Chalkboard
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Colorado projects
These are the sha-bang, baby, this is where it is at. These are the projects i started in colorado with some of my mothersday money. They are both hand stitched because I didn't have a sewing machine at the time!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Week Three, A meeting with reality
This week i have had a house guest all week, and did not get started on any project until just now. I have been watching dancing online, and am rather frustrated, because i realize that there are 6 year olds who are better at dancing than I am. Way better. But it comes back to What i have shared with you about my sewing "dare." I never stick with things and become great. I am constantly being ok at tons of things, but rarely do i focus my energies. I can pursue as many things as is right for each season of my life, but if i flit about from one to another, Then i don't end up being successful at anything. I want to be the person who does each thing in life with precision and perseverance.
So I got up from watching Dance online, tried to stretch my leg above my head, (ahha! nice try sukka). I got myself a small bowl of ice cream and got to work. Which was a good plan since, really, i have been waiting all day for this time of solitude so that i can SEW! First of all, I finished my little project that i was working on earlier today. It is beautiful in my head. In actuality, my pattern needs some adjustments. It just didn't translate well from my head to the material. But it is in there. Just needs some tweeking. I want the arms to be longer and the feet to stand out better. But over all, i like it. Its a good start. And i just happened upon some purple yarn that matched with the pattern. So I opted for purple hair instead of the original plan of having funky ears.
Glitz fish started out pretty simple, and ended up getting some fun hot pink flair, just caz. I couldn't resist.
Both were harder than i thought, not because they were in nature actually that hard, but because i haven't really ever done anything like this, so there were lots of little details i over looked and had to go back and fix.
I did it!
"A little surprise" and Glitz Fish:
So I got up from watching Dance online, tried to stretch my leg above my head, (ahha! nice try sukka). I got myself a small bowl of ice cream and got to work. Which was a good plan since, really, i have been waiting all day for this time of solitude so that i can SEW! First of all, I finished my little project that i was working on earlier today. It is beautiful in my head. In actuality, my pattern needs some adjustments. It just didn't translate well from my head to the material. But it is in there. Just needs some tweeking. I want the arms to be longer and the feet to stand out better. But over all, i like it. Its a good start. And i just happened upon some purple yarn that matched with the pattern. So I opted for purple hair instead of the original plan of having funky ears.
Glitz fish started out pretty simple, and ended up getting some fun hot pink flair, just caz. I couldn't resist.
Both were harder than i thought, not because they were in nature actually that hard, but because i haven't really ever done anything like this, so there were lots of little details i over looked and had to go back and fix.
I did it!
"A little surprise" and Glitz Fish:
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Second Week Projects.
I just finished my second Project of officially week two.
First off let me apologize for no pictures, and for there probably being no humor. I am too tired to write as good as i would like, my humor is turned off, (because its past ten) and my model, AKA addison, is fast asleep. But i am doing this now so it doesn't get neglected and thrown to the side in favor of doing the dishes or walking by the lake tomorrow.
For my first project I took a skirt I bought at rue 21 about 6 years ago for 6 bucks and made it into a dress for addison. I just thought that the flowers were too bold for a grown woman to be wearing, but would look cute on a girl, so i cut it up, and made it a dress. It looks much better as such. I added some ribbon that i already had and, ta-da! I took the "tool" off from the bottom so it is more casual, but it is still sleek and summerie. For my second project I took some material i had bought with my mother's day money and a 6 month old dress that addison is wearing as a little shirt, and basically just imitated what was done with this dress. I should have made a pattern, (I did make a pattern for the top bit, but flew by the seat of my pants for the skirt bit ) I kind of messed it up the back piece of the skirt, but, it turned out ok: It had a little Customization! It also ended up longer than the first dress/shirt...Which is good for a quickly growing girl. This dress was probably the first project i have ever sewn using elastic. It is the first time i can remember using elastic. So i feel proud of myself.
Also, I found out that my sewing machine does something very similar to "serging" which is great. That means i don't have to buy a new one. OR actually, it means i don't have to wish i could buy a new one. I found out some other features on my machine because i sent my mom's sewing machine back to colorado, so I had to get my sewing machine out. While i was getting it out I tried a few new settings i had never paid attention to before, because i never really got serious about sewing when i was younger.
I am really excited about my sewing machine...I haven't really used it tons since i got it. It was a graduation present from my grandma and grandpa, and It made me a bit sentemental to finally have it out and be using it. I thought, "she knew, my grandma Evie just knew that someday i would want this and need this. She just knew." And i thought maybe I should name my clothing line "Evelyn" in honor of her. (my mom will read this, and not let me ever change it now. Its just a thought though. Its not in stone.) Maybe just "Ev". Or maybe i will name it something totally different. It has to fit just right, you know?
Finaly, these are the things i am hoping to sew next, whether i sew them tomorrow, or sew them as next week's projects:
A stuffed whale
A stuffed canary
A stuffed Fishie
A hat for Jaiden and one for addison
A Square bottomed purse
Some Specialty blankets (cant tell you the nature of these, so my ideas don't get "stollen" Ha Ha! Yeah right.)
Until next time or maybe until next week,
~m~
First off let me apologize for no pictures, and for there probably being no humor. I am too tired to write as good as i would like, my humor is turned off, (because its past ten) and my model, AKA addison, is fast asleep. But i am doing this now so it doesn't get neglected and thrown to the side in favor of doing the dishes or walking by the lake tomorrow.
For my first project I took a skirt I bought at rue 21 about 6 years ago for 6 bucks and made it into a dress for addison. I just thought that the flowers were too bold for a grown woman to be wearing, but would look cute on a girl, so i cut it up, and made it a dress. It looks much better as such. I added some ribbon that i already had and, ta-da! I took the "tool" off from the bottom so it is more casual, but it is still sleek and summerie. For my second project I took some material i had bought with my mother's day money and a 6 month old dress that addison is wearing as a little shirt, and basically just imitated what was done with this dress. I should have made a pattern, (I did make a pattern for the top bit, but flew by the seat of my pants for the skirt bit ) I kind of messed it up the back piece of the skirt, but, it turned out ok: It had a little Customization! It also ended up longer than the first dress/shirt...Which is good for a quickly growing girl. This dress was probably the first project i have ever sewn using elastic. It is the first time i can remember using elastic. So i feel proud of myself.
Also, I found out that my sewing machine does something very similar to "serging" which is great. That means i don't have to buy a new one. OR actually, it means i don't have to wish i could buy a new one. I found out some other features on my machine because i sent my mom's sewing machine back to colorado, so I had to get my sewing machine out. While i was getting it out I tried a few new settings i had never paid attention to before, because i never really got serious about sewing when i was younger.
I am really excited about my sewing machine...I haven't really used it tons since i got it. It was a graduation present from my grandma and grandpa, and It made me a bit sentemental to finally have it out and be using it. I thought, "she knew, my grandma Evie just knew that someday i would want this and need this. She just knew." And i thought maybe I should name my clothing line "Evelyn" in honor of her. (my mom will read this, and not let me ever change it now. Its just a thought though. Its not in stone.) Maybe just "Ev". Or maybe i will name it something totally different. It has to fit just right, you know?
Finaly, these are the things i am hoping to sew next, whether i sew them tomorrow, or sew them as next week's projects:
A stuffed whale
A stuffed canary
A stuffed Fishie
A hat for Jaiden and one for addison
A Square bottomed purse
Some Specialty blankets (cant tell you the nature of these, so my ideas don't get "stollen" Ha Ha! Yeah right.)
Until next time or maybe until next week,
~m~
My life:
The sunshine is flying into my house through the windows. The sound of construction and city is outside, and a nice breeze surounds me.
My daughter, 1.5 years old, is trying to get into my post-natal work out dvd, and is eating the crackers that she previously poured onto the living room floor. "hi mommy. Yeah. Cracker. Mommy, pappa, baby, mammy. poopy. now. cheese." The murmer continues. My son is making crawling motions on his jungle blanki in his jungle animal onesie, and my husband is preparing to sell our truck, we hope. As for me, i am sitting on the couch in my workout clothes, trying to think of the perfect intro for the random bits and pieces of the last month of my life.
Addison: addison and i are working on what normal americans call "potty training." I don't find that these words really sum up what we are working towards, but i'll use them because then you know what i am talking about. "potty training" is complicated. It is a child becoming aware of the toilet and their own body, and the parent becoming aware of their child. it is taking your kid to the bathroom every single time the say "poopy" because the one time you think they are just goofing off, (after taking them 4 times in the last 20 minutes) that is the time they poop in their little undies. And guess who gets to clean those undies? That's right, the parent. Its taking your kid to the bathroom right away, so they don't pee on you. Nice. It is having cloth diapers and disposables, and big kid undies and training pants and rubber pants and having to be the one who figures out which ones your kid should be wearing at this exact moment. It is waiting, sitting on the bathtub edge for the hundred and twentieth time today. last but not least, it is giving your kid mini marshmallows, because they did actually do what you are trying to get them to do... so you celebrate a little. This is all what the words "potty training" mean.
Besides this, there is also a lot of new talking going on. a few of my favorites are "sune-shine" and "caw-C" (coffee)... and that she crys mornfully "annie, annie" to her raggedy ann doll when we put her in her bed, as though annie is the only one who understands her deep pain.
Jaiden is doing well also, grinning so much, and half laughing. His eyes have gone blue, his hair is constantly getting more yellow. He looks like he is trying to crawl, but isn't really getting anywhere yet of course.
Racine continues to treat us well. We love being able to see the lake from our front door! I am so excited about "pictch in racine" (a project to help make recycling easier for busy moms like me) . josh and i saw people get busted for PLAYING IN THE FOUNTAIN which is so silly. Now maybe if they could bust some of the 6th street drama, that would be great. Josh and i are simply enjoying the beauty of summer, we love walking together, beaches, and homegroup cookouts (Corn on the cob please!!!!) I wish we had a garden on the rooftop we overlook...but we have specifically been told not to go out their. Which means for father's day josh will not be getting a grill, because where in the world would we put it?? I am also really, really wanting to paint. We need some color here!
I worked on some projects (of the fashion design/ sewwing nature) while i was in colorado, as well as watching Julia and julie. In julia and julie, julie says that she never follows through with anything. I thought... "that is me" So i have been thinking, and think that i want to do two sewing projects a week, for the next year. My sewing day of choice, which i had purposed to sew on even before watching J&J is tuesday. There was a specific reason for tuesdays.... I just don't remember why. This week i finished a girly onesie and took a white house, black market shirt that was handmedown-ed to me, and made it into a shirt for addison. Quite pleased with the results. I am not necessarily jumping on the band wagon with the whole "upcycle" movement, but let me tell you, using old clothes rather than buying material, is way cheaper. Way way. now i don't have to worry so much about if i will be able to do two projects a week, because as far as recourses go, Im good. Now, as long as i can just keep up my steam. and ok... i do love the idea of upcycling. it is pretty lovely. And i love the idea of making your own paterns... caz i just hate cutting patterns out. That has always been my down fall as far as sewwing goes.
Finally, I come up with a new motto, "good eating starts with good grocery shoping." Josh and i are trying to radically reduce the amount of sugar we eat. So we we have more protien, more fiber, more ezekial bread, and more coffee. Because i love coffee. And its just as good as ice cream or brownies. Maybe better.
There are so many other random ends that i feel i should tie down somewhere, like starting to work out at 530 in the morning, or the fact that sytycd is back on tv, and is the only show i have watched religiously since wishbone! I could say that i just keep thinking and thinking about scott Goodwills teaching on suffering, and that it is taking me to school! I could tell you that i am currently wearing both my and my husbands wedding rings on my left hand, (his ring has gotten too small for him, so i am keeping it from getting lost till we get him one that fits). Josh just refinished a really sweet looking coffee table. For no logical reason at all, i have my radio in my car set to the country station, and that i am rethinking my "mafia" stratagy because i am tired of being so horrible when i get a black card... and i could tell you that we just sold the truck! Yay!
I wish this was more wimsical, more poetic, more something. But its just a whole lot of whats going on. As a country singer says (Wait...really? im quoting country singers now???) "lets talk about Meeeeeeee!"
My daughter, 1.5 years old, is trying to get into my post-natal work out dvd, and is eating the crackers that she previously poured onto the living room floor. "hi mommy. Yeah. Cracker. Mommy, pappa, baby, mammy. poopy. now. cheese." The murmer continues. My son is making crawling motions on his jungle blanki in his jungle animal onesie, and my husband is preparing to sell our truck, we hope. As for me, i am sitting on the couch in my workout clothes, trying to think of the perfect intro for the random bits and pieces of the last month of my life.
Addison: addison and i are working on what normal americans call "potty training." I don't find that these words really sum up what we are working towards, but i'll use them because then you know what i am talking about. "potty training" is complicated. It is a child becoming aware of the toilet and their own body, and the parent becoming aware of their child. it is taking your kid to the bathroom every single time the say "poopy" because the one time you think they are just goofing off, (after taking them 4 times in the last 20 minutes) that is the time they poop in their little undies. And guess who gets to clean those undies? That's right, the parent. Its taking your kid to the bathroom right away, so they don't pee on you. Nice. It is having cloth diapers and disposables, and big kid undies and training pants and rubber pants and having to be the one who figures out which ones your kid should be wearing at this exact moment. It is waiting, sitting on the bathtub edge for the hundred and twentieth time today. last but not least, it is giving your kid mini marshmallows, because they did actually do what you are trying to get them to do... so you celebrate a little. This is all what the words "potty training" mean.
Besides this, there is also a lot of new talking going on. a few of my favorites are "sune-shine" and "caw-C" (coffee)... and that she crys mornfully "annie, annie" to her raggedy ann doll when we put her in her bed, as though annie is the only one who understands her deep pain.
Jaiden is doing well also, grinning so much, and half laughing. His eyes have gone blue, his hair is constantly getting more yellow. He looks like he is trying to crawl, but isn't really getting anywhere yet of course.
Racine continues to treat us well. We love being able to see the lake from our front door! I am so excited about "pictch in racine" (a project to help make recycling easier for busy moms like me) . josh and i saw people get busted for PLAYING IN THE FOUNTAIN which is so silly. Now maybe if they could bust some of the 6th street drama, that would be great. Josh and i are simply enjoying the beauty of summer, we love walking together, beaches, and homegroup cookouts (Corn on the cob please!!!!) I wish we had a garden on the rooftop we overlook...but we have specifically been told not to go out their. Which means for father's day josh will not be getting a grill, because where in the world would we put it?? I am also really, really wanting to paint. We need some color here!
I worked on some projects (of the fashion design/ sewwing nature) while i was in colorado, as well as watching Julia and julie. In julia and julie, julie says that she never follows through with anything. I thought... "that is me" So i have been thinking, and think that i want to do two sewing projects a week, for the next year. My sewing day of choice, which i had purposed to sew on even before watching J&J is tuesday. There was a specific reason for tuesdays.... I just don't remember why. This week i finished a girly onesie and took a white house, black market shirt that was handmedown-ed to me, and made it into a shirt for addison. Quite pleased with the results. I am not necessarily jumping on the band wagon with the whole "upcycle" movement, but let me tell you, using old clothes rather than buying material, is way cheaper. Way way. now i don't have to worry so much about if i will be able to do two projects a week, because as far as recourses go, Im good. Now, as long as i can just keep up my steam. and ok... i do love the idea of upcycling. it is pretty lovely. And i love the idea of making your own paterns... caz i just hate cutting patterns out. That has always been my down fall as far as sewwing goes.
Finally, I come up with a new motto, "good eating starts with good grocery shoping." Josh and i are trying to radically reduce the amount of sugar we eat. So we we have more protien, more fiber, more ezekial bread, and more coffee. Because i love coffee. And its just as good as ice cream or brownies. Maybe better.
There are so many other random ends that i feel i should tie down somewhere, like starting to work out at 530 in the morning, or the fact that sytycd is back on tv, and is the only show i have watched religiously since wishbone! I could say that i just keep thinking and thinking about scott Goodwills teaching on suffering, and that it is taking me to school! I could tell you that i am currently wearing both my and my husbands wedding rings on my left hand, (his ring has gotten too small for him, so i am keeping it from getting lost till we get him one that fits). Josh just refinished a really sweet looking coffee table. For no logical reason at all, i have my radio in my car set to the country station, and that i am rethinking my "mafia" stratagy because i am tired of being so horrible when i get a black card... and i could tell you that we just sold the truck! Yay!
I wish this was more wimsical, more poetic, more something. But its just a whole lot of whats going on. As a country singer says (Wait...really? im quoting country singers now???) "lets talk about Meeeeeeee!"
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