Unintended

I finished it this morning, the clock for my future cousin in law. Who knows if she'll like it. I planned on doing it in neutral khakis colors, but the next thing you know I've spent five bucks on paper, and it has a giant flower on it. From what I've read lately, authors don't know how their books will turn out, its a surprise to them as well as to us, thats how I feel about this clock. Although I think it looks pretty good, lets just hope she does too. And if she doesn't oh well.

My son should be in severe trouble, but how do you punish a toddler who isn't caught in the act? He cut holes in my latest embroidery. He is always a pill to the Nth degree when I'm working on a clock.

Too personal

Sometimes I feel like making presents for people is too personal. My cousin is about to get married, to a girl I have never met. Part of me feels obligated to make her a present, because she is family. Obligated is the wrong word, I also have no idea what to buy them. Her shower is on saturday so I started making her a clock. I feel like this is way too personal of a persent to give her something i have made when I don't even know her. Here is a conversation I had with my hubby about it.
Le says:
i think maybe Candice will hate her clock, i don't know if i should finish making it, maybe candice hates them on clocks or maybe she hates flowers, it has a flower on it
Le says:
i've never met her how can i know what she likes
brent says:
just finish making it and let her decide
brent says:
you aren't forcing her to put it up
brent says:
maybe she will love it and has never gotten something like this
brent says:
maybe she would prefer to get some joke used granny panties, but that isn't for you to decide
brent says:
you give her what you give her and don't worry about if she likes it or not
The problem is... who wants to invest time into making a present if the person isn't going to like it. Although I guess the same goes with investing money in a present. As far as I know they don't have a registry. I guess I'll just have to finish it and not worry about it.

Holiday Craft #1

I know you have been waiting in anticipation for #1 since you saw #2. Here it is, my mom saw the saying somewhere and wanted me to come up with a pillow design for her. I wasn't going to make one for myself, but I really like the silver pipe cleaners and after making one for my mother and one for my sister in law over thanksgiving I thought whats one more, I need one for my hard work, plus I love the pipe cleaners. Close up, notice the silver around the tinsel word, I'm thinking about redoing it so you can actually see it.

My present to me

Santa in green polka dots.
The angel AND a star all in one for the top of my tree. I love angel things. I like how it looks like she is having a bad hair day but she still has her sparkly glam, and big feet.
One for the middle of the tree.
And a candy cane angel who would have thought? Notice she is also having a bad hair day.

I feel like an elf

I have made 14 stockings this year for my family members. Definitely a high, that is why I feel like an elf. 5 years ago two of my brothers got married in the same year. For christmas I made them and their wives stockings, this year they both of their wives had babies. Here are their stockings:
My father also likes to have stockings of all his family members in his house whether they are there or not, that includes grandchildren. By the end of the year he will have had 4 new grandbabies. Here are their stockings: (the two on the right are replicas of the first two, and the one one the left is a replicated below)
I never made my sister stockings for christmas after she got married, probably because I was too busy getting married myself. She is about to have her first baby so I made all of them stockings. Right now my total of stockings made this year is 9.
Before we go on lets have a recap, I love green tree material. Lucky little Evan gets that stocking at his grandpa's house. (His family goes with a different style so I didn't make him one for his house.)
Then I decided 9 stockings for one year wasn't enough, and I remembered that one of my brother's never got personalized stockings. He got married before I started making them. I drew his name for the gift exchange this year and so I decided to make him and his family of 5 stockings. Bring the total up to 14. Turns out some of by best stockings were made in the last batch. This is my favorite that I made this year. So retro classic christmas in my opinion. It reminds me of the ones my mother made for us as kids. All of these stockings are done in that style but the material is what I'm talking about for the retro style. It reminds me of one of my brother's stockings. This one was also exciting I thought because it got button embellishments. I decided to put them on since they went with the main material so well, and she is "the mom". Growing up my dad taught me "the mom" is special. Not to mention it has a snowman couple on the front just like her and my brother, and then a snowwoman with three kids, and she has three kids. I thought the material was perfect for her. I try to find material that I think goes well for the personalities.But since we are talking about stockings, I have to show the stockings I made in previous years for my little family. Since I love them so much. My husband is on the left and my son's is on the right. My husbands stocking is the plainest one I've ever made, it was custom made, he picked everything out, he said didn't want it sissy looking or something to that effect.
I love the trim on mine. Its the fanciest trim I've ever used, I can't afford to put that kind of luxuries on when I'm making 14. The trim was expensive. But I love it still.
As you might of realized there is a few duplicate looking stockings, that is because if they are not being used in the same house, I have no problem using the same material multiple times. And I think its kind of fun to share styles. My little niece mary got to have the same material as mine. And Jobo's cousin has the same stockings at his house. Its fun I think...
For some reason I have always loved stockings. My stocking at my parent's house was always my favorite decoration as a child I think it was because it was mine, not the family's. Thats probably why I now make stockings for my whole family (almost).

Holiday Craft #2

You may be wondering what happened to holiday craft #1, all in due time my faithful readers. Right now its time for #2.Mitten clips from martha. The look different, because my mom thought they looked better fat then skinny. They have clothespins on the back of them.

The first of the presents.

At thanksgiving, I gave my sister in law her christmas present. I made her a clock, the female version of Jobos. Know I realize this is way girly, but I was thinking it would look good in her new salon. And in my defense she is really girly.
Purple walls? Pink clock? I thought it might work, she might think its super ugly and not use it for all I know. But she said it was super cute and would match great.

Party Time

Last Friday night, we had the aforementioned party. My cousin turned 20, and she had a bash at my house. We also had her two brothers over and their wives. Here is the garland I found from Martha. As you will notice, it is the only martha craft I made. The hats, didn't not turn out to look so good, and they were much more challenging to make than martha made it seem. So they got cut before I even made one. It made me a little disillusioned in martha. I really really really wanted to make the clowns, but I had no time. And the turkeys...well I'm still hoping... Oh and no one could really have expected me to cut out napkins, if you thought I was actually going to go through with that, you are crazy.
Here is Jobo helping making the cake. He really liked it.
Here is the cake, so I know it totally does not look as good what I was trying to copy but I am so PROUD of it. First off, I have never made frosting in my life, and I made this frosting from scratch, and it turned out really tasting. I was really worried, because if there is one thing people from my father's side of the family like it is chocolate cake, my cousin requested chocolate when I asked her what she wanted. So there was a lot of self induced pressure to make a good cake, and as first time frostinger I was worried. But it turned out well, complements were paid, and I breathed a sign of relief after holding my breath for days. The way the cake looked on the other hand...it was lopsided I need my aluminum pans. And the decoration is obviously from an amateur but I was still so PROUD!
My hubby made food for MY cousins. How great is that man? I know I love him, he is so nice, its fabulous. He offered to make chimigangas, and of course I would never deny cooking help, since I am not a cook.
The birthday girl is on the far right. Here is Jobo entertaining everyone, none of them have kids, so Jobo is novelty.

A while back

A while back ago I sent out thank you notes for people who sent me birthday presents. I thought they looked really cute, so I'm posting it here. I didn't create this, I made it from my scrapbook software CD, unfortunately I'm not that talented, actually my problem is I don't have the right software to create things on my own.

Trick or Treat

Today for the festivities, my husband's not quite boss told him he needed to dress up for Halloween. Last night after spending an hour or so looking at old rap stars from the 80s and early 90s, and not getting anywhere fast, we saw the vacuum in the closet, and decided on Ghostbusters. I cut out all the logos, and did the taping and safety pins so I felt like helped him out a lot. And boy did it pay off. My husband won 2nd place in the costume contest at work, which means we now have a $20 movie gift card. Sweet I know!
And here is the little rhino trick or treating through the cubicals of my husband's employment.
Before trick or treating, jobo and I met the dad at the office and ate lunch with him is cube. It was fun. Unfortunately we didn't get a picture of my hubby by his name plate in his cube. We forgot!

I finished!

It is complete-- Jobo's costume. Not as cute as last year, but I wasn't feeling as insane either. Maybe it is because this year I realized he only wears it for a few hours, or maybe its because I'm no longer in school, so I have more brain capacity free, to think rational thoughts. I think it really comes down to last, year was my first Halloween as a mother, and this year it is old news. He is a Rhino in case you have missed the posts leading up to this one. Here is another shot.
Bet you didn't know Rhino's have blankets and suck thumbs. Its the best I could get before naptime.
Here he is acting the part getting ready to head ram something.
(Rhino's do head ram right?)
Here he is now roaring or something, since he is the acting the part of the second largest land mammal. See those scary claws, I didn't tell him rhinos don't have claws.
So this is actually the improved costume that I finished an hour ago. Last night I finished the first draft which gave Jobo shrek ears on his rhino suit. Notice the different in ears, much better the second time around I think.
Now I realize this is not the cutest costume ever, but hey it works. Its original, (sort of I know I borrowed the idea but it turned out totally different the the original, I meant not every other toddler will be wearing it) and the all I have to do is remove the horns and ears, and he has clothes he can wear the rest of the winter. I thought about buying a real costume, but I decided that would be totally unfunctional, and expensive for only one night. Not to mention it is warmer than most inexpensive store bought costumes, which is needed since its cold here in Happy Valley.

I knew it would pay off

Yesterday once again I did not make a Halloween costume, and boy did it pay off. Instead I made a baby blanket for my brother's new daughter. I loved the material I hope they will too. I use to show my husband it before we went to bed for about a week straight if not longer, because I thought it was so pretty and I wanted to show it off. Here is the finished product:
Now that I have made about 25 baby blankets at least over the years, they are super quick and easy to make. Its amazing how quick it took me, it use to take me hours.
Since the baby's name was so short, I decided to make the name frilly looking. I love the way it turned out. (All you people without frilly embroidery for your baby's name, don't feel bad, I like your kid just as much) The red mark on the top of the M is a tie from the other side. For whatever reason my pink material looks orange in this shot.
Here is the material together, isn't it gorgeous?! The answer is always yes, by the way, my husband has learned that well.
The reason procrastinating the Halloween costume one more day and making a baby blanket instead paid off is....wait for it, the best answer is coming... my husband decided he wanted to use the 4 yards of fleece for a sleeping bag liner. Yea, I'm saved from the guilt of buying more fleece than I could uses. I'm back to square one with the costume. I can do whatever I want, I can't decided if I want to buy a generic costume, or if I want to make one with a little less work by using a premade sweatsuit. He does need a costume for trick or treating at my husband's work. Oh yea, I'm so happy! I love being at square one with the halloween costume, I want to go out shopping today, but instead I have to make three boxes of cupcakes for Activities Days tomorrow. Arg, this is going to be the death of me.

Procrastination

This is how I filled my afternoon yesterday. I used the October 2007 Better Homes and Gardens idea for "dressmaker pumpkins". The magazine said, "Inspired by fabric and sewing notions (two things I love!), these pretty decorations will outlast the season." My husband would beg to differ with that last statement, I bought fake pumpkins 60% off and he was not excited that that means one more thing to store for 11 months of the year. But I begged and he loves me so he said I could keep them. Basically I'm procrastinating making my son's halloween costume. I really don't want to make it, I wish I would have bought one, I wish I would have kept my receipt so I could have returned the 4 yards of dark grey fleece, I wish I would have gotten light grey fleece so I didn't have to make pants and shirt, and could just use a sweatsuit. I wish so many things that aren't going to come true. During the middle of dinner, during my tears of frustration, that dinner was late, the rice was under cooked, then it was burnt, after a burnt hand, and 4 yards of fleece sitting in my bedroom waiting to be made into a rhino, my husband asked if we were going to bring our kid to his work's trick or treat. I smiled asking if they really do that? He said yeah, I said well now I have to make the costume. And with that my tears dried up (I cry way too much especially when my husband and I spend way too little time together, between my busy vacation schedule, and his scout master schedule). No matter what happens with the costume, at least I have dressmaker pumpkins, and a new necklace. The great thing about crafts is you get so many other ones done while you put off the most pressing ones. Although I think they should be called pin cushion pumpkins instead of dressmaker.
Post Script: Last night my husband told me that he thinks my pumpkins look better than BHG pumpkins. Yea for him he always says the right thing. He is the best.

Latest Creations

This is my latest creation.
Actually all I did was string it with ribbon, and clasp it. Unfortunately I do not know how to blow glass so I had to buy the pendent. Maybe in another life I will learn how to blow glass. It would be fun.
This is my treasure.Its a photo of my mother as a small girl. It is great, she has a white lacy dress on, with white curlers in her hair, and white fabric tassels on the bike. I just recently framed it in this frame, I think it makes the shabby chic frame look antiquey although its not even 10 years old. Nonetheless I love the whole thing together. Its sits on top of my chest of drawers.

Yesterday's Craft

This is what I did yesterday.

Since I wasn't doing my normal past time of chatting online with my hubby, he thought I had abandoned him for reading a crappy YA novel.... But no I was doing something much more useful, trying to sell my wedding dress, (that took over hour in hopes of building a relationship so the girl calls back and decided to give me the money), and making this wonderful trick or treat bag. A few days ago I was in Ross and saw little trick or treat bags for kids, they were $3. I thought I can make this. Sure I ended up spend more than $3 on the material and a heck of a lot of time, but doesn't every 19 month old need his own personalized homemade trick or treat bag? Thats what I thought too. (Here is the real truth, if I would have come home with the $3 bag my husband would have said, $3 for this?! but if I come home with $6 of material my husband is glad I have something "productive" to do with my time, and then after a day of work, he is so proud at my awful sewing skills.) Its not so wonderful, as you might think, but it was the first bag like this I have ever made. The stitching is terrible, that's why you don't get a close up of the tag. But on the back side of the tag is my kids name, so he doesn't get it confused with the other homemade trick or treat bags of all the other kids on the street. I know I was thinking ahead when I thought of that idea. But see here is where I was really ingenious -- it is a bag that can grow with the kid. You might notice in that first picture of the bag, that it looks like a mighty big bag for such a small kid, BUT you can fold it down and make a much smaller bag. The only problem is the handles are too long, and by the time my kid fits the full sized bag, he won't want to take it trick or treating.

So my kid is totally not excited about his trick or treat bag, he started to cry after this picture because he didn't want to hold it. I wonder if its because he accidentally heard me call it a Halloween purse. Dang it, yesterday's craft is ruined.

By the way I bought a yard of material and used every inch of it to make this bag, not a single piece was left over, I don't think I have ever used all the material on just one project. To me this was the biggest accomplishment for the day.