Thursday 13--What I SHOULD be doing...

Instead of sitting here...

1. sewing trim on my tablecloth
2. weeding...always!
3. washing dishes
4. listing items on Etsy
5. playing with Shelby Rae
6. planting trees
7. planting more seeds for spring!
8. finishing apron for Laurel
9. studying
10. reading
11. shopping
12. calling to make an appointment
13. getting ready for ElfGirl's visit this weekend!!

Ahh yes, thanks for putting up with my online to-do list. As Pastor Bobby says, if you don't plan to do something. You won't. Visit other Thursday Thirteeners here...

New apron

And it's a great one. James actually found it for me at one of our much-frequented thrift stores. I must say, he has a great eye. The apron itself is actually only one-sided. It wraps around the front and ties in the back so the front is fully protected. What a genius idea!
Even better, I think I will be able to duplicate the pattern. Even though it is great for housework, I think it is the perfect design for gardening work. Wish me luck! Any of you gardeners have comments? Of course, you all can tell me what a cool apron it is--regardless of gardener status...

Some pretty things...

I always love when Linda posts photos of her pretty things. So, here's a little slideshow with some of my vintage patterns. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do...

I mean, Littlekins

Somebody's Mom should have told me that Babykins is an existing name! Oh well, I should have done a better search, eh? Here's what we have so far. Littlekins might catch on with me. My little sis already has a Littlekin reserved for baby Marshall, sight unseen!

Dollikins, I mean Dollequins, I mean...I don't know what to call them

Something you may not know about me is that I have an unquenchable appetite for vintage girl clothes. Yes, I admit, I have a problem. When I see smocking and lace I swoon. More to the point, I politely ask the little girl's mother if I can buy her child's clothing. Not Really! I only buy from reputable(?) thrift shops...and I have been richly rewarded. One of my favorite little girl dresses has a rabbit print which features mommy rabbit hanging her baby rabbits out to dry by their ears!

I have so many of these adorable dresses, nightgowns and jackets with nowhere to display them! None of my dolls seem right to wear them and I can't just hang them on the wall. Therefore, any and all female guests of our home are dragged to the library to browse my collection to the tune of oohs and ahhs. It's very satisfying for me, I might add.

Now, I have the solution: Babykins! They are miniature dress forms (made by me), fashioned of vintage fabrics, quilts, comforters, whatever happens to be so unlucky as to be unoccupied at the time I wield the scissors. They are the perfect size to display my lovely girl clothes and they look cute, to boot! I am fairly pleased.




Edited to add new photos and to say that these are not Babykins any longer. They are now Littlekins!

Lookit! A Gnomekin Pod!

He's a real prototype, but I am expecting good things from this little pod. He's a Gnomekin Pod! When Mommy Gnomes go travelling, Gnomekins always go too. When she needs an extra hand, she wraps little Gnomekin up in her own hat. All you see are his hands and his face, peeking out from under his own floppy hat!

Made from scratch!

I have been wanting to enter the made from scratch carnival for a while now, so here is my first submission:

Nursing pads! TA-DA! No, they're not for me but for my little sis. I have been threatening to make some for her and finally made five pair. 3 are solid flannel with quilt batting. 1 is flannel/print with quilt batting and one pair is suede/flannel with rice/lavender filling for soreness.

Without further ado, here they are...

My first re-construction!

My lovely "Firefly" t-shirt was too big and boxy and uglified-fitting for me to wear! So, I attempted my first reconstruction of a t-shirt.

Not so happy...

Not so flattering. This one's for posterity...

Now that, I think, is cute. Maybe a little more off the sleeves?

An update on the monarchs. Perfection!


edited to add: I ended up taking more off the sleeves and off the actual hem of the shirt. It kind of fits like a dancer tee...kind of slides off the shoulder. My friends who have the same kind of shirt keep asking me where I got my "special" shirt.

Clone Yourself A Fitting Assistant, page 5

This is what I've been looking for! I really want a dressmaker's form. Is my search complete? Will my husband help me? Tune in next time...



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yard-art and apron modeling and a greens-eating doggie!

James left for church before I could get him to do a photo-shoot with me modeling my new made-from-scratch apron. So, here are my efforts with the timer. I am also posting photos of our yard art on this beautiful Florida day. And finally, Shelby Rae's eyes light up when I bring her turnip greens or broccoli leaves. She just loves anything green!

Make it from scratch!

Stephanie over at Stop the Ride! is hosting a Make it from scratch contest and I am playing along so thought I would post her button and link here.





p.s. this is the second HTML trick I have learned. I guess that's kinda sad, eh? and, I keep forgetting to close my tags! Actually, I think it's just 'cause I'm not wearing my contacts yet.

HTML tutorial, craft swap and apron-making

I was on the Etsy forums and found This link to an HTML tutorial. The first thing I learned how to do was make a "Write Me!" button. You can find it at the upper right-hand corner of the screen. I'll have to work on getting a cute avatar to go up there with it.

Today was a fun day. I hosted my first-ever "craft swap." We had about seven swappers. You should have seen the piles of fabrics, trims, patterns, knitting needles, books and scrapbook paper. It was great! Everybody went away with less than they brought...oh, except for Sarah. But, she will make some neat things with her goodies. And then, the hostess seems to be responsible for getting rid of anything extra. Hmmm...what to do with all these neato things?

And...I made my first apron pattern and apron! I traced my favorite apron, made three separate body pieces, cut up some old curtains and voila! I have a new garden apron! Yay! Check back for pictures of me modeling it.