On Blogging and Babies

I come here with a common complaint, especially among mothers; there are just not enough hours in the day. With 2 jobs, 2 “jobs”, 2 children, a house and a husband, things are definitely hectic.

Not that I’m complaining.

Thankfully, everybody has overcome their various illnesses, the baby has finally cut her teeth and my back problems seem to be taking a break. Summer vacation has begun. I am starting projects for this summer, several of which will be made into posts.

This is more of an explanation post, really. Explaining my long, though productive, absence. I have 6 book reviews coming, along with several sewing posts. I’ll be putting them up as I have time to edit and upload. The sewing posts will definitely be picture and, occasionally, math heavy.

So, until next time, happy reading and stay creative!

Sunday Kilts: Star Wars Love

Well, I'm thinking I'll start doing a Sunday filler, just to make sure there's something here.

Yeah, I'm just looking for an excuse to post hot guys in kilts. Can you blame me?

Gotta show some love for those Jedi's who can totally rock the kilt.

Anybody else think Rob Roy is one of the most romantic movies ever?

Making a kilt

This is not a "How-to" post. I may write one of those later, complete with pictures and diagrams. I'm not working on any right now and, with this economy, I don't expect to be doing any for a while. Most of the people who've approached me about it are generally a bit taken aback by how much it costs.

I don't make Utilikilts. They are very cool and quite reasonable in price. They are also their own company (go figure!).

The kilts I make are designed to fit the person I'm making them for. I take measurements and everything. I also use real, 100% wool tartans and I sew them by hand. It's really the only way to get them to lay just right. You can get close with a machine, I'm not saying you can't, but an iron, needle and thread is the best way.  I've been told I do it the "authentic" way but, really, what's "authentic?" A brief look at the history of the kilt will show that, depending on how far back you go, I'm doing it the wrong way.

The question I get asked the second most, usually after "How much does it cost?", is "where do you get the fabric from?"  I buy all my tartan fabric through Scotweb. They have the best quality of tartan fabric I've ever found and every tartan pattern I've ever looked for.

I was honestly surprised by what 9 yards of wool tartan looked like in the box when I first got it.

9 yards of quilting cotton doesn't fold down that small!

It was so soft and easy to work with, I just loved it.
The finished product didn't turn out so bad, either.

That's the Irish National tartan and the young man had just tried to climb a Jacob's ladder at the Renfaire. I'm surprised there's not still hay on it.

I need to make more of these. Not just because I love a man in a good kilt but because the fabric is a joy to use and soft to handle.

It's March?

Holy Carp! Where did the time go? What happened to February? I'm not ready for January to be over yet! Eep!

Ok, so, I've been a little busy. Between designing, writing and proofing the newsletter for my Mom's team (it's very cool but not allowed to be seen outside the company), reading review copies for book reviews (which are coming! I promise!), designing a hoodie for a friend, designing corsets for myself a couple other lovely young ladies, I've also gotten addicted to a new website.

Spoonflower is possibly one of the coolest sites I've come across in a long time. A quick search for "geek" fabrics brings up all sorts of cool stuff.
Such as:

This one's by SamuraiSmurfette

this one's by Chronically Uncool

Here's one of mine:

People occasionally post pictures of things they made with the fabric and it's so much fun. I could spend several thousands dollars on the site and not make a dent in what I want to purchase. I'm considering selling plasma to fund my fabric habit.

So, more posts coming soon! I promise! With pictures of completed projects!

Coming Soon

Well, the holidays are over and I am mostly moved in. I say mostly because, well, silverware. And that's all I'm saying on that subject.

On to other subjects!!

I love talking to the men-folk in my life about shopping. Mostly, this is because we have the same favorite places to shop. My personal opinion is that, any dedicated sewer or crafter who doesn't know their way around the local hardware store is doing themselves a very serious disservice. Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be pointing out some of the treasures that can be found at your friendly local hardware store.

Bath Time

Today has been mostly awful with moments of being completely terrible. The moving process is taking its toll, complete with a broken boxspring and missing baby bibs. Half of my sewing stuff is in boxes in the corner of the living room, the other half taking up space in my mom's basement. My fabric stash is safely stowed in the back of my dad's truck (with the cover on) and I have no idea where my ribbons are.

With a baby who's starting to teethe and is thus absolutely miserable and a first grader who is begging for attention and insists that he help take care of his baby sister, the kids have me ready to pull out my hair. Add much well-meaning, though occasionally condescending, advice and most of the adults in my life have me there, too.

Needless to say, I'm a bit stressed at times.

Every day at 7pm, everything comes to a screeching halt, and my world turns pink and baby scented.

7 o'clock is bath time for my Panda and we both need it. She's started eating solid foods and they get everywhere. I've threatened to strip her naked and feed her in the bathtub and one of these days I may follow through on that.

Splashing and giggling in the warm water tires her out and winds her down at the end of the day. Washing her and playing with her as she splashes and screeches gives me a break and reminds me of my sense of perspective.

Panda dislikes getting out of the tub, even as her eyes droop and she searches for her thumb. We tickle and giggle getting her pajamas on and I nurse her just before bed. She falls asleep in her bassinet, covered in a pink blanket that says, much to my protest, “Princess”.

Girding my loins, I step back out into the world to deal with the latest crises that popped up while I was in my happy place but I got my down time and I'm ready for what the world and this moving adventure has to throw at me.

Telling a good story

What is it? How does one do it? What do you mean "good"?

Just a preview of what I plan to tackle in January, along with the regularly unscheduled shenanigans.

I'll leave you with some advice from Gaelic Storm: