St. Patti's Day

Oh, St.Patrick's Day is over. It was really a breeze compared with last year (when I had to take the boys with us to all 4 shows...and I was 8 months pregnant). This year my Mom came over to help AND Tony got off of work early. So much easier.

The only part that wasn't easier involved new costumes. I think in an effort to make them less expensive {appreciated}, the costumes came cut out - all ready to sew together {not appreciated}. I'm sure that a couple of years from now (if they're still dancing), we'll be buying a solo costume for the price of a small car and wishing I could sew it myself.

I know what you're thinking. Annalia, you love sewing. I love joyful, fun, pretty sewing. I don't love mandatory, purple, soul-sucking sewing. It's different somehow. Regardless, it's over, and I'm piecing a couple of quilts to cleanse my pallet.


The girls bedecked in new costumes.

Everyone dancing the Circle Reel.



Sofia in Host of Figures.

Dedicated Space

What was the funnest thing we did at Sarah's this past weekend? ...cleaning her sewing room, of course. We dismantled the barricade, and now it's ready for crafting of whatever variety she should choose.


My vote is for the braided rug. I can't wait to see the finished product (as I've been wanting to make one of these myself).

Can you find the essential crafting ingredient in the picture below?


Oh ya - we're sewin'!

They're Sew Cute!

Delivering these....



...and attending the party of the century (I hope my girls aren't developing unrealistic party expectations) were our main excuses for driving down to see the Kangs, but there was some other fun to be had too.

4H fun. I {heart} 4H. Last year the girls all went to two 4H sewing camps (their moms are over-enthusiastic about sewing), run by numerous sweet volunteers. If you want to go this year, call Barbara Gross (360)871-5039 (or e-mail her @ nanagross@msn.com). There's a camp in Silverdale mid-July and one in Port Orchard at the beginning of August. Ages 8-18. Last year it cost $30 - for the whole week! Like I said, we {love} sewing camp!



They're developing new skillz...self-esteem....so much self esteem that they might talk a little smack..."Ha! Your mom doesn't know what a French seam is!"

The Perks

Tony is back and sleeping off the jet lag. (Very good. It gives me time to clean. Maybe he didn't notice it all on his way in?) He managed to beat us home, because (Suprise! Surprise!) I didn't leave Portland at 6AM....it was more like 9AM. I blame it on daylight savings time.

As is was, Tony had plenty of time to stage all of the lovelies he brought home from Korea in the living room...and still take an undisturbed nap before the rowdies came home.

There were dresses for the girls (complete with fans and headbands), rubber band guns for the boys, and chocolate for the Mom. Everyone was thrilled.


I'm glad my Honey is home. He was pretty braggy about all of the yummy Korean food he was eating. Little did he suspect, we were in on the action. My niece made us all sorts of yumminess while we were visiting.


As Tony would say, "Now who is vacationing without whom?"

...and, during his layover in Japan,...


...he bought our favorite little mermaid - Ponyo! (...and replaced Sofi's long-lost Pichu. What's that saying about the squeaky wheel....?)

Oh, Help.

I'm in Portland, visiting my sister, and my husband just e-mailed to let me know that he's coming home from Korea TOMORROW instead of Friday. Help. I didn't even do the dishes before I left.

You win some, you lose some.

This little stuffie started out with such promise.


Then I got a little crazy and tried to give it wings.


The wings look somewhat battish...and one is WAY smaller than the other. I still like it, but I feel a little twinge of sadness whenever I see it. It feels like failure.

On a happier note, I finished my Super Jane Quilt. So happy with it. 39 x 43 Baby-sized.


Sarah, I did the quilting in gray. After your picnic quilt, I really like a gray with brightish pastels. It's just an all-over, loopy pattern.


There was a lot of drama over the binding. I originally thought red (there's just a bit of red in the quilt), but then decided yellow was safer...and it would have been, had there been any un-hideous yellows at Joanns. So, I went out on a limb and got the red.

I don't normally pre-wash any of my quilting fabric. It makes it bunch up and look all vintagey when you wash and dry the finished quilt, but I thought...red fabric...of dubious origins (Jo's)...mixed with my quilt that I love. I would have cried if it bled, so I did prewashed the binding.


Why did I call it Super Jane? The front is from just one Nicey Jane (by Heather Bailey) charm pack ($8.50) and the back is a Moda fabric (I bought on sale for $4) called Sweet Baby Jane. So, it's Janes all around...and it turned out super, if I do say so myself.

Shroomy

Oh, I'm finishing a quilt that has been hanging out in my room for a while. It is o-so-gorgeous. I was thinking about giving it as a special baby gift, but I don't know if I can part with it. My baby is still special, right?


I got some fabric in the mail. I say that as if I had nothing to do with it. They just randomly mail it out, and I got lucky. Wouldn't that be nice....

But no - I ordered it. It might be a little whimsical for some people, but I think it could be highly adorable, watered down with some less pictoral prints. Besides, I have a thing for mushrooms. (Not in an addictive, dangerous, fleeing responsibility kind of way....in an "Oh, aren't they cute!" way.)


Say it. "Oh, aren't they cute!"


And hedgehogs are cute too. Don't deny it.