crafts from scraps continued.....

[and then some because we all know i can't stick to anyONEthing for very long]


Here we are getting ready for a week of patchwork...... WHAT? Yes. I know. It took me by surprise too. Not only did I start my very first [small] patchwork project and finish it, BUT I started another [smallish] patchwork project and finished that one too. Unfortunately, I think I am all patchworked out and there will be no quilts anytime soon. I imagine that will change when we get up to Washington and find that quilts are needed for more than just sitting on, you know, like to keep us warm.

Ok, on to the completed projects:

It started with a doll quilt. Then I realized my poor girl does not have a doll, just a [mama made] elephant. So we made a doll, and I say we because Bella was very very involved. She helped me pick out what her dress would look like and stopped to hug the doll a often as possible. She even took it to bed with her for nap before she had eyes, mouth and hair. Talk about time well spent! She also loves to go around and tell people "mama made it". Precious.

Dolly also joins us at the table now for at least one meal a day.


Patchwork recovery day - another lunch sack. I LOVE this pattern. I added a little depth to the lunch sack because the original isn't quite big enough to accommodate a pregnant mama's lunch needs. The original pattern is from Linen, Wool, Cotton: 25 Simple Projects to Sew with Natural Fabrics (Make Good: Crafts + Life) by Akiko Mano. I do not own the book, but found a free tutorial from it online months ago. [I can't find the link anymore but do still have the pdf is anyone is interested]. The book looks awesome I've been through it in the book store more times than I care to admit. It really is next on my list. Really.



This bag took me a couple of days. And honestly, I am not in love with the end result. It was really good at getting rid of a bunch of little scraps of fabric in colors I wouldn't normally use. On a more positive note I think the detail in this bag looks really good. I feel like I might be stepping up from beginner seamstress to intermediate. Maybe.

For friends:
I've made over 30 sandwich bags and snack bags in the last few days.


What I've realized: making things in large batches is not fun! It is fun using different fabrics I wouldn't pick out for myself like glittery white spider webs with creepy black spiders. [I can't wait to be a mama of a little boy] I also like helping people get rid of the plastics in their everyday life. Was it worth it? YES! I will make some for you too if you give up plastic bags! I won't go into global warming here even though it is nice and fresh in my mind after watching The Inconvenient Truth.

I'll leave you with this: Best Friends.



p.s. It looks like sewmamasew.com/blog2 might have a month of scrap busters in October. woooohoooo!
p.s.s. Dolly and patchwork bag were made from patterns from this magazine. Projects from handmade home are already in progress. Stay Tuned.

crafts from scraps challange - week one

Expecting a baby + one stay at home parent + one student parent = tight budget.
(a math problem in MY blog? my sister would be so proud)

After unpacking close to 10 boxes of craft supplies, I decided maybe I should hold true to my no more fabric/craft supply purchasing rule. I've decided to challenge myself with a crafts from scraps project. Everyday I will try to spit something out using only the materials I already have. Now this might sound restricting to most people but I've always worked best under tight restraint. Ohhh art school, how I miss you so. This week I've had a really good time trying to find small projects to fit the fabric scraps I have. I enjoy the odd even-for-me combination of prints and patterns too. Here's a couple shots of what was happening in my new sewing studio.
















a&b. birthday gift for 4yo friend, look familiar? - left over fabric from previous adult sized apron gift
c. simplest skirt for Bella - fabric given to me by my grandma for Bella
d. marker pouch to go with crayon pouch - left overs from fabric purchased for Elliott booties. zipper salvaged from old skirt.
e. embroidery - fabric left over from fabric produce bags - embroidery thread left over from multiple softie projects
f. more Elliott booties - denim from papa's old jeans. fabric left over from little boy aprons
g. lunch bag - fabric purchased YEARS ago from Ikea as-is section. it has been used for many many things.
h. travel silverware pocket - fabric left over from fabric napkins made last spring

Pros and Cons of Country living

Pros:

not a lot to do = house very very clean
people are very friendly, even people stuck behind service counters
no traffic
very quiet
a lot less honking (compared to Houston)
takes less time to get everywhere even though its three times as far
lots of trees
usually 5+ degrees cooler thanks to all those trees
one vegetarian friendly restaurant (chain) in next town over
csa's actually deliver out here!
fruit stands everywhere


Cons:

not a lot to do indoors, way too hot and humid outdoors
friends are all in Houston
speed limits are soooooooo high
vegetarian restaurants do not exist here
no good organic produce, have to drive to Houston for it
have to drive even farther to drop off recycling


Wow, who would have thought my pros would out way my cons? I am SO good at being positive.

[I have a feeling the cons may grow a little after I've been here awhile. We'll see.]

Ohhhhh Bella

Craft Therapy

We have a very busy try. to. keep. it. simple. four months ahead of us. We have relocated. Once again. This time, north of Houston, to a small town called Montgomery. David plans to commute to Houston everyday via bus to finish this last semester of [6] classes! I promised to keep most complaining to myself in honor[?] of his taking so many classes to finish early and start his new job. I am so proud of him getting .two. job offers in the worst recession since the great depression. So I think I owe it to my family to be positive. All MOST of the time! Even if that means I have to drive to Houston 3 times a week to keep my sanity. I promise to enjoy the openish countryish roads that I will not see when we move back to Bellevue. [Because we will be living in the city and not doing much driving. yey.] And most important, I am making myself promise to be positive no matter how the delivery of this baby turns out. Speaking of baby, my sweet baby boy, whom I already love too much from the inside, he has been the inspiration of most craftiness.


This one is for Bella. A sweet little pouch to hold all her crayons in because we seem to obtain a few more everyday. How does that happen?
tutorial found here


Papa wore through .another. pair of jeans! I think I had these cut up only minutes after I saw the hole. I may have a problem.


tutorial found here


I have no idea if these will work. I have a feeling they will fall into the my baby kicks these off way to easy category and end up never being used but they are soo easy to make and sooo cute I've made like 6 pairs. Friends with babies beware: I am looking for baby feet to try these on.


Presents for friends with baby boys. Have I mentioned everyone I know is having a boy this year?

My little helper:

bluging belly, crafts, and chef Bella

Here is a picture update on the pregnancy. 20 weeks. half way. already. my how time flies.

[please excuse the face. i have a horrible habit of making a goofy face when i .know. someone is about to take my pictures. why?]

I'm getting ready to transfer prenatal care back to my obgyn in Houston net week and can't help but announce how EXCITED I am. weird? possibly. I did a lot more research choosing a doctor up here in Tacoma thinking I might one day come back to him when we move back in Jan and have more babies. He 100% supports vbacs and is known in the area for his success rate but I must say.... bedside manor is seriously lacking. My Houston obgyn who was the first I found .online. because I had no idea how you would go about finding a .good. obgyn just happened to be exactly what I wanted. Lets hope when I show up 22 weeks pregnant she is still as ready to try a vbac as she was when I came in with my lists of what if's 6 months ago.

So about two weeks ago I got he crafting itch. [think it might have something to do with being pregnant? this happened whenI was pregnant with Bella too] Since then I have been baby crafting.... booties, blankets, bibs, I even bought some away from home knitting needles and started a hat for my sweet-to-be-baby-boy. Friends and family crafting lavender sachets, aprons, purses, wallets, kosher silverware travel kits [more on this later]


[thank you lovely model, Bailey C.Lemons]

One last snap shot: Bella in her natural habitat.

[I can't make a cup of tea without my big helper]

Our three part free holiday

So David and I decided early on, the 4th of July was really cool but not worth the hassle and crowds, (neither of us do crowds well) until Isabella is a little older and can really appreciate the fireworks. I am thinking, this will be next year. yikes! Instead of gathering at a not so vegetarian friendly bbq or whatever people do for the 4th of July we decided to get out and visit some of my personal favorite things to do in the Puget Sound. I gave us a budget of gas money only so we packed up our lunches and headed out.

Friday: Point Defiance park and rose garden.




Saturday: Snoqualmie Falls + short hike.


you might be thinking "how did they get up there"?


Sunday: Pike Place Market + Visit with sister in University District







This weekend we are going over to the Olympic peninsula, a first for David. I'll post more about it when we return.

Oh, and p.s. we're having a boy!!