. Everything else, from the mantle, to the tree, to the bugs was all scraps I had.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Our Christmas

2010-12-26T07:50:00.003-06:00

Embellishing My Knits

2010-12-24T06:06:00.001-06:00

Kathleen at Grosgrain is doing an Embellish Your Knits month.

And, I'm a little behind, but I LOVED Day 8.

Here's my version:

I love this sweater! I was so proud when I was finished. I put it on and beamed at my husband, ready for praise.

His face slid into a smile and he asked me...

...wait for it...

"What are you, Mrs. Clause?"

Well, Mrs. Clause-ish or not, he's going to be seen in public with me wearing this thing.

In fact, I'm wearing it to Christmas Eve dinner tonight!

So there.

Running Around Skirt

2010-12-23T06:04:00.000-06:00

I love it because it looks super cute with tennis shoes.

I can chase after my children in it.

I made it up as I went along with the amount of material I had on hand. So, I didn't do a full tutorial. But, I did draw something up. Be sure to cut on the bias so there is some stretch to it, or just add a zipper if that's your cuppa.

Just click on the picture below to see it bigger.

Happy sewing!!

WWW: My Crochet Version

2010-12-22T06:43:00.001-06:00

My friend Rachel is double talented - at least according to me. She knits and crochets. Now, I've heard you can usually either do one or the other, but more and more often I meet people who do both. Rachel is one of those people.

So, one Wednesday at Chess Club, her daughter (who is the same age as Nana) was wearing a Two Summer Sundress that she knitted. (Rachel knitted, not her daughter)

I don't knit.

I crochet.

So, I had a challenge on my hands.

That afternoon, I came up with this:

I used an old sheet for the bottom because, well, it was already hemmed.

(front)

(back)

Nana was super awesome letting me measure her and move balls of yarn and hooks around her and under her arms, and then taking it all off. Over and over again.

Yesterday, she wore it to Homeschool Soccer. I had to bribe her with chocolate chip banana bread to get her to let me take pictures of her.

The shirt under the dress is simply because it's December and this is a summer dress. But, this picture was taken at 8:30am and it wasn't even slightly cold.

Bagels

2010-12-21T07:11:00.000-06:00

I recently tried my hand at making homemade bagels.

This recipe is by far the best of the three I tried. So much so that I won't even tell you what the other two recipes were because it just isn't worth it.

These are delicious. As good (dare I say better?) than any bagel I ate from Noah's in San Francisco, or Einstein's here in Austin (both of which are owned by the same parent company).

I asked my husband who grew up in San Francisco eating Noah's bagels and he said he'd stay home to eat my bagels. So as far he goes, it's a draw.

Not bad!

My favorite bagel has always been garlic. But, poppy seed and sesame seed are fun, too!

Artisan Bread

2010-12-19T19:55:00.000-06:00

My friend Anna brought me this book last week:

I need to buy her another one. Because

1. I will be using this book for the rest of my bread baking life. And

2. I already got it dirty.

The book works around making a wet bread dough (enough to make about four loaves) and storing it in the refrigerator. So, when you want to make bread, you pretty much just grab a hunk of the dough and bake it.

There is no kneading involved.

Nope. None.

I've made a couple of rustic free form loaves from the basic recipe.

Then today, I made this:

Oh. My. Goodness.

This is definitely a dessert worth eating your veggies for.

For dinner tonight, I made a challah braid:

Miss, Buster, Nana and I ate hunks of this bread with a sharp cheddar and apple slices. Taters waited for Daddy to make Matzoh Ball Soup.

I've made a flour mixture for years that consists of rye, whole wheat, unbleached AP, oat, and soy or spelt when I feel like it. I use it cup for cup to replace plain AP and never have had any problems (but I have become accustomed to slightly denser baked goods). Now, because of this mixture, the challah was not as light as traditional challah. It was light, though - much lighter than I expected.

It was delicious.

I can't wait to make more of the recipes!

I Love You, Too!

2010-12-17T07:35:00.000-06:00

This little pretty was found right outside my front door!

A Dickens Christmas in Lockhart

2010-12-16T08:05:00.000-06:00

We met my friend Megan and her children about 35 minutes Southeast of Austin in her town for their annual "A Dickens Christmas in Lockhart".

I'll preface this whole thing by telling you that there were plenty of people dressed in period costume. But, we didn't get one photo of them. Not one.

I forgot my camera so Megan was kind enough to let me take some pictures with hers. But, about an hour in, the battery died.

Such is life.

None of these photos are edited in any way which makes for some interesting candid shots.

This is Megan. Isn't she pretty??

These are her children with Santa. This guy was hilarious!!

The whole thing was done in the town square - which is actually in the shape of a square around the courthouse.

There were carriage rides that Taters announced were "boring" but the rest of us thought were fun.

We ate nachos.

And spilled nacho sauce all over ourselves.

We watched ice sculpture in progress.

And danced.

When Santa asked if we were telling the truth when we said we kept our toys picked up, we answered with, "I don't know what the truth is".

We told Santa he could NOT have one of our pig tails. And, when he asked what we DIDN'T want for Christmas we gave him a confused look. When he quantified his statement with, "Well, do you NOT want to eat dirty underwear for Christmas?" We answered with, "No, I do NOT want that for Christmas."

Or we simply chose not to talk to Santa. Because we're too cool for that.

We saw Nana as a spirit with big bright eyes...

So we changed the setting on the camera.

We also got caricatures done and face painting and played in bubble "snow" and ate funnel cake. It was so much fun!! Not so cold here in Central Texas, but that may be considered part of our charm. As I type this, on December 16, my now 10yo daughter is wearing a tank top. Yea, not so cold. :)

Chiara

2010-12-15T15:50:00.000-06:00

Nana has made a sweet new little friend. That's kinda tough since she's usually being swung from one older sibling event to another.

She's been invited to Chiara's 3rd birthday party this Sunday.

So, this is what I've made for her:

I love buttons!

But, my favorite is the fun fabric on the inside:

(remember the last post?)

I found the tutorial at The Long Thread.

Travel Bowl Cover

2010-12-14T19:34:00.000-06:00

Today we took cookies to Homeschool Soccer in celebration of Little Miss's birthday.

I couldn't find a container big enough to fit so many cookies until Buster pulled out a big bowl. So, I made this lovely to cover it from some fabric my mother in law gave me! Thanks, Anne!!

I found the tutorial here.

It took me about 15 min to make it! I can't wait to make more!!

Ashley and Thomas' Wedding

2010-12-13T15:23:00.000-06:00

Recently, I was asked to photograph a wedding based off of snapshots of my life that they saw. So, I did what any other amateur photographer would do in that situation: I stopped eating or sleeping, I called every professional photographer I know, and I scoured the internet for ideas.

All in all, I think it went well. I learned a lot. I mean a lot.

Here are a handful of photos I especially like.

The dress

The bride's ring and shoes (totally stole this idea from here)

Candid of the bride through a mirror

Bride putting earring on

This is one of my favorites. Especially because the cake topper is out of focus. It's sneaky!

Exchange of rings

Three seconds before this picture, she tried to put the ring on his right hand.

I love back shots

Who knows what the Toyota jump is??

I've heard that they're happy with the photos. Check out my Flickr photostream to see a few more.

Happy December everyone!!

Watcha Wearing Wednesday - Chess Club

2010-12-08T08:28:00.000-06:00

Today is our Chess Club's Winter Holiday party.

Lately, I've been wearing jeans and a t-shirt. But, tomorrow is laundry day so I have no jeans. Here's what I look like today:

From the top:

Cardigan - made from a thrifted sweater. I cut up the front, folded doilies along the cut edges, crocheted a loop, and added a toggle to close.

Tank Top - Old Navy

Skirt - made by me; a shorter version of this skirt.

Leggings - Old Navy

Boots - Frye

Now, I'm off to make something sweet and desert-y for the party.

I should have breakfast, no? I still need to put on make-up. Awww... forget it! No make-up for me today. December is full of NUTS, and I'm thinking I'm one of them!!

Compassion

2010-12-03T08:03:00.000-06:00

I am my toughest critic.

If I make a mistake, I brood on it for days. I have great anxiety over it.

Most nights I go to bed and count all of the things I did wrong as a parent, wife, sister, daughter, friend.

I've talked to other mothers who say they do the same thing.

I do all of this, and yet I remind my children constantly that "accidents happen", that "everyone makes mistakes" and that our quality as human beings isn't lowered because of them.

We are good people.

During a time when I was being especially hard on myself, I came across a passage in the book Buddhism for Mothers by Sarah Napthali. If you have the book, the specific sentence is in chapter 3 Finding Calm on page 43 at the top.

"... compassion for myself and my own difficulties and failings is the first step to living a compassionate life."

I believe that December, especially, is the month we forget to have compassion for ourselves. I hope you remember have compassion with yourself this month, and next year, and well into your future. So, I give you today's Friday Love.

Christmas Countdown and Blogger Issues...

2010-12-02T09:39:00.000-06:00

I've been trying to comment on my previous post, but Blogger is being fickle. I'm not computer savvy, so I don't know how to fix it. But, please know that I've tried responding three times. In general, if I'm not responding, it's because I can't - not because I choose not to. Sorry.

Alright, on to the chosen post for today. I made a Christmas count down calendar. It looks like this:

There are little sheets of paper in each pocket with something special to do on that day. Miss and I came up with the ideas one day when the other three were randomly sleeping at the same time.

It was weird.

That three of four children were sleeping at the same time.

Anyway, yesterday's card said to begin a puzzle.

We picked out a Christmas-y one. Our goal is to finish it by the end of Christmas day.

Today's card said to make peppermint hot chocolate.

So, we did.

The kids voted me the best hot chocolate maker ever.

They think I'm pretty awesome.

See??

Slightly Oversaturated

2010-11-30T06:51:00.000-06:00

I've discovered such a fun effect on my photographic journey.

Oversaturation.

I love it.

I love it so much that I have to be careful because not everyone appreciates it.

Art is so subjective.

But, isn't this fun?

Everything here is just slight. Slightly too much contrast; slightly oversaturated; slightly too much noise in the background; slightly unnatural.

It's almost as if I didn't see this bird of paradise as a whole until I did this to it.

I think it's lovely.

Welding Cap Issues

2010-11-16T08:27:00.000-06:00

My husband has transferred departments within his company and will now be working in the Container Shop as a jack-of-all-trades. In this case, "trades" includes welding.

So, my loving husband comes to me and says, "I need you to make me a welding cap".

Now, my vision of a welding cap is a Darth Vader mask. Turns out, (and I was laughed at by a friend of mine who's father is a welder) a welding HOOD is what I was thinking of. Okay, so a welding hood is basically a really strong piece of plastic with a length of elastic attached to it so it fits nice and snugly around the head.

Hmmmmmmm....

A welding CAP is what I was asked to make. A welding cap is like a floppy baseball cap worn backwards to protect the head and neck from sparks and other flying hot pieces.

So, my sweet husband brings me an ill-fitting cap that he'd like for me to make a pattern from and create a welding cap that fits him perfectly. I look at this ill-fitting cap and can't see what is so ill-fitting about it. He says to me, "See?? I can stick my finger under the side". And he sticks his finger under the side. "And, look - I don't like this," and he pulls at the top of the cap to prove to me that the cap is too deep. However, he wants it to cover his ears like a beanie.

I think he has a lot of faith in me.

Oh, and he's never asked me to make him anything before.

So, I begin my welding cap adventure. I look them up. I check out material. I eyeball it.

My husband, the very specific, math-oriented mechanic cocks his head to the side and squints his eyes in my general direction.

And I create a hat exactly the same size and depth as the "ill-fitting" one.

One down.

The next one is so tight, it fits our 4yo son. The one after that is HUGE.

I try using measurements, and tweaking other hat patterns.

About ten welding caps through, I decide to remeasure his head. I don't know why this time I thought the measurements would work. I was just determined.

FIVE welding caps later, I've finished one. I say to him that this cap must fit perfectly the first time. I know by the look on my husband's face that I am a wild woman. I might as well have leaves and twigs in my hair. This is how much I've lost my mind with this project.

I tell him, "You can never dry this cap in the dryer."

"Okay, " he says.

I place my hand over his. "No, really. Repeat after me: This cap is NEVER to be put in the dryer."

"This cap is NEVER to be put in the dryer."

He puts it on.

He sticks a finger in the side. I pull the top to see that it's too deep.

"It's okay, we'll put it in the dryer," he says.

Americana and Using Picnik

2010-11-09T11:49:00.000-06:00

I took this photo on 4th of July in a rural area outside of Austin.

The sun was setting. I thought the image was beautiful.

I used my basic Canon Rebel XS and the 18-55 lens that came with it.

Now, recently, I've discovered Picnik. And, having 20 min to play around on the computer before the children came down for breakfast, I thought I'd work on the above photo.

Here is my original edit:

I cropped it and played with the saturation and temperature.

Here's the next one:

Here, I worked off the previous edit and fiddled with the exposure and contrast.

This next one is my favorite:

I went back and reworked all that I did above making sure to warm the entire photo a bit.

Thinking that it might need a little more contrast, I did this:

There is a 3degree difference in contrast here than in the photo just above this one. I wanted the trailer to the right of the frame to have it's own color and not bleed into the rest of the picture like I thought happened in above. However, I did not like the effect it had on the grass.

So, this is my thought process and my first play at using Picnik. It's really fun. I hope I have more time tomorrow morning!

A Little Late With the Halloween Photos..

2010-11-04T13:24:00.000-05:00

...but here we go!

Our scary vampire pumpkin. Buster's idea. We got the idea from here.

My puking pumpkin. My friend Jenny had them at a Halloween party she threw for our kids eons ago. I've been wanting to do it ever since!

Now, for the costumes!!

She designed the costume and pieced it together herself. She is a Dark Fairy.

Buster has been some variation of Skullzor for the last 4 years. This year he outgrew the last tunic and asked me to get him a new one. WalMart still sells it. Go figure.

Taters is Darth Vader. Or as I like to call him Darth Taters. I kept trying to get him to say "Luke, I am your father," to the dads passing out candy, but he had none of it.

I'd say we raided the dress up box for this outfit. Except that there is no box. The dress up clothes are strewn all over the floor. So, we raided that. And this is what Nana is. I think it's a fairy of some sort.

I dressed up, too. I'll add the poodle next year. And maybe a letter to the sweater.

I don't have anything crafty to share...

2010-11-03T06:20:00.000-05:00

...but, I have a lot of photos!

Here are some pictures of our trip to the National Seashore for our Geography Co-op. The topic in October was Protected Environments.

I must say, growing up in Corpus Christi and going to the beach is a WHOLE LOT different than the state park beach.

For one, you can't drive on the National Seashore.

Adios!!

Pink Sock Monkey!!

2010-09-20T05:24:00.000-05:00

I had so much fun making this sock monkey hat for my friend Carly's daughter!! How much fun is pink!!!

I usually try to make things as gender neutral as possible so my boys don't feel left out. But, seriously - this was wonderful!!

Get my pattern here!!

Breast Cancer Awareness Beanie

2010-09-17T08:14:00.001-05:00

My girlfriend, Kim, does the 3-Day For The Cure walk in Dallas every year in remembrance of her mother-in-law Sandy Hatcher. She's trying to raise $2,400 by October 31. She's not close despite her mad baking skills.

To help her out, I've put these Breast Cancer Awareness Beanies in my shop! Please go check them out! 75% of the payment goes directly to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The other 25% goes toward shipping and supplies.

I love the crocheted ribbon!

Let's find a cure!!!

My Husband, The Jokester

2010-09-17T05:16:00.000-05:00

This is my husband, Kyle. He's kinda hunky, I think. I've known him since I was 12yo.

Here we are at the Santa Cruz boardwalk when I was 15yo and he was 16yo.

Here we are on our wedding day.

My friend Jenny was our photographer.

We're so in love.

Kyle doesn't wear a wedding ring because he's a mechanic and jewelry sends fear through his heart.

I don't show you all these pictures for nothing. I'm trying to give you a little background information on my marriage. We're in love. We have fun. He's romantic.

I love all things Kyle.

Even when, in the morning, I'm just sitting down to drink my coffee and Buster walks up to me and says, "Hey, I like the sign in the bathroom."

To which, I attempt to focus my half open eyes on the boy and mumble, "Hmmmm?"

Buster looks at me as if it is a constant struggle to stay patient with me, "The sign, Mommy. The one in the bathroom."

So, I got up. And went into the downstairs bathroom.

And saw this:

Right above the toilet.

New in the Shop - Cupcake Beanies!!!!

2010-09-16T17:14:00.000-05:00

Seriously, how cute is this??

I've got a few in the shop.

You should check them out.

WWW: Another Easy Skirt

2010-09-15T05:20:00.000-05:00

What's with the whole broken doll pose I keep doing??

Tank top is from Old Navy.

Under tank top is Mossimo and from Target.

Shoes are Mossimo and from Target.

Here is another version of this skirt.

Just so cute! I love the skirt!!

Reversible Scrap Scarf

2010-09-14T06:26:00.000-05:00

It's so soft. And cuddly. And lovely.

I made it from scraps I've been waiting to use. The grey jersey is from a dress that turned into a disaster. The block print is from my museum dress. The Missoni print is extra from my bedroom curtains (which are sheer and not at all curtain-y :).

Here's what I did:

I cut equal ammounts of the block and Missoni prints to put on the ends of the scarf. Then I layed it out the way I would sew it together.

Once I sewed the prints to the ends of the long jersey strips, I layed one on top of the other (right sides facing) and pinned all the way around.

Mark clearly where the opening will be to flip. I did it with leaf pins.

Sew all the way around and flip out.

I topstitched along the short ends and closed the opening. I really like it.

DISCLAIMER!!!

Now the bad pictures come. I tried working with the white balance and changing the ISO speed. Nothing worked. So, please just take them as they come!

Worn as a cowl/shawl.

Worn as a scarf.

Nesting Glasses

2010-09-13T06:58:00.000-05:00

My friend, Susan knows I love matryoshka dolls.

So for my birthday she got me these glasses.

She brought them to Science Co-op on Friday. It was the sweetest surprise!

I'm struck at her thoughtfulness. I hope I can be like her when I grow up! :)

Come See My Shop!!

2010-09-12T18:31:00.000-05:00

I've got some of my cloth softie books up in my Etsy Shop!! The best part is that they are completely customizable! You tell me if you'd like family members, or a nursery rhyme and I'll do it for you! So much fun!

I've also got crocheted sock monkey beanies in different colors and sizes. If there's a specific color you'd like, just let me know!

And then, there are the headbands!

And the earrings!!

Check it out, yo!!

Hahaha!!

Love

2010-09-10T08:22:00.000-05:00

"When the power of LOVE overcomes the love of power, the world will know PEACE"

~Jimi Hendrix

Muff Tank

2010-09-09T06:43:00.000-05:00

Have you seen these tank tops?

They're like a tee shirt with a muff built in...

...except it gathers at the neckline and not all at the bottom of the shirt.

I've seen them everywhere, but when I did a search online nothing came up. SO, I'm going to have to trust that I'm not crazy and that you know what I'm talking about.

I used a regular tank...

...and this one from Forever 21...

...which has started coming apart despite my laundry hanging!!!

But, I digress.

I cut the largest square I could from the front and back of the tank.

Cut the back panel into three strips.

Sewed the panels along the sides and top.

Then, I folded it in half...

...and cut to make the side strips triangles.

Here's what the muff looks like opened up.

Now the next step is completely made up of personal preference. Usually, the gather at the top is pretty narrow. But, I am of the larger bust variety and a narrow gather at top would NOT be flattering. So, what I did was measure 5" down on either side (to make the gather wider) and marked.

Now pin, pin, pin the top of the muff across the tank top on the inside of the shirt. Apparently I like to do things the hard way. I left the shirt right side out and pinned on the inside, and didn't use a gathering stitch on the muff. By all means, use a gathering stitch on the muff and turn the tank inside out when pinning!

Sew across.

Now, with the tank right side out, put the bottom of the muff down and fold under the bottom of the tank. Find the side seams and meet the edge of the muff there.

Pin across the bottom. Again, use a gathering stitch if you'd like. This time, I kept the tank right side out and flipped the bottom of the tank up to pin. Now sew across the bottom. This is tricky. When you set the fabric on your machine, the muff should be on top and the tank will slide under the machine (except where the tank and muff overlap and will be sewn together).

Once I tried it on, the top kept trying to flip out, so I top stiched along the neckline.

Mighty groovy!!

The Beauty of Triominoes

2010-09-08T06:18:00.000-05:00

Buster, Lil Miss, and I had a Triominoes tournament last weekend.

Here's how it went:

What games do you and your kids like to play?

Sleep Mask

2010-09-07T06:55:00.001-05:00

I went a little nuts.

These are so quick to whip up but keep your hands busy when you just need to do something.

On the fold of your fabric, cut a shape like this. Or trace around a pair of sunglasses. I'm not computer savvy, so I don't know how to get this shape to you. Just make sure it covers your eyes well.

Do the same thing for another piece of fabric. You can do a contrasting fabric and make the mask reversible, or you can do a soft fleece like I did above- comfy!

Next, cut 1/4" elastic about 13" long. I have a medium head so this worked for me. You may need to make your elastic longer or shorter depending on your head size.

Now, lay your fabric right sides together and fit your elastic on either side. Pin the elastic in place. Make sure it isn't twisted.

Now, pin all the way around. Make sure your elastic is cozy on the inside.

Sew all the way around leaving a small opening either above or below the elastic.

Now, this is optional, but makes the seam nicer after you turn it. Use your pinking shears, and trim all the way around.

Flip right side out.

Embroider a blanked stitch all the way around making sure to close your gap neatly.

Make a million more!

Pancakes

2010-09-06T06:24:00.000-05:00

We made pancakes for dinner.

Shhhhhh... don't tell my friend Anna, but I never measure my ingredients. I eyeball all the time!! Don't measure baking soda, flour, sugar, salt. Nothing. I told her once that I don't measure baking soda. Her husband's eyes became as big as dinner plates and she had to hold on to the wall to steady herself. We don't talk about it. She's ashamed of me, but still likes me, luckily. I say luckily because she still sends me delicious treats that make my belly happy. AND, she gives me recipes whenever I want. I can never give a recipe because how do you write "about this much" on a recipe card??

Buster and Taters took turns pouring the batter.

Little Miss used the "flick" method.

I got a little arrogant after that. Buster has been asking for shaped pancakes. So, of course Grandma buys pancake shapes every chance she gets. He's lucky she loves him. :)

I started with a heart.

It didn't work. (however the child who ate it didn't complain!)

Next was a butterfly.

Not so much. (but Taters told me he loved his butterfly)

I finally figured out the perfect consistency and amount of batter with the duck!!!

After all that hard work, I decided I'd make the rest of the pancakes the same shape.

Round. ish.

The Free Thinker

2010-09-03T05:01:00.000-05:00

Taters did this workbook page one day this week. Do you see what I see??

The fox does not belong because the dog and mouse live together and use the fan to cool off.

I'm a proud mama!!

About the mouse's face - he tried to color the whole thing black, but quickly realized it wouldn't work.

My Sad, Sad, Little Garden

2010-09-02T06:23:00.000-05:00

A few years back I began my garden not on a whim, but after careful thought and consideration. I planned out my garden taking into account my backyard and how my children and dog use it as well as when and where the sun hits. I spent hours plotting the garden space, making rows of this veggie and that fruit; which grew well in pots and which needed the raised bed. I dug up unused bricks from my yard, bought concrete and built my garden by hand. My husband brought me a lovely truck bed full of organic soil and compost. With his help, I filled my vegetable garden bed.

I bought these two books from Half Priced Books:

They're dirty from the garden.

And well marked.

My best friend, Lily told me that I deserved a real book. Not an outdated book from a thrift store. I admitted that I was interested in Square Foot Gardening. The next day, she left me this on my doorstep...

...with this dedication:

Told you she's my best friend. :)

This was at the beginning of our economic decline. She joked that she might be begging for cucumbers in the future. (luckily, she never had to)

This book, too is well used.

And for a couple or a few years, I've had fun in my garden. It's beautiful, and delicious and has brought me more harmony than I ever thought it would.

But, did Lily ever think that however many years later, my garden would look like this???

It's a crime, I know!!!

I think that's some sort of pea on the wooden trellis. Don't know for sure, it never produced anything but entanglement. And that flat, dry, chaos?? A variety of summer squashes, cucumber, and melon. I think I've got 2 or 3 cucumbers all season and THAT'S IT!! And the green beans? 7 total. 7!! Then there's the sad, sad basil all the way to the right.

I love basil.

This is all I have going for me for the rest of the season.

This is the 3rd one. I keep picking them too early even though they're the right size (3"-4" in diameter). I'm just gonna let this one sit. And sit. And sit.

I'm just a little bitter. Like the other two melons I harvested early.

Let's continue.

Here is a depressed tomato plant.

Here's another depressed tomato plant. And a pepper plant that's produced NOTHING. And a depressed eggplant that's produced ONE eggplant.

And then there's my depressed tomato that fell into it's plant pot.

I never planned on feeding my family exclusively from our garden. But, come on!

I'm looking into the future, now. Looking at my fall garden plans. Maybe, I'll keep a diagram up by my fridge like Sadie (who I'm stalking).

Pulling the seeds out of the fridge!! Getting ready for fall!!

Oh, return to me harmony of my garden!!!

WWW: Chick Skirt

2010-09-01T06:07:00.001-05:00

The tank top and shoes are Mossimo and from Target. I'm pretty predictable. :)

I've been in a shorter skirt phase, haven't I?

I think this skirt is so cute.

I made it from a pair of capris using Thread Banger's tutorial.

Then, I embroidered this vintage pattern.

It's fun!

There's a Joke in My House...

2010-08-31T06:25:00.000-05:00

It goes like this:

"Hey, where's Lil' Miss?"

"Guess."

"At Fuzz's house."

"Right - O!!"

I've told Fuzz's parents that I should be paying them child support since Lil Miss spends half her time over there. They laugh. But, it's true.

Now, I know why. Anna serves them deliciousness. I thought just being her friend was reward since she sometimes sends that deliciousness home with Lil Miss.

This last playdate, they made this:

If only Anna would adopt me, my life would be complete!!

I. Love. Sugar.

Love.

Sugar.

And.

Chocolate.

She has a Toll House contest going on. You can enter it and see pictures of my goofy kid HERE!

Cloth Softie Book Tutorial

2010-08-30T06:53:00.001-05:00

I've been slowly working on this.

Remember this cloth softie doll?? Well, I made a tutorial. :)

This one is Rock A By Baby (but not on a tree top). It's from the book, The Real Mother Goose.

If you'd like to make one, you'd need gather your materials first.

Skin-colored fabric

Fabric scraps

embroidery thread/needle

transfer paper

applique paper

fiber fill

ink printer

basic sewing stuff

First thing, print this on your transfer paper and set aside:

Now, you'll need to create your pattern.

I took a regular sheet of paper and folded it in half. then drew a 2/3 circle on the fold. Cut it out and make it even. You don't need to ever unfold it. All your cutting will be on the fold or edge of the fabric. It's just to give you an idea of how big the doll will be when completed.

On the fold of your skin colored fabric, trace three patterns.

Open them up and stack the three on top of each other.

Then slice down the center. Discard only one piece. You'll have five left over for the five faces of your doll (sounds a bit Sybil, doesn't it? Sorry, I'm watching Bones as I type this tutorial up.)

Now, on the fold, cut 2 pattern pieces for the baby, one for Mother, and one for Betty. Then, on the edge of the fabric, cut one pattern piece for Father, and one for Johnny. The picture above is representative of what pieces you should have.

Now, cut ONE of the baby pieces one both Betty and Mother pieces in half.

Fold them in half as done above.

Cut a circle from the inside leaving at least 1" around the edge.

Here's what they'll look like.

Now, you'll begin your 5 faces. I set mine up like this. I gave each woman some lace under the patterned perimeter around the forehead, the baby a curl, the males some hair and Father a moustache. Pin and sew.

Now, embroider your faces on. Set the faces aside. Get your transfer paper.

First, iron the applique paper onto the back of some neutral material (it doesn't show well, but mine is a pale, pale green). Then, apply the transfer onto the front of the appliqued material. Make sure you leave the applique paper backing on the fabric.

Next, cut out your words. The title and first line are cut together, then each subsequent line alone.

I found it easiest to have everything in front of me so I didn't get confused. So, set out your baby in front of you like so.

Remove applique paper backing.

Cover with used transfer paper (make sure it's the transfer side and not the back of the paper. I did it wrong with one line and transferred the words back to the paper never to be removed again. Pain, pain, pain! Had to reprint the whole thing again! grrrrr!!) so as not to scorch the words and iron applique onto bottom half of baby.

Do each line for each person. You should know which line goes with which body by the first word. Mother with Mother bottom, Betty with Betty's bottom, etc.

Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of Mother. After ironing the appliqued fabric onto the bodies, do a quick zig zag stitch around the perimeter.

Alright, set Baby and Father next together (again, so we don't get confused).

Now, put Father's top above Baby's bottom.

Lay Father's head right sides facing with Baby's bottom. Sew around the curve. Leave the straight edge open.

Flip right side out. Place Baby's bottom under Baby's head.

Flip up and now you have Father's head.

Next, you do Mother's head with Father's bottom. Just follow the pictures:

Okay.

Now, take Betty's head with Mother's bottom.

Following?

Now, Johnny's head with Betty's bottom.

Still with me?

Put Johnny's bottom under his head.

Now flip it up. You have them all stacked. Put the straight edges together as neatly as you can.

Sew them all together along the straight edge.

It should look like the above photo now.

Now, take the complete back to the doll. It should be the Baby's material. Face it right sides together. Pin completely around the top of the doll with the pages down. Now, fold the pages in as well as you can (as in the above photo) and pin in 2/3 down on either side. Leave the opening at the bottom.

Sew around the edge. Be careful on the middle part (where the leaf pins are in the photograph). It's the most difficult part to sew.

Flip it right side out. Here's the front of the book.

Here's the last page of the book.

Stuff with fiber fill.

Pin, pin, pin, and close with a blind stitch (there are a lot of tutorials out there if you don't know how to do it).

And, TADA!!!

Rock a by baby, thy cradle is green.

Father's a nobleman.

Mother's a queen.

And Betty's a lady and wears a gold ring.

And Johnny's a drummer and drums for the king.

Now, this baby is perfect for kissing...

Or reading!

And, by the way, she takes it everywhere! Totally worth all the time!!

If you make one, please, please send me pictures!!

For the Homeschoolers

2010-08-27T06:53:00.000-05:00

With the calendar school year coming up, I thought this would be fun... for the homeschoolers. I feel weird about posting this because I, of course, don't want to offend anyone. I know not everyone has a school experience like this. It's just a comic.

But, it still makes me smile.

Enough with the qualifying and quantifying! Let's have it!

I took it from someone on Facebook. But in searching out Mr. Fish comics - I learned that they're usually pretty offensive. Well, there you have it, I guess. I mean no offense. Still funny to me, though!

Another Use For An Old Lace Tablecloth

2010-08-26T05:56:00.000-05:00

Add it to the neckline and cuffs of a t-shirt.

So pretty and feminine!

What This School Year Holds For Us

2010-08-25T07:10:00.002-05:00

I love this comic strip. How many of us feel like this?? I do. All. The. Time. I stole the comic from this blog. Sadie also writes Love To Learn Homeschool. Right up my alley! I'm officially going to stalk her now.

So, what are we doing this semester?

We actually have quite a bit going on.

On our own we'll be doing the basics:

Reading

Writing

Math

Art

Heifer's Read to Feed program

I'll be teaching a Sewing Class on Mondays

Then, there's a Math Group we may take part in (day,time, and place TBA)

Little Miss' American Girl Group (focuses on history, meets once a month)

Chess (mostly for Buster, Wednesdays)

Geography Co-op (meets twice a month on Thursdays)

Homeschool Soccer (Tuesdays and Thursdays, but we'll only go on those Thursdays Geo doesn't meet)

Science Co-op (Fridays)

Lego Club (non-competitive, every other Friday)

With that each child gets to choose one class to take that has nothing to do with anyone else in the family.

Little Miss chose gymnastics

Buster chose sculpting

Taters chose ballet

Let the adventure begin!!!

Alright homeschoolers, what are y'all doing this semester?

Thinking About The Coming Semester...

2010-08-24T07:02:00.000-05:00

Image found here

I often wonder where I fit in the homeschooling community. Nevermind that one of the many reasons we homeschool is so that we don't have to "fit" anywhere. But, we all want to be accepted.

I'm not a Christian so that leaves me out of a large portion of discussions (yes, even here in Austin). My children don't have any interest in Christianity, so I don't look into it, either. I do enjoy looking through the orgazionational tools found on many Christian School-At-Home blogs and sites (somehow, I don't find them on any secular sites). Found out I already use something called the "workbox" method when I found this link from The Home School Mom. It's good stuff.

Speaking of organizing, I'm interested in having a successful go at lapbooking. Like shirring, It's taking me a while to get the hang of. While they're more of a project and not an orgazionatal tool, I find I must be very organized to make them. We just end up throwing them away. We'll try again, soon. Hopefully :)

Back to methods - while I LOVED unschooling, I'm not completely an unschooler anymore. My older children LOVE doing schoolwork that I've planned out for them. My younger children LOVE being like my older children. And, while that part of it is child directed, after spending hours and hours planning out child specific curriculum for the semester, I must say that we are not unschoolers.

Having said that, I don't use any specific curriculum. We have workbooks and workbooks galore. Sometimes 2 or 3 per child per subject. Because what works for one doesn't work for another. And, because for one reason or another, one child may require supplementing in a certain area. My favorite workbooks are by Teacher Created Resources, Evan Moor, and The Critical Thinking Company

So, I'd say that we're relaxed. And we use a variety of materials. And, hey, I think that's what a lot of homeschoolers do. :) Maybe I do fit in after all!

Our Crazy Squirrel

2010-08-23T05:57:00.000-05:00

This rake's effect on the squirrel is akin to the way catnip effects cats.

He/she finally ran up a tree. But, we were all in hysterics watching this little one! Such a fun moment!

Some Perspective

2010-08-20T06:56:00.001-05:00

With the ISD school year coming up, I thought this would be fun.

Lace Applique

2010-08-17T06:24:00.001-05:00

Disney still has her her tutorials up. I like this one of her lace applique tank.

I made the striped tank with the hearts from a vintage round table cloth that had some holes in it.

The blue one is made with a vintage doily I got at a garage sale.

I love the way it's faded!

Another Dress

2010-08-16T09:17:00.001-05:00

I got the idea from Weekend Designer's Shirred Border Print Sundress. I happen to be at Hancock Fabric when they were having a big sale. I got this fabric for $2.00 a yard.

Not bad, huh?

It's perfect for the hottest of hot days!

A Little Positivity For My Birthday

2010-08-13T06:52:00.000-05:00