No way, I actually took a picture of my soaps...

 I don't know why this has been so difficult to do (or rather overlooked), but here t'is pictures of my soaps, now let's see if I can name them starting at the top left.  a.? b.tangerine/clove/bergamont c.peppermint d.Vanilla, hoey, sweet almond (bottom left) e.spirulina and lemongrass f.lavander and oatmeal g charchol, eucalyptus, cedar, rosemary, basil, ground cardamon. h.red clay, bergamont and rosemary

and some cute little dolls that I made using the gingermelon pattern.  It's a lot of hand-sewing and takes time, but they are Grace's favorite characters.  I think I have to try many more times to make the cost sort-out, but they were fun.  I may try to swap some thing up a bit.

pockets and stamps

Some honest to good pockets I inset into a dress for Grace, I think it's sweet on her, it is, however, not her favorite.  These were my first inset pockets though and they work fantastically!

Also tried carving some stamps... these are super fun by the way and pretty stinkin easy.

Highly recommend the fun... Owen even designed a few, that I was actually able to carve...

cousin birthday gifties

Owen tried on the raven that Brian freezer paper stenciled... can you tell how much Owen loves being my model... ? I thought it looked pretty cool though.  Plus I LOVE a grey cardigan.

And a long promised banner for the littler one.  Some nice wool felt and felt binding.  I hope the binding holds up, it should.  Can't wait to see these guys!

Can't take credit...

Oh, I did make myself one of those boxy tops that I made G. from the Nani iro book... I actually kinda like it, even if it does look like a hospital gown shirt... it is comfy and for just being cotton, is warm.  We'll see if it makes it into actual circulation, but I'm glad I did it. 

So... a while ago... years maybe I donno, I bought a bag of quilt squares from Village Merchant.  These were awesome, There were a bunch of "H" squares that I passed onto Robin, some small checker board squares, a few of which I made into doll blankets... some larger checker boards that I don't love, but they're really not that bad, and these pretties. 

All hand stitched together

With teeny perfectly even stitches.  I am impressed.   Anyhow, I sashed them together last weekend to make a good kid sized blanket.  It was fun, and so pretty, though I feel guilty that the hard stuff really isn't mine to take credit for.  It is a pretty little blanket, lovely colors, kinda folksy feel. 

flying friends

 an owl... Brian designed and cut-out the felt masks for both  of these fliers.  The owl wings were pinterest inspired (shoot can't find the link right now, but it was handy), all stash fabric, so a bit mis-matched but fun.

 The bat.... all brian.  The wings were black fleece, perhaps a bit warm.

 And for the party, B. dressed up as an Audubon employee, since he figured he'd be carrying G around anyhow.

 A skirt from the Nani Iro pattern book.  It was pretty easy and cute.  I didn't have her fabric suggestion with the stripe built-in, so I just sewed on on lazy days skirt style.

 It fits just right, I think I did the largest size...110 cm.  the cute little belt totally makes me happy.

 G. would like it a bit more spinny, but I was impressed how happy she was to wear it (girl is particular these days... things have to be like a "princess" which means a dress/skirt with some nice spin on it, preferably in pink or purple.

(just sittin' here waiting for the squirrels to eat this wee pile o' food).

feeling

I think because of the transition to fall, though it is Be-au-ti-ful with all of the fiery leaves on the trees and paving the ground... it is wet, the sky is too close, and I want to go see the open road.  It is not soaking downpour wet, not the devastating flooding wet like my fair family and friends are dealing with after Sandy, but in my heart, I am a desert girl and I know there is a long damp period ahead. I want to rest my eyes on weird scrubby, prickly, surprising life forms; to witness tenacity.  I want a road you can see so far down, I want a long long dusty drive somewhere where you can see forever, somewhere your soul can fill up the whole world, reach-up and touch all of the stars. 

I am feeling cramped. 

Maybe I should just clean house.

Nani Iro Sewing D

 Ahhhh... fall...  LiFong gave us some amazing pink pomegranate seeds.  Owen just likes to suck the juice off, but they are divine on some yogurt.

 This year we have had some prolific, enthusiastic, very tall sunflowers... they are starting to peak, and we are getting all sorts of seed heads to save up for chicken treats over the next few months.

For my big ol' three year old, I made a circle skirt  as a homage to the minnie mouse obsession that has gripped her since her fearful trip to Disneyland.

 She likes it!  The cute lace was in part an attempt to make it a touch longer (talk about mini skirt), but ended up being an awesome addition... but man, circle skirts take a lot of yardage to trim it out!

 I made it!  I've bee married to this handsome dude for 10 years now, We got to celebrate with an evening of climbing... that was NOT a complete failure (which it had the potential of being... since it has been over seven years since I've been on a wall)... in fact it was awesomely fun.  We also enjoyed a fancy frenchy dinner at Le Pigeon... We went all kinds of crazy and went for the tasting menu which included my favorites of a rabbit and eel terrine, served with all sorts of accouterments (peaches, avo, miso foam.... fancy stuff) and was so good as well as a pretty odd, but became fantastic fois gras profiterole.  The rest of the dinner was pretty delish as well, a short rib and perfect scallop, a tripe ragout with salt cod on gnocchi, and ummm, shoot I"m missing a dish, but the goat cheese "ice cream" (it was called something else... but essentially smooth icecream) with watermelon was pretty great too.  Anyhow, yum + fun!

 Owen and I printed some Kona Cotton with a toilet paper roll (sounds less glamorous but its what we used) and some fabric paint.  Made a pretty cute boarder print that I used for one of two shirts using the nani iro pattern book D.  It's a boxy top, but I think so cute.

 and looks so comfortable, there is an adult version, I am now tempted to make it.

 Grace and I also picked up this super super soft flannel at Jo Anns... it washed really nicely and is, well, just so darned soft.  I love the shirt, and I think G. is more likely to wear this one, just 'cause it is so cozy.

 Plus I put the cute pockets in this one.  I thought it messed with the print too much in the other one, but this one, it's just right.  I'm really spinning my wheels since I got these shirts on only with a bribe today and a promise that she can put her dress right back on... The chances of her selecting a non-dress is slim these days.  We're going to have to start hiding her sun dresses as the weather changes, my Girl is addicted to them!

Trying to be good about going for a walk on these beautiful, golden fall evenings.  I am not being super successful, but when we do make it out... wow, its lovely.

 Saw this awesome garden fence while on our walk today... can you see it?  It's the west coast with major rivers and lakes etched and glassed into it.

 neat-o.

Not only is he cute but he cooks.  Brian made the best tomato beef chow mein I have ever had today.  He used the recipe from our favorite "Cooking for two cultures american and chinese" cook book.  I am constantly stalking these on used book websites.  It is an old fund-raiser for a church cookbook and it's what my mom uses... I also love my circle and square cookbook of the same genre that was favored by uncle dudley and auntie gigi.

best ever...

So, the best things ever?

Watching Owen make bug houses in the playground or at home.

The beach, about anywhere, watching Brian run around with the kids.

And Grace... every night after her Daddy reads her books and while I am reading to Owen comes into the room, requests (and receives) a kiss, gives a big hug and one kiss more then I have to say "goodnight goodnight little dinosaur" and if I don't she'll remind me to "say it!"

best meals ever?

That ballena of pacifico relished as we set up camp in a (relatively) verdant wash in Baja California after a long, bumpy, dusty drive with dear friends who had taken me under their wing and set me on the path to what has turned out the rest of my life.  I have never enjoyed a beer more (well, some of Brian's more recent brews are up there).

Picnic dinner on the deck in the perfection that is a Portland summer evening.  Veg from the garden, raspberries you can lean over and pick right there, Rose or homebrew.

There was that perfect Easter brunch on the Grass in Old Field where we moved the table outside and Michael played violin, the sun was shining, I grilled something that turned out well (I just remember being pleased, not what it was).

Massive chinese banquets when I was growing up, surrounded by family and friends who you thought were family who want you to eat more and more and more, surrounded by steamy warmth and a golden light, dish after dish after dish of deliciousness, giant lazy susans always in motion, a celebration, a brief toast, best clothes, connection and love (and all sorts of things I would be shocked to be served now... massive seabas, sharkfin).

That dinner in NYC for Derek's graduation where Grandpa Jerry kept insisting I try some blue cheese, which I really didn't like at the time.  I'd try some, say yeah Grandpa, I really just don't like blue cheese, he said this is really really good, you should like it, and have me try some again ... this time with this pear...and... nope still don't like it...he tried at least four times, never thought it was tasty... but for some reason it was really making me smile inside.  I like blue cheese now.

more duvet blankets... or in search of the narwhale

Okay, here's the blanket I made for Erin and Mike, but (a) fell in love with it, (b) realized it matched our couch nicely and (c) found some more beautiful fabric that seemed more "erin and mike" than this pretty nani iro double gauze floral.... now it lived on our couch, and they have a beautiful blue one.

 That same idea from purl bee which is lovely because it is easy and it also showcases fabric that I fall in love with, and yep, I fell in love again.  I had decided when Suz. told me they were expecting a little girl to go with the primary colors... no bubble gum pink for this princess.  Nope.

 Then I headed to fabric depot, got this great flannel, that I swear was the softest flannel that I placed hands on in a pretty huge selection... plus (I know its floral) it looks like sea anemonies.
and in spite of a cart full of other lovelies, this cute (nar)whale fabric just was impossible to pass.

SO... baby girl gets a pretty pink super soft and cushy wool batting with silver machine ties (and a few little tidbits).

as a reminder to myself... always look at the directions before starting a project, even if you are confident that something this simple, that you have done before would be no problem.  Yep, layered the pieces incorrectly, sewed it all up and went to turn it right-side-out and it was all sorts of out-of-order with batting on the outside.  Had to rip it all out and do it again... that's a lot of ripping out.

This gal...

 She just doesn't need any more clothes, but I really have fun making them for her.

 she is a great size and loves dresses... princesses wear dresses.  Actually this was an issue 'cause all of her PJs were pants, and how could she go all day as a princess and be expected to don civilian PJs?  So, I made her this princess nightie... and Grandma sent her a super soft pink one and now girl is set.

 I also made this fun twirly dress from the Nani Iro pattern book (alexander henry fabric).

 It is nice and wide and perfect for spinning.

 It was pretty simple, the bias binding was the hardest, but it wasn't too bad (if I just figured out earlier the proper order to sew things in, it would have been even easier!)

 A quick crown for G's friend Lucy for her birthday!  Just some wool felt and elastic.

 Also, alas, sewing for boys is tough, there just isn't as many options... but the kids both love Totoro (me too :), so I tackled these guys by cheek and stitch.  They still need arms, but as soon as they were this far along, both of them were quickly tucked underarm and became (armless) buddies.

 there was a bit more hand-sewing, so it took longer than I thought, but I like how they turned out!

Where did it go?

Last summer, I had a serious bucket list... a substantial list of all of the things we wanted to do over the summer and it was fun to cross things off as we went along.  This summer, I worked more, planned less, and still... still we do lots, but I kind of miss being able to review the list, I guess that's what the family blog is good for. 

Anyhow, there are a few weeks left, and I am going to list my favorite summer moments (to date) and my last min, hey I want to squeeze a few more activities in list as well...

Favorites:
Camping with friends!
Berry Picking
Beach day
Cookouts (ESA friends, and with local friends... though we need to work on a few more once this heat abates a wee bit... we're getting better at the bbq pizza)
Eating handfuls of blueberries every day for weeks
Visiting with family

Things to do still:

• We didn't do nearly enough projects as a family... I had some sewing/soaping things, Brian built a pergola and is figuring out how to play the gutair, but we need some special dates with each kid... so date projects... not sure what just yet... I think more experiments!

• Val and Ray are facilitating an "end of summer" really our 10th anniversary date night in Sept, so I'm looking forward to that.  
• Picnic
• Beach camping (this one is a bit of a farce 'cause we are going camping soon... easy peasy)
• Make felt totoros for the kids
• Yeah, not as fun, but I really need to write that paper, man how many years in a row can I make this proclaimation... Well, its true, and I MUST start / is it asking too much to say I must finish it!
•  

More on soap

Just did another batch, and in an effort to remember what works and what doesn't I"ll try to keep stuff written down.

Okay, again split one batch in two bits, just for fun really.

Peppermint... I added probably close to 3/4 oz to half batch and ... voila it still smells of peppermint!  I didn't do anything else to this batch, so it is the color of the soap plain (off white)

Okay, not I"m trying to remember what I put in that other batch, it has been almost a week now, but it was about a teaspoon of red clay, bergamont and rosemary .. It's hard to tell, it has an aroma, its nice, but I wouldn't peg it as either bergamont or rosemary, I think I probably needed a lot more of each since my measurements were, to dump what was left of the bergamont in and aggressively shake the rosemary bottle onto it (20-30 drops or so), but I let these batches trace a little long and they were setting up quickly AND I didn't pre-measure anything (lesson learned).  soaps are pink, its a nice color though a bit speckly... again, probably the late trace I didn't mix the clay in as well as I should have.

UPDATE: Next Batch this Sept '12:
Well, I used a recipe from Soapmaker's companion in lieu of my trustworthy one, and it seemed to turn out okay, haven't used it yet.  I also waay increased how much essential oils I put in, so we'll see if the smells stick.  They smell good, but sort of hard to put your finger on the scent. 

soap essentials bar (has a 10%discount... may have accounted for a long set-up time):
201 g sodium hydroxide
538.7 g water
595.3g Olive Oil (Pomace)
454g Coconut oil
396.9 (14 oz) palm oil

the recipe suggested 12g grapefruit seed extract as opt, which Idid not have, I bought some so maybe for the next batch, this is supposed to be a preservative.

also suggested 7 tsp or 35 ml e.o. 

This made about 15 bars

SO I divided the batch in half and in the first batch I added:
1 oz ground dried tangerine peel
5 ml tangerine e.o.
4 ml clove e.o.
8 ml 5x orange e.o.
looks light orange with dark flecks, was weepy for a while, I am not sure what this means in terms of preserving it or utility. 

the second half batch I added:
2 tsp ground cardamon
1 tsp charchol
3 ml eucalyptus oil
10ml cedar oil
2 ml rosemary
2 ml basil.

dark grey, looks good, if you like grey soap.

Now, at the time I am sure I had a method to selecting this oil blend, but I can't remember right now, maybe some combos I saw somewhere else, maybe an attempt to get through my ever growing collection of e.o. I can't remember.  

Update That tangerine peel version above.. STILL weeping (it's 3 Nov), though less.  It is not lye, probably unsaponified oils, maybe poor mixing of the e.o. in.

Another batch of the same recipe as above (can't find my book with my other recipe, though I have it an an e.mail somewhere).

again, split it.  Probably got 19 or so bars total.  Actually almost evenly split this time.

one half, one tablespoon of bulgarian lavander + ground oatmeal (probably bet 1/8-1/4 cup didn't measure)

second half:  one tablespoon of lemongrass (some eucalyptus and rosemary to balance things out a bit) and a sprinkle of tumeric and about 1/4 tsp of dry spriulina.  The initial color sucked, it was kinda baby poop green-grey, but I think it has mellowed a lot just overnight.  we'll see when it is aged a bit more.

lofty

 A pretty throw with some really lovely fabric for the Erin and Mikes much belated wedding gift.

 I've made two of these now... with some wool batting,  This one is doubled batting so is extra fluffy... um, except, perhaps double layer of wool batting to cousins in Las Vegas in the middle of summertime... maybe not brilliant on my part, but it must get a little chilly in the air conditioning right?

 Has a kona cotton back and a nani iro double gauze on the front, which I totally totally love.

I machine tacked it with silver thread and added a little note.  I love it so much I actually made two of these... different double gauze... one for us to keep... I'll post a picture of it as well.... though it only had one layer of batting...