Oodles of Sewing

I've been VERY busy sewing. Both for my family, gifts and friends and for filling my shops. Have a peek. Here's Lil Lady in a dreamy wallpaper woven, fully lined Anna apron style dress and Mama made 1/2 sleeve t and leggings--I happen to REALLY love this number. Anna style apron dress, fully reversible. Pretty proud of this one --

A few reversible sweet pinafores--this on in Michael Miller Mod Posey

This one in Dick and Jane

Love this pink bunny toile and terrific polka dotted coordinate--

More Anna style apron dresses--this with one of my favorites-- Alexander Henry's carousel-- Created from a vintage 1972 pattern-pinafore, bubble suit and bonnet--

A simple but fun and comfy shirred dress in Littlest Pet Shop fabric-

All this and, honestly, TONS more. Feel free to visit my store or request a custom. I LOVE CUSTOM ORDERS! :-)

A Day In The Life of A Homeschooling Family

I've not done one of these in a long time .. ever?..

Here's a blurb of our day:

Up, showered, breakfasted and out by 10 am to go on an adventure to Spider Gates. It's an amazing place. Our family had been there before-- to geocache-- but love the walk and the stories behind the mystery. In short, it's a wonderful little VERY OLD graveyard dedicated to Quaker families. Legends abound but, regardless, the coins on the gravestones are a pretty neat fact to share! This time, we had our friends come with us.

Some pictures to share:

Yes, all those who had them brought their cloaks. It was Puppy Feet's idea but, no worries, we didn't do any pagan or satanic rituals.

A little game of "Pooh Sticks"

Hey! It looks like a skull under the waterfall! (ok, may be difficult to see here but it was neat!)

After that, we came home and had lunch. Chores were tended to and then everyone took a break(which included the shiny box with lights ) After a bit of that, Lil Lady and I played a round of a CandyLand knock off and then a math game the kids got for Christmas. Puppy Feet pulled Dad aside, who came home early from work, and played a game of Chess. I finished sewing an outfit for Lil Lady and Puppy Feet made a cake!

Later, after playing outside riding scooters and 'planting' (uh a little too early but don't try to explain that to Lil Lady), a friend came by to hang out and The Oldest went off to Confirmation class. Dinner was yummy. I, then, went to church service, children used the homemade frosting I whipped up to frost the cake, and the night went on with the usual avoiding-bedtime routine.

That concludes a mini-day in the life of a homeschooler. Not so bad..... We kinda like it.

Spring Has Sprung

Today is the official 'first' day of spring. Wooohoo!! Ok, it *would* be nice if it weren't in the 30s outside ~brr~

This marks the kick off for a SewingMamas Etsy Team that I've joined up with. We have a blog complete with a whole bunch of talented Mamas just trying to share their creativity. Please, think about shopping with us if you are looking for a wonderful Spring/Easter/Birthday/etc gift.

In more shameless self-promoting news, I'm also going to be at The 36th Annual Heritage Craft Fair this Saturday, March 21. It's a fundraiser for The Heritage Chorale, a non-profit community chorus. I'll have all sorts of clothing and eye pillows and who knows what else! I'll *also* have my partner in crime, J-fer, who will be premiering her handmade cards! Should be a fun day(that's 10-4 in case anyone wants to come out!)

Posted below are some of what I'm bringing(and have listed in my shops)

"Vintage" Patterns?

There's this whole 'society', of sorts, that delights in 'vintage' patterns. There's even a website devoted to donating your old/unused patterns to so that someone else may wonder in them. I used to go there and have SO much fun requesting patterns, having them arrive, and getting to sit with my fellow sewing mama and share what we got. However, now, they are VERY big and it can be tough to get what you request. Even if you have ten chosen for a back up!

All is not lost, however! My sewing mama pal and I go to a local recycling center when we need a 'pattern fix' and get lost in a sea of drawers upon drawers of patterns. Some are 'vintage', some are crafty, some are recent, and some just make us belly laugh! Did we really wear stuff like that in the 80s and 90s?!?!

Well, last time we were there, I came upon a 'vintage' pattern. What makes a pattern 'vintage'? Is it the yellowed envelope? Or the primitive sketches of models in clothes? Or is it the date stamped on the back of the envelope?

The pattern pictured at the beginning of this post struck me. I love bubble suits, that bonnet is FANTASTIC and the pinafore is now 'retro style'! Patterns of old only were for one size. This one was a size 2. This one was made in 1972. This one would have been EXACTLY something I would have worn at age 2!

Wait a minute. Does that make me vintage?

(sorry for the poor quality pictures but try to enjoy my enterpretations of this pattern below anyway)

Sergers from Heaven?

We just returned from my nephew's 2nd birthday party to find this on my deck



Do sergers just come from heaven? I've sure prayed for one.. I'm thinking God doesn't drop sergers out of the sky. I've not found the angel who left this on my deck but THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!! I really needed one to further my business. Wow.. I'm totally astounded.
I have my suspicions of who it is and you guys are nuts... but thank you..

Currently..

Mostly, I try to keep any talk of work off my blog. Just in case my employers wander by, I'd prefer to keep work talk 'off limits'.

But, right now, I can't keep my mouth shut.

I'll be vague but I still am going to vent.

I've had the same childcare position for two years. I watch the youngest child and then help out with the older siblings as needed (eg. before/after school, vacations, shuffling to events, etc). I've had a bad taste in my mouth all along in regards to how they appreciate me (or more accurately, don't). I'd just stuff that feeling down--they are nice to me on my birthday and Christmas-- maybe it's just me.

Well, the whole taxes thing was the last straw. We decided in the beginning I'd get paid on the books and through this and that (trying to make a long story short here..), I found out they are getting the most bang for their buck while I'm paying through the NOSE to work for them. (let me add here that I've been a trusting fool through all this and this mistake is very heavily on me because I did just that)

In case you aren't up to speed, I have many posts on here about how our financial status is beyond dire. The last thing I need is to OWE taxes which, as it stands now, I do owe. (I have an accountant now --more money to pay out that I don't have-- so that I *maybe* can get some of that back)

SO, with all that looming, I put my two weeks in and quit.

In some ways, I'm a fool for quitting a job that is very necessary income for us. In other ways, I truly can *not* endure any more of this emotional trauma. I know, I'm being dramatic. However, if you consider that I am tending to their most prized possessions, I deserve SO much better.

Especially, since I've put my two weeks in, I've gotten replies from them such as "Oh, ok, that's fine" and, on the other hand, nothing. Yes, the mother of this child has said NOTHING about me leaving since I quit.

Gotta love it. Talk about feeling under valued.

So, to sum it all up, I'm a bit of a mess. Having to work these last four days (over the course of two weeks) has been nothing short of traumatic. I'm a disaster with 'goodbyes' so that's not helping me. Face it, the little girl and I have been together since she was 8 months old. I've watched the milestones, taught her some of them, been called "mama" most of this two years (now she uses my name), and cared for her like one of my own. I'm not saying I won't be glad when it's all over, it's just the anticipation of it all ending that doesn't work for me. And to have the parents basically doing a happy dance over it (realizing, of course, that they are saving a BUNDLE but just putting her in day care those two days a week) isn't making my transition any easier either.

I want to run. I want to never go back. I want to not have to talk to them ever again. But I have one more day to work. I also need the tax info. I also need a letter notarized so that I can prove to the assistance agencies that I no longer have this income.( oh joys, LOVE that part)

But, through all this, I am keeping my faith. I know God won't let us down. I'm actively looking for more work so that we won't be straight out. I just need that last bit of strength to get through this last week and be able to look back at it as a very expensive 'live and learn'.

XY vs XX

I'll let it speak for itself.