Loving my Bernina
Posted by admin on Mar 9, 2010
During the Christmas sales, I bought a pajama set for CJ. He picked it out (Mario Kart) and they had nothing left in his size– so we went large. (size 8 for his size 5) He usually just wears the shorts, but today he really wanted the pants (which are about 7 inches too long!) In the past I would just chop them off– but with my new sewing machine I rolled the bottom up twice and used my blind hem foot. The result: CJ sized PJ pant in just 4 minutes. Awesome!
Homemade gifts vs storebought
Posted by admin on Mar 7, 2010
I really like homemade gifts. I feel that they really show the gift giver thought about me. (Not that it can’t be done with a store bought gift– but it often isn’t). I really like giving homemade gifts, too. Likewise, I feel they show I thought about you, and spent my time making you something. My husband likes homemade gifts, but not for people outside the family. So it is with those critical eyes that I am heading off to a little girl’s birthday party with homemade gift in tow. (I really like it, but store bought was NOT an option this week).
Last night the kids and I worked together to make a play dough. I have a great recipe for one that is really soft and lasts a very long time. It is also not overly oily like the last recipe that I had. We included two colors and a recipe so the family could make more if desired. TL made a homemade card and taped on a little “secret compartment” that holds a coin (denomination unknown to me– but it is silver-colored) since she thinks the recipient would like to save up to buy something that she likes.
I am really happy with the gift. I know that my kids would like really enjoy the clay if they received it as a present. I feel that this is really teaching my children what gift giving is about. I am also amazed that TL will raid her piggy bank and share her bounty so another can save for toys like she is. I guess the biggest problem with homemade gifts is that sometimes the recipient doesn’t think they are up to snuff. So what do you think… storebought or homemade?
Brilliant Maneuver
Posted by admin on Mar 5, 2010
While checking my online email today and deleting the mass of junky stuff in the inbox, I managed to delete every single message. The entire inbox– POOF!! No warning popped up, just a single click on the delete button and off they went. Sure hope there wasn’t anything important in there!
On the bright side today, checking the email later I received a message from my prepaid cell phone company. They put $10 of airtime on my phone! Yippee! I guess they knew I was thinking of switching companies. (That will wait a bit, now!)
Setting up shop
Posted by admin on Mar 2, 2010
I have been busy at my sewing machine and finally got my Etsy.com shop up and running. I currently have some bags (including the one in the photo) and some little girls clothing listed. Some time in the future I will be adding cloth napkins, cloth diapers and un-paper towels. Check out my new shop and let me know what you think!
Playing away…
Posted by admin on Feb 11, 2010
This past week CJ has been loving his new DS. (Well, his new-to-him DS that is one of the first generations I bought off ebay after selling off their gameboys.) TL got one for her birthday (again, new-to-her) and she has been such a wonderful sister and letting CJ share it a lot. I figured she deserved to get to play it all on her own so the kids and I decided to have a great ebay sale to fund the new purchase. It worked and the new one arrived this past Monday. For the past two days the kids have been especially fond of the “download DS” function that allows them to play the same game together from their respective units. This caused a bit of commotion since they chose to sit right next to each other. When one would get frustrated they would yell and smack the other one. (I think this is the first time they have really “fought” with each other.) Thankfully, we are in a wireless age and I have been able to send them to separate rooms to play with each other. (That just doesn’t sound right, does it?!) So now they are very happily gaming with each other from a distance.
Rain
Posted by admin on Jan 20, 2010
We are having such beautiful, unusual-for-here weather! Tonight, like the last 3 nights, I am listening to rain. A beautiful, steady rain that makes wonderful drips off the edge of my roof. (Plus, the wind isn’t howling so I am not over worrying about the damage said rain is doing to my roof!). SO while it has been a while since I have posted, I am going to keep this one short so I can go enjoy the rain!
Still crafting
Posted by admin on Dec 7, 2009
So after a lovely weekend at Knott’s Berry Farm to celebrate Lily’s 7th birthday, I figured I better get back to work on the christmas presents. I couldn’t sleep, but since it is late I didn’t want to run the sewing machine. So I was able to cut the rest of the fabric for Jenny’s spring and fall outfits. Provided that they all work out, she will have a pair of jeans, a pair of shorts, a long skirt, a short skirt and two new shirts. (I was able to rework 2 of Lily’s favorite shirts into ones for Jenny– even keeping some of the embellishments!) Then I surfed the web and found direction for socks. I finished one pair and have two more cut– they are quite cute; you’ll have to wait until everything is done to see it though!
Christmas Presents
Posted by Steph on Dec 1, 2009
This is the second year I am challenging myself to $100 for Christmas presents. (Total, not each) So a lot of the presents I give will be handmade, including the ones for my kids.
Here is Carlos’. He spends a LOT of his time horizontal, so a floor pillow to lounge on made from his outgrown clothes. The inside is chopped up foam mattress pad. (Thanks mom!)
This is what I was working on when my sewing machine broke. So I had to switch to my older one that doesn’t have any fancy stitches. This means that the doll clothes I make for Lily will have plain stitches. I purchased a set of patterns for her “My Friend Jenny” doll.
“Four Seasons Friends”, it has a complete outfit for each season. The lot also came with a pattern for a robe, bag and sweater.
So tonight I set to work. After MUCH more time that I expected, here is summer. (Made from scraps leftover from making Lily clothes.)
Aren’t they beautiful? I am excited.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by admin on Nov 28, 2009
I know it is late, but hopefully it was a great on anyway. This year our menu was: French Onion Soup (homemade), FrenchBread (homemade) Cobb salad and Vesuvial Bananas. Everything was delicious and we really enjoyed it. The only downfall — no leftover turkey for sandwiches on Black Friday!! And unfortunately, the bread topping on the soup soaked up all the leftover soup– so lunch was mushy bread slices. I have made a mental not to dispose of all bread when I want to save the soup!
Carlos thinking
Posted by admin on Nov 12, 2009
I want to share something that Carlos said to me about a month ago. I have thought of it daily since.
We left the library and were walking towards the park. I noticed a lot of birds, which I pointed out to the kids. Carlos says “Those are pigeons.” <pause> “They don’t eat chicken.”
How true! I would love to be inside his head and see how that thought developed…
