While She Naps

Finishing things up for Thursday

I finished a new set of six owlets for the fair on Thursday. I made them all at the same time - assembly line-style. I usually don't like to work this way because I find I lose interest in the project before I finish sewing the last few creatures, but it worked well for these little guys. Each one has its own little personality.

I also made a new black bear. My intention was to make her a Christmas-colored dress. I feel awkward trying to make things in Christmas colors because I usually shy away from anything that suggests Christmas. Charlie pointed out, correctly I think, that most people at the craft fair are going to be doing holiday shopping and it might be nice to offer them some Christmas bears. Her dress is green linen with a red, green and gold woven ribbon.

I'm almost done with everything - just adding finishing touches and making sure everything looks as polished as possible. I'm even sending out an email to some local friends today to invite them to come.

Bumpkies and Back Tack

We spent the weekend visiting my in-laws in New London. Here is Roxy at the pumpkin patch picking out her "bumpky." I love this time of year. We had a noreaster here yesterday, but today looks like such a pretty, sunny fall day.

My back tack tote is finally done. It is denim on the outside with raw edge applique flowers. This was a new technique for me and a bit challenging - sort of like painting with fabric and stitching.

My buddy wanted to learn some new techniques for using up all her fabric scraps. She is getting a book on omiyage (plus some omiyage made by me), a book on making origami flowers, some scrap fabric, some tools she'll need to use the books, and some tea. The tote is large and it is pretty full. It has been really challenging for me to finish this project while I'm still not feeling well in the evenings and I'm getting ready for the craft fair, but I'm proud of myself that it is going in the mail before the deadline on the 31st.

I've been making some bears and some greeting cards and today will be a day of owlets. Charlie helped me make a to-do list last night for this fair, and things are finally coming together.

A temporary hut

I couldn't resist this fuzzy purple fur marked down 50% at Joann's. The owl fabric came from a swap months ago with Katey at One Good Bumblebee.

Here is a view from above of our weekend project - our first sukkah is now standing! After much cursing, some help from a friend, and a new drill bit, Charlie and I finally put the finishing touches on our temporary hut for the holiday of Sukkot. We have always dreamed of having a place to put up our own sukkah and now it is actually up. Now we need to get busy decorating.

And finally, a picture of my budding artist. She just loves crayons and always demands that I draw her a moon and a bus and, lately, a witch hat.

Rain

It has been raining in Boston endlessly. Seriously, I think it has rained here every day for at least two weeks. I love listening to the sound of the rain, especially when I'm napping and when I'm sewing. It was lovely to listen while I put the eyes on this little bear. She also has one of my new "abbyjane" tags onthe side of her dress - they are brown with light blue lettering. Here she is posing with some soft yarn from the dollar bin at Target and some lovely vintage fabric.

The Jewish holidays were all-consuming, as usual, this year. I was so happy to be feeling well enough to cook a brisket on Rosh Hashanah and to make a nice break the fast for Charlie last night. We are also hard at work on our Sukkah - our first ever. We faced some frusration in framing the door yesterday, but I'm going to chalk that up to Charlie trying to work on it while he was fasting. I'm in charge of decorations, which is the fun part anyway. I bought 22 yards of fabric -11 white and 11 brown - to make the walls! Now, if it would only stop raining, we can put them up and start making it look beautiful.

I have so much to make for this craft fair that every day I feel like dropping out. I guess I'll make it, but Nov. 3 is creeping up on me awfully quick. So, I'm back to work now.

Treating myself

I want to say thank you to everyone who sent me a comment or an email in the last few days. I'm terribly behind with everything and I haven't responded to anyone, but I was really touched and cheered up by all the nice words.

Things are slowly moving toward normal around here. I went to the quilting store on Saturday morning while Charlie took Roxy to music class. I hadn't been to this particular store in more than half a year and it was so interesting to reflect on how much more confident I am in a fabric store now. It may sound crazy, but there was a time when I was too afraid to have fabric cut from bolts for me - I would only buy fat quarters. Okay, this is the same me who would never order fajitas at a restaurant out of fear that they will come to my table still sizzling and everyone would turn and look. I'm a little nutso.

Anyway, this time around I really looked at all the bolts and chose these two prints (the curly fur was a remnant I couldn't resist).

And while I was feeling rotten, my mom sent me a package of lovely buttons including these two, which I think, are made of resin.

I finally finished this tweed bear, which has been sitting on my sewing table since Labor Day.

She's got a Paris-print dress with a little pocket and she is posing here with a tasty pineapple I bought (evidence that I am able to enter a grocery store now without retching!).

My back-tack tote is underway. I still have way too much to do, but at least I've started.

I'm Back

With much happiness and relief I am finally ready to say that I'm feeling better! Thank you to everyone who sent such nice comments on my last post and who checked in on me via email during this difficult month. I have been laying on the couch feeling so exhausted and so nauseous that it has been a challenge even to take care of Roxanne. She has been such a trouper through it all - dealing with all kinds of babysitters and sitting next to me while I threw up.

But, of course, it has all been worth it. Here is our first glimpse of the next member of our family!

I am due at the end of April. My morning sickness with this second pregnancy was somewhat worse than it was with Roxanne, or maybe it just seemed that way because the first time around I didn't have a toddler to run after.

I'm so behind in every crafty thing - back tack, swaps, more bears for the Village Baby, this craft fair I signed to do in early November. Plus, my house is a mess, I don't have any idea what is in my refrigerator, I haven't been in contact with anyone in weeks. It's all so overwhelming.

Here is what I have managed to do. Some quilted cards from the pattern in Denyse Schmidt

and some baby t-shirt cards

I should really tackle some softies. I have so many to make it is scary to even begin! I am just so thankful to feel healthy and to have the energy to start.