Thought and Thimble

Possum Trot goes to Show & Tell

2011-01-10T15:37:00.007-06:00

Possum Trot is a rather shy lion. He is especially timid around dogs. He had his nose bit off once, but a new embroidered one was stitched on by his mistress* the moment the doggie slobber dried.

He adores long conversations with small children, with the help of a good-natured grown-up, of course.
He has a Very Important Outing tomorrow. He is going to Show & Tell with his boy at day school. Three-year-olds love puppets. He should be a big hit.

(Nap mat and pillow inspired by this Etsy seller.)

*When I was a little girl, my mother made Possum Trot a wonderfully real toy to me. He is only on loan to my own children.

Simple Goodness ~~ Saturday Muffins

2010-12-10T21:50:00.000-06:00

During the week, very little cooking happens at breakfast time in this house. We 'fix' something. Cold cereal with milk and fruit. Granola and yogurt. Hot porridges with bananas or frozen berries in winter. But Saturdays are different. Saturdays mean homemade-this-very-morning muffins with butter and jam and coffee and juice. These muffins are hearty and substantial, and leave you feeling ready to tackle the fall yard clean-up. They are nourishing without tasting 'healthy', and truly muffin-y, but not at all like the overly sugared cake bombs found in most bakeries. Most importantly, these always feel doable, even when I've taken my time finding my way to the kitchen. It's become a little tradition we look forward to every week.

Saturday Muffins

Makes 18 muffins. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

dry ingredients: whisk together
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup unbleached white flour
1 cup stone ground corn meal
1 1/2 T. baking powder
3/4 t. baking soda
3/4 t. salt

wet ingredients: whisk in second bowl
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups plain or vanilla yogurt, kefir, or buttermilk
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 t. vanilla

Stir together wet and dry ingredients just until moist. Do not over mix. This should not be a smooth batter. Fold in 2 cups fresh or frozen berries or cherries (coarsely chopped if larger than blueberries) gently. Divide into paper-lined muffin tins. Bake until toothpick comes out clean, about 18 minutes.

These muffins hold up well and are also good for taking to a brunch or church coffee hour.

Gingerbread Home Converted to Railway Station

2010-12-07T13:17:00.003-06:00

After his nap time yesterday, the construction supervisor announced plans for the addition of a railway and tunnel, to be constructed of marshmallows. This plan was met with enthusiasm by the design team, and the project was completed on schedule. Your reporter has been assured that the large bear wandering about the area is the newly appointed, Friendly and Helpful Stationmaster.

Gingerbread Home Construction and Planning Commission Meeting Minutes

2010-12-06T14:25:00.004-06:00

The Gingerbread Home Construction and Planning Commission met today at 12:30. The construction supervisor made sure the edges of the roofing were clear of adhesive debris.

While the Design Committee negotiated the details of home ornamentation.

Final plans included a railway stop, and have been approved by the master builder. The projected completion time of the project is before dinner tonight. Travelers passing through the kitchen should expect delays due to excessive cuteness and should use extreme caution, as the walkways may be littered with mini-jawbreakers and gumdrops.

Rosy Cozy Apron Dress

2010-11-23T12:03:00.004-06:00

A simple, rosy apron dress for my rosy-cheeked, rose bespeckled, Truffle-y girl. This is made up in a lush flannel from the Japanese pattern book, Basics for Girls. The tie pockets were added from a discontinued McCall's pattern my mother made up for the girls as an adorable Easter dress several years ago.

Simple Pleasures ~~ Making Music

2010-11-22T22:34:00.006-06:00

I declared all of Thanksgiving week a holiday... one of the many perks of being a homeschool headmistress, and this is what happened --

The girls spent the entire morning immersed in their music. The Truffle practiced her lesson songs, then she and the Wonderbug played together and worked on figuring out a new tune, Aiken Drum, for a while. An hour and a half later, when their fingers began getting sore, they came in and began building their own 'practice' instruments from paper and cardboard, including a rather impressive violin complete with bow and chin rest. The Truffle announced that she can 'practice' on this one in the car, by thinking her songs and 'playing' them with her fingers. Given what our dear Music Cognition Professor friend told us the other night, she may just be right about that.

Simple Pleasures ~~ Fall Days

2010-11-22T19:57:00.003-06:00

Every other year, our three 65 year old pecan trees give us bushels of beautiful, brown nuts. We will be gathering them until April or May...

And our neighbor's ancient (as yet unidentified) tree sends pretty postcards by way of the wind.

Some days it is so easy to be thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Simple Goodness ~~ Homemade Alfredo Sauce

2010-11-21T17:49:00.002-06:00

The Professor and I have been making this sauce for our family for about ten years. It began when our friend Ike cooked for us from Marcella Hazan's Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking. The tomatoes and basil drizzled in olive oil, the green beans with butter and parmesan, and the orange sorbet put us over the edge, and we splurged on this cookbook when there was no money for splurges. We stay close to the proportions Marcella shares for this classic, but a small deviation from her method (credit to The Professor) yields a much thicker, creamier sauce. This is so simple to execute, and so good, you'll forget it's sold in jars and wish the restaurants knew what you know about pasta Alfredo.

Homemade Alfredo Sauce

4 T. butter
1 1/2 cups heavy cream, divided
1 1/3 cups shredded parmesan, divided
1/4 t. ground nutmeg (essential! do not substitute.)
salt and pepper to taste

After draining your cooked pasta (penne is a favorite with our small children, linguine is the standard), place the pot back over low heat. Melt the butter, add 1 cup of the cream, 1 cup of the parmesan, and the nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Stir until the parmesan melts and sauce thickens, maybe 2-3 minutes. Toss in pasta, coating it thoroughly. Then add the meat/veggies and the remaining cream and parmesan. Toss gently. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve immediately.

Regarding additions:
Grilled chicken is always good. As are fine, steamed green beans. Cooked and sliced Italian sausage works well, too. I often use a frozen Tuscan mix when I'm in a rush. I simply place the still frozen mix in a large, hot skillet (8 of 10) with olive oil, sprinkle with a little garlic salt, turn the heat down to medium and let them steam/brown 'til tender while the pasta cooks.

This recipe makes enough sauce for one pound of pasta and another pound or so of additions.
That feeds our family of five with generous moreovers for the next day.

Prairie Girl Fashion

2010-11-07T20:40:00.004-06:00

On our way to model in a historic fashion show earlier this fall, I snapped a picture of the girls in their prairie dresses, circa 1870. These are made from Sense & Sensibility patterns in period correct fabrics. The Truffle had to remove her precious glasses for the trek down the runway, so the girls held hands as they went, and even coordinated an adorable little - hop - off the stage. No mishaps and an appreciative audience. A good morning all around.

Happy Blue Dress

2010-11-07T20:17:00.005-06:00

November's chill + 'fall back' means the Wonderbug has worn this summer favorite for the last time this year.

Good news is I made it with growing room.

(pattern from the Japanese sewing book Pleasant Cotton Wardrobe 3)

Simple Goodness ~ Mushroom Soup

2010-10-30T11:15:00.006-05:00

Craving + impulsive purchasing of mushrooms. This has inspired a search for new dishes that feature this fairy-tale food. Which brought me to a recipe as old as the tales themselves.

Mushroom Soup

2 lbs. mushrooms, sliced
2 cups chicken broth
1 chopped onion
large pinch of thyme
3 T. butter
3 T. flour
2 pinches salt
ground black pepper
1 cup plain yogurt
1 T. sherry (opt.)

Cook broth, mushrooms, onion, and thyme in a pot until tender, 10-15 minutes.
Puree this soup base in a blender, leaving about a cup of the mushrooms in a separate bowl.
Set aside.
In the pot, melt butter and whisk in flour until smooth. Add the salt, pepper, yogurt, puree, and mushrooms. Stir well and heat through. Adjust seasonings to taste and add sherry, if desired.

Served with a large salad, homemade bread, and lit pillars, this makes a comforting autumn supper.

In my head:

~Just finished reading Tony Woodlief's Somewhere More Holy. An excellent sense of humor seasons this convicting and encouraging memoir/meditation on the refining fire that is family life.

~Sewing the apron dress from Basics for Girls in chocolate corduroy and flannel for the Wonderbug.

~Pumpkin Penne with Rosemary from the Toby Show blog, another fall delight.

Pick a Bale o' Cotton Quilt

2010-05-02T14:51:00.005-05:00

A couple of years ago my mother gave me a few faded, but treasured, cotton seed sacks that belonged to her grandmother. My nana has told me stories about her. She was a fast cotton picker, and is said to have ginned it as she went. Ah, the heirlooms of the farm girl.

For a long time, I wondered how I could share, display, and preserve them. Last summer, inspiration struck.

The sacks were folded in a cabinet together with a vintage quilt top I had picked up and some striped linen. I pieced a simple top with the seed sack, then used the quilt top for the backing.

The quilt is pick-stitched right down the rows in the field. Every time I worked on it, this old song played in my mind.

Jump down, turn around to pick a bale of cotton
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale a day.
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale of cotton
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale a day.

Oh, pick a bale, yes pick a bale, oh pick a bale of cotton,
Oh, pick a bale and pick a bale
Oh, pick a bale a day.

Me and my gal can pick a bale of cotton,
Me and my gal can pick a bale a day.

(Chorus)

Me and my partner can pick a bale of cotton,
Me and my partner can pick a bale a day.

(Chorus)

Me and my papa can pick a bale of cotton,
Me and my papa can pick a bale a day.

The quilt now sits in my grandparents living room. I'm told that PawPaw fusses at Nana when it migrates from his chair to hers.

The Tallest Munchkin

2010-04-17T13:34:00.002-05:00

As long as I've known her, my colorful-speeched mother-in-law (known as Dears to my children) has claimed that anyone shorter than her is a munchkin. A scant five feet herself, she teases her grandchildren and the good-humored little old ladies she works with in the kitchen at the church.

Well, one night recently, the Professor and I were having happy supper conversation with our three little ones. To stress as fact something I'd said, the Professor stated, "And anyone shorter than Dears -is- a munchkin."

To which the Truffle piped up, "Yes, Dears is the Tallest Munchkin."

We lost it.

Which is why her perpetually chilly Dears received a pink hoodie emblazoned with a three-leaf clover and the new moniker "The Tallest Munchkin" for her un-birthday this year.

Anticipating Autumn Chills

2009-10-09T15:46:00.003-05:00

The Wonderbug is so pleased with herself. And rightly so. She designed and knit this scarf herself.

Her favorite features are the wooden button, the fringe to match her hat, and that it is yellow- her color of the moment. The earflap hat is one I knit last year from a Peace Fleece pattern I've used many times. Jack Frost, she is so ready for you.

Hindsight/Foresight

2009-07-21T20:54:00.007-05:00

Looking back, there were so many signs. She wouldn't walk into a dim room. The glass knobs on our doors were always taking her down as she went through the house. She didn't like to run, and even when she balanced on the bike, her rides never lasted more than a few feet. The anxiety aspect of her tummy troubles...

Then we began reading lessons, and her little nose always ended up a scant inch from the page. Then I knew. Off to the pediatric opthamologist we went.

Turns out our Truffle is slightly farsighted, but with severe astigmatism in both eyes. The world has been a blur for her. Literally. At all distances. She couldn't even see the largest picture on the eye chart, the equivalent of the big 'E'.

Today her world changed. After the optician, Miss Sylvie, placed the rose-colored glasses on her nose, my Truffle looked up at me and said, "Mommy, I see your glasses... and your teeth!" Laughter and tears wrestled in my throat.

So now there is so much to look forward to... bike rides that go down the block 'the longest way' and 'the shortest way', seeing each leaf rustle as the wind passes through the cottonwood, running full bore after her sister through the house, and perhaps facing the world with a stouter heart. A brave Piglet* she will be.

* Piglet-Iglet-Wiglet is the Wonderbug's pet name for our little Truffle, based (we believe) on her resemblance to a certain Piglet in the Hundred Acre Wood, whom you should get to know, when you have a chance, through the writings of A. A. Milne.

Hoppity Hop

2009-07-17T22:02:00.003-05:00

A bunny set.
A violin.
A special dress.

My sweet Truffle is five years old. She received her three wishes, plus a bonus. Her eye doctor gave her the gift of good vision. If all goes well, she will have glasses by the end of next week.

Sewing details...
The apron dress is from the Japanese pattern book Basics for Girls. I splurged a bit for the Heather Ross unicorn double gauze. It is a dream. Soft and floaty, and it didn't shrink at all like I'd feared.

The bunny set is from the Purl Bee tutorial. I used white wool felt, pink cotton, and lined it with raw silk, all from my stash. I added some top stitching for stability and an extra centimeter all around to make it a size 5. A fun project that I'll be adapting into a bear set for Little Bear's birthday next week. He needs one.

Whenever I see the bunny hop by, this runs through my mind...

Hoppity

Christopher Robin goes
Hoppity, hoppity,
Hoppity, hoppity, hop.
Whenever I tell him
Politely to stop it, he
Says he can't possibly stop.

If he stopped hopping,
He couldn't go anywhere,
Poor little Christopher
Couldn't go anywhere...
That's why he always goes
Hoppity, hoppity,
Hoppity,
Hoppity,
Hop.

A. A. Milne

Spring into Summer

2009-06-04T21:16:00.003-05:00

The garden is green and lush, not yet decimated by insects, drought, or heat, and the Wonderbug has a new dress.

The vintage oraange buttons are compliments of my Granny Billie. My sweet friend Ann lent me one of her Japanese sewing books for the pattern. It went so well, I ordered my own copy. After all, there are birthdays coming up, and little girls must have birthday dresses.

Out from Under a Cloud

2009-02-01T14:47:00.008-06:00

The specialist we took our Truffle to see about her tummy troubles recommended an endoscopy, so last week we finally received some long-awaited information. The acid is not caused by GERD, esophagal hernia, allergies, ulcers, or celiac disease. It is simply a symptom. Not of anything dreadful or lifelong. Her chances of outgrowing it are good, and we've found it is manageable with a little lemon balm tincture (a calming and anti-spasmodic herb that is safe for young children) and a lot of love and consideration.

For her morning in the hospital, she packed a few necessities. Bear-Bear and Silkie, of course. Her Bit Pig and Chickie quilt. And for good measure I sneaked in a new book, the Milly-Molly-Mandy stories, along with a current favorite, Oh Say, Can You Say? by Dr. Seuss. She was excited about the prospect of wearing jammies out of the house, and chose her hello, birdies and new matching puppy housecoat that came at Christmas. She adored the anesthesiologist, a gentle-hearted bear of a man who doted on her and soothed my anxious spirit. Everything went beautifully, and now the cloud of fear and confusion that had been glooming over us for so many months is dissipated. And we are grateful.

Details on the Robe: This vintage pattern is not for the faint of heart, but I found the extra time and head-scratching gave a pleasing and cozy little housecoat. I opted for the double-breasted version, and skipped the doll-sized robe for now, even though I've cut it out. Perhaps a Valentine's Day gift for Bear-Bear... who also came through the procedure quite well, and has the hospital jewelry to prove it. One thing I love about vintage patterns is that they occasionally carry very useful notations, like the one you see above. I did add the suggested 2 inches in length, and the Truffle will probably get another year of snuggly puppy happiness as a result.

Tomato Daze

2008-11-04T14:21:00.003-06:00

The last of our garden harvest came in last week. A small mountain of tomatoes, peppers, and a few stray okra. Lots of herbs are hung to dry along the kitchen ceiling-- rosemary, greek oregano, tarragon, three different sages, and lemon balm. Lastly, there were the basil plants, removed whole, stripped of their leaves and made into pesto for the freezer. More basil must be planted next spring. That is the beauty of fall garden cleanup: the fresh canvas for planning next year's garden.

Village Frock with Bears

2008-11-03T21:57:00.005-06:00

My Truffle needs all the cheer she can come by right now. She has been having tummy troubles (GERD) since early summer, and we are making another trip to the doctor's office tomorrow, hoping further testing will reveal a cause. I whipped up this little outfit to brighten her week.

This little dress and pinafore are made from the pattern over at Sugar City Journal. I used the Goose Girl variation and improvised the pinnie. Cut size 4, but used the size 5 length. The fabrics are a lightweight plaid shirting and a fine Japanese twill with bears and delicious-looking trees. It has three pockets across the front, the middle of which is just big enough to hold a very special Bear-Bear.

_______

On another note: We celebrated the long-awaited time change with a new game, played in the now early evening darkness. It is a German board game called Shadows in the Woods, and is delightful for the whole family. Ok, not toddlers, but they're asleep (hopefully!) by the time the game begins anyway. Darkness and candlelight are fascinating at any age. The dwarfs, woods, and forest creatures just frost the cake.

Summer, Goodbye

2008-10-05T22:44:00.003-05:00

Autumn is settling in with the slow rains, and I'm putting away some of my summer favorites to make room for the sweaters and corduroy jackets that are making their way out of the window seat in the girls' room. This is a skirt made from Girly Style Wardrobe, view D with two pockets, and a Waldorf-ish sack doll from a pattern in Kinder Dolls. My Truffle calls these her Zucchini Skirt and Zucchini Doll, which I just love. Lucky for me, the skirt ran big, so we'll have another summer or two to enjoy it. The doll won't be banished for the winter. She resides with the Second Tier of Important Toys on the foot of the Truffle's bed. First Tier Toys (currently Bear Bear, Chickie, Old Silkie, and Baby Asia) stay by her pillow.

Sweet Stripes

2008-04-14T22:08:00.003-05:00

Mmmm... This is the striped seersucker set I mentioned before. So soft and cuddly and just a bit reminiscent of Jessie Wilcox Smith nursery book illustrations. I did shorten the grosgrain ties, even though I loved them long. The cap was initially deemed 'a little bonnet-ish' (read 'girly') by the Professor, but was upgraded to classic once the ties were cut to a sporty length. This worked out best all around, as immediately after snapping this photo, Little Bear found the ties and undid them, eventually taking the cap off in the process.

I did have the presence of mind to fuss over the thread spool and bobbin colors, resulting in a reversible cap. It is lined in the green linen of the previous pair of pants, and thus does double duty. A white linen shirt in a different style will be next, just need to get the fabric laundered.

Also:
~ If you are needing a little girl dress fix, do visit Clare. Her white vintage baby dress trimmed in an abundance of red rick-rack is adorable and inspiring.

A Surprise

2008-04-10T22:35:00.005-05:00

This isn't quite the way it happened here today. The surprise for us was how much dirt could blow after a lovely, rainy day yesterday in which we received almost one whole inch of rainfall.
Surely Eastern New Mexico will be wanting some of their sand back.

The illustration is from this darling little book from 1944, found at our Friends of the Library book sale last fall. I don't think I'd ever seen another like it, filled with beautiful picture tellings of everyday occurrences, like getting a car out of the mud, and natural life, like the nesting habits and communal lives of quail.

So much said without a word.

A Spring Suit

2008-04-09T20:07:00.006-05:00

This spring suit of linen short pants and a muslin shirt were intended for my Little Bear's Easter outfit. He was ill over Easter weekend, though, so I snuggled him and sang my favorite resurrection hymns to him while the rest of the family went to worship. I set finishing these aside until last week.

The short pants are buttery 100% linen in a so soft, baby green. For the shirt I debated between silky all-cotton batiste and muslin. Since I'd never made a baby shirt before, I went with the muslin. This worked out well since I made the cusstomary (yes, I meant that) minor-but-wonky mistakes. The buttons are mismatched vintage pearl from my collection. I intended to have matching buttons for this shirt, but sometimes the buttons choose themselves, it seems, and that little cafe au lait one wanted to be worn near the green linen.

The pattern is from this book, ISBN 9784579109968. I made the 12 month sizes. This worked beautifully for the pants, as they go over a fluffy cloth diaper, but the shirt has more growing room than is really required, so for the next shirt (in white 100% linen I found today in the remnant bin!) I'm going to use the 6 month pattern.

I've already cut out, and nearly finished, a matching brimmed pilot's cap (above, left) in the green linen and a striped cotton seersucker. Of course, I had to cut out the short pants from the seersucker as well. These tiny boy projects go so quickly and are so completely lacking in ruffles, that I may become thoroughly addicted to sewing for boys.

Seed Fever

2008-03-30T21:43:00.003-05:00

The Wonderbug and Truffle planted the first seeds of the season today. Little glass pots of sweet marjoram, cilantro, and Italian parsley. A few biodynamic sunflower seeds I was given in a swap. Lastly, a half-full packet of 'Shade Mix' flower seeds. We worked some compost into our inherited 'rock garden' out back for the mix. It's a pretty little bed, with a rock floe built up from flagstones and supplemented with found stones and shells, including a large, bleached conch. When we moved here, I added my terra cotta 'gazing' ball and a granite river rock I've had for an age. A weeping yaupon holly, only about five feet tall, sits over it, and a honeysuckle stands in the back corner. Each girl has a special stone there; their sitting stones, under the holly, each adjacent to a table stone. They are currently keeping pet snails there, which the Wonderbug informs me are being fattened up for the turtles, when they emerge from their winter respite, in sand pails and jars with lids fashioned from sand sieves and other, smaller pails. The snails are well fed and exercised. The girls took two wide, bowl-ish flower pots and made 'parks' so that the snails would have a place to play. One is rimmed with wood shavings, from the Professor's foray into lumberjacking, and bits of budding twigs stuck in the soil for trees. The other has a stem of lamb's ear that was accidentally pulled up root and all during the spring cleaning of the large patch behind the brick patio. After we had watered in the seeds, we returned trowels and tiny rakes to the shed, brought the glass pots of herb seeds into the kitchen, and clipped garden chives into our supper.

A picture would have showed all this fine and dandy. But tonight I needed to tell, so a telling is what I gave.

Girly Style Wardrobe ~ view t

2008-03-18T22:34:00.002-05:00

I made these two sweet dresses, with lace-edged pantaloons peeking out, for the girls for Easter. The Truffle was the only available model, but it was fine, as the girls insisted the dresses be exactly alike. As a home sewing mama, this grates me slightly, since exactly the same dresses are so easily purchased off-the-rack, one in each size. But, oh well. I love these girls.

The dress did come together nicely, once I stopped putting all the sleeves on backwards, ripped them back out, and turned them around. (Note to Self - Next time mark hem edge as well as front/back on pattern pieces. Space cadet sleeve is not the desired result here.) The pattern is from my favorite Japanese pattern book, but I will do this a bit differently next time. It seems there is a general distaste for zippers around here. It isn't the installation that puts me off, but as the Wonderbug remarked when she saw What I Had Done to her dress, "...but, Momma, buttons are pretty!" Yes, they are Sweetie Bug.

Next time it will be vintage pearl button plackets for all.

Happy Sacking

2008-03-07T21:21:00.004-06:00

Oh, yes. I've crammed my amalgamation of ugly, stained canvas grocery bags into this winged-wonder of a shopping bag, and, as if by magic, I *never* forget them when I rush out the door dragging three small children, groping for list, keys, purse, and sanity. Of course, how could I? This sack tantalizingly peeps through the laundry room door, sweetly singing its question.

"Shall we go to the store?"

It was a gift from my mother, who, after much begging, agreed to suffer the torment of returning to the East Side Cafe on her most recent journey to Austin and bring me two more. Oh, the things a mother will do for her only daughter. Perhaps someday I will endure a similar fate.

Spring Fever

2008-02-25T10:55:00.004-06:00

It was a sunny, still, 78 degrees here yesterday. The girls and I washed the car while the baby lay on a blanket in the sunshine and watched the Professor clean leaves out of the red yuccas. Need I say more?

Of course not, but compound that fact with my recent realization that I will soon be drafting and cutting out Easter dresses, and I broke into a serious spring fever last night. The result of which you see above. That little bunny is hopping over to my house from Caught RED Handed. I can't wait. Perhaps this year I'll even make myself a new Easter skirt in addition to the girls' dresses (and baby things? maybe?). Or perhaps the fever is making me delusional. Only time will tell. Either way I have just the pattern, a birthday present from my favorite mother-in-law. She also gave me some lovely Nigella twill in silver woodfern to make it up in, which I hope to finish today. Yea!

Tour de Jammies

2008-02-24T22:36:00.006-06:00

The Truffle has gotten to spend lots of extra time in her beloved jammies the last few days, since the Wonderbug has been suffering through a second bout of the nasty flu/cold bug that has been making the rounds, and we've been lying low. She's mostly better now, thank goodness, so tomorrow we'll hopefully all be up and dressed at a decent hour diving back into our routine, and the beautiful weather outdoors.

This little rosie nightgown is another favorite of my little jammies connoisseur. The fabric is my best-ever thrifted sheet find: a like-new, oh-so-soft, 100% cotton vintage flat sheet with luscious pink roses. The pattern is the gown version of Simplicity 8488, which I used in her Hello, Birdies! as well. It is so funny. Now that she's (finally!) decided she likes the things I sew, she wants me to make her a Moosie (like in The Sick Day), a pillow shaped like a fish, and a robe. So, um, anyone know of a good pattern for a moose?

Hello, Birdies!

2008-02-11T23:03:00.000-06:00

The Truffle is in love with pajamas. So much so, that she bailed on the sweet puppy pocket robe I was going to make for her for Christmas and begged for another pair of PJs. I hadn't cut the robe yet, and so obliged.

This is my most favorite jammies/nightgown pattern. It is an out-of-print Simplicity done up in vintage flannel with a little birdie added on just for fun.
The little bird called to me from a marvelous little book, Doodle Stitching. It has delightful patterns, but more importantly, the author really sets you free to stitch anything you please. I'm finding myself much less inhibited with embroidery now. A very happy thing, indeed. Speaking of stitching, Alicia at Posie Gets Cosy is offering her delightful new tea towel designs as a free download. Happiness abounds!

Bit Pig

2008-01-28T20:36:00.000-06:00

That would be the Wonderbug's pet name for her little sister. One day last fall she wanted to stitch with me. I've been working on embroidering a favorite drawing she made for me, so I cut some cloth and suggested she draw a pattern to stitch. She wrote Bit Pig and said it would be a gift for the Truffle. When it was done, she asked me to add a picture of a pig and sew it into a pillowcase.
I wanted to use this to learn foundation piecing, but time was too short, so I faked it and added lots of grosgrain and ric rac to polish it up. The base is linen, the pink flannel, and the roses quilter's cotton. The girls were both pleased with the result, and the Truffle sleeps with it every night.

I'm Still Here

2008-01-25T21:57:00.000-06:00

As part of my New Year's Resolutionating, (and yes, you are right, that is a form of hallucinating) I vowed to myself that I would get iphoto at least somewhat cleaned up before I resumed posting. So here we are, nearing February (gulp!), and gratis to three sick (but not that kind of sick) children, I found a little time today to go into iphoto, dump an enormous load of Christmas pictures, and make last year's worth of folders.

So, coming soon...

1. A picture of the Wonderbug's newest handmade dress in pink babywale cord and red with white pindots cotton!

2. A couple more pictures of little gifts from Christmas.

3. More regular posting. Promise.

So, in lieu of a real post today, I'm going to send you to this lovely little post by the Rowdy Pea that I am just feeling in my post-holidays get-my-house-in-order madness.

Any other Scatterbrains out there?

Handmade for Christmas

2007-12-10T21:43:00.000-06:00

Last week is over. Hurray! It was wonderful and stressful and I hope I don't have such a full one for a long, long time. Other than roasting a batch of pecans, I made no progress at all on Christmas gift making. The girls are recovering from the mass of parties and the recital that filled the weekend. The weather was dreary today, so we just stayed in and cleaned and sewed. We stripped the Biggie Bed and ran the laundry. The girls took our roller clothes basket all over the house and emptied the hampers, then played 'garbage collectors', in which they take a big trash sack and bring all the small bins to dump into it. Later, the Wonderbug read some of the Mary Frances Sewing Book, and she and the Truffle nursed their 'babies', aka Bear Bear and Heffalump, all day long.

During naptime, I counted gifts completed.

Two Wees.
Two Baby Balls.
Those above are made from mostly vintage scraps.

This one from some of those Japanese prints.

Then I got determined to finish up one of the bigger projects, the Wonderbug's robe from the 1930s Advance pattern.

I had no problems with the unprinted pattern. I actually quite enjoyed it. No tracing or cutting the pattern papers, and not nearly as much confusing marking to muddle things up. The vintage flannel was a dream to work with, so sturdily woven and soft, soft.

Finished with vintage pearl buttons. Now all I have to do is refrain from giving it to her until Christmas.

What will Little Bear wear?

2007-11-30T13:25:00.000-06:00

A vintage sweater
Handmade pants
And hedgehog socks today!

As promised, here are some pictures of my pre-Thanksgiving baby sewing project. Pants for my Baby Bear.

The pattern is view B from the Japanese sewing book from yesterday's post, New York Style. The pants are made from a pair of the Professor's old khakis and fully lined in buttery soft flannel. I cut them out a bit smaller than the 6 month-size pattern, which worked out just right.
The sweet vintage sweater was in the doll clothes drawer at my mother's house. It was my brother's when he was wee, and she asked if I'd like it for my little one. Of course! It is just right with these.

Next time I make these pants I'm going to pay better attention to pocket placement. These are little too low on the leg and far apart.

Hedgie sockies to finish!

Christmas gift making is coming along, and I have to say, it feels wonderful to already have a good start made. Two gifts are finished, a wee and a baby ball, and three more are almost done. One of the girls' robes is cut out with the darts sewn, and everything else is planned with supplies (mostly) purchased. The Wonderbug and Truffle were so helpful with sewing this morning. They chose the fabrics for the two baby balls, stuffed them, and the Wonderbug even stitched one shut for me. I'll share pictures when I get some taken.

Until then... Happy Christmas crafting!

Conundrum :: Little Boy Sewing

2007-11-28T23:47:00.000-06:00

or Why I Finally Caved & Bought Japanese Fabric

I've been happily collecting striped cotton and plaid flannels, pinwhale cord, and linen since the Bitty Bear was born (4 months ago!), but appealing little boy prints have evaded me. Since I also have nephews to sew for and with Christmas coming up and the moon being so pleasant and all, I finally let myself browse Superbuzzy and Reprodepot with Intent to Purchase. Superbuzzy won out for selling by the 1/2 yard, thus allowing a greater print variety. On to the loot...

Mmmm... The Bears in a Chocolate Chip Cookie Tree forest twill is my most favorite. So is the Red Riding Hood stripe, the Puppy Check, and the Ladybug Four-Leaf Clover cotton. Was that four most favorites? Yes, that's right. And I really, really like the Trains and Cheeping Chicks, too. And did I mention they were on sale? Yes, the solving of one conundrum creates another. What to sew? Oh, look. This book is just the thing.
Which delicious pattern shall I make up first? Watch this space and we'll see. Once I've plowed through more Christmas gift sewing, that is. Pictures of those to come.

hint. hint.

2007-11-12T22:45:00.000-06:00

Birds, vintage flowers, keys, and saints. Very good themes for pendants and necklaces. And beautifully made by Beth at Arete. Don't you think?

P.S. My long absence here due to an icky cold virus that struck the children and myself in quick succession 10 days ago and has yet to let up. I've just been keeping up (sort of) with house and holiday planning. I've finished a couple of projects that I hope to share on the other end of Thanksgiving. Until then, have yourself a lovely holiday!

Vintage Goodies En Route

2007-11-11T23:29:00.000-06:00

From Lanetz Living, this 1930s robe pattern. It is unprinted tissue, a first for me. Ah, well... what would I do without a sewing challenge for Christmas? View 1 will be a gift for the Wonderbug, done up in...
a sweet, cheerful vintage floral flannel. I also have a circa 1940s robe pattern for the Truffle. It's a little four-buttoned, double-breasted, and belted number with a puppy patch pocket. (And an optional puppy doll with its own robe to match!) I'm going to make it up in this flannel. Planning Christmas sewing is such fun.

Corners of My Home :: Mud Room

2007-11-11T15:02:00.001-06:00

Or, rather, Mud Corner. This is one of my favorite spots in our home right now, in that it is not in a redo/remodel condition, and I'm so pleased with how it looks and functions. It is by the back door. The linoleum is quite old: chipping, cracking, and perfectly mud colored. The Professor painted the walls and cabinetry during the summer this shade of ever-so-slightly-gray green, and I added glass knobs to the cabinets and a new row of hooks. We've had the little Ikea shoe shelf for several years now. Next to it is my favorite vintage vacuum thermos for taking water to the park, and in the foreground is a playstand that divides the play side of the sun room from the mud side. And that sweet child? That would be my Truffle, the most attentive remover-of-shoes-at-entryway in the family.

Romantic Fall Dress

2007-11-07T22:12:00.000-06:00

This is the dress I made for the Wonderbug from the Sense & Sensibility Girls' Romantic Dress pattern. Just like the Truffle's, only bigger and in chocolate and turquoise.

This one didn't even need the neckline drawstring, it fit so beautifully.

Sittin' on the Front Porch

2007-11-07T21:48:00.000-06:00

Dears (known as Grams to my nieces and nephews... the Wonderbug named her Dears after hearing Grampsies sweetly saying "Yes, Dear" to all of her requests)... Anyway, Dears made the girls handkerchief dolls based on the ones she saw on a visit to Laura Ingalls Wilder's home, and the Wonderbug was sure she, too, could do this. So, the Wonderbug received a front porch lesson in making handkerchief dolls from her grandmother during her stay with us.

It was a beautiful afternoon. Grampsies bounced the Babe. The Professor played guitar.
The Truffle read Birds of Texas to us.
And me? I just soaked it all in.

Sewing in a Foreign Language :: Part II

2007-11-05T13:17:00.000-06:00

I *heart* craft bloggers. Just have a peek at some of the English language Japanese sewing instructions they have put together. Jennifer at moving hands has blessed us with a simple list of sewing terms, while also pointing us to the wonderful guide at Japan Couture. Now, Japan Couture is written in French, but don't worry. Scroll down a bit to the Aide Technique section of the right sidebar. Then follow the Lexique couture Japonaise-Anglais link to the English language sewing guide, but do remember to go back to the main page and spend some time with the inspiring photos of finished projects and delicious craft books.

While we're on the subject of Japanese sewing, remember these slippers I made the Wonderbug? Well, I did finish the Truffle's about a month ago. She promptly put them over her little sweet toes and ran off. I recaptured them during her nap today, so you could see how they turned out. I skipped the button embellishment on the toes this time, and did a better job on the ankle loops. Much less wonky than on the pink room shoes. Also, I crocheted the straps on both pairs instead of making the fabric ones in the pattern. These were fun to do, and I may attempt a pair for myself someday. My size 8 foot is only a little longer than the largest adult size given in the pattern book, approximately at US size 7.5. I'm thinking of trying them in recycled wool for extra winter warmth. Mmmm...

Twirling

2007-11-02T23:51:00.000-05:00

I've been sewing and cleaning like a madwoman all week, preparing for weekend house guests and the baptism of our youngest on Sunday. The one spot of the girls' wardrobes that I found lacking while pulling out their fall clothes last week was Nice Sunday Dresses, which are essential attire for a sibling's baptism. Enter Sense & Sensibility's girls' Romantic Dress pattern. I had picked up this luscious purple cotton a few years ago on the clearance rack at a wonderful little quilt shop in Burleson, TX, to sew up a little dress for the Wonderbug. She grew too large for the yardage, though, before the right pattern presented itself. The Truffle was the beneficiary.

I loved this pattern. The instructions are clear, the construction straightforward, and the resulting twirl very rewarding. I actually just finished a second dress a few minutes ago using the same pattern; this one for the Wonderbug. I'll try to photograph it tomorrow when my model is awake and the light better.

Construction details - I chose the flared sleeve with a hand-rolled hem, pleats instead of gathers for the skirt, and the recommended hem facing for the skirt. Not only did this make hemming easier, it also gave the very full skirt more body. The buttons are vintage glass from my stash. She'll be wearing pantaloons with it on Sunday.

Corners of My Home

2007-10-29T14:29:00.000-05:00

My own personal 'Art Walk' every time I walk from the sun room to the kitchen.

Learn more about corners here.

Girly Style Wardrobe ~view h~

2007-10-21T16:29:00.000-05:00

This is view 'h' in the Japanese sewing book Girly Style Wardrobe. Such a simple dress. Three pattern pieces: front, back, and sleeve. Tie at the back neck.

Summer dresses were in order. Here is the back view of the dress in a pink oriental print for the Truffle.

The Wonderbug chose this vibrant blue/green/purple fabric herself on an expedition to the Cabbage Rose, a favorite stop when visiting Dears & Grampsies in Fort Worth.

I made pantaloons to match by lengthening a shorts pattern in the same book and added tiny indigo rick rack from my stash of vintage trims. It is almost impossible to see in the photos against the bold fabric, as is the pocket on the dress. These are going into their winter hibernation now, but I look forward to seeing at least one of them again in spring.

Ballet Bag

2007-10-20T18:03:00.000-05:00

I've been feeling particularly guilty lately, sending my Truffle to ballet with her slippers in a bag clearly marked with her older sister's name. I finally finished making her her very own bag. The pattern at tiny happy is so simple, but I think next time I'll use a print on the outside to hide the seams better. On this one, an embroidered flower will have to suffice.

Dollmaking

2007-10-16T14:11:00.000-05:00

The Wonderbug sees babies everywhere. There is her baby brother, of course, and her dolls. There are the cornhusk dolls we made last fall, and the corncob doll that Laura cares for in Little House in the Big Woods. There is the rock baby in the lovely storybook Elizabeti' s Doll. There are the babies the Wonderbug draws, and the babies she makes herself. These are feathers wrapped carefully in wool, a scrap of cloth with knotted head and hands, a branch with wax crayoned eyes and smile, and now this.

A paper towel tube doll with long, black hair. She was especially pleased with the stripes that the residual glue made on the dress.

A Simple Smoothie

2007-10-15T00:47:00.000-05:00

Yogurt smoothies are a favorite afternoon snack around here. The girls can truly help with making them, too. All I have to do is plug in the blender, pour the milk, and watch them go.

Simple Smoothies
makes 3/4 of a pitcher

Place in blender pitcher:
2 bananas, perfectly ripe to almost entirely black
1/2 cup milk/soymilk
1 1/2 cups vanilla yogurt

Add to this:
1 cup frozen fruit + 1/4 tsp. vanilla (we like raspberries best, but mangos are also very good)
or
a very generous dollop of chocolate syrup, berries optional
or
whatever else is on hand (pineapple chunks and/or juice, coconut, pumpkin & spice)

Blend away!
This recipe is very forgiving, so experiment freely and enjoy.

Little Gifts

2007-10-12T22:12:00.001-05:00

Over the last few years, I've built up quite a repertoire of little handmade toys and gifts for small children. I'm blessed with so many of them in my life, and creating for them is pure joy, as they truly appreciate handmade, heart-full presents. These projects are, on the whole, very simple. I rarely undertake anything complex, as my skill set, impatience, and tendency toward procrastination are prohibitive. A few examples:

Wool felt fairy horses from a pattern in Feltcraft.

Knitted food for the play kitchen from these free patterns.

A knot doll of my own design and a felt ball, also from a Feltcraft pattern.

A little more involved are the Ottobre mice
and the donkey from Toymaking with Children.
And, of course, little wool hats from my two favorite patterns. The purple Gnome's Hat is adapted from a pattern in The Children's Year, and the pink earflap hat and the cherry red hat that is currently on my needles are this Peace Fleece infant/child's hat pattern.

A dear friend's daughter was visiting last week, and I realized the too-small doll sling she was cramming her favorite baby into was the one I gave her for her second birthday, four years ago! I know what next week's instant gratification project will be, and I know the larger sling will be well-loved.

The Autumn Sand Table

2007-10-09T23:10:00.001-05:00

Textbooks used to be quite lovely. Just look at this 1933 science text.

I picked this up, along with several other vintage textbooks, including Arithmetic for Billy Goats, at the library book sale last weekend. Even the end papers are breathtaking...

The idea on page 21 was too appealing to pass up.
So now we have an Autumn Sand Table in the front hall.
Thank you Miss Hill!

Misfire

2007-10-04T23:03:00.000-05:00

And it all began so well. Inspiration struck. Supplies were at hand.

Ah, but the execution got me in the end.

You see, forget to add seam allowances to your pattern, and you suddenly find that bias tape is just the thing your little bib needed. Oh, look. There is some perfectly yummy vintage bias tape in the drawer... but so narrow. Hmmn. Two fabrics + batting... I'll just be really, really careful this time. Yes. Careful.

I don't need to tell you how this ends. You already know about the six spots in need of re-stitching. On each side.

Oh, well. Tomorrow I'll deal with that. Right now I just want to look at the before photos and remember how cute it and simple it was going to be.

Leaf Joy

2007-10-02T21:08:00.000-05:00

Decorating one's little sister as a fall fairy is always great fun. Especially when said sister and mommy both consent.

Fly away home...

2007-09-27T22:46:00.001-05:00

Thank you, Black Apple, for this bit of fun. This little button hook is made from vintage buttons and a clear push pin. Fiddling around in the button tin is always gratifying, and I ended up with several of these in the span of half an hour. The yellow glass ladybug landing on an old, thick pearl button is my favorite. Currently she resides on my newly finished inspiration board, but she may flit away at any moment to the bathroom wall to hold a necklace or two.

A Case for Sewing

2007-09-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Make that a 'train case'. This vintage turquoise train case (with its tray intact!) was simply singing for me to bring it home from the thrift shop last week. The Wonderbug is six, and her sewing projects began overflowing their old wooden cigar box long ago. So this case is just right for her. The sticker inside the lid says "... Somebody Loves You", which I love. It came with the case, of course, which is fragrant with Coty face powder, even after a cleaning. I love that smell. It reminds me of my Nana's vanity. And the cigar box? It is now the Tiny Truffle's sewing box. She is just three, after all.

Sewing in a Foreign Language

2007-09-19T12:48:00.001-05:00

*or* How to Buy and Use Japanese Sewing Books

It is not necessary that you read Japanese characters to sew in Japanese. You don't even need a friend who does. All you need are metric measuring tools (which you probably already own, just look at your seam gauge) and intermediate sewing skills, or beginning skills with a good sewing manual and extra patience, and your new Japanese pattern book, of course.

1. Selecting your Japanese craft book.
First you need to choose your books. Yes, if you are reading this, it will likely be books plural by the end of this paragraph. Look at pictures and collect ISBNs from Crafting Japanese, Wee Wonderfuls, and Molly Chi cken for starters. If you are sewing for little girls, Girly Style Wardrobe, ISBN 457911132X, is a great place to begin. It's instructions are quite clear, the projects simple, and the results very satisfying.

2. Purchasing your books.
Did you go browse? Good. Now that you have a nice wish list, you need to decide where to buy your books. Superbuzzy, Etsy, ebay, Amazon Japan, and YesAsia all sell them. Etsy and ebay are actually good places to 'see inside' the different books as the sellers there often post lots of photos. And it looks like Amazon Japan has vastly improved their English site, as I was able to look up Girly Style Wardrobe without an ISBN, so that may be the new way to go. That said, I've bought my small collection of five sewing pattern books from YesAsia. I entered the ISBN in the advanced search (no dashes or spaces), and ordered enough to qualify for free shipping. One credit card number and three weeks later, voila!, I had my booty.

3. How to use your new Japanese pattern book.
The hardest part is deciding which project to sew first. We'll look at this sweet tie-shoulder top, project 'a' from Girly Style Wardrobe. After removing the folded pattern sheet from the book, check your measurements for the correct Euro size and look for the set of lines marked 'a' in size 100cm (for example, do use your own size). Trace them onto freezer or pattern paper.

Important: Before you cut the pattern pieces out, add the seam allowances shown on the cutting layout.

The cutting layout is on the instruction page in the back of the book, along with the amount of fabric you'll need. If your project calls for elastic or bias tape, you will also find those lengths if you study the characters labeling those items in the illustrations, then look for the same characters near the measurements above the cutting layout. (Click the photo for a readable size.) Now you are ready to cut your fabric, follow the pictures, and sew! Yes, you are right. That was easy.

Room Shoes

2007-09-18T22:24:00.000-05:00

My Wonderbug is so happy with her new slippers, though the sweet vintage buttons didn't last long. They understandably hurt her feet when she curled them underneath her to sit on the floor.

These are Japanese 'room shoes' from a craft book filled with mother & daughter clothing and zakka, that beautifully handmade flotsam of everyday life. I used thrifted twill, pink check homespun, and organic cotton batting leavings from one of my mother-in-law's beautiful quilts.

My Truffle wants a pair, too, but with sky blue plaid flannel for the lining. She would. She's the cozy one.

A Stitch in Time

2007-09-07T16:45:00.000-05:00

My mother came to visit this afternoon. Just Caedmon and me. It was such a rare treat, squeezed into her hectic work schedule, while my Professor and girls are away. She held the baby, and we talked about the vintage quilts my great-grandmother made, the apron my grandmother Nana cross-stitched for her mother the year she married, the animal quilts and toy mice my mother sewed as a young mother of three, and my current Japanese-inspired craze of stitching zakka and room shoes and cute pleated skirts. Four generations of women-at-home cutting, stitching... to fill a practical need, sate a child, show our love, save our sanity. It is a beautiful connection. I told my mother that I often feel like I commune with her younger self, sewing away when the children are content to play at sewing with the scraps that fall by my feet.

Only for my mother and grandmothers sewing was a natural part of their daily social lives. They discussed their ideas and projects with their friends on adjacent farms, at church, and at FHA meetings. Perhaps my great-grandmother even took her quilting stitches with friends, coffee, and gossip as part of a bee. This past year I've sat at my computer, drawing inspiration from so many beautiful blogs, from women around the world, just soaking it all up, too shy to enter the conversation of the web-threaded crafting community, unsure of what I could offer such a gifted group. So I humbly give a peek at the work of my hands, and the blessings that I find in life.

As soon as I find the USB cord for my camera. Ah.... so it begins.