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!

Get all hatty! (a book review.)

I just got a copy of  Saturday Night Hat, by Eugenia Kim, a book about making hats. Hats. People don't really make hats much. You can knit a hat, but sewing hats? I think this millinery thing has been horribly overlooked in this new wave of craft-mania, and I am so happy to see this information come out. I love hats (like bonnets and earflap hats, of course) and have always wanted to take a millinery class, but never have. . .

and don't really know if I need to now. This book covers basic hat shapes with really unique/funny/crazy ideas. It's all very Dada with a 1970s Joni Mitchel twist, (You can't see it from these photos, but trust me.)

There are patterns and also tips on how to use existing hat hoods (pre-made felt hat forms- there is a good materials/resource section in the back) along with adding trim to vintage hats. The trim ideas I get really excited about.

This page is all about making this butterfly out of feathers. Very cool. There is a hat glossary and the directions seem clear and easy to read. I think I might try the basic cloche first. I am excited to use up some the vast amounts of trims I have been hoarding.

There is a lot of good millinery information in here. I think, for me personally, this will be more of a reference book than a make-every-hat-pattern book. Having really studied all the hat designs in here, many of the hats I would not wear, but. . .  many I would.  The trim info and feather ideas are really cool, and just reading how to make hats, of any style, is really fascinating to me.

To me, the best thing about this book is that it's about making your own hats, you know? That is huge. And I love how ballsy and out-there some of the designs are, like a hello kitty cocktail hat and a pillbox hat that looks like a piece of toast. It takes a special type of person to wear a toast hat on their head (or a special type of alcohol) and I just think it's great these designs are in a book.

Okay, I will spare you all to awful hat/head puns I have been tempted to end with and just stop writing now.

thank you!! and a brain dump

Wow!! Wow! Thank you all so much! God, I felt so great yesterday-floating on air. Heck, I still feel great! The whole process has been so exciting/nerve wracking/worry producing/and wonderful all mixed up in a huge bag. I was nervous to put it all out there yesterday, you all are so awesome. So, again, thank you.

I finally got around to framing the Mailorder #5 cross-stitch sampler. I didn't use glass, and I am very happy with that decision-having no glare is really nice. The amazing painting above is Camilla's, of course, and the one peeking out from the other room is an older one of mine, "Friendly Squid."

Okay a few things I can't stop thinking about or looking at:

-helloyarn's terrariums photos on flickr. I heart moss so much.
-these crazy amazing prints from artist, Beci Orpin, that are making my wallet feel lighter by the second. Holy smokes, can't stop looking at them.
-the fabric collection, Nell's flower shop, by Moda, which has some cute cross-stitch cheater cloths and a very cool linen/cotton blend solid color collection-I saw all this at Fabric Depot about 4 weeks ago, and I bought none. Why?? I see Miss Emily snagged some, now that's some good shopping!
-I keep thinking about the movie we netflixed last week, Junebug. loved it so much.
-Why don't they have a drive-thru for pizza by the slice? It's not that messy, I could totally grub it while driving, I really think there is a missed opportunity here.
-so excited to get my hands on these new magnets by the crazy mind of the small object. They are amazing/painful/happy/cute.

Big News! (but not for 5 months.)

Okay!! I am thrilled, thrilled, to show you the cover of my book that is coming out in June. June 19th. A long time from now. It's called Bend-the-Rules Sewing; the essential guide to a whole new way to sew and It's published by Potter Craft, an imprint of Random House, and should be available all over and on Amazon, right now, as a pre-order. Whoo-hoo!

It's got a front section all about learning how to sew and how to have fun while do it and 30 sewing projects geared toward beginners, but I really think seasoned sewers will like it too. There's an assortment of fun projects like napkins, coasters, bags, quilts, curtains, pillows, smocks, bibs, and of course, aprons, and many more projects as well. A little of everything, including stamping and painting on fabric to make it extra cool. My goal was to design projects that were fun, easy, and captured that Japanese craft book aesthetic of playfulness that I love so much. . .and I am so very happy with how it turned out! I was so lucky to work with an amazing team; photographer, art director, stylist, editor, a truly amazing group of people.

I could go on and on here. It's actually so hard to write about, it's been such a big part of my life for so long now. I turned in the writing, the directions, the finished projects, and over 200 illustrations last April, but the design of the book was actually started in Fall 2005. It's been there, in my life, for a long time. I have learned so much about the publishing world, taking on a project this big, and trying to balance it all with family and life-it's been amazing ride, and I am so grateful to have had the experience.

Okay, I'm not going to say much more about it for a bit now, cause really, you can't even see it until summer, but I sure hope you all like it!! It's irreverent, down to earth, and will hopefully take the mystery out sewing and will make you laugh at the same time. 'Cause laughing is good, right? And thanks family and friends who have heard the saga of all this for the last 18 months. Really, thank you.

apple posse.

So, Mariko spotted this on the chair when she was leaving the other night. I have been meaning to show it. It's my new favorite blouse and is modeled after one I wore all summer that I got at Forever Slutty-one that I wore almost every day. Mariko can vouch for that, too. It's just the perfect all weather type top, you can wear it over long sleeves or with nothing under it and I made this one long with side slits, so this is more of a tunicy style.

The pattern (Simplicity 3887 this photo looks scary ugly, but I assure you, there are about 5 different styles and they are all good, don't be afraid.) There are other very cute options, like elastic at the sleeves, or on the bottom and different sleeve lengths, etc. I actually was getting so desperate to have another top like this I was just going to pattern the first one I bought, but when it comes to tops, I really like starting with a commercial pattern and then altering it. Skirts, I can wing it, but tops, it's just too lame to not have it work out. I never feel like I have enough time, $$, or patience to try more than once.

This apple fabric (The apples are upside down. oops.) is a super crazy soft mini corduroy. Crazy soft! I have no idea who makes it but know it's at fabric depot. I thought I was so cool, but then Melissa chimed in that this fabric has been there for about a year and that Mariko already made a skirt out of the strawberry version-so I am not so cool. (Thanks Melissa.) And Action Hero Melissa is starting an apple something that looks very chic and Mariko is sewing a apple dress soon too. . .hmm. I thing we need to start a gang! The Applebangers? Look out, man.

paper dolls need a home, too.

Hey, thanks for all the mailorder love! And extra thanks to Melissa and Mariko for coming by and last night to stuff the red envelopes with me. Good times.

Sadie is now officially into paper dolls, (Delia is still a bit rippy) and they sure are a bad combo of the messy/fragile. Don't get me wrong, I love them too, but get a bit buggy when the tabs get hung up on each other. So, the unpainted cigar box came to the rescue. The big label was made on the computer with an image from the super swell paper doll group on flickr (This is a private group, you can ask the admins, or me, or other members you know in the group for an invite if you are on flickr.)

We have a variety of species in there, faeries, humans, etc. This box was about $5 from the craft store and the Dover paper doll books are really cheap, I think about $5 as well. I was thinking this would be a great gift. They have boy paper doll stuff too, right? I need to research this. A book, along with a box with a label (just card stock from the printer, glued on, and then sealed, which I would not do again, because it made the image blurry) and maybe even the child's name on the label too? I was also thinking it would be super nice to cut the dolls out, a gift for the parents really (my Dover books don't have the dolls pre-punched.)  but wow, um-no, that would take forever. I spent an hour cutting out 2 pages for Sadie this week.

On a unrelated note, a special someone has a birthday tomorrow. . .just thought you all would like to know. Hee-hee.

mailorder #5 single issues now on sale!

Hello and happy Thursday!

Okay, the mailorder #5 single issue is available right here for those of you interested who are not subscribers. (And the subscription spots are now full, not to be annoying, but single issues are all that's availble now, and on all future issues, until Fall 2007)

it's sold out now, thanks so much you crazy crafters!!

#5 is full of the following fun filled items:
-The mailorder counted cross-stitch sampler chart project
-3 smaller cross-stitch projects (smaller = less time for you)
-The popular professionally printed recipe card with a super yummy recipe
-A paper project; a recipe card stand that you color in (to match your kitchen, perhaps?)
-The merit badge (And now anyone can download the merit badge plaque, which up until now was only available with issue #1, go to kingpod and look under downloads.)

Wow! That's a lot of stuff. Please join in the fun. There aren't many single issues this time, I'm just sayin'. Okay thanks and happy stitching!

Is it really 2007?

Happy New Year!
I hope everyone had a safe (and not sick with all the crud going around) holiday season.

We made it through without getting sick and I did a manage to finish a few projects in the downtime with Pete on vacation. I finished the matching nightgowns for the girls for Christmas, although they spent most of Christmas morning with not a stitch of clothes on. This is 8488 Simplicity. This is a quilting cotton, not as soft as I hoped for, but just fine, especially after several washings. I wanted something holiday-ish, but not too themey, and the flannel prints weren't cutting it. This fabric came from Fabric Depot, and I don't know what it is. (Lame of me, I know)

The robe (only Sadie's is done) is in a sage green flannel. I realize now that I am really glad both pieces are not flannel, I think it would have been like velcro to have a flannel gown under a flannel robe and driven Sadie crazy.

We all had a lovely holiday. We did a whole lot of nothing. The cheesecake went off without a hitch, we actually tried to see some music for New Year's with the kids, but it was standing room only, so we went out to pizza instead. I am so proud of us for trying, we are real lightweights when it comes to crowds and kids especially for holiday stuff.

In shop news:
Single issues of Mailorder #5, the one with the cross stitch sampler chart, goes on sale this Thursday at 8:00am PST. I have sent an e-mail to the list and will send another when it's all up and ready to buy on Thursday.