tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059453863328425362024-03-13T05:21:19.681-04:00the big cozyKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.comBlogger229125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-45733650767646797502010-11-05T19:43:00.000-04:002010-11-05T19:43:08.855-04:00trucks and hats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1378/5149294231_34e1d104c7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1378/5149294231_34e1d104c7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I did manage to make a dump truck costume for my first born. Three boxes, some crazy glue, a quart of semi-gloss, and a sharpie. He was definitely impressed for about five seconds. <br />
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This was the first Halloween I bothered dressing anybody up. Joseph was a baby for his first and second Halloween; last year I had three day old twins so we pretty much took a pass. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/5149295161_3728701cf7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/5149295161_3728701cf7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Violet's costume was an elf hat (pattern from <i>Bend the Rules Sewing</i>) and a play silk from Joseph's school. I'm not totally clear what she was supposed to be (some sort of pixie or fairy, I suppose) but it was cute.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1081/5149900650_f2ec5b2a63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1081/5149900650_f2ec5b2a63.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>Poor Harry didn't even get a makeshift costume; he just got another elf hat and some grainy photographs. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1112/5149291697_ae794d5c26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1112/5149291697_ae794d5c26.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>The babies cooperated and kept their hats on for hours. Halloween magic, I tell you.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-15770244666242973322010-10-29T22:12:00.001-04:002010-10-29T22:20:21.934-04:00one<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDfS9hFxr5wNS1zifWxxitX82lraazVSbIaF9lPfGaWm4pc4qUcjP2MpJh_sw3sI7gwOeWkIu4bqoSHvDtGQ46pDDiQCKe0giBymzMDRJXcsCE9Bw0u1Duem5Yi0kRBvqIHHf4A8RYps6/s1600/cummo-4445.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDfS9hFxr5wNS1zifWxxitX82lraazVSbIaF9lPfGaWm4pc4qUcjP2MpJh_sw3sI7gwOeWkIu4bqoSHvDtGQ46pDDiQCKe0giBymzMDRJXcsCE9Bw0u1Duem5Yi0kRBvqIHHf4A8RYps6/s400/cummo-4445.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div>They turned one. We made it. The past year has been incredible and I am so very glad it's over. I'm deciding to just <i>own</i> how much I disliked the experience of having twin babies; I realize that their babyhood is precious/fleeting/etc, but there's no getting around how much it sucked at first (like, for the first ten months) and how miserable we all were. I really like the babies (and the universe) a lot more now that they're beyond the constant crying, constant holding phase. Now we are in the goofy slapstick almost-toddlerhood phase: so much better. They have excellent little personalities that get lovelier every day. Onwards and upwards, my ridiculous babies.<div><br /></div><div>(Photo by <a href="http://christypellicer.blogspot.com/">this talented lady</a>)<br /><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-56888160524678120052010-10-21T14:10:00.000-04:002010-10-21T14:10:30.420-04:00how to use facebook (to make everybody hate you)If your status update involves any of the following, you've just alienated a bunch of people:<br />
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<ul><li>your brilliant and superior parenting skills (<i>e.g.</i>, your three year old's reading ability, the fact that none of your kids eat any refined sugar, etc.)</li>
<li>how other parents are so pitiably stupid for parenting in a way different from your own</li>
<li>any reference whatsoever to vaccination: for, against, or otherwise</li>
<li>hysterical invective against circumcision, baby formula, or nighttime parenting choices</li>
<li>shit-stirring in general</li>
</ul><div>The "hide" button is a magical thing and I use it freely. I expect a certain amount of idiocy in any forum where people aren't interacting face-to-face. But I just do not understand how people can survive a few years of parenthood without being deeply humbled by the inadequacy of whatever ideals they started out with. I'm not even sure that the people who set me off on this little rant really do believe that my kids are forever scarred by my horrible parenting choices. They're probably just looking for some validation from the little choir they're preaching to. But it strikes me as antagonistic and (strangely) competitive and they should most definitely shut right up.</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-14028652571796732022010-10-14T22:17:00.000-04:002010-10-14T22:17:27.011-04:00feeding the freezer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5076223221_427de016fa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/5076223221_427de016fa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>When I'm baking I almost always double the recipe and freeze half. Most baked goods freeze wonderfully. Muffins, quick bread, yeast bread, pie, pie crust, cake, cookies, cookie dough, biscuit and cobbler dough, crumble topping. Everything. I've even had some luck freezing muffin and quick bread batter.<br />
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Having a freezer filled with relatively wholesome pies, muffins, etc. really helps in the snack department. And the breakfast department. I bake with whole grains, minimal sugar and heaps of fruit, so I don't worry about the kids (or me) eating too much/too often/whatever. When I taste "normal" pie or cake made with white flour and sugar I'm overwhelmed by the sweetness, reaffirming my belief that my carrot cake is a perfectly reasonable breakfast. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/5080087180_09da03cfde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/5080087180_09da03cfde.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>These apple cakes are from <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rustic-Fruit-Desserts-Crumbles-Pandowdies/dp/1580089763">Rustic Fruit Desserts</a>. </i>I had some mealy apples that needed to be either baked or put in the compost pile. One went in the freezer, one went in our bellies. <br />
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</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-17636023388562839882010-10-12T19:43:00.000-04:002010-10-12T19:43:19.194-04:00pilgrim dress for silly babyI've been shamefully lazy about <a href="http://nablowrimo.blogspot.com/">NaBloWriMo</a>. I think I've missed three days. Pathetic. Last year I managed to post each day despite, you know, giving birth to twins via major abdominal surgery (okay, so I scheduled posts ahead of time--sue me).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/5076814990_4a46c3a65e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/5076814990_4a46c3a65e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I enjoy seeing small children in somber clothing. Dignified, serious clothing makes their foot-eating, food-wearing antics even better. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5045543385_f4651079ec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5045543385_f4651079ec.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This dress nearly wound up in the scrap bin due to a buttonhole mishap. While opening up the buttonhole with a seam ripper, my hand slipped and tore a giant hole in the placket. I managed to patch it; you can see the repair job on the top button hole here, but I've decided it's good enough. I didn't cry, curse, throw crockery or yell at my kids. I feel so mature.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/5076815400_c03e893354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/5076815400_c03e893354.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is not my first buttonhole disaster. Either the automatic buttonhole setting on my machine is at fault or this is just one of those things (like pie crust) that I'm just going to routinely screw up despite having decent theoretical knowledge of what needs to be done.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4127/5045543757_d40bf66842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4127/5045543757_d40bf66842.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Other than that, I'm pleased with the dress. I made it out of an old skirt I had sewn years ago, before the mysteries of fabric grain had been revealed to me. Perhaps it's the fact that the fabric was essentially free that I was so patient with my buttonhole issue. Hmmmm.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-34418156398609468572010-10-10T18:47:00.000-04:002010-10-10T18:47:59.826-04:00melted crayon success<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rCndG9NssUvMaNrKDICnRvveya7ZDn9OwahQeIn4pd2VEMHcbrygnVB5ppdyj9Vdybfl5kdQK9IGoYsPCC8Vx9KAgUYSTRjkagm9EGBIKI8G0a0O5hB1SZH8zGNejJZ2pDfND8_Ukd4m/s1600/DSC03365.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rCndG9NssUvMaNrKDICnRvveya7ZDn9OwahQeIn4pd2VEMHcbrygnVB5ppdyj9Vdybfl5kdQK9IGoYsPCC8Vx9KAgUYSTRjkagm9EGBIKI8G0a0O5hB1SZH8zGNejJZ2pDfND8_Ukd4m/s400/DSC03365.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div>Joseph obsessively breaks his crayons into conveniently sized choking hazards that the babies can't get enough of. I was going to throw all those sad little pieces away and pretend they got lost but instead we melted them in some silicone muffin cups. 300 degrees for 5 minutes, that is all it takes. And my muffin cups are still pristine; I had heard that melting crayons can do horrible things to metal muffin cups, so I think silicone is the key to success. Joseph was transfixed throughout the process--he pretty much thinks I'm an alchemist. I have never been so impressive. I think you could probably get better results if you tried to color-coordinate the crayon scraps. Our color scheme here was entirely kid-directed, so you get what you get.<div><div><div><br /></div></div></div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-50974469555411268032010-10-09T20:58:00.000-04:002010-10-09T20:58:57.389-04:00halloween helpI have no interest in halloween, not this year or any year. My husband and oldest son do not feel the same way, unfortunately. They both think inflatable pumpkin lawn decor is a great idea, and they both have been asking for months about Joseph's costume. Joseph wants to dress up as an excavator or a front end loader, but either he doesn't quite grasp the concept of costumes or he is seriously misjudging my sewing abilities.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5046205254_51665b0014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5046205254_51665b0014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I suggested that he and the babies all wear their pointy hats (elf hats made from <i>Bend the Rules Sewing</i>; they take about two seconds to make and look awesome) and we can go as a family as gnomes. This suggestion was greeted with stony silence. <br />
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Anybody have any ideas for a quick costume that doesn't involve multiple trips to JoAnn's, fake fur, foam or engineering skills? I'm pretty sure I'll just dress the babies as gnomes and call it a day, but Joseph needs something more exciting.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-25505652584833661992010-10-07T22:39:00.000-04:002010-10-07T22:39:04.863-04:00a (reasonably) happy postConventional wisdom is that twins amuse one another (because we all know how siblings always get along and play together peacefully) but until recently they just smacked and bit one another and cried a lot. When they were in the crib together it was like a baby cage match. Not good. But now they babble at one another and crawl around the house like a pair of baby hooligans, banging on things, tearing apart books and annoying the crap out of their older brother. We're out of the <i>there's always somebody crying so maybe I should just hide in the bathroom and think about how much I dislike my ovaries for making twins and then feel guilty and then cry and then feel incompetent etc etc etc </i>stage and settled into normal, busy-but-manageable family life with two little kids and one not-so-little kid. <br />
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Of course, at night it's like having two newborns and a poltergeist, but let's not dwell on that. Joseph now greets strangers with a cheerful "how did you sleep last night?" Because we are sleep obsessed/deprived crazy people in this family. <br />
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More preschooler hilarity that must be documented for posterity: yesterday at the grocery store Joseph saw a man wearing an absurd red turtleneck and promptly announced "oh my, you look fancy today, don't you." I don't think I've ever loved another human being more than I did at that moment. At some point we'll have to have a discussion about manners but that can wait. Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-78863027355649128912010-10-05T19:52:00.000-04:002010-10-05T19:52:48.052-04:00linen flower dress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5046220704_1e1b400e84.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5046220704_1e1b400e84.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">These smock/jumper style dresses were Violet's summer uniform. When I made them, I assumed she'd wear a onesie underneath, but I forgot how sticky and horrible the summer is here. I was glad to have a bunch of light dresses to throw on over a diaper.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5045597171_5e73c1dc52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5045597171_5e73c1dc52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The flower on this dress is made from some leftover linen quilt binding. It was two inches wide and then folded in half; I did a basting stitch down the raw edge and then gathered it into a ruffle. I coiled it into a vaguely floral shape while hand stitching it in place from the wrong side; if hand sewing ruffly flowers sounds like a major undertaking, understand that this step took about five minutes. I then hand tacked it onto the dress (another five minutes). I was pretty sure it would turn to shit in the wash, but it held up miraculously well. The laundry gods smiled on me with this one.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5045597561_781025f68b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5045597561_781025f68b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-51676225818226454192010-10-04T22:13:00.002-04:002010-10-04T22:14:02.425-04:00three<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebigcozy/5045536755/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4083/5045536755_60f2e7b86c.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebigcozy/5045536755/" title="photo sharing"></a>My chatty, curious, dreamy, truck-obsessed little boy is now three. Three! Every time we reach a new stage I say to myself "this is the best ever. I will cry a thousand tears when this is over." And then it turns out that the next stage is even lovelier than anything that preceded it. </div><p>This was the first time I attempted an actual birthday party, although it was still pretty small and low key. I had to make sure we didn't go to any "real" birthday parties in the weeks leading up to this because I was afraid he'd be disappointed that he didn't have an inflatable ball pit or a cake shaped like a truck or whatever. "But where's my ball pit, mama? It's my birthday, isn't it?" Sob sob sob.</p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-80452659102968586332010-10-03T19:48:00.000-04:002010-10-03T19:48:01.667-04:00more guilt induced crafting: a penguin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5045594289_7eb83d8e61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5045594289_7eb83d8e61.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This fuzzily-photographed penguin is based on <a href="http://mollychicken.blogs.com/my_weblog/2005/12/the_biennial_fe.html">this lovely pattern</a> with some details inspired by Harry's penguin-shaped (!) nebulizer. I made it in about half an hour, in classic kid-on-the-lap fashion: raw edges, no ironing, and zero attention to detail. I'd be very satisfied with myself if somebody would play with it, even for a single minute. Alas, most of the toys I make really underwhelm my kids, which is actually to say that they underwhelm Joseph--the babies are content to play with garbage/laundry/lint so I'm not taking their interest as a ringing endorsement.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-29941046228336218492010-10-02T22:13:00.000-04:002010-10-02T22:13:44.290-04:00guilt induced crafting, part one<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">During the middle of the summer we were stuck at home a lot because 1) it was a million degrees out, 2) it seemed like at least one of the kids was always contagious with some gross upper respiratory thing and therefore not fit for human company, and 3) I was too sleep deprived to drive anywhere. So we spent a good chunk of the summer inside, going crazy and making memories to share with future therapists.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/5045144455_8b0b747262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/5045144455_8b0b747262.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In an effort to keep the two year old busy and make myself feel like a good mother, I tried to do some really simple sewing projects with him. This bath mitt is from a pattern in the spring 2010 <i>Stitch</i> magazine, although I cut some serious corners. I used an old towel and some fabric scraps. I just eyeballed most of the pieces and did a quick raw edge applique instead of whatever the pattern instructions called for. With a kid on my lap, this took me about 20 minutes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was mostly a success: Joseph fed fabric through the machine, cut scraps with his scissors, and stopped emotionally terrorizing the babies for a few moments. I made a dent in my weirdly large pile of old towels (seriously, I could people the world with bath mitt critters) and felt like I accomplished something. Hooray for craft projects that work out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-77041777227115813802010-10-01T22:36:00.000-04:002010-10-01T22:36:04.625-04:00pictures of my children being beautiful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/4971291991_dabb48d7f8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/4971291991_dabb48d7f8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So. Hi there. It's been so long since I posted that I can't remember how to properly upload a picture. It took me about 20 minutes to make this picture appear on the damn blog and now I can't even remember why it seemed like such a great picture anyway.<div><br />
</div><div>I am so very happy that the summer is over. It was not wonderful. The details are best glossed over, unless you really like hearing about dead pets, diseased gallbladders, a baby who didn't gain weight for three months, a baby with an antibiotic resistant ear infection, and the fact that my husband and I were seemingly in a contest to see who could be in the world's crappiest mood. I've been very busy alternating between feeling sorry for myself and feeling sorry for my kids for having such a basket case for a mother. It's been a laugh riot over here. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/4971280051_890d064cda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/4971280051_890d064cda.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/4971280051_890d064cda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This baby does not eat.</span></div><br />
But things seem to be improving. The three year old is in school two mornings a week. My gallbladder has stopped actively trying to murder me, and if that means I can never eat dairy, nuts, or eggs again for the rest of my life I can happily make that sacrifice. We're getting to the bottom of the babies' health issues. We planted some trees. I've been making lots of pie. I no longer feel like the house was built over a hell mouth.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/4971281489_f31969e278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/4971281489_f31969e278.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This baby does not sleep.</span></div><br />
I'm doing <a href="http://nablowrimo.blogspot.com/">NaBloWriMo</a> again this year. See, I have three months of unblogged projects that I can totally milk for 31 days of posts! Maybe I'll even contemplate writing a tutorial. </div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-19151415887702850352010-06-22T15:24:00.000-04:002010-06-22T15:24:25.311-04:00in which i trash talk my kidsMy children are crappy sleepers. My husband and I are also pretty awful sleepers (he wakes up in the middle of the night to eat/wander/scare the shit out of me; I have never had a normal night's sleep without Ambien CR). I often wonder whether shitty sleeping is genetic or whether it's just that since Scott and I have no idea how to make ourselves sleep we're poorly equipped to help the little ones.<br />
<br />
At night, when we peek into Joseph's room we never know what kind of freaky shit we'll find. Will he be passed out on the storage bench like some kind of vagrant at a bus stop? Will he be naked from the waist down? Will he be sprawled on the floor while his trucks are cozily tucked in his bed? He often wakes up in the middle of the night screaming about sharks and robots. It takes him hours of babbling and playing to fall asleep. He almost never sleeps past dawn. <br />
<br />
Harry isn't actually a horrible sleeper. He still wakes up to nurse 100,000,000omg000,000wtf times a night, which might be a <i>bit</i> much for an eight month old, but that's relatively manageable. It doesn't take anything especially heroic to get him to fall back asleep and he actually takes two fairly predictable naps a day. In this family, he's a sleeping prodigy.<br />
<br />
Violet, however, is a mystery. She only naps in the car or in somebody's lap, which means she barely naps at all. She will take cat naps in a sling but wakes up when she hears so much as a peep from either of her brothers. Transferring her to a flat surface is fraught with peril; if she wakes up, her (loudly voiced) feelings of outrage and betrayal will keep her awake for hours. At night she wants to sleep on my stomach with her head embedded in my neck and her fingers in my eye sockets. I believe that she would be a happier, less needy baby (and that I would be a happier, less insane mother) if she would get more sleep, but I can't figure out how to make that happen without selling the boys or chaining them to a fence or something so that Violet and I can cuddle all day.<br />
<br />
All of this is to say: I'm so damn tired. I was hoping that this twin parenting gig would be less stressful by this point, but it most definitely is not. There is always somebody who is not happy. There is always something that should have been done already. Sigh.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-38063025650367430282010-06-08T11:46:00.000-04:002010-06-08T11:46:30.022-04:00training pants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/TAl6bjTyL_I/AAAAAAAABEs/xjhw0PjN580/s1600/DSC02886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/TAl6bjTyL_I/AAAAAAAABEs/xjhw0PjN580/s400/DSC02886.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Last month during a hellish, emotionally deadening trip to Target we gave in to Joseph's demands for "truck underpants." Considering that he had shown zero signs of "potty readiness," I did not have high hopes, but from that point on he's been totally done with diapers except overnight and at naps; occasionally during the daytime he'll surprise us by deciding to pee in some random place but it's in no way a "mistake" or an "accident." More like "science experiment." <br />
<br />
So we still need something waterproof for trips out of the house, especially when we're going someplace where a toddler peeing in the corner would be frowned upon. Enter the training pants. I made them from a cloth diaper pattern with the wings/tabs cut off, the side seams sewn up, and the edges bound in fold over elastic. The outer layer is PUL, the inner layer is an old T-shirt, and sandwiched in between is part of an ancient microfiber insert from one of the first cloth diapers I bought when Joseph was a wee baby.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/TAl6qHvas3I/AAAAAAAABE0/jORiWpSBVNs/s1600/DSC02839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/TAl6qHvas3I/AAAAAAAABE0/jORiWpSBVNs/s400/DSC02839.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>And on the back I appliqued an airplane, just because.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-41939637586964956502010-06-04T19:43:00.000-04:002010-06-04T19:43:01.413-04:00bathing suit remediationI would like to be able to throw on a swimsuit and go to the damn beach without feeling like I'm parading around in my underwear. I'm not ordinarily an especially modest person but I feel very exposed in a bathing suit. I think my entire family would appreciate it if the car ride to and from the beach could be spent discussing something other than sexism and the male gaze. I also think I shouldn't have to confront all my body image issues every time I want to go swimming. It kind of kills the fun. And yes yes yes, I know I should be proud and confident and all that, which I kind of am when I'm not expected to appear publicly in my underpants, you know?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/TAl6OdDRacI/AAAAAAAABEk/8XO5fSCNCK8/s1600/DSC02879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/TAl6OdDRacI/AAAAAAAABEk/8XO5fSCNCK8/s400/DSC02879.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div>I should probably just get myself to the store and buy one of those suits that has trunks instead of a bikini bottom. Instead I made this swim skirt out of half a yard of <a href="http://www.fabric.com/apparel-fashion-fabric-swimwear-activewear-fabric.aspx?Source=LeftNav">tricot</a> and some fold over elastic. Combined with a camisole-style bathing suit top I already have, this ought to keep me fairly well covered. We'll see how it works. I suspect that once I hit the water it will float up around my torso, but I can live with that. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/TAl6UYE-r4I/AAAAAAAABEo/t6YtLrxChg4/s1600/DSC02883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/TAl6UYE-r4I/AAAAAAAABEo/t6YtLrxChg4/s400/DSC02883.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div>I love that fold over elastic is the answer to so many garment construction challenges: waistbands, necklines, gathering and pretty much all aspects of diaper making. A few months ago I bought a few yards in a bunch of colors and it's served me well.</div><div><br />
</div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-15760166906158864242010-05-31T23:30:00.000-04:002010-05-31T23:30:15.375-04:00babies in a basket<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0JeKWsV63eYeLNnAGHXfiSH4IUKWNvQ7xDn85vXlN-J18CXuEK5RcatHswnrK0Zvv53qrMGI2tirK9ARGHs_FCQ4cG5p_b5hyF7l79-vW5PhEZtw-RHmOPo3EldZtJCVEgefhMkZ4JVD/s1600/DSC02449.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS0JeKWsV63eYeLNnAGHXfiSH4IUKWNvQ7xDn85vXlN-J18CXuEK5RcatHswnrK0Zvv53qrMGI2tirK9ARGHs_FCQ4cG5p_b5hyF7l79-vW5PhEZtw-RHmOPo3EldZtJCVEgefhMkZ4JVD/s400/DSC02449.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div>Makes me smile every time I see it.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-42641216205027266402010-05-27T18:07:00.000-04:002010-05-27T18:07:57.877-04:00wrap dress (vogue 8379)<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDy2jx35_D-vkGoaEbRF1t5qb2IiY7nNLxCav7cveQTz8_jN7fMeULke7JSRYcsQqJa3POYdyNG3yKg9ChoNk_E4EYjHw1umxOVrSo0Jzg78Fm9RHbijlLPuVsqOlGWjMtTPLwMi0CZh0r/s1600/DSC02402.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDy2jx35_D-vkGoaEbRF1t5qb2IiY7nNLxCav7cveQTz8_jN7fMeULke7JSRYcsQqJa3POYdyNG3yKg9ChoNk_E4EYjHw1umxOVrSo0Jzg78Fm9RHbijlLPuVsqOlGWjMtTPLwMi0CZh0r/s400/DSC02402.JPG" width="300" /></a> </div>It's <a href="http://thebigcozy.blogspot.com/2010/02/vogue-8379-and-fabric-from-hell.html">another wrap dress</a>, this time in wearable-outside-the-house bamboo/cotton jersey instead of nightmarish blue polyester. I am so proud of myself for making an actual garment that isn't an elastic waist skirt or a potato sack tunic. It's comfortable, flattering, and nursing-friendly. Since it's a wrap, it can be adjusted as I lose weight; since it's made of comfy jersey, it's about as cozy as a bathrobe. There's the unfortunate fact that I tend to forget to readjust the neckline after feeding the babies, so I often have a boob or two semi-exposed, but that happens regardless of what I'm wearing. I should probably make five more dresses just like this, but since it's a miracle I managed to finish this dress at all, I'll probably just wear this one multiple times a week. Yay.<br />
<div><br />
For the record, I deviated from the pattern in a few ways:<br />
1) I left off the sleeves<br />
2) I bound the armholes and neckline using cross grain strips of fabric (instead of making facings)<br />
3) I gathered the shoulders in little pleats to maximize the drapeyness of the bodice<br />
<br />
</div><div>Good grief I look pale in this picture. I think it's the lighting. Or anemia.</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-80831027716942008202010-05-25T14:23:00.000-04:002010-05-25T14:23:50.775-04:00side pocket pants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S-854dxrQ1I/AAAAAAAABBw/8oUY_4hAXHo/s1600/DSC02778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S-854dxrQ1I/AAAAAAAABBw/8oUY_4hAXHo/s400/DSC02778.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is my favorite kind of pocket for kids' pants: a wide U-shape that I make a bit bigger than the child's hand, placed directly over the side seam. The size and placement make it easy for toddler hands to find.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S-854JSy5BI/AAAAAAAABBs/wDTGSpuBGi4/s1600/DSC02777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S-854JSy5BI/AAAAAAAABBs/wDTGSpuBGi4/s400/DSC02777.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I made these navy linen trousers last summer and they've endured a year in heavy rotation. Right now they need to be worn with the cuff rolled up a few times to disguise the fact that they're too short. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S_wUsQZGEDI/AAAAAAAABDQ/3gTUWNg-64k/s1600/DSC02631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S_wUsQZGEDI/AAAAAAAABDQ/3gTUWNg-64k/s400/DSC02631.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>He's my little urchin.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-29065171344263722352010-05-22T10:28:00.001-04:002010-05-22T10:29:54.770-04:00file under dumb stuff people say to me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S_fnhTNjIiI/AAAAAAAABDI/UmPUgO3bGTo/s1600/DSC02821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S_fnhTNjIiI/AAAAAAAABDI/UmPUgO3bGTo/s400/DSC02821.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>If you really want to piss off a mother of twins, suggest that she wear both babies at once. Explain that you saw it on the internet. Use a word like "ergonomic" to make it clear you're an expert. For extra added rage, recommend that she learn to nurse both babies at the same time while wearing them. Point out that if she could master these skills (as you undoubtedly would were you blessed with twins) twins would be no more challenging than a single baby.<br /><br />This week the babies got their first teeth so tandem babywearing was the only way to keep the screaming at a minimum while leaving me with a free hand to help the toddler use the bathroom (which probably deserves a separate blog post, as well as several poems celebrating this triumph). To be fair, Harry was only moderately fussy, but Violet (who is moderately fussy on the best of days) was a terror. Job satisfaction has been at a low this week, you know?<br /><br />Totally unrelated: so apparently most Americans pronounce "Harry" and "hairy" the same? Really? My mind is blown. They're different in my (northeastern) accent, as are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English-language_vowel_changes_before_historic_r">Mary, marry, and merry</a>. Do you all pronounce them the same? Can I just say how grateful I am that Harry's real name is Henry?Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-88964326255803728712010-05-21T01:47:00.000-04:002010-05-21T01:47:52.098-04:00giveaway winnerThe winner is comment number 39. Sara, I just sent you an email asking for your address.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Thanks to everybody for stopping by and offering to give my sad fabric a new home. This was fun, kind of like trick or treating. </div><br />
<br />
I can't wait to fill up the empty space in my drawer with some new stuff...Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-64341484981866962552010-05-16T20:32:00.000-04:002010-05-16T20:32:24.932-04:00give away day<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">If you like blue and beige, today's your lucky day. I have a boatload of blue and beige fabric that I will never use, and which you can volunteer to take off my hands by leaving a comment on this post. Most of it's quilting weight cotton but there's some home dec weight as well as some mysteries. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S-856eZEX2I/AAAAAAAABCE/VSCOKFEHuD4/s1600/DSC02786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S-856eZEX2I/AAAAAAAABCE/VSCOKFEHuD4/s400/DSC02786.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Every time I try to organize my fabric I encounter this pile of blue and beige and think to myself: "gee, I should probably make something blue and beige" but then I lose interest halfway through the project (or sooner) because I have no interest in owning anything in those colors. Therefore, I'm also giving away the makings of several projects in various stages of completion, all featuring said blue and beige fabric:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S-8563yLK5I/AAAAAAAABCI/5WfL5vgc9B4/s1600/DSC02788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S-8563yLK5I/AAAAAAAABCI/5WfL5vgc9B4/s400/DSC02788.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>There's a big stack of two or three inch squares which I had intended to make into another <a href="http://thebigcozy.blogspot.com/2010/02/kitchen-mats.html">bathmat</a> before coming to terms with the fact that I don't want a blue and beige bathmat. There are also some large squares which were probably going to be cocktail napkins. And lastly there are some pieced half square triangles which were going to be coasters much like <a href="http://thebigcozy.blogspot.com/2008/12/giveaway-day-pinwheel-coasters.html">these</a> (from a long ago giveaway day). And there's one sad solitary coaster that only needs to be stuffed with a square of batting and topstitched. <br />
<br />
I also have a stack of truly disreputable prints. Marvel at the ugliness. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S-857J45C8I/AAAAAAAABCM/5HRdcqYNBJA/s1600/DSC02791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S-857J45C8I/AAAAAAAABCM/5HRdcqYNBJA/s400/DSC02791.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>In order to become the proud owner of:<br />
<br />
<ol><li>the big stack of blue and beige fabric,</li>
<li>various half-completed projects AND</li>
<li>random prints</li>
</ol><br />
<b>just leave a comment </b>including whatever information I need to get in touch with you.<b> </b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I'll pick a random winner on Friday, 5/21. I'm not going to ship internationally, so if you're not in the US, sorry. </span></b>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com155tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-38459049989214801292010-05-15T20:53:00.000-04:002010-05-15T20:53:06.001-04:00red dress with peter pan collarI started out with a simple enough plan: remaking an <a href="http://thebigcozy.blogspot.com/2008/06/sewing-spree-part-two-skirt-for-me.html">old skirt</a> into a dress for the baby. But the next thing I knew I was drafting collars and inserting pleats and what have you. And three days later I had a dress. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S-855CnaGcI/AAAAAAAABB4/0D5QxU-drzQ/s1600/DSC02783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S-855CnaGcI/AAAAAAAABB4/0D5QxU-drzQ/s400/DSC02783.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I did the collar the same way I did <a href="http://thebigcozy.blogspot.com/2010/02/peter-pan-collar-blouse-remake.html">last time</a> except<br />
1) I topstitched the finished collar to make it a bit sturdier and less likely to need a heavy ironing, and<br />
2) I attached the collar to the front of the dress and then bound the neckline edges with bias tape.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S-8549jb-nI/AAAAAAAABB0/8NDwP0q-uUc/s1600/DSC02780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S-8549jb-nI/AAAAAAAABB0/8NDwP0q-uUc/s400/DSC02780.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I also topstitched the pleats for the same reason.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S-8559ay-AI/AAAAAAAABCA/346Bm-WfwHo/s1600/DSC02785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eUYIlM7NIaw/S-8559ay-AI/AAAAAAAABCA/346Bm-WfwHo/s400/DSC02785.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I haven't hemmed it yet because I'd like this to fit her for a while, so I need to figure out how to do a very deep hem without it looking bulky. This probably means a blind hem. Stupid missing blind hem foot.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-82653699148230892432010-05-12T10:49:00.004-04:002010-05-12T10:50:12.458-04:00apple pocket dress<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebigcozy/4599957530/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1166/4599957530_65207f42c9.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.8em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebigcozy/4599957530/">apple pocket dress</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/thebigcozy/">thebigcozy</a>.</span></div><p>Well, it started out as a pocket and then I absentmindedly sewed all the way around it, so now it's just an applique. The linen leaves aren't sewed down around the edges (they're just attached with the button) so little hands can amuse themselves by grabbing them.<br /><br />The blue fabric is a sateen sheet that I've used in other projects. Since sheets are huge and kids' clothing is tiny, one twin sheet set is an infinite resource. I have sheets I've been mining for literally years and there's still enough yardage left to bore me senseless.<br /><br />Also: linen bias tape, I love you so much. You make my old sheet look so much better.</p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505945386332842536.post-72923384163607223192010-05-10T12:12:00.002-04:002010-05-10T14:08:11.615-04:00bloomers<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1ktN_UfGNdy0q7SMQCpVY3jT05OU9orGliD8PYDQ6QsZiw5o6kxucw6M6xZoheGBjV5R3Soqq9jJpFgO9Hl04UnTzr56zGxfZTpVEcy_yL6IS5drMyT_eZSI3JDh0A68fOuHun0plsam/s1600/DSC02620.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1ktN_UfGNdy0q7SMQCpVY3jT05OU9orGliD8PYDQ6QsZiw5o6kxucw6M6xZoheGBjV5R3Soqq9jJpFgO9Hl04UnTzr56zGxfZTpVEcy_yL6IS5drMyT_eZSI3JDh0A68fOuHun0plsam/s400/DSC02620.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div><div>Linen bloomers and tiny baby feet. I'm reeling from the sweetness.</div><div><br /></div>They stared out as the bloomer pattern from <i>Weekend Sewing</i> in the 6-12 months size, but I had to make them smaller in every dimension to fit my tiny girl, even with her puffy cloth diaper.<div><br /></div><div>The blouse/smock/dress she's wearing is from last summer's <a href="http://thebigcozy.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html">sewing bonanza</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's what I have lined up for the <a href="http://www.elsiemarley.com/kids-clothes-week-challenge-buttons-rules-and-players.html">Kids Clothes Week Challenge</a>:</div><div><ul><li>a few pairs of summer-weight clamdiggers for Joseph. My little man is strangely prim and modest (when he's not running around in the nude, that is); he's been refusing to wear shorts (also: must wear socks) so light weight calf length pants are our compromise.</li><li>a few dresses for Violet</li><li>more bloomers</li><li>some diapers, which really ought to count as clothing since they're all my kids wear for half the day</li></ul></div><div>Poor baby Harry gets nothing new since we have boatloads of Joseph's old clothing and it's not like he cares one way or the other.</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191408099998696674noreply@blogger.com3