whatchabuildin

keepin' it together

Hey, happy November! Well, at least a week into it! I've spent the past few days getting the studio organized and cleaned for my holiday making. It feels so good to have a semi-clean, semi-organized studio! I actually need about another week to say I have a really clean and really organized studio, but I'll take this for now.

It's that gifting time of year, and this little tip I am sharing today has really helped me out a lot for the past few years.  I like to use 3x5 cards for notes, reminders, shopping lists etc... I thought these would work for Christmas lists too. I took a stack of 3x5 cards, and used a rubber stamp to stamp the year on each card. Then I put each persons name and gift ideas on the card. The gift ideas I used a pencil, that way if I thought of a different idea, I could erase it and write in the new.

I also made a little pouch for the cards so I can easily carry them in my purse or tote bag. This really works well, and I have actually been carry this around with me for about 6 months now, writing notes as I think of them. That way, when it comes time to make or buy gifts, it will be easier.

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We've been reading about "Hiawatha" lately, and Colin has been studying and studying the Native American clothing, especially the young Hiawatha. He finally said, "Mama, I need a Hi-yup-wafa (Hiawatha) dress up, can you make me one, please?" So of course I couldn't say no to my sweet baby child, and made this little get up. Quick. He wanted it, NOW. (You know those patient 4 year olds) It literally took about 45 minutes, with one fitting. He was so happy! Love it.

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Sew, Mama, Sew! Is having their third annual "Handmade Holidays"! Yeah! This is so inspiring! Great tutorials, recipes and give aways! Check it out!

Have a great start to the holiday season!

 

superhero cousins

Colin's little cousin had his third birthday last week and I made him a super cute theme gift. I started with a superhero doll. I created the pattern (trial and error) myself, and decided I will never use stretchy bathing suit fabric again for a dolls cape and hood. After a couple hours of swearing (under breath, and away from little ears) I finally came up with this little cutie. He is stuffed with real wool and I used some fun "superhero" fabric that I got from Joann's a while back.

So popular was this little fellow, Colin immediately started playing with him. And he immediately said, "Mom, now you have to make mmeee one!"  Of course how could I resist that sweet child of mine, so here is the "cousin superhero". They're handsome little fellows are they not?

Needless to say, everything I made for our sweet three year old cousin, was very much "Colin tested" before we wrapped them up and mailed the whole package! Also, in keeping with the "superhero" theme, I made a cap and cape for the "big superhero", and a handy bag to keep it all together!

Here is my little ham modeling for me. I think I need to send him back to the cute factory, he's too cute. *sign* I just love that boy.

Have a good night! 

snacking

Wow! The weeks seem to be slipping by here. This is that time of year where one tries to pack in as much as you can before the crisp days of autumn arrive. 

I made this snack bag for my little guy the other day. We mostly use it for pre-school snacks, but it has been very useful for all the extra adventures we have been going on lately. To the woods, a weekend at the ocean, and to camp. I made it out of denim, and lined it with a cute ladybug fabric. Then I crocheted a little chain, formed it into a "C" and sewed it onto the front. So cute, and he loves it!

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Later today I will be posting my best recipe for Oatmeal Cookies. It is a very old recipe, handed down to me by my Mom and Grandma. I add my own special addition to the cookie, chocolate chips! So stay tuned, I promise these will be yummy!

hello Todd

This is Todd, a new friend around here. I finished him last night, it was dark, and my camera was acting up so these photos are not as clear as they should be. But I had to take some photos right away, just in case Colin got his grubby little hands on him and took him out for an adventure... you never know in what condition he may return in!

In having a little boy (whom I love so dearly) I have realized how different boys are with dolls compared to girls. Just this morning, he wanted to take him to school with him. I, of course said, "sure". Well, he just picked up that Todd by the leg and flung him around like he was going to launch him across the room, but he stopped and gave him a big squeeze and walked out the door. I, being a girl of course, was cringing and thinking, "oh my, that poor baby doll!" When I was a little girl I would have already had that boy doll swaddled and gently rocking it while carefully stepping out the door as to not wake him! Ha! What a difference. I love that boy!

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I'm heading to the coast for the weekend! First, for visit to a dear friend of mine for some much needed "girl time". Then up to Portland, Maine to Amanda's book signing!  

Have a lovely weekend!

my superhero

This morning in the car, Colin announced that he was going to be a superhero when he grows up. I told him that he already was my superhero. Then he said, "no mom I can't be, I'm not grown up yet."

This cape was made for "my superhero" recently using the same pattern that I used for his Halloween costume last year, Simplicity 3595.

This is a little blurry, but I just love the "serious superhero" look on his face. After all, he has to practice if that's what he wants to be when he grows up!

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In the Studio:

1) Still working on the boy doll for Colin

2) Finishing up an adult sized smock for a wholesale customer

3) Started the "Poppy Doll" from Hop, Skip, Jump - Oh, so cute, I can't wait to finish it and show it off! 

4) Making more skirts - for me!

Have a good night!

in the studio

I've been busy in the studio lately making quite a few things. I hope I'm not the only one who has two, three or four projects going on at one time! Yup. That's me! Here are a few things that went out the door in recent weeks, and a little project I'm working on for a special little boy.

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These hand bags, along with the children's smocks were part of a wholesale order I sent down to a cute shop in Rockport, MA. I loved working on the patches for the handbags. Completely improvisational piecing, and boy did I love that! No pattern, or detailed instructions, just piece as you go, quite addicting, actually! 

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This little fella is still in the early stages, but thought I'd start showing him anyway. I'm making a boy doll for my little boy. I designed the pattern, inspired by the many drawings I have of little people ( I'll show later) and my own little guy. Now I'm trying to figure out the whole process. I've made quite a few bears and dolls over the years, but I have always followed patterns. Now, apparently I like a challenge, because I decided to start from scratch and build a little doll. So far I think he's coming along nicely, I'll keep you posted of the progress. 

I love the cute undies I made for him! I used an old white t-shirt then sewed them right onto the body.

The body is a wonderfully soft interlock knit, the same knit used for making Waldorf dolls. I used wool felt for the hair and wool stuffing to fill him. Oh, in saying this, I LOVE using wool stuffing instead of the poly-fill I have been using for years. It is sooo much easier to shape and stuff the body, and really feels so good in your hands! I'll never go back to poly-fill, I'm sold.

This fella needs a name. I suppose it will come as I continue to finish him.

This kid decided to do my ironing for me while I "played" around in the studio. Nice of him, huh?

hi-atus

Hi, it's been awhile! I guess you could say I was on hiatus from this little place. It seems like my real life took over for the past....7 months? Wow, that has been a long time. I have been in the studio a lot, so that means I have been making things, and that is a good thing! So, I think to get myself back into the swing of things, I am going to start posting the little project I have been working on lately. 

First, is an ongoing project that I started way back, and finally, this spring I decided on colors and style. It's a quilt for our bed. The pattern I took from "Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts" It's the "Stacked Coins" quilt. I love how simple it is to make this quilt, no fussy quilt templates, just straight cuts. Fast and easy. Although, it is taking me awhile to finish it! For some reason, I get distracted with other projects, then another, and another.... it's endless really! My goal for a finish date is the first day of autumn, stay tuned to see if that happens!

I am using the assorted fabric you see above, and the main body of the quilt will be natural linen. The batting is made of wool. My mom had the batting made at Zeilinger Wool Company in Frankenmuth, Michigan. They do an excellent job taking your own fiber and processing it into batts, mattress pads, dying of wool, and much more. Check out their website.

As I continue on with this, I'll be posting the progress. After all, that deadline is getting closer!

making for me, again

Well, I have successfully carved out enough time to make this little top for myself. I really like it, except in my excitement to have a little time to myself, I forgot to line up the stripes on the material before I cut it out and, well, they don't match! You would think in all the years I have been sewing I would remember to do this, always. But I don't, obviously. Anyway. I will still wear it because it is really comfortable.

I used a cotton seersucker fabric that is so soft and cool. I am so glad that seersucker has come back in style! When I was a little girl my mom and grandma made lots of outfits for me out of seersucker. Love it.

 

This is the pattern that I used. The only hangup that I had was, there is a side zipper and for some reason, I had issues sewing it in. I think it was the weight of the material, how flimsy it was, but I eventually got it.

Well, off to cut out another pattern, for me! Smiles!

  

frozen whip and working away

This is that time of year where whipped cream is said in the same sentence as strawberry shortcake, at least around here that is the case. As much as I love whipped cream, and do pile it high on the strawberrys and shortcake, we still have a lot left over and it doesn't last very well in the refrigerator. I discovered a couple years ago that you can freeze it for later use, and it works really well!

Take some waxed paper and lay it out on a cookie sheet, and place serving sized dollops of the whipped cream on it. Freeze it for about an hour. Take it out and cut the waxed paper into squares around the dollops and place into a freezer container.

When you are ready to use them, take them out for about 15 minutes to soften. Then pile it high on your strawberries, or pie, or gingerbread...or...! Yum, you get what I mean!

I am working away on my goodies for the shop update on Monday. I will have some fun summer totes, refrigerator magnetics and a few children's smocks. And hopefully a few more goodies, if time allows. Off I go to the studio! 

shop update next monday

I am finally having a shop update! A little one, but some new fun things for summer. Stop by next Monday and check them out!