Feltaholic

My name is Helena... and I love felt. Especially in the form of cute play food. I have no inventor to credit since it's been around since 6500 BC- yes, I've done some homework- but I have a serious admiration for the world's oldest fabric. It's so sturdy you don't have to finish edges and even hand-sewing on it is a snap. Project possibilities are endless: toy felt food, baby slippers, Christmas stockings, quiet books, stuffed animals, puppets, Christmas ornaments, and felt boards with cutouts for storytime.

Here's my next confession: I use etsy.com, a place for people to sell their handmade goods, to copy people's good felt ideas and designs. Terrible. But my crafts turn out much better than if I had used my own, uninspired imagination. Maybe my creativity will grow as my skill with my new sewing machine does. Until then, my next copycat project is this lovely felt book for Eli's christmas present. I just finished stockings with Anna based on this easy pattern (without the cuff and shaving half an inch off the too-long toe) that you can print right off and use without having to go to the copy store to enlarge. We used a couple of etsy inspirations, one for easy-to-make flowers and another here that's my favorite.

With this versatile, cheap fabric and plenty of ideas stolen from etsy that eve a novice seamstress like me can recreate, it doesn't seem possible that I could have more motivation to go felt crazy. There is one more thing, though. The least expensive kind, containing no wool, is actually made from recycled plastic bottles. Handmade toys and decorations from reclaimed plastic, it doesn't get more green than that.

P.S. The stuff sold by the yard his half off at Joann's this weekend.

Hibernation

I can only assume it has to do with the change in seasons, but for the last week, Eli has been sleeping 12 hours a night instead of 10. I just heard somewhere that our bodies naturally sleep more in the winter. It must be true because his room has no windows and is always dark, no matter how high the sun is.
I've been dreaming of this for years, since I learned that most kids sleep 12 hours at night. Hope it's not a fluke, because I like learning what it's like to wake up peacefully on my own and to be able to get things done before the boy wakes. Quiet things on my to-do list here I come.

Hoa Hoa Hoa

For the first time we went to a gathering put on by our community's HOA comity. Last night was the Christmas party, complete with ham and a hired Santa whose real belly bounced as he "ho ho hoed". Might as well go, since we're paying for it. That was my attitude, anyway. Brian has more of the holiday spirit, insisting on decorating, crafting, and such. As it turns out, there was a little something for everyone.
First, while talking in line, the Bishop told Brian he was going duck hunting Saturday and that we should do dinner. He's probably researching duck recipes at work right now.
I got happy when a nice lady asked if that was my salad and what the fabulous dressing was. She copied down my made-up recipe, and left me quite pleased with myself.
Now for the boy. I knew Eli wouldn't sit on Santa's lap- friendly people behind us in the grocery store line put him in a somber mood- but after dinner and a story with balloon reindeer for all, he actually did! I couldn't believe it. He stayed long enough for a picture and for Brian to tell Santa he wanted a MacBook and that the boy, who had been good, wanted a cat. After he got down he showed several people his newly-acquired bag of candy.
Pretty fun, more candy for Eli to share, and I didn't have to cook dinner. Perfect.

DIAPERS ARE DONE!!!!!!!

Last night Anna and I finished adding snaps to the last 30 diapers. Over the past two months we have made 66 cloth diapers. Anna worked the machine while I did all the cutting, pinning, and lots of snapping. Here is why it took 2 months:

First I had to trace and cut out 132 pieces, half in the white liner and half in the waterproof colorful shell. 66 rectangles and support pieces were needed as support behind the snaps and above the hole where the inserts go in and out. That took me 3 days.
Next came pinning the two diaper-shaped pieces for Anna to together and then she added elastic around the legs and some along the back. We trimmed and turned them inside out and I pinned around the elastic to make sure the white part stays curved inside while she top stitched.
I marked each diaper for 20 perfectly aligned snaps and then snapped them with this archaic-looking machine. A few weeks ago Eli happened to run off with a crucial piece of the snap press, causing an embarrassing situation. We had to call the friend who had to call the friend who owned it and didn't know it had been lent out to a third party to find out what size and piece we needed to replace. Lets just say we had to give the machine back sooner, thus our marathon Saturday and Monday.

It has all been worth it. Cloth diapers for 1/3-1/2 the price of new. I had planned on making some for my sister, since she's due in February, but I think I'll send her the small sizes to use before me. I stopped keeping track of man hours a long time ago, Anna figures it's probably good. And my new little $100 sewing machine had already done more than it ever thought possible.
We went out for some well-deserved pastries as soon as we finished. And don't worry, since this is my biggest project to date, there will be photos of our little gems to come after they've been washed and dried a couple of times to seal holes in the water-proof layer and are ready for my little model to wear.

Ahhhh... Thanksgiving

What a glorious, peaceful day. It is 9:15 on this gray, frosty morning and nothing is cooking, I'm in my pajamas, and Eli has his dad all to himself. I love to cook for guests and visiting family isn't half bad, but, since we have never had a holiday season with just our little family, I decided it was time.
Although, we do have plans. Gourmet food.

Rosemary Butter Roast Turkey
Potato Gratin
Baked Yams served with Butter, Brown Sugar, and Cinnamon
Stuffing (special emphasis here, since it's my favorite, with sausage, pecans, craisins, etc.)
Green Beans (the way my mom makes them, blanched and sauteed with onion, garlic, and bullion)
Fresh Cranberry Sauce (with some apples and lime zest too)
Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Pie

Lets see... white, orange, green, red...perfect, gotta make sure I have color.

As tempting as black Friday sales are, we're having an emphasis on homemade gifts for now on. I suppose we won't be helping the economy, but I want Eli to grow up thinking that Christmas is a time to be sharing, thoughtful, and resourceful. There are lots of ideas, like these, these, these for kids, and these for men.
Tomorrow night we will go for the lighting of Temple Square and a new downtown tradition of an old world Christmas market with local artisans, and free hot chocolate at Deseret Book. I also hope to make an advent calendar. If you're looking for a new tradition and a nice family activity this long weekend, I highly recommend it. I love this one by Martha's people because it's so simple, inexpensive, and easy to store. I have some favorite wrapping paper that can live on year after year as it's decoration. Plus, I also have all the supplies since I pooped out last year after making one to send to Anna.

Saturday will be diaper marathon day. Anna and I will finish sewing and snapping our 66 pride and joy baby bum covers.

Happy Thanksgiving family and friends, we are thinking of you.

Cranberries

Is it wrong to adore something just for its color (not to mention antioxidants and refreshing tartness)? They're so stunning I feel like stringing some into a necklace. As a kindergartner in Switzerland I remember eating braised purple cabbage just because it was my favorite shade of violet also on my little Birkenstocks. I'm just as mature today. Better get back to my beauties bubbling away on the stove.

Brian's Celebration

This week Brian got a letter from his martial arts federation saying that he had met all the requirements to become a 4th dan (black belt) and master at his test in August in San Diego, but official word wouldn't be coming until March. Despite this, his teacher, Oliver Whitcomb, came down from Idaho to meet and teach his students and give Brian the last belt he will ever wear. I pulled out all the stops and made chocolate-covered strawberries and apple tarts for a little party. The parents are the best, congratulating and thanking him and organizing treats too.
I'm so proud of him. It looks great. If you mention his new belt, he tries to hold back a big, proud grin.