Some things were sewn

Amy Karol, of Angry Chicken, has great blog post titles. Like "A dress was sewn" or some such. I like them and am stealing one here.

With a POW, I got bit by a sewing bug this spring. Rather unfortunate, considering my time constraints. Knitting (and lately, crocheting!) fit so much better into the 2-10 minute intervals of time I can devote to a project. Sewing is not appropriate for car trips. Piecing can't be done while watching a bather. Scissors and pins do not make good toys.

But with some perserverance, some kid-less time, heaps of help from Darling, and well-intended help from O, some things were sewn.

First up: O's backpack. I used the Made By Rae Toddler Backpack pattern and I really liked it. Well written, simple pieces, great photo tutorial and easy construction. Well, easier without a 2.99-yr old on your lap, but still workable. O picked the fabric, which made him happy. Everything was from my stash, which made me happy. The zipper was thrifted, which is good because I don't think yellow ochre is a currently popular color. The backpack was stuffed with toddler sized explorer things and was an instant hit (until the concrete mixer was revealed).

Next: curtains for the scullery! Again from stash (wahoo!). I used a thrifted vintage shower curtain along with some cotton originally purchased for roman shades that never materialized. I didn't want the pantry curtain to be too long and get dusty/hairy on the floor and in the end, I think it is about an inch too short. So it goes. Still - it was sewn and I did it and am happy.

On deck: Pillows and throws for the living room and cupola, a sit upon/cover, toddler jammies and boxer briefs, finishing the duck quilt, E's mobile, ... ah yes.

Where were we?

Oh yes, building a house. Well, slowly, very slowly, we complete some more things. Our efforts are becoming haphazard: desperately trying to accomplish something in the 10 minutes between putting the toddler to bed and falling asleep on our faces. Thus we progress slowly. Here, I present to you the Living Room (in its current state). We are in need of a real rug to define the space and some other chairs. We both like the look of these, but we never sit in them. They're just not lounge chairs. This and this are contenders. 

We also need to get some better storage. That wooden bookcase will do (for a while. A LONG while) but I'm hoping for something that sized better for the wall. Maybe an open backed something or other.

But we spent all of our money on building this here house, so chairs and rugs and super shelving will wait. Darling got the feeders up and lately the view out the windows has been distracting from the work inside. Good stuff.

Birthdays we had

We had a grand Memorial Day weekend as usual. The perfect blend of family, food, alone time, birthday fun, craziness, quiet. Good times.

Quite by accident (meaning, without communication), we all got Oliver related gifts. Seems outdoor exploration was the theme. I sewed up a backpack (more on that in another post!) and filled it with some nature explorer stuff. I made up a similar one for myself when I was a kid. I had a kaleidoscope (my telescope), a play-doh Strawberry Shortcake mat (my map), and an Annie canvas backpack. I don't really know why I remember that so well, but I do, and Oliver likes to take his train set instructions and walk around looking for chickens on the "chicken map". So I thought he'd enjoy the exploring. I guess you all thought so too, since we were (apparently) on the same wavelength.

His backpack had a magnifying glass, tape measure, map book, compass, whistle, binoculars, and a map. He loves to look at the bugs, snakes, lizards and salamanders he got from Gramma and Pappap with the magnifying glass. And put them in his bug cave.

Carrying the outdoor theme, he got a kickball, gardening set, and wheelbarrow. And a concrete mixer! Oh fun fun.

We had a magnifying glass cake and a birthday party with 8 toddlers. It was crazy fun (emphasis on crazy). No pictures of this chaos, because in the midst of it, I forgot I had a camera. In fact, I forgot candles, I forgot to sing! But thank goodness for friends who take over when you look lost.

Then whisked away for fishing and family.

And Etta and I had our birthday weekend quietly. (Maybe all the more so because of the storm before the calm.)

 A lovely birthday dinner when the anglers returned and a grand weekend had by all.