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I have been making quite a few things lately following patterns (usually I just make it up as I go!) So I thought I'de post, since so far, all have turned out pretty well! Around Christmas time, I mentioned this dressfrom Sugar City Shop.This is the first piece of clothing I have ever made, and I am so happy with how it turned out! Ava wore it, and I loved how she looked in it!  Nice wrinkles eh! Since I found their pattern so easy to follow, I quickly ordered the Wanderings coat pattern. When I first saw their red version...it was exactly the coat I was looking for, for Ava. Perfect! I loved making this coat...I can't believe how well it turned out!  and all the details and finishing touches were the very best part!   Oops, looking at this, I realize I forgot to make the cape for my little red....I will have to get on that! So I definatley recommend this pattern, there directions were very thorough and easy to follow. Oh, and the coat is so stinkin' cute, and warm! Some other patterns I have followed lately have been by the fabulous Hilary at Wee Wonderfuls. I have actually made quite a few of her items, they are all so cute, it's not hard to want to make them all! But for Christmas gifts, I made a bunch of those fleecy monkeys for nieces, nephews and friends. So cute, they turned out pretty sweet and were pretty easy to make!  Just last night, I finished up this little guy, from her patterncards.This will be mailing off to my mom soon for her birthday  So I am just sharing these if anyone is looking for ideas. All of these turned out, just as I hoped. Now, I have a bunch of "non patterned" stuff I should get back too! I hope everyone is staying warm!
So...last week we got to ride the Santa Train...which is the El train, they bring out every Christmas here in Chicago. The entire train is fully decorated inside and out, and one train car is removed, and replaced with a platform to hold Santa and his sleigh. They even have elves at each entrance onto the train passing out candy cains.   We took the train to the Christkindle Market which we went to last year too. and I swear the weather is always just so bitter cold, it's hard to enjoy this outdoor event!  There are some really cool indoor shops too...filled with cool German ornanments and so much cute stuff...it hurts.  I did buy a few ornaments this year...since we bought none last year!  a gerkin for each kid.  this bird...Ava was totally obsessed and I don't think we could have left without buying this...or a major temper tantrum!  And this...which is my favorite...so stinkin' cute. There were a ton more like this, and if they weren't so pricey..I would have bought more! And lastly, in the outside booths...I got this little magnet, which again, is so stinkin' cute! 
It doesn't seem to be very accurate on the temperature...but that's ok, it makes me happy to look at it!
Oh, and the older man at this booth, was so nice...he gave us these cute little wooden flowers for the kids
while we were waiting.
I have just about everything ready and finished. Today, is finishing up the last two little girl purses,
making 2 cheeseballs, and packing all our stuff, to leave tomorrow....which I hope the weather allows!
Merry Christmas!
We pretty much have it all "christmassed out" here now  I have the handmades gifts, fairly well along..or I would, if I didn't keep adding "one more thing" to the lis! The little bags for my mom and sisters are done   Man, sorry for the not so great photos lately. I have so much to photograph, but no light! It's snowin' like crazy outside right now! Pretty, but so so cold! I have a bunch of t hese monkeys to make, these little fairy ornaments to finish up with Ava, (they need wings)  Make some biscotti, finish up the baby food jar snowglobes (I am now questioning why I started these!) Hem Ava's dress, and sew on the buttons. And probably some more stuff too...I better get going!
Fri, Dec. 12th, 2008, 05:25 pm
Makin' stuff
I am working away on the homemade gifts this year...much much much in store! That is, if I can finish it all in time! My good friend, asked me to make some little "girly" purses, for some little girlies in her life. Here is what I came up with  I really hope they like them, Ava sure does! Then I felt totally guilty I didn't even think of making one for her! I'll add that to the list, if I get time! The polka dot fabric, the purses are sitting on, will hopefully become a really cute dress for Ava, for Christmas, and any other occasion I can get her in it! It's from this pattern, so I really hope it turns out, as cute as it should! I have lots of other things in the works..so hopefully (for my sake!) I will be posting them all soon! If these kids can take awesome naps, like they did today, it just all may work out! Although, this happens about once a week usually, so we'll see! Good luck to anyone working on the homemade end of things!
So we are gettin' all the Christmas stuff ready and in gear. Yesterday, Ava and I made a gingerbread house. Her Nana gave us this, from a kit, so not the kind you eat (so full of bad things!) But much easier to make. Although the icing was not so easy to work with, I will spare the boring details!  and tah dah!  Ava was especially good at making sure we used every single piece of candy we could! Check out that front garden! She was good at monitoring the icing too, constantly telling me, "whoa, that's too much,!" then removing the excess with her finger! (to eat of course!) More to come!
I have recently listed some new prints in the shop. They are digital prints, from the paintings in my Big Bad Wolf show at Nancy.  important conversation annabelle
Printed on matte paper this time...just because...and all ready in the shop!
I have some plush in the Luv n Hug show again this year, at Gallery Hanahou  It opened yesterday...and the plush are on sale in person,, or online hereHere are my wolfies from the show  These three were printed on fabric through the use of Spoonflowersweet and simple... and then these 2, were a bit more complicated; all handsewn from wool felt  So I am very happy to be included in this show again, along with so many other super talented artists! Fri, Dec. 5th, 2008, 12:19 pm
catch up!
ok, so I've got some major catch up to do. We have hardly been home the last few months...so yeah, I haven't posted since SEPTEMBER!!!! Ok...so here are the final costumes from Halloween! Ava = squirrel and Simon = acorn  and the TAIL!!!  So Ava's was all sewn, and crazy and homemade looking...I don't know that the tail is really intact, it's been through THREE halloween outings now. Simons, was really just a little acorn hat, I crocheted, and a light brown comfy outfit, he already had. Easy peasy. I don't know that many of the candy givers knew what either was....Simon was "baby Bjorned" to me the whole time and Ava...well, people just didn't get it...that's ok though, I was pleased! Next year, I Really, really want them to go as Little Red Riding Hood, and the Big Bag wolf....oh, but Ava might have some opinions of her own on that! OH, yeah...and my little sister, requested I make this hat for her, she originally saw hereI thought, "that doesn't look too hard" so I downloaded the free pattern, and then completely ignored it, b/c I am too impatient to read directions so it works...it's not perfect, but it works! Oh yeah....it's Katamari  as modeled by Ava...and Owly. so that's most of October...I guess! More to come!
So I guess I am trying to make up for having not posted in so long...3 posts in one day! That is a record for me! Anyway, I just wanted to mention The Red Ball Project, which is currently here in Chicago! The red ball is inflated in different locations all over the city, and it is just really cool to see in person! (and fun to follow around the city!) More info here;We got to see it this past weekend with some friends at the Chess Pavillion   The kids loved it!   If you are in the area, you should definitly try to see it at one of the locations here is a schedule of where it will be, and where is has been. Also on a side note...while standing by the bike trail, my husband almost got runover by Vince Vaughn! Haha! He was passing by on his bike, luckily no one was hurt! Wed, Sep. 24th, 2008, 12:05 pm
New Sew!
Fall is coming, more importantly, my favorite...Halloween! I have decided on the kids costumes (b/c I no it will not be my decision for long!) Ava will be a squirrel, and Simon will be the acorn! I have started on Ava's costume, here is a blurry hint at it below  All that I am missing is the tail. Which is actually been the hardest part for me to figure out! But yeah, it looks really homemade! haha! I haven't started on Simons yet, but b/c he is so small, his will be very simple, like, he's gonna' wear brown, and I am making a little acorn hat for him to wear. I will likely be holding him the entire time anyway! So the more comfortable the better! I also made up a whole new batch of plush guys to send to the Renegade Handmade Chicago store,Monster Heads, just in time for Halloween!  My favorite, are the skulls!  I may keep a few of these for my self! I thought of them last year, but never had the chance to sit down and make 'em! So I am so happy to finally have made them! I may make a few more elaborate ones, embroidered, for Day of the Dead! (if I can find the time!)
Fri, Sep. 5th, 2008, 04:00 pm
Finished
Just a quick shot of my Pixelated Forest..off to Nancy for Plush You 4 as we speak! Ava was kind enough to help me photograph them all!  I wasted so much timing taking photos when it was overcast and rainy the other day...then photoshopping the heck outta' them to look presentable. So today it was all nice and dry out...so I took Ava (oh yeah, and Simon on my hip the whole time!) and the forest outside...and perfect photos! Amazing what the sun can do! Speaking of shows at Nancy... my "big bad wolf" paintings are showing there this weekend Sept. 12  this is serious
 eliot almost overSome of the paintings... (see them all here)and then this village of little houses;  all accompany the paintings as well. The square paintings all have wooden houses on top, and a few even have birdcages, with little houses inside of them!  So alot of work, but I am so happy with it all, especially now that it is done! More later...I know it has been so long since I posted...but I have more to show, soon soon! Fri, Aug. 8th, 2008, 04:28 pm
So our backyard/garden may just be my very favorite spot in our house, er out of it.
It is all thanks to my husband Paul, he is the gardner, a bit obsessive..but it pays off!
I love having all those vegetables and herbs just right there, in the back yard.
Also, it makes me try some things I would probably not have made otherwise.
The latest dishes are;
From our many, many tomatoes...just starting to change to red,
Full of all those perfectly green tomatoes
So of course we had to try Fried Green Tomatoes
They turned out pretty tasty!
I kind of read a bunch of recipes, and picked and chose what I liked from each. These
are mostly from a Paula Deen recipe, using corn flour.
Next...I think my very favorite herb may be basil...and we have TONS of it growing in our backyard.
This is not all we have...we have some growing in the ground too, TONS OF IT.
What better way to use this up, then yummy basil pesto!
This is so good...and for this I just mixed a bunch of basil, olive oil, toasted
pine nuts, parmesian cheese, and 3 gloves of garlic...food processed to this
consistency.
So so good!
We used it to make chicken pesto in pasta last night, and that was so tasty!
Then we have the rhubarb.
It was already growing in the garden when we moved here...and I never really
knew what to do with it.
How perfect when I came across angry chickens recipe here..for
rhubarb handpies
These turned out so good too...really good. My very favorite recipe for the rhubarb so far!
So that is all the garden fun for now...just enjoying it until the winter comes and takes it away again...sigh.
Have a great weekend all!
Wed, Jul. 30th, 2008, 09:54 am
We like food
More work, not too much to show at the moment here.
We have been eating blueberries like crazy around here.
I made some great blueberry muffins, while my parents were in town visiting last week.
From Miss Martha of course!
And then we just eat them whenever we can! These are long gone now!
Ava's latest food request, is that her food be "a face"
So breakfast, lunch and dinner (lunch is the easiest) I am trying to figure her food into some kind of face.
It makes her so happy, every single time...like she has never seen it before;
"oh look mommy, a face!"
she says, every time!
But I will say, if you have a picky eater, you may want to give this a try. She is more likely to eat those "eyes" but maybe didn't
want to eat '"carrots", etc.
It's just fun, and becoming a little addicting.
Vegetables are still the hardest to work in there, just because she doesn't like them too much.
ok, back to work!
Fri, Jul. 11th, 2008, 10:59 pm
our butterfly
So as I had mentioned earlier, we found this caterpillar in our backyard...eating all the dill!
Ava loved it...we had this swanky "bug jar" from her Nana, so I thought we would try to keep the little guy.
so in the jar he/she went...and Ava very appropriately asked to read the Very Hungry Caterpillar that night.
I researched a bunch online (I love google!)
so as not to kill or hurt the little guy.
He ate and ate and pooped like you wouldn't believe!
Then, after 2 days...he searched up and down his stick we provided...and spent a full day hanging out like this
Not moving, eating or POOPING even! Just hanging there.
This is where I was so glad I did the research online, b/c while Paul thought maybe we killed the poor thing, I knew
he was preparing his chrysalis!
and I was right, the next morning he looked like this;
so cool.
Interesting...though, i could not find anywhere, how long this phase would last. Everyone seemed to have their opinion.
"At least 2 weeks"..."one week", and on and on...again I was just hoping he/she would make it!
Then we had a weekend out of town, and I was assured by everyone...this guy has at least a week before it would , uh, "hatch?"
so for the fourth of July weekend, we left the bug jar at home...and figured a few days away would be fine...since it can't eat, or really
do anything.
Well, what a surprise, when we got home, I looked in the jar...the cocoon, looked funny, I thought...then i realized it was empty!!!!
Then I see our dear butterfly hanging from the underside of the lid!
Again, so cool.
So we brought the new butterfly back outside, and set him/her free!
He/she just hung out in the jar the whole time...so we had to just leave it near the dill plant we found it on, and hope for the best.
We haven't seen the fella' since...so I hope all is well!
It's funny, I felt so proud for the little butterfly..it seemed so much to accomplish (even though I am aware it happens all the time--just not near my kitchen window)
Ava was just keeping her play bugs in this jar, so it's pretty cool, of all things, we got to keep a caterpillar in here.
She was so excited to see the butterfly! It was really such a neat thing to see!
Ahhh, summer.
Now if it would just cool off again and bring us some ripe tomatoes!!
Tue, Jul. 1st, 2008, 02:41 am
WIP
I am hardly posting..but still working away!
I have a list of stuff to make in my head...but at the forefront..are all the things I need to make for
upcoming shows!
Here is what I have so far;
Some plush for the Plush You 4 show in Seattle...coming up!
They are much larger versions of the Robot Forest.
and those new paintings for my show at Nancy, in Sept
They are getting 3 dimesional..a bit.
The start of the "big bad wolf" series....after all those sketches!
Not the best photos I know...I guess they are kinda' WIP too!
More to come!
Have you seen the giveways here!
insanly cute handmade clothes...and she's giving them away!
check it out!
Well, I could totally just blame the summer, and all things slowing down for my lack of posts....but,
well..I think once I stop...I just get out of the routine...and keep putting it off!
We have been out of town a bunch too!
But now we are home...and enjoying the backyard, as things are blooming, and our veggies are really starting to grow!
We have a bunch of good stuff, green beans, broccoli, peppers, of course tomatoes!
Those will be esp. appreciated with the tomato scare at the moment!
Ava, who is loving bugs this summer, found (or well really Paul found this guys eating all our dill!)
a caterpiller!
So I googled some stuff on this guy...he seems to be a Black Swallowtail butterfly
So i can keep him alive and all happy!
Well, I better go, I hear the kids calling for me already!
I will try to post more as I can...I have so much stuff I need to make...
So I finally finshed Simon's quilt
Well almost finished. There are a few little pockets hidden in the squares...that I plan to make little
stuffed guys, to go inside.
I'll work on that soon and share.
Simon seems to like the quilt well enough too
I guess he is as interested as he can be! haha!
Also I just ordered my first little bit of fabric, printed with one of my illustrations from Spoonflower Beta....
I can't wait to see how it turns out...and what else I can do with this!!
Hope everyone had a Happy Memorial Day!
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