angry chicken

a brief interruption. . .

 

Wow! What amazing baby love! I love it that there is no other craft project we can do that will generate more love, support, and encouragement than making a soft little baby. She's not stuffed with wool, but she's still plenty warm.

We are getting over the 5-day hump, you know, the milk coming in big time (ouch!) the lack of sleep for me and the 24 hour sleep-fest for Lydia, (and then she won't wake up to eat) that kind of thing. The girls are doing amazing, and we are all good. Tired, but so very happy. Thank you all for comments, it feels so good. As you can see, Liddy is already a complete crack-up. She is amazing and funny. . .we are totally in love with her and already can't imagine not having 3 girls in the house. Pete's in trouble.

This time is so surreal, I keep wondering if the Bend-The-Rules Sewing really came out last week? It's all so hazy and wonderful and such a whirl-wind.

I would love to direct you to some great book reviews/interviews from Not Martha and from Susan Beal at the Adorn Blog. These are very flattering (Thank you so much, you two!) and both give you a sense of what is in my book, if it's right for you, (I hope it is!) and provide some extra peeks inside. . . I also have a new podcast up over at craftsanity where I talk a lot about the book, (Yeah, it's a long one again.) and a bit about what it was like writing the book. Thanks Jennifer for the interview. You rock.

If you have already made some projects, please post them over on the Bend-The-Rules Sewing group on Flickr for some fun show and tell. I have received some really touching personal e-mails from people telling me how much they like the book. Thank you so much. It means a ton to me to hear all that, thanks for taking the time to write. On an apron note, I am getting great submissions for the Tie One On pocket theme and plan to get the gallery up after July 1st, but I know if it's up late, you all will be very understanding. . . ;)

Okay, back to napping, toe-biting, and snuggling.

she's here!

Lydia Rose Matern came to us Friday, June 22 and we are ecstatic!! We have 3 girls! Papa hasn't put her down. My water broke Thursday and then. . . . nothing. So we waited and waited and had her here, at home, in the tub, about 27 hours later. It was awesome and we are all doing great!

summer fun (and some trouble)

I haven't read this book. I haven't even cracked the cover. Okay, I don't own it, that's the real deal. But I really dig the way it looks and am excited to get my hands on a copy. The Dangerous Book for Boys, by Hal and Gonn Iggulden, reminds me so much of this book from the Handy series I posted about, awhile ago and surely it was a major inspiration. The problem with the old Handy Books, (I love them dearly, don't get me wrong) is that it's really hard to replicate the projects because they often involve fire, farms, iced over ponds, and other things that are either not in Portland and/or are now illegal. But the illos alone make all the Handy books worth owning, I think.

I have heard much criticism of the girls versions of these types of books, (There is no girl version of the Dangerous Book for Boys.) Either they don't exist or the ideas are too dated and limiting. I think that is true, which is why, even if we have 3 girls, this book will be on our shelves. I was making bombs with my brother (sorry mom), chucking slugs, and trying to learn to pick locks growing up and had a swell time.

I saw this book while browsing online, but it's not out yet (it's new, it just looks old) so, it's still a mystery. The cover is awesome, but I don't really dig the title, 'cause we all know being the best at something isn't really the point. . .anyhoo, there is a boy version too. Maybe this girl version will be a bit more rough and tumble in its scope of activities? Who knows. Even though I LOVE this stuff, I'm surprised at how much gender is separated today, especially with these new titles. Like why not The Dangerous book for Kids? Not just boys? I was a Free To Be You and Me child, born in 1972, and gender was really downplayed during that time, especially in clothes. . .then again, we all had bowl cuts, too, so there was some compromise.

this house is way into barrettes.

Thanks so much for the book love! I feel so supported and good about the whole thing. . .it's hard to put into words, except to say thank you.

I am not really able to stay focused on any one big project right now (like the the quilt and blanket I have started and not finished for this baby) so, I jumped to something else and I tried my hand at some felt covered barrettes last week and these are quick and easy. They go together so fast, it won't make me crazy if we lose them. I had stolen some glances at a pair at a b-day party last week and these are a close approximation of what that toddler was wearing. I think she really wanted me to stop messing with her hair. I just pretended it was normal to take a child's barrette out, examine it, and hastily try to get it back in her hair unnoticed. . . . and didn't make eye contact with the mom (bad me). . I think I got away with it. That, or I will be on a birthday party blacklist.

I had this bag of plain metal barrettes from the craft store lying around and I always meant to cover them in a clever way and never got around to it. There are a ton in this bag. I'm not sure how many, but they are easy to find in bulk in the beading section in craft shops. I didn't research any tutorials on making these, but I bet they are out there. Here's how I made them:

1. I traced the outline of the barrette onto (wool) felt with my trusty water-soluble pen. I use wool felt because the other stuff freaks me out and these colors are to die for. 

2. Then, I cut a second piece of felt out the same size as the first and laid it behind the top piece, trimming it a bit shorter in the length. I flipped both pieces over and sewed right on the drawn outline I made with the pen (the second shorter piece of felt will be on the bottom, so you won't see it while you sew.) What you are making here is a barrette sleeping bag. I used brown stitching on the bottom so you can see it for clarity, but on the top, make sure the thread matches the felt, it's much more forgiving that way.

3. I trimmed very close to the stitching with really sharp scissors. I tried pinking sheers too, and it was nice, but made the overall shape bigger than I wanted. I have seen edges done with baby scallops, and they are way cute, so that would be fun to try, too. I slid the barrette into its sleeping bag to make it all cozy and sprayed off any blue line left with water.

4. You probably don't have to do this, but I sewed a little button/felt shape, like a flower of a heart, on top through felt and then the bars of the barrette, so it will still open, but the sleeping bag won't slide off. The girls love these so much because they are "clothes" for barrettes, which means the felt gets taken off and lost. To discourage this, the sewn on embellishment/button keeps it altogether. They still try to undress them, however.

 

They are quite popular around here. Like so many things, it seems easier to make several of these barrettes, assembly-line style, than one at a time. I am wearing them too, which might be slightly questionable, but who cares. They go with the glitter glue on my shirt.

The book!

Next week my book, Bend-the-Rules Sewing, comes out! It's been such a crazy month. So exciting and so overwhelming. . . all in a good way. Never in a million years did I think, while I was working on this book almost 18 months ago, that I would be having a baby the same week the book hit the stores. The crazy game of life, I tell ya!

These are some of my favorite photos. I love all the photos in the book so much, I still pinch myself when I look at them. My photographer, Alexandra Grablewski, shot this all with film, not digital, and the result is lush photos with such depth and warmth, they make my heart flutter.

I hope you all enjoy this book. I smile big when I look through it, and I hope you will too. My intent is to help, inspire, and demystify sewing-while trying to get a laugh out of you all, and I think I've accomplished that, which feels pretty awesome. I have heard a few of the pre-orders have landed already and you can find it online and in major bookstores near you soon. The official release date is June 19th. And I have set up a group on flickr to share images of projects and tips-please join up and show and tell.

And, most importantly, thank you all for reading this craft blog and for all the support you have given me. I say this in my acknowledgments and can't seem to say it any better now, so I will just type what is in the book:

Handmade is where it is at. It has the real heart and soul, and craft bloggers are at the forefront of this movement. Mining sites and images all over the world, craft bloggers can spread information and enthusiasm with incredible force and speed, and they are the pulse of the new DIY movement. I would have never written this book had it not been for the amazing time I have spent getting to know other craft bloggers and maintaining my own craft blog. For everyone out there reading and contributing, I thank you for being part of this amazing movement.

I bow down to you all. . . thank you so very much.

I supect good times will be had. . .

This Saturday, here in Portland, a friend is reading at this amazing event. She is one of the organizers as well, and the whole thing sounds so very cool, I really am hoping to go. (Hang in there, baby!) Local writers/performers "read and reflect on their favorite passages from the famous works of Judy Blume." Brilliant! I would be reading from Wifey, because I was one of the naughty girls who read that one way too young. I know I'm not the only one! Oh, and Forever, that one I remember so well. . .sigh.

running not walking. . .

Very VERY excited to get in on this limited edition t-shirt by The Small Object. It's the second in her series and is only available for 7 days starting now. . .so you better hurry! The quality of the first one was stellar, the screen print so clear, the t-shirt super soft. . can't wait to get this one.

Tie One On-the pocket

This is my apron for the Tie One On theme, the pocket. We have a b-day party for a 2 year-old to go to next week and the girls wanted to make clothespin dolls for her, and I need a pocket themed apron. . so here you have it.

I got this idea from an amazing vintage apron pattern that Barb posted a bit back I couldn't get out of my head. Can I say one more time how much I love the vintage apron flickr groups? Yes, I can. This fabric is from the lovely stash I got from Cia a bit back along with some left over brown linen from some loose capri pants I have all cut out and ready to go for myself after baby comes. I'm waiting, with high hopes, to fit myself after baby, so until then they will remain unfinished. Let's hope for the best on that front and let's give 3 cheers for elastic waists and long tunic tops.

wanty!!!!

Happy Friday! This amazing online clothes/toy/furnishings shop for kids, Little Fashion Gallery, is making me soooooooooooo happy.

This blanket! 100% pure genius. Completely and fully. I love puppets, love blankets, it's red and white, has cross-stitch. . .what more is there? I am wondering how many gross stains this lovely off-white would highlight, but let's not dwell on reality right now. (via Bloesem and she posts a private sale code)

coaster love.

Lightning fast Sarah Small Object has some lovely foundation blocks from mailorder #7 done and made-up all crazy cute into coasters. I swiped these photos that she posted on the mailorder group on flickr. She's got a ton of ideas in this post. Way cool!

Machine quilting that diamond is the perfect touch. And that patterned bias binding! These are killing me. I am so happy these directions work for people-it is way harder to explain than to do. And if there is interest, I will make this as a pattern only (when I do the bonnet pattern) in the Fall, so if you didn't get this mailorder, no worries, just hang tight.