Halloween 2011

I was really excited about trick or treating this year. As in, I started making costumes a full two weeks in advance. The day of, all I had left to do was make Ginny's treat bag. Not bad.

I was so ahead of time that Ginny's costume was done in time for Aunt Tasha (a much better photographer than me) to do a photoshoot. That means I didn't take a single picture of the girl on the 31st. And I do not feel guilty!

Here the little lady is...

 I used THIS tutorial by Prudent Baby. If I had had red fabric, she would have been red... but since I already had yards of this pink, well, she was a pretty little pink bird. I loved it.

Raymond's was a bit more work. About two weeks before the big day I sat down at the computer with Raymond at my lap. We googled images of "toddler costumes" and looked and looked and looked. What he really (insistently) wanted to be was a skeleton. Really. He's two. There was no way I was going to go with that. Not while I can convince him otherwise. I talked him into a cowboy.

I made the vest, chaps, and horse. Poor Max (the horse) didn't make it to trick or treating because he was so heavy. Next time I would make a sock horse instead of using this tutorial.

And since I'm lame, I only got two phone pictures. Alright, I do feel a little guilty about that. Sorry.

Earlier in the day I cooked (!!) a pumpkin and I made pumpkin soup (only Ginny would eat it... it was a total let down) and roasted seeds. I love me some pumpkin seeds. Trick or treating was interesting since there are only a handful of kids in our neighborhood. I think we made people's night by knocking on their doors. We saw only two other trick or treaters the whole night. Seriously. (And didn't get any ourselves. Boo.)

Raymond was pretty cute about it though. He wouldn't quite say "trick or treat" but when we got to a door would just start yelling instead of knocking. It was hilarious. He was pretty cute. All in all, it was a great Halloween!

And so

life goes on and on.

But it sure is happier when wearing a baby muumuu. Here is my latest Ginny creation. I cut down Lier's Raglan dress pattern and added the ruffle. I adore it.

So far I've made two. Only twenty more to go. Because who wants to wear anything but a muumuu in the summertime?

To Do List:

• Make at least two more muumuus for Ginny Bug
• Make more red, white, and blue crape paper garlands.
• Make another skirt for me. Because I like wearing skirts. (So far I've made this skirt twice and every time I wear one I think: why don't I have twenty of these? The last one I made matches Ginny's dress above).
• Make a market skirt for my niece Bentley (her mom is taking our family pictures as a trade. I would do anything for someone else to take pictures instead of me. And since I've been wanting to make this little skirt for awhile now, this is a win win for me!)
• Make Raymond a 4th of July tie.
• Find housing in Salt Lake. 
• Kiss baby cheeks.

All in all, I think I can handle it.

Because I can do hard things

So yesterday, after writing that post about my total lack of picture-taking skills, I forced myself to take pictures. Because  weaknesses can become strengths, right? Or at least I can swallow my pride and frustration with the whole thing and do it anyway.

And because this was too wonderful not to document.

So I believe I've mentioned before that my mother is a seamstress. She really and truly is phenomenal. Her sewing skills are not only vast, they are deep. She does many things. And she does them all well.

One of my favorite types of things she sews is heirloom children's clothing. Hand smocking. Piping. Lace. Pleats.So so darling. My childhood was littered with dresses sewn by my mother. To my fifth birthday party I wore a yellow smocked dress... with lace on the edge of the puff sleeves. I thought that lace was so elegant and pretty (even as a five year old). I vividly remember the year we all wore various styles of pale green dresses for Easter (and took pictures in Grandma and Grandpa Snowball's backyard). My first-day-of-school dress in first grade was a purple dress with a smocked pinafore. My favorite doll (also made my mom) had a matching dress (she still wears it). Second grade was a blue dress with a big red apple appliqued on the collar.

My memories of these and other dresses are so tender to me. They are associated with love and the devotion of my mother. I would give anything to have one or two of them back in my possession (anyone know what happened to them all? Mom? Are they in a box somewhere??).

So you can imagine how thrilled I was when my mom called to tell me she had just bought material to make Miss Virginia an Easter dress. Delighted. I held my breath in anticipation.

And oh. my. She did not disappoint. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present (despite my poor photography skills) Ginny's Easter Dress.

(I love it so much I wanted to cry every time I looked at it on Ginny on Sunday. It is beautiful.)

 (Can you tell she's been crying? I was frantic to get the pictures taken before Raymond woke up from his nap, however. I'm just grateful she's not screaming in these pictures.)

 (Almost a smile. I'll get one with a real smile someday!)

 (If this last picture hadn't turned out blurry, it just might have been my favorite. I adore those big blue eyes and jowls.)

Carry on!

This morning Jeremy's alarm pulled me dramatically out of a dream (nightmare?) in which I was in labor. Two months early.

I must say, that while I am excited, thrilled, and eager for the little lady to make her grand debut... pretty please, I don't want it two months early.

I'M NOT READY YET.

Exclamation point.

Most days lately I have to hold off the creeping feeling of panic that wants oh so badly to surface.  There is so much to do! Can I get it all done??

Of course I can. One calm creative day at a time, right? Just keep plugging away. Even while the projects pile higher and higher. It's going to be ok. I'm not sure if my To Do lists help to calm me down or feed the panic.

Either way they are getting longer not shorter. Alas.

Yesterday, for example, was the third rainy day in a row. Raymond, bless his sweet heart, had chattering teeth during both breakfast and lunch.  Fall rain brought chilly weather (hooray for fall!).  Don't worry, I did succumb and turn on the heater for a few warm minutes as a temporary fix. And then I got to work.

You see, the boy doesn't have many (any?) long sleeved shirts. Warm PJs? Yes. Shirts to wear all day? No. He does have a jacket, but manages to wiggle out of it far too fast. Since we are a one-car family and running to Wal-Mart wasn't an option, I decided to make some. I took one of his PJ shirts (that fits great, although a little short) and made a pattern (a la Dana's directions). Then I dug in our closet and found some old shirts that never see the light of day anymore. Because re-purposing is the thing these days, no? Yes.

For my first attempt, it didn't turn out half bad. I did fix the neck after he went to bed, however (hello baggy boat-neck), and made another in grey. Today I'm going to make more pajama pants (the boy is a heavy night wetter... he soaks through disposables, double stuffed cloth diapers, you name it) and shirts today. They were shockingly easy (for raglan shirt or dress directions, see this tutorial over at ikat bag).

And wala! New shirts for free. Free is my favorite price.

New additions to the To Do list: making flannel sheets (tutorial here). And the shirts and PJs of course.
Long time must-finish-now-for-peace-of-mind portions of the list:  finishing the small pocket diapers. I'm getting closer. I have 13 completely done, 4 just needing snaps put in, and seven needing elastic, top stitching, and snaps. I can do it!
Other fun project I accomplished this week: canning tomatoes! My mother-in-law brought over a BIG (laundry) basket of tomatoes from their garden. I spent all of Tuesday making tomato sauce. Thirteen and a half pints later my pantry is happy.(And so is my husband who doesn't like the store-bought stuff).
Confession: Because my To Do list is so ridiculously long and the panicky feeling is getting harder to curb, blogging has taken a backseat lately. Alas.
Goal: don't go into early labor. Shudder.

POST EDIT: Pictures of the PJs. I used a much-too-small, but oh-so-cute receiving blanket that I had never used much when Raymond was a baby. Of course there are things I will do differently next time... but for this time, I'm super happy with the result!!

Oh baby!

I finally managed to order the rest of my diaper-making supplies (pale pink! butter yellow!) and knew my fun baby clothes sewing would have to be put on hold. So last week was my mad dash to finish enough projects that I would feel good going back to diaper making. (Side note: is nesting supposed to last the whole pregnancy? Because it hasn't let up around here).

I kept that little machine a-whirring all week long. Here are the fruits of my labors:

This jumper is a combo of a pattern I bought (my first time buying and sewing from a commercial pattern! verdict: tutorials online are usually clearer and more detailed) and a tutorial I found. The booties make the outfit, don't you think??

This little jumper is the next size up of the newborn ones I already made. (Side note: I'm worried those first ones will be more like shirts than dresses...). Oh how I adore this cherry fabric. The booties from above are lined with the cherries and are intended to match both jumpers. (ps. Please forgive the fact that I still haven't put on buttons. I have super struggling to find buttons I like these days.)

One thing I learned with Raymond: you can never (ever) have enough bibs. You would think I could just whip out these bibs... but I tell ya, the set of six did take me a few days. I liked getting to be a little more creative with the rick rack, ribbon, and buttons. Jeremy commented that I seem to be giving the lady bug the royal treatment. I responded that he would have been upset if I had tried to put anything decorative (like ribbon and buttons!) on a bib for Raymond. He conceded.

And lastly, for you out-of-towners (pretty much the majority of you), I am definitely looking pregnant these days. Don't you agree?

I'll be 30 (THIRTY!) weeks tomorrow. I tell you, this pregnancy is flying right on by. It's shocking actually. Yesterday Jeremy and I discussed the way we will rearrange our bedroom to make room for the new addition. I can't believe there are only about two months to go.

I'll be honest, I don't feel ready.

Once I get the diapers finished, I might feel more prepared. But I still have Christmas sewing and projecting to do. And one-on-one time to spend with Raymond. And more baby sewing. Definitely going to need all two months. But do not fear, I am confident that slowly and steadily I'll get it all done if I work on a little here and a little there each day.

In the meantime I'm enjoying my bulging belly. I might be the weird one, but I really love being pregnant. I love the belly. I love the kicking. I love the planning and scheming. I've been working every day for the past week to mentally prepare myself for the lady bug's labor and delivery. It's becoming a peaceful and calming part of each day. I am so grateful to be a woman and to participate so actively in this beautiful process. It truly is miraculous.

Sugar and spice and everything nice... including pleats

Gosh don't you love it? I made this little jumper yesterday, and really I want to dollop some whipped cream on top and eat it up.  I love how simple it is. Somehow feminine without a ruffle or bow.

I have jumped back into sewing full swing again. Today I made a few bibs. More booties are on the agenda. And some bigger sized dresses (so far I've made three 0-3 month). Maybe a daygown or two (like these... I tell you I wake up in the early morning hours thinking about making these). I still want to make a new carseat cover, but I'm scared.

We'll see what a little fabric, inspiration, and hard work can do!

A slow kind of busy

I have a lot I keep meaning to blog about, but haven't. Alas. But because I have my doubts that any one of them will hash out into a real live post, here's a snippet of them all...

1. Monday was our two year anniversary. We spent most of the day traveling, taking all our energy from anything celebratory that could have happened that night. We did get a movie from redbox, however, which was a treat.
2. We went to Blanding over the weekend with the primary objective being canning. My mother-in-law cranks out dozens of jars of produce each fall (all from her garden, peach, pear, and apple trees).  I've been itching to learn from the professional herself. We did pears, pear butter, pickles, and jams.
3. I also brought home some peaches so I could put my new skills to the test. Today I did my first batch. I think they'll be shelf-worthy.
4. Law School applications are in full swing. A handful have gone in, and, except for one, we probably won't hear a thing for months to come. Ahhh! Stressful!
5. Did I mention we've been married for two years? Does that seem crazy or what? I can't decide if really I've been married for forever or if these last two years have flown by.
6. I do still sew on occasion. I made another jumper and a sweet little set of Mary Jane booties. I also whipped out a bowtie for Jeremy's Professor Plum costume for our ward activity tonight. Fun fun.
7. A few of us in my ward have started a little playgroup. It adds a nice diversion to the week. I feel lucky to be surrounded by such great ladies.

 Well, that's all for now, my friends. I'll do my darndest to be back soon!

Love,

cj

Cloth diaper report: one year later

It was the last week in July 2009 when our first package of  (six) cloth diapers arrived and I mad-dashed to get them prewashed and on Raymond. A few weeks later we ordered twelve more and jumped in with both feet.

Since my last report I've gone from Fuzzibunz to homemade. We've battled the Yeast Monster and the dreaded Ammonia Smell. I've had my doctor fumble over the snaps (as we're his only cloth diapering patients) and gotten a few weird stares from neighbors as they look curiously at my diapers hanging on the line outside my apartment.

But all in all, I'm still on the bandwagon. Still glad we made the decision to go cloth.

It's funny to me that during probably the worst part of "how do I get this stink out of my diapers/bathroom/house" I also started cutting out some 30-40 more diapers. Still confident that I would figure it all out and that gearing up for the next sizes was the only option.

Let me remind you that I am not on a convert-the-world-to-cloth crusade. By any means. But for those of you curious about the whole program, here's my one year report:

My thoughts after a year

• At some point all cloth diapering mothers will talk/complain about the dreaded Ammonia Stink. Wow. Watch out. This has been harder to get rid of that I would have thought. Partly because everyone has a different opinion about how to do it. I think I've finally gotten rid of it (mostly) with 7 consecutive hot washes (sans detergent) to strip them clean of bacterias and residue. I've also been experimenting with Tea Tree Oil in the wash. We'll see if the TTO works in the future or if I have to do the multiwash again. Either way, from what I understand this is something I should be doing roughly once a month.
• I've also changed my diaper pail set up to help eliminate stink. We are using a regular kitchen trash can with a flip lid and a liner made from PUL fabric (the same fabric I use to make the outer shell of my diapers). When I throw the diapers in the wash, in goes the liner as well. I have also sews in a little piece of terry cloth to the liner to put some Tea Tree Oil on to help cut odors as well. The pail contains the stink pretty good when the lid is closed... but watch out if you leave it open! (But isn't that the same with disposables??). I'd also love to try this odor spray sometime.  So far this system is working. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with the Little Lady's diapers as I probably will not be changing her as much in Raymond's room with easy access to that pail. I'm considering making a hanging diaper pail (much like this one) to put in my bedroom. We'll see.
• I've learned that yeast infections (or any diaper rash for that matter) and cloth diapers don't mix too well. Part of the problem is that most diaper creams you can buy at the grocery store will coat the diapers and cause repelling and staining. So you have to use liners or do disposables or use a cloth diaper friendly cream (I just bought this brand and so far am happy). The bigger problem is, however, that the yeast can continue to live in the diaper--even after it's been washed--and reinfect the baby if the diapers aren't cleaned and treated correctly. There are many suggested ways of doing this. I've even boiled the suckers. Let's all cross our fingers the yeast is officially dead (I think it is). In the meantime, I'm really happy to have a cloth-diaper friendly cream for everyday little rashes.
• While I am super glad to be making my own cloth diapers--and happy with the results (much much trimmer, much more cost effective, not too difficult, pretty cute still)--they are time consuming. It's taken me hours just to do the cutting out... let alone the sewing! But I guess I am making a lot of diapers, so that's to be expected. It sounds pretty easy to just order them though. But I'm saving hundreds of dollars by making my own, so can't complain there!
• Speaking of sewing my own, I am really happy with the pattern I bought. The diapers are probably the trimmest you can get (without doing disposables) and yet I've never had a blowout. Ever. Yes, they've leaked some when he's super wet (but that is more a problem of repelling or insert fabric choices), but no stinky diaper blow outs. The pattern designer has also been more than willing to email back and forth with me as I've worked on getting just the right fit. Seriously great customer service. The pattern is easy to read and understand and has lots of pictures. I know you can get a few free patterns online, but seriously, this one is worth every penny if you are thinking about making your own.
• I think they are much more comfortable for Raymond. While we were battling the yeast infection and in and out of disposables for about three weeks trying to get rid of it,  it seemed like the poor kid was sweating to death. Not to mention cloth are cuter. I really do think so (oh you should see the newborns I'm making. Really, they are darling).
• While I really am in this for the money saving aspects, I find that I do really feel good about the environmental benefits. I guess I'm granola that way.
• I still don't think it's that much more work to wash and fold them.My routine has changed a bit from my six month report however. Even though Raymond goes through considerably less diapers than he used to, I still like to wash every two days. Up until about a month ago this meant that every other day I threw the diapers in the wash right after putting Raymond to bed, did the cold rinse, hot wash (now using Sun Free and Clear soap, not Tide... still debating getting a cloth diaper specific brand). Then I would hang dry the diapers and throw the inserts and wipe in the dryer. While I still (mostly) follow this routine, I find I like drying the diapers in the sun because of the bacteria-killing effects, so have started washing during the day rather than at night. I'll admit, the night routine was easier. But I like the sun bleaching, so for the next few weeks I'm sticking with the day-time routine.

And there you have it. The One Year Cloth Diaper Report.

Feel free to leave a comment or even email me if you have more questions! (carlyjane35@gmail.com)

Little Lady Projects

Well, let me just assure you that sewing for the Lady Bug is in full swing around these parts. Is is normal for "nesting" to start this early?

Apart from the 20+ newborn cloth diapers (using this darling pattern) and 16+ large diapers (for Raymond to move into eventually) that I am in the throws of sewing, I have definitely been dreaming, scheming, and sewing with all the new fabric that made it's way to my house last week.

To start the sewing festivities, I needed to do something simple, but fun. Pretty much I really didn't like the boppy cover we bought when Raymond was born. There were no good options in the store, but I wasn't willing to go to the trouble of finding something decent online. I just made due. But that ugly little cover has come in handy for coming up with a pattern for a new one:

The fabric is from the Heather Bailey Pop Garden collection. Rather than the traditional zipper close (can you believe I've never sewn a zipper?), I opted to do a fold-over pillow cover with buttons. I love the buttons. I love it so much (should I love a boppy cover this much?) that I still have it sitting in my room rather than stashed in the closet with my growing collection of Little Lady things.  Isn't it darling?

I also have decided that now is the perfect time to get over my fear of sewing clothes. Baby clothes to be exact. Since the Lady Bug will be born in December (aka the freezing cold), I've been at a loss for what to make her. I decided little jumpers to go over long sleeved onsies and leggings will be just the thing. Here is my first attempt at a jumper.

Since I made up the pattern, I didn't want to use any of the really darling fabric I have on something that could end up a disaster. While there needs to be some tweaking (and embellishing), I think my next one could be out of some red cherries, what do you think??

Freshly Pressed

I just poked my head out my door (too much quiet can be suspicious) and Raymond was quietly pushing the iron around the living room. Ironing the carpet. A boy after my own heart.

Then he staggeringly brought it to me. I think it took all the muscles he has to lift that sucker. Good thing he doesn't have enough strength to unplug this here computer (much to his consternation). Isn't it funny what will entertain a one-year-old?

On a side note, the iron was sitting in our living room because yesterday and today I've volunteered to teach a beginning sewing class through our local 4-H chapter (which happens to be in the office where Jeremy works).  That would be a group of 8-10 year olds and me. Teaching them how to sew.

(Yes, I do still consider myself a beginner. I just might have a hard time saying no. I can sew straight lines though. Right? And I can turn the thing on. Right? I can do this. Right?)

Yesterday we (thankfully) only had five of the nine(!) kiddos show up. It didn't go half bad despite my sleepless anxiety. And four out of five even finished their very basic drawstring bag. That was a relief.

Today I'm gearing myself up for a full class though. But I know a little better what I'm doing. The trick, I think, is getting them to thread their own machines. We spent at least a half hour loading bobbins and threading machines. I made them each do each process five + times. Today it might be ten.

But I must say, there are few things happier than a little girl (with a darling blonde bob) skipping around the room declaring her love for the little bag she made all herself. Saying over and over, "it's all mine; I did all the sewing myself!"

To each his own

Late Tuesday morning a big box from Wazoodle Fabrics arrived at our doorstep with my name on it.  And since then I've been in a diaper making frenzy.  After the big disappointment of the diapers I ordered (remember?) falling through (the company I ordered from was closed); after much debate, deliberation, and research; after weeks of waiting for my supplies to arrive... I've embarked on the adventure of sewing with elastic. (Which is, by the way, the worst part of the process in my opinion).

As as side note, I would just like to say that I do not have a convert-the-whole-world-to-cloth-diapers agenda. I just don't. I use them and am pretty happy with them. But if you don't, hey, don't feel too guilty. There are plenty of things in life to feel guilty about (aka sin). If this isn't a battle you've deemed worthy of fighting, you have my blessing.

And to second that, I definitely don't have an agenda to convince you to make your cloth diapers (should you choose to use them). In fact, if I could justify buying what I want (about 18 (swaddlebees) diapers in four or five different sizes), I just might have done it. But our savings accounts just couldn't take the beating. You've got to choose your battles. I knew I didn't want to be using big bulky one-size diapers for the next fifteen years (even when I could get them really cheap off ebay... check these out... wow) or I might just give up on the whole thing as soon as I could afford out.

So, I went with something I was pretty sure I would be happy with in ten years. Making my own.

The truth is, it's been sort of a fun little project for me. Since my fabrics showed up on Tuesday I've made eight diapers and fifteen inserts, with more in the making.  I seriously am cranking them out as fast as I possibly can (while still trying to make adjustments to get them just right).  So far that's enough to get us through one day (roughly)... but I hope to have a full set done by the end of next week at the latest.  All poor Jeremy hears about these days is diapers, diapers, diapers (seriously for weeks). Anyhow, as life-consuming as it's been, I'm pretty sure I'm made the right choice to make my own. They look pretty good, huh?

Here's a side-by-side comparison for you. On the left is a small fuzzibunz diaper. I can no longer do up the hip snaps on Raymond without the leg holes making little red rings around his legs.He started wearing this diaper (doesn't it look huge?!) at 2 months.    

On the right is a medium homemade diaper (with a whole inch added into the width of the pattern, I kid you not). It should theoretically fit him for the next 8-12 months (although some claim their children have worn mediums of this pattern well into their second year. Wow.). Neither diaper pictured has an insert in it. Do you see what I mean about unnecessary bulk?

And in case anyone else is as crazy as I am:

• I bought my fabric from here (although next time I think I'll go here even if it is a bit more expensive... customer service is sometimes worth more). PUL as my outer fabric, microfleece as my inner fabric, and inserts made of bamboo fleece and zorb.  We'll have to see if I'm happy with the absorbency in a few weeks, I guess.
• I bought snaps pliers rather than a press (considerably cheaper route) from this company
• I'm using this pattern (with some adjustments... it was just a little too trim (believe it or not), and I didn't think it would perform its function). The creator has been very helpful as she has been willing to email back and forth with me. I'm all about good customer service.

If you have more questions... feel free to email me (carlyjane35@gmail.com)

(Outtakes of trying to get a picture of one on Raymond... not working so much)

(I've since made smaller inserts, so they aren't as bulky as shown here. Notice he's headed straight toward that big overflowing box of diaper-making fabric. Ah microfleece.)

(this is the latest "crying" face he makes, producing a sort of nasal-y cry... He really wants that camera I'm holding. You can't see them, but the boy officially has four more teeth this week. Good times.)

We Are Reverent Book

From about the time Raymond could hold up his head and show interest at all in the world around him, I wanted to make him a Reverent Book for church.  We go to church in a singles ward (read: a very quiet ward) where Raymond is a significant distraction to everyone around him. Toys don't help the situation. Not only that, but I don't really just want to get in the habit of using toys to keep Raymond quiet. I want to start (I know, he won't really get it for a while but that's not the point) teaching reverence.

With that in mind, I decided to make a Reverence Book. I found tons of examples for Quiet Books (here, here, here, to start)... but I knew I could go a step further. A quiet, entertaining book that also teaches reverence.

I made a list of songs from the children's song book that I thought would work, and finally decided to use the words to  "We Are Reverent" (page 27).  I didn't (don't) know the tune, but the words were perfect. I sketched out what I wanted each page to look like ahead of time, and then just started sewing! It took all my free time (read: Raymond's nap and bed times) for a week, but it's been worth it.

So without further ado, Raymond's very own Reverent Book:

The outside over: canvas material, hand embroidered title, button closure

Pages 1 and 2. Page 1 is definitely my least favorite. I would do many things different if I were to do another (plush fish that move rather than the ribbon moving). Page 2 is Raymond's favorite. He has a definite thing for buttons (which is why all of these are sewed on very securely). The felt sun is removable with a spiral embroidered sun underneath.

Pages 3 and 4.  The CTR are velcro and thus removable. Page 4 is hand embroidered with flap shadows.This just might be my favorite page (although Jeremy was disappointed the shadows aren't black. What can I say? I didn't have any black felt on hand and though brown was just fine. What do you think?) I love how our little family turned out.

Pages 5 and 6. If you can't read the words on page 5 is says, " Still as distant, watching star." This was the easiest page to make (a bonus!). I think I'm nuts to have actually embroidered "The Book of Mormon" on the mini book attached to page 6... but it's pretty cute, don't you think? Also note: little Raymond John (as a cute sunbeam of the future) is singing and his future sister (of someday) is praying (we always joke that we'll have a girl with brown curly hair next).

The End.

Someday I really want to make a Book of Mormon Reverent Book  and a Bible Stories Reverent Book. But not actually any time too soon. This little fellow was a lot of work! But oh so worth it.

Happy Birtday Banner

(Note: camera batteries are on my shopping list. Phone pictures follow. Proceed with caution.)

I've been wanting to make a fabric birthday banner for about a year now (since Jeremy's birthday last year, I think).  This year I was bound and determined to do it. I've gone back and forth and up and down on just what I wanted it to look like, however. There are scads of tutorials out there, but most of them are of the triangle variety (like this). A few are squared. Most are appliqued. And well, meh, I just wasn't in the mood to applique. Or iron on.  Not that I think I went with much of a simpler route (although, maybe, I don't know), but it is a bit more original and not as big (which was another goal). It also lends itself to adjustments (thank goodness!) such as adding a name or a different event all together or, heck, the whole alphabet to be strung up in a play room someday. Yes, I think that last one is a definite possibility.

So without further ado, here is the official Christiansen Birthday Banner of 2010. (ps pretend you see a beautiful plate of cupcakes on the table below the banner all festive-like)

(Um, yes, I do realize it says "Birtday" instead of "Birthday." It did, for the record, take me a full 6 hours of it hanging on my wall before I noticed, however)

Two little button holes in each letter make the whole thing just about as versitle as it gets. (Thus an H will be added to Birtday shortly).

Next up: a valentine's banner of the same variety with lots of reds and pinks and hearts. Happy!

How to be a self taught sewer

Disclaimer: my mom is an OUTSTANDING seamstress. She is absolutely amazing. She smocks and tats and knits and quits and can do just about anything with a sewing machine (from prom dresses to dolls). She's good. And while I didn't really sew much myself growing up, I watched her a awful lot. Sitting on the floor of her sewing room while she works on a project is, in fact, still one of my favorite spots in my parent's house. I've seen her make a lot of things. So I guess you could say that some parts of sewing are absolutely intuitive for me.  I've seen her do it so many times that I automatically know what to do myself. It helps.

With that said, two years ago (just two folks!) I was pleasantly surprised to be given a sewing machine for Christmas. Surprised, I say, because I hadn't sat down at one in roughly 10 years. My sewing experiences up to that point included one quilt, made in high school. All straight lines. All sewing heavily supervised. It was, you could say, a leap of hope on my mom's part that I would put my new machine to any kind of use. She was even willing to be ok with the idea that I might not take it out of the box. Like I said, my mom rocks.

I went home (to Blanding, at the time) and decided to set it up on my desk in my room.

It was pushed out of the way, but it was there. Staring me in the face every morning when I got up and every night when I went to bed.  It was incredibly accessible. Best move I ever made.

Step one: Get your machine out of the box and put it somewhere you can access it.

I started slow. I decided to waste a needle by practicing on paper. I practiced straight lines for a few weeks. A little here, a little there. Then I started cooking up ideas in my head of things I could make. Little bags and such. I went to the store and bought some fabrics. A little here, a little there.

I am a believer in trial and error. I made four or five bags and only used one. The rest just weren't that cute. Or the handle was too long. Or the dimensions were wrong. No matter. I'd make another.

Step two: Turn the machine on. Practice, I say.

I was (am?) incredibly slow back then. A bag would take a few hours (shocking but true!). But no matter. It was part of the process. To learn to sew you've got to sew. Turn on the machine, you know? Get out your handy-dandy unpicking tool and dive in.

I used to be totally scared of sewing curves. Not that I'm any huge expert now, but sew a few bibs and frogs and birds and you definitely get more confident. And faster.

Step three: Trust yourself.

Now there are good things to be said about following a pattern. But I'm usually brave enough to just figure things out. Hello online tutorials (here's a good site to start with). They're everywhere. I'm a big fan of just jumping in. Make it up. Follow someone else's picture directions. Follow your own. Don't be afraid of messing up (like I said, become friends with the unpicker). And most importantly, don't be afraid of taking the machine out of the box. Turn it on. Think of the possibilities. I sew so much because it's easy to get to my machine (it's still on the desk where I do my scripture study and pay the bills... just pushed to the corner when not in use).

Step four: Stretch yourself. Try new (and hard!) things.

There are still plenty of things I'm not good at, or that I'm nervous to try (hello zippers... you make me uncomfortable! And for some reason elastic scares me. Guess that means I need to get my hands on some and give it a whirl).

I get comments all the time from people saying they "can't sew."  It's a falacy folks. I bet you can, you just don't know how yet.  I totally support taking a class, sitting down with a friend who knows, or reading a book on it. But I MOST support starting. Wherever that needs to be for you. You won't be good right away. Your first project will probably be a bit wobbly. That's ok! Don't expect it to look like it came straight out of the Pottery Barn Catalog. The more you sew, however, the better you'll be.

Ready??  Big G, little o, let's Go sew!

Five things that are making me happy

1. Another finished project. I made a sweet little Reverent Book for Raymond last week. It took every ounce of time I had... but I got it done before Sunday. I based it off of the Children's song We Are Reverent. It turned out just as I hoped. Pictures, perhaps, another day.
   
2. Today is a holiday. Oh how I love a good holiday (even if it doesn't change much around here.) I love the I Have a Dream Speech. I love Martin Luther King's beautiful (and even poetic) Letter from Birmingham Jail. I love good people who fight valiantly for what it right.
3. I love the lines from Wordsworth's Ode "But trailing clouds of glory do we come / From God, who is our home". When I look at my sweet, smiling baby boy, I can't help but see traces of heaven in his countenance. And I know that Marriage and Families are part of the most precious of all fruit that is the Gospel Plan. Oh how I joy in motherhood.
4. There is a 90% chance that it will snow before tomorrow morning. Snow makes everything beautiful even in the dead of winter.
5. I found a picture of my Grandpa Torgerson and I--taken the Sunday before I left on my mission. He is leaning in close to me and winking at the camera in his usual teasing fashion. I has been sitting on my end table (among a stack of mission pictures I want to organize and the program from my Grandpa Snowball's funeral) making me smile every time I see it. I have been blessed with a wonderful family.

And for good measure: a previously unpublished family picture taken over Thanksgiving. We are a happy family! 

A homemade Christmas

You may be wondering why I've never posted (up till now) about any of my Christmas-Gift-Making-Extravaganza. Confession: I didn't take a single picture of a single gift. Not one. I had good intentions to. But, you see, my camera was out of batteries. And my phone pictures are so lame. It just couldn't do justice. And then suddenly it was the eve of our trip and needed to wrap them all. Sorry folks.

Good thing my sister is a photographer, huh?

She posted today about my very favorite Christmas project. The Alphabet Bean Bags.

I made two sets of these for my two nephews. Brayden, who's three, got the 26 letters all in capitals. Tanner, who's five, got the "scrabble set" consisting of some 70 lower case pieces--with multiples of all but two letters so he can write words and sentences. I loved them. Seriously, I wish I had a set myself! (Don't worry, I will make me one sometime soon.) And I love thinking about Tanner and Brayden having fun with letters and words as they play with their ABC bean bags made just for them. (ps: for more info on how I made them and what to do with them (so many things!), see Tasha's post)

But because I know a few of you are curious (and goodness knows we all need homemade gift ideas sometimes!) here are some other fun gifts I made:

• 5 Lunch bags (based off this pattern, but lined instead of embroidered. I loved the way they turned out)
• 5 sets of Coasters (all different fabrics and designs--very fun)
• 3 Scarves (based off this pattern, but with buttons like Soul Mama did on her's)
• 3 neck pillows (pattern from a 4-H sewing camp Jeremy did this summer--easy, but the ideal neck pillow. I seriously want one for out next road trip)
• 3 Super Hero capes for Hunter, Max, and Lucie (with appropriate insignia for their initials)--These turned out SO fun. (based off this pattern)
• 1 cute little "small outings" bag for Paige
• 1 pin cushion
• 1 fabric beaded necklace and bracelet (similar to this)
• 1 M is for Monkey wall hanging (for Miss Maggie Moo) (similar to these)
• 1 set of stuffed plush balls for little Chasers (like these)
• around 30 little birdie ornaments. Maybe the cutest of all! (These, but at 80% the size... note: a few people have asked me for this pattern. I can't find where I got it online, but I have it saved as a pdf on my computer. If you want it, leave a comment and I'll email it to you!)

Is that all? I think I missing something somewhere... but oh well! I am so very much in love with homemade Christmas's. I just need to start earlier, you know? Like now (or maybe February) for next year. True that.

Hooray for sewing and gifting and Christmas!