; (

Well, I bought this candy bar:
To send to my sister after her doctor's appointment.

Guess I'll be putting it in the trash.

Can We Say Free Upgrade?

The guy at Hertz (Burbank Airport) was getting ready to put me in a Nissan Versa when he took a look at my ID. He didn't say why, but he upgraded me to this little baby. Oh yeah! When I came to California last October, Enterprise upgraded me to a PT Cruiser, but don't you think this is soooooo much better?

It wasn't totally free: I had to buy a scarf ($4.35) to tame the hair.

Go, ME!

It's a Lemon

This is a Onesie dress I made for Penelope. I used a yellow striped Garanimals brand snap t-shirt from Wal-mart and some really cute lemon and lime fabric from Joann's.


Here are some close ups of the detailing:

After I narrow roll hemmed the length, top and bottom, of the fabric on the sewing machine (if you don't have a narrow roll foot I suggest you invest in one and learn to use it--it's amazingly easy and neat), I used crochet cotton size 10 to do a blanket stitch around the bottom hem.


Then I did a crochet trim around the bottom. The first row was the foundation row of a single crochet in each blanket stitch all the way around. Then it was a shell stitch around that. Easy, and quick. It's too bad the New Mrs. Moulton and I don't live close enough to collaborate on these projects; she's an awesome crocheter and I'm just so-so.

Then it was just the standard sewing on of the skirt to the "onesie". Fun and quick. What I love about this Garanimal "onesie" is the gathered detail at the neckline.

This is the hair bow I made to match the dress. I just "winged" the crochet medallion and sewed the lemon button (which was surprisingly hard to find) onto the center. Then hot glued it to the clip which I had covered with green ribbon.


Happy Knitting/Sewing/Whatever!

Rant

If you need to renew your Driver's License in Utah there are many hoops to jump through now so check out the website for renewal. One of the items needed is your birth certificate or a passport. If you need to obtain your birth certificate DO NOT USE vitalchek.com. They are expensive and hard to get hold of. According to their website, my birth certificate was shipped via FedEx on April 22, it is now May 3 and I have not received it and cannot get any response from VitalChek. I wasted a lot of money and STILL have to go to the Health Department to get my birth certificate.

I am posting this information everywhere I can. DO NOT USE vitalchek.com

Lame!

This is how a date with a movie critic goes:

Me:

"Have you seen . . ., oh! Of course you have."

"Did you like. . ..of course not!"

Duh! Pam!

But it was a lot of fun dissing the Nicholas Sparks movies! Everyone I work with loves Nicholas Sparks so I really have to keep my mouth shut at work. I guess I'm just not that into a "death bomb" in every-single-movie.

No, really I had a great time, I'm just a lame conversationalist. And he doesn't really hate every movie.

Aprons!

Here are two aprons I made last week. One is for my niece's little girl, Yar-Ya (the other one I made her was too small) and the other one went to my DIL to either save for Emily or to gift to someone.

I learned some interesting techniques on these.

This is how to more easily apply bias to a curved edge. The sewing books recommend you shape your bias before attaching. This is to allow the curve to have no tucks or buckles in the final stitching. I used prepared bias on both these aprons--single fold 1" and single fold 1/2". I pressed the curve into both, but found that the narrower bias really could have been sewn on with no curve pressed in. So here is how it's done:

Even though I will be sewing the bottom of the bias strip right on the juncture of the pink and green fabric I put the top of the bias strip along the seam line. I placed lots of pins following the curve of the fabric. Be sure you allow some extra to hang off the edges of your apron (where you'll be hemming the sides). After pinning the bias I then pressed the unpinned edge lightly stretching it. After it has cooled I remove it and get ready to apply it for real this time. See how neat the bias is:



On Yar-Ya's apron I wanted to apply some tatting I had made. Please check out how close I called it. Maybe I should have measured the apron?

I sewed the tatting on by using a very narrow zig-zag stitch. Now I'm going to apply the bias covering the zig-zag. Applying anything on top of anything is most easily accomplished with Wonder Tape. This awesome stuff is double sided 1/4" tape. And it washes out! And it doesn't gum up your needle. Watch Joann's for it to go on sale 50% off when the wall notions are on sale--and then stock up. Here's a picture of how it works:

I put it right along the top of the tatting. Then I put my bias tape on that and edge stitched it.

When the apron was "finished" I wanted more embellishment (it's the old lady in me because the tatting just wasn't enough old lady) so I decided to "sprinkle" the cupcake applique and to embroider "Yum" on the bias tape. Here are the close ups:
I love my niece and I love my DIL so when I sewed on all those beads I tied a knot after each bead before moving on to the next. I didn't cut the thread, but each one is knotted so if the thread breaks only one bead is going to roll.

Here is a close up of the other apron. I hadn't made tatting for it and just wanted to get it done so I figured using a blanket stitch on the bias tape would do. And I wanted to do it on the machine with rayon thread (shine!). Here's an example of why one should always do a practice piece:

Look how you can see the green between the stitches. Yuck! I had used my edge foot for that row and as you can see it was a much better line up (with that stitch) just going with a regular presser foot. So here's how I fixed it because it was impossible to pick out those stitches:



And once again the Wonder Tape bailed me out!





And because we all need a little baby peek:










And now a little "something-something" from my calendar called P@rn for Women:

You gotta read the caption.

You can click on any picture to make it larger.

It's All About the Shoes

I purchased these shoes at Ross for $3.99 awhile before Emily was born. I decided I needed to make something to match them. The colors really do match in real life. There are some interesting things I learned on this item. One was that I decided to make my own yardage to make my own piping. It would have been so much easier to just buy a print; but not nearly as fun. Also when making that yardage it's probably a good idea to go ahead and use the water soluble stabilizer instead of printer paper. The printer paper didn't wash out and it made the fabric very bulky. Also it took one whole spool of thread of each color to do the machine embroidery. But all in all I think it was worth it. A fun trick I learned was when making piping is after ironing the bias strip in half open it back out and run a line of glue stick (water soluble) down the fold and then lay the cording on that. It makes it so much easier to keep that cording in the fold.

Here is picture of the yardage before I sewed it into piping:

You can see why it took so much thread and so much time to make this.





Here is another fun trick/technique I found and implemented:

You take your sleeve pattern and make a new pattern of just the part of the sleeve that's gathered. You then lay this pattern on the bias fold of a square of organza (or fine netting) and cut it out. (Hobby Lobby only had sparkle organza and I was too lazy to drive to Joann's.) Treat the sleeve and the organza as one. After the sleeve is inserted into the bodice pull the sleeve and the organza apart. This keeps the sleeve puffy. Another trick I've heard about regarding ironing puffed sleeves is to just blow a blow dryer into the damp sleeve. Another trick is to put those mesh dish scrubbies in the sleeve while it dries. Another trick: Hire someone to do your ironing ;)

And for the curious as to what I looked like after my chemical peel, this picture is just a few hours later:

Swollen and red. Like a sunburn. Ignore the bad hair; it was clipped back for the duration of the peel which took about 70 minutes. The next day, Saturday, my skin was very, very tight and dry. Sunday I could barely move my face because of the tightness and when I did my face cracked and started to peel like a sunburn. That's the desired process. Today is Wednesday and I have just a little residual peeling around the hairline and in hyperpigmented areas. Nothing was particularly painful except when I used Mack's Cetaphil face wash not realizing it was the one for oily skin. OUCH! I am very happy with the results. My pores are much diminished and my skin is so soft. An added benefit: I didn't have any sweets in my house and I was way too scary looking to go anywhere to get any and so I may have kicked my cravings.

And speaking of soft: I get to see Emily tomorrow (Thursday). I can hardly wait. I haven't seen her in 9 days!

And I do occasionally still knit. I plan on taking some to work with me on Friday.

ETA: Pictures of bias tape makers. I have both kinds and love the Singer since it's automatic. Yes, there is a fine line between laziness and shortcuts. It's $89.99 at WalMart. Unfortunately, I didn't know that and bought mine at a quilting store.

The Onesie Dress

This is Emily's Easter dress that I made for her last week. You can click on the picture to make it really big. I wasn't going to make an Easter dress (Melissa had purchased a really cute one already), but I saw this bunny and egg fabric on clearance at Hancock's and bought some for next year. But at the last minute I decided to add a 1/4 yard to the purchase and make a Onesie dress. I bought the contrasting fabric at JoAnn's. I found the idea for the dress at Lila Tueller Designs. She uses elastic thread wound on the bobbin and I tried, really, really tried to make it work for me. But it didn't. So here is what I did instead:

I used Lila Tueller's length measurement for the skirt and made my strip of bunny fabric and the two contrast fabrics. I used the full width of the fabrics. I cut a strip of the peach fabric twice as long as I wanted the band to be and then ironed it wrong sides together--look Ma: no hem! I sewed the peach fabric strip to the bunny fabris wrong sides together and then ironed the seam towards the peach. The green strip I ran through my bias maker even though it wasn't cut on the bias. This folded the two edges into the center (if you don't have a bias maker you can of course iron it and burn your fingers while you're at it ;). I then laid the green strip over the seam and edge stitched it in place. Then I narrow hemmed the top of the bunny fabric. Then the side seam. I was going to French seam it but it's really hard to French seam over the bulk of the bands. So I just serged it.

Using your seam as one side seam fold the skirt in half and mark that point, fold it half again and mark your center front and center back. Now we're going to gather: Ordinarily you would do your gathering stitch with the right side of the item facing up since you'd be pulling the threads on the wrong side. We'll be pulling the threads on the right side side so sew your gathers with the right side of the fabric down. I gathered at 1/4" and again at about 5/8". Stop your sewing at each side seam, and then start over. It will be so much easier to gather with only having to pull your threads this shorter distance.

Now for the onesie: Mark a line under the armholes--I did it about 1/4-1/2" away. That's going to be the sewing line you're aiming for. Mark the center front and center back of the onesie. And here comes the part where you really need to be careful so you don't have to unpick the skirt (I learned this the hard way). Pin the skirt to the onesie matching your markings. Now follow that "line" down the skirt and the onesie and pin the skirt to the onesie there also in a few more spots. This will help keep the onesie from creeping up into the stitching line and ending up with lots of the body in the wrong place. Pull up the gathering threads to size and pin, pin, pin, pin. You can't have too many pins.

Now set your machine for a narrow and fairly long zig zag stitch so that the fabric will have some stretch. Slip your onesie over the arm of your machine and carefully sew between the gathering threads. Remove your gathering threads and you're done! Easy Peasy.

The flower is just a strip of fabric folded in half and then the raw edges were handsewn to gather. I then sewed a button in the center to hid the raw edges. Since raw edged flowers are so popular it would be really fun to gather the folded edge and then you wouldn't need the button. The leaf was a circle cut free hand. Then it was folded in half and pressed. Then the folded edges were folded to meet in the center, this makes a tear drop shape. Gather the rounded edge and you've got your leaf. Or just go buy a matching flower.

One of Lila Tueller's variations uses fat quarters. Fat quarters are on sale for 99 cents each at JoAnn's April 11-17 for their Daffodil Dash Sale. Also keep a look out at quilting shops; they often run specials on fat quarters--like buy five get one free. And guess what? Lila recommends six fat quarters for her design.

The matching shoes are from a pattern I purchased at The Material Girls Quilt Shop. They were a lot of fun.

I found "imitation" onesies at Dollar Tree for, you guessed it, one dollar. Keep in mind they run really small and shrink up even more. This dress is so easy and fun to make that you don't need to worry about the durability of the outfit since you won't have a lot of time invested in the creating. Plus babies outgrow things at an alarming rate. For which I'm really thankful for because that means more sewing! The 6-9 month size shrank up to (Gerber/Carters) newborn size. I've purchased a pack of Carters onesies and am going to try dyeing a couple of them.

It can't be said enough: Prewash everything. If it's going to be a gift, subject the "raw" materials to the worst laundering you can imagine. Like hot water and a hot dryer.

Now go forth and create and email me your take on the design.

My Sister's Spring Break

My poor sister, Laura. She broke her ankle last fall and it never healed so on March 17 she had to have surgery. I went down there last week to take her a little gift and to sign her cast. And for her to take me to dinner. Yeah, big sisters are cool like that. Here's the dishtowel I embroidered for her. You can't really tell but it's draped over a flamingo pink cast. I would expect nothing less of Laura.

Baby Blessing

Emily Paige Moulton received her name and a blessing on Sunday, March 28, 2010 (which happens to be my parents' wedding anniversary). I had the privilege of making the blessing dress and slip. The dress was smocked and the slip was shadow embroidered--well, the M was. While struggling with the date I could finally see the value in those embroidery machines. I'm sure it's not my eyesight.

Emily was so lucky to have so many of her out-of-the-are family there. Her Great-Grandma Elaine Moulton came down from Twin Falls, Idaho; her Aunt Laura and Uncle Mel came from Provo; her Uncle Brian and Aunt Cindy came from Cache Valley; her Grandpa Kim and Grandma Linda and Uncles Mack and Chris came from California.

Cameron and Melissa had a brunch after: biscuits and sausage gravy. MMMMM

Just A Little

There was just a little Christmas knitting. And the only thing I got a picture of was these mittens I made for my sister, Christine. Come to think of it, it may be the only thing I knit for Christmas. She saw the idea and sent me the link. The original idea used purchase mittens. I thought it would be soooo much better to super size them. Yep, huge.

I'm still not tired of coloring my words.

Shower of Gifts

Emily's Baby Shower was in January. It was an Open House and mom and I went. I was so happy to see the new Mrs. Kim Moulton, Linda, there. She'd made it up from California to do double duty as wedding dress shopping with her daughter and to go to Emily's shower.

Here are the things I made for Emily.





I couldn't resist the monkey flannel even though it's blue. Melissa likes monkeys and it was the cutest monkey flannel I've seen. The brown and pink sweater is from Mason-Dixon Knitting--the Baby Kimono--I used Bernat's Cotton Tot yarn. The dusty pink sweater is a Mary Tripplet pattern purchased at The Unraveled Sheep in Sandy, UT. The orange knitted blanket (yarn is Encore purchased from Unraveled Sheep) was so fun. I'd been waiting a long time to find a reason to purchase that colorway. And of course matching burp cloths.

I was pretty proud of my crocheting (not my favorite craft) until I saw Linda's. That woman can crochet and her stitches are so even and neat. But she doesn't sew or knit or tat. So I'm still "ahead" of the game in an area or two. I'm just saying. Like I know it's not a contest or anything.

Guess who learned to color her fonts?

Wow!

I can't believe it's been that long since I blogged. So much has gone on here. I found out in October that Cameron and Melissa's baby is a girl. You can imagine how excited I've been. Emily Paige Moulton was born on February 21, 2010 at 7 lbs. 12 oz. And she photographs much chubbier; as her proud daddy says: The camera adds 10 ounces.

Here are some of the things I've purchased or made for her: The first things I bought were those shoes; girls' shoes are sooo much cuter than boy shoes! Emily wore the white ones on her blessing day. The two nightgowns I mailed to her. Her name in care of Cameron and Melissa. I wanted her first mail to be from me!

Guess What I'm Becoming?

Come February call me Grandma!