First Blanket almost Done!

I have all 4 sides sewed and the solid blue side is oh-so snuggly and warm! The rainbow trim is double-seamed. I have one side of that done, and will finish it tomorrow night. I think this toddler blanket is too cute for words.

I have the fabric washed and dried for 2 more blankets and will cut it tomorrow. We had to cut the material on the living room floor -- there was no other place with enough room to spread the fabric out.

I am so excited about these blankets for Christmas. If I get really good at this, I may just open up an Etsy shop and make some money off this.

Christmas shopping?...DONE

Believe it or not, I am DONE with Christmas shopping this year. We are really trying to move to an anti-commercial holiday season, and have cut-out sibling gifting this year. We are only doing presents for kids, and my parents. I'm only doing homemade gifts. Hey, I have a Singer and I know how to use it!

Above are SOME of the fleece fabrics I got today for my blankets. I'll be honest, the pink argyle&stripes are MY blanket. (1) Because every girl needs more pink in her life and (2) Because I needed a "test" blanket. These are super-simple blankets. Each has a matching second fabric. The two fabrics are cut out (toddler size and adult throw), and then sewn together on the 4 edges of the rectangle. Then, coordinating satin blanket binding is sewn on the 4 edges. Ta-Da!! Machine-washable double thickness fleece love done!
I even found rainbow binding for the baby blankets. SEW CUTE!

I'll post pictures when I start putting them together. Oh, and because I had coupons and purchased today when blizzard no-pill fleece was 1/2 off, I save a whopping $150 off my purchase!!!!!!!!!!! you gotta love that!

Bilzzard Fleece & HIV

I know, weird title today. But it's the two topics I'm thinking about right now, so it made sense to me.

Kate Schutz has me thinking about HIV+ babies and kids. She got me started reading on an addictive blog by a mom of 11 kids, 2 HIV+ ETH babies. The blog is here: Full House Full Hearts Full Hands. Read it, it's superbly amazing!! Basically this woman just opened up her heart and this is where her and her husband landed. She is now an advocate for HIV+ and transracial adoption and works at an adoption agency. Click here to learn more about HIV+ adoption.

For those who don't know, because I see this blog as educational as well as super-fun, HIV is no longer considered a terminal disease. It is chronic and managable. In fact, many babies born to HIV + moms have such low levels in their blood that they only required frequent medical checks, no medications at all. Others require daily medication but suffer no ill side effects. Gone are the days of completely shot immune systems. These kids are living healthy, active, "normal" lives, (whatever that means.) Its really amazing how far medicine has come. And heck, the chances of a "cure" in our lifetimes seems more like a reality every day, so who knows what the future holds.

Since I'm a person with a chronic, non-fatal disease, I think I am uniquely qualified to "get" chronic diseases. As such, I really want to open up my heart and see what happens. Gregg and I have started by "opening up" the conversation. Does this mean we are going to adoption an HIV+ baby/toddler/older child for adoption No. 2? I don't know. It means we are considering it. And I have to say, my heart is really leading me in that direction. In the meantime, it means we are becoming more educated and hopefully, are going to become advocates for HIV+ adoption. Why? Because ALL kids deserve forever families. Period. End of story.

Blizzard Fleece what? Blizzard fleece is just a type of printed fleece fabric. It's great for blankets. I'm looking at blizzard fleece fabrics online because I'm going to enjoy the current sale going on at my local fabric store and get fabrics tonight for the Christmas blankets I'm making. I already called my mom and got the "green light" on a John Deere blanket for dad. I think he's gonna love it! Instead of the uber-expensive Disney licensed fleece ($12.99/year) for Em, I think she's gonna get butterflies or balerinas. She'll still love it. I am looking for dinosaurs for Liv, but my fallback is Pooh. (since it's not disney it's not so expensive.) Most of the Blizzard Fleece is now on sale for $4.99/yard which, with my 10% off coupon, is too good to pass up. (And keep in mind that toddler blankets are about 1/2 the size of adult blankets so it takes almost no material!)

I'll go tonight and will be in fleece heaven at home by 7:30 pm. I think I'm gonna make one for myself as well, considering Lola has appropriated all of my throw blankets in the house. By appropriated, I mean she has taken them, slobbered on them, carries them around like a binky in her mouth, and has chewed holes in them. Nice! so I need my own blanket because I'm not interested in dog slobber while I'm trying to take a nap. Call me crazy, but there it is. I found a gorgous pink & brown argyle and I think I'm gonna pair it with a pink ribbon print on the other side. Who's living room doesn't need more pink? Right??

Don't try this at home kids

So -- being all pleased as a peach with myself for losing weight this year, I wanted/needed to buy a new winter coat.
A BELTED winter coat.
About 6 weeks ago Gregg and I were at H&M, a store I could never shop at before (they don't carry plus sizes.) Mine old winter coat was now 4+ dress sizes too big and about 7+ years old. I tried on several different styles, and decided I really, really wanted a belted coat, because I can finally wear one for the first time evah!!!

The problem was, I was between 2 sizes of coats. So, I got a great idea, I'll buy the smaller size and just loose about 5-10 lbs before it gets really, really cold. Hey, it sounded really smart at the time.

Well, needless to say, this was a supremely stupid idea. Please, don't do this. Don't buy something for the size you think you are going to be, buy something for the size you actually are. Hello??!! So, I think you've guessed by now that today, at 27 degrees, I needed to wear said coat and, no my friends, I have not lost 10 lbs in the past 6 weeks (more like gained 2!) Soooooooooooo, I turned to my beloved Singer Prelude, and ripped off the old double-breasted buttons, moved 1 set over about 2 inches, and re-made my coat. YEAH.

I really love it and it's still a belted coat, just a CUSTOM belted coat now. Thank goodness I didn't get rid of the DVD that came with the machine and I could re-play the section on sewing buttons on the machine! Seriously, you have to change the foot and everything, very complex!

Oh, and there's a random picture of Lola the Wonder Beagle, just because she's so damned cute!!

Nesting doll

Boy oh boy...last week it was 72 on Monday. Today it was 27 while awaiting the train. What a change! The change in temp has also equaled a change in mood for me. I want to nest and embrace my inner domestic goddess. I want to cook and sew (but not really clean. I think that's something else that I'm not currently channelling.)

After doing some prelim work yesterday on home-made holiday presents, I've decided that's what everyone is getting. (sorry for the spoiler Inskeeps. If you read this regularly, be prepared to see your present before Christmas morning.) There were so many gorgeous fleeces at the fabric store yesterday and the majority were 30-50% off. The blizzards were 50% off, so I'm thinking everyone is getting quilted blankets. And hey, who in Indiana couldn't use another blanket?? I found some princess prints for Em, but am on the lookout for either Pooh or dinosaurs for Liv. Em actually made a no-sew tie fleece pillow out of Pooh material in Book Buddies at the library last year, and gave it to "sissy" and Liv sleeps with it every single night. It's so cute. If I could find the same pattern for a snuggly blanket I think she would LOVE it.

I really wanted to stay home today and work on Sam's quilty blanket, but alas, I was responsible and came in. It better warm up, or I'm in danger of loosing focus and ONLY wanting to sew until New Years!

UPDATE-- almost forgot! In the past week, there was a sibling referral and a 6 mos old babe. Today, there was a referral for 2 mos old twin boys to a couple who has been awaiting their sib referral for almost a year. Yeah for the new families!! I still want to see sibling referrals for the Adams and Zubers before years' end!!

Sam's Mom's Design Co.

So, I'm back to sewing. Or rather, preparing for sewing. I have started 2 new projects. I know, I haven't started on the valances for Sam's room. I have to admit that I'm really intimidated by those valances. So, I'm starting on projects that don't intimidate me so much. I cannot really explain it. But anyway...

So, the top shapes are for Emma and Livy's Christmas presents. Shhh, if you see the 2 most beautiful little blond blue eyed girls in Indiana, don't tell them. I'm making tee shirts for the girls this year. Each gets a Sun, Heart, and Tree shirt. I'm using rick-rack to make the "rays" of the sun, and am using ribbon (recycled from the strings to a "fancy" hoodie) to trim the hearts. No trim for the tree, but I cut the shapes using my "monster teeth" sewing shears. I'm going to fuse them onto white toddler tees with my friend, Stitch Witchery, and then sew the edges with an embroidery stitch. I think they will be so cute!!

The red fleece and "racing" checker fabric are for a quilt Gregg wants me to make for Sam. Gregg has many old european car and racing tee shirts that are too old and warn to wear anymore. We are cutting out the logos and I'll sew them together jig-saw quilt style. Then the racing checker will be the front boarder and the red fleece will be the back. I'll post pictures when I've cut out and piece together the tee shirt logos. I think this will be so special for Sam. (1) because it's made from and represents something that is a big part of Gregg's life (2) because it's mostly from recycled material, which is too cool. We'll keep it in Gregg's car as a car-seat snuggly and a blanket for Grandma DeZutti's and Grandma Inskeep's house. The finished quilt will be 1 1/2 yards by 1 1/2 yards ("lap" or "crib" size.)

I'm really excited to see how these projects turn out. I hope to have the quilt finished by Christmas as well, because I want some "Sam" presents under the tree.

My wonderful husband...and the late HS

So Gregg is pretty terrific. Did I even mention this before? Well, he is. Here is one reason why. This week he cleared out part of the basement and changed all the light fixtures and set up my old dining room table to create a sewing area for me. My first project is hemming some curtains ... cannot really mess that up, now can I?

I did get the material for the curtains for Sam's room, but now I'm second thinking the fabric, so I don't know if I'll make those for the nursery or for our room. I just cannot make up my mind. I didn't get the drapery backing, because it goes on sale tomorrow (but the fabric was on-sale and goes off-sale tomorrow) so I have to go back. Maybe something will catch my eye and I'll keep the green for our room (which is now blue but is being painted green.) The fabric I got is a khaki-green w/ a bronze & chocolate floral design. Since the curtains will be double fullness, you won't really see the design, just the colors and I think it will be a nice neutral. I just don't know if it's for the nursery or not. There is a green recliner/rocker in there, and I don't want too much green. Oh gosh, someone needs to make up my mind for me. I didn't want "baby" curtains but we won't always have crib bedding...I need to stop obsessing about this.

Well -- HS news. There is none. Other than the fact they sent us a bill for $2600. But the HS hasn't been sent to AAC Toni, or DCFS. I could just scream. Actually I would feel better if I could cry but for some reason I cannot. Maybe I'll put in a movie tonight that makes me cry and then I'll feel better? Don't know. I'd better stop this post, because I'm just going to talk about the late HS more...

Let it Sew, Let is Sew, Let it Sew

Nope. I'm not ready for Christmas. But I do have a song for almost any/every thought in my head. Seriously, my secretary has to be so sick of it, because I have songs for every one of our files and sing them at her desk. For example, one of the client's names sounds like "Activia" so I sing that jingle for the JamieLeigh Curtis 'yogert-so-you-don't-poop-so-much' commercial.
(I also sing songs into the tape recorder when I'm dicating records to my secretary. Needless to say, Christmas is NOT her favorite time of year, because of me. Geez - -what a loser!)

Okay -- back to the subject at hand. Sewing. (Sew, sew, sew your fabric, gently to make a seam... See I cannot be stopped!)
I am DETERMINED to start sewing this weekend. Seriously. I know I say this alot but I really, truly mean it this time. I finally finished the decals in the nursery - -they look fabulous!!!! So I want to start the curtains next. I have measured, and re-measured, and re-done the math like 60 times. I have emailed Sandi asking all sorts of inane questions. So here is the action plan:

Today -- purchase material & drapery backing
Tomorrow -- have Gregg clear his crap off the dining room table & bring my machine upstairs
Friday -- dork around w/ some old Tee shirts (aka: rags in our house) to make sure I haven't "lost my touch".
Sat & Sun -- complete 1 valance. I will sew the backing and the material together. 1st, and treat it as a single piece of fabric. It should make the seaming much easier. I mean, gosh Meg -- we are talking a 2x fullness straight pocket valance here. It's only slightly harder than a pillowcase. I am being a complete baby about this and need to just do it.

This is perfect, especially because Gregg will be very aggitated during the debates so I'll be at the fabric store...much better for both of us. I'll merely watch the SNL show on Thursday to catch the funny points, because I'm not interested in whatever is going to come out of Herman Monster's mouth tonight.

Okay -- so cue the sappy 70s music & it's "up, up and away-ay-ay in my beautiful, my beautiful sewing basket." Dah, dah di dah...
(told you I was a dork.)

Generational Marriage & Misc Weekend Odds & Ends

FINALLY! This is the desk (that originally matched the dresser) that my grandfather stained/painted for my mother as a child. The dresser was various shades of greens, then blues, and the desk was brown & yellow (paint.) My mom grew up with them, and then I did (and my siblings.) I took the dresser to my 2nd college apt, and bought the desk from my mom in a garage sale after college. I re-finished the desk in 2002. Again, a lot of very brittle wood, and it's pine so very porous. Hence, the 2-toned finish.

I have been trying, since we moved into this house (3 years), to be able to display this piece. It has been in the basement, along with all of our other "life before marriage" furniture that didn't "make the cut." This week, we gave MY couch to my little sister, so the picture-window wall of the living room became bare. We ended up moving the chair & ottoman from our bedroom down for seating, and last night I moved the desk up from the basement, polished it, and made the above arrangements. (ALL by myself, thank you very much!)

I am THRILLED to have both my grandfather's old Royal (where he touch-typed out his sermons) and my laptop in the livingroom. Not only is it lovely to see the old Royal and tribute grandpa in that way, but once we get a mobile modem for my laptop, I'll be able to blog from the living room, not the basement!! Yeah!!

This weekend has been very busy -- but I've gotten a lot done, and it's only 5 on Sunday (did I say only??) No, I have not gotten the sewing machine upstairs yet -- we still need to clear off the dining room table (which in our house is not used for actually eating.) My lama (w/ 1 "l", not the animal w/ 2 "l"s) was in town this weekend for teachings on compassion and I've been at the temple everyday. I got to have a lovely 1-on-1 talk w/ her yesterday about all my frustration over DCFS and the length of time the adoption is taking. She really helped -- teaching me how to make an aspiration for my frustration and anger, and then let it go, focusing on my love and compassion for all. I'm feeling much better about everything. Aside from the spiritual teachings, it was just really great to see her again.

The rest of the "animals on parade" decals were delivered yesterday. If I'm not too tired, I want to try to get those up tonight. I REALLY want to start some sewing next weekend, so I feel I have to finish the decals first, and check that off the list. I have some in the stair hallway that I've been in the "midst of" for almost a week and despirately need to finish. (not "animals on parade" --another design.)

I feel really positive about our homestudy and getting that out to DCFS this week. I also think we are going to see more referrals this week. I'm crossing my fingers for siblings for the Adams & Zubers & everyone else requesting sibs. I think it's absolultely amazing these families have committed to not only bring a child home and love & parent -- but bring more than 1 home at once, and keep a family together. Yeah!!

I hope this week is great for all of us! Hugs to everyone for a good Monday!

Sam's Mom's Design Co.

This post is dedicated to Sandi & Autumn and all the other "crafty beaver" moms out there.

Sandi has convinced me that I can get back into sewing. I used to be quite good (1st place blue ribbons at many a county & state fair in my day.) But I stopped in my 20s, and haven't picked it up since. Once we decided to adopt, I knew I had the time, and finally the dedication, to start some sewing project. Last Christmas, my fabulous husband GREGG (he says I don't use his name enough in posts) got me a new fancy-schmancy Singer, and for my B-Day a fully-stocked sewing box. So I have no excuses left.

I'm bringing up the sewing machine from the basement this week (I know I've said this before, but this time I really mean it). My first project is a pair of valances for the Nursery. I have started a design book ('cause I'm insanely organized) for project ideas, fabrics, colors, patterns, etc. Above are the first 2 pages for Sam's valances. I got out the colored pencils and matched them to the room colors, so we couldn't mess up the fabric too much. I glue-sticked fabric swatched and noted the price per yard, for comparison at the store. We checked out patterns, but decided we didn't need one, because I just want to do a very simple pocket valance w/ a 1 1/2 inch rod & 2x fullness. You can see the diagram/pattern to figure out my yardage. We decided on the beige/green microsuade w/ bronze/carmel leaf pattern. (ie: the large swatch). My camera didn't take the clearest of pictures, but believe me, the fabric is GORGEOUS!!! I'm going to do a chocolate satin ribbon band on the bottom to give a finished look, and will pair w/ pale-beige shears.

I am SOOOO excited to get started. I just need to pick up my fabric, drapery backing, and notions.

The next project: Toddler Tees w/ quilted designs. Okay, I stole the idea off something I saw on Etsy.com, but I'm not going to sell them so I think it's okay.

Big THANKS to the amazing Sandi Brown (ie: Paul's mom) -- who is coaching me along the way and believes I can truly sew a quilt before Sam comes home!