Okay

So posting that I was going to do it didn't make it happen. LOL (See 9/15 entry) I had meant to start on the linen calzone last week but just wasn't feeling up to measuring and cutting the fabric. And, now that I've had more time to think about it, I'm thinking that I want something heavier than the "handkercheif" weight linen that I have on hand. Which means that I have to wait until I can afford more fabric. I am keeping this on my to-do list and will get around to it eventually.

Birthday Boys

I got some scrapping time in earlier this week and used the pics of Chandler for the 9/12 4 Square layout challenge and Max's pic for the 9/19 Strip layout challenge at ScrapFreak.

Ribbon Slide Card

Lis asked for the directions to make ribbon slide cards for her wedding favors so I figured posting here would be the easiest way to show her and anyone else who may be interested. The idea here is that when the ribbon is pulled the insert slides up and reveals the contents which could be a simple greeting, cocoa packet, seed packet, lottery tickets, gift card, etc.

Step 1: Start with a half sheet (5 1/2" x 8 1/2") of cardstock and score it 2 1/4" from each end.
Step 2: Fold on scored lines and adhere overlap.

Step 3: Cut a cardstock insert 3 7/8" x 5 1/2"
Step 4: Slide the insert into the folded card and punch a hole at the center top through all layers.
Step 5: Slide the insert out and flip it end for end so that the punched hole is at the bottom.

Step 6: Slde the insert back in just far enough so that the holes line up and thread a length of ribbon ( approx. 15") through the holes then bring the ends up and knot them at the top of the insert.

When the insert is pushed in the ribbon will go in with it. When the ribbon is pulled the insert will slide out and reveal the contents of the card.

Decorate the card front as desired.

Birthday Boys

Last weekend was a busy one filled with birthday celebrations.


Max is one! He is still struggling with health issues and had to return to the hospital after his party on Saturday but it was good to see him happy and smiling and playing in the sun surrounded by family and friends.



On Sunday Kim and I travelled to Flint to celebrate Chandler's 6th birthday. It was a very long day leaving home about 11:30 am and not getting back home until after 9:00 pm but I'm glad I went. I don't get to see Chandler and his older siblings often enough.

Practice Run

It's a good thing that I did a practice run because I did goof up the gussets and had to fix them. I officially hate crinkle cotton. It is vile stuff to work with. I intended to do felled seams but this stuff was so awful with it's stretchy curling edges that I ended up zigzag stitching the seam allowances and calling it good enough. I also sewed the drawstring casing around the waist with a zigzag stitch since the stupid crinkle crap acted more like a knit fabric. I'm sure they will be comfortable to wear but I never want to sew that kind of fabric again.

Aren't they sexy?! LOL

Calzoni aka Italian Bloomers

I had the idea in my head that I wanted to make these with a gusseted crotch rather than using a curved seam and did some poking around on the internet and found a cutting diagram on Kat's Drawers page. After converting her measurements from centimeters to inches I thought the waist/hip measurement looked a bit too full for me. I was guessing a measurement approximately one-and-a-half times my hip measurement and two times my waist measurement would be full enough and measuring my purchased bloomers confirmed that estimate. I wasted too much time on other things today to get the fabric cut before bedtime so I'm putting that off 'til tomorrow. I'm planning to machine stitch a pair out of some crinkle cotton to make sure my measurements work out before cutting a pair out of linen to be hand stitched.

If I post it here...

it means I have to actually do it, right? I hereby accept the September Fabricaholic challenge from the R/F forums to use some of the linen in my fabric stash to make some undies. I am combining that with The Order of the Iron Hand challenge from the Margo's patterns yahoo group to completely hand sew a garment within a one month time frame. I had thought about making Margo's high-necked smock by hand but realized what I really need is more "bloomers" and there would be fewer seams to sew than a smock. While alot of the sewing of my previous projects has been by hand I did do the long straight seams on the machine so this will be my first project done entirely by hand. Off to cut the fabric!

Happy Mail!

I got something in the mail today that I wasn't sure I would ever see: an invitation to Max's first birthday party! Continued prayers for Max and his family are much appreciated.

Scrappin' Time!

I finally have my energy and mojo back so I've been scrapping. :)
I had to document my daughter's fuschia hair. (A note to anyone thinking "How could you let her do that!??" How could I not? I have always encouraged my kids to be themselves and do what makes them happy. Does the color of her hair really have anything to do with being a responsible productive member of society? Twenty years from now is it really going to matter?)


I did these for the 9/5 card challenge at Scrap Freak.


I'm not so good at documenting the "events" so I am attempting to go back and fill in the things I've skipped over this year.

Quiet Time

I finally got a little scrappin' time in this afternoon after a very rough week. It always takes a few days for my body to recover after a weekend at the renfest but this week my period and the remnents of Gustave that blew through all piled up to put me out of comission. I finally felt back to normal today but have another busy weekend planned so I'll have to be more careful to pace myself.