stuff to put stuff in and some more stuff

Ever since I saw the pleated beauty handbag from Bend the Rules Sewing, I knew I had to have one. And not ever being able to find anything in my droopy old purse I was too lazy to put interfacing in was starting to really get on my nerves. Enter linen and springy green Freshcut fabric from Creations:I love this bag. It's even roomy enough to put my groceries in if I'm just picking up a couple things. It has really stiff interfacing on the bottom so it stands up by itself.
So mom and I were out poking around in a thrift shop and I fell in love with this Singer Genie. I had just been oohing and ah-ing over the one in the Softies book and lo and behold, here it was. I swear I heard angels singing. But I was totally broke, so mom insisted on buying it for me. Which I promptly yelled at her for. I guess I felt guilty, like I was hinting around, but I honestly did not expect her to get it for me. Sometimes I am such an unpleasant person. But this blog is not the place to talk about my dark side, I will just say that I am crazy in love with Jeannie. She is the first sewing machine I've ever named.
Isn't she groovalicioius?The doll is a Christmas present from Val. She normally holds a little house pincushion in her hands. Of course I am jealous of her tights. And Val also made our smallish friend Marley a really stunning doll, posted about here.
My latest project has nothing to do with sewing. I found a curriculum for homeschooling preschoolers on the internet that I'm starting with Sophie next week. I've been using flashcards and books to introduce her to the alphabet and numbers, but I wanted to make it more fun and creative, and give her a little more structure. So my goal is to have "school" for half an hour a day, and I'm incorporating some of the Montessori methods into the curriculum. Today I made geometric insets.

Tracing the outline of the shapes with her finger is supposed to develop hand-eye coordination and prepare her hand for writing. The same principle applies to the sandpaper letters, which I plan on making also. Although I must admit I'm tempted to use something softer. Velour, maybe? Or the velveteen stuff that's on those fuzzy stickers? I'm open to suggestions about this, if anybody feels moved that way.
In other news (do I say "In other news" in every single post?Ido, don't I?), I want to sew. My head is spinning with all my big, big plans. I want to make a twirly skirt and a cute little smock for Sophie. And a skirt and an emmeline apron for me. Oh, and plant a wee garden somewhere in there.
All in good time, my pretties. All in good time.

baby love

What a beautiful weekend it's been. We had a baby shower for Michelle, and I got to hang out with my two best friends (kid-free), drink mimosas, and look at tiny sweet baby things. Here are the gifts I made: Crib quilt. The squares are all from my stash. That gave me the warm fuzzies.
Wee bunny. Love those Hillary Lang patterns. This one required much less swearing/hair pulling than did Olive. And Sophie loved helping stuff him. Her favorite part was saying, "and a other one..." every time I handed her a bit of stuffing.

I so badly wanted to post pics of my new super-groovy Singer Genie (thanks mom!) and of the too-cute-to-be-legal handmade stuff Val bestowed on us for Christmas, but the camera batteries died. So those will come later, but until then, here is what's on the net that's got me inspired right now:


Val's beautiful matryoshka

I'm fantasizing about making one of these for me and one for Schnickelfritz

Mom got me excited about penny rugs...until the other day, I had never heard of them. This one is adorable and I want one just like it.

I love the colors in this felted bead bracelet. I read about how you can do this with needle felting around styrofoam balls. Must try this.

Right now I'm working on the Pleated Beauty Handbag from the Bend-the-Rules Sewing book. I wish I had been as clever as this about it. I adore everything about this bag.



My crafting is going in so many different directions right now that it's hard to get anything finished. I should probably try to focus on just one or two projects at a time, but there are so many beautiful things out there and right now I want to make them ALL.

saturday happenings

Yesterday was one of those decieving days that looked warm and sunny when you peeked out the window but was actually cold and windy when you stepped outside. So we opted to stay in and be cozy. Mom and Gunny were coming over with lasagna, so we made some dinner rolls. Shaping the rolls
Brushing them with butter
After a delicious dinner(and banana pudding pie for dessert), Mom and I did some needle felting. Here she is teaching me the basics. I hope to make a bunny half as cute as hers.

What a lovely day, spent doing everyday things in the place I love, creating with the people I love.

good goods

Thought I'd post about a couple of handmade gifts I got for Christmas. My girl Michelle made me this winter scene fabric panel. Perfect for adorning a little side table. This was just a way to display it for a photo, but it made me realize a little curtain would be nice here on our music collection shelves. You know, to hide our shameful Soundgarten and Counting Crows collections. Mom made this apron. It has a potholder and towel loop in it. A TOWEL LOOP. Which may not sound like the greatest thing since french toast but it so IS. Sophie has a matching one. We just couldn't wrangle her long enough to pose with me. Check out the tulips in the background...my man loves me.
I also got the Everyday Food cookbook and this was the first recipe I made from it. I love this cookbook. When it comes to cookbooks, I relate to Alice: What's the use of a book without any pictures? Well, this book has a photo for every single recipe. And as usual with Martha, they are all exquisite. They even make iceberg with thousand island look good. Last night I made the baked shells with winter squash: Rosemary, acorn squash, bubbly Parmesan cheese, and tiny croutons on top. Yum. Can't wait to try more recipes from this baby.

cake, presents and a twirly dress

I wanted to post some pics, however late, of Sophie's birthday party. The cake was so much fun to decorate. I know the picture doesn't show it off that well, but it had lime green swags, little pink bows, and an orange and yellow ruffle border around the bottom. The shell border around the top is a bright teal. It is loosely based on the signature birthday cake from this book. The Italian merengue buttercream from here is the best I've ever tasted. Of course, the birthday bird was way too focused on her first ever taste of mickey d's soft serve and didn't even touch her cake. She managed to eat a whole candle before we caught on, though.
The birthday dress is a pattern I got from mom's stash. The lilac heather ross fabric is from reprodepot. It was supposed to be a complete surprise, but I wasn't clever enough with where I his the fabric, and she busted me. She came running up to me with it, crying, "clowns! clowns!" (they are actually matryoshkas, but whatever.) So thrilled by fabric and she's only two...she must be my girl.
I felt compelled yesterday to ramble on a while about the highlights of 2007 and what my dreams are for the coming year. But that post was doomed. I had some technical difficulties, got frustrated and deleted the whole thing. So rather than repeat myself, let me sum it up for you:
Happy New Year!