Good-bye, sewing machine! We need a break...

It's time to say good-bye, and I'm ready for a break.  In fact, I put the machine away before I finished my last two projects, one of which had a deadline.  The first was a skirt I've been excited about finishing, but I've struggled terribly with finishing the waistband.  Just look:

See that mess of threads?  This will be the fourth time I'll tear out those stitches.  I decided I'll bring the skirt to my sister's and fix it with her machine.

Overall, though, I really like the fit of the skirt and will definitely make another.  It's based on the Party Skirt tutorial at Creative Spaces.  I found her site after seeing Homemade by Jill's skirt but made a few modifications including pockets! This was my first time making inseam pockets and I'm going to do it on every skirt now.  I followed the wonderful tutorial over at ikat bag.

The other unfinished project will likely never be completed.  I was sewing a gift for a friend that recently had her fourth baby boy.  But when I make a gift for someone I like to be happy about it, and with all the swearing at my sewing machine lately, I've decided to go with a gift card instead.  I hope you understand!

The kids and I are flying out on Saturday to stay with family during the big move.  I'm secretly hoping the moving guys drop my sewing machine so I can get a new one.  It's sad to say good-bye to something my grandmother used, but it's seen better days.  And sewing is supposed to be my therapy, not my swearing session.  

I want one

We've been having major discussion in our house about bikes.  Well, maybe not major discussion, but it's been on my mind every single day, especially since our future home is situated in a nice small community perfect for biking rather than driving.  To me, it's a hundred times easier to load up a stroller or bike with our park (or beach! yippee!) gear than to load the car.

Anyway, back to my issue.  C is learning to ride her bike, but she's too slow for me to ride with her (or even run with her) and S is totally not cool with extended trips in the jogging stroller.  My plan was to get C a little tandem thing to put on Daddy's bike, and then get a seat for S to ride on my bike.  I really like the ride-up-front seats, but since I'm short, and S is already tall, it seems that isn't going to work. Then I came across Madsen Cycles!  Just take a look at this!  Can you see me on one of these?  Like this mom? (Although we'd be wearing helmets.)  I like the blue one the best, but that's a hefty price tag.  Too bad I missed their giveaway last fall, but maybe someday...First I'll need to convince hubby.  What do you think?  Scary?  Or Fun?

Toddler Tuesday

Elizabeth over at Think Liz has been doing some great "Toddler Tuesday" posts. Her son is around the same age as S and just as busy.  Check out her blog for some great toddler-themed activities.  Here's one we did at our house...I poked holes in the bottom of an egg carton and then let S put the pencils through the holes.  When S was finished, he put the pencils inside the carton and brought the new game to C to try out, too.

C's preschool inspired this idea (although I do vaguely remember reading it in one of my toddler activity books).  They used big pieces of styrofoam and the kids hammered in golf tees.  I'm hoping to recreate this for our upcoming road trip as it was a big hit among the 4- and 5-year olds, I just need to find out where to get some styrofoam.

Oh, and while you are on the Think Liz site, check out her list of free patterns.  What a great resource!

More notecards

I made some notecards for a very dear family friend.  My sister and I adored her as children.  My sister even named her doll after her...now that's a real compliment coming from a 9-year old!

I sewed the fabric directly to the notecards, a few vertical and a few horizontal.

All tied up and ready for mailing.

Notecards

Here's a fun blog to peruse....Twirling Betty.  I originally stumbled upon the site while tracking down those adorable hats/headbands.  She also has some great mini-bunting for sale in her Etsy shop and when I saw this post I thought "I could do that".  So I did!

I found that blue painters tape was the perfect thing to hold down those little triangles.

Stitched really close the edge...

Ta-dah!  Mom received a set of these for Christmas.  I still have some itty bitty triangles left to sew some up for myself, but haven't got around to that yet.

Sewing 101

I love sewing.  I love seeing my kids wear clothes that I've made, I love giving gifts that I made, I love using my bags and key chain that I made.  But most of all, I love the outlet that sewing provides.  When I get all antsy and short tempered, or go through a bad spell of feeling like all I'm doing is (barely) treading water, I know that it's usually because my machine has been gathering dust for awhile.  I need to hear the hum of the motor to drown out my never-ending thoughts and mental to-do lists.  It sounds corny, but I love it.  I also love that my hubby recognizes this need and will entertain the kids while I have some quiet time at the sewing table.

One of my inspirations to keep sewing and trying new things is a local sewing lounge called Hip Stitch.  Besides having really great designer fabric that you cannot find at chain stores, the owner is so friendly and there is such a happy vibe when you walk through the door.  She doesn't even seem to mind when the kids run wild as I shop. Best of all, they have lots and lots of really great classes (not just sewing, lots of other fun stuff, too!) and free craft nights.  I always feel so energized after learning something new.

I am currently taking Sewing 101.  Look at this amazing project!

OK, so it doesn't look so fantastic, but basically it's a class where we learn all kinds of new techniques and then have a muslin with our work to refer to in the future.

I even did a button with my machine!  Oh, the simple pleasures to a novice.  Next week, pockets, fly front zipper and more.  Yay!

Celebrate the Boy!

Woo Hoo!  Rae and Dana are doing another round of Celebrate the Boy.  I looooved this series last year, since I had just started sewing and my own boy was my inspiration.  I can't wait to see what they come up with this year!

Birthday and Valentine Crafts

I mentioned previously that C turned four last week.  In preparation for her big birthday, she chose some Valentine-y, Hello Kitty fabric for a twirly skirt.  We had lots leftover for bean bags and totes.

I don't remember the exact dimensions I used for the bean bags...maybe 4.5 x 4.5?  I sewed them right sides together, leaving a gap for turning, then filled with pintos and top stitched the opening closed.  S actually helped me do them, from filling bags to helping guide them on the machine.

Here's visual evidence of his help:

I made the tote bags using this Classic Tote tutorial as a rough guide and based my measurements on our old Cat in the Hat bag that fits "kid stuff" nicely.

The tutorial makes great use of french seams.  I'd forgotten how much I love those!

Happy Valentine's Day!

What we've been doing...

We've had an unusual week here, semi-snowed in, preparing for C's 4th (!!)  birthday, dealing with sickness, and trying to pack.  Here's how that looks when four little hands help:

Shameful, isn't it?  I'm reading a lot of organizing books right now, getting rid of a lot of unnecessary stuff, and vowing to start our life in our new house very organized.

Here is what our new house looks like!

 The marsh view:

One photo of the living room.  I didn't do a very good job taking interior photos, but we are excited about our new space!

C's big birthday was fantastic.  I can't believe my little girl, born on my mom's birthday (and Super Bowl Sunday, coincidently), is now FOUR!  She is so full of life, loves to sing, and never stops moving.  I truly admire her tenacity and hope that she always carries that with her, always standing up for what she believes.  Unfortunately, she didn't get to bring her cupcakes to school because of the weather, and then I was lying-on-the-floor-all-day sick on her actual birthday, but we managed to eat "Chinese noodles" and make a delicious mint chocolate cake (both per her request) for her big day.  Today, we had a small party with three friends from school and she and S both helped me sew little tote bags for her friends.  What a brilliant idea--teaching the kids to enjoy sewing so I can sew during the day!  On another sewing note, that $50 machine that started my addiction has officially said he's had enough.  I was forced to learn how to use my grandmother's very old Singer and I am so glad I finally figured it out.  Metal parts=quiet sewing!  And now Gram is with me every time I sew.