Returning

It's been awhile...

It was a crazy summer with the birth of a niece and the loss of the 4-unit townhome that housed my husband's parents, grandparents, and aunt and uncle (fire caused by a lightning strike). They are now living in rentals while the building is being rebuilt.

My husband had classes through the summer, so no extended vacations for us.

Josh started kindergarten in the fall, which he loves! His teacher is great!

I came to the realization that my child is no longer beginning to read. He is a reader! He popped his head over my shoulder the other day and began reading my book out loud. Any suggestions for some good boys' books? I grew up with Laura Ingalls Wilder; is there a male equivalent?

On Christmas Day, our car broke down. Its Blue Book value is $2500 and the repairs will cost $3000. Which means it's time to go car shopping. I will miss that car. It was a plastic-body 2002 Saturn and still looked new. We bought it 2 months before Josh was born, 6 years and 1 month ago.

Looking forward to a new year, and hoping it's a bit quieter. =)

Womanhood

Several of us women got together to welcome a beautiful young woman to her journey into womanhood. It was an evening of laughter, stories, tears, and prayer. Chantelle is a sweet girl and a blessing to everyone around her.

Every woman needs a fun purse, so here was my contribution to the evening.

New addition to the quilt family

Just now getting pictures posted of this. My old camera took lousy, blurry photos, so we replaced it this winter. I'm loving the camera and the fact that I can now get photos of the stuff I've made.

Here's a quilt I made for my husband, who turned 30 last summer. The quilt top was done and ready for quilting...and then we moved. It sat in storage for a bit, mostly because I was keeping it a secret and couldn't work on it in the house. I finally showed it to him, just so I could get it done.

I designed this based on the "trip around the world" pattern. I love the tan and gray combination. Better yet, my husband loved it, too!

Where did I disappear to?

In case, you're wondering, it's been a little busy around here. We got an offer (at the end of June) from our apartment management company to move into a larger apartment in another building. We took some time to think about it (24 hours) and moved 4 weeks later (end of July). I haven't pulled out my machine yet, but am trying to get settled into my new space. I finally have my own space. (Okay, so I share it with a couple office things: computer, fax machine, file cabinet; but otherwise, it's all mine.)

In between the job offer and moving, we celebrated the 4th, went away for the weekend with good friends, celebrated Chris's birthday, attended our college alumni picnic, Chris started his new quarter at college, and we managed our old and new buildings. Obviously, things have been a little crazy. This weekend was supposed to be quiet, except for the wedding that Chris was supposed to play in on Saturday. Due to work, he didn't arrive until the end of the wedding. Luckily, a friend graciously stepped in and most people didn't even notice that he wasn't on the stage. Saturday night, my parents' neighbourhood was hit by a tornado. The damage was mostly in the woods behind the house. After a full day of professional tree guys and friends and family helping, there is still a lot to do (possibly 15 trees or more lost).

On the sewing front: I was working on something before we moved, but haven't touched it since. Can't give more details than that, since it is a surprise. A friend asked me to help her make curtains this last week.

Kind of slow...

Actually, more like kind of busy! I've been busy with apartments on the market, our anniversary, and transcribing interviews for my dad (working on his PhD). I haven't touched my machine since the second week of May (gasp!). There are now no apartments on the market, the transcribing is done, and we have no plans to go anywhere until July. I have big plans this week, mostly involving the pile of gifts and projects that have not stopped piling up.

Jay McCarroll fabric

I got fabric in the mail this weekend! Bee Square Fabrics did a giveaway a few weeks ago and I won material and extras to make this bag. The fabric is fun and will be perfect for the summer! Now if I could just get the camera to take a decent picture...

Setting sail

My dad celebrated his birthday recently. He loves ships! I found this fabric at Mill End. The frame was a custom-frame from Joann's. Someone decided they didn't want it, so it was being sold for around a 10th of the original cost (just the frame, no glass, back, mat). I glued batting scraps to a piece of foam board, wrapped the fabric over it and glued the fabric onto the back of the board. Then I glued a second piece of foamboard to the back (trapping the fabric and batting edges between the two foamboards), let it dry overnight, and slipped it into the frame. Great quick and easy project (took about an hour plus drying time for the glue)! Next time, I want to try something other than foamboard. You can only use thin pins at an angle, or they will fall out of the foamboard.

Doll strollers

Dida's doll stroller seat was made of cheap nylon and had frayed at least an inch at all crucial attachment points. Dida's "new" stroller:
Cari and her family moved to Brasil on Wednesday. She is expecting a little girl in August. Before leaving, they bought their 4-year-old daughter, Bella, a new doll stroller. They decided to bring the old one (still in good shape) along for Bella to give to the new baby. The seat was starting to fray so I fixed it up for her. Cari's baby's "new" stroller with a canopy:

Dida's Dress

Dress (Before)

Hem (Before)

Dress (After)

Tia fix-it

Noelle's quilt is finished and delivered.

My sister brought her daughter's birthday dress to me a couple weeks ago. The gauzy top layer had gotten stepped on and the fabric was beginning to run. I found a wide ribbon and folded it over the hem and sewed it in place. Dida (my niece) was glad to have her dress fixed again.

I also made a stroller seat for Dida's doll stroller. The cheap nylon seat tore and my sis asked me if I could reinforce it. It was too torn up to sew. I found some heavier material (light-weight home-dec fabric) and took the old seat apart to use as a pattern. It turned out pretty decently.

So the next time I was over, Dida brought me a doll that's about 5 inches tall and asked if I could make it some clothes. Sorry, honey, that I can't do...

I am now working on 3 toddler-bed size flannel blankets for Cari's kids as a going-away present and a stroller seat for their worn-out doll stroller (for the new baby to play with when she's old enough). We will miss that family. Sure you guys don't want to stay?