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.