Phase One

This is the beginnings of my son's Halloween costume.  We are going with a 1950's space inspired costume, relying heavily on a picture of a Buck Roger's space helmet, originally a "free gift" with the purchase of a Sylvania TV.  The picture we found comes from the book, Blast Off by S. Mark Young, Steve Duin, and Mike Richardson.  Phase one is getting the white paper model just right...we are still working on it.  Very excited about this costume!

Lady Bug

I teach three Halloween Costume classes at the Arts Center, a super cape class, an animal hats class, and a fairy wings/ tutu class.  My goal is to make the classes as open ended as possible, and encourage students to use their imaginations and make something unique.  This year as I made samples for the classes I wanted to illustrate how the classes could also be used together to create a costume.   I created  Ladybug costume samples for each of the classes.   I added black spots to a red super cape, antennae and spots to an animal hat, and some black spots to simple red wings.  

Little Lady Bug Hat

Super Cape becomes Super Ladybug

Grouchy Little Lady Bug!

Wings and Tutu...Somebody got a little crazy with the glitter paint!

Tutu with a simple "apron" added over the top.

Tying the Knot

In the center of the tattoo on John’s upper arm is a Celtic knot.  One morning 9 years and a few months ago, I was studying the knot as John slept, thinking that Celtic knots would make such beautiful quilt patterns.  And so an idea was born.  I designed a quilt, intended to be my wedding gift to John, using the knot on his arm as the central design and a boarder of another knot design.  

John and Me with Judge Waters

The quilt was pieced together by machine, but having tendency for really grand ideas, I decided to ask my friends to help do all the quilting by hand.  I inherited a quilting frame from my grandmother and decided this would be the perfect opportunity to break it in.  However, at the time all of my friends and I were in our 2nd year of an extremely rigorous Naturopathic Medical program at Bastyr University.  We shared one really great day of quilting, but reality hit and we all had to get back to the books.  So the quilt sat. 

9 years ago today John and I were married.  We had a very small court house wedding.  The most “stressful” part of the day was spent picking wildflowers for corsages and my bouquet.  It was a lovely, beautiful, and very joyful day.   John and I stood in front of Judge Waters as he explained to us that he does not tie slip knots.  I thought of the knot on the quilt and really wished it had been finished. 

After we were married, the quilt continued to sit.  Eventually I ended up sending it to one of my mother’s friends who finished the hand quilting and binding for me.  We received the quilt back from her in time for our second anniversary, and has been on our bed ever since. 

The "New" Quilt and Our Sweet Bouncy-Pouncy-Rollie-Pollie  Baby Boy.

Perhaps tattoos are a bit unconventional for quilt designs, but in the end it all seems so perfectly fitting.  Celtic knots with all of their ins and outs, ups and downs, twists and turns of infinite loops seem to me the perfect symbol for marriage. And like quilts, marriage too, grows softer, more comfortable, and lovelier with time.  

Happy Anniversary My Love.

9 Years Later...The Quilt Drying on the Line

Beach Bag Basics

Designing projects for students just learning to sew is not without it's challenges.  There needs to be just enough challenges so there is an accomplished feeling when the project is complete, but not so many challenges that frustration over runs the sense of accomplishment.  Last Wednesday I finished teaching a "Beach Bag Basics" class that I think was a big success!  I am so proud of my students! They worked through their challenges, and we managed to keep frustration to a minimum. In the end, everyone had a fabulous, finished bag!  (Just don't ask any of them about the knotted handles...I may have been in a bit of trouble over those!)  Check out all of their lovely creations and a few of the creative changes they made to the bag!  

These handles are creatively re-purposed curtain ties!    

Such fun details were added to this bag, there is a small polka-a-dotted ruffle trimming the top of the pocket and a great gingham bow! 

Winter Is Coming...Get Out Your Crochet Hooks!

Remember the crochet lesson back in early July?  Well, as it turns out, those few stitch my mother taught me, along with learning to read the short hand of crochet pattern writing, lead to the great success that is My New Hat!  After the crochet lesson I was very excited about the possibilities, so I did an image search for crochet hat patterns. The search lead me to the Baara Retro Hat Easy Crochet Pattern from CrocheTrend on Etsy.
The things I love about this pattern: "easy" is in the name of the pattern and it truly was easy, despite the easiness of the pattern the hat still has loads of style, that Retro look, and even with my inability to count and fully understand all the concepts in crocheting I still was able to successfully complete the hat!  There was a moment of panic when my mother looked over my shoulder and said, "Did the pattern say to crochet from the back?"  Once she explained that what I was doing would make the stitches not quite as tight and would add more texture I just kept on going.  I love texture, and let's face it when you have sooo many unfinished projects floating around in your head it adds girth to the ol' noggin, so the loose stitches (and all those added stitches because I can't count) turned out to be just perfect.

No, it did not take me over a month to finish the hat. It took 3 nights of watching Sons of Anarchy, because crocheting and biker gangs go so well together.  It just felt a little odd posting about winter hats in August, but yesterday on my walk I looked out across the hill and realized there was just a hint of yellow in some of the leaves, I realized fall will be here before you know it...and inevitably Winter Is Coming. 

Arrivals and Departures

This week has been a whirlwind of activity.  And where there is activity, creativity follows.  Right now I am going to put aside the stories of all the finished and half-finished projects of the week and focus on two biggies, the long awaited arrival of Maria and the departure of our good friends, as they leave our lovely hilltop for the Azores.  

New babies always bring a flurry of project ideas; luckily I was given a bit of focus by my friend, and then expectant mother.  In the process of renovating an old farm house here in the hills, she discovered a bag of wool.  She had the wool cleaned by a man who at one time made wool mattresses.  I am still sad I was too busy to be a part of this process; I find the whole thing fascinating.  She asked me if I would make a wool-filled nursing pillow, of course I was very excited by this idea.  Several years ago I made a pattern for “Boppy” covers for another friend, fortunately I keep the pattern.  So from the “Boppy” cover pattern I created the wool nursing pillow and three covers, a practical and pretty gift.  On two of the covers I FINALLY used some of the organic cotton I purchased last summer.  I was saving it for a special occasion, and without a doubt Maria’s arrival was just such the occasion. 

Nursing pillow and covers just waiting...and waiting...

Welcome Sweet Maria!

            I suppose the departure balances our scales.  We are all very sad to see our friends moving away, but happy for the great opportunities it brings to their lives.  My son has taken it all very hard.  He has a very close bond with his friend who is leaving.  They both started Italian pre-school together when they were 3.  They went through all 3 years of pre-school in the same class, this last year went to first grade together, and they have spent countless hours playing together.  I suggested he make a little book with pictures from some of their good times together and to draw pictures of either other good times they shared or pictures just for fun.  This really helped shift his focus from being sad to remembering all the fun things they did together.  I helped him put the pages of the book together and he picked out all of the photographs and drew pictures for each page.  His drawings included the two of them on a speed boat, riding a giant eagle, and playing together at school.  Projects definitely have their therapeutic value, he stopped sobbing and was really excited to give his friend the gift he created for her.   

It's a bit hard to see, but this is the speed boat page.  In the photograph they are eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at the lake.  

This was the envelope he made for her.  All of the broken hearts make we want to cry.  

Very Good Play Dough

 My mom just called.  My niece has "a little cold" and will be spending the day with my mother, who has in turn decided they should make play dough.  She called for Aunt Daisey's recipe.  The recipe I have originated  from my very good friend in Bothell, WA over 5 years ago, where she acquired it, I do not know.  Scribbled at the top of my recipe is "Very Good Play Dough,"  the paper itself is covered in oil marks and food coloring. The kids and I have made lots and lots of Very Good Play Dough.  So today we pass on our Very Good Play Dough to my niece and anyone else who cares to play dough.

Mixing together the ingredients is a very kid friendly activity.  The recipe is very flexible and very forgiving.

In a medium saucepan mix together:

       2 Cups flour

       1 Cup salt (maybe a little less)

       4 teaspoons cream of tartar

 Combine and add to the saucepan:
       2 Cups warm water
       2 Tablespoons of oil + a teaspoon more
       1 or more teaspoons of food coloring

 Stir, stir, stir, because stirring is loads of fun!  Don't worry about getting the lumps out before you cook the dough.

Next cook over medium hear for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.  It can burn easily, so really stir constantly.  Test for readiness by squeezing a piece of the dough.  If it is sticky keep cooking, if it is springy, it is done.  The dough will get VERY difficult to stir, and you may think it isn't working, but keep going, it will work, almost like magic.

 Let the Play Dough thoroughly cool before poking your fingers into it.

If you have made Play Dough for all your friends try hard to resist poking your fingers into all of their Play Dough...though they probably won't mind.
This Play Dough keeps for a VERY long time if stored in an airtight container.  These pictures were from my daughter's birthday almost 6 months ago, and she is still playing with dough we made that day.

To my sweet niece, I hope the dough helps brighten you day! Have fun, and feel better soon!
Love,
Aunt Daisey