phase 2 of costumes

The more I work on these costumes the more I'm irritated that I didn't clean out my studio last year. "Something always gets in the way" - well, I always let things get in the way...something always becomes more important. I used the dining table, the ironing board AND the the side-buffet table this weekend as my work space for a few costumes. I started by laying out pieces for the King, Queen & Prince as well as the pieces for my own daughters. I needed to priorities my plan of attack by those that can be done quicker - it was friday, which is a short day for the girls and a long violin/piano day for me.
Breana's Fairy costume looks simple, seems easy - yet I get intimidated by cutting fabric, therefore, get easily frightened by the whole procedure. We all know, no cuttey the fabric, no doey the project!

So I decided to start with the Royal Sashes. I found this gorgeous royal blue & gold brocade fabric the week before. I divided the fabric into threes, took a deep breath, grabbed a hold of the scissors and made the first snip. Am I the only one who gets nervous of cutting fabric? Once started, though, the rest started to flow naturally. I pleated the fabric and started sewing sequins - this is in my blood. My late-Grandmother Q made gorgeous wedding gowns that she hand beaded herself - they weighed a 'ton' and were breathtaking.

Thank goodness it's a stage performance so I'm able to baste the fabric and sew the sequins without worrying about details like the color of the thread. Sewing moved faster due to that.

By the end of the weekend, I had 2 1/2 sashes complete with their royal sparkly glory!

2 1/2 down, dare I look at my list?

checkered patterns

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My sister's Mother-in-Law called her after raiding a yard sale - excuse me, let me be more specific, 'a yarn sale' yard sale - that we had to go see! Just had to! We didn't have the exact address but somehow our noses knew the way. The front of the house was decieving with chairs & books and odds & ends but we were given heads up that the goods were in the back.

The Yarn Sale was in a 2 room studio that was packed from floor-to-ceiling (in drawers, under tables, behind doors, in boxes) of stacks&stacks&stacks with skeins&skeins&skeins of yarn. I walked out with 2 bags jam-packed with skeins & skeins of yarn & needles. I coveted my treasures. No project was good enough for them.

It's taken some time but I'm finally 'over' hoarding the yarn. I'm sharing the wealth now.

However, I was finding myself 'looking' for certain pieces as I was getting dressed and realized that I didn't have any of my own knitted creations - not a single scarf.

This piece is one that I made specifically for myself. It's made from a wonderful orange (color: 543 Porphyr, dye lot: 4641 to be more specific) 100 % wool Britania, Shetland Type Yarn.

My pattern is co 25 stitches, knit 5, purl 5 for 5 rows, alternating the pattern every 5 rows - similar to this. I didn't knit it too long. Right now, I prefer much shorter scarves - almost neck warmers - where I tie it once or wrap it once and it's all there right under my neck.

creative minds

In our front room there is a "game table" used for games & puzzles. These games or puzzles can be left there undisturbed until a new game is brought out or the puzzle is completed. Being separate from our dining table it allows play & leisure time to occur when one has time on their hands or when one is passing by. I often switch the games out while the girls are at school and when they're home I find them tinkering around the table exploring the possibilites on their own. A few weeks ago it was 'Scrabble', last week it was 'Backgammon', this week it's 'Boggle' - next week? Hmmm, it's between 'Trivial Pursuit - the 20th Anniversary Edition' or 'Dominos'...you'll have to visit to see which!



Because my studio is in disarry (ugh), my girls & I must bring the creative necessities into the house and use that table in the front room.


'Boggle' was put aside and bowls of buttons were set out.
When she had a moment to spare, Breana made herself a necklace.

We dubbed this the 'MunkiMunki' necklace. My friend, Christie, let me gobble up handfuls of buttons she & her sister used for their 'MunkiMunki' kid's clothing line. (If Breana could still fit into those 'MunkiMunki' dresses & jackets, she'd match perfectly!)

The buttons have since been moved back to the studio and 'Boggle' resumed its place. This morning I found Kaitlin stopping to find some words while she was enroute to feed Tiger. She might have been distracted for a little bit, but I don't mind. I like this little table that we have to walk by to get from one end of the house to the other. If you stop and linger over it for awhile that's fine - it's the spot where you're reminded to take a deep breath & enjoy.

too sweet for words

My friend, Christie, was generous with her MunkiMunki fabric that her sister designed. I have a stash of great prints. I even have a box of MunkiMunki dresses & jackets that my daughters have outgrown that I cannot give away! So what happens when I get new fabric?
Yes, it first becomes a tablecloth so that I can touch it & oogle it! It wasn't big enough for our dining table but perfect for the buffet.

Because we have a Vanagon we've thought of making 2 pillow cases for camping. I might just be so uncreative as cut it into 2 pieces and use the fabric as 2 tablecloths for dining while camping.

Would look too cute, huh?!

What have I been up to?!

Now that my family blog is launched and has found its rhythmn, I need to pick this blog back up and start documenting my crafts.
I don't have pictures of the Christmas knitting I did - neck warmers, wrist warmers, bags, hats, scarves...but boy did I knit like crazy! I started in the summer. I was determined to get to the bottom of my knitting basket (well, at least one of them!) by the new year.
My girls & I also made a lot of book markers with wire & beads...again completely determined to use all my beads and ribbons and wires and baubles and charms, etc...
From here on out, I will make a point to take pictures of the creations that my girls & I create.

These were made in 1 night each and sold in a Classroom fundaiser. My first hat - I'm hooked! Wished I looked good in hats, though...my girls do, but how many hats does one need?