I Made it Monday: Our Primary Colors Quilt

Our home was in the process of being made into a duplex before we bought it, and then someone changed their mind, leaving the home with random doors through out.  We intend to keep two of them, and the others will eventually be replaced with windows.  In the meantime, this door gets a little drafty and isn't exactly cute.  WBH asked me a while ago if I could make a quilt to hang over it.  With the best of intentions, I ordered some nice fabric, and sewed up a top.  Then I let that top sit for more than a year, unquilted.  I bought batting and fabric to finish it... last October.

So this summer, itching to sew, but not clothing, and without budget, I put the pieces together (it took me a whopping three nights.  Silly procrastinator).  WBH took down an unused curtain rod, I sloppily basted a sleeve onto the back for it, and Voila!  Hidden door.  Yes, it's very bright, but being in a climate that favors overcast skies, coming home to a cheery color scheme is something I really appreciate.   Now I'm on to a few paper projects, and a scrappy nine-patch quilt.   What are you working on this week?  

Sunday Inspiration

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InstaFriday 8.24.12

1. learning to play Uno, kicking mom's butt 2. quilted into the wee hours, but it's done! 3. fitting into my favorite again.  4.  garden harvest.  5. backyard cinema  6. art project  7.  the after-library sprawl  8. the finished trebuchet  9.  following a trip to blueberry park.  10.  basil cubes  11.  knitting work-in-progress.  12.  waking up is hard some days 

Happy Birthday, Rotten One

Two years ago, Rotten's arrival happened in a way that would foreshadow a lot of his personality.  When he surprised me by arriving eight days before my scheduled c-section, I kept saying to him "this was not the plan, little guy"  and when he was born, he came out yelling.  He yelled at us for an hour, as if to let us know that it wasn't his plan either.  He gave us this look for a  days after.  Somedays, he still does. 

Hours old. 

 1st birthday 

2 years old. 

Dear  Rotten, 

Some days you are still such a mystery to me.  The way that you live life on your own terms confounds, awes, and sometimes makes me absolutely crazy.  Still, I can't imagine you any other way.  You are so clever, so funny, such a flirt and a tease.  I'm so happy you are a part of our family.  Crazy as it can make me, I love the way you shake things up, the way you taught me that I know absolutely nothing.  I love your passion for books, the way you simultaneously adore your brother and want to boss him around.  I know that your stubbornness and drive for the things you want will someday be your greatest assets, but today, you are living up to the words you said to everyone today: "I'm two!" You bring so much joy to our family, in a way that no one else could.  We love you.  Happy Birthday, Rotten one. 

Love, Mama 

I Made it Monday: Banana Silk Cowl

Awkward self-portrait in dusty mirror.  Yeah.  So let's focus on my the most recent finished object and how it came to be.  I'm allergic to animal fibers- eyes water, hives pop up- and it's really lame.  Fortunately, there are a lot of cool, vegan options available: cotton, linen, rayon, and this super cool yarn, made from the bark of banana trees.  WBH surprised me with this it earlier this summer.  I worked on this onstage during a park scene.  It's got a great, hard to describe weight while staying soft and fuzzy.   I wanted to focus on the cool texture of the yarn, so I kept the pattern simple, worked it all in stockinette  and then the ends were sewed together.  Simple, but I like the statement and pop of color it adds.  It will get more use when the weather cools off. 

I picked up a quilt top I made a while back to finish this week.  The plan is for it to cover a superfluous door in the living room, and hopefully stop a draft when things cool down.  It's pinned and ready for some sewing, and I'm so excited to get it up on the wall. 

Sunday Inspiration

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Instafriday 8.17.12

1.Building a trebuchet.   Yeah, we are.  

2. Sunshine squash, this years attempt at "pumpkins."  

3. Just before a date to go get school shirts.  

4. Playing nicely (it's been a rarity this week).  

5. Building a wooden helicopter (Stinky's choice of dollar store treat was the kit.)  

6. Kindergarten countdown 

Other cool stuff  that happened this week: 

-Backyard Cousin Campout

- Cast Party ( gosh, I miss those people)

- WBH and I hitting lower weights we haven't seen in years. 

-Rotten 'reading' a mash-up of Slippery Fish and Rainbow Fish

-Realizing there's just 3 weeks until the big boy is a school kid.  Killing me, but so excited for him.  

-One week until the Rotten one turns two.  Though, he's gotten really, really good at two already. 

Linked Up! 

Caspar Baby Pants, Cousins, and a Sprained Ankle

So, this happened, and it didn't happen doing anything exciting.  I was just walking to my car,  fell of a curb and rolled it.  

Unfortunately, I took this sweetie down with me.   You can see his goose egg in this picture.  When I took this shot, he was saying "I be mama doctor." 

Earlier, we'd had an awesome day.  WBH's sister and her kids have moved to the area, and we brought all the cousins together to see Casper Babypants in the Park.  If you don't know him, you should.  Former frontman for the Presidents of the United States, he makes music that you can't really tell is for kids until you hear the lyrics.  He's for Rotten what Imagination Movers was for Stinky.   

At first, Rotten wasn't sure.  He wasn't playing any of his favorites yet. 

Stinky seemed to channel a hippie at Woodstock, though-  thankfully, keeping his clothes on.

When we let him join the mini-mosh pit, he requested Rotten's favorite- "Eleanor the Elegant Elephant"  and danced most elegantly.

Rotten thought that was just pretty great, and was extra excited when "Stompy the Bear" was played.

The cousins sat, sang, and danced nicely together, with a little teasing.

After the concert, we moved on to the playground for a while, where WBH set the carousel off at a speed the kids couldn't get on their own,  Rotten climbed the rolling hill, and Stink rode the multi-passenger see-saw.  Sometimes we have boundary issues.

This spinning seat was a hit with Rotten, though, and he wanted to ride it until he couldn't walk straight. 

It was a great day, until I went and fell off the curb.  So maybe we'll try for a do-over soon. 

I Made it Monday: Knitting

The things about being in a show is that it can be a lot of hurry up and wait during rehearsals.  So to keep myself out of trouble, I brought my knitting- and a lot of it.  The knit balls are a great, (much easier than they look) Ravelry Pattern.   The others are much more free form- the rainbow wrap was something I sort of made up as I went while on vacation, the stripes were on a project I eventually decided I hated and ripped out. The last bit of texture on the bottom right?  That is from a cowl that I knit using (this is so cool) banana silk that WBH surprised me by ordering, knowing I can't use animal fibers without getting a rash.    It looks awesome, and I'll be sure to get pictures, soon.

Another project is on the needles this week.  I had planned a break from knitting, until an injury stopped me, this week.  Later on, when I have more use of my ankle, I'm excited to finish a quilt that I've had the the top done for ages.  But for now, while I rest and elevate, more knitting, more purling.

Sunday Inspiration

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I Made it Monday: My Costume

photo by Wayne Robinson 

Closing weekend has come, and a friend put it really where when she said that it's an even blend of sadness and relief.  While it's on my mind, I'm sharing my costume for this week's I Made it Monday.  This was hands-down, my favorite of my costumes- and it makes the top five of all time, too.  

The skirt is made from Dana's excellent tutorial, the fake peter pan collar was from this tutorial, and then just safely pinned on.  I may add some finishing touches, take out the petticoat, and  wear it again, as I had to clue how flattering a circle skirt could be. 

Here's a better look at the whole thing together, paired with my favorite (but not made for dancing on an incline) shoes.  

I've been knitting up a storm lately, too, so next week, I'll post some of that.  Now, I've got a quilt to finish and an amazing amount of photos to get into an album.  

Happy Monday, friends.  Anything crafty you're working on? 

Sunday Inspiration

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InstaFriday: Before and After

Both shots from last night's show prep.  I've loved being a part of a movie music revue this summer, getting to share the experience with Stinky again.  It's interesting to see how much he's grown from the last time we did this, 9 months ago.  In a lot of ways, he's a very different kid, proving to me that just maybe he's ready for kindergarten.  We've been able to spend time with friends from the past and make new ones.  Aidan is in a kids group that sings The Rainbow Connection, and I sing in a duet of Young at Heart, as well as the full cast numbers. It  has challenged and pushed me because the story we're telling with this song is different that then the, ahem, trampier roles I've often enjoyed, and also, dancing.  How I wish I was a better dancer.  Fortunately, I have a partner who has been very patient.  The production ends this weekend, and I will miss performing in it, and the time with friends, but I think everyone is probably ready to bring it to an end as well.  So many people put way more hours into these productions that allow me to rehearse but not spend every evening away from my kids, and should they make their way here, I hope you know how grateful I am for all the work you do.  It's so nice to be able to step back into something I loved before I was a Mom, without having to spend all my time away from home.  It's a good recharge.

Chances are if you're here, you are a facebook friend, too. I've posted info about the show there- you should come check it out while you can.  Get uplifted, have a laugh, come see the talented people I've been working with since May.  We have a good time, and I think you will, too.

You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello

Goodbye, July, and goodbye

visits from out of town family and friends

family pilgrimage to Fort Flagler with treasure hunts 

and bike rides.

Goodbye, rehearsals and opening weekend.  

And Hello, August.  

Hello, closing weekend, backyard movies, and epic playdates.  Hello, just-moved-in cousins, garden fresh veggies and afternoons in the back yards.  Hello, filthy boys, house projects, concerts, and farmers' market.    Hello, last days with a preschooler, and hello, for the first time ever, school shopping.  Hello, heart attack.  Hello, big, big plans, and hello again blogging.