Challenge...

I've been so busy lately with projects, I've decided to add another to the list! :)

I've challenged myself to read every book in my house (minus dictionaries and the like). I always accumulate books with great intentions. If they don't keep me interested past the first page, I move on. Well, now's their chance! I vow to read each and every last one of them! Even the boring ones. So, the challenge starts now with the completion being Christmas of next year.

So, here's the first on the list. This isn't a boring book. Joy Fielding is actually one of my favorite authors. Her books just flow for me. I read her latest, "Still Life" just last month. Great read.

"Charley's Webb" is proving to be a fast read. We had a 1.5 hour drive today round trip and I read over 100 pages. When we returned home I realized how much I had read and was shocked. The story flows so nice it hardly seems I'm reading. Love it! Can't wait to get to read more tomorrow.

Hudson Hat for K

I whipped this up for K for Christmas.

Current Customs List

Today, here's how the customs list looks:
1. Little Leg warmers
2. 6mo sweater
3. Longies (waiting for yarn.)

Customs

Well, I thought I should give an up to date list of customs!

1. Leggings. I'm hoping to wrap these up by the end of the weekend.
2. Pinwheel Sweater. I plan to start this the first part of next week.
3. Christmas Longies.
4. Ridinghood sweater.
5. Crochet Leg warmers for my niece.

There ya have it! I just keep pluggin' away! :)

Kids all have their H1N1 Vacs!

Yay! I've managed to get all three in for their H1N1 vaccinations. :)

Sposoeasy All-in-one diapers

These great AIO diapers are on sale this week only! Go to Nicki's Diapers to get yours!!

http://nickisdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=613

Car Seat Redo

Okay, so I bought a gender neutral car seat when K was born. Worked fine. We didn't find out her gender, so it was what we needed. Well, now Mojo is here, 100% girl and I couldn't stand the gender neutral fabric any longer. So, I recovered it! This was an entire weekend project. I had to disassemble the original car seat pad and shade, then attach my new fabric and reassemble it all again. I also made a cover to go over Mojo and keep her warm.

I'm so glad I did it!

Here's the old cover (taken out/off the car seat itself):

This is it all taken apart:

Here's the finished seat and shade:

Here's the cover to keep Mojo warm:

Stitch Markers!

I've started making snagless stitch markers! They are beautiful and amazing. I love coming to a stitch marker now!

Small Longies for a YYMN custom. Seed stitch cuff.

If I'd only known then...

Okay, I normally don't do this, but I'm going to promote a product.

If I could start parenting all over again, using cloth diapers I would...

BUY ALL GOODMAMA'S!!!!!

In all seriousness, I would recommend to any new parent this:
For the brand new baby stage, Bummis Super Whisper Wraps and prefold diapers works best.
But once they reach about 10#, I'd put them in Goodmama's. Goodmama's will fit from then until forever (it seems).
I've been using GM's (Goodmama's) on both our 5 month old (since she was 2 months old) and our 2.5 year old (with room to grow). I have one stash that fits them both equally well, since GM's are a one-size diaper.
We use them and covers. I also have some knitted covers for them as well.

They come in great prints or solids. They are the softest diapers I've ever felt! The velour on the inside washes really well.

And for all you out there who don't want covers, they are now making them as All-In-Ones! Waterproof. I haven't tried those yet, but I would really love to!!

Here's our stash:



















*I have in no way been paid for my rave review.
If you're from the Goodmama company and wish to thank me for my GM love (ex: send me a freebie), please feel free to contact me! ;)

Finally!

I finally marked a spot on my customs list for one of our children! I was able to whip this set up in less than a week. (Keep in mind, I only knit after the kids go to bed.)

I fell in love with this yarn colorway on hyena cart. It's "Kara" by A Time to Dye on Cestari Superfine Merino. I'd worked on Cestari before and had mixed feelings about it. It was soft, but had lots of twigs/hay in it, then it got really thin in one spot and really messed up the gauge. But, I had already ordered this. So, I knew I had to try Cestari again. I LOVE IT!

This is the softest wool I've ever used!!! This batch of Cestari had way less "stuff" in it and it stayed a consistent weight. Wahoo!!

So, here it is, Mojo's Halloween set. Longies and a pixie hat on Cestari Superfine.

Different Cuffs

Okay, here are some of the cuffs I can do. There are more, but this is all that I have pictures of at the moment. Once I get to my own custom spot for our DD, I'll make up some of the less asked for add-ons to share. :)

My favorite girly cuff, the scalloped edge:

Ruffle Cuff:

Rolled Cuff:

Ribbed Cuff on Soaker:

Crab Stitch Cuff:

Basketweave Cuff:

Double Ruffle:

Frilled Cuff:

Plain Cuff on Soaker:

Custom Knits Add Ons

I'd like to share with you some examples of add-on features for your custom knits!

Top Left: Elastic Waist

Top Right: Ribbed waist with twisted cord drawstring

Bottom Left: Internal Drawstring Waist

Bottomr Right: I-Cord drawstring

How did July wrap up?

Mama Cloth!!!

I had a gal contact me last week. She had bought some Mama Cloth from me over two YEARS ago. She said that she loves them and would like to get more. Instead of trying a bunch of others and still pining for mine (her words, not mine!), she hunted me down to ask for more!

What a compliment!!!!

I had been thinking about Mama Cloth lately. MJ is only 3.5 months old, so w/o details, I went to the store last month to purchase some disposables. I was shocked at the prices!!! Seems those have gone up in the year since I last had AF. I bought the generic brand to save $$ and was not happy at all. That got me thinking of Mama Cloth. Should I try them???

This one customer has me convinced that I should at least give them a try. So my pattern is back on the table and the materials are out. I made her a set of 4 regulars and 8 overnights. I've improved my make by using an all PUL back layer and two snaps for a more customizable fit. I'm sure she'll love them! Now I just have to find some more awesome flannel prints!!!

Trainers

Yay! I've sufficiently modified a pattern for training underwear! These are not waterproof, but I hope to work on that as well. These are comparable to the gerber training undies you buy in the store. Only cuter! :)

I just made a set of 7 for a friend last week. Here they are:

I will be adding them to my customs list as well. Hmm... Maybe I should open up a Hyena Cart. I'll think about that. :)

TV boredom

First off, I'm going to say that, yes, I was a Michael Jackson fan. I remember telling my dad when I was little that I would marry him some day. While we all know that didn't happen, I was a fan of his music. Would have loved to have seen a concert. Didn't go all gaga over him. Probably would have gotten blubber mouthed if I ever had run into him. Felt sorry for the torment he was obviously under.
All my sympathies to his family, friends, and most of all, children.

Okay, now to my gripe! What's with all the programs!?!?!?
We cut out our Direct TV cause it was just getting too expensive to justify for our family. So now we get about 12 channels (yeah, we're in a valley and don't get the 30+ over the air channels that some lucky folk get) and every night since he's passed away, all it's been is Michael, Michael, Michael. If I didn't already feel as though I knew him, I sure do now!

Yeah, I'm listening to the memorial service as I clean the house and entertain the children. I could shut it off or listen to the radio. But I also feel drawn to it. It's crazy, I know.

Guess what we're watching tonight!?!? NO! Not the special 48 hours about, guess who? No, I rented "Dallas" from the library! Ha, ha! Let's see what all the Dallas hype was about back when I was really little! My hubby remembers having to go to bed at 8 when the show would start. He would plead with his parents just to let him hear the Dallas song so that he could hear the trumpets. He later played the trumpet in band, and occasionally now when he runs across it in the closet. I'm going to tell him there's something on TV I want to watch, have him close his eyes and play the song! Then, yeah, we'll watch it. :)

Now I feel better ranting for a minute!

While the Cat's away, the Mouse will play!

DH was gone this weekend on his manly trip to the Boundary Waters. While he was roughin' it with the guys in the cold, rainy, windy wilderness, I was the cozy environment we call home hangin' with all 3 little ones and sewing until my heart's content!

I had amazing success and created a few goodies!

First, it took me a couple days to whip these out, but I got 3 Emmeline Aprons done for Christmas gifts. Sorry for the crummy photo. It's the best I could do this morning.

I also managed a pair of TDK (that darn kat) undies. They're a size 4, so they are just a wee bit too small for J. That's okay, I have size 6's planned for this week! I just needed to try the pattern. I also tried the Ottobre boxer briefs but it turned out hideous. I will be modifying my MO on that one. I figure it out though, during M's late night feeding. That's when I think things through.

Finally, my fav project of the weekend: The Amy Butler Nappy Bag!

I LOVE it!! I was able to purchase the pattern online Wednesday, the gal shipped it on Thursday, I roughed it through a trip to the fabric store w/3 antsy children on Friday, the pattern arrived on Saturday just before lunch, and by midnight Saturday, I had a new diaper bag!!! It's great! I can't wait to use it today. :)

Well, I have plans to sew undies for J and trainers for K this week. We'll see how it goes. :) Oh, I'm also knitting the last of 3 skirties for mommyz on diaperswappers. What a great mama!

New Needles

There are so many times when I'm working on a custom order and have a lull. Meaning, I'm waiting for the customer's yarn to arrive, or I'm still working out the details of the order with the customer. In the mean time, I'd like to start a pair of shorties for one of my LO's (little ones).
I finally bit the bullet and ordered some more needles.
I work with circular needles. For everything. Unless it's a short enough piece to work on 6-8" DPN's, that is. I have the Boye interchangeable needle set and it's done me well for a few years now. I don't like that I have to screw the tips back on constantly while knitting, but that action has become a habit now. So I do it whether or not it's needed.
I want the Knitpicks Harmony wood set, but at $75, that's just too large of a pill for me to swallow. I rarely spend that kind of money on myself. So I ordered a few of their harmony wood fixed circular needles.
Now I'll be able to start my own projects and put them aside when I need to work on a custom.
Yay!!!

MIA

Well, I've been MIA fora bit. I'm recovering from a c-section & adjusting to life as a SAHM of 3. Wow, it's crazy!!

I have been able to get some work done, though. I'd like to share some customs I've gotten done...

These are newborn & 2 small capris for Lily. She hasn't yet arrived, but her mom and I are busy building her wool stash. :)

Just chillin'

I have so many things I'd like to accomplish and I'm on borrowed time.

Oh, well. So this week I'm focusing on making Amigurumi animals for a friend's baby shower. I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it there or not, just under a week out of the hospital, but I'll at least get these cute cute baby toys to her. :)

I'd also like to get J's bed pads sewn.

That's all I'm focused on at this point. One week from today I'll have a whole new agenda!!!

What's on today's plate...

Well, I have a lot I really want to be working on. I'm having a hard time today, though, with this sciatic nerve pain in my back. I feel like I have a kink in my back/hip area, like it needs to crack and it just won't. It's very painful, and I'm even having a difficult time walking today. So, it's sit-down projects for me. I must have done too much cleaning and moving big things around yesterday. I am 36 weeks pregnant, after all.

So, today, I need to stuff diapers. I have a clean basket of K's pocket diapers to stuff and a basket of newborn diapers to stuff.

I have a pile of knits here that I want to cut for underwear for J & K. K's not in undies yet, but I'm hoping having some really cute ones will motivate her. More importantly at this point is getting her to sleep in the same room as J. That's slow-go. But she'll have to go there eventually, as that is almost officially the baby room now.

My new sewing machine is begging for me to come and sew! I was hoping to save up for a new machine, a spendy one. So I was doing a lot of research. Well, in my research, I found a few on line. I got it for more than $1000 off msrp!!!!! Yeah, I thought I was about 1/2 way saved for a new machine, but it turned out I had enough saved to get this one! I was so happy! It's new in box w/warranty! How terrific! It came a week ago yesterday and I've sewn something every day since. It's a Pfaff 1527 and I can't say enough good things about it!!!! It's got the IDT technology that makes sewing a breeze. Today may be the first day since it arrived that I haven't sewn something. I ordered a hemmer presser foot, and once that gets here, I'll finish up the crib sheets I have started for Baby M.

I also need to finish up the skirtie I started a few evenings ago. It's almost done. I've just got to wrap up the soaker under the skirt. It's my first skirtie w/the Sheepy Time, so I hope my skirt is long enough. It's a very pretty colorway though. It needs to get finished tonight so that I can start a custom. I have a YYMN custom coming.

Besides all that, the children are sick with colds and crabby. You know, they want everything and they want it NOW! That's hard when I can't physically "jump" today. Ah, well, at least K's fever is gone. It's all uphill from here!

Easter Dresses

I love making "K" her Easter dress. So this year I found a special pattern and also got the baby version to match. Now "K" and "M" will match for Easter, though "M" will just barely make it here in time!

Believe it or not, each one only took a week of evening TV time to work up. They are crochet. You can find the pattern at crochetgarden.com

I plan to make them matching Lollipop dresses next! I'm just waiting until after Easter, as I don't have much time to complete other projects before "M" gets here. :)

I WON, I WON, I WON!!!

I can't believe it!!! I NEVER win anything!!!

I won the Mother-Ease Diaper gift certificate from the blog I recommended!!!!!

AWESOME!!!!!

The GC arrived today and I filled out my order and it's going out tomorrow! So, hopefully I'll have my intro pkg soon!!!! I can't wait!!!

Free Diaper Drawing!

Hurry, she's drawing tomorrow!!!
This is for a free Mothers Ease diaper and cover or for nursing pads. Get there quick!!!
http://www.tiffanyblitz.com/blog/archives/745

Busy, busy, busy!

Wanna see what I've been up to this month??

Thought so!!

I finished up K's large pocket diapers:

Made 15 med. pockets, a travel wetbag, and an AIO for M:

I also tried a new pattern for K. It's called QSFW (Quick Sew Flat Wrap). I heavily modified it to my liking, but that's where my inspiration came from. This one needs a cover, but is super absorbant!

So, now all other diaper sewing is optional! I've gotten done our ENTIRE stash of cloth diapers!!! I'm so proud! All this while feeling VERY preggo!!