Car Seat Cover

Mom and I both found this pattern on Pinterest.  I was planning to make it for Molly and so was Mom.  Good thing we talked or Molly would have ended up with 2.  And Mom's would have looked better.  So we joined forces and did it together.  It took us 2 nights . . . I did the sewing, Mom did the ironing.  I'm really proud of it and I think we should make them for baby gifts.  Very useful and I wish I would have had one when B was born and then of course C could have used it too.

The most interesting thing about this whole process - I found out about the '1/4 inch foot' for a sewing machine.  I call it the 'cheater foot' because you could close your eyes and sew straight.  So, really . . . all those people who look like great seamstress' probably just have the cheater foot and we'd never know.  Wanted to steal mom's but then I realized she wouldn't be able to sew straight without it.  I'm going to get myself one!

Let the Procrastinating Begin

I've finished the final stocking.  Turns out that I did improve and the 4th one is certainly the best.  I didn't cut off any owls heads, Grinch's bodies or make the Mexican Flag with this final stocking.  And guess what - it's for me!  I'm a horrible mother!  I haven't started any of the wrapping yet . . . Jeff said he would do it, but I don't believe him.

Stocking number three - done!

What a day . . . wee Chaw-wee is teething  . . . or something.  And he was so cranky.  I couldn't wait to get the boys in bed so I could just have some quiet time.  Why did I ever want Benji to learn to talk?  Oh how I wanted to lay on the couch.  But then I saw the Christmas calendar and we only have 14 more sleeps.  Better get back to the sewing machine.

This is Ben's 'Grinch' stocking and I'm quite pleased with it.  It went together about a million times better than the last two.  I guess I'm finally catching on. One more to go . . . I saved mine for last just in case it didn't get done.  Oh - what a 'motherly' thing to do.

The Christmas Table Runner is Complete

I finally finished the Christmas table runner for Maris.  I am happy with the end result - and I think Maris liked it too.  I finished the hand sewing on the binding last night and I think I've finally figured that bit out.  I even ripped out the first part that I did when I didn't have a clue and re-did it.

Now I just have to wait for the fabric to arrive in the mail that I bought from Etsy.  Hurry up mailman - I have 2 more stockings to sew!

Here - it is.  Not the greatest picture.

Cookie Exchange . . . here we come!

Today's project . . . make cookies!  I'm on my second batch of the day and this one is tripled.  Boys are both in bed having naps - but I wasn't sure if that was going to happen or not.  They both whined and cried when I laid them down.  That wasn't normal and I thought  - oh great, their dad is gone and they don't want to nap.  But all is well now.  Cookies are in the oven and I think I'll have a cup of coffee.  But not a cookie.

So I finally finished Jeff's stocking.  I had written a little blurb yesterday but somehow it got lost.  The jist of the story - don't start something without a pattern or at least a clue.  I cut, I ripped, I swore.  But - after many hours - I'm finished.  And I'm quite happy with the results.  Now . . . 2 more to go. And if I have time, I'll redo Charlie's because he'll have a complex if he has to use the stocking I made for him.

Why do I sew?

I found the cutest pattern on line for the next Christmas stocking.  I bought the appropriate fabric with this pattern in mind. Do you think I could find the pattern when it was time to cut the fabric?  No, of course not!  So I've got both of the boys in bed for their afternoon naps, and I'm ready to sew!  Almost - I can't find the f%$#ing website!  I search and search and still can't find it.  I even went through my history.  So now I decide I'm going to wing it.  I can't for the life of me figure out the best way to do it. And we aren't talking about a complicated pattern either. My brain just doesn't work that way.  So then I just start cutting fabric and maybe I'll get inspired after that!  Nope!  This is not the way to make a quilted stocking!  I didn't get inspired - more like pissed off!  So then I thought I'll just start sewing strips together, maybe that will help me.  I did end up with this pinwheel/rail fence pattern. I'm sure it has a name, but I have no idea what it might be. I struggled with that all afternoon when it should have been about a 90 minute project.

Stitch in the Ditch sucks the life from me!

So the quilted table runner is coming along, but stitching in the ditch is no fun.  Gives me a headache and I feel like my eyes are crossed.  Not only is it physically painful . . . it's hard work to sew straight.  Needless to say, I'm not happy with the results, but I guess it just takes practice.

Once that torture was over - I got to work on sewing on the binding.  I watched a tutorial to learn how to do that.  Perfect mitered corners my ass!  Then I started to wonder why I was putting myself through this.  I like making the squares, but so far that's about it.

Now I am struggling with the hand sewing on the binding.  This might take me the rest of my life and again I'm not happy with the way it looks.  I might wait until Mom can give me a lesson in real life.

This is the tutorial I used . . . and it was actually quite useful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buCKs-Fgvb4&list=FL8_XjW7KToBxuxnIc_BUNig&index=1&feature=plpp_video

What's for supper tonight?

Well, I've been informed by the 'Food Boss' that we are having left overs tonight. Even though I was prepared to make Taco Pie.  Guess that will be on the menu tomorrow night.

My mom makes this recipe all the time and it's always a hit.  We'll see what my crew think of it.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/taco-pie/

I think I'm going to use a pie crust instead of the crescent rolls.  I'll keep you posted.

My First Entry

Everyone has a Blog - why can't I?  I honestly don't know what a blog is supposed to be.  Am I supposed to talk about my day like a diary?  All the links on my second home 'Pinterest' are linked back to blogs of everyone's wonderful crafts.  I'm not really a crafty person . . . so where does that leave me?  I could tell funny Ben stories - but the only person who likes to hear those are my mom.

Guess I'm going to have to think about this.

The Busy Bee