Making little coin purses... after a verbal tutorial from a nice lady at a local quilt shop!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Iphone makes blogging easier.
While I did not love blogging from my iPhone, I do turn out a lot more pictures thanks to the phone!!
Anyway, during my in bed blogging post, I promised a link to the little mug rug tutorial I was using, and it was from Sew Mama Sew. It's a pretty nice little tutorial, and my little mug rug is coming along nicely. Mug rugs are great practice pieces, and are a much more manageable size.
Also, I have to tell you that I bought some fusible fleece batting. Sometimes, I do worry about my intelligence level, or at least common sense. I wish I would have taken photos of the disaster. I didn't read directions.
I placed my hot hot iron down flat onto the fabric with the fleece showing around the edges and it was smoking and smelly, and got stuck to my iron. So, in my frustration, I just flipped the piece over, then, and stuck my iron straight to the fusible fleece batting. It scorched it. Quickly!
I failed to read the whole - always place a damp cloth over your piece - part of the directions..........
Like I said, I wonder at times. How is it I learned to knit safely?
My two year old loves Goodnight Moon. Our book is falling apart. At night, we tell EVERYTHING goodnight, including the cow jumping over the moon. When I found Goodnight Moon fabric, I couldn't resist it. I had to buy it - although I'm afraid to cut it. It's too cute.
Also, thought I would share a few little views of my little sewing area. It's very humble, but it's my spot.
Totally random, but I bought these children's books in Beijing 10 years ago. I like them. Wish I could read them to my son.
A little kitty love:
Anyway, during my in bed blogging post, I promised a link to the little mug rug tutorial I was using, and it was from Sew Mama Sew. It's a pretty nice little tutorial, and my little mug rug is coming along nicely. Mug rugs are great practice pieces, and are a much more manageable size.
Also, I have to tell you that I bought some fusible fleece batting. Sometimes, I do worry about my intelligence level, or at least common sense. I wish I would have taken photos of the disaster. I didn't read directions.
I placed my hot hot iron down flat onto the fabric with the fleece showing around the edges and it was smoking and smelly, and got stuck to my iron. So, in my frustration, I just flipped the piece over, then, and stuck my iron straight to the fusible fleece batting. It scorched it. Quickly!
I failed to read the whole - always place a damp cloth over your piece - part of the directions..........
Like I said, I wonder at times. How is it I learned to knit safely?
My two year old loves Goodnight Moon. Our book is falling apart. At night, we tell EVERYTHING goodnight, including the cow jumping over the moon. When I found Goodnight Moon fabric, I couldn't resist it. I had to buy it - although I'm afraid to cut it. It's too cute.
Also, thought I would share a few little views of my little sewing area. It's very humble, but it's my spot.
Totally random, but I bought these children's books in Beijing 10 years ago. I like them. Wish I could read them to my son.
A little kitty love:
Monday, December 19, 2011
Blogging from bed
Yes, I'm blogging from my bed on my iPhone. It's Monday, and I'm already exhausted.
I spent the better part of last week sick (very very sick). Then, when I felt better Sunday - I went in a run.... I made tins upon tins of peanut butter fudge, peanut butter balls, and peppermint bark. I also started a little mug rug tutorial that I got off Sew Mama Sew. I'll link to it when I'm not on the iPhone. But here is a peek:
I have more to say but iPhone blogging isn't easy. I have tales of fusible fleece disaster and our new laundry room re-do!!!!!! So - I'll blog again soon!
I spent the better part of last week sick (very very sick). Then, when I felt better Sunday - I went in a run.... I made tins upon tins of peanut butter fudge, peanut butter balls, and peppermint bark. I also started a little mug rug tutorial that I got off Sew Mama Sew. I'll link to it when I'm not on the iPhone. But here is a peek:
I have more to say but iPhone blogging isn't easy. I have tales of fusible fleece disaster and our new laundry room re-do!!!!!! So - I'll blog again soon!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Sewing
I have been working hard with my sewing machine.
I am learning a lot from many great online tutorials and helpful blogs, but still have much to learn. Things I have learned that people don't always tell you...
1. Don't watch the needle. Watch your material and where you are guiding it. You'd be surprised how long this took me to learn! My stitches are much much straighter now.
2. Change your sewing machine needle - frequently.
3. Using your iron that same amount of time you use your machine, or even more, makes the project look so much better. Press, press, press. (Well, I think people do say that a lot, but it just gets ignored because you don't really want to use your iron. But you better learn to love it.)
Oddly enough, I am really taken with zippers, and I want to be able to do those well. So, I ordered a bunch of zippers.
Great etsy shop for zippers
I am getting to the point where I feel like I know my machine well enough to venture out and take a class. I really want to get to a place where I can have my Etsy shop full of items. :D
Other things I've done is a few ornaments. I love felt. Here's my sweet little owl.
In the midst of learning to sew well, I was thinking about how helpful tutorials are. I am feeling inspired to do a few tutorials on here with knitting...... maybe soon!
I am learning a lot from many great online tutorials and helpful blogs, but still have much to learn. Things I have learned that people don't always tell you...
1. Don't watch the needle. Watch your material and where you are guiding it. You'd be surprised how long this took me to learn! My stitches are much much straighter now.
2. Change your sewing machine needle - frequently.
3. Using your iron that same amount of time you use your machine, or even more, makes the project look so much better. Press, press, press. (Well, I think people do say that a lot, but it just gets ignored because you don't really want to use your iron. But you better learn to love it.)
Oddly enough, I am really taken with zippers, and I want to be able to do those well. So, I ordered a bunch of zippers.
Great etsy shop for zippers
I am getting to the point where I feel like I know my machine well enough to venture out and take a class. I really want to get to a place where I can have my Etsy shop full of items. :D
Other things I've done is a few ornaments. I love felt. Here's my sweet little owl.
In the midst of learning to sew well, I was thinking about how helpful tutorials are. I am feeling inspired to do a few tutorials on here with knitting...... maybe soon!
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Deck demolition
My life is really full with school, work, and having a family.... to the point I sometimes feel overwhelmed!! So, sometimes I wonder why I'm trying to blog - it's just something extra.... But I keep on trying to blog, so it must mean *something* to me.
Anyway, our house restoration has been very slow go lately. It takes this thing called money.... haha! We did, however, tear down our back deck. We will eventually rebuild it, but not this year. It has been rotten and dangerous to walk on since we moved in 4 or 5 years ago. It has gotten continually worse, and we were worried that a heavy snow would bring it all the way down this year. Whoever put this thing up.... they put green indoor-outdoor carpeting on it. So it just held in that nasty rain and weather, allowing it to sit against the wood.
Ta-da!!! It looks weird with that door kind of in mid-air. I wish I had a before picture - I guess I didn't ever feel like photographing it before. Probably because it was so hideous~!
Also, I've always had a sewing machine, and I really can't sew a straight line. Thanks to many tutorials and great blogs - I've started really practicing. I put in my first zipper the other night (crooked, but.... hey...) into a little zipper pouch I made for my two year old's markers. I was proud that it actually turned out halfway decent.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Turkey Headband
Pottery Barn Kids has these Thanksgiving headbands that I've adored for two years.....
Someone from my knitting group makes lots of felt crafts, and so I bought some felt.... and I thought, "Hey, I can make that..."
So, I free hand drew the turkey and leaves, and transferred those to the felt. Instead of a french knot eye, I placed a little button. A little embroidery work (which I wasn't concerned about being neat - it's supposed to be child-like and whimsical), a little sewing.... and I had a turkey headband!!!
I really enjoyed working with felt, and learned lots of new techniques. I plan to be working with felt a lot more!!
I really enjoyed working with felt, and learned lots of new techniques. I plan to be working with felt a lot more!!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Fall Party Treat Bags
I signed up to make treat bags for my son's fall party. No sweets like candy or cupcakes.... healthy foods only, are to be brought to fall party.
So, some cellophane treat bags in orange... they came with twist ties and I threw those out because I question their safety around 2 year olds. I substituted some ribbon in green and orange to tie around the tops, and curled them with scissors. Then, I fluffed the top part sticking up out of the tied end. I thought it made the bags look like little pumpkins!!
Inside the bags: a box of dried cranberries, box of raisins, a package of cheese and peanut butter crackers, and a small party-pack Play-doh.
It would be easy to vary the contents for classroom allergies, etc.
Happy Fall !
So, some cellophane treat bags in orange... they came with twist ties and I threw those out because I question their safety around 2 year olds. I substituted some ribbon in green and orange to tie around the tops, and curled them with scissors. Then, I fluffed the top part sticking up out of the tied end. I thought it made the bags look like little pumpkins!!
Inside the bags: a box of dried cranberries, box of raisins, a package of cheese and peanut butter crackers, and a small party-pack Play-doh.
It would be easy to vary the contents for classroom allergies, etc.
Happy Fall !
Friday, August 26, 2011
A little knitting...
I took my last test for the quarter today! Hooray! Now, I have a 3 week break!
I started the Dahlia Cardigan from Interweave Knits, Fall 2011. Using Wollmeise Sockenwolle 80/20 Twin in Petit Poison #5 dark. I have gotten Chart A completed.
When I started, I actually swatched and decided I didn't want to use the size 4 needle I first chose. I went down to a size 2 needle with the swatch and thought it looked neater (tighter stitches). However, starting the chart with size 2, it became quickly obvious that my lace panel was not going to have the openness that I love about lace. So, I ripped it out, and went back to size 4.
I will definitely be putting in a lifeline before starting Chart B though! I made a small mistake in the last rows of chart A, but I "fixed" it enough for my satisfaction. If I made a bigger mistake, though, it would be sad to rip it all out.
I started the Dahlia Cardigan from Interweave Knits, Fall 2011. Using Wollmeise Sockenwolle 80/20 Twin in Petit Poison #5 dark. I have gotten Chart A completed.
When I started, I actually swatched and decided I didn't want to use the size 4 needle I first chose. I went down to a size 2 needle with the swatch and thought it looked neater (tighter stitches). However, starting the chart with size 2, it became quickly obvious that my lace panel was not going to have the openness that I love about lace. So, I ripped it out, and went back to size 4.
I will definitely be putting in a lifeline before starting Chart B though! I made a small mistake in the last rows of chart A, but I "fixed" it enough for my satisfaction. If I made a bigger mistake, though, it would be sad to rip it all out.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Just a few things....
I'm a terrible blogger. I guess it's better than being terrible at the other roles in my life. Wife, mother, student, nurse, knitter, blogger.... I think blogger is probably the safest to be terrible at.
Life is a lot different for me lately. I feel the most like myself, though, since my son was born. In case you don't know much about that, I will fill you in.
My beautiful son was born 2 years ago, by emergency C-section because my fluid was very low. He was delivered at 8 pm on the dot. He was 37 weeks, and he screamed the most beautiful screams when he was born. He sounded strong, he looked strong at 7 lbs, 3 oz. The pediatrician saw him, and told me he was perfect. Then, some time went by.... I asked "Where is my baby?" They explained to me he just needed some supplemental oxygen - no big deal. Ok.... then it's midnight. Still no baby, and he still needs oxygen.... and they are obtaining some blood gases. I'm a nurse. I'm a nurse, and I know all about obtaining blood gases. Even though they are fluffing it up, and reassuring me, I know. I know something is wrong.
At 6 am the next morning, I am facing 4 pediatricians, with concerned looks. They aren't sure what's wrong - they think "... blah blah blah blah blah" (And yes, that's what I'm hearing.) Have I mentioned - I am a nurse. I know, I know, I know in my gut something is terribly wrong. That is when I insist he be transferred to a different hospital. My nurse brain kicked in, I threw out the mother's grief, and I insisted he be transferred. Not only do I insist on this, but I give them my scientific arguments for why this should happen. And they agreed.
So he was transferred. He was intubated and placed on a ventilator within hours of arriving at the other facility. Bilateral chest tubes were placed. Drips were started. My child had Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN), or as previously known, persistent fetal circulation. He was sick.
I plan on writing more about this in the future. I actually have a little dream to do a series on it. I have a lot to say about it - a lot of feelings I want to share about it......
The good news is that I have a beautiful, perfectly healthy 2 year old now who has no lasting problems. Unfortunately, I think it left me with the typical postpartum depression, mingled in with a little post traumatic stress disorder. Just until recent months, I haven't felt myself. Nothing off the wall, but just not myself. Finally, finally, I feel like myself again. And I still wish I were Buffy.
Life is a lot different for me lately. I feel the most like myself, though, since my son was born. In case you don't know much about that, I will fill you in.
My beautiful son was born 2 years ago, by emergency C-section because my fluid was very low. He was delivered at 8 pm on the dot. He was 37 weeks, and he screamed the most beautiful screams when he was born. He sounded strong, he looked strong at 7 lbs, 3 oz. The pediatrician saw him, and told me he was perfect. Then, some time went by.... I asked "Where is my baby?" They explained to me he just needed some supplemental oxygen - no big deal. Ok.... then it's midnight. Still no baby, and he still needs oxygen.... and they are obtaining some blood gases. I'm a nurse. I'm a nurse, and I know all about obtaining blood gases. Even though they are fluffing it up, and reassuring me, I know. I know something is wrong.
At 6 am the next morning, I am facing 4 pediatricians, with concerned looks. They aren't sure what's wrong - they think "... blah blah blah blah blah" (And yes, that's what I'm hearing.) Have I mentioned - I am a nurse. I know, I know, I know in my gut something is terribly wrong. That is when I insist he be transferred to a different hospital. My nurse brain kicked in, I threw out the mother's grief, and I insisted he be transferred. Not only do I insist on this, but I give them my scientific arguments for why this should happen. And they agreed.
So he was transferred. He was intubated and placed on a ventilator within hours of arriving at the other facility. Bilateral chest tubes were placed. Drips were started. My child had Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN), or as previously known, persistent fetal circulation. He was sick.
I plan on writing more about this in the future. I actually have a little dream to do a series on it. I have a lot to say about it - a lot of feelings I want to share about it......
The good news is that I have a beautiful, perfectly healthy 2 year old now who has no lasting problems. Unfortunately, I think it left me with the typical postpartum depression, mingled in with a little post traumatic stress disorder. Just until recent months, I haven't felt myself. Nothing off the wall, but just not myself. Finally, finally, I feel like myself again. And I still wish I were Buffy.
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