{this moment}

Inspired by the lovely Friday posts of Amanda Blake Soule @ Soulemama:

" A friday ritual. A single photo-no words-capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extrodinary moment. A moment I wasnt to pause, savor and remember...."

Full Steam Ahead!

Holy cow it's been a long time since I've blogged! I've had a long list to get my Etsy shop in order and this needed to get checked off! Just because I haven't been on, doesn't mean I haven't been busy!

Halloween is a really big deal centering around my sewing room. Four costumes that are mama-made and are warm enough for our Alaskan Halloween is a tall order.

I've been busy in the shop as well. My poor machine has gotten lots of use lately churning out covers, woolies and nursing pads galore! I've been featured in a bunch of treasuries as well which is totally awesome.

This weekend I'm focusing my sewing on a charity cause. Superstorm Sandy has done some terrible damage to my native New York. I'll be sewing up fleece socks & mittens to send back east to be handed out to those who need them. I'm hoping to have a FRB STUFFED by Monday!

Now time to go sew :)

Yum Yum in her Tum Tum

A little off topic from my usual crafting posts, but something that is near and dear to me just the same....


Anyone that knows me knows that I am big into breastfeeding. I just feel that it is what babies should be fed, otherwise our bodies wouldn't make it. My babies were both exclusively breastfed through infancy and Donovan is still nursing at 14 months old! I'm so happy that we can share that special bond for just a little bit longer.

I have a friend of sorts that is having a very hard time trying to keep up with her babies breastfeeding needs. "Little Baby A" has some metabolic issues and health concerns that I am a little foggy about, but don't want to prod too much. I have just started pumping for her since Donovan doesn't nurse like he used to and I was always such a great producer. 


I am hoping by pumping once a day I can get about 10+ ounces, which seems to be my average every time I pump. I am sure there will be days when I forget or just can't, but I am hopeful that there will be days when I can pump more. 


I know "Little Baby A's" mama worries about not having enough milk for her and that is a worry that no mama should have to think about! I was lucky enough to ease right into breastfeeding both boys with no issues. No latch problems. No supply problems. NOTHING. I also know how lucky I was to have it just "work". I am hoping to make some other babies tummies as full as my babies tummies always were :)


For more info about milk sharing, please check out Human Milk 4 Human Babies .

Black Friday,Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday & the Missing Day Inbetween

   So today while working on a custom order, I was thinking that I need to start some kind of "post-holiday" Sunday shopping event. Spend Your Money Sunday? I don't know, something along those lines. I am all for supporting small local business and making do with what you can, but I sometimes think this whole holiday shopping thing is getting a little out of hand. 
  I will be hitting up some local craft fairs and talented local folks for the majority of my gifting. My kids always enjoyed a local toy store called Reindeer Pause, so I will be heading that way for some quality toys. My husband on the other hand will be frequenting Wal-mart *sigh* hoping to get as much as humanly possible for as little as humanly possible. We just aren't on the same page. We never have been when it comes to things like this. And that's okay. It's not the end of the world. My kids will get thoughtfully crafted toys and mass produced crap. It's just the way it goes and they will be fine.
  On a less "soap-boxy" note, I have added a super cute pair of fleece longies to the shop. I wish I made them bigger since this was the last little scrap of my houndstooth and I really wanted them to fit the boys once I started working on them. I love them.

Well here's to a happy holiday and enjoying the days with those that make the holidays all worth it!

Black Friday Codes

After some humming and hawing I thought to have a "pick your sale" on Black Friday at the lounge. I figured it would give you the most savings without going so low that I am sewing for free :) You can either...

use code GOBBLEGOBBLE for 25%off your total order OR
use code SHIPFORFREE for free shipping

Crazy right? Codes will be good through cyber Monday. You can combine this with the $10 gift card if you are the winner for some pretty sweet deals!

Happy shopping :)

Giveaway Time and Black Friday Insanity!

 So I've been super busy getting the shop totally stocked up for the black friday/cyber monday rush. Nothing like wating until the last minute! I have tons of diapers, soakers, woolies and nursing goodies lined up, now to finish listing them all. It seems that's where I drop the ball. I think it has to do with taking the pics and uploading them all. I understand natural daylight is best, but really, at subzero temps, I'm just not feeling it.

I am also offering a giveaway to help you get a jump start on your shopping and keep your wallet a little fatter. Just like the lounge on facebook and you will be entered to win a $10 gift certificate. That's it. Easy peasy and oh so cheesy. Giveaway closes on November 27th so get those enteries in!

Keep an eye out for my Black Friday deals. They will be posted on facebook, my shop announcement and on here too!

Here's the newest additions to the shop:

I've Been a Busy Beaver!

 So although no one has heard from me, I promise I'm still alive and fine :) I've been sewing up a storm in what started as "Santa's Workshop" and is now "Santa's SLAVEshop". I got signed on for a few commissioned pieces for my husbands job, 2+ craftfairs, 2 knit Peruvian Inca hats and a few others. Not to mention throwing Halloween and 4 homemade costumes into the mix. My poor sewing machine was down for the count after that one and had to go in to be tuned up.

I have been whipping up diapers like no ones business, both for my shop and for my boys. Excuse the less than stellar pics, it was already like 2am.

 We also have been playing outside in out mounds of snow :) Nothing like getting the kids excited to shovel, like it's something fun.

Time to get back to the sewing machine and get those projects moving along! Enjoy your Saturday everyone!

Why hello Again!

It's me, Michelle. I am sure that it's been so long that you may not even remember me! My apologies for being gone for so long, life has been pretty hectic. This spring we took a gamble and moved 500 miles away and so far, I LOVE IT! Like most families these days, money is tight, but we do the best we can with what we have. I have been busy working on stocking my etsy shop and hope to come up with a schedule of some sort shortly. For now I'll share a few recent projects, both for the shop and for the family :)

L Pond Friends Fitted Diaper

L Cluck Cluck Chickens Fitted Diaper

Entomology Nursing Pads

Haha...it totally looks like I'm shamelessly plugging my shop, but I can't find any pics of my personal projects. I have a pair of very sweet Sheepy Pants I made for Sullivan. But being a stubborn 2 year old, he refuses to wear them. I'm working on another pair of Sheepy Pants for Donovan using just plain ol' Patons, and I gotta say, I love it. It feels like it will wear really well for a rough and tumble crawler. I also did an Everyday Hoodie for Donovan and I'm in love. It makes his sweet little face look even sweeter when bundled up in the extra big hood. Perfection!

I had a bit of an issue with my serger, hence the abundance of T&T diapers. I just brought it to get repaired this weekend and was told it would take a few weeks! What! Don't they realize that it actually just an extension of my human self? How am I to manage? It's like thinking I can just get by without limbs. Yeah, some people can, I however am not one of them. I think the look on my face said it all to the repair guy. He didn't look impressed. But, in just a few short weeks, she'll be home back in my sewing space ready to work like a champ :)

Big news....

We yet again are expanding our family.  There is a new addition of the four legged kind and her name is Libby Lou. 

We have been talking about getting a dog for a long time, but held off until we found "the one".   She's a wonderful companion to the family and an excellent watch dog.  If you look closely you will see her entire back end is shaved.  She recently had surgery to repair a broken hip given to her by her previous owner.  In a few weeks she'll be good as new!

I have been crafting like a mad woman stocking my etsy shop and preparing for the holidays.  I am a licensed Big Butt Baby Pants seller so those are making up a large portion of my shop.  I love the pattern and the fit is great even over my boys' super fluffy rumps.  I'm also stocking more fleece and wool soakers as those always sell really well.  Here are my newest pants:

I really love the prints and am planning on stocking more boyish and gender neutral items as those are so hard to come by. I hope to also have coordinating booties so that they can become more of a holiday gift for a new or soon to be little babe.  
 



I don't have much to post about at the moment.  I am dealing with a rather painful kidney infection accompanied by a fever of 102.  Doesn't nature know that mom's can't get sick?  I hope to finish a few more pairs of B3Ps shortly and get some pictures up.  I suppose it all depends on how quickly I can kick this infection.  Now I'm off to get some much needed rest!

Why hello blog, how are you? 
It feels like ages since I've been here.  And well, I guess it has.  I have had a good reason and this is it....

This is my Puddleduck.  He was born in late September weighing in at 9lbs and 14oz.  Just about a pound smaller than Stinker.  He's perfect.  What can I say, I'm in love :)

I have been crafting a ton, but haven't been able to post much due to having two little boys under 18months roaming around.  I did get a chance to make their Halloween costumes, my favorite being Stinker's.

He also had a little belt with it, but you know how 1 year olds are, it lasted about 30seconds before it was ripped off and tossed on the floor.  I actually made all the costumes, but the girls made me promise not to post pictures of theirs.  I suppose they are becoming preteens and are much more embarrassed by things than they used to be. 

I have also been making the big butt baby pants using Rae's wonderful pattern.  I'm a licensed seller of them and they will be appearing in my etsy shop shortly.  I love these pants.  They fit so well over a big fluffy cloth diaper bum and are completely gender netural depending on the fabric that you choose.  Here is Puddleduck's thanksgiving outfit made with the pattern and an old onesie that I dyed and appliqued.

They have sizes that range from newborn to 2T.  I'm working on drafting a larger size, say 3T for all those older babes out there that are still in diapers.  Or for those kids like mine, who are still young, but built bigger and therefore wear much larger sizes.  I can't wait to get him into it and I promise to post a much better picture when I do.  For my shop I will be mostly focusing on gender netural or boy patterns since those are terribly underestimated when it comes to crafting and clothing.  I will also be making up some in cozy flannel for PJ's and lounging.  My guys love their flannel ones!  I also have matching booties in most prints to keep them coordinated and cute.

I will be running Black Friday and Cyber Monday specials and will have a special code for even greater discounts for those that stop by here and read my blog.  Keep your eyes peeled!

{this moment}

Inspired by the lovely Friday posts of Amanda Blake Soule @ Soulemama:

" A friday ritual. A single photo-no words-capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extrodinary moment. A moment I wasnt to pause, savor and remember...."

A boy and his serger, it's a beautiful thing

Stinkers new obsession is my vintage Sergemate Companion 5040. He has always had an interest in my sewing stuff, namely thread and fabric, but now he has found a whole new "toy". While I enjoy the fact that he shows an interest in the same things I do, I do not however enjoy his grubby little hands turning all my tension dials. Oh well, it's nothing that can't be fixed or replaced if broken...

For the past 3 days The Yimmy has been out of town visiting his family in beautiful Kenai, Alaska. That has left me and Stinker to our own devices. We took a nice leisurely nap yesterday then woke up and had a picnic dinner in the park. Lots of sunshine and smiles. Stinker found a little puddle to stomp in. We listened to a live jazz band and ended with some sweet homemade ice cream.

I haven't gotten much sewing done lately. Stinker has kept me very busy. It doesn't help that it's been so hot. I have tons of ideas swimming around in my head, now just to find the time!

Enjoy a beautiful Sunday everybody!

{this moment}

Inspired by the lovely Friday posts of Amanda Blake Soule @ Soulemama....

"A Friday ritual. A single photo-no words- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extrodinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember..."

I think I have sewing ADD

Remember that maternity top I was talking about? The one from that yummy vintage sheet? Well I cut it out and then, oh wait, no and then. It's cut out and that's where it stopped. Stinker woke me up at 4am yesteday morning and screamed his little head off. I was hoping to get to it yesterday, but with his molars coming in, I'm lucky to still have any shred of sanity. I have every intention of working on it today though :)

Update: Now that the day has progressed, one would think that I would have at least sewn up something on my shirt, right? No. That would be the logical thing to do. What did I do instead? Decided that I NEEDED to refashion a Liz Claiborne skirt that was passed down to me from The Yimmy's Aunt's mother. FYI she's about 90, so it wasn't exactly in style. I've only chopped up the top half to make room for my protruding belly, so I don't have much to show for it...yet. But here is a pic showing how colorful and fantastic the fabric is:

It's so silky and light, I wish I already finished it since it is 80+F here!

Enjoy your Wednesday :)
Peace

Michelle

Sweet little baby gowns

I realized a few days back that this new "replacement" baby has not had any mama-made goodness yet. Stinker had a closet full of clothes by this point in utero, and this little one didn't even have a burp cloth. Well that had to change!

I found a cute women's knit nightgown for 99cents at my favorite place....wait for it....wait for it....Value Village. It had this adorable little farm design and was nice and thick. I used a 1992 OOP McCalls's 6136 and made a sweet little baby gown.

Please ignore the wrinkles, I'm a lazy ass today

Close up of the fabric. The signs say "Welcome to Wisconsin, America's Dairyland". Forget the fact that we live in Alaska and have never even been to Wisconsin.

I went with an elastic casing at the bottom to avoid any strangled baby ribbon issues. I think it is just adorable. So adorable in fact that I made another version this morning.

Now please ignore the wrinkles and the crappy lighting, we've had rain non-stop. Rainy weather=crappy pictures

Close up of the fabric. I says "I LOVE then there are pictures of carrots. Too cute.

I used a piece of thrifted knit and the ribbing off of one of my stepdaughter's old shirts. I have done another elastic casing, though it doesn't show it in the picture. I think I may do a little bunny applique in the ribbing just to help break up the whiteness.

It's no couture gown, but I'm pretty happy with how quick and easy they were. Now all we need is the baby to fill them out :)

Back in the saddle again!

Why hello readers...

So long time no post huh? I've been uber busy, mostly with growing a new little baby in my ever expanding giant uterus! I'm due 10/4/2010, but will be going in for another c-section (here is where I am making a sad weepy face) about a week sooner. We do not know what we are having, so I've been busy making little gender neutral outfits:)

Stinker turned 1 in May, a day after The Yimmy was hospitalized for severe high blood pressure and some heart issues. They put in an arterial catheter and drained some blood, put him on some super strong meds, and now he is better than before! It was a pretty scary situation for us though, and I am happy we are through it for now.

My not so convincing version of the Betty Crocker "Barn" cake

We recently bought a secondhand 5th wheel camper and took all the kids camping for a weekend. It was great. Stinker loves the outdoors and was such a little man helping daddy with the campsite. We got to visit some great friends who came camping with us. They brought along the youngest little camper, 5 day old Madelynn! She was just way too cute!










I've been working on tons of refashions, I just need a minute to take some quality pictures so I can show them off. I have gotten to go thrifting twice a week since I ride my sweet retro style Huffy there and no longer feel guilty about wasting gas to inturn waste money :) I plan on posting some of my recent thrift store scores along with some awesome garage sale finds as soon as I have a free minute.

I really look foward to starting a regular posting schedule of sorts and talking about sewing, needlework and everything else that's super :) See you next time

Peace

~Michelle

New Years Resolutions...

Since it's the start of a new year, I am putting in writing my goals for 2010. I figure if they are in writing, they are less likely to be forgotten and ergo, more likely to actually get done!

So here it goes folks.....

1. Be more patient with my kids. I love them more than life itself, but staying home 24/7 and doing it all, at least that's how it feels, is taxing and definately makes you want to rip your hair out at times. So this year I'm going to just relax. Beathe in, then out, in, then, out......

2. Keep up on the blog more frequently and frankly, just better. There is no excuse for my utter laziness at times.

3. Make more projects for me. I know it sounds selfish, but pretty much everything I make is for the house and kids, so I want a little for just me this year. Selfish or not, it's gonna happen.

4. Cook more. I love to cook, but sometimes I get into a rut. I want to make more with less. Less additives, less salt (The Yimmy has high blood pressure), less crap. More love, more vegetables, more local!

So here's a happy new year wish to all of you. Let 2010 begin!

So things here have not gone nearly as smooth as I had hoped. I had planned on doing a giveaway a week until Christmas, but due to some unforseeable events, that didn't exactly pan out and for that I am sorry.

It seems that things are beginning to settle down around here (thankfully) and I look foward to the new year bringing some much needed new time. I will resume the giveaways here shortly, however it is obviously not for the holidays (although I suppose you could stash it away for
X-MAS 2010!)

Wishing you all a Happy, Safe and Prosperous New Year. Happy Crafting!

shame on me

So first off, a great big sorry to everyone for being super super super late on my giveaways. Lets just say that I cut it pretty darn close on our Halloween celebrations! Here's a pic of everyone nearly dressed and ready to go to the carnival.

Please ignore the fact that I look as though I had totally given up on myself-it was a long day and carrying around a 25 pound baby for like 4 hours isn't easy!

We don't really do trick or treating here, the houses are too spread out and it's pretty cold so we go up to the University and they do trick or treating in the dormitories. They also run a cute little indoor carnival and a haunted house. Best of all, it's free!

I promise to have some giveaways posted on Sunday. There will be more than one, so when you leave a comment, just let me know which ones you'd like to be entered for. I look foward to revealing some homemade goodies to you folks this weekend!

I hope everyone had a terribly fun, super safe, and a tiny bit spooky Halloween!