An unexpected break

Well, I didn't mean to take a month-long blog hiatus, but it happened just the same. Things were (and continue to be) extremely busy at work and I've been trying to finish up a giant pile of UFOs. It's pretty bad when you get phone calls asking you to update your blog!

I missed telling you about my birthday, a blizzard, and lots of Easter candy. I also added a few more entries in the "Books Read in 2008" list on the right!

The blizzard actually hit on my birthday. All plans were canceled for the weekend, but it was still a great day. Charlie watched Jaxon all morning while I sewed, then we played outside in the snow for a bit. In the evening we braved the weather to grab dinner at the local Mexican restaurant. And Charlie and Jaxon got me a necklace off my Etsy Favorites list similar to this one by GreenSpaceGoods.

Here is a picture of me and Jax in the snow. The ground was bare three hours before this:


During my sew-a-thon I made this for a friend's birthday (she's a math teacher):


And cut quite a few diapers and wipes cases (which now only need grommets):


I have a couple of baby sets almost ready to go for my Etsy shop, plus I made this one for a school fundraiser. I thought it was a silent auction but I found out later it was a raffle so I hope the person who won this is happy! The baby's best friend blanket is sock monkey fabric backed in red minky, the diapers and wipe case and burp cloths are sock monkey flannel. I have another set like this in yellows ready for the shop, and a larger blanket in pink monkeys that still needs binding.




Finally for tonight, I just finished a quilt top I've been working on. I am completely in love with this fabric. It's all Two Young Street by Prints Charming except the turquoise inset and striped corners. I haven't decided how to quilt this yet, or even what to back it in, but the colors make me happy! I also have another quilt in progress that I keep modifying, and so I need more fabric.


I saved some things to share with you later so I won't take such a long break!

P.S. I have a slight obsession right now. I made a resolution to watch every episode of "The X-Files" and the first movie before the sequel comes out. When I made that resolution I thought the sequel came out next Christmas, but it is actually this July. I've watched at least one episode a day (and on my birthday a lot more than that). I am almost through season 2, which means I have to average about one season a week until the movie hits theaters. Side effect: I am now highly paranoid and see conspiracy theories everywhere. I may need to take a break!

Cold Weather Fun

We've had lots of snow and ice this week, and we have all stuck pretty close to home. We've had lots of comfort food, a little crafting, and a lot of playing.

I finished three embroideries for blankets this week:

The two pirate-themed embroideries are for a new blanket design, the travel-themed one is for a baby set I am making.

I also had my first Etsy sale! I was very excited to see the email -- then I saw that the buyer was my sister. That still counts, right??

I had an email from Lucy inviting me to take part in a recipe round robin. I'm typing up the recipe for the email, I might as well share it with everyone!

Here is the yummy dinner we had Friday night:

Slow cooker chicken, oven roasted potatoes, green beans and sourdough bread. Jaxon wouldn't eat any of it!

Slow cooker chicken
1 small chicken (3 pounds-ish)
salt, pepper, paprika

1. Wad three pieces of aluminum foil into 3 to 4 inch balls, and place them in the bottom of the slow cooker.

2. Rinse chicken thoroughly in cold running water and pat dry. Season with salt, pepper and paprika and place on top of aluminum foil balls in slow cooker.

3. Set the slow cooker on high for 1 hour, and then put on low for about 8 to 10 hours.

That's it, and it is super yummy. I've done lots of variations including a garlic rub with slices of lemon.

Oven roasted potatoes
1.5-2 pounds of Redskin Potatoes
Olive oil
Onion Salt
Garlic Powder
Salt and Pepper

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Clean and cut up potatoes into 1.5-2 inch chunks.

3. Place potatoes on one layer in a casserole dish (I use a 8" x 10" pyrex dish)

4. Drizzle with olive oil and then season to taste. Stir to evenly spread seasoning and oil.

5. Cover (I use aluminum foil) and bake for about 1 hour. Uncover and bake until browned (about 10-15 minutes).

Super duper easy and everyone (except Jaxon) is happy!

We also played in the snow today.

Jaxon and Samantha enjoy their favorite toys: sticks

Jaxon tries to make his first snow angel

Our prize for coming in: Hot Chocolate with marshmallows (chocolate marshmallows for the grown ups!)

Success!

The curse is broken -- third time's a charm. I have finally successfully completed a swap -- Julia liked the quilt I sent her, and I received a quilt this week from Lucy. Look how cute:

Title: "Frosty Window" (Can't you just hear the Christmas Waltz)

Thanks again, Lucy, I love it! Also she sent me some homemade olive oil soap -- just what my dry skin needs!

This turned out to be quite the "handmade week," or maybe "Etsy Week." I ordered Charlie's Valentine's Day gift from Etsy seller daisymay, a hand stamped sterling silver key chain with Jaxon's name and birthdate.


I got a belated Christmas present from my MIL, from Etsy seller Keys and Memories.


And I am now an Etsy seller! I used Tuesday's snow day to upload the pictures I had taken ages ago and list some items. Check it out: http://modernjax.etsy.com

And finally, Jaxon spent a day this week lovin' on the pets. Too cute!

Snow Day

Okay, so it's not an "official" snow day -- the university never closes. But every school district for a 60 mile radius is closed due to inclement weather, and the steady snow we are getting now is supposed to turn to freezing rain; so I have made the executive decision to cancel classes today. It was a tough decision. I had good things to talk about (and show) for both classes today, everything was planned -- but I hate driving on wet icy roads.

I have plenty of school projects OR sewing projects to keep me busy. I did complete two custom orders in the last week, so those are off my plate.

The first is a blanket for a man I work with and his wife who just had a baby. The faculty will give this in our meeting on Friday, I hope they like it. They both hold doctorates in Geography, so I think they'll like the wireframe globes (can you tell they're globes in the picture??).


The second was a custom order for twins. The client saw my blankets at Pattyfair and loved the space theme set. She asked for the original rocket blanket for boy twin, and I made a version (with a purple back and Alien/UFO embroidery) for girl twin.



I have a couple more projects near completion (maybe I'll finish today!) and I have to figure out what to do about the laundry. The dryer died this weekend. Good thing I washed all my new fabric at the end of last week!

Fabric and Chocolate

Everything in life is a little better when you have a big fabric sale and some chocolate, right? I think so.

The quilt shop near my mom's house had a big sale on Super Bowl Sunday. They had different specials every hour and you get 20% off your entire order! We went for the first hour when fat quarters were 10 for $10. Woo hoo. Here are the 30 we pounced on:


And I also picked out some yardage (1/2 yard and one yard pieces):


Clockwise from top left: Three pieces of "Two Young Street" from Prints Charming (I love this fabric, it has such a nice feel tot it, and fabulous colors); two pieces of "Every Iota" from Robert Kaufman; three pieces from Jackie Shapiro's "Botanical Pop" by Baum Textile Mills; and three pieces of Joel Dewberry's "Aviary" by Westminster Fibers.

Now I have plenty of projects to work on, I just need to find the time!

Also, Julia received the Four Seasons Winter Quilt I made, and she likes it! Yeah! I had high hopes when I read in her last blog entry that she likes lime green. Also, I included in the package some fun little Christmas decorations and some Buckeye candy to represent Ohio, the Buckeye State.

The Buckeye tree is the state tree of Ohio and it yields an inedible nut, also called the Buckeye. Thus, the Ohio State Buckeyes (and their mascot, Brutus Buckeye, a guy with a really large nut as a head. THAT'S comedy).


We make candy Buckeyes here in Ohio, a mixture of mostly peanut butter rolled into a ball and dipped in chocolate. Super yummy. Julia and her sons enjoyed the candy, so I thought I would include a recipe so you all can make your own!

Peanut Butter Buckeyes

1 1/2 cups peanut butter (smooth)
1 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 cups powdered (confectioners) sugar
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips (can substitute milk chocolate)

In a large bowl, beat together the peanut butter, butter, and vanilla. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time until the dough begins to look dry (you may not have to use all of the powdered sugar). Roll into small balls (traditionally 1 inch, I usually do about 1 1/2-2 inches) and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.

Press a toothpick into the top of each ball (to be used later as the handle for dipping) and chill in freezer until firm, about 30 minutes.

Melt chocolate chips (I microwave). Stir frequently until smooth.

Dip frozen peanut butter balls in chocolate holding onto the toothpick. Leave a small portion of peanut butter showing at the top to make them look like Buckeyes. Put back on the cookie sheet and refrigerate until serving.

Enjoy!

The blahs of January

It's a good thing January isn't longer -- I would never get anything done!

I've noticed over the last month a lot of bloggers have been complaining that come January motivation seems to go. I agree! But I did complete a couple of projects I'd like to share with you.

I finished my Four Seasons Winter Quilt right on time. Here it is:

The front -- my first appliqued quilt!

A detail of the "gifts" beneath the tree -- my first hand quilting!

The back -- notice my first mitered binding!

All in all I think it turned out pretty good. I did cheat a bit on the size inadvertently. No side is supposed to be long than 20" -- this is 18" x 24". Realized my mistake after I appliqued the tree.

I hope my swap partner likes it!

Remember a few weeks ago when Jaxon was sick? All over me? Multiple times? Yeah, that was fun. I was wearing a cardigan sweater I have had for years -- cashmere from the sale rack. I put it in the washer knowing that it might not survive. It didn't, but I didn't want to throw it away.

The sleeve was getting threadbare -- the wash cycle sent it over the edge. It also ended up with a hole on the front.

I decided to use it on another Frenchy Bag from Amy Butler's pattern. It had been awhile! I made the handbag size with longer straps. The sweater was easier to work with than I thought it would be, and I am really happy with the outcome. I used fabric from the clearance rack for the rest.

Sorry about the weird perspective -- it makes the top look a bit wonky.



And finally, to wish you a happy February...Jaxon peaking through the eyeholes in his carb book:

Gettin' There

I survived the first week of the quarter. Only 10 more to go until Spring Break.

It was an interesting week, as it always is when the students come back from a long break. I sent an email to a student informing him I expected him to drop my class after not showing up the first day. He wrote back and said he's not going to drop, his afternoon nap was longer than expected and he missed class because of it. *HMPF* Let's all try that excuse with our bosses.

My crafty time was a lot less this week, but I made some progress on my Four Seasons Quilt. Before starting the quilt I went back and forth about the design. I liked my idea but wasn't sure the execution would be successful. I almost started a different design twice. I'm glad I went with my first idea, I think it is really fun!


I basted the parts of the tree to the background fabric with some Lite Steam-a-Seam (on clearance at our local JoAnn for 99 cents for 5 9x12 sheets. Are they discontinuing it? Perhaps I should see if there is any left...), and basted the "gift boxes" to the backing the same way (lining everything up was a bitch!). I layered all my pieces together and machine quilted on the inside edges of my tree pieces, creating a quilted tree on the backing. Now I am hand quilting the gifts and adding bows. Here's my progress:

Detail of the quilt front...looks a little smooshy in the photograph but just needs a warm iron

Detail of the quilt back...the label is one of the "gift boxes," you'll see it next time

The quilted gifts were inspired by my lovely quilt from Louise. She hand quilted leaves on that quilt, and I love how subtle they are. I don't think you can call the quilt I'm making subtle, but I liked the idea of using the quilting as a shape.

I've also been working on my Etsy shop. I took photos of everything I have left from Pattyfair, edited the photos and compressed them for the web. I did research into shipping and how much I should charge (Thanks Kathy!) and I went to the post office and picked up some envelopes and boxes. Then I realized that I should probably open a separate bank account for this. Not because I think I am going to make a ton of money, but because I would prefer to only spend on this venture what I profit from it, and that won't happen if I am using our family account. Also, my preference would be to use PayPal for payment and you can only have one PayPal account per checking account. Our current PayPal account uses Charlie's email and what a pain that would be! I can't get to the bank to do that until next week, so I won't meet my goal of getting my Etsy shop running this weekend. *sigh*

Etsy is addictive. I just popped it open and found three things on the front page to look at! I guess I should get back to work...I should be working on my homework, my quilt, or chasing Jaxon away from the pets. Poor Samantha!

Still Christmas?

I've started my Winter Four Seasons Quilt Swap Quilt. I have high hopes this time that I will hear from either my swap-ee or swap-er.

This quilt needs to be in the mail by January 30. Although the deadline is well after Christmas, I am going with a festive scene. Can you guess what it is?


So far I have used only fabrics from my stash. No purchases necessary! I have fabric for the backing, but I am not sure what I will use for the binding. I wish I had more of the candy stripe!

Friday was an exciting day: my order came from Fat Quarter Shop! Now before you reprimand me on spending willy nilly on fabric, this purchase is a Christmas present from my sister and her family. And I only went 25 cents over my gift certificate. Not bad!

My original order included two yards of clearance fabric (from the Moda Blossom line). I got a call from Kimberly at the store -- the Blossom fabrics are out of stock, but she was willing to send me two yards of any other fabric for the clearance price. Woo Hoo! That's good customer service.

So here is my order:

Two patterns from Pieces from my Heart (Rick Rack and Abby's Room); a Fat Quarter Bundle of Prints Charming's Two Young Street; two yards of Michael Miller's Retro Lolli Dot (my replacement fabric); and a yard of Michael Miller's Sea Monkeys

Now I must get sewing, but tomorrow it is back to work and I am woefully behind. *sigh* Winter Break seems shorter every year!

Decisions, decisions...

I got a couple of fabric-related gifts for Christmas, and I am trying to decide what to do with them.

These are teatowels from my SIL, but they're too pretty to use as towels.

Maybe two fabulous bags??

And this is a length of silk (about half a yard of 60" fabric) that my sister brought back for me from Lyon, France! Tres Chic!

I hate to cut this...maybe I will back it and use it as a wrap or full scarf.

In other news, I've been trying to get the house back in order before school starts. I put the last of the Christmas stuff away last night; now I have to get our regular decor back in place.

I've also been trying to catch up on my blog reading (my Google Reader is quite bogged down!). I'm behind on commenting, so to all my blog friends: I'm thinking about you and inspired by your Christmas creations!

Finally, I whipped up this skirt, and I am super happy. I've been looking for a jersey knit skirt that could be worn casually with leggings or dressed up with heels. I had no luck -- I even ventured in to the Junior section of Macy's for about five minutes before I was overcome with sensory overload.

This one was really easy to make, and with a nice turtleneck you'll never know it is a drawstring closure.

Sewing the skirt was much easier than getting this picture. Jaxon was ready for a snack. This is me trying to convince him that the grapes would be better than the piece of chocolate behind my back.

While making this skirt I got to use the automatic buttonhole foot for my sewing machine. So much fun! I am going to make more of these. In fact, after I completed this one I was daydreaming about the other colors (periwinkle! coffee! deep red!) of Ponte Roma they had at the fabric store. After all, it's on sale for 50% off and I need less than two yards. But then I thought that is not the fiscally responsible way to start the new year.

So now I am feeling proud and smug of my good money spending choice. Maybe I should celebrate by buying myself something...

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2008.

I am sad to see 2007 go, it was a good year...but I feel great anticipation for good things this year.

I've tried to start the year well, by making some things. As we approach the beginning of the quarter I can feel my sewing time slipping away. *sigh* School is not back in session yet, and I already feel behind.

Now that Jaxon has graduated to the Toddlers room at daycare, he needs a couple of big boy items to take to school.

Jaxon gets to sit at the table now when he eats instead of at a portable high chair. He can take his lunch in his new cowboy lunch sack. The cowboy fabric was left from one of the bags I made his teachers, and the sack is lined in red with iron on vinyl for durability.

I modified a pattern from "Sewing Packs, Pouches, Seats & Sacks," a book I picked up at the library.

Also, Jax now naps on a cot at school. No more crib! His teacher requests that we bring a blanket and small pillow for nap time. We have a blanket I got last year at a Christmas sale that is really cute and practical for school. It's blue fleece with big graphic robots. I made a fleece pillow to match. This is my first machine applique, and I probably shouldn't have chosen fleece. Much too stretchy!

Let's pretend Mr. Robot is supposed to be funky and not wonky. Domo Arigato.

And finally, after dinner tonight Jaxon got a little treat of ice cream. I think he likes the new year!

Joy to the World...

...the countertops have come!

You might remember that we ripped out our kitchen way back in June. The week before Christmas our countertops were installed. And then a true Christmas miracle occured...our kitchen sink arrived four days early. Charlie stayed up until 4 a.m. Christmas Eve to install the sink and hook up the dishwasher. No more washing dishes in the bathtub!

Getting closer!

We had a merry holiday week with lots of family, friends, and food. I finished our stockings:


And a bag for my sister:


And finally, the picture from our Christmas card:


Wishing you a happy holiday season!

Deny Deny Deny

When someone asks you if you can sew your response should be an emphatic "No!" A woman I work with asked me that very question a few weeks ago. Her mother-in-law has reduced feeling in her hands and often burns herself on the handles of her pots and pans. She bought covers but they slip off too easily.

"That will be easy, right? You just have to sew a pocket?" Right.

The whole time I was finishing these up this week, I kept thinking, "I'm making something for someone else's mother-in-law and I haven't finished something for MY mother-in-law!"

*sigh*

Progress was made, though. Warning -- some bad flash photography ahead. Colors are not as they appear in real life!

The pot and pan handle covers:

I bound the bottom in ribbon and added a tab with velcro so she can tighten them as needed.

The three remaining bags for Jaxon's teachers (you can see bag #4 in the previous post):

From left to right: crayon drawings with red corduroy, flames with black twill, my favorite "bubbles" fabric with tan linen

And last night I finished this gift:


This is a pattern from Lotta Jansdotter's book "Simple Sewing." This went together a lot faster than the book said it would until I got to the top stitching. Apparently my machine didn't like all that denim. My last heavy duty needle broke trying to go over the front pocket. If I make this again (and I want one just like this one) I would leave the turning hole in the bottom of the lining and avoid the topstitching all together. Otherwise I love it. My variations include longer and wider handles and lining the pockets with my bright fabric. I hope the recipient likes it!

I have two more bags, a pillow for Jaxon to take to school and our stockings (WHAT?!?!) left to make. Before Monday. And clean the house before our guests arrive. SHEW!

Finally, look at this score! A co-worker just came back from Hawaii, and promised me some fabric for helping her with a project. She was much too generous! My favorite is the kid print -- wood paneled station wagons with monster truck wheels! So cute!

...or not quite recovered!

So I thought things were getting better after Jaxon's run in with a stomach bug, but I was wrong...Charlie and I BOTH got it. And poor Charlie had to suffer through on his birthday!

It seems we have all made it over the worst of it, but now I am a bit behind on my holiday preparations. I'm trying to stay in the "oh, well" mindset and not stress too much, but there is a lot I would like to get done, including Christmas cards and some baking along with my sewing projects. We'll see.

Here is what I have completed since I last posted:

The patchwork scarf is complete. It looks really good with my coat, too bad it isn't for me!

This bag (I haven't finished the lining) was meant for my grandma but it is much too big. I think I need to go back to the drawing board.

This is one of four bags I need to make for Jaxon's teachers. I know, what am I thinking?!?! Three to go, and I need to have them done by Wednesday. I do like the cowboys with the denim.

And while I was sick I went a little crazy with the furry trees. They are just so cute!

And this is what it looks like out our front windows today. Unfortunately it's not going to stay like this. It is supposed to warm up just enough for it to rain, and then freeze. *sigh*

And finally I leave you with some snapshots of Jaxon for possible Christmas cards (I know, I need to decide soon!!).