mending

My sewing machine has been in the shop twice in the last 2 weeks (I have a newer model, but have had a couple of quirky issues with it.)  I've missed it.  However, the break did us both some good.  My machine now weighs about 10 pounds less because all the lint and dust that has been cleaned out (sorry Mr. Repair Man :)  He gently reminded me that things might be helped if I did that myself- and a bit more often. I used the time away from Singer to recover from my "Last Minute Christmas Sewing Freak-out" and found a new desire to jump back in.  It was a joyous reunion.  Hannah was excited to see that it had returned to it's rightful place on my sewing table because I have been promising to make her some new jammies with the flannel she picked out at the fabric store.  Inspired by this post- I decided that we would work on them together.

 

I let her push the pedal and I did the steering.  This process reaffirmed what I already knew about Hannah.  That is- she basically has two speeds, major lolly-gager or crazy fast.  We struggled for a while to find our rhythm, laughing a lot! She also had some very specific requests as to the color of her thread (red top-stitching, and pink bobbin), length of her pants (she wanted her slippers to show), and the tightness of her waistband (we had to readjust a couple of times to get it just right). After chatting, teaching, some learning, and lots of giggles, she had her pants.  We used this pattern- so simple.  Because I didn't want to bore or worse frustrate her- simple was good.

She wore them for 2 days (and nights).  Then, the requests started coming in for more.  Laurel's are blue, longer, and with some zig-zags.  Thankfully, for the last 2 days we didn't have much reason to wear anything other than our softy flannel pants and slips.

Frankly, after last week (our first going back to school since the Holiday break) most of us felt like this doll- worn, ragged, and with our stuffing hanging out.  We spent much of the weekend mending.  Its always nice to give and receive a little more of each other during these quiet times.  Recharges the batteries a bit, you know?  Hey did you also know about this?  The popcorn is on deck and I have a very cozy companion who is sure to appreciate the romance of Jane Austen (as opposed to others that dwell here- you know who you are :)

wearing babies

I love having Laurel close to me.  Do you know how yummy she smells?  How soft her cheeks are? It is so intoxicating. Even better, I know how much she likes being near me.  I think it comforts us both to be close.  From the time she was very small we have enjoyed babywearing.  The benefits to us both are endless.  I have free hands (free in the sense that I can grab onto my other 2 daughters in busy parking lots), NO STROLLERS, no germ laden shopping carts, cozy naps in the middle of noisy family weddings, discrete nursing, no lugging that 50 lb. infant car seat into the Dr's. office, and finally- my pony tail makes a great toy! I am constantly telling my mamas-to-be that a sling or baby carrier in one form or another, is my #1 must have baby item.  I don't know how I would live without mine.

I made a new pouch last night following this pattern. It took less than 1 hour to stitch it together! In the past I have sewn and used ring slings which worked well when Laurel was a bit smaller.  I was worried about this pouch feeling as secure and tight without the adjust-ability of the rings.  With careful measuring (distance from your shoulder to hip determines the size of the pouch), this was equally secure.  Currently, we use a beco backpack.  I like having her on my back at this age.  She can see out, and I feel like I have a lot more freedom of movement.  However, with the "bulky coat" season upon us, the waist buckle has been weird.  Because she is on my back, I have to wear her over my coat and depending on what thickness of coat I am wearing that day, we are always re-adjusting.  With this snazzy little pouch I could still wear her on my front (she will NEVER be too big, I won't let it happen- I totally think that I could carry her down the isle at graduation- don't you?) allowing my coat to go over the top of both of us.  Also, it is easier for Laurel to get in and out of this pouch without having to loosen the rings on a regular sling.  We do that a lot (in and out).

Making your own baby carrier is totally safe, and a lot less expensive.  If you can sew a straight line, you can do it!  Plus, there is the benefit of choosing your own fabric.  Believe me, I have one in every color now- and you should too!  If you decide to make one let me know how it turns out!

stupid list

Have you ever had a "to do list" that laughed at you?  A list that provoked a challenge?  One that dared you to try and check off each task? Mine was scoffing at me last night.  I danced around it for a while, trying to figure out what to do about that "to do" list.

I tried thinking of ways to get out of a few things, I tried prioritizing and time scheduling...eventually I just gave up.  11 o'clock rolled around and I was so tired.  It had already been a very full day. I started walking towards my bedroom with the intention of scrapping my list and heading to bed.  Just about the time that I started to crawl into bed, I heard Laurel crying from her room.  It was an "I am sick" type of cry.  Yes, she has had a bit of a cold- but now it was definitely at a whole new level.  Croup.  Before long, I had humidifiers, hot steamy showers and boiling pots of water all going at the same time. Finally, she found her way back to sleep- in my bed.  On my side of the bed.  Propped up on my pillow.  And I was awake.  Wide awake.  In the far off distance I could hear my list.  It was taunting me, "ha! now it would truly be impossible for you to conquer everything on this list- there is a sick baby to deal with."  Little did my list know that I am not to be taunted at 2am.  I looked that list square in the eyes and said, "you wanna piece of this?"  And so it began...

What? Your kitchenaid mixer doesn't look like that?

48 gingerbread house cookies for the girl's Christmas Parties today. (I don't want to eat/smell/roll/cut/eat/mix/decorate/eat another gingerbread cookie for a long time!)

I downloaded this from itunes in the hopes of burning 22 CDs for Emma and Hannah to give away as gifts to all their classmates.  Yeah, did you know that you can only make 7 copies of each download?   I didn't- until after I had burned the 7th disc at 3am. That wasn't going to work for 22 students.  Quick, what to do?

Instead, Emma's classmates are getting little books.  There has been so much book love out there these days, I was grateful to have that idea tucked in the back of my brain.  I made ours with over sized index cards (1st graders love to write on lines.) The "binding" is just a straight machine stitch running down the side.  I never thought the needle would go through 5 layers of card stock!  Address labels slapped on the front made for a perfect place to write a title or your name.

Hannah's class will be receiving a "Thank God for Pinking Shears and Felt" ornament.  No, I did not sew all those buttons on- why do you think they invented hot glue?

It works don't you think?  So, onto the next task on my list.  Tired?  Pshaw, I don't know the meaning of the word. Overwhelmed?  Nonsense, there is no such thing.  "All Nighters", sick kids, Christmas Parties, weekend travel- mole hills. I refuse to go down with a box unchecked! Take that you stupid list!