Happy Thanksgiving

You can pick up a cute reversible apron like this next weekend at the Beehive Bazaar in the meantime, have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

wrap-around skirts for ladies

After some trial and error in the pattern department I think I've finally got a shape I feel satisfied with. I'm sorry to say that they won't be available on my Etsy site until January- most likely. If you've got to have one- you'll just have to snatch one up at the Beehive Bazaar next weekend. With fall and winter in mind I made a few reversible skirts but most of them are single layer... both are so cute over jeans.

a night out

The ladies of Book Group went to see Twilight Saturday night. Melinda, Book Group member who picked the book a few summers ago wasn't with us- she had gone on Thursday, the opening night (we missed you Melinda!)
It was a much needed (and anticipated) night out in the middle of craft season. I enjoyed every single moment- sitting completely still, not multi-tasking, tummy full of Bajio, no one hanging on/complaining to me.
I guess I'm pretty easy to please. Of course I could nit-pick or complain about bits here and there that didn't match up to the images in my head- but I won't. I loved the film, through and through- a few parts made me giggle, but for the most part it made me feel 18 again and helped me escape mundane reality for a couple of delicious hours.
It was great to be with all my ladies, our Book Group has been going strong for ten years now. All the gals are so uniquely fabulous and inspiring to me. As life gets busier and our kids grow up, we have spread out geographically making it increasingly difficult to get together regularly. So, no matter is going on in my life, I always look forward to Book Group every month- spending a few minutes discussing a book, but mostly, catching up with all my friends and life's goings on.

High Street Messenger Bag... kind of

I've been making some messenger bags for the Beehive Bazaar all week. My kids and their friends each have their favorite bag picked out- this one with the owl is getting the highest score so far.
I've been using the Amy Butler High Street Messenger Bag pattern- not so easy to follow, let me tell ya. And I'll tell you why: instead of printing a picture to go along with every step, there are a few steps pictured and a wordy explanation for the rest of the steps.
It is so much easier to follow illustrations for each step- like a regular sewing pattern. It's like trying to teach someone how to tie knots with only words and no pictures- 100 times harder without the pictures. Maybe it's just me, maybe I've followed too many Butterick patterns over the years.
So, after picking out lots of mess-ups, I finally got it right. Now I have been altering the pattern a bit here and there. I changed it to a squarer shape, added a tiny cell phone pocket on the side, took off the magnetic tab on the front for closing.

thinking ahead

It just hit me this morning- as the kids were putting Pierre (the kitty) in dolly clothes, someone has got to be a circus monkey next Halloween. Hopefully I can talk one of my kids into it, the smaller the body the funnier it would be. I've got about a year to convince (cajole, hound, beg, plead, black mail, bribe- whatever it takes) one of them it would be the best costume ever.

a few tiny things I found at Felt Club

Felt Club was fantastic, it is always inspiring and motivating to see what other crafters, sewers, artsy folks are making. I came home with lots o' tiny things which is good for a gal whose suitcases are already full of fabric that she just so happened to have picked up on the same trip. This little ceramic fish on wheels (about 3 inches long) was made by PearsonMaron check them out on Etsy.

I have been wearing these earring nonstop since I got them- I love them so much- gotten a few compliments on them too. The gal who makes them had lots of cool jewelry made from recycled vintage goods- watch parts and typewriter keys too. Check her out here The Weekend Store.

When we went to Felt Club 2 years ago I got a tiny bird head figure wearing panties by this same artist, Melissa Contreras. It's one of my very favorite things in my house. I was so glad she was there again this year, I hemmed and hawed at her booth and finally came away with this tiny friend. She's about 3 inches tall and s'dang cute. Melissa's illustrations and paintings are very cool too. Check her out at Axel Honey.

Felt Club

Early Saturday morning me and a few of my ladies (Colett we will miss you, you chump) hop a plane and bust out to LA for the weekend- main reason: Holiday Felt Club in LA. We went two years ago and it was super fun to see what all the other artists, crafters and handmade junkies are up to. I can't wait to leave my own sewing machine and piles of fabric behind for a few lovely days in a warmer climate; to relax without a care in the world... but catching my plane back on Monday.

I can't wait for this film

As some of you may know from previous entries I am a #1 fan of Baz Luhrmann's filmmaking. All of his films are fabulous (Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge, Romeo and Juliet) and I can't wait to see Australia, his next film coming out November 27th. I must admit that I am more excited to see this than Twilight because I'm not convinced the actor Robert Pattinson, playing Edward can pull it off.

fabric, felt and Indian games

I been putting together purses all last week and into the weekend, I lead a real exciting life as you can see. My lovely spouse is on the road again so it is just the kids and I. The kids ran wild all weekend playing Indians in the backyard, smashing berries and smearing the red mush on their faces, then reverting to a red Sharpie when the berries didn't achieve the desired affect. The good thing about being a modern Indian I suppose- resources like Sharpies to fall back on. The Indian braves were even hanging out shirtless (it was in the 50's) for a few sunny hours. The look for the ladies was one arm and their head through their stretched-out shirt neck-hole- Tarzan & Jane style.
Carefully and cunningly (while I ran to the store for a few minutes), the Indian tribe attempted to properly construct an Indian village, complete with a Tee Pee, belt pouches for each Indian, and a fire pit. They tracked numerous muddy tracks throughout the house gathering up resources they needed; including but not limited to- most of the available hand tools and utensils from the garage and kitchen. They each cut up socks to make the essential Indian pouch one must hang from their belt for special small objects, a decision we might all regret the next time some one needs a pair of clean socks. The plan was to sleep in the Tee Pee constructed from blankets and tarps. This didn't pan out- the weather wasn't cooperating and most importantly, the great spirit said 'no'. Once again, another bonus to being a modern Indian- you have a warm bed to crawl into at the end of a hard day whether you see that way or not.
At last, the grand finale- the thing that sets you apart and makes you a real Indian player- the real fire. The actual flames sprung up from still green wood from our recently cut down sickly Aspen trees. Needless to say it was extremely stinky, that is of course, if you don't appreciate super smokey fires. I think we made the neighbors nervous, since the fire was just about 20 feet (on the other side of the fence) from the corner of their house. But they had a great time- the Indian tribe, not the neighbors. Using straightened out paper clips they roasted (or more like smoked) carrots from the kitchen and partly frozen green beans they found still hanging on the surrounding garden vines. In a stew of potatoes, carrots and green beans they carefully simmered up, the Indian chefs even remembered the salt, pepper and a pinch of rosemary for flavor. I was awestruck when they divied it all up into bowls and gobbled it up, I myself, declined a bowl (chicken, bok-bok-bok). While feasting on their stew, I overheard commentary from my 10 year old son like, "I think I'll use some chicken broth next time..."

While all of this was going on, I was in my basement sweat shop/workroom making purses (boring)- getting ready for the Beehive Bazaar (far from boring) coming up here the first weekend in December. Pictured here are the unfinished outsides of a few purses.
I put quite a few owls in the mix, I just couldn't stop with the feathered friends once I got started. Here is my favorite owl before he got sewn on, I think he's my favorite 'cuz he's so tiny (around 3 inches tall).

A little piece of the bright and cheerful New York City fabric put to use here. When I sewed this purse top all together I moved that green birdy over so you can see the all the words, and the cardinal isn't riding the bicycle. Not that there would be anything wrong with that...
Ahh... the city that loves Barack Obama, bicycles, birdies, good eating and shopping and so many other fabulous things. I love NY.

I'm sad to say but this is one of my last little pieces of this fabric. I'm going to try and not freak out about it and spend the next hour or so frantically searching online to find some more. Hmm... that sounds like an admission of guilt, like I've done that sort of searching before. Whatever?!

overheard this morning...

C (4 1/2 years old) was playing with Pierre the cat. Pierre was playing rough, and scratched him...
C: SON OF A B! ( he said the letter 'B')
Me: what did you just say??
C: What?? that's not a bad word!?
Me: Please, just don't say that at school.

His voice inflection and pronunciation sounded very familiar- I think I've heard it said just like that somewhere before... his father perhaps?

a really awesome new product idea

Are your kids getting too big to cuddle? Do you find yourself missing carrying your babies around in a sling all day? For the busy cat lover, or just someone looking for a laugh- The kitty carry-all sling is for you (or an excellent Christmas gift...).
Steph- this product is dedicated to you, I know you're really jealous right now. And no, you can't have mine... but I will make one for you.

Actually, this is more like it. Change "have a little look at the internet" to making stupid things for our cat when there are about a million things I should be doing.

change has come to America

What a historic, happy day. I was moved by President-elect Barack Obama's victory speech. Today, I once again feel proud to be an American. Change is in the air and it feels good.

One of my favorite bits:
"And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.
For that is the true genius of America - that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow."

election day

Halloween recap

for the whole day in pictures look here