angry chicken

Mermaids, & more importantly, the Merbaby.

I know this is a little weird. Especially maybe for people without kids, or people without girl kids, or non-doll people, or non-mermaid people, but for anyone who is into these things, either by natural proclivity or by default because of your offspring, you can see the importance of these removable mermaid tails.

They fit all the major dolls in the house and are interchangeable and even fit the baby dolls, creating the main player of all underwater play here— the Merbaby.

I made the first tail before Christmas but never finished the second one and the holidays got a little out of hand anyway. I sort of remembered them around Easter, but again, couldn't finish them and then about 2 weeks ago finally finished them after I had to make the shell-shaped bras, which I discovered are almost as important as the Merbaby herself. There was a lot of pantomiming here, "The shell-shaped bra, Mom, you know??" Yes, I know. So, both girls got the tails and the shell-shaped bra. They do know the real Little Mermaid story, where she turns into seafoam (minus some details) not hanging with prince Eric on some crazy boat or whatever.  And there is no Merbaby. I am thrilled these have been well received considering how close they are to a major licensed character, and yet are not that licensed character. The only issue is they don't go into the bathtub, but that seems to be okay. The middle child told me her Merbaby takes her tail off to pee. Ha!

Here's how to make the tail suitable for Mermaids or Merbabies-

Supplies:

1/8" elastic for the waist
velcro for the shell bra
wool felt and cotton velour (I got mine from Wier Dolls and Crafts)

*quantities depend on your doll size, but 1/4" yard of cotton velour is ample. I used one piece of 8 x 10 felt for the tail (folded in half) and another sheet for the bra.

1. Measure your doll, or if you need the tail to fit several dolls, measure the biggest one, or at least hold the fabric up to the doll and eyeball it. Measure the waist as well. You'll want the tail a bit longer and barely wider then the doll.

2. To avoid swearing, draw the tail shape on the wrong side of the velour, stitch on the line to another piece of velour (right sides together) and then trim. No shifting fabric that way. Now turn right side out.

3. Fold a piece of felt in half and draw the fin shape with a fabric pen/pencil, or something you can spritz out with water. Top stitch the lines through both layers and then cut out, leaving a scant 1/8" edge. The top will be on the fold, so carefully cut that open.

4. Stuff the tail in the fin opening, pleating it if needed, and top stitch through all layers, be sure to check the back. Put this on your doll to test the length and waist, if it's all good, fold down a bit of the top hem and zig-zag narrow elastic to the inside stretching the elastic (not the fabric) while you sew.

4.5 Make the shell bra by cutting out the shape in felt on the fold—this length is longer that you think to make it in all one piece, you might have to make the bra and straps separately.

5. Sew velcro on the back and cover your naked mermaid immediately.

living in a sea of crayons and glue sticks

Things are nutty around here. That baby is 10 months old now and into everything. The girls had to move their entire paper doll stash from the floor, to the small table, to the big table all in about 10 minutes yesterday after the baby doggy was tearing them to shreds. We moved onto other activities, this one being a favorite—it's called Shopping List.

Here's the 3.5 year old version. It involves the morning newspaper paper, glue sticks, scissors and paper. What's awesome is they take these with us when we go grocery shopping. I had all these big plans this week to try some projects from this lovely new book you surely are all familiar with—

The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections, by Amanda Blake Soule, but life got the better of us. But, I have been able to put Amanda's wonderful ideas into good use around here in the form of making it easier for all of us to make a mess. This means changing around tables, making it easier for the girls to get out their own supplies and facilitating a quicker clean-up, which is the real clincher. We live in a small house and there is a lot of bumping and tripping on chairs, crayons, and papers, and it can make me crazy. My parenting style is following the path of least resistance, so if it's hard for me to set up the girls to get crafty—things need to be organized differently. If I'm thinking "if I trip over that flippin chair one more time, I'm gonna chuck it outside"—yeah, that's a clue it's time to rearrange the furniture.

Amanda has this brilliant setup in her book with this huge table next to an armoire with all her family's craft supplies tucked inside, and it has doors. Thank god for doors. Two of the projects/ideas I want to try first in her book are the henna tattoos and providing photo albums for the girls and letting them have at it with the camera. I can't believe they don't have their very own photo albums yet, I think this is such a great idea. This book is full of ideas like these— very, very cool.

In my constant attempt to keep the girls involved in decisions about their creative areas, I did have them help me rearrange the coloring station and put their names on boxes so there are fewer coloring book infringements (middle child running amok) and because they helped with it, they seem more interested in taking care of the area. They also insisted that the boxes have not only their names, but princess stickers adoring them, of the Disney variety. Not my first choice on the lovely unfinished wood Ikea boxes, but hey, whatever works, man.

Congrats Amanda! I wish I could bring you a cake. No, make that pie!! Your book is wonderful.

primitve dolls wearing shawls

I got these very sweet primitive painted dolls for the house for Spring/Easter. They are from Bayberry Cove, which is a lovely shop, I always fall in love with something when I look there. These are designed by Stacey Mead and I can't find much about her online, but did find this amazing pig, which I might need as well.

I have only made a painted rag doll once, from a Gail Wilson kit, and I totally loved it. It was so fun making a muslin doll, stuffing it, and then painting it. I really would love to make more. (When?) So, I thought about making something similar to these, but time is limited right now and I wanted to get something up before next week—so I had to buy these. They are wearing shawls and little slippers! You understand.

On the  other shelf next to the dolls are these turned wood people and eggs with watercolor added by the girls. I think Pete added the faces, but I wasn't around for this craft project, so I'm not sure. They have quite a few egg shapes at Casey Wood Products, which is where all this stuff came from.

Unrelated, I plan to get some books from the library about handwriting analysis. Just cause. I have always wanted to know more about it. I distinctly remember what all my friends handwriting looked like in middle school, with the note writing and all. . . do middle schoolers still write notes? Or is it all texting now? That would be so sad, I loved looking at handwriting growing up, now, I love it when it looks familiar, you know? Like, when I really know it, and could spot it right away. I need to handwrite out some blog posts, that would be cool.

Happy 2008!

I thought this photo was fitting for today—a blank slate for the New Year. Or maybe it's just a bit dorky. And hey, I am so glad you guys liked the Holiday Gifts tags! I still yelled random things at people when they were opening gifts, but that's what I do. I can't stop.

Anyway, I put together these chalkboard sets for the girls from Santa and I think they were my favorite homemade gift this year. The chalkboards, erasers (wool felt!) and little rulers I got from Casey Wood Products (thanks again for this amazing resource, Amanda) and it was all insanely cheap. I sewed a little bag to store the chalk, erasers, and rulers in. It closes with a bit of Velcro sewn into the inside. Very pleasing. I tried to get the girls to draw something for this photo, but the fun part is erasing, so leaving a drawing on the boards is not an option. Understandable.

Okay, so 2007. I love making lists and looking back, but my brain is so very soft that what is popping into my head borders on. . . .well, mental. I also realize that all these items are mostly from the last month, which shows my inability to remember anything. I like to call it staying in the moment, but it also could be called early onset of Alzheimer's.

Personal Excitement in 2007 (that sounds naughty!) in no particular order:

-Paper cutting
-successfully making homemade marshmallows (will post this soon)
-having a baby
-getting a new niece
-releasing my book and the awesome booking signing event that you all came out for
-fitting into jeans again (albeit, still 1 size larger than before kids. Ahem.)
-cake in a jar
-all the cool new blogs out there
-going to a movie last week, by myself. I saw Darjeeling Limited, which I really enjoyed.

Super Lame in 2007 (again in no order)

-the demise of Blueprint Magazine
-the demise of MS Kids (yes, that was more than a year ago, but it still upset me this year)
-the assassination of Benazir Bhutto (Horrible that I list such a tragic event in with magazines, but such is my brain.)
-worrying about all the lead/toy recalls. Good god.

Much has been left out. I just got a TON of new music and am so excited to get into it all. So, that should be on this list, but isn't. And I should list books too, but I am not organized enough. Oh well. I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year's Eve and that your 2008 is crazy phat!

If you got Bend-The-Rules Sewing for Christmas, don't forget to look at the flickr group for amazing photos of completed projects and the awesome discussion section. There are now over 120 topics discussed (and there is a search option) and the book errata is on flickr too. (These have been corrected in the 2nd edition of the book, BTW.)

boxes for smalls

Here's another box for a small friend. This birthday girl turned 6 a few weeks back and this is what I made her. A cigar box, from Michaels, lined with lovely paper and filled with small objects. The envelope in the lid seems to be a favorite, especially when it contains a small blank book. I stuffed in blank paper and other bits so it didn't look this empty when she opened it.

Her name on the cover. . . I realize I love these boxes so much because I want one. I am so happy I bought about 6 of these to have on hand so when the party/birthday/event is here, I can make something up in no time without leaving the house. I never leave the house. Sigh. This is almost true--I went to the grocery store today, so I lie. But, you know what I mean.

So, these last few weeks, starting before thanksgiving really, have gone by so fast. I can't believe that my babe is almost 6 months old. I also can't believe on a daily basis how hard it is to do anything, and yet how much I do eventually get done. I spend hours during the day not being able to do stuff and trying not to feel completely pissy/overwhelmed/sad about that. . . and then, usually that same day, I get a silver lining and can jump on a bunch of ideas and projects. It's hard and fun and busy and impossibly hectic inside of my brain. Or sometimes not. Sometimes I just am making mac and cheese and totally cool with that. I am glad I don't talk to other people for most of the day (older than 5 years old) because my mood changes so much.

So, the 3 kid thing is hard. . . no. . . that's not what is hard actually. . . the 6 month old baby thing. Yeah, the older kids are easy. Liddy pulled my coffee off the table this morning. We are at that stage now. The pull-off-the-tablecloth stage. She is trouble and adorable.

What I haven't gotten to but is still on my list:

-homemade marshmallows (hopefully dipped in chocolate)
-fairy dresses from Santa, (meaning me) for the 2 older girls

We were not beaten by the lights this year, although they gave us a good fight. Last Monday I lost it because the tree lights went out 12 hours after the tree was up and decorated. So, new lights were purchased and all the decorations were taken off and put back on with new lights. Pete's outdoor lights blew a fuse so he spent the good part of last night on a ladder in the east Portland wind. But we are all good now. We have tackled shopping downtown with the 2 smallest girls, Liddy and I went to a cookie party, and Sadie saw her first live musical with Grammie. We are doing the holidays right, I tell ya'.

But, I can tell I am tired. Lately, every time I hear "The Rainbow Connection" I almost start crying. The girls have it on heavy rotation right now.

Oh, the holidays.

heart attack

So, I did end up almost feeling sick about these. Jen Corace does have toys, and not paper dolls, but dang close. Hillary tipped me to these fairy doll vinyl stickers she had blogged about a bit back (me and my ADD) designed by Jen Corace and then I found a few other toys by her. Oh gads. This stationary set. . .

horse vinyl sticker set

This is from the fairy vinyl sticker set. . .

Block puzzle. Yup. Done and done.

I searched and found this code for 15% off from this shop so that covered shipping. (The code is ZZZD and is good for first time orders only, BTW.) Sorry you guys. I know I'm not helping your wallet here.

for some friends-

I made this little wool Waldorf style doll for a new friend. We are so excited to meet him! There are some great groups here and here on flickr for these types of dolls.

And some homemade vapor rub (along with Lincoln Logs) for his big brother. The vapor rub recipe is from this book and the girls really like it and so do I.

happy corner

This is a happy spot in our dinning room. The pink highchair came from Grammie for Sadie's 5th, the amazing Bunny is from Hillary, of course, about 2 years ago. You can make your own with her pattern (it's in her shop, scroll down, put-togther book #1) This one is an original made by her. Gloat. Glaot. Judy (the bunny) has received a lot of love, her apron and hair bow are now elsewhere. The blue cradle was made by my brother for Delia's 3rd. I drew the template for him and he had the tools and bought the wood and busted this out and painted it. What an uncle. We will cherish it and already do. Surely it will go to grandchildren and great grandchildren. I love that.  He made two, one will go to Liddy on her first birthday. The vintage style stickers on the headboard are from my computer (from wrapping paper from the paperzone about 2 years ago) and the Baba doll in there I made was from an old Magic Cabin pattern that I don't think they sell anymore. Grammie made an adorable striped mattress and matching pillow.

This cradle I think was made just with a scroll saw and some wood screws. It's pine and probably cost about $10? He was super excited to make it and it just warms my heart. This seems like such a cool project for people to make who are into working with wood-it's only 5 pieces and the head and foot are the only pieces that actually need to be cut out, the rest you can get cut for you to size at the lumber yard. The top rails were added by him, a nice little detail. Thank you good Uncle!!

-I am freaking on the cuteness of this elf clog pattern over at allsorts. Gads!! I need to print it out and make it up, pronoto

-Hillary has her way cute mr. & mrs. gnome pattern up now, just in time to start for the Christmas decor. We need a set on the sofa.

-Alicia rocked the cuteness this week with her St. Lucia clothespin dollmaking kit for sale. Kits?? Pure genius. I snatched one up. They are now sold out--sorry, but I still had to make you look, cause, dang!!

-Everyday for the month of November, the Sew, Mama, Sew blog is linking to tutorials for handmade gifts to give this season. Prepare to get distracted for a long time--and we are only 1/2 through the month!

-Check this 30% off code (via susan beal, thank you!!)  at chonlicle books. And free shipping. Huh? God, that's good. And dangerous.

-Congrats Melissa!!! I can't wait to meet him!

early shopping. . .

I was cruising Mahar Drygoods yesterday and these are my favorites. This felt gingerbread house it pure genius! So simple and so fun.

And these elf slippers. . .

We special ordered this moose last year for the girls and they loved it and still do--wonderful craftsmanship.

And the shadow puppets!!(We got these too) . . . .just awesome. Nothing is cooler then a Yeti.

Robert's shop is just perfect for the handmade pledge. And he has a top 100 fave books list at Powell's, too, I just found this the other day and has great ideas.

gifty

I put this little gift box together for a special 3 year old a few weeks back. I heart sticker paper. I did this label in Illustrator. The box is from Michaels. (Photos with the old camera, curses!)

Inside it contains small object bootie that anyone would envy. I love putting together these little gift boxes so much. I have quite a few empty and waiting for sewing, map-making, book-making, sticker-making, & beading supplies all to be tucked in, ready to go for our small friends.

Did you see what Hillary is up to ? Posting everyday this month! How inspiring! It takes the edge off, for me anyway, thinking about a once a day post, cause then I can make it quick and dirty. Now, if I actually do it. . . .we shall see. We have a big week ahead of us. The middle child turns 3, a book signing, and a kid party. . . and only one runny nose so far. whoo-hoo!