Mama's Got a Brand New...

...BAG!
That's right, I was able to sew up this little number in a few days' time (which for me is quite the feat). I used some fabric I found on deep discount this summer at Ikea and at the time, thought I would make a purse or apron with it. If any of you out there know me, you know there really isn't much point in my wearing an apron when I cook or bake. This is due to two things:

1. My clothes are already quite nicely stained, in general.
2. I am very klutzy and this also accounts for point number 1. I imagine an apron would not fully prevent stains, unless it was made of some sort of silicone-treated fabric that formed a tent over my entire body.

So, purse it was. My current homemade bag had taken a beating of late, enough so that I finally managed to drag out the sewing machine, take a big gulp, and jump in (yeah, that's right, I am still a little afraid of my sewing machine. But don't tell her that). I used THIS TUTORIAL for most of the construction, but strayed in a few areas. First, I decided if this was to be my giant bag for everyday use, it would need pockets. I made a pocket for each side of the bag and instead of pleating the lining of the bag as the tute author had done, made the lining plain. I pleated the outer pieces first, then traced around them to cut the lining pieces. I also did not use interfacing. Lastly, I changed the straps. The author used leather straps which for me as a vegan was not something I was interested in doing. I thought about finding an old bag in my closet with fake leather straps or finding one at a thrift store to use but then I realized it would not do. I need a bag I can sling over my body, like a messenger bag. This gives me two free hands with which to knit or more likely these days, wrangle a feisty toddler away from certain mayhem. The straps would need to be much longer than regular purse straps I might find out there. So I made two uber-long straps for my bag with the outer and lining fabrics, which also meant no further cash was spent.

I finished it today and really liked it, until I put it on and realized...it looks just like a diaper bag. Oh my. Which I guess it will be, in part, anyhow. Most of the things that go in my bag are toddler-related sundries and soon, there will be baby-related sundries in there too. I also realized I don't like how most of my coats look with it, so now I really really want to find an nice thrift store non-wool gray coat to work it. Preferably one that can accomodate a rather large belly as well. Sounds like a nice challenge, eh?

I will say this; the tutorial was really easy to follow and well-written. This is the most well-constructed sewing project I have completed to date and it gives me hope that I am in fact improving in this area. Hooray for progress!

Real Life

Time is just flying by here for us all. I can't believe it's already mid-November. I suppose I should catch you up a bit...

Halloween was spent out of town with family but of course, Trick or Treating still carried on! Wee One was quite the little trooper and we made it to five homes before he simply needed to be freed from the pierogie costume.

The first sweater for Wee Two was started and finished. Well, almost finished. I'm still considering making and sewing on a toadstool applique on the side; we'll see.

I also began to sew a new handbag for myself and will show the results if and when it is completed. I have more sewing projects in line after this too and hope I can stay on track with it all.

That is some of what is going on. Today is sort of a restful break, we are all feeling a bit under the weather and just need some down time. We had a lovely week of beautiful warm fall weather, meaning lots of walks and trips to the park and time to explore the city outdoors. Perhaps we overextended ourselves but I would venture it was worth it.

Today we also got our first peek at Wee Two (ultrasound). Not sure how to put it into words, except to say how real things are. Life is very real today.

Big Reveal

Yes, it is finished...
...but not everyone is happy about it!

If you aren't sure what Wee One is, he is a pierogi! I had to make a few modifications to the costume today. First, this morning when we tried it on after breakfast, the bottom was too tight and would not quite fit over his shoulders. I ripped out the seam on the left side from below the arm to the leg, then hand-sewed some snaps (or pressers) on so it could be opened to ease over his body, then could be snapped shut. Alas, the snaps did not stay closed when we tried it on (he really, really is not happy about it). This afternoon, I removed the snaps with my trusty seam ripper and hand-sewed some very plain, thin off-white ribbon inside the pierogi layers to tie the front and back shut on the open left side. So far, these have held!

Designing it and making the pattern was the most difficult part; the assembly (aside from all the modifications today) went very well and did not take as long as I had thought it might. It also cost me nothing as I simply used the ton of leftover felt I had from making the little stuffed pierogi magnets this summer. I had to also restrain myself from hand embroidering "Lil' Dumplin'" across the butt.

I figure if we can get him in and keep him in the costume long enough to visit a few neighbors and snap a few pics, we will have been sucessful. I would like to walk in a festive Halloween parade with him but I don't know if he will have the strength. Nor I!

A Proclamation Throughout the Land...

IT'S FINISHED!!!

I finished Wee One's Halloween costume an hour or so ago but have to wait until the morrow to try it on him as alas, he is dreaming away at present. I just wanted to say I finished it! I also really, really hope it fits! I will surely let you know the verdict...

Also today, I:
-cut my hair myself (which I do at the full moon to keep it growing well)
-picked up my free 8 x 10 photo collage from Walgreen's
-went out to lunch with the Wee and Nature Boy, then grocery shopping
-found these super-cute Halloween ideas!

cute Halloween luminaries from Project Naptime (using used tissue paper, old jars, old lights you have lying about)

these skeleton cupcakes are so creeptacular, I might have to veganize them...

seriously, why have I NOT made these leaf garlands out of newspaper yet?!?!

So much inspiration out there, so little time!

Free!

Wanted to let you know about a free deal at Walgreens. Good until 10/24, you can get an 8x10 photo collage free!

How you ask? Enter the coupon code 8x10TREAT and make sure to select you will pick up the collage at a store (you can pick from locations)--otherwise you'll get stuck with shipping.

So far, I've gotten two free collages and a free photo magnet and we love them all! It's really easy, you upload photos from your computer and select from the options. They usually do this around holidays or change in seasons (summer, Mother's and Father's Day, Halloween). I can usually order them in the morning and they are ready in the afternoon, very fast!

CLICK HERE for more details and the link (thanks, Be Centsable!).

While you are in there, check out these other things you can score for free (provided you have the coupons).

Speaking of deals, I scored this cute little dress for $9.95 at Anthropologie.com last night!
I can't wait for it to get here so I can try it on. I think the bodice, being shirred, will work during pregnancy and nursing, then afterward when things, um, shrink back to normal size again. I'm tempted to try dyeing it so I can wear it spring, summer and fall. Any ideas on colors, methods, dyes to use? It is 100% cotton.

Say CHEEZE!!!

Finally, finally, I finished the Garter Stitch Kimono Sweater from Compassionate Craft Week!

I was doing well but some health issues sidelined me on the last two days of the week. Wee One and I both got some colds and there was a lot of discomfort at nighttime, meaning lots of sleep intertuptus. Once I missed the deadline I sort of got lazy about it and then just knit when I could between everything else, rather than put things on the back burner so I could knit.

All in all, it was a great experience and I will do it again next year. I hope to package up the sweater, booties and hat and mail them out to One Heart, One Mind tomorrow.


A new recipe was also tried! My Vegan Cookbook has some intriguing stuff on there but nothing made me as curious (and hungry) as the Smokey Cheddar Cheeze Ball. Made with firm tofu, cashews, almonds and spices, I was curious as to how it would compare to the memory of the dairy-heavy original. I also thought it might be the perfect fall snack in the evening with friends around the table, or even an appetizer for Thanksgiving or the holidays. So I finally whipped it up this past Sunday, during the triumphant return of Big Ben Roethlisberger to his Pittsburgh Steelers in a lovely grudge match with our neighbors, the Cleveland Browns. Ok, I mixed up everything that morning but you have to refrigerate it for at least 5 hours before it's firm enough to make it into a ball. At halftime, I managed to first run upstairs for a bathroom break, then we hit the "concession area" (aka kitchen) where I formed the cheeze ball and rolled it in the paprika and almonds. I admit, I was in a bit of a rush as to not miss any of the game so I did not have much luck getting the almonds to coat the cheeze ball as fully as you might like.

I then snapped a pic for you and posterity, and dug in. I am just going to say it: MAKE THIS. Make it now. You will not be disappointed, it is delicious! Nature Boy, a strict carnivore, tried it, then ate three more crackers spread with this stuff! Unheard of! Oh and the spread, the spread. It is so velvety and glides over your cracker, I was amazed. I did use hickory-flavored liquid smoke but that was the only substitution I made on this one. It does make a lot, which in my case was welcome, but I think the next time I make it will be when company calls. It will most likely grace whatever table I'm at for Thanksgiving.

We have been having so much fun, from RAD Days at the Pittsburgh Zoo...
...to hitting the Punkin' Patch!
Now to get working on a Wee Halloween Costume...oh my...

Progress Post

Another quick update on my Compassionate Craft Week Progress...

Monday: Booties finished and sewn up, sweater cast on and started!

Tuesday: Sweater continues to before buttonholes.

Wednesday: Sweater continues to before neckline decreases.

The sweater is this pattern here that I made for Wee One, the Garter Stitch Kimono sweater. It seems to take forever because it's garter stitch and you knit it in one piece from the bottom up so you are knitting back and front pieces at once. Plus, since it wraps around the Wee you are sweatering, you are knitting much more area for the right and left fronts than a normal sweater would require. I loved the end result of the one I made Wee, but this probably isn't the best choice for a sweater I now have only two days to finish. I am hopeful though and will be faithfully working on it until Friday at 12AM (or until I collapse into bed, whichever comes first).

So tune in folks to see how this one finishes up!!!