SumThings

:: 2 + odds and ends ::

:: My baby is two!  ahhhh!  nobody told me that children spin you straight into a giant time warp!  you really shoulda warned a sissta!  sammi has become one of the most gentle, giving, kind, sweet, loving little ladies that i have ever had the good fortune of meeting.  she is a joy to be around and her manners are impeccable.  she always says please and thank you and even gives an adorable "bleshhyou" when you sneeze.  i love her more and more every day ::

:: her very own kitchen....she loves cooking "eggs" and telling us "hot, no touch!" ::

:: we ran into a little snafu with the assembly and have yet to get the doors attached.  but, she doesn't even know the difference and has been cooking up a storm nonetheless ::

:: in mailbox news, i have been waiting with baited breath...and readied pen....for this little gem.  thanks molly for sharing this treasure with us!  i ordered the 5 year diary from rare device last week and i cannot wait to get started jotting down life.  this time vortex black whole is getting out of hand, so i figured i better get my butt in gear and start writing things down.  i love the short format and the idea that i will have 5 whole years in one book.  molly had a great idea to buy a few "volumes" and fill them up.  what a wonderful legacy to pass on to our children....20 years of Mommy Notes.  a grand and ambitious undertaking, but the payoff will be priceless ::

:: i might be the last person on earth to know about this wonderfully inspired idea.  I just ordered the first volume of lines and shapes.  Again...baited breath waiting for the mailman's delivery ::

:: this was my first week back to work since bringing paige home.  it's just part-time and it has been good for all of us!  mommy needs her Out Of The House Alone Time.  but, as usual, sammi's weak constitution brought home a nasty virus.  she came home with a fever yesterday and promptly threw up down my back after we got back from the doctor's office.  so, i am home today with my sweetie pies.  hence an actual blog post! ::

:: I must also share my newest obsession :: Yoga Today :: It is transforming my life...as yoga tends to do with me.  I have been to my mat 5 times already this week and every time i walk away a better person.  it's amazing!  if you have never tried yoga, it's a great way to get started.  if you are an advanced yogi, finding it hard to get to a studio, this is for you. Check it out!

:: playing in sunbeams ::

:: just had to share.  i leave for the NYC at O'dark thirty in the morning.  can't wait! Happy weekend!::

:: no DE in my tox ::

:: Mental detox isn't going according to plan...just one little post before i leave.  I am headed out for NYC this weekend, and of course, had to sew up a few City Outfits.  I have a running internal debate about the clothes I wear.  I found myself mentally negotiating about the length of my dress as i decided on a hem length.  When i stopped to wonder who exactly I was trying to compromise with, i realized that it was not a person, but rather a place.  I live in a fairly conservative, very small town, so my internal dialog was working through the acceptable, modest, yet still fashionable hem line.  I would much prefer my summer skirt length to be between 3-4 inches about the knee.  However, in order to wear these new duds to work, they have to fall AT the knee.  So, i compromised (with some mystical force) and decided to go In Between ::

:: I sewed my first collar and REAL sleeves this weekend.  Again, with much help from mom....thanks mom, you're the best!  I love love love the way it turned out.  I especially love the fabric print.  I got it in two more colorways, too.  yummy! Don'tcha just love the sweet hangers I got from The Small Object?::

:: I altered the pattern for this top a bit.  I made shorter sleeves with some gathers around the band.  I didn't want buttons on the front, either.  I really like how the fabric color and pattern looks so different from afar...almost like little flowers.  It is super comfy and will be a staple in the spring/summer rotation::

:: UPDATE:: after seeing this pic, i totally ripped out the hem on this shirt and re-stitched with matching thread...looks way better :) ::

:: I initially bought the pattern for the top in order to turn it into a dress.  I have been completely inspired by Jenny at Wiksten lately and cannot wait to see her new stuff!  She is an amazing designer and I am saving my pennies, hoping to buy one of her designs.  But, until then, I ventured out on my own with her inspirational spirit to guide me! ::

:: After the success of top #1, i dove into the dress project.  Same pattern, even cuter material, longer length.  I just finished it today.  I must say, that the second time around with this pattern was even easier.  I really like the way these are turning out.  I can see them in so many fabrics...wool for winter...linen for summer.  This is definitely a GoTo dress/top for me now ::

:: So, I am off to pack for the Big City.  We are taking in a few plays/musicals and spending A Lot of time (and money) in my FAVE place..SoHo!  Camper, Purl Soho, A.P.C., Opening Ceremony, Unis, Jonathan Adler.  I have a list!  Be back next week...hopefully with pics!::

:: join me ::

:: next week is mental detox week.  it could not have come at a better time.  i need to step away, turn off, and unplug.  No computer, no TV, no music.  Just me and my girls...and a good book...and my sewing machine.   I can't wait! Join me! ::

:: i posted earlier today, as well.  scroll down to see the first post!  happy weekend! ::

:: happy friday ::

:: Lots more sewing.  the best part about this dress was the crazy price of the fabric...$1 per yard!  I hate trying out new patterns in muslin first.  What if i love how it turns out?  Could i pull off wearing around a muslin dress?  Not likely.  So, this cheap-o, but oh so adorable fabric, allowed me to experiment a bit.  I started out with a pattern, but quickly abandoned it...of course.  I really like the flowiness of the fabric.  I foresee many more of these simple jumpers in my summer wardrobe ::

:: i decided i am not completely sold on how this Built By You (wendy) pattern is shaping up.  I think the neckline  might  need to be a bit lower.  But, for now it's good for wearing to work.  I will experiment with it a bit more.  I like the control i have over the proportions..short skirt with longer sleeves....top with mid-length sleeves...dress with cap sleeves.  it's nice to have an easy pattern that provides such variety.  I tried out some shirting plaid. I want to try it out with a jersey knit.  I wore it around yesterday and it was quite comfy.  comfy is very important ::

:: in snail mail news, i got my first patapri towels yesterday!  i have been eyeballin' these great towels for a long long time.  Yuko was offering up a free towel with all of the different prints for her one year anniversary, so i went ahead and snatch one up!  love it!  the perfect colors and designs to brighten up my kitchen for spring! I hope you have a cheery and warm, springy weekend! ::

:: New Neighbors ::

:: As if our little backyard community wasn't already teaming with enough color from the redbirds and finches.... we just needed to add a little yellow to the mix!  Meet our new neighbors.  They are NOT quiet, but their sweet tweets and twirps are so inviting you will want to open all the windows and snuggle up on the couch with a big furry blanket and just sit and listen to their chatter.  I know that is how i spent Naptime today.  I love this picture of the males all surrounding one female.  I am not very knowledgeable on yellow bird behavior, but they seem to travel in packs, or herds, or gaggles....a group.  They are also moving into the bamboo....right down the stalk from the finches.  What a sweet spring block party we are having ::

:: all of this bird chatter going on outside our windows is wonderful inspiration for all the spring sewing going on around here.  I whipped up another batch of halter dresses and tops for the girls.  They are actually wearing the same size....how convenient is that?  The dresses are a little too long for Paige just yet...but that's just because sammi is sprouting up like a weed!  She is getting so tall::

:: I am so excited to finally  have a pattern that i really enjoy making..over and over again.  A wise women once blogged about the need to have a familiar project, one that you could do over and over again without much thinking..something soothing, familiar, yet in the end productive.  I think i have finally found it with this pattern.  I love that i can make tops or dresses...that they can be worn alone or with undershirts and jeans.  I am excited to watch this pattern fall into winter with different fabrics and combinations of warm layers.  who says you can't wear a halter in the winter!?::

:: So far, my favorite part about sewing for the girls is seeing all of my favorite fabrics that have been stashed away for so long being pranced around the house.  I was just waiting for the perfect reason to chop up all this sweet, colorful cotton.  And, of course, you couldn't get any two cuter reasons! ::

:: virtual motion ::

:: trying to catch the spirit of my days.  it all feels like one big blurr.  so much movement and noise.  also doing a little spring cleaning..in my cyber life.  i have accumulated lots of accounts, websites, blogs, etc.  i feel like getting my internet-self straightened out.  so, check the sidebar for my new email address.  my sammibag site is also coming down.  i started making handbags so long ago...before etsy, before blogs, before the whole handmade movement was in full online force.  now, the site (and my bags) are very outdated. i am keeping my etsy store open...not stocked, but open....for future use. it feels good to Virtual Spring Clean! ::

:: A weekend of sewing is good for the soul ::

:: I will confess i have never followed a pattern in my life.  I bought many, tried diligently, but always struck out on my own in frustration over my pathetic lack of the Patternese language.  Finally, i called in the calvary to save me from my own ignorance.  My mother was on hand Saturday to walk me through my first Built by Wendy pattern.  It went off without a hitch and I was so very pleased with myself.  All i could do is run around the house chanting, "I made sleeves, I made sleeves!"  My mom is a wonderful seamstress (she made her sister's wedding dress...back in the day...and all of my bridesmaid's gowns!) and it was so much fun having her walk me through the process; encouraging, correcting, and bantering around words like garment, raglan sleeve, and stay-stitch.  It all felt so Project Runway ::

:: After making three dresses for myself, I rummaged through my stack of As Of Yet Unused Japanese Crafting books. I was pretty sure i bought this book awhile ago and was quite happy to find it on my shelf.  With my New Found Confidence i decided to tackle a little project for Sammi.  This pattern was the main reason i bought the book. It is the sweetest little halter top that will be perfect for summer.  It was super simple and straight forward, and with some help from here, I had it whipped out in no time.  It was a very quick project.  I am pretty sure this is going to become a favorite Nap Time Pastime for mommy::

:: Many more pictures are on my flickr, including more ADORABLE pics of my Pint Sized Model ::

:: Little black dress and yellow blocks dress, all ready for rotation in my spring/summer wardrobe.  I am not usually a color kinda gal, i tend towards blacks, browns, grays, etc.  So, I am not sure how often the yellow one will be peaking out of the closet, but it was the first one i made, so she is very dear to me.  I even broke out the lino blocks to add a little Lotta Inspired Kick ::

:: Sewing makes this momma very happy ::

:: Macro Backlog and Vitamin D ::

:: The last three days of Macro photos ::

:: oh, those eyes!  Let's take a closer look.  You can see my reflection.  I am  sitting on a chair and taking her picture.  It's kinda Trippy if you think about it...that is what she sees when i am all up in her face with my camera.  No wonder i can never get her to smile for pictures!  ::

:: our new favorite toy ::

:: a water AND sand table in one.  They should just call it a MUD table ::

:: Here's the Vitamin D part.  What a lovely, sunshiney day we had here in the 'burg! Outside time rules! ::

:: we found these glasses abandoned in the road.  check out the rhinestone skull and cross bones on the side. She's so cool! ::

:: our newest family of finches are moving into the bamboo this week.  I love the male finch with all of his colorful red regalia.  Welcome to the neighborhood!  ::

:: Shirt Dress ::

:: New shirt dress made from a flowy, gauzy, curtain panel and lined with white linen from a thrifted napkin.  Straps are cotton twill tape that i block-printed.  The gray jersey cotton at the top is a thrifted pillow case.  Raw seems, exposed stitches, and a bit of deconstruction makes me happy ::

:: The only drawback to not using a pattern is the squirminess of the manikin ::

:: and just forget about having a proper model to show off your handiwork! ::

:: my sewing machine is happy with all of the attention ::