When you're hungry...

 So... Brian at work was lamenting that he was in a food rut lately... so I suggested Indian.  BUT... did we have anything that would work for an after-work meal?  We did have a big ol' bag of spinach.  Saag paneer?  Perfect!  Uh, no paneer, no garam masala, so... we made it!  Seriously, Paneer is not tough, give it a try.. hot milk + lemon juice and voila!  Garam masala... oh, its a blend of many of the spices we do have... handy (thank you internet!).  Anyhow, in the end, it was awesome, it was pretty and it was yummy!

 Washed down with Brian's Raspberry Wit and Wit beers.  He makes me the raspberry every summer, its nice.  Also doin some sewing... I get a little uncomfortable around finals weeks (summer sessions come quickly) there is a bit of a lul between the time that I put the final together and when I have to give it, THEN I know it will get busy, with grading, the end of the term and gettin gready for the next... So, I sew now.. in that lul.

 I tackled a smaller Figgy Sunki pattern for Grace.

 It's pretty cute on her,

 Zipper, though not as well centered, was better going in this time.

 With the gold toms, shades and the temporary tattoo... the sweet tunic even gets a bit edgy.

Then I put together this gathered top from Polka Drops book..

 It's for Alice's birthday in a few weeks.  It was surprisingly tricky, the arms and figuring out what thy wanted me to do for the gathers, but I think it turned out.  I was even feeling good enough to add a pocket, which looks a bit off kilter in this picture.

Hmmm, anyhow, added a few little pillows to play with in the pocket.  

Celebrity sightings...

Yep, you guessed it... that's me and Phoung Tran!  Great coffee, nice barista!  Brian and I were just discussing how we have friends in LA or NY who always post the big celebs they see around town... Well, we have them too!  Now, just to get pictures with Bob and Billy...  hmmm

Summer sewing gifties

Sunki tunic by Figgy for Kaylee.  It fits Owen okay, though it not too roomy at the 6/7 size, I hope it fits her. This is a bunch of new firsts for me... pleated sleeves, inset pockets and a zipper!

 It took me a bit longer than most dresses, but I really liked doing it, it was like a puzzle.  I made Grace ruffle shirt from Polka drops book, this time in a coral color she picked out last time we were at cool cottons.

Finally, the newborn kimono shirt from purl bee.  These were so fun to work up and I got to highlight some of my recent fabric favorites.

the mini-mike pattern for Max.

and this cute subtle snail for Elsa.

When She Grows Up (age 2 3/4)

Mommy:  Grace, what do you want to be when you grow up?

(Expected answer:  princess)

Grace:  A flower!

(explanation)  I a princess now, I go La La La and spin.  Flowers grow up. 

you know... blogging and all

I am a persistent blogger.  Not so much here, but the kids blog site, man, I get that done, regularly, and I love it.  Well, Sunday night when I would rather start another project or just veg, then I sometimes think twice. But really, I love remembering, love making a point of sitting down and thinking about how special each week has been; taking the time to be grateful for each meal, each bike ride, every friend.  Sure we pretty much do the same things over and over, but nobody is ever the same, the kids grow, they look at things differently.  Our days move so quickly, that taking time to recollect is like a prayer, a thank-you.  You can see why it is hard for me to edit. 

the bender continues

 Cool paper airplane silk-screen that Brian did for our memorial day party and paper airplane contests.  winners actually got t-shirts but same design.  We have this bag for Owen's art supplies.

 Owl jammies for Grace too... I want a picture of them together, but it is like trying to catch the wind.

From the same book as Owen's bug hoodie, Polka Drops.  The darned ruffle that attracted me to this pattern was 

 such a pain in the patootie.  First I had one going one way and the opposing ruffle in reverse.  They really are more pleats, more regular than a ruffle... theoretically, they didn't quite line up, but I am okay with that.  Then I sewed them on poorly, had to re-do, then I had a hard time with the placket, had to re-do that once or maybe twice... I managed to cut the opening a hair too big, and all of that ripping out and resewing inadvertently made the bottom opening there too big to cover, so I had to do some mending already before it was even worn... too bad, but it isn't too obvious, hopefully. And a button hole flub, that had to be redone.

 Grr... pleats.  To top it off, Grace loves it and wants to wear it constantly AND it needs ironing, like really badly, I don't really love ironing.

but I love the shirt, and I love her, and I don't learn 'cause she picked out a coral fabric to do another.  I finally got a figgy sunki pattern that I am aching to try, but with finals week coming up, and then vacation, then summer school, I am not sure I have enough to pull through with projects planned. Let's hope.

dink

I've been a bit on a sewing jag... and I have a few more projects I want to tackle, but may be running out of steam. 

 Sewing for the kids is so much fun though.  There is so much cute fabric out there, and I am running through a few good japanese sewing books that are a little tough, but so much fun.

 Do you love the buttons?  Shrinky dinks!  Seriously!   I traced a dollar coin, punched two holes in it, Brian drew teh boat, in a micron pen, I colored them in with colored pencils and into the oven and VOILA!

 perfectly sized buttons.   The paper boats is a dress version of the ice-cream shirt (both lisette fabric).  G. loves wearing both of them, I think they are nice and roomy, pretty comfortable.  
Plenty of room to run and spin.

For Owen, I tacked a version from the polka drops kids sewing book.

Okay, maybe, just maybe the fabric is a bit much, but it may be the best fabric design ever... awesome bugs in little jars (with holes in the lid of course).  It is perfect for my collector.

  I made him the 130cm version (the largest) and it just fits him.

This shirt, was one of the tougher things I have tackled.... a hood, yolk, buttons galore, cuffs, fancy...I am a more brave sewer these days.  we did some bug buttons for this guy too.

Just traced the critters from the shirt... shrink them down and ooooo little bug buttons!


Just so we can see 'em better!