Little B Sewing

The search for internet...

2009-07-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

I love rural Mississippi. I really do. Except for one thing. Rural Mississippi, and in particular the little town we've moved to, has no internet access (well, unless you want to count dial-up as access...I don't).

McDonald's (about a 10 minute drive from home) has WiFi, but there's a per use charge. Bummer.

The county library has access and it's FREE! And after logging in and successfully doing my puttering around I suddenly can no longer access Facebook because it's blocked by the filter. Bummer again. What's internet without Facebook?

The search continues (but I'm suspecting that there are fees in my future).

If I can get my act together, I've got lots of pictures to post.

Once Upon a Mattress

2009-06-14T06:57:00.000-07:00

Germantown Community Theatre did an all kids production of Once Upon a Mattress and performed it outside at the park in Germantown. I had planned on going Friday night, but the storms cancelled the perfomance, so we decided to go Saturday and it worked out that Matthew got home in time and got to go with us!

The kids got their faces painted,

won magic wands by going on a scavenger hunt

(although we had no luck finding a shell or a thistle),

and got to dance on stage before the play!

The play was very cute and we had a wondeful time. But, as soon as the play was over Kenna and Landon wanted to go play on the playgroud. So we went for a few minutes while the crowd cleared out a little.

It must have been an exhausting evening, all three slept past 8 this morning, and then wanted to lay around like "the pirates who don't do anything." :)

Broadway Baby

2009-06-01T06:23:00.001-07:00

I have a Broadway baby! Kenna's dance recital was really awesome. For the ballet portion, they set up the stage like a dance studio and the performance was done like a class (which allowed the instructor to cue them visually and verbally). A darling idea! And it was really neat to see what a class looked like. The only problem was the Statler & Waldorf (ala The Muppet Show) critique from behind me. She was so disappointed that they were just "calling out" the positions and that when *she* did dance recitals they did little choreographed dances, not just skills individually. I wanted to say, "Ma'am, this is the choreography, the setting is a dance studio and the "play" is pretending they are in class." But since I'd already kindly told her that it was indeed a very good idea to take the group pictures as they came on stage since they would not be as cooperative after the show (not to mention the costume change) and well worth the little bit of extra time we had to wait between groups. The tap portion of the show was my favorite. The setting for it was the Broadway stage. The littlest ones were dressed in fancy little tutus with pillbox hats and there was a teacher dance partner for each little girl dressed in a 50s style suit with a hat. It was so incredibly cute...their song was "Stepping out with My Baby." All the tap dances were choreographed routines (I hope Statler/Waldorf behind me was happy) and except for the tots, the dance instructors weren't on stage with them. Although, they were apparently in the wings because all the girls were obviously watching them. ;-)

Kenna in her stage makeup. I had to wake her up from a nap to get her ready. I picked her up and held her to help her wake up and suddenly she got down from my lap and wandered away. I found her back in her bed, but when I told her I'd do her makeup, she perked up a little.

The tap routine. Don't you just love how all of them are doing something different? Just makes me laugh. I didn't manage to get a shot of the ballet routine, Kenna was toward the back.

Getting flowers after the show.

We had a wonderful backstage helper who did Kenna's hair and helped her get dressed. A million thanks to Miss Tiffany. I was going to make Kenna choose between dance and gymnastics this fall, but after seeing her dance (she had picked gymnastics) I'm rethinking that decision. ;-)

Don't forget the baby...

2009-05-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

Ah, packing. Boxes everywhere, stuff everywhere, and you can never find the tape! But you can't forget the baby, especially when he throws stuff out so *he* can be in the box.

We are in the middle of it with no end in sight. At this rate, we might be ready to move by August. Too bad our moving date is in June. ;-)

Needless to say, there hasn't been an awful lot of sewing going on. I am trying to finish a few "hired" projects and managed to make a big goof yesterday. I made a mighty cute little purse...

Too bad I was *trying* to make a shirt! A little ripping out and a little more stitching and now it's fixed.

Got a skort, another shirt, some baby legs, and a couple of pillowcase painting smocks to do and then I am going to pack up all the sewing stuff. I've just got to figure out where my sewing space is going to be in the new, smaller house. No more taking over the dining room table, unless we want to start eating in the floor. Hmm.... ;-)

Finished Jonah's gown!

2009-05-05T07:06:00.000-07:00

I actually got something finished for the baby it was intended for. Now I just have to get it to him before he outgrows it!

On the move

2009-05-03T06:18:00.000-07:00

Moving day is June 23 and we are headed to Algoma. The best news is we will have a very nice, large fenced in back yard. The bad news is we won't have DSL...which means no more blogging and no more Facebook. Oh, well. Maybe I can blog from the library.

For Eden

2009-04-28T11:58:00.000-07:00

I should really be ashamed that it has taken me this long to make a dress for this sweet baby. I intended to do one for her when she was born (I think I actually meant for that yellow baby dress to be hers, but she's long since outgrown one that size) and then I got to meet her in person at her uncle's wedding and I was going to get it done then. And then I thought, well, I'll just do one for her 1st birthday and I somehow missed that and decided I'd just get it done and send it for Easter, well that came and went too.

But, I've finally finished it! This is actually an inherited UFO...a friend of mine did the smocking on the dress and bonnet, but never got as far as cutting out the dress. I cut out the dress a couple of years ago and never quite got around to finishing it. I have another smocked piece in the same fabric with coordinating smocking that's big enough for Kenna, if I ever get around to constructing it.

Now, I only need to find Ashley's address (if you are reading, email it to me!) and it'll be on it's way. I'm pretty sure it will fit...Riley was cooperative enough to put it on so I could gauge the hem. I didn't go as far as photographing him in it, but he sure looks adorable in a pink bonnet. ;-)

Trisha sundress

2009-04-24T16:02:00.000-07:00

This dress is so much fun. I love it. I had a few frustrations making it, namely that I couldn't get the length of the elastic right in the back. After the third time, I thought I had it and went ahead and constructed the dress only to try the dress on Kenna and realize that it was really still too big. I didn't have the heart to rip out the whole thing in order to fix it, so it will just have to be a little big.

It should be just under her shoulder blades in the back, it's sitting at waist level instead. The construction is rather unique, after sewing the skirt onto the finished bodice, you sew the skirt lining in so that the seam will be enclosed. The wrong side of the lining is facing the wrong side of the skirt so the inside looks very nice.

I think I'm going to make this one again in a hot pink pin dot fabric. I'll cut it longer (cut the bodice a 6 and the length an 8) and I'll make sure that back elastic is like I want it before sewing the skirt on. I'm probably not going to do piping on the next one either, just for a different look

I started not to do the flower, especially after I "lost" the first covered button I made. But I'm so glad I did. It was really very easy and it turned out so cute!

Kenna loves the dress. She twirled and leaped and kept telling me how everyone is going to say how pretty she looks. ;-)

Trisha Smith skort

2009-04-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

I managed to finish one thing in my sewing class last week, this skort which we started on Thursday night. I kept working on it between working on the other outfits and managed to finish it on Saturday. But it was actually a little too big and the elastic in the waist was rolling, so I fixed that yesterday.

The flower is chenille by the inch, which is really cool to work with, if a bit challenging. It goes on as basically a stack of bias strips held together with a seam down the middle. After you stitch it down, you wet it and brush it to make it "bloom."

This was my favorite project (though the sundress was a close second). The best thing I learned was that I share Elizabeth Travis Johnson's birthday and the funniest was how to remember how to position snaps on rompers (just like boys, balls in front, hole's in back...I know, it's terrible! But I laughed anyway and I'll *never* forget!)

I monogrammed a set of towels for a graduation gift. I'm thinking that's going to be my standard gift for graduates this year.

I've got 3 things that need hemming (Jonah's gown, a pink baby dress for Miss Eden, and a sundress from Trisha's class for Kenna) but Riley decided a 45 minute nap was long enough and interrupted that process. I've also got a pants outfit started for Kenna from the Trisha class that needs alot more work and a skort from the first night that I haven't even manage to cut out (I have to finish drafting the hemline first!)

Not to leave my boys out, here are they are playing outside. Riley has leaves in his hair.

Easter sewing

2009-04-11T12:33:00.001-07:00

I had dreamed of sewing matching outfits for all three kids, but that just didn't happen. I decided a week ago that I'd only sew Kenna a dress since I was short on time, that didn't happen either. Thankfully, there's Williams Brothers store in Philadelphia (which my family has always just called Williamsville). They have dresses like I would make at a pretty reasonable price (there's no better place to buy shoes, by the way). I found this one and brought it home to monogram.

Had a scary moment when I had to rip out some stitches that went awry, but they came out okay and didn't "scar" the collar.

The last of my smocked Easter eggs. Well, I may do one more, but I'm a little tired of them. ;-)

A couple of swimsuit coverups I embroidered in lime green. It's hard to see though, guess you can have too much light.

I'm also nearly finished with a baby gown and dress and bonnet. They just need to be hemmed and the gown needs a little embellishment. I'm having trouble with the hem on the slightly A-line gown, so I pulled out what I have done and am going to try again. Hopefully will have them done early next week.

Happy Easter everyone!

Yellow baby dress

2009-04-01T12:43:00.001-07:00

I've been working on my PhD! (project half done)

I've completed one of my many UFOs (unfinished objects), a little yellow baby dress that I probably began nearly two years ago.

I'm not sure why I cut fitted sleeves for the dress, but I wanted get it finished as quickly as possible, so I used what I had cut. Who knows what I had originally intended.

Close up of tucks and embroidery.

We are going to gift this to friends that had a baby girl in January. I wasn't sure it would fit, so I tried it on Riley. The fit was actually okay, and I could even almost close it at the neck. So I'm sure it will fit a 3-4 month old just fine.

The Magic Tree House at the Orpheum

2009-03-31T08:56:00.001-07:00

Last week we went on a field trip to the Orpheum with the gifted class from Strayhorn. It was a really great trip and a wondeful musical. We are still singing songs from it!

Sorry about the eyes, red eye I can fix, but evil glowing eyes defy every attempt to change them. Landon is crying because he thought he was lost.

The ride on the school bus was a highlight of the trip, especially for Landon. We stopped at the park in Hernando for a picnic lunch.

I need to keep my eyes open for more theatre opportunities. We really enjoyed it. As soon as it was over, Kenna asked if we could see it again.

New Site

2009-03-31T06:40:00.000-07:00

ZOO!

2009-03-17T12:35:00.001-07:00

According to the weather report, today was a great day to go to the zoo. But it started out really foggy and I was a little worried. It cleared off quickly though and we had a wonderful time.

At the sea lion exhibit.

Riley ignoring the sea lion show.

Landon looking at zebras (I think)

Kenna in awe of the giraffes (the babies were very cute and according to the kids had, "little long necks")

Our cute bunch (minus Riley, he's in the stroller)

Landon climbing trees after lunch.

Kenna in the tree.

Three kids in a tree.

By this time Riley was ready for a nap and tired of the stroller.

Kenna riding the carousel elephant. She was a little nervous being up so high.

Landon rode a panda. He wasn't sure about it until the ride started. He kept wanting me to get him down and let him sit on the bench seat in front of us. When the ride was over, he didn't want to get off.

Riley wasn't happy about sitting on his rhino, but liked it once it started moving. But he wanted off before the ride was over because he was so sleepy.

In fact, he was so sleepy that he fell asleep while I was changing his diaper when we got back to the van.

We had a great time...Kenna wants to go back tomorrow. ;)

Smocked Easter Eggs!

2009-03-11T07:03:00.001-07:00

Finally, something sewing related!

Here are the instructions and smocking plates.

Smocked Easter Egg directions

Pleat 11 full space rows adding a half space row between rows 1 and 2. Use a holding thread that matches your fabric for rows 1 1/2 and 10 as these threads will be permanent.

Leaving 1/2" seam allowance, smock beginning on row 6. Down cable, 1-step trellis up to row 5, up cable, 1-step trellis back down to row 6, 3-step trellis up to row 4, up cable, 3-step trellis back down to row 6, repeat 5 more times for a total of 6 repeats (covers 72 pleats). Do not take final stitch on each row. Removed needle and leave thread tail to join rows when smocking is completed.

Complete remainder of smocking. Remember not to take the final stitch and to leave the thread tail.

Trim fabric to 1/2" along each side of smocking. Prepare holding threads for removal (leave in until construction of the fabric tube is complete) and knot the ends of row 1 1/2 and row 10 so that you do not accidentally remove them. With the thread tails at the end of reach row, join into corresponding stitches at the beginning of the same row.*

This will make a tube of smocked fabric. Tie off stitches on the inside of the tube.

Remove pleating threads, except for row 1 1/2 and row 10. Slide egg into fabric tube.

Trim fabric close to remaining pleating threads.*

Pull threads tightly and tie securely.

Finish ends as desired.

*I found after making several of these, that it is easier is you trim the fabric close to rows 1 1/2 and 10 before constructing the fabric tube.

End finishing techniques

There are several ways to finish the ends. You may glue rosettes, ribbons, buttons, bows, or other decorations on the ends. The yellow egg is finished with fabric yo-yos on each end. The blue and pink eggs are finished with a stitched spider web. You may also attach a thread loop to the small end of the egg so that it can be hung.

Spiderweb finish

Using two strands of floss, make an eight spoked star over the raw edges at one end. Bring the needle back out at the center of the star.

Beginning with the spoke nearest the needle and working counter-clockwise, backstitch over spoke. Move to the next spoke and repeat until all the spokes and raw edges are covered.

Tie off and hide knot under stitches.

Other smocking plates

You can use just about any smocking plate. It should cover no more than 9 rows and be anywhere from 72 to 100 pleats wide. Smocking plate for the yellow egg coming soon.

Blue egg Smocking plate

Start at Row 5 (up cable, down cable, up cable, 2 step trellis down to 5 1/2, down cable, up cable, down cable, 2 step trellis back to 5). Repeat this pattern a total of 8 times. Construct as above.

Creating your own smocking graph using Excel

I found directions here: http://www.southern-stitches.com/excelsmckng.html

Snow!

2009-03-02T09:44:00.000-08:00

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-02-24T12:48:00.000-08:00

I love this skirt...I think I might try to make one.

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!: "Current Giveaways (click on picture):"

Want to see our new powder room?

2009-02-11T08:57:00.000-08:00

We've recently had a little remodeling done...

and here is our contractor...

The bathroom smells really nice. Powdered floors are surprisingly slippery though.

Our pup's sister Gracie visited us yesterday. The fought and played and slept all afternoon.

Sunday we had to leave church because Riley poured his cup of water all over him and me. But it was so nice outside, that we just stayed outside at the church until service was over.

In fact, we've had alot of nice weather lately and spent quite a bit of time in our yard. Looks like we need a bigger wagon.

Riley no longer takes a bottle, so I boxed them all up. Made me a little sad, which I found odd. He's the only one of mine to actually take a bottle and it was kinda sad to see that end. He had been so reluctant to drink milk from a cup and then one day last week he finally accepted it. He doesn't even miss the bottle (and I don't either now that I've gotten used to the idea...less bottle washing is a good thing).

Riley reading. Guess it shouldn't be surprising that any of my kids are verbal and love books...I'm just surprised that they *all* are.

That's all my random updates for now. We have a birthday party this weekend and a Gymnastics meet we may go watch. Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

Maybe this is why I can't get any sewing done...

2009-02-04T14:19:00.000-08:00

Today was apparently just one of those days. I have lots of those actually.

Snow?

2009-01-28T08:10:00.001-08:00

Well, not really, but it was enough to close all the schools in the area and my kids, being snow deprived all of their lives, just had to get out in it. I bundled them up, sent the pup out with them, and enjoyed a few uninterrupted minutes at the computer (Riley was watching them out the door).

We made the puppy a little purple fleece coat (which she is already outgrowing!)

Landon can barely move. Once his gloves got wet, he wanted to come back inside.

Riley watching out the door. Notice his wild hair...it will lay down if you wet it.

Cowboy Riley

Landon and Zoe

Puppy power!

2009-01-22T11:38:00.001-08:00

I had one more Christmas present...

She's a six week old mixed breed--mom is definitely a yorkiepoo (we've joked that she's a "purebred" yorkiepoo) and dad is part Jack Russell (and who knows what else). Her hair is longish, but not fluffy (feels soft and silky) and she had white on her neck and feet. She has the square jaw of a yorkie and the stance of a jack russell. She's a little sweetheart, but she cried all night last night. I was really worried until I realized that she must have been hungry, poor thing. We picked her up around 7 last night and I assumed (but should have asked!) that she had already been fed. She was fine as long as we'd hold her, but if we tried to kennel her to go to bed she'd cry. So she spent a lonely night in the doggie dungeon (the utility room) and had a totally different disposition after breakfast this morning. She's in need of a bath and a vet check (which we are planning to do Saturday) but she seems healthy and happy.

We've named her Zoe. The kids are in love. Riley can exactly mimic her yelping and so it sounds like we have two puppies when they get going. Kenna is being a big help--feeding and taking her outside--and wants to be with her constantly. She wraps her up (because she's cold Mama) and tucks her in her basket when she falls asleep (which she seems to like better than the kennel). I held her this morning while I did my Bible study...she's such a cuddly little thing. Landon wants her to play. It'll be fun to watch them romp outside this spring!

Fun with Kenna

2009-01-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

Kenna and I are dabbling in homeschool (using Sonlight's Language Arts curriculum and Miquon Math for now) and are having a blast, especially with the writing assignments. Because her physical writing skills cannot keep pace with her ability to compose, I've modified assignments so that instead of writing, she dictates and I type. Our assignment for today was to write a few lines of dialog and this is what Kenna came up with....

Make-believe said, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair.”
Rapunzel said, “I will not let down my hair because this is just a wig and if I let down my hair, I will be bald!”
Make-believe said, “Oh, then I will leave and I will see you tomorrow. Good-bye.”
Rapunzel said, “Just kidding. I said that because I did not want my hair to be pulled.”

Make-believe, she explained is "a guy who looks like person skin who has a lot of parts that doesn't really look like person skin." "He's just a robot."

She got to accompany me to our SAGA meeting Tuesday and had such a wonderful time. She told me on the way home that she wants to go every time. I told her that she couldn't go every time, but she could go sometimes to which she replied, "But Mama, they all like me!"

Look who's walking!

2009-01-14T13:00:00.000-08:00

Portraits of One

2009-01-14T07:11:00.000-08:00

My older two had professional portraits done for their first birthdays, Riley merely got JCPenney, but they turned out cute! :-)

I think he might look just a *little* like his daddy.

What do you think?

Haircuts

2009-01-13T12:46:00.000-08:00

Landon and Kenna both got new 'dos. Kenna was tired of tangles and brushing and ponytails and wanted her hair cut like "Lucy from Narnia." So she took a little book about Lucy with her and showed the stylist what she wanted. It turned out really cute and Kenna is thrilled with it.

For dance/gym class this afternoon, I pulled the sides up into a ponytail. She wasn't happy about that because she thought no one would notice her new haircut if I put it in a ponytail.

Landon wanted (and needed) a haircut too, so Daddy took him after naptime.

We've recently made a new discovery in out house. It's called Nutella, or around here "chocolate butter." Everyone loves it (and who wouldn't!) We even let Riley have some (but probably won't do that again for awhile).

Riley's Christening

2009-01-07T14:23:00.000-08:00

We finally had Riley christened the Saturday after Christmas. Doing it on a Saturday was genius...much less stressful and much easier to arrange...although there were a few crazy moments. We didn't have a huge crowd, but it was nice. The service was very sweet and Riley enjoyed every bit of it. I think it's so awesome that my father-in-law has christened each of his grandchildren. I agonized over what Riley was going to wear. I had planned a beautiful gown of giger batiste, but never got it off the ground. And then I wondered if maybe he was too old to wear a gown. I briefly considered making a "suit" but knew it'd be too difficult to get it done. I looked a couple of places for something appropriate, but couldn't find what I wanted--everything white I could find was made for warmer weather or had Christmas smocking on it. Then the forecast predicted really warm weather for the day of the christening and I thought I'd go buy one of the short white suits I'd found. Much to my dismay the shops were all closed until Saturday morning, and I wasn't adding a trip to get an outfit to the list of stuff I had to do before going to the church. I reluctantly pulled out Landon's christening gown. I'm not terribly proud of it...it's made of imperial batiste, and although I like the hand embroidery work I did on it, the collar doesn't meet in the center front and it just isn't what I would deem "quality work" overall. But it was at least finished, would fit, and was appropriate--and hey, it got another wear and no one pointed or laughed (although my stepdad did grumble about him being in a dress ;-) )

Pictures were nearly impossible. Riley *loved* the gown and he kicked his feet and grabbed the skirt and just would not look up for pictures.

This is what Landon was doing during the service.

I think he's reaching for the candles. He said "hot, hot" "pfft, pfft" throughout the service.

Are attempts at full family photos always going to be this amusing? ;)

We went to eat lunch with some friends after the service and Kenna and her new friend, Evan, had so much fun together. They adore one another.

Sleeping cuties

2009-01-04T07:22:00.000-08:00

During Chirstmas vacation at my mom's we had some really warm days. We spend most of our days at home cooped up inside (I desparately need to find a solution to that problem). We had run errands one morning and got home just in time for a nap and none of my kids wanted to go inside to go to sleep, so I brought out blankets and pillows and made pallets under the pecan tree. It took them forever to go to sleep, mostly because my mom's little dog kept playing with them (bringing sticks and being very interested in wherever they poked the ground) but they finally gave it up and drifted off. I sat in the swing and read a book. Riley slept next to Kenna for awhile, but he woke up too soon and slept in my arms for the rest of his nap.

Riley's 1st Birthday!

2009-01-03T16:40:00.001-08:00

Once October comes we just don't stop. Kenna's birthday is that month, and then Wesley's and Landon's in November, and then Riley in December...throw Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas in there and we don't catch our breath again until sometime in February! Wow, how this year has flown. We've gone from this little bitty baby....

...to this little guy in no time. It's still going to be a month or two before he walks, but he's very much a toddler now.

He loved his cake and tried very hard to blow out his "hot, hot" candle. Everything is "hot, hot" and needs to be blown on...food, candles, the oven, and anything that rings or beeps elicits a chorus of "hot, hot" "phhfff, phhfff." He has one other favorite all purpose word--nana means Nanna, banana, feed me, dinner, Kenna, and sometimes we aren't sure *what* it means. ;)

We enjoyed the big monkey cake...I'm glad I took a picture because it went fast!

Christmas stuff

2008-12-17T06:44:00.000-08:00

Kenna and Landon with "Santa." Riley and Matthew stayed at home because they weren't feeling well.

Riley's Christmas jon-jon.

Kenna's Christmas dress. Microcheck doesn't photograph well, does it? I still haven't gotten the button to complete the dress.

I'm embroidering kitchen towels for gifts. I love redwork. I'm also doing some blue farm animal toile on another set. These are flour sack towels and look alot like flat fold diapers. I am not terribly happy with the towels, but they look okay.

Kenna quips

2008-12-16T20:02:00.000-08:00

Kenna has been on a roll today. These are some of the things she's said (I must write them down so I don't forget).

We were talking about Santa and how some people pretend that he is real and that when I was little my mom bought presents and put them under the tree for me and we pretended they were from Santa. She looked at me and said, "Nana lied."

I was embroidering towels in blue and she wanted me to do a pink one. I told her I couldn't do pink because my aunt's kitchen wasn't pink. She said, "When I get a house it's going to be pink, pink, pink." Then she told me I could come visit her anytime and even sleep over. I asked if I could live with her and she said, "No, because the middle biscuit is mine." (The middle biscuit has been "mine" since I was her age...no one else ever wanted it anyway because it doen't have a crusty edge...but Kenna always wants it).

She got a thank-you note in the mail and turned it over on the back and read, "Made in China" and asked me if everything was made in China.

A few weeks ago she saw a school bus at a stop light and read "Mississippi School for the Blind and Deaf" on the side. She looked at her dad and said, "They let them drive?"

After having her photo made with Santa tonight, she sat down to write him a letter (they had a table set up in the store). This is what she wrote...

Dear Santa,

I love the photo. I want to get another picture next year.

Kenna

I really wanted to keep it forever, but let her fold it up and put it in the mailbox. :)

Copied from the Borderland

2008-12-16T19:33:00.000-08:00

I thought this was neat, so I'm doing it too.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both. Especially fond of the recycled gift bags that my mom and I pass back and forth year after year. She ended up with all of them last year because I had a new baby was too busy to store bags, so I had to buy some new ones.

2. Real tree or artificial? Currently, no tree. But the one in the attic is artificial.

3. When do you put up the tree? After Thanksgiving. I aim for the day after, but usually miss. I'm apparently skipping the tree this year.

4. When do you take down the tree? If my sister is around it comes down the day after Christmas. :)

5. Do you like eggnog? Boiled custard is better.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? A dollhouse my parents made.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My father-in-law. If it's something he needs or wants, he buys it for himself and he's not into stuff he doesn't need or want.

8. Easiest person to buy for? My five year old daughter.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, we have several and most are child friendly and out all year for them to play with.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Just finished 50 today. They'll go out in the mail tomorrow, hopefully.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Underoos 2 sizes too small when I was about 12.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Charlie Brown Christmas

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually after Thanksgiving (but not on Black Friday).

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas gift? Nope.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmastime? My mom's chicken gumbo.

16. Lights on the tree? Definitely.

17. Favorite Christmas Song? "Do You Hear What I Hear" and "What Child is This"

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel, but I consider it going home.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yup.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Either. Though I think we have a star (in the attic).

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? In the morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Christmas stuff out before Halloween.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love ornaments from Hallmark.

24. Favorite for Christmas Dessert? My mom's cheesecake.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Black leather gloves (no, really).

26. Who is most likely to respond to this? *shrug*

27. Favorite Holiday Tradition? Christmas Eve communion services.

Christmas card photos

2008-12-14T06:14:00.000-08:00

I gave all three kids a bath, dressed them in their new matching, festive pajamas and tried very hard to take a really good photo for our Christmas cards (which just must go out in the mail tomorrow). Needless to say, it didn't go so well. Landon cried (and cried and cried, but he isn't feeling well), Riley fell off the bed, Kenna clowned (at least she enjoyed the experience). This is what we got....

Cute, but nothing with all three that's card suitable. I think I'll just use the one that I made before the Christmas party because I'm not so up for trying again...although they are still all wearing the pjs...maybe after breakfast. ;)

Finishing UFOs

2008-12-12T07:25:00.000-08:00

So I decided sometime yesterday that the kids needed festive clothes for the clergy Christmas party and I should finish the Christmas outifits I started for Kenna and Landon last year while I was "great with child." Apparently I'm a really terrible seamstress when I'm that pregnant. Kenna's jumper had the yoke attached to the skirt, but I hadn't traced or cut the armholes first (oops) and the jon jon was a real mess. The leg fabric and lining weren't the same length or straight. I ripped and repaired as best I could and they turned out all right, even if the bottom is a little crooked and odd (I was afraid to cut anything) Riley got the jon jon since Landon had long outgrown a size 2 Jeffrey, and Landon wore a sweater vest that is supposed to be Riley's (it isapparently big for an 18 mo size). Because I was working with serious time constraints (i.e. hemming less than a hour before we had to leave) there were some unavoidable "flaws." Kenna's jumper only has three buttons instead of four (but the collar covered them anyway) and I didn't stitch down the lining. Riley's has two buttons of one kind on one side and two of another on the other shoulder.

It is difficult to take a good photo of all 3 of them together and you can't really see the dress, but I'll take another one when I get it really finished. :)

Now own the the christening ensemble (which hopefully won't come down to the wire like everything else!)

Sittin' on a guitar making phone calls (he's either calling Nanna or China!)

Vacuuming while holding the baby is possible, but it makes it more work (especially when he's so fascinated with the vacuum from that angle that he keeps leaning out of the sling).

One down...

2008-12-04T14:47:00.001-08:00

I've gotten one outfit completely done and the other nearly done (just need to do a little more smocking and construct the bib).

This is one of the most versitale designs I've ever seen. (I can't take credit for it, I copied a store bought version.) The smocking is on a bib that is completely removable. I will eventually add an applique initial on the green side and a 3 letter monogram on the dotted side. It's really cute as just an A-line jumper as well.

I find it difficult to smock with little ones running about, so I'll finish all that once they go to bed and then do the other bib in the morning.

Right now I'm going to see to some of the things have been neglected in my mad dash to finish this project...namely the laundry, floors, and kitchen!

Win an Ergo

2008-12-04T06:27:00.000-08:00

Win a Free Organic Embroidered Ergo Baby Carrier Hands Free System from Along for the Ride

I really have gotten alot done...

2008-12-03T13:28:00.000-08:00

...there's just so much *left* to do. The outfits themselves are mostly finished (just a couple of buttons to sew on, one waist casing and ruffles to put on the hems of the pants) but I've run out of thread and have to go get some more before I can finish. The scary part is that I have to do another insert...pleat it, smock it, block it...and then get both insets into their "bibs." Did I mention that this has to be done by tomorrow? Well, actually, I'm going to give myself another day, but that means I won't be able to go to my Mom's Friday like I had planned. I think I'll go Saturday and stay through Tuesday instead.

Here's my Landon, standing on his head. :)

Will this work?

2008-12-02T06:25:00.000-08:00

I need input from those of you who were thinking about coming to Riley's christening. We're considering having it on Saturday the 27th. We are just not going to be able to get it done before Christmas (too many conflicts and not enough time to finish his gown) and a Saturday just might be easier for some people to come and less stressful all around.

If you don't mind, email me (crsta33@bellsouth.net) and let me know if you could make that date. I'm thinking early afternoon, but we could be flexible on the time. We'll have a small birthday party for him afterwards.

We went to the parade last night, but of couse I didn't take my camera. There were alot of disappointed people (the parade wasn't exactly spectacular) but Landon was not among them. There were fire trucks from every fire department between here and Memphis, ladder trucks, engines, and a tanker, lots of motorcycles, dozens of antique cars, a county road maintenance vehicle, a school bus, and several 6 foot tall animals (a dog, a raccoon, and a bear). When Santa came along at the end of parade, Landon looked at me and said, "What that guy?" Supposed to be the highlight of the parade and Landon didn't even know who he was. :)

Birthday photo shoot

2008-11-30T17:15:00.003-08:00

We went to JCPenney for Landon's birthday pictures. We had a great time and got some great shots. Here are the best ones.

We are back from our nice, long Thanksgiving holiday. I've got to finish a smocking inset, smock another, and construct two outfits before Thursday. I'll post pictures as I get things done. I'm having issues with a reindeer...the pattern has him facing one way and I need him to face the other and am not sure how to do that quickly and easily (I don't think I can reverse it in my mind) If transparency sheets aren't too expensive I'm going to get some and copy it onto that, then I can flip it and have the reverse image on the back side.

Birthday boy!

2008-11-23T17:44:00.001-08:00

Landon's birthday was Friday and we had his party on Saturday afternoon. It was a small party at home and we all really enjoyed it.

Lots of help and interest in the present opening.

Present opening went great, until Landon opened the gun Papaw got him. He loved it so much that he didn't want to let go of it to open anything else...

and had a little meltdown (this was too cute and I just had to include it!) I embroidered his t-shirt and Kenna had to have one too...hers says "Look at me I'm 5" though I think it probably should have said, "Look at me I'm green with envy." She ended up not even wearing it to the party!

This is the gun, which he slept with last night, and took with him in the van this morning. I drew the line at taking it into church though. He also took a nap with it this afternoon.

He did realize he'd gotten other really cool toys, too. This has been another favorite and the other kids love it, too. Thank goodness I had the foresight to get two remote controlled vehicles to go with it, though they all want the same one anyway.

This is why Kenna didn't wear her shirt...

she went to a Fancy Nancy birthday party Saturday morning and got all fancied up.

Hair, nails, necklaces, makeup, feather boa, and a Dole Banana sticker (from breakfast)

Riley was having a ball grabbing for the camera...

which is probably why my lens is always smudged.

Landon had to pull baby duty Friday to help me out...

he did a good job (though Riley woke up because I kept taking pictures).

Shh...can you keep a secret

2008-11-19T12:57:00.000-08:00

If you promise not to tell, I'll let you peek at some of the Christmas presents I'm making.

I *love* this tote bag. I got two, and I'm very tempted to keep one of them. But I think I may use one for my SAGA Christmas party gift and dig out my seriously underutilized Vera Bradley tote for me. I can even monogram it to make it feel special and new. The red tote came from http://www.lakeside.com/. They are terribly slow shippers (I placed my original order Oct. 28 and the last part of my order just shipped today) but they have lots of cool stuff reasonably priced.

Close up of embroidery.

This purse came from Lakeside too.

The first of many, many kitchen towels I'm doing. I'm a little worried because the rest of the designs are split and I'll have to stitch and rehoop. It'll give me lots of hooping practice though.

I'm also working on Riley's christening gown. The date is a little up in the air, either Dec. 7 or Dec. 14th...I've sworn to get this kid dedicated before he's a year old, so if it gets pushed to the 21st I guess I can live with that too...if you want to come (and all are welcome) the 14th is the most likely date, but I can't say for sure yet. Actually, we are planning on combining the christening with his first birthday (especially since the poor kid doesn't really have any "baby" friends), so if you can't make it for church, come for cake and ice cream.

I'm smocking a couple of Christmas outfits also that must be done by Dec. 7...nothing like a deadline to make me dread working on something. I'll post pictures when I have something to show.

Birthday weekend

2008-11-09T06:51:00.001-08:00

Big weekend for birthdays and long drives. My stepson celebrated his 12th and some little friends of ours turned 6 on the same day. Saturday was a really long and really awesome day.

I actually have some "sewing" to share...I did these shirts for the girls' presents.

Happy 12th birthday to Wesley!

We took a wrong turn on the way to our friends' house and didn't regret it one bit because this is what we got to see. Though a photo doesn't do it justice...it was just miles of this on both sides.

Six years old! Happy birthday Emma Kate and Gracie.

Eli and Kenna...old friends.

"Aunt" Amy's house....where a boy can be a boy!

Riley got so dirty, he had to have a bath before we left for home (Landon, too).

Twister!

Fall Frolic

2008-11-02T04:55:00.000-08:00

Playing in the yard...

Halloween

2008-11-02T04:40:00.000-08:00

Kenna and the girls dressed "festively" on Thursday and had a blast playing with the wagon.

Here's our whole crew ready to go trick-or-treating, which in our neighborhood, is a hit or miss prospect. We tried one street, decided to give up and go to a local church's trunk-or-treat, but arrived too late. So we just went to a few houses we knew, then brought them home and let them trick-or-treat at our door...dumping all the candy we got Wednesday night into their bags. This resulted in about half a dozen more trick-or-treaters coming to our house (hey look how much they gave those kids!) But we had plenty to go around...even if we did have to reach back into our own kids bags to get it. :)

We decided Landon really looked more like an intern.

Our little doughboy...can 't tell you how many times he got poked in the belly. ;)

Last minute costumes

2008-10-29T18:26:00.001-07:00

Halloween may be Friday, but Trunk-or-Treat at our friends' church was tonight! I had to scramble to put together costumes for the boys. I raided the dress up trunk and pulled out doctor's scrubs for Landon (which he wasn't happy about...he was wearing his "CaveMan" shirt and wanted to be a caveman) and I grabbed the chef hat for Riley, printed out a Pillsbury label and stuck it on and found some white clothes so he could be the Pillsbury DoughBoy.
The flashlight is an interesting doctor prop, but it made him happy at the time.

Kenna in her best Leia pose.

Kenna's friends. You can't see it, but "Dorothy" is wearing a babyleg under her dress. :)

Matthew didn't dress up, but we could have added a lollipop for Kojack or blacked under his eyes for Uncle Fester, or dressed all in white for Mr. Clean. Maybe he will choose one of those options for Friday.

Last year Kenna was Tinker Bell. She wanted me to be Wendy, which is cool, until you realize that I was nearly 8 months pregnant at the time. LOL

Halloween is Friday!?!!?

2008-10-29T10:51:00.000-07:00

Why didn't anyone tell me Friday is Halloween? *This* Friday? Somehow it has completely snuck up on me. I got Kenna's Princess Leia gown done last night...

It's made of nylon tricot that I had laying around, so it's really thin. I'll put tights and such under it I guess. I got the pattern for Landon's Luke Skywalker "robe" but don't have fabric for it yet. And I've no clue what Riley is going to be. A garden gnome (think Travelocity)? Yoda? Charlie Brown?

I have been busy today. Did a couple of "baby legs" for the little girl with a broken leg (I leave the 2nd sock to go over her toes on the broke leg foot) and embroidered a couple of blankets for them.

Christmas blankets Faux baby legs

Also, I joined Facebook last night. It's interesting, but it makes me feel old and out of touch. :)

Oh, and a traveling salesman came to the door hawking a multipurpose cleaner (Avanage) and we bought it since it took the horrible stains out of the carpet in the office that have been there since we moved in (and have been steam cleaned several times). It was an investment for the bottle of concentrate, but it dilutes to 35 bottles of cleaner, and comes out to a little more than $1 a bottle. He demonstrated it's powers on our dirty door, window, and carpet. Kenna and I have been having a cleaning frenzy. It works and it's purple! LOL

Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-28T08:42:00.001-07:00

We recently went to Cedar Hill farm on a field trip with some friends. It was a beautiful day. Kenna and Landon rode ponies and picked pumpkins from the pumpkin patch. We also went on a hay ride, navigated a corn maze, fed various farm animals, rode a train, and had a picnic. Landon only got "lost" twice (and we found him very quickly) and the one minor diasater (a splinter in a little finger) was resolved quickly, if not painlessly. A very nice day, so nice we actually made the girls late for their dance lesson.

Birthday party

2008-10-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

I didn't post these things as they happened, but I've been inspired so I'm doing it now. :)

We had Kenna's party at Chuck E. Cheese and we all had a blast. We did a walk-in party early in the morning, and there was almost no one there. We basically had the place to ourselves.

Blowing out the candles

Riley loved everything. He had a ball.

This ride took a picture every time Landon put a token in. When I counted the pictures, there were 17 of them! He only had 20 tokens...he used almost all of them on this one ride. :)

You can't call it a day at Chuck E. Cheese's unless someone has a tantrum. Landon graced us with several, but I think he still enjoyed it (and it didn't ruin it for the rest of us either). We may even go back for his birthday next month!

Birthday outfits

2008-10-28T07:19:00.000-07:00

Look who's five!

Kenna's fifth birthday was earlier this month and I made her several outfits for the occasion. I finished the Judith Adams dress from a class I took from her last fall and I made a top and pants with fabric I won from Princess Designs. She wore these to have her birthday pictures made.

I also embroidered a shirt for her to wear at her party. She was very happy with it, but I got it out for her to wear the other day and she told me she couldn't wear it because she wasn't having a party that day. :)

You can't really see, but it says, "It's My Party"