It Was a Good Idea

Oh, but how the execution sucked. This is why I don't make bags and things with lots of different, somewhat intricate ways of manufacture. Or maybe it is why I'm not one to sew anything but quilts.

I had this grand idea to make a special travel colouring book for the Monster for our upcoming Christmas vacation. Something new for the plane ride and something to keep markers contained.


It started with an idea, a pattern drafted, and some delicious fabrics. Somewhere between my brain and the sewing machine something went screwy. It looks great, but the markers fall out, it is too big for the chosen book, and it doesn't close tight enough to keep everything contained. Laying open and flat it is handy, but that's about it.

It's worth another shot, but not this week. We leave on Sunday and I have way too much to do. I think we'll just be putting the markers in a ziploc and the paper in the little backpack I bought her.

I'll Show You

I've been kicked out of the house a lot lately. No, Hubby and I are not fighting. Sure, we're stressed with the reno, but we're not fighting. It's just that I need to get one or both of the girls out of the house while he does messy or noisy work. There have been a lot of visits to friends and prep for our Christmas trip, but sometimes none of that can be done. What's a girl to do? Fabric shop, of course!

In total I went to four different local stores:

Along Came Quilting

My Sewing Room

Out of Hand

Traditional Pastimes

As you can see, I bought a wide variety of fabrics. Oh, and this isn't all of them. I saved some special ones from the photo because they are to be made into a quilt for new baby for someone who reads here. Generally, it was simply stash enhancement. A few pieces were for one quilt I have brewing in the back of my head.

It was good to go to a number of stores in a short period of time. We often get used to going to the same one or two places. Once I got out and about (yes, I am Canadian) I could see some big differences in the fabric selection. Hmm, maybe that isn't such a good thing when your money is supposed to be directed towards renos.

It wasn't all brand new fabric either. A few weeks back I swapped with Jacquie for this great retro fabric. She found it on a bolt and I begged her to swap with me. It is going to find its way on to our dining room wall, and maybe some placemats or an apron.

Speaking of walls, check out the sweet wallpaper we found hidden behind the basement bathroom's walls.

Not much quilty activity lately. Just getting the binding sewn down on this baby quilt. I'm trying to finish off a travel colouring case for The Monster. We have a 4 hour flight next weekend and I'm hoping this new treat will carry us for a bit longer than 5 minutes. Oh, and I started some Christmas baking.

Best get back to my budget spreadsheet. The girls are both sleeping, the dogs are finally outside for a spell, and Hubby is buying lumber to make some stairs. And I'm working on a spreadsheet. Fun times.

Teaching a Girl

What a treat I had yesterday. Hubby's cousin was staying with us for a few days at the end of of her solo vacation. At 11 she was into shopping and babysitting. Thankfully she got her shopping out of the way with the other cousins. So while my girls were napping yesterday we decided to make her a pillowcase to take home. She knew how to sew, in general terms. I knew how to make a pillowcase, in general terms.

I did have a pillow pattern to start from. First she scavanged my stash for her favourites. She definitely has a good eye. She picked the floral and the stripe separately and they aren't even from the same line. When there wasn't enough of the floral according to the pattern, we adapted, with happy results.

Only once before have I sewn with someone with little sewing experience. You really forget how many of the terms you take for granted. Simple things like pressure foot or needle down. But once we got that sorted out, she did a great job - sewing the whole thing by herself.

And now I have some experience with pillowcases so I can get one together for the Monster.

New Contest

Generally I don't like to get preachy. I work in the environmental field and I am very bad at giving unsolicited advice, bringing on lectures about climate change quite easily. But I came across a really interested contest on Crafting A Green World and I just have to share it.

Climate change is a big deal, a really freakin' big deal. Don't buy the science? Okay, don't, but what if it's true? Isn't it worth trying, just in case it is true? I know that most of you out there have kids or grandkids, do something for them. We all know the spiel about saving energy, driving less, buy local, and on and on. And I think most of us are already making daily changes, big and small. But here is a way to express your craft and get the word out.

Bill McKibben, a prolific author and environmentalist has started a new organization to incite action on climate change. As part of their launch they are hosting a contest with Craftster. Create a project or a t-shirt design to best express the 350 message. That is - the importance of reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million. Above this number - we are already well above it - and we increase the impacts and severity of those impacts of climate change. More frequent and more severe weather, loss of habitat, rising sea levels, changes in growing seasons, migration of disease, health care cost increases, and loss of species diversity.

So, get your craft on and enter the contest. It will get you thinking about it, at the very least, while playing with our true loves of fabric, beads, thread, paint, and paper.