Fabric choices

Not much done this week as we are playing catch up with school and I'm working on a couple of baby gifts as well as more diapers for Kal-El. I also cleaned up the living room bookcase, clearing out stuff we don't need in our homeschool anymore. I've started picking up stuff for next year and I need space! But I did get a yearning to make stuff for me and I really want to use these vintage patterns I've been collecting so I think I've decided on my first project: this shirt; view 1. I will make a muslin first, for fit, but I can't decide between these two fabrics. The first is an easy care plaid--- I don't know anything else about it because I picked it up at a thrift store. (2 yards/$1.98) I've washed and pressed it and I think it'll do well. But I am oddly drawn to the orange print. Literally-- they're oranges. Really bright oranges. I see me wearing it open over a tank top as the kids and I wander the amusement park this summer. If the first one works, I'll do a second, but I can't choose which to do first! If it doesn't work, I don't want to waste either fabric!

It's good to get away...

...but it's always wonderful to come home! We were treated like royalty at the in-laws and my parents homes; so great to see family and old friends. Too bad the guest of honor won't remember a minute of it! Kal-El traveled like a champ and charmed everyone with his gurgles and lopsided grins! The real winner, though, was probably Jacie, who turned 11 on Friday. She had one cake Thursday at Auntie Julie's house, a cake waiting for her at Nana & Poppa's when we got there Friday and a cookie-cake from her Daddy when we got home Saturday night! Happy birthday, Buglet!

I really could have done without the snow, though. Snow is one of the reasons I didn't return to Massachusetts after the Navy!

Church this AM, and I'm looking forward to a quiet afternoon getting caught up on all "youse guys'" posts!

It's going to be another no-sew week-

...but for a very good reason. My #1, Ashley, has been eager to bring (my new grandson) Kal -El up to the Northeast so he can meet his great-grandparents. The timing stinks, what with all the bad weather, but I'm available and my nephew is on vacay this week so off we go! Ash's husband isn't able to go and most of the family can't travel either so it will just be me, Ash, Jacie and Kal hittin' the road. Y'all take care of yourselves--- keep sewing. I'll see all your wonderful things when I get back!

My first project when I get home will be more diapers for the boy. The starter pack (pictured) I made for him is holding up fine but it will definitely help Ashley out to have about 10-15 more. I have 'em cut out of the PUL but I need some velour or flannel for the linings. I may pick some up while in MA. Awww... what a shame. I'm just going to have to check out a fabric store or two while I'm visiting... ;)

And another thought...

I haven't met a sewist yet that wasn't in love with fabric. The look, the feel, the color, the design-- it just makes us happy to be around it. Do you have (a) piece(s) that you just had to have but you're afraid to do something with it? Maybe because you don't know the right project for it and you don't want to ruin it? Maybe because if you use it then it will be 'used up' and you won't have it just to look at anymore? I have a piece of toile that is delicate and beautiful to me. It's white and the light brown and blue print is Disney's Bambi. I've never seen a Disney print like it. I want to use it, show it off almost, but I just don't know how yet.
Also on the fabric rant, have you discovered Spoonflower.com yet? I was looking for a karate print to make my nephew a bag for his equipment but couldn't find any. I stumbled onto Spoonflower, which allows you to design your own fabric and they print it! And it's pretty easy--- if it wasn't I never would have been able to do it! They sponsor weekly design contests now and so I've entered one for the first time. The theme is bugs and my design is a repeat/mirror image of spider eyes called "Here's Looking at You". It's really kinda neat! If you'd like to check it out--okay, I'm fishing for votes here!-- go to http://blog.spoonflower.com/ . The prize is the best there is--- more fabric to cherish!

A No-sew Week

I think this is the first week this new year that I didn't get to work on something. I didn't get much blog reading done, either. We're catching up on school, housework, and with the city schools closed two days for a snowstorm I had the neighbor kids for awhile while their parents worked. We also spent a chunk of time rearranging J's side of her bedroom; hopefully it will be easier for her to maintain and it makes her sewing/crafting more accessible. ( J is my #4. she will be 11 on the 19th of this month.) Hopefully, both J and I will be doing a lot of make-up sewing this week! (here's J having fun at the Children's Museum in Greensboro, NC. )

Christmas in January

Each year, the stuff I want to make for Christmas decorating and gifting is heavy on my mind; seldom on my worktable. (Which is a bed. But that's another post.) I thought I'd try a monthly 'theme'--thingy to encourage me to post regularly and get my wanna-bes done. So, I have chosen the last of the month to post what I've done/am doing/going to do for the next Christmas. So here's the first: tree skirts for the shop. I'm using a pattern I found in an older Fons and Porter. I love it because it's different-- not the usual circle. It goes together very quickly and even I can quilt it. It important to use a fabric that features a horizontal stripe to get the full effect. I embellished mine with some lace on the edge and through one line. I have started collecting appropriate fabrics to make some for the shop-- those will be in next months update as well as a new 'wanna-be'.

More UFO's down...

The smocks are caught up, and now the totes are too. I still haven't listed everything but I should get those in the shop today. (One sale yesterday, too--woohoo! :) ) Next will be more pincushions and some needlecases. This is my favorite tote but it's not in the shop. This one was promised to a good friend about, oh, last spring? Last year? I'm horrible. We discussed what she'd like (cookies or candy) and I went out and bought the fabric that night. Cut it out the next day. Finished it this past Monday. I have a lot of faults but the worst has to be procratination. But now the bag is on it's way to Kansas. And yes, that is the wicked witch lining those sandwich cookies! ;)