Monadnaynay, the beach, and a shop update (oh my!)

Whew--three day weekends: they're long! But we did a lot, and for that I'm grateful.

Saturday was spent at the beach, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (rubbed in the sand a bit first,) and drinking monadnaynay (lemonade.) Oh, and chocolate/vanilla twist ice cream. (Why do so many of our memories revolve around food?) It was a slightly chilly day, so no swimming (not that I swim in open water) but we put our toes in the ocean, and Bug tried to run into the water. After I "rescued" him (ha ha) we went back up to dig in the sand with his "spoon" and "fork" (shovel and rake.) After that he went "wunning" on the beach. Not bad for our first beach trip of the year! :O)



Sunday I was able to spend some time finishing up some projects, and updating the shop a little. I've reorganized my sections, as well as added some new items. I hope you like them!

It's Friday!

It's Friday, and I have the day off! What a strange combination! The family for which I work has an engagement today, so they let me have the day off. So far we walked to the diner down the street and had a late breakfast, then walked to a friend's house, and stopped at the playground on the way home. By the time we arrived home, my package had arrived and the rain had started in earnest, so I could get going on my latest project, which I hope to have listed soon in my shop.

I also ordered a little goodness so hopefully that will come soon, after clearing customs, and I can get started on Bug's quilt.

Right now we're having a fun thunder and lightening storm, and Bug is winding up for his nap, so it's off to be a mom for a bit! :O)

On Their Way

The Super Secret Quilt and Other Things are on their way to my brother and his girlfriend. I shipped them the other day, so they should arrive in Small Town, WA, by Friday. Yey! Since I don't think my brother reads this, it's probably safe to post this:



And the back:



It's my second finished quilt, based on the pattern from the BTRS book by Amy Karol. It's all fat quarters and some flannel (for the back.) I did buy the binding since I was on a self-imposed deadline (and didn't feel like futzing with making my own binding again. Yuck.) I have lots of flannel left over, so I think Bug and the new little one will be getting some airplane pants this winter! :O)

I heart linen. Last night I started some new items for the shop. I hope to have them online by early next week, depending on when my buckwheat gets here. Does anyone have any recommendations for a local (to Boston) (or Seattle, since I'm visiting soon) place to buy bulk buckwheat hulls and dried lavender buds?

Craftzine!

IMG_0984.jpg
Originally uploaded by The Sampler!

Here's a photo of me with the lovely pin that I made at the Craft Magazine Issue 07 release party at Greenwards in Cambridge. I had fun, and learned how to make yo yos. Bug slept through the whole thing. I think that might have been the best part for me. :O)

Oh, and I bought cool things, which I'll show you once I get my new thrift store shelf painted (sometime this year, I hope!)

It's Pouring Outside!

It's so rainy! The rain is coming down in sheets down the street, you can literally see it move down the street. Yuck! So we're stuck inside--good day for finger painting!

My husband had a conference for work last week--hence my lack of posting. In addition to my regular job, I had my son all to myself at night, since my husband was getting home late. So not much was done around Chez Tiny House. (Is that a bit redundant? Does "chez" mean "house?") But I did manage to finish the binding on the Super Secret Quilt, and package up all the little gifts I'd made for the soon to be here little man. I'll be taking that off to the post this evening, after work. I did take pictures of the FO, but for now I'm not posting them. Just in case my brother actually does read my blog (fat chance, but you never know, right?)

I've also been working on my photography for my Etsy shop. I especially like the photo of Bug's ambulance. I've uploaded some photos to my flickr account; check them out and let me know what you think!

Yesterday we had some much needed family time, and went to a Lowell Spinners game. Bug was great, and lasted the entire 9 innings!

Tag, you're it!

Tagged by Marmadaisy (through a post on her blog, which I check everyday!)

What was I doing 10 years ago?

In 1998 I was attending high school and college, and thinking about where I wanted to go to university. I worked as many hours as I could legally get away with, trying to save up money for said university (which I ended up paying for completely with scholarships, but the saved up money was good for living expenses, of course!)

5 things on my "to do" list today.

Well, now it's my to do list for tomorrow, but it includes:

1. finish the binding on the super secret quilt.
2. finish the two sets of cards that have been kicking around my bag for weeks now.
3. finish the applique and embroidery on the zip pouch that has been in my bag...sensing a trend here!
4. get training pants for Bug.
5. find a contractor to re-caulk my bathtub.
6. um, there's more, but it would only serve to bore you to death.

Things that I would do if I were a billionaire.

Travel around the world. Concentrate on my arts and crafts. I'm sure I could think of more, but it's nearly bedtime, and I'm not a billionaire, so I have to get up early for work in the morning...

Places I have lived.

Richland, Kennewick, Wenatchee, Malaga, Rock Island, East Wenatchee, Entiat, Renton, Redmond, Tukwila, Kirkland (all Washington state,) Guadalajara (Mexico,) Arlington (Massachusetts.)

Snacks I like.

I'm a carboholic. Anything I can carbo-load on. Chips, crackers, cheese, fruit, nuts, cookies. Avocado with sour cream and dill. I love anything sweet, but also chocolatey. I also love chocolate bars. Not that I eat that stuff everyday. But I love it.

People I want to know more about.

Well, obviously the people who's blogs I read everyday. And anyone who reads this blog. I like to know that I'm not talking to myself--hint hint!

Super Secret Quilting

OK, so it's not so super secret anymore, as I'm posting a picture of it online, for the world to see, but anyway. I did this last Friday before we left for NH. I'm nearly done sewing on the binding, just waiting for another naptime. My brother's having a boy, so I chose all blues, with a little red thrown in for fun. The front is all cotton, and the back is flannel. I used the Easy Lap Quilt pattern from Bend the Rules Sewing. I'll post a complete picture when it's been opened by the parents, one without the help of Bug. :O)

Today is Farmer's Market day (it always seems to amaze me how quickly it comes around again) so we'll probably pack lunches and head out that way soon. The weather forecast is for afternoon showers, but the sky is clear and it's warm, so I foresee a stop at the park for a picnic. Yey! I really want to make a picnic rug soon, so maybe that will be my next quilt project. I have a bunch of Japanese canvas blends from Superbuzzy which would make a really sturdy outdoor blanket, so that could be a good thing!

Totes!

I love tote bags! They're so useful. I think everyone should have a few, or ten. I have this lovely green canvas, which I used last night to make a bag for my shop, and then spent the afternoon (between busting up fights between kids and stuff of that nature) appliquéing a vintage doily onto it. And now I'm in love with it. So it is with great sadness that I list it in my shop...I kind of hope it doesn't sell, because then I can keep it...seriously--I know I could make another one, but I don't have another doily like the one I used. I even looked on eBay today for more doilies, but plain cotton/embroidered ones are hard to find.



Has anyone else noticed the recent multitudes of people going gaga for the Sew U Home Stretch book? I'm tempted to pick it up, just so I can learn how to sew stretch fabrics. I don't have a serger, but I've heard there's a section on sewing stretch fabrics with a regular machine. However, I imagine myself going something like this (imagine me sitting at my machine, freshly laundered and pressed and cut jersey fabric, talking to myself under my breath): "Go slowly. Try not to swear-darn! Ok, breathe. Now, s-l-o-w-l-y, try again. Shoot! Ok, ready? Take a deep breath, press your foot down slowly, try not to waste this fabric! G-d d-m-t! I'm going to kill this G-d d-mn machine!" Then I'll kick my machine. Am I stuck working with non-stretch fabrics forever? the horrors! :O)

Weekend Recap

Friday:

I was a domestic goddess. I cleaned my house, including scrubbing my bathtub (and bleaching all the nasty mildew that seems to keep growing despite all my best efforts--yuck!) I washed all the dishes in the kitchen. I hung my new wall organizing system from Ikea. I cleaned my sewing station. I packed for our weekend trip to New Hampshire, cleaned the car, and wrote down directions for all the places we wanted to go while in NH. I even sewed buttons on shirts and shorts. Oh, and I made a baby quilt for my new nephew. All but the hand sewing of the back of the binding. By the way, remember that I'm a full-time nanny? This was all done during three hours of naptimes. Yep, I'm a domestic goddess. :O)

We got to our hotel about midnight that night, in North Conway.

Saturday and Sunday:

I woke up with my lower face swollen and numb. I was apparently bitten by a black fly (on the inside of my lip, I figured out later: gross!) I spent the rest or the weekend doped up on Benadryl, but hey, that's what the weekend's for, right?

We also puttered around. It was nice to have no agenda, no rules, no time constraints. We did what we wanted, when we wanted. We did some shopping at some of the many outlets and took a train ride on the Conway Scenic Railroad. Bug flipped out, and then promptly fell asleep.

It was so very nice to leave town and all of our responsibilities for a little while. It's been a long time--actually almost a year exactly since we took a family vacation. So we need to do things like this more often, even if it's just a little jaunt up the road.

This is Nibbler. She's my four year-old pug, sitting outside last weekend in the heat while Bug splashed in the pool. She's a good girl!

Today was warm, but not nearly as bad as yesterday or the day before. I managed to get some knitting done, which was good, and finished sewing in some tags and took photos for a one-item update to the shop. I love the fabric I used on the newest zip pouch. I think it may be one of my all time favorites. Unfortunately I only have one yard, and given that it came from Superbuzzy and was wicked expensive, it will have to last.

I also saw that ReFabulous was chosen as today's Featured Seller on Etsy! I just "met" her (through blogland) a few days ago, and fell in love with her shop. Congratulations!

This weekend we're heading up to North Conway, New Hampshire. We're going to take a train ride on one of the trains at the Conway Scenic Railroad for Father's Day. I think my little Bug will just have a blast! Oy, speaking of FD, I really need to get cards in the mail! :O)

Once I'm through with the present for my brother's new little one, I'm planning a whole host of things, including the reversible apron from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing book. I've been meaning to do this for ages now, and have the prettiest fabric for it, but just need to do it. It's only 10:30, I can knit some more!

It's Hot Here!

It's been in the upper 90's, with high humidity. The kind of humidity that leaves you soaked in a matter of minutes. So the kids and I spent the morning and early afternoon at the spray park, trying to keep cool. They had a blast! Upon returning home, I put them down for naps in air conditioned rooms, only to have them wake up an hour and a half later when the power went out. Ugh! So I spent the last half of the afternoon with no air conditioning, in the sweltering heat, trying to entertain two toddlers who didn't want to do anything but complain about the heat. Needless to say I was very happy to escape to knitting group at the air conditioned Starbucks tonight!

Despite the heat, I've managed to keep on crafting, which is fantastic in my book. Not a whole lot for the store, but some stuff for myself and family. My brother is expecting a new little one any day now, so I need to finish the baby gift I started in January. Yep, I said January. I've managed to lose track of time. Again. I'm cool like that. It's really a talent I have. Right up there with losing my coffee cup in the morning and finding it three hours later, full of milky, cold coffee. Really great.

Ugh, I have baby fever! Did you see the post from SouleMama? She's expecting, and the post she left to announce it is adorable! My boss is also expecting, and just started to show, and I know a few other people who have had babies recently, so I'm around babies and pregnant women a lot. Plus, my own little Bug is about to turn two years old (eep!) Sadly, though, I have to wait awhile. The finances are not in line yet, especially given that the 3 year ARM on our house is going to expire in a year. So I have to work for now. I suppose as a consolation I will get to be around a tiny newborn for 45 hours a week starting in December, so that will help. :O)

Tomorrow is Farmer's Market day! Yey! We made it through most of our veggies and fresh bread, but unfortunately this past week we've eaten out a bit more than usual. It's been hot, remember? Funny enough, I actually cooked dinner tonight--baked chicken, roasted baby turnips, and sauteed turnip greens, but then left for knitting group before the chicken and turnips were done. So I had turnip greens and coffee cake for dinner. Which was not half bad! Especially when you add in the mocha! Oh, and I picked up some (light) Ben and Jerry's Phish Food, but that's not for tonight.

For Father's Day, we're going to New Hampshire, to the Conway Scenic Railroad. We're taking the valley train to Bartlett. Bug is going to absolutely FLIP when he sees all the trains, which are his current obsession.

Here's hoping we get the thunderstorm tonight to break the heatwave!

A Bit of an Update

I reorganized the shop a little bit today. Nothing new posted, because the weather is dismal and grey, and none of my photos are turning out. But there are some cards on sale. Last night I did manage to make some new cards, so look for those in the next few days. I remembered I had some eyelash yarn hanging around, so I tried combining it with the paper, and it turned out well. A bit more of a natural look than I'm used to, but that's OK.

I'm currently working on some more zip purses with fruit appliques. I don't know why, but fruit seemed like a good theme for my first set of appliques. Maybe because they're nice large shapes to work with. Well, except for the tiny grapes I'm working on right now. They're kind of tricky. But cute!

Elephants Plus More

Yep, here's a picture!



An action shot, really. Little man was having too much fun to sit still for one second so I could take a decent picture, so all seven pictures look somewhat like this. This was the least blurry of them all. Yeah, I take great pictures, I know it. The orange cord is from Fabric Place, and the elephants are from Superbuzzy.

Today is Storytime and Farmer's Market Day! Woohoo! It's darn rainy though, so I have permission to drive there. So that's good, at least. I wonder if any berries are in season yet? Strawberries maybe? Well, we'll definitely be able to get some salad greens, which I can supplement with my own greens from my little tiny garden. I have things growing! Yey! And I saw two--count them two!--flowers on my strawberry plants. So strawberries soon! I wonder if I'll have enough to make a few jars of jam? I made jam over the weekend, but I've never done it before so it came out a bit runny. But Bug likes it, and so does Bug II, given that she ate half of my muffin this morning. :O)

That was a terrible paragraph. Can you say ramble? Delete delete delete? No, I'll leave it.

I need to do a shop update soon. I'm feeling a bit, oh, what's the word, shamed? by my fellow Etsians...their work is so beautiful, and quite fresh, and mine is looking a bit stale to me. So it's off to the chopping block for some things. Some things can stay for now, I think.

I need to ship a few packages today...

I'm putting in an application (with a friend) for a booth at a local show in September. It's supposed to be very large, so it will motivate me to get a lot of inventory done quickly. Cross your fingers that we get in. She does jewelry, and given that the market is saturated, we may not get in based on that. I'm also looking into a weekly open air market for the summer, for just a few weekends, but I'm not sure I can get enough inventory done for that...we'll see. I want to go check it out this Sunday and see if it's worth it. I really miss doing the fairs like I used to do in Seattle.

More random rambling: Anthropologie has these cute glasses in the store, but for the life of me I can't find them online. It's driving me crazy. Because they were in the regular display, not clearanced, or anything, so they should still be on the site. But they're not. And I really like them, but since I just bought a few new glasses, Jes might kill me if I buy a few more. Especially since he hasn't forgiven me for getting rid of his plain glasses and replacing them with "girly" glasses. You know, the kind with something pretty etched on the side. The kind of glass that I of course would love, and he would hate. The kind that he kind of looks funny using...because he's a large, hairy man, using this tiny delicate glass...anyway, I digress. I want to find these glasses. They're a bit more substantial (although they still have cute little designs on them...and I imagine if they're not on the anthro site anymore they're clearanced by now.) Hmmm...do I see new glasses in my future?

Pants! (Oops, no picture!)

So last night I made Bug the coolest pair of orange corduroy pants, complete with elephant cuffs and pockets. (Jes says they're clown pants.) (But what does he know anyway?) But then Summer arrived--it's supposed to be 80 degrees today. I swear, it went from Winter, to SprummerFall (the kind of weather that can't figure out what it is--name courtesy of a friend (have to give credit where credit's due,) to Summer in about one month. But I suppose that's typical New England weather. So we have to put the orange pants in the drawer for awhile, to wait for cooler weather. And by awhile I mean tomorrow--we're supposed to have T-storms.

I also have a bag (for myself) (yup, I'm selfish) in my head. A band across the top, with a pleated, well, bag underneath. And shorter straps. Or maybe longer, because I can't stand bags that I can't sling across my shoulders. And big enough to carry diapers and various accoutrements. (Yup, I just said accoutrements. And I didn't use the spellchecker!) We'll see how it turns out. Will I make it work, and end up with a zillion sold from my shop? Ha! We'll see.

Let's see--yesterday we went downtown. We had a picnic in the Commons, which Bug II slept through, then we went to Winmil Fabrics for some 1/2" elastic and to check out all the fun cottons (!) and other things I can't afford, and then we walked (a lot) and ended up in Borders, where Bug promptly fell asleep and Bug II and I spent some time playing and reading books in the children's section, dreaming up and adding to our wishlist. It's about a mile long. We also wandered over to the sewing section, but they didn't have Pretty Little Patchwork, which I really want to look at, but that was OK, I suppose. I think Porter Square Books has a copy I can look at, maybe today after naptime.

Today I have a steering committee meeting, so no sewing/crafting for me, but maybe tomorrow I'll have a chance to try to get that bag realized. I hadn't had a chance to make anything over the weekend, since I had to bake for my friend's birthday party (Black Forest Cake--could have done without the cherry alcohol, but OK just the same) and attend the party (fun!) and I spent Sunday cleaning my house (it needed it!) So anyway, I desperately needed to DO SOMETHING with my hands. So that's why I made the pants for Bug. They're quick, and simple, and give me a sense of accomplishment. Does anyone else ever get that itch? I suppose it's the same for Jes and his programming, when I can hardly tear him away from his computer to eat, or give Bug a bath, or whatever the case may be. Sometimes I think I'm addicted to my sewing--I actually feel a bit angry when I have to clear the table (my workspace) so we can EAT DINNER. Is this normal?? Do I need help?? :O) Maybe I should go sew something and ponder it some more.