Is it a bag? Is it a box?

Not too much sewing happening here lately, but I did make this cute little box bag for my friend Jean's birthday. There's just something about box bags. I've always wanted to make them. . . lots of them. They're so boxy and structured, and you get to pick out a zipper.
Anyways, I used this box bag tutorial but took into account the advice given in this blog post. Much easier. The outer fabric and zipper are vintage finds from my stash, but the lining was purchased new. Don't you just love that zipper?

Marie and I were at the thrift store yesterday talking about how much we love vintage zippers with their tiny metal teeth. Then I found a bag of vintage zippers for $.75. Score! In retrospect I wondered if I should've shared some of them with Marie, but then I remembered the story she'd told me about the incredible vintage Pfaff she got for FREE at the thrift store. I don't feel much like sharing anymore.

Craftypants

Gnomey hat front.

Gnomey hat side.

Stegosaurus freezer paper stencil.

There has been some kid-related crafting happening around here recently:

I've wanted to make helloyarn's gnomey hat pattern for ages now, but I was waiting for the perfect yarn. I completely forgot I had this Karabella Chameleon in my stash--an insanely soft merino, silk, cashmere blend. I knit this on size 6 needles, so I had to change the pattern up a bit. How could you not want to knit this hat? It has ear flaps! And poms! And a little i-cord on top! I'm selfishly saving this one back for baby Ella/pie/hooha/seester (these are just a few of the names Cash has called the baby).

And Cash and I had another little magic moment last week when we cranked out this stegosaurus freezer paper stenciled shirt. Cash has caught the dinosaur bug. I realize that in no time we'll be able to distinguish a stegosaurus from pterodactyl. But, right now, this is all new to us, and last night the plastic brachiosaurus got called both a stegosaurus and a brontosaurus. So sue me. It's been awhile since I studied about "ancient creatures that I'm not convinced ever really existed."

Anyhow, we needed something to do, so I thought:

New dinosaur obsession

+ Thrifted muscle tee
---------------------------------

= Something to do

Cash got to help pick out a dinosaur pattern and do a bit of painting. When I unveiled the dried design later that night he jumped up and down clapping.

Oh, sweet gratitude.

I can read. . . It's a miracle! Non-readers: skip this post.

Finally, after a two month long hiatus, I'm back on the reading train! I'm usually a pretty obsessive reader, but something about excessive nausea mixed with first trimester depression and lack of motivation made sounding out words seem like too much work (unless those words were, "Dear husband, could you bring me some more cheez-its?")

I started off easy (don't want to get all disoriented) with Sue Monk Kidd's book The Mermaid Chair. I read it. It was fine. Moving on.

But then, the clouds opened up and a voice sounded (via Facebook) saying, "Here is an advanced copy of the sequel to The Hunger Games, should you desire to borrow it."

Me: (Pause to catch breath) "Oh, thank you, self, for deciding to work at a library for 5 years and make librarian friends who have similar reading obsessions and who share advanced reading copies with you."

Oh, it's good. Pretty darn good. Finished in under 24 hours good. And you only have to wait until September to get your hands on a copy!

Once I recovered from a straight day of reading I moved on to The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Gross (loaned to me by Jean, thank you!). It was pretty good. Not insanely good, but good.

And now I'm compulsively checking my library account for the day that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's book of stories, The Thing Around Your Neck, comes in. Her novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, was incredible. If I owned it, I would loan it to you.

I'm trying not to make a summer reading list because when I make a list I never read a single thing on it, but I did just find this older list (2006) that Slate put together of good beach reads. You might just find something on there worth reading.

"Mom, you make these?"

Last week Wes was out of town, so, whilst thrifting with a very cooperative Cash, I decided to treat him to a root beer float at the drive in diner. Cash was very excited (of course, he'd hardly share the float), and as we sat there in the warm, summer air the radio began to play "This Magic Moment."

Ahhh. . . those sweet glimpses of what good, happy days spent with your kids ought to look like (instead of the usual bribing and arguing that goes on in most conversations with a 2 1/2 year-old). "Cash, listen, if you get in the car seat on your own I won't kill you. That's the deal."*

Cash and I had another magic moment as we sewed his first batch of summer pajama shorts a few weeks ago. He couldn't do much to help, but he did make sure the t-shirts we cut these from were fully spread out on the floor. He held the scissors for me, threw things away And, when he was especially cooperative, he got to push the reverse button on the sewing machine. Oh, the excitement of being a toddler.

At first I thought it was an insane idea to try to sew these with Cash's help, but I'm glad I offered because he was so proud of the finished products. And still, every night, he points to his shorts before bed and asks (in his high pitched question-voice), "Mom, you make these?"

"Yes, Cash, we made those."



*Oh, hang up the phone before you dial Child Protective Services. I'm just joking.

Nice little Mother's Day

Me, Wes, Cash, and teeny baby.

Me and my maternal grandfather.

"Mothers are all slightly insane."
J.D. Salinger

I had a nice little Mother's Day. Wes cooked us pancakes, we slurped coffee and italian sodas up the street, then we spent some time with my family before heading off to church. Sometimes the simpler celebrations seem weak but maybe they're just more realistic. There's no guilt over spending too much money or expecting too much. Just a lovely day with the family.

funk-defied

1. braided necklace, 2. Julianna's Rainbow Room, 3. image2.jpg, 4. 20080423

These past few days I finally feel like I'm coming out of my first trimester funk!

Get this, I actually dusted off my sewing machine (literally) and made Cash some pajama shorts for this summer. I know, I'm as shocked as you are. I'll get you some pictures as soon as I catch my breath.

But, most importantly, that little project was enough to get me sewing a few quilt squares, looking for new knitting projects, thinking about buying a new journal. . . . feeling inspired after weeks of dull yuckiness (you're tearing up, admit it).

On top of that, we're trying to sell our house, so I'm getting all sorts of new decorating ideas. There are so many things on Flickr I want to try right now (see above). . . as soon as I'm ready to turn the TV off. We've been pretty close lately. You have to work up to these things.


(Sorry these photos turned out kind of blah. They're much nicer on my flickr or in their original locations).

The last of the goods

So, here's the last of the goods--the last thing I made before it all went downhill and I started subsisting on a steady diet of couch-sitting, TLC's Baby Story, puking, saltines, cheese, vanilla pudding, cheez-its, and baked potatoes. You do the math.

The fog is starting to lift, so I hope to make something again soon. I made this snack bag and sandwich wrap for Tiffany's birthday back in. . . uhhm. . . late February (the shame). The fabric is a Japanese fat quarter I got free with book purchase on Etsy last Fall and have been hording. The pots and pans are saying lovely things like, "Let's bake a fried egg" and "Two people who love each other." I thought it was the perfect print for snack bags.

The smaller bag is lined in cotton with a velcro closure and blanket stitch near the top--perfect for chips, pretzels, carrots, etc.--and can easily be thrown in the wash. The sandwich wrap I've made before from the small object's tutorial (which I can't seem to find anymore). It's lined with picnic table vinyl fabric.

I have to say, I love the way these turned out and would love to make (or even sell) sets of these to give as gifts--perfect for work and school lunches, picnics, road trips, or, in Tiffany's case, afternoons spent birdwatching.

More photos on flickr.