angry chicken

what can I say but thank you.

Wow. I am stunned. Your comments have meant so much to me. The personal stories, the well wishes, the empathy, it's all so amazing. Thank you all so much. I can't tell you have much differently I have felt since Monday. I have slept so much better. I don't think I realized, until I wrote about it, just how much I was holding in. So, I thank you so very very much.

Okay, I got out the Kleenex, and I will now compose myself and move on to crafty stuff. Sniff. Sniff.

I have been reluctant to put away this feather tree since Christmas. I made this tree about 5 years ago and it was so hard and took so long, I have decided this year to milk it for all it's worth. So, we made Valentine's Day felt heart ornaments and then will hang eggs on it for Easter. This great fabric on top of the felt is from Superbuzzy.

A few things I have been meaning to link to:

-Sister Diane of Craftypod has this new amazing site listing local Portland classes and events called The DIY Alert. The amount of stuff going on here is mind blowing, as is this site she has set up. I had no idea so much was happening in this town! I need to get out more, obviously.
-Another local link, in Portland this Saturday Feb 3rd only, is the Wurst Gallery Wurstminster Dog Show at the very very new Ace Hotel. I hope to be cool enough and (motivated enough) to get out of the house and go.
-Queenthings has a wonderful new site up for her jewelry. This piece is my favorite. The collection is all very dreamy and the theme is so imaginative. I think everything is sold out now, but please visit anyway, the site is just lovely.

In the water?

So, I have been trying to figure out how to write this post for a long time. The short version is there is a baby in my tummy and it's coming out in June, around the 21st. The longer version is that I am thrilled, excited, nervous, tired, freaked-out, emotional, and have an awesome outbreak of adult acne over all this. . .this pregnancy has been so different than the first two for so many reasons. Nothing is wrong, quite the opposite, but I am acting so different. So busy with the girls, I think it just hasn't seemed real until now. .

The foot.

We had the 20 week ultrasound yesterday and everything seems perfect. I think I needed this before I could really write about it. I have had so many friends get bad news at the 20 week ultrasound and it's been so hard for me not to worry about this baby.

Some of the reasons were/are; I will be 35 in May, the magic baby-freak-out age, so the medical profession so well reminds us. I also have had a lot of friends deal with really sad baby news in the last few years. There was the bizarre fear I was having twins (did I mention that I am HUGE!!??) And, the real clincher-deep down, I felt kind of guilty for wanting 3 kids so badly.The two I have are more than enough and they are so wonderful, so I have been waiting for something bad to happen. This is my brain lately.

I have always wanted more than 2 kids and in our immediate circle of friends here, we are alone in this desire. (I actually wanted 4 children my whole life, but I said that out loud only once, and then decided not to bring it up again.) When we have told people we are expecting a third, the reaction has been so different than with the second. It goes something like, "Wow, did you plan it?" (What a highly personal question!) and then when I say, "um. .  yeah. ." they say "Wow, you are crazy!!" Um, thank you, I guess??

Not to dwell on anything other than how wonderful this all is-we are so very very happy. However, all of this stuff in my head has made me want to just keep it under my hat way longer than I would have ever imagined. But now, especially because I look so very pregnant, and have had a good ultrasound, I am out about it. In more than one sense of the word. . .And I am thrilled so many other bloggers (Hillary, Kim, and Di! And I know there are more. . .) are expecting too!! So cool! The same week even? How crazy is that!!??

We don't know the gender, and aren't finding out. . .and now that we know baby is doing good I just keep humming "3 is the magic number" (the De La Soul version) in my head all day. .

and I guess there will be no book tour for me! ha!

I wanna go back!

We had a wonderful 3 day weekend at the coast and now it's so hard being home. The weather was amazing, no wind and lots of sun, in the 50s I think. Here it's clear too--but windy, so windy, and cold. I got some very important things accomplished at the beach, including eating a decent amount of cake, and I was able to finish the aforementioned belated birthday gift and frame it, shown above. (See a close up here.). It's 6" x 6" which is a great size for cross-stitch I think. It didn't take too long, but still is enough stitches to feel like I did something. I read a whole bunch in this book, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, and what a guilty pleasure it is, perfect beach reading, and I was able to go to my favorite needlework shop, the Twining Thread, where this book found me and begged to come home with us, so it did.

I will show some inside pages soon--it's making me all swoony every time I open it up. It is in French so Pete has had to help me a bit, but really, just the photos and charts make it worth it. It has cross-stitch charts and lovely projects, not all of which I would replicate exactly, but are lovely and so inspiring.  Maison Sajou (est. 1830) has put out this book and they also have, in a smaller format, re-printed their old charts and also have historic notions to die for, thread winders, etc, it was really hard to remain composed in the shop. I also picked up some hand-dyed lined in a deep red for my next project, I am so excited.

Thank you for the Bloggies nomination congratulations! It's so funny saying there is "best" of anything like this, you know? But I do appreciate the props, so thank you. And not to sound like a big dork, but I think every craft blog is the best, I mean it.

lazy weekend-

We are about to embark on a very lazy weekend in honer of Pete's birthday. I hope to restart and finish a very important belated b-day gift for someone (who soon will have a girl of her own! whoo-hoo!). This will be round 2 on this gift. Oh, cross-stitch can be a harsh mistress. Why do I get cocky and stitch the border first?

And on a very exciting-surprised-OMG!!! note, I am flattered beyond belief that angry chicken is nominated for best craft weblog over at the 2007 Bloggies. Wow. Wow! this is so awesome, thank you so much to everyone who took the time to nominate me! I am in the company of Crazy Aunt Pearl, not martha, design*sponge, and the Make:blog, please go on over and vote if you get a chance. 

I love these Bloggies because I always find the best blogs in all the other categories I never think about, like last year, I didn't even know about Go Fug Yourself, can you imagine??

Okay, we are outie. Is it really gross to eat cake before 9:00am? I think not.

rehash of valentine's day stuff

I was looking for this image and realized my categories are a complete mess. I need to get a search feature on this blog. These are from last year and aren't even listed in the archives because that list only shows so many months at a time (can I change this?) anyhow-I am gearing up for some Valentine's day crafts around here and forgot I need to bust out this garland and hang it. Then start sweeping up glitter again.

and these are from last year too and I think I will do this again, it made normal candy bars so special.

I am feeling behind. I have the mini-swap to get together and. . I guess that's it, but still, for a family with 4 kids, most of whom are boys, so I'm gonna have to do some research. .also, Pete's b-day is coming up and I need to work some magic in 48 hours. hmmm.

Don't forget about the Tie One On theme for Jan/ Feb, the Valentine's Day apron. I need to get on this too. I think it will be a dolly apron this time, and I will use some of that cute fabric for it. oh, the coffee is kicking in now!

parsley and chamomlie tea

I just got this book today in the mail and am so thrilled. It's from 1977 and been out of print for awhile, but there seems to be quite a few used (and cheap) copies floating around out there. Mine is hardback and so sweet. It's written as a children's cookbook with clear directions and nice large print and lovely illustrations throughout-all from Beatrix Potter books.
We have the box set here and they are very important in this house; so these recipes really crack us up. There are several categories in the cookbook with such delectable dishes as:

-Ginger and Pickles bean salad
-Tommy Brock and Mr. Tod's wheat germ muffins
-Duchess and Ribby's tomato-cheese pie
-Old Mr. Bouncer's lemon-mint peas
-Cat and Rat tomato soup
-Simpkin's Gloucester town granola cookies

There is a nice how-to section in the back, too. This book kills me. It's the perfect mix of buttoned up Beatrix Potter humor that I deeply love combined with the earthy natural cooking I dig so much. This made me week. I'd snatch these used copies up while they are still cheap. And I still haven't seen the movie! Is it good?

3 wonderful things.

1. My very own Jennifer Murphy creation, Addy May. I bought her back before Christmas and have been hiding her away, she's almost too special to share. She is on a "no touch" policy with the girls. So far, so good.

2. Sliced apple and Brie sandwich. It's even better with Camembert. I want to eat one of these everyday, but I don't. But, I think I should. Also, amazing on a baguette; chevre, arugula and sauteed portabella mushrooms. I used to get these at a little catering shop in Seattle, Gourmondo. I have no idea if they still have a space where you can sit down, or if they even make these anymore, but if they do, you have to try them.

3. You all are amazing. Your response to the fabric designs made feel so very good, thank you! And I'm glad you all like the ugly , too.

fabric designs-keeping me up at night

I really really want to design a line of fabrics. Real bad. I know I am not alone here. It's for purely selfish reasons, of course, I want to design what I want to use myself. I had some extra printable fabric sheets from the Aunt Sarah dolls and designed these patterns (you can see them all here) for small projects, and then I couldn't stop.

I was able to design a few custom rugs/carpets back in the BB days (before babies) when I was working, you know, in a office. It was so fun. Super fun. The best part of my design job, really. That and the drawing, which there was not enough of. I miss those parts a whole bunch.

I printed one pattern in the first colorway and then promptly ran out of ink, but it looks pretty good. The printed fabric has a real stiff hand, but at least I got the pattern on there. I will show you how it makes up into something (something 8 1/2" x 11" small) real soon. I am itching because I see these used as skirt/handbag/quilt type projects, not the teeny tiny paper sheet sized projects that I am relegated to at home with my printer.

Here's my favorite coloway. I'm all about the ugly, I can't help it. Give me some little lines (I see them as hairs) and some mildly creepy biomorphic shapes, and I am all set.

fabric, snow, & disco.

I had tasty breakfast with Mariko on Sunday and then we hit Fabric Depot afterwords. I got these Valentine themed fabrics, two of which were used on the Aunt Sarah dolls. And thanks for the love on that project-they are so fun to have around the house. It is really hysterical seeing Aunt Sarah "sick" and going to the "hospital" so much. I sure hope she feels better soon.

I have no idea yet what I will do with these fabrics, but had to get them-so there you go.

And as you can see from the NW blogging contingency, we got some snow here. Big news. The city all but shuts down-there are no plows here and it's a mad house. But we had milk, eggs, cheese, and freshly baked monkey bread before the storm came, so we are all good. (But now, the monkey bread is gone.) The girls have only been eating snow for the last 24 hours anyway. (Which means you know who was eating the monkey bread.)

And I had one of those mommy pride/crying moments last week. Big big stuff. I never realized how anxious you can feel, as a parent, introducing something to your kids for the first time that meant so much to you when you were little. Like something that was super important, life affirming, and nothing short of pure magic, possibly something that holds the meaning of life, and can make sense of the world-and when I was about Sadie's age, that thing for me was disco music, specifically, ABBA. I put on the double vinyl of The Hits last week for them for first time, and was just trying to play it cool. I started with Dancing Queen, of course, and then, to make it impossible to not feel the disco love, Take a Chance on Me. The double whammy. I didn't plan it, not really, but as I put the record on, my palms were sweating. If they didn't like it, that would be it. They don't really go back to stuff if the first impression isn't good. The song started and Sadie just looked at me, smiled big, and said "It's about dancing!" grabbed a scarf and danced her heart out. Miss Delia did the same thing of course, but it was more like running in circles. Later, Sadie told Grammie all about Take a Tatch on Me (it took us a while to understand what she was talking about) and I was as proud as the parent of the kid who hits the winning home run.

I have heard that Mama Mia is going to be made into a movie, but I don't know if I can see it because to me, Abba is about one thing only, roller skating. I am fully prepared to accept the girls might not like rollerskating, at least not yet. . .but when they do try, you can bet I will be there with glow sticks, high-top skates with big purple pom-poms on the toes, and a slew of disco music for them at the ready. And then maybe they will get an Abba-Zaba candy bar afterward.

aunt sarah dolls.

I have been wanting to make Aunt Sarah dolls for a long time now. They hear about her, talk to her on the phone, and play with her toys and creations all day, but didn't really have a visual of her. So, after good sport Sarah complied and sent me this flippin cute photo, I jumped on this project pronto. Sadie insisted that she have sleeping bags (which can hang) because camping is the new favorite nighttime activity, with blankets, all the lights out, flashlights, a lantern, and lots and lots of dollys.

Here are the Sarahs all nested snug in the hangable sleeping bags.

I did the drawing in illustrator and then printed it onto the twill, using this product, which I like a lot. I was gonna do the whole bubble jet thing, but didn't have the patience nor the right fabric to print on.

Then, it's hard to see here, I traced a light pencil line around the shapes, on the back side of the twill. This was my stitching line. I never cut out the shapes first when they are this small, I sew on the line first and then trim and turn. Much less swearing because then there are no unaligned seams edges. I turned them and stuffed them with this tool, which I can't live without, the stuffing fork. It's impossible to stuff these teeny tiny parts without something like this and I like working small, so I am so happy I found it. I learned about it when I was making a Gail Wilson doll and it has changed my life. Seriously.

The girls love these dollys a whole lot and I thought about making some with photos of the whole family. I think it's especially cool for long distance family and friends that they don't see very often. Plus it's just freaky and funny to see faces of real people on dolls.

Okay, on a business note, all the mailorders are out the door and if you haven't gotten yours soon, you will. Overseas may take a bit longer, or course. Tomorrow is a holiday so things might be backed up a bit. . there were a lot of address changes this time and also some paypal double payments and other oddities, so I will e-mail you if something gets returned or if there is other craziness. Thanks again for all the orders!