Falling into line

This week we finally got into the groove. Ellie and Sam had their first full week of activities and pre-school and Max is going strong. All three of them are busy, which in turn keeps me crazy busy. I am thinking about picking up my needles and making some hats and gloves for the kids, since I find my time sitting at their activities a lot and could be moving my hands! Also I just ordered the sequel to my favorite knitting book, Last Minute Handmade Gifts, from Purl. I thought it was a signed copy, but sadly it wasn't. It did allow me to order some of the new embrodery thread Purl is carrying! Super excited to make a few things from the new book!

all time fav knitting book!

new book!

The little kids had a very happy week and one day were so in the zone I had to take some photos. I love when they are being nice to each other . . .

after pick-up on their first full day of Skidmore College pre-school - Sept 2010

Ellie put this little number together herself, minus the coat and I couldn't get over how cute she looked (I know I am a bit biased) but how fun when things you pick up from different stores and even from different years, come together to a fun outfit! The dress I bought when she was an infant at a going out of business sale and held onto it for three years, together with tights bought on a whim due to a love of stripes and then her new school shoes and coat . . . together so fun!

The Savvy Seasons swap has been keeping me busy. I get so crazed with finishing the swaps so I can not have to worry . . . that I don't get any other sewing done. So I am trying to finish it up this week. A great week with new TV shows to sit and stitch binding. This week I quilted a bit each night, then made the scrappy binding strips and last night started to hand stitch the binding. I have a night or two left and it will be done! I LOVE the Bliss line and am thrilled at how this is coming out. I took it with me to KC Fabrics last night for our Thirsty Thursday stitching night and my peeps have me really wanting to keep it! I always promise that I will make the same item for us . . . and this time I mean it (unless of course I get one from my swap partner!) Here is a quick peek of how it is looking.

Also so excited to get some Heather Ross prints that Amber and I ordered from Spoonflower in the Sateen. I am thrilled we choose to go for it, the prints look wonderful!

Okay off to help in Max's class . . . we are making applesauce.

Go to Pre-school Aged Gift - Toddler Sized Library Totes

Now that Ellie and Sam have turned three and go to school/camp/dance class/gym class/etc . . . they are developing a crazy little social life. Having two that are invited to parties is great in lots of ways but hard on the wallet. We usually make a extra special gift when it is being given by two. After trying a few handmade items, I think we have found our gift! A lovely tote, with a matching book and a small Borders gift certificate. It is perfect!

A week ago Sunday the kids were invited to a pair of boy/girl twins party. I ended up staying up half the night before making them for the party the next day. They were quick and easy to make and I think my favorite part is using Heather Ross fabric on both! The new Far Far Away 2 Line is just perfect for this project. Canvas in a heavier weight so no interfacing is needed and the design is picture perfect! We ended up going with old favorites, Richard Scary collections of stories because finding the stories from the fabrics was not to be done in Saratoga Springs, NY the day before the party. My kids and I do love the Richard Scary collection of Fairy Tales.

Boy version is the Race car and Rabbits prints and the Far Far Away 2 - both Heather Ross printed by Kokka.

Have since found a copy of Rapunzel at Amazon and have a few on hand for the next toddler girl birthday we attend. I love having happy birthday cards that a friend made to add quickly to gifts and having the kids names on them is perfect!

I am almost out of this fun race car print and plan the next boy library tote to be in The Owl and the Pussycat print from Far Far Away 2 and pair it with this book.

Thanks for all the warm wishes. We did have a tough week with the loss of Steve's Dad and the best father-in-law and Grandfather anyone could ask for. The night Rein died I talked to him right when I started cutting these totes out and then got the call from Steve's mom after she found him just after I finished sewing them. He told me a fun Rapunzel story and he planned to go with me to take the kids to the bounce house party the next day when they visited. I plan to make one for Ellie and also find a copy of the German version of the story he spoke of.

Confessions of a crazy fabric junkie - Love Flea Market Fancy

My first ever fabric swap . . . I am hooked!  I am crazy for these aqua seeds from the Flea Market Fancy Line by Denyse Schmidt.  CRAZY for them!  Love the goodies she sent along, Japanese print Kerchief girl and some wonderful Japanese Hedgehogs/Mushrooms.  Thank you Deborah!

Who knows if I will ever put scissors to these, I LOVE them!

My Heather Ross collection is growing and I have swapped for a couple of pieces of Munki Munki . . . I can hardly wait!  Thanks Amber.

FMF - Posies.  Aren't they lovely?

Dots and spotted leaves in the red colorway.  Have some other colors dots coming from a EBAY auction and a trade for three colors of spotted leaves.  Yeah!

Now the biggest problem is I have all these projects dancing in my head that I am dying to take on.  The problem is just no time to sew.  So I am trying something new this week.  No fabric buying and I will make the most of the couple of days before school gets out and I will have a almost 7 year old to entertain and drive around in addition to our two-year olds!

Love these photos and these kids!

A few months ago my sister told me that Clare was planning a trip to the East Coast from Seattle and would be spending some time in Upstate NY and was available for photo sessions.  I jumped at the chance to have her photograph the kids.  Here is a sneak peak, aren't they fantastic!  BTW Ellie is pictured in a Weekend Sewing Dress in the Far Far Away Unicorn print.  Fabulous isn't it!

Far Far Away Unicorns and Weekend Sewing!

Have I mentioned how much I love having a little girl to sew for?  Her summer wardrobe is super cute so far.  I really love everything about this dress - the double cotton gauze, the cute unicorns or as Ellie calls them, "pretty horses".  If you know me you know restraint is not one of my better attributes and I of course bought this print and all the others in the Far Far Away line by Kokka Japan in every color-way.  My intent is for my nieces to have the same dresses, if of course my mother ever measures them . . . (please mom, take the tape measure to babysit with you this week)

My own summer wardrobe consists of long flowing tank dresses from Target.  I have really been loving the length and thought since the last dress for Ellie was a short playdress, maybe this one needed to be long and flowing . . . so glad that I kept it long!  Perhaps if it really bothers her and gets in the way, I will shorten in.  But hey, sometimes you have to suffer a little for cuteness sake.

Earlier today a wonderful photographer, Clare Barboza, took pictures of the kids at Yaddo Gardens in Saratoga Springs.  I met Clare when she took the photos for my sister's wedding last August.  We tried to sneak in a session when we were in Seattle, but it never came to be.  She has been on a month long tour up and down the east coast and I was thrilled by the opportunity to have her photograph the kids.  The goal was to get a shot of all three of them together.  Some goals are just not meant to be accomplished.  The kids were wild and not all that cooperative.  Especially Ellie, who lately thinks she is the boss of the family.  Actually, she really is.  I took all these shots after getting home from the gardens and she of course could not get enough of the camera for me!  Why she wasn't turning on the charm earlier I will never know.

Love this picture because it shows the wonderful drape of the fabric and what a wonderful choice for clothing it is.  Also since Sam's birthday the bubble mower has become the favorite toy and is always running out of bubbles.  Maybe this is the one toy we will have to give in and get two of.  Just prior to this picture Ellie bit Sam when he tried to claim back the mower and then he ended up pulling her hair . . . it is hard to share when you are both just two!

We worked it out by taking turns, she mowed up the driveway and he mowed down the driveway!

This is the final test for any clothing item for Miss Ellie, can you hang in it?

Mirror Balls, Heather Ross, Garage Sale and Baseball - what a weekend!

Has been a crazy week and I just realized although I accomplished a lot, not much is actually completed . . . goes for sewing, the house, the kids, and getting ready for our first craft/art fair since before the holidays!  A huge accomplishment for me was cleaning the basement and realizing we just don't have the storage space for all the crafty stuff I like to hoard supplies for.  I made a mental break through, which I hope will translate to a physical one.  I decided that yes I do still love to knit, but if I knit everyday I still could never use all my stash and some items I just am not that into anymore.  For example knitting socks - with 3 kids (two 2 year olds) just not a reality anymore.  Yarn I have had to make Steve a Fisherman's Sweater he has requested for 10 plus years, not going to happen.  (actually found three sets of various gray 20 skeins each bags and partial sweaters in various boxes and bags!)  Gone!  It was a wonderful experience.  It all was put out at the garage sale and what didn't sell is going to find a good home in the next month.  Lots more to go, but it was a start.  Sold about half what I put out!

I had meant to take pictures of the sale set-up.  It did take a few days, but I think it was worth it.  We got rid of lots of big items crib, changing tables, big plastic toys, baby gear, yarn, rubber stamps, linens, dishes, paper goods, etc.  This is what is left to go to charity in the am (minus the stroller which Ellie pushed over to use as a ladder to get up on the table)

Moments after the sale, it was off to watch the last game of the season for Steve and Max's team.  They had such a fun year and are looking forward to a post-season play and a game against an west-side of Saratoga team.  Great bonding for Steve and Max.  The team had tons of fun and the coaches called them the dirt devils, which judging from the dirt after washing Max's uniform was a great name.

It was a hard season for Sam and Ellie, they really didn't want to watch.  They either wanted to run onto the field to see daddy or big brother or get wet at the spray park next to the field.  They never really get too wet, just damp and then the dirt from the field really sticks to them.  Baseball for me equals bath and a VERY dirty load of laundry!

When I was taking the team photo, this is what Sam and Ellie were doing.    Sam is at the top of the frame and really just as crazy about the dirt as Ellie is here.  We are getting sand in the sandbox this week!  We were exhausted on Saturday night and everyone went to bed by 8!

Today Ellie and I went with a friend to look at all the quilts on display at the Adirondack dome in Queensbury.  We also did a little fabric shopping.  I was thrilled to find the discontinued mirror ball fabric from Michael Miller and even more thrilled to see all the yardage that was available.  I have been searching for a boy color to use as a background for a Happy Birthday banner for both boys, like the one I made for Ellie a few months back.  I didn't get around to it for Sam's birthday (last week) because I really hadn't found a fabric I loved.    I am so thrilled to have a stash of this!  It works great when you want a solid that has some zing!  I also love it for quilt backs.   Another thing I have been consumed with this week is trying to land some Heather Ross prints for a swap group on flickr.  I now have in my stash, pink bikes, pink VW vans,  blue gnomes, the dogs above and misc.  stripes and dots.  After some e-bay shopping I hope to have some of the fish and fish in the bag.  I lost a few crazy auctions this weekend and can't believe the prices on some of the munki munki stuff. I have been looking at PJ's but haven't found the deals that I am hearing some people finding on-line.  I will keep trying!

Finally I will leave you with this shot of various pink mirror balls - it is a lovely light pink, lighter hot pink and then HOT pink.  I am loving them all!  Is it crazy to be so excited about fabric?

Heather Ross Far Far Away Couldn't Help Myself Purchase

What is a girl to do when you just have to have it . . . this fabric line has been so hard to get and I loved the one piece I was able to get my hands on that I couldn't help myself . . . 

If you love it too, Fabricworm just got some in and are having a sale this weekend, use coupon sc15off at check-out for 15% off.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this Princess and the Pea fabric.  Maybe a sweet little peasant dress for my little sweet pea?  Great for some quilt blocks . . . or just great to look at from time to time.  The cotton gauze fabric is so lovely and it really has a nice drape!

This print will be perfect for a lovely halter dress for little miss Ellie.  I had this print in mind when I bought this pattern book.

I am so excited to give it a try!

Now I can start dreaming what I am going to do with the five other prints and colorways . . .

Good Folks and Weekend Sewing

Whooo hooo, I made a dress from start to finish for Ellie on my own!  My sewing skills are starting to get better.  I love this dress and have been wanting to make it since I saw the tutorial here and then further motivated by Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross.  

It makes it even better that Ellie wanted to help me sew and then as soon as I put it on her, she ran to show Daddy her pretty sew.  (which I think means pretty dress mommy made for me!)

Love this fabric and I think it is my new favorite - Anna Marie Horner, Good Folks line.  KC Custom Fabric in Saratoga Springs has a lot from the line.  I really have been trying to use other fabric, but I just can't seem to get enough of this print.  It was in the quilt I just finished, a tote bag I am working on and this.  Fabulous, don't you think?

  

The shirring is done with elastic thread in the bobbin.  So easy and so fun!  

Ellie also gave it the play test.  She was up and down the playset, climbing the rock wall, sliding and swinging.  I think I will make the next dress a little longer, but for playing this is a great length!

This last shot is of her running away from me when I wanted to change her back into her play clothes, since it was a little chilly today for a sundress!