Mod Podge and the Mommy Mafia

The bubbs and I have a local park.  It is quite possibly our second home.  Since he is still teeny, his favorite activities while there are attempting to eat wood chips and playing with the outside of his stroller.  We spend HOURS doing these two things.  In all of this time I have come to recognize that I do not present like the other moms at this park.

For those readers who know me, I verge on anti-social.  I like to stay on the fringe.  I'm not the type to go to the park, prepared to make friends with the other moms there.  I am the type to go to the park in yoga pants that have yesterdays prune cereal spit up, a sloppy pony tail and mod podge crusted on my t shirt.  I know. I sound lovely, but I have my baby and typically a giant cup of coffee, so what else do I need?  I view the park as an opportunity to allow the bubbs to have some social interaction, increase his fiber intake via grass and dirt, and get out of our tiny apartment.  I think that other moms might view it as an opportunity to have their own social interaction, and actually get dressed.  Like legitimately dressed.  With their hair done, and make up.  I am serious when I say that on occasion a few of them have actually had on skirts.  Real skirts.   During these times I have been transported back to that angsty high school feeling where I believe that I am just not made to fit in.  Now refer to the beginning of the paragraph, I don't always want to fit in.  I do however want to believe that if I had the desire, I would be accepted.  This is not the case with what I have termed the "Mommy Mafia".  During these hours of observation I have noticed that these women just seem to have it together.  The fruit that they bring for their children is cut up, like they were prepared.  They clearly did not stop and purchase an apple on the way to the park and then let their tiny, toothless baby gnaw on it as if he was going to gain some sort of sustenance when he is not actually ingesting anything.

I realized that I have been comparing my parenting to that of glammed up mothers who I don't know, and I decided that I am a bit disappointed with myself in the things that I awarded them superiority in.  Having had a couple of rainy days prevent us from park time, I have been able to step back from my awe of them. Their improved ability to put on make up and actually brush their hair does not make them better at raising a child.  It definitely doesn't make them worse either, just in case people are concerned that I am being judgy of the Mommy Mafia.  I decided that if the members knew that my pony tail is sloppy because the bubbs and I had an absurdly intense dance party before heading out, they would probably be ok with it.  And if they were aware that the yoga pants are the same as yesterday's and yes, vomited on, but it is because during nap time I decided to sew instead of haul bags of laundry down to the machines, they would forgive it.  They might have questions about the mod podge.  And then if I was actually a social person, I would show them this.

And then, just for a minute or so, they might decide to be in awe too.  I might not be able to get myself looking together before I walk 10 minutes to the park but I can make some awfully fun things and I think that is probably good enough for me and the bubbs.  And most likely the Mommy Mafia.

September Sale!

Hello All!

Fall has always been my favorite time of year.  The weather is amazing, football is on, cozy sweaters and crunchy leaves.  I know that I am fast forwarding a bit.  It is still technically summer, but to celebrate the impending awesomeness of fall I have decided to have a little sale.  Here's how it will work.  All items in stock, ready to be shipped will be 15% off.  All custom items will be made for 10% off.  Also, share this post to receive an extra 5% off.

Here's some examples of items currently in stock.

And below is an example of a custom listing that was created to match the client's current bedding.

The sale will be running today through September 10, 2013.  Hope you have a chance to stop by the store!

I have a sewing space!

And it is not set up on a tv tray anymore!  I found this desk on kijiji and promptly sent the husband to go pick it up.

It is perfect for our little space.  The drawers are amazing and I finally feel like my fabric is organized.

Except there is clearly not enough space in the desk for enough fabric so I also have this.

My only complaint about the desk is that it is pretty scratched and ugly.  I am planning to paint it and maybe do fabric fronts on the drawer, like so.


But different, because it is a desk, not a dresser.

Any input on colors?  Maybe navy and crazy prints?  Paint the shelves to coordinate?  How about the chair I am currently using with a casually draped quilt top?

Thanks for taking a look at all the pics!  As always please feel free to check out my site on etsy here.

And check back within the next week or so for some news about an upcoming sale :)

And it feels amazing!

This post is going to be a bit picture heavy.  I feel like a proud parent, but not of my child this time.  I mean, I'm still proud of him, however, right now the pride is directed at 54 square inches of patched together fabric.

It is just so pretty!  I love how all of the contrast worked out together.  I did pretty minimal quilting on it staying in the seams between all of the individual blocks and again around the yellow squares in the middle.  The thin cotton batting is going to continue to wash up to get more crinkled and delicious.

I think that my favorite part might be the binding.

I love striped fabric and how it becomes little dashes when used for binding.  This fabric is from Denyse Schmidt's Shelburne Falls line and is just lovely.  I attached the binding from the front of the quilt by machine and hand stitched the back to ensure a seamless look.

And here is the whole of the quilt, you know, casually draped over our balcony.

I've posted this to Etsy and the listing can be viewed here.

Thanks for stopping by!

I Finished Something!

So I had signed up for another class with Needlework, even though the dreaded log cabin is still in progress.  I have been wanting to begin sewing off of commercial patterns for awhile and this cute little wallet fit the bill....haha, get it?  The bill...Listen this is as funny as I get when the Bubbs was up every hour and a half just to make sure everyone still exists.

Anyways, the wallet.  The class was surprisingly tricky.  All the little details were definitely time consuming but I do love how it turned out.  I am keeping this bad boy as I'm too in love with the fabric to part with it but how about some thoughts on whether or not some more should be sewn up to hit the Etsy shelves?

It has space for at least eight cards, a zippered pouch and two larger pockets for cash or check book.  I think that when I make more I will be using a sewn in button which wouldn't be visible from the exterior and I won't have to use a giant mallet.  We can all agree that I should not be given access to large objects used to hit things.  It's best if I stick with needle and thread.

Too Many Projects in Progress

I am in the midst of feeling that I have definitely bitten off more than I can chew.  My jaw hurts.  I am going to blame it mostly on the never ending hand sewing that a binding involves.  The log cabin quilt will be the end of me.  So, logically, I have been working on three other quilts as well.  Why wouldn't I do that?  I have a quilt that was my mom's Christmas present for 2012 and it is almost ready to be pieced.  Merry Christmas Mom.  You might get it December 2013.

I have been obsessed with the idea of making an I Spy quilt for the bubbs.  I love the idea of lots of print and making a quilt into a game.  Here's a couple of pics of the progress so far.  I have several more fabrics to cut up but I am loving how fun it is already.

I can't wait to see how it comes together!

Recovering from Vacation

We did a 5 night whirlwind Michigan visit last week.  So much fun hanging out with friends and family that we get to see far too little of.  The bubs also seems to have made some big strides in hating his car seat less.  There was only one major melt down, and I like to believe that it was because of construction.  He hates it those orange barrels just as much as everyone else.  As great as it was to spend time with everyone the adjustment back home has been rocky.  The first couple of nights back in the crib he decided he could sleep for more than 2 hours at a time.  Not ideal.  It has settled down a bit and I have gotten back to working on all things crafty.

Before we left I finished up some standard pillow cases for a friend.  They were a custom request because she loved one of the fabrics I used in the log cabin quilt.  These were super fun to sew up and I love that they go so well with her bedding and decor.

I also starting working on a couple of I Spy quilts.  There was a pile of fabric waiting for me at my mom's because I am too cheap to pay for shipping to Canada.  I washed it up as soon as we got home and am in the process of cutting it up.  I put a a design wall on my giant closet door and have been having some fun playing around with the arrangement of the blocks.  More pictures of those to come!

I wish there was a teething fairy.....

Wouldn't it be lovely if there was a teething fairy that brought moms wine and chocolate while their little ones were going through misery? I would also appreciate a watch that counts down to when the teeth are actually going to come through.  That has to be my least favorite part.  I don't like seeing the bubbs so uncomfortable but I really don't like that it seems like it is never going to end.  Ever.  So in my effort to preserve what sanity possible I have gone back to being scheduled.  Teething does not control our time, we do.  That is my mantra.  It seems that as long as we've got lots of distraction, I have a happy baby for about an hour from feeding until another nap is needed.  So we've gotten bubbles, we've borrowed a swing, found a good deal on a bouncy exersaucer, and have frozen ice cubes of milk.  If these teeth are not going to come in we are going to pretend that nothing is wrong.  The pretending seems to be working.  Naps are back to normal, happening in the crib and lasting more than 28 seconds.  This is allowing me to actually get things done.  I finished up the custom collage and I have all the machine quilting done.

Now to start the hand quilting and to sew up a couple of pillows that I cut and prepped.  This Sunday marks the last class quilting class.  I am going to be really excited to have that day back but I think that I am going to miss it.  I might have to see what the next class Johanna is teaching...

As always feel free to check out my etsy page.

Teething, Tears and Piecing a Quilt Top

The Bubbs has transformed.  I would like to talk about how it is in such a good way.  How he is trying to crawl but ends up face planting, how he is laughing at sneezes, and how he kicks away like a crazy man in the bath tub.  Instead I will talk about how he transformed into this screaming, inconsolable terror.  Not constantly, but enough for me to want to pull my hair out.  Like all first time moms, I thought, maybe growth spurt.  Then he started pulling the ears.  I was relieved.  RELIEVED! All I could think was if it is an ear infection, I'm pretty sure they give you something to fix that, to make the insanity stop.  To the doctor's we went.  Ears are amazingly clean and uninfected.  This is the part where the tears come in.  Who wants their baby to have an ear infection?  This lady.  Instead I was told by the doctor that it is teething and that it will probably still be weeks before there is any kind of actual tooth.  WEEKS!  I think that tears were warranted.  Teething seems like the worst thing ever and now I feel like it is going to go on forever.  We are living on Tylenol and hope here.

I am still loving the quilting time.  It is a really nice break.  I am a little bit behind where I am supposed to be for class tomorrow but here is a glimpse of the progress.

It is wrinkly and still taped but I am starting to love it.  It will be basted tomorrow and then I have to figure out if I am going to do any hand quilting.  Eventually I am also going to have to decide if it goes on etsy or on my couch.

Speaking of etsy.... I had some sales this week, including a custom collage that I am working on for a nursery.  I love the thought of something that I make making space pretty for someones new little person.  Hopefully the collage gives that mom something she loves to look at when her baby is screaming in the middle of the night getting his little teeth.

sleep deprivation and sewing

I believe that my son studied torture techniques prior to his birth.  He was a champ of a little sleeper as a new born.  I was one of those self-righteous mothers who reports smugly to others, "Oh he is almost sleeping through the night."  I got close six hours in a row before he was a month old.  This was clearly a tactic to lull me into a false sense of comfort. We have had multiple nights recently where he decides to wake up as soon as my head hits the pillow.  I understand why some moms get hospitalized for exhaustion now.  Needless to say my mental clarity and motivation have taken a bit of a hit.  I went to sewing class on Sunday with zero blocks constructed.  I walked out four hours later with four blocks constructed.  Math has never been easy on me and I know that the current haze does not make it easier but I am pretty sure that works out to an hour a block.  I have 21 more of those bad boys that should be done before next Sunday.  I mean, we will just have to see how that works out.

I did get a couple of new fabric collages done.  They are posted to the shop.  I can't stop thinking about Finding Nemo when I look at them.  It is fitting though because I firmly believe that I do need to "just keep swimming."

We also got our family photos back.  I will leave you with this gem.  It is what makes me so ok with getting up a thousand times a night.

What a Week!

It's been a busy little bit....as busy as one can be when not working that is.  We had family pics on Sunday.  Bubbs was a total ham so I cannot wait to get edits back from the photographer.  The tie onesie was a success on him, if I do say so myself.  He even managed to hold back all of the spits until we were done, it just doesn't get better than that.

I started my log cabin sewing class.  I might have a bit of a quilting crush on the instructor.  She is amazing and I learned so much in the first 3 hours.  I am so excited for the rest of the classes and the deliciousness that this quilt will be when I am done.  Between now and and finished there is just a whole lot more cutting and sewing to occur.

This is just a little preview of the different pieces chopped up so far.


I also decided to try to fix the wonkiness of my first City Sampler block.  These pieces are just so tiny. SO TINY!  I'm pretty sure that I am going to need to embrace a little bit of wonky.  I know that this quilt is going to be finding it's home with us and I think that my husband will just have to love the "character" that is displayed.  So even though it is still a bit off, it is so much better.  I credit all of the amazing tips that I learned in the first session of the log cabin class.

I still need to square it up but other than that it get rewarded the most improved.

On top of the quilting, I have been playing around with the Etsy shop and trying to learn a bit about how artists are successful using that format.  It is interesting and for some very intense. I have listed a few new things so feel free to check them out at the shop.  I especially like this pillow.  I am a sucker for all things safari themed.

I am thinking that in the next week or so I will be putting some finishing touches on some new collages.  Who loves turtles?

Crafting win! Take that sewing machine.

Since I felt like throwing my sewing machine off of the balcony earlier this week I decided to return to projects that don't require needle and thread, just until some of the angst wears off.  I finally got around to making the tie onesie and it has to be about one of the cutest things that I have ever seen.  I could have also done a zig zag stitch around the tie, but I like the current look and steam a seam doesn't allow the appliqued fabric to fray so it is a win.  I can't wait to see the little guy in this for pics on Sunday!

So cute I can't handle it!  I love that all of the fabrics have a vintage old man feel, particularly the plaid.  I hope that the little guy does the forehead wrinkle that makes him look like he is 102 while he is wearing one of these bad boys.

The adorableness of this also gave me the confidence to head back to the sewing machine and knock out a couple of more pillows.  I was super creative and made a matching set.  I was not initially in love with the pattern on the front...it came in a scrap pack that I bought to make a quilt for my mom.  That said, I love it with the light blue back and feel like it looks very springish.

Next step is to revisit block one from the City Sampler....and I may have found a little tool to help me out.  We will see.

I thought I knew how to use my sewing machine.

So I started the City Sampler quilt this week...I completed block one.  I will be redoing block one.  Who knew that piecing 20 tiny bits of fabric in a 6.5 inch by 6.5 inch square could be so irritating.  I really like how the colors I selected worked out but I can't handle the wonkiness of the not so straight lines.  It looks like the right side wants to collapse in on itself.  Not a win.  I need some serious practice with the 1/4 inch seam.

To make myself feel better I made some more pillows and a new giraffe collage.

Super excited about how the giraffes worked out on the smaller canvas.  Check out the etsy shop to see the pillows.  I love the Summerville collection and used my left over fat quarters from the little guys nursery projects.


I still have the tie onesie to make and that has to happen before family pics on Sunday.  Nothing says fancy like a fake tie sewn to a baby wife beater.

Maternity leave and losing my mind

I had my first baby January 25 this year.  He is amazing....and as insanity provoking as I think every infant is. I am fortunate enough to live in Canada and enjoy the year of maternity leave before having to return to work.  I have been torn for the past few months between loving all of the time that I am able to spend with the little chunker and feeling like I am losing brain cells in the never ending cycle of nursing, changing bums, going for walks and reading only books that rhyme.

To add fuel the isolation of maternity leave, I am a transplant to Canada from Michigan and have been sorely missing friends and family during this transition.  What this all created was the perfect storm to re-engage in a hobby.....and re-engage I have,  with gusto.

I have officially begun building a fabric stash.  I am finally signed up for a quilting class in hopes that I will be able to conquer binding and move beyond rag quilts.  I have stocked up on canvas so that I can collage away, and during this flurry of organizing materials, scouring the web for inspiration, ironing fabric, cutting and cutting and cutting, I have magically stopped feeling torn.  Somehow the feel of the fabric has brought me out of the mommy stupor.  I enjoying my whole day with the Bubbs because I know that I will not just fall into bed exhausted at the end of it.  I will fall in bed exhausted at the end of the day satisfied because I have spent at least a few minutes creating something.  It just feels good for the soul.

So in favor of making my soul feel good I have the following projects underway:

I will be doing the sew along of the City Sampler Quilt from Tula Pink's new book with Sew Sweetness beginning May 20, 2013.

I opened an Etsy store.  This is a terrifying prospect.  I tend to believe that people enjoy my crafts, when they get them for free as cute little presents.  

I am making slews of pillow covers.  There is something very comforting about how simple the pattern and stitches are.  I find it addicting.

The before mentioned canvases are being used to collage fabric animals such as the giraffes below.

 The bubbs is also going to benefit from this as I've decided to try my hand at applique in order to make the adorable onesies with tie.  Stylish pictures of said onesie will be included in the future.