angry chicken

painted boxes for stuff

 

We needed a winter-time rainy day craft project a bit back, so I got out my supplies which always seem to involved unpainted wood. I had these boxes in the craft room (unpainted cigar boxes from Michael's. Actually, everything was from Michael's) and gathered up some unpainted wood shapes and letters (I had these on hand too. I have a craft supply problem, obviously.) and acrylic paint. The girls then added the jewels with Elmer's glue after the boxes had dried.

This was a great project for a few reasons. I actually suggested they stick with only one color per wood item. I normally steer away from giving any direction at all, but with Sadie 6.5 and Delia 4.5—they actually get bummed now when they have a vision of how something should look, but the finished product is not so great. So we talked about it first. We discussed what color they wanted their boxes, what color the letters and the shapes should be, what it would look like inside, that kind of thing. Then it was easy to just have them mix the colors and work in stages. They painted everything and I let them have at it with the glue and the jewels—they figured out right away how little glue was needed. They glued the jewels on for about a hour. It was awesome.

We also made these over 3 days, which was nice. I think it's great for all of us not to be pressured to start and finish projects in one session. They are great at stopping and coming back to it a day later and it stresses me out less when baby does something weird (like eating cat food) knowing we can just stop for the day. Plus, you can only go so far with wet paint, which is good for them to experience.

 

I suggested lining the boxes with patterned paper and then adding photos. The favorites were chosen, of course. Hello Kitty and Cinderella.

The hair accessories/jewelry/rubber bands go in.

They are really proud if these boxes, it's very cool. They show them off and tell everyone about how they were made. I really like the idea of taking time to make projects to keep. So many craft projects for kids are meant to be disposable. I think it's a balance. I try to keep supplies inexpensive, but to also show that care and time can be used to make something special. Something to keep. Don't get me wrong—I'm all about the quick and dirty projects too, but try to not buy supplies for that kind of thing, instead using stuff from around the house.

I think this would be a great project for boys too, with different colors maybe and possibly not jewels, but other items glued on top. I would love to make more of these with the girls—maybe more map/geological and less bling-y, but I try not to steer too much.

The girls have started geocaching (my crazy generous brother gave me a GPS for Christmas!) and I can imagine some compasses, notebooks, pens, and other items tucked into a custom painted geocaching box, maybe with a handle, too. Have you all gone geocaching? It's crazy fun.

stripey set

More homemade underwear. This set is actually made from a shirt, which I sewed last spring. So, from raw fabric into a shirt, into underwear—talk about re-using. Now if I could figure out a way to cook it and eat it, it would be a complete cycle.

 

The booty pants. Boy-short style stitched with my best friend, stretch lace. A cotton gusset is sewn in there as well, you just can't see it. (Henceforth, the cotton crotch will be referred to as the gusset, because that word I just typed, I can't type again—it being such an unpleasant and funny word to me, not in a good way. We all have our issues.)

And the not-terribly-functional but very comfortable bra. I have seen these called bralettes, which sounds cute, but better for a 16 year old, I think.  Again, the stretch lace is perfect here. The straps are not adjustable, because they only have to fit me and I can take them up a bit when it gets stretched out.

Again, these are made-up pattern copied from a set I had (similar to this fancy one) and it helped me justify the cost knowing I could copy it. This one just pulls over my head, no fasteners needed. I have another set to show soon, I can't seem to stop. Why is sewing my own underwear so much fun? I find it oddly rebellious and wonderfully silly. The girls think it's very funny and are now asking me, when I stop and look at one piece of clothing too long, "Are you going to make underwear out of that?" Never in a million years did I think this is what would be coming from my children's mouths.

4 girls in the house and only 1 brush

While the girls were working on their ATC cards for the swap (due in the mail this weekend) I worked on the hair ribbon thingies I had been meaning to make.

These are modeled off the fancy hair bands with ribbons given to the girls for a birthday or Christmas gift from I think a family member. I don't remember because I am bad. They have become pretty popular. The middle child also wears them as bracelets, which means baby does, too. They have pink and lavender ones and I thought it would be cool to have more. They look better when they are monochromatic (not to be too controlling, but you know what I mean) so we went with green and blue.

That's it. Just tie the ribbons in a double knot. This was with 3 ribbons per band, a yard each, which was a bit long. Then I trimmed them. Later I trimmed them even more and scrunched them a bit.

Here they are finishing up their cards. I feel sort of silly posting ribbons tied to rubber bands (the bands are made by Goody and available at the drugstore, the ribbons came from the fabric shop) but they were so well received, I thought I'd show them. They would make such sweet gifts too. A homemade shrinky dink charm would be cute—attached with a jump ring on the band. Oh, we should do that!

And so random, but we have the fraggle CD turned up way too loud right now and there is a duet with Mokey and Gobo that sounds just like Meatloaf.

happy ending (working with fake fur part II)

The fur was much better to work with this time. I had this lovely very lightweight wool sweater passed on to me and the lines were so nice. Super long ribbing made it quite awesome. However, it was crazy tight, see-through, and a turtleneck—all issues for me.

I cut it up the middle, finished the edge with a rolled hem on the serger, and sewed on a fake fur collar. (Sorry about the jammie pants there, what can you do? It was in the morning.)

 

I really dig the way the turtle neck flops over now.

So, this fake fur trim was purchased. I could have made it myself. it's just a strip of fur folded in half and serged, but buying a fake fur this cool is kind of expensive, and this trim was already made—so there you go. I got it at Mill End Store here in town. It was about $5 a yard, so not cheap, but I only needed a yard, less than that actually, so it was still a great deal. I think this is my favorite re-fashioned sweater yet.

Thanks for all the blog b-day love! I have nothing interesting to report today. I got my haircut and it was flat ironed, which I always find thrilling/creepy. I got some new shoes (in the teal color). They are perfect and I love them to bits. I can't finish Outlander. I'm just not swept up in it. I think I need to take a break. I'm more than half-way through, but it's not sustaining me right now. Harem pants are a horrible thing (even through I like Free People)—and I totally am tucking in my blouses now, (librarian chic) after saying in a video no less, that I would never do that. So I am a big hypocrite.

Could be a Heart album cover?

But I love it nevertheless. I actually really like Heart, so it's not even a dis. This was cut for the previously mentioned b-day girl. I framed it up nice. It was a hard one to cut—the curves are the trickiest. The little girls there in the corners actually had two pig-tails originally. Oops.

So, today Angry Chicken turns 4. Happy b-day blog!! Blog is such a funny word. Blog, blog, blog. I used to never say it, I would only say weblog but then I just sucked it up, and now I say blog. I'm gonna go eat some cake with my blog.

So, thanks you all for reading, commenting, and making me laugh. I was at dinner (Ned Ludd) the other night with some friends and was thinking on the way home how rad they all are, and then it occurred to me— they were originally blog friends. But I forgot that because they are now and flesh blood (and spread germs and don't share enough of the desserts) friends and once again, felt so grateful to be a part of this amazing medium and experience the connection to people it provides. It's pretty incredible.

If I could, I'd make a huge cake for all of us. Or something like this, which I am considering, to use up my vast amount of marmalade.

snow tomten (working with fake fur part I)

 

This is the snow tomten. He (the only male character Delia plays) is wearing a fur capelet and a fur hat, as you can see. The fur was kind of disastrous to work with. It's been over a month now since I made this outfit, so the fur particles floating in the air and on every surface in the sewing room are finally gone, but I am still a little traumatized. I serged all this because hemming wasn't a great option. It all turned out fine, but again, working with the stuff wasn't fun. Having said that, I worked with fake fur again recently because I felt compelled to—being on this furry/black forest/pelt kick this winter.

The hat. You can see how I finished the capelet collar there, just a serged edge, which was much easier than trying to make a lining. I found many tips online for sewing with fake fur, all of which I read and then promptly ignored. If I hadn't, it might have made this project less swear-y, but I don't know how I could have avoided the fibers getting in my nose, which was the worst part.

No patterns here, which was fine for the capelet. That was just a circle cut up one side and then adjusted. But the hat was a bit harder to make up as I went, especially in fur. This was hat attempt #3.

And from someone very special—the tomten now has keys! The tomten whispers a very gruff "thank you" and goes back to his barn/cave.

portable artwork gallery

A special friend had a birthday last week and the girls were very excited to make her something extra wonderful. They have both received such amazing handmade gifts from her. This is a box of their artwork— ready to be taken to any room and displayed, and changed, at a moment's notice.

There are 6 drawings enclosed which are reduced down from the girls' originals. They are mounted on 4-ply museum board with the titles and their names on the back. The titles kill me—very funny.

I had a happy crafting moment when I found a little plastic easel that fit perfectly in the box. I love it when that happens. I was thinking a small wood easel would be cute, but this works great too.

The glass-lidded green box was one I had saved. It used to have labels in it and was waiting to be used for something. Perfect. The girls were so proud putting this together. They took a lot of time explaining each drawing to Emily and she and I could barely keep a straight face during the lengthy detailed descriptions which involved a crazy naked party (!), a ballet performance, and cookies. What more does one need?

I love these kinds of gifts because other than the plastic easel, everything came from around the house.

happy presidents' day

photo from hand over fist

I am so in love with these bandanas from hand over fist. They are hand drawn by Marissa Corwin and printed in Brooklyn.

photo from hand over fist

photo from hand over fist
 

wonderfully lugubrious

I spontaneously grabbed this book, The Willoughbys, off the bookstore shelf a bit back, brought it home, and read it over a few nights. I really really liked it. The cover is what attracted me, of course, but I absolutely loved the story as well. It's a wonderful gloomy-child-tragedy ala Roald Dahl. Funny and sad—in that macabre humor way. I haven't read the Lemony Snicket's books, but I'd guess they are similar. Abandoned babies in baskets, spinster nannies, unloving parents, orphans—that kind of stuff. I laughed out loud several times and the glossary in the back (along with a very funny bibliography) is worth owning the book alone. Sadie hasn't heard it yet, but we went over the glossary together and is now using the term odious.

I love it, but it is so loud.

Way to loud. The ticking can be heard across the room. But, it's lovely. Vintage with red leather. I love it. So, I will probably get a repro looking one at Pottery Barn or something. Thanks again for all the alarm clock comments, they were a crack up.

-Unrelated, I love this story so much (updated link)

-Again, random—does anyone have access to a hanger that I can use for hanging both a bra and undies? you know what I mean, like all in one bikini hanger? Any of you retail folks out there? I just need one, of course. Maybe there is something more stylish out there than this particular hanger. I am trying to figure out the best way to show the matching lingerie sets I am sewing and there must be hangers out there for this—cause I am not modeling them. It's not that kind of blog. Just sayin'.

I am showing my underwear, again.

 

So, I made this sleep set and am now kind of obsessed with sewing my own undergarments. This is cotton jersey with just a wee it of stretch, like 10% Lycra, I'd say. It's a bit thicker then the standard underwear jersey, which is nice.

 

I made this pair in a boy-short style. I used a pair of undies that fit me well as a pattern. Then, after really looking closely at how these types of items are made (from my own dresser and in shops) I sewed these with some stretch lace. I still love FOE, but I think stretch lace is now my new best friend. I am fickle.

Here's the camisole with a bit of sassy ruching. Again, no pattern, I just used what I had in my dresser drawer as a guide. The stretch lace makes the straps. Easy as pie. Even easier, actually.

Okay, I could write a flippin' book about how fun this is. I can't stop. Here are some things I want to mention before I forget.

• Please just take a favorite pair of underwear out of your drawer and copy it. It will fit you much better than any pattern you might purchase.
• I have used t-shirts for this type of thing and will show them soon.
• I got all my stretch lace here and they shipped it out super fast.
• To avoid a lot of swearing, please read this book on sewing with knits. It's easy, but not if you make it up as you go. For these, I use a straight stitch on the side seams (where it shouldn't stretch) and a small zigzag over the lace around the leg openings and waist, where it needs to stretch. The edges are raw and they don't fray, because it's a knit. I don't pull the lace as I stitch it on, just let it lay flat.
• A serger is absolutely not needed to make these. In fact, I barely used mine and when I did, it was just to make it neater inside, I still reinforced with a normal stitch.
• I have learned all these tricks for making these (especially for all the different ways to make the cotton lined gusset) and am continually learning more—I'm thinking about a video tutorial for a basic how-to.
• I want to get some nicer fabrics for another set and try a different cut of knickers. The stretch lace is great with knits, but I have also purchased stronger lingerie elastic to use with silks and wovens.

More soon on all this stuff, but dang—where have I been? Not sure why it took me so long to try this type of garment sewing. I want to try a bunch of different styles and items, like robes, high-waisted vintage style undies, and all that. And bloomers. Don't be scared. Cute ones, not Little Bo Peep ones. Anyhow, with prices what they are for this stuff (when it's well made, out of nice fabrics, not the cheap-o stuff) sewing it is a fraction of the cost. I think this set was less than $4 to make, actually. I have been in a few of the really nice lingerie shops here in Portland lately getting inspiration and they have such amazing collections. But, for real, there's no way I am paying $75 for a non-functional bra. But, hey, I'l sew one for sure!

clouds

I finally made little meringue thingies. What should I call them? The girls call them clouds. I guess little meringues works, or mini Pavlovas? Anyway, I made them for the very first time and they were really tasty and fun to make. I had to make an emergency call to someone who has more experience with these than I do to talk about doneness, but they all went well. Crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside.

I drizzled chocolate sauce on the plate and then spooned a raspberry sauce on the top. Heavenly— although I wonder if this style of garnishing is too 80s/90s when it seemed everything was garnished with a squeeze bottle.

The meringue recipe is similar to the one I used here, the raspberry sauce is just frozen berries stewed with a bit of sugar over heat and then mashed through a strainer, and the chocolate sauce came from a bottle.

Completely unrelated, I am worried about my Australian friends and thinking of them all a ton. I wasn't sure what to do and was told about this great site—2009 Victorian Bushfire Appeal that provides ideas on how to help. Thanks to those of you who e-mailed me about this.

just so you know. . .

 

Hey, thanks for the paper cutting love!

So, a few of you asked in the comments how to do this, or where to learn how. Well, I can't pass up the opportunity to direct you to eMailorder #8 where you will find directions specifically written for first time paper cutters. You'll get 4 awesome paper cutting patterns (if I can say that about my own designs, which I just did) and a recipe sure to delight. Please note the little heart design there, perfect for your special valentine, it's just the right size for a card.

This is a PDF that you print out at home—it's not mailed.

I am loving the little house slippers from eMailorder #9 that are popping up in the mailorder flickrgroup—so cute!

heart cards

My mind is a bit mushy right now. I am making my own underwear (again), baking stuff, working on Valentine's Day projects, listening to wonderful new music (Chris and Thomas) and have exciting books to post about, but I find I can only write about one thing at a time right now.

So, here's a valentine I made. It's from a paper cut (the same one that is in the banner above) and is printed on thick watercolor paper with archival inks and all that. It says big time love there in the corner.

so bad, yet so good.

A heaven log. A loaf of happiness. It's zebra cake—or chocolate wafer icebox cake. We made this a bit back and I forgot how incredibly good it is. I found myself thinking it was my favorite cake ever. I think this about many types of cake. This one is dang good, though. It's also perfect for kids to make if they don't mind a little whipped cream on their fingers.

I followed the recipe on the famous chocolate wafers box. I use real whipped cream just barely sweetened, not cool whip or some other freaky stuff. You just layer the whipped cream between the cookies. I used the cookie wafer as a scoop for the whipped cream and pressed another cookie on top—much easier than using a knife and trying to spread it. Then let it sit overnight in the fridge. Slice it on an angle, drink a cup of strong coffee, and get ready to get totally sick. It's not very sweet and very rich, so it's completely awesome. The cookies are very dark and almost bitter and if you just barely sweeten the whipped cream, it's actually a pretty sophisticated tasting dessert. And the retro appeal goes a long ways with me, of course. Don't get impatient and try to eat it before it has completely softened—wait at least overnight. Not that I have done this before (ha.) but it doesn't slice. I'm just sayin'.

I am waiting for some hippie company to make these chocolate wafers without hydrogenated what-all, but I haven't found any yet. I think I might have to make my own chocolate wafer cookies if I want them less junky, but making these thin enough would be a challenge. I might try it. I have heard these cookies are hard to find in some parts of the country, but I seem to find them easily here in Portland, so I am less tempted to make them from scratch. Plus, the beauty of this cake is the simplicity and ease. Like 'smores, you know? Here's a lovely round version, I have only made the log style, but this might even be easier. Here's a nice one too, along with a recipe (it's double the quantity I usually make) but I still stand behind my log shape. It's what is on the box and I just love it.

I think this would be such a good Valentine's Day dessert and I might even get all crazy and tint the whipped cream a light pink. Oh, and lightly flavor it with peppermint! That would be very tasty.

And thank you so much for all the new banner love.

dress + scissors = sweater & scarf

This cashmere sweater dress was just too short, but it was too flippin' cute to give up on. I stared at this dress for so long before I decided how to re-fashion it. I am always tempted to go crazy with details and adding trim, etc. but realized the simple solution was the best here—plain ol' scissors.

 

I cut off the bottom and it is now my favorite sweater.

 

Much better.

 

And the part I cut off is now wrapped around my neck pretty much 24/7—it's the perfect scarf. I finished the short ends of the scarf with a rolled edge on the serger, but realized I didn't really need to, so the long side I let roll onto itself. It's so warm and cozy. It's even warmer when I wear it with a shirt. I realize I am sort of in my PJ's here—long story.

Here's a detail of how I finished the edge of the sweater—a 3-thread rolled edge on the serger.

Hey blogliners—I have a new banner up and some new links, just so you know.

ATC are cool.

We just signed up for this super cool kids artist trading card swap hosted by Wise Craft and house on hill road. Sign-ups are this week only. Excitement! It's for kids ages 4 and up and they make 5 and mail them out—what kid doesn't love mail? I think we are going to bust out the map for this, so when we get ours, they can mark on the map where they came from. I love this kind of stuff. I also really dig this artwork by Blair's sister-in-law.

those must flow.

The middle child and I had a good day thrifting.

These vintage flash cards are making me so happy.

I'm gonna frame this one.