Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Sewing Adventure #3

Not my adventure. My husband made his own jammie bottoms. I was going to do it for him. He surprised me when he said he could do it. He did a great job too. And guess who was totally excited to see his daddy in matching pajamas...

Another Side View

Very pregnant lady plus beautiful daughter.

Sewing Adventure #2


Baby blankie for my soon to be born son. My neighbor showed me how to do this. It is a yard and a half, two pieces of fabric, print on one side, solid on the other. You face the sides toward each other, sew a half inch almost all the way around, leaving room to flip it back right side out. After turning it out, you sew again a 1/4 inch all the way around. Last you sew a few lines down and across the blanket so the material doesn't pull when you wash it.

Also, a side view of my pregnant belly, as per my mother's request. She said none of the photos I had been posting showed me pregnant and she wanted to see me. So there you have it.

Yard Work

Clipping the bougainvillea.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Snow

The best meatloaf I ever had was on a snow trip with my family when I was young. It was still warm and just hit the spot. I don't really like meatloaf, but it was memorable.

Anyhow, last week, we finally took the children up the mountain to see some snow. It was a stellar day. We've been talking about it all week, what we did (sledding on a trash bag. Not me. Somehow being nine months pregnant that didn't appeal to me. So I took pictures.), getting in warm clothes and blankies for the ride home, that we want to go again next year (with a real sled, my son says). How do you describe something that was just right for your family? It was just that perfect of a day.

I loved seeing everyone's smiles. I loved getting out of the desert for a bit. It was beautiful and rejuvenating. 






Sunday, January 9, 2011

Currently Reading

My 4 year old son is really enjoying these stories.

Adventures in Sewing

#1 Having never sewn a thing in my life
#2 But having a small inkling of desire...wouldn't it be nice to sew my children pajama bottoms or pillow cases or blankies 
#3 My in-laws bringing me my husband's grandmother's sewing machine
#4 Knowing it was on the way, going to Joann's on Black Friday for amazing flannel deals
#5 Husband helping me gain confidence, when I confess I feel that once I cut the beautiful material I bought, I will have ruined it
#6 Finding a great tutorial on a blog:
http://mycottoncreations.blogspot.com/2010/07/christmas-eve-pajama-pants-tutorial.html
#7 My husband helping me cut the material and thread the sewing machine (I was surprised that he was right there with me instead of leaving me to it, but shouldn't have been knowing how into tools he is and seeing how they work. Plus, he loves me and I'm sure he could tell how terrified I was)
#8 Delay. When we tried some preliminary sewing on scrap fabric, we found the machine was broken and of course, it was my husband who found the broken part, ordered it online, and fixed it for me. (Here is where I should mention that the machine is from 1973, but apparently everyone who has ever owned a PFAFF 1222 loves it and parts are readily available, because as everyone online said it is worth repairing and keeping because it is the best machine ever.)
#9 Sewing the pajama bottoms we had cut. My husband was working on the computer nearby, but cheering for me as I went and helping me when I got stuck. He even ironed cuffs for me.
#10 Cutting and sewing the next pair of pajama bottoms all by myself. Actually, he wound the bobbin for me. I haven't got that far yet. But I'm learning.