WTF.

How is it December? How? How? How?

Well, I am just knitting my little heart out trying to finish the 2 projects I've got going.

One is taking precedence over the other right now as it needed to be finished yesterday...literally.

Eeek!

The other, not until Christmas.

Shew.

Meanwhile I added another little feature to my workspace/dressing room.

From the door the the closet was about a 14" strip of unused wall space.

I used to have pictures hanging there but moved them to another wall in anticipation of doing a project like this.

Little tip... I used chalk to make my marks for the hooks. It wipes away easily.

I bought ceiling hooks and wooden dows at the size I wanted. 

This could vary depending on where and how big a space you wanted to do this in.

I envision it holding sewing-projects-in-progress or just pretty fabric.

Here's my little helper.

Here's the finished product.

As if this wasn't accomplishment enough I made this little mobile for Iris's room.

I bought the stars back in September for her birthday and with the impending holidays I thought it would be perfect in place of the butterfly mobile we had up in the spring and summer.

I used the inner ring to an embroidery hoop to attach the stars and used some clear string I had from my jewelry making supplies to attach it to the hook in the ceiling.


Yay for progress!
I've made some headway in my mending/alterations pile as well.
I'l be revisiting the 2011 TDL soon also. 
The year is almost over.
It's time to take stock and start compiling a new list.
I may even have a resolution or two.

Weekend in Review.

Well it was my intention to work on Iris's invitations this weekend and have a full post on that but my computer issue's continue to slow my progress. I did, however complete carving a block to stamp on the one side of the invite. I'm hesitant to start stamping before I print the actual information in fear that it might complicate the printing process. I also made 2 tissue paper pom poms. So there is progress... just very slow progress.

They're Iris in case you can't make it out

Tissue pom pom. Sooooo easy to make.

My workspace is poised for birthday action!

I've got the balloons so that I can make the pinata and I've started collecting old newspapers for my paper maiche. I'll try to complete that phase of the pinata over this next week and weekend.

I'm still trying to come up with a kick ass party favor idea that will please both boy and girl party guests so if anyone has any brilliant ideas please leave them in the comment section of this post.

Coffee Talk.

You might not believe it in this Starbucks-driven mocha-frappe-latte saturated world but I never drank coffee (not never, just never habitually or ritually) before I had a child. Not because I didn't like the taste but because I didn't want to have that vice. That whole don't-talk-to-me-before-I've-had-my-coffee attitude just never appealed to my general outlook on life and personality.

Well motherhood changed all that. I was just having that moment about three months in thinking "I don't know if I can go on like this" and then I turned to my husband and said "pass the coffee". This request was met with shock and disbelief. Nonetheless, he passed the coffee.

Something else you should know about me... if I'm going to do something, I like to do it right (my interpretation of right). And I like my milk foamy so when I discovered this little jewel in ikea I  was thrilled. And the price was right too ($2.99). I've seen others for way more (like $35 more). This was a sign.

So every morning, preferably during Iris's morning nap, I enjoy this...

...sprinkled with a little cinnamon.

Eat your heart out Starbucks!

Does anyone have a morning ritual that they started after becoming a mom? Out of necessity or maintaining of sanity?

BTW, I was not paid by ikea or anyone else for that matter to mention products. I just really like it.

The Pinterest Challenge.

If you're just getting on board you can read about what this is here.

Well here it is. My adorable little jumper project. Here is the original pin.

I cut the inseam in a wide U shape to create a harem pant effect.

I cut two pieces. A front and a back but this could easily be done by cutting just one piece and sewing the seam in the back. I'll do that next time.

I hand stitched around the edges to create the cinched look. I don't know what the technical term for this is but I remember seeing my mom do it for something. Then I sewed the bias tape over that.

My camera battery died while I was doing the bias tape and neck tie so I'll just tell you I used a 2 inch strip of an old tablecloth in my repurpose pile. It was soft and had a nice contrast with the vintage sheet I used for the actual jumper.

Is she nuggaliscous or what!? 

Check out all the challengers and our gracious hosts below.

Sherry from Young House Love

Emily from Style by Emily Henderson

Katie from Bower Power

Lana from Making a House a Home

Thanks ladies! This was really fun!

2011 TDL: Checking In

Well here it is again with just a few more things checked off.


1. purchase mushroom growing supplies and make preparations for logs

2. pot rack for kitchen
3. organize phone and message center in kitchen
4. clean and organize under kitchen sink
5. purchase supplies for maple tapping for next spring
6. new couch for living room and general living room design
7. paint dining room
8. figure out a better situation for shoes/recycling by the front door
9. finish reorganizing and clean dressing room
10. clean windows

11. start and finish handmade gifts for Jenny, Helen, Becky, Melissa, Allison, Carol, Sarah and Pat.

12. new lighting for Iris's room

13. organize and backup iphoto

14. clean out pantry and wipe down shelves and bottles (ANTS!!!)

15. find and purchase vintage ceramic egg holder

16. sort through wardrobe and donate, trash or repurpose

17. learn one new knitting pattern

18. learn one new crochet pattern

19. paint giant urn and candle stick holders

20. finish mending and repurpose projects

21. plant salad greens, tomatoes and kitchen herbs

22. keep blog up to date

23. start etsy shop

24. buy more vintage and hand make more of our clothing

25. run in at least two 5k's 

26. organize baby's outgrown clothing

I crossed off #21 even though I didn't plant any salad greens. I have to let myself off the hook for that one. That window of opportunity was consumed with baby-learned-some-new-tricks-and-mommy-needs-to-babyproof time. I did get my herbs in and we were gifted a tomato plant. 

However, #26 is DONE. It actually took less time and containers than I thought (about an hour when you factor out the baby-chasing time). I was originally going to buy 8 containers but when I went to buy them I thought I better just start with 6. Storage is at a premium in this house so I have to be careful not to shoot myself in the foot by overpurchasing storage solutions. Sounds looney, right?

Anyway, this was my inspiration.

And now I have this...

It's hard to see the labels but they are in order of size. One container houses socks, bibs, boppy covers, bassinet sheets (all organic cotton), etc.

Six containers with room to grow (pun intended).

The purple bag on the right is the stuff I want to keep for either my sister, best friend or even for the nugget herself. There is a coveted Bob Marley onesie, the onesies people painted at my shower, things I personally purchased, amongst other things.

She's proofreading my labels.