A doll for Grace

Yesterday was Grace's first birthday, and being the Auntie that I am, a special doll was in order. I've been experimenting with making Waldorf-style dolls for a while, and this one is my favorite so far.

She is made from unbleached organic cotton knit fabric and stuffed with organic cotton fibers.
This was my first attempt at button joints for the arms and legs, making them fully poseable but still sturdy. She's weighted with a bag of wheat berries in the body, so she sits well.

And of course, she has a belly button.

Some hair, facial features, a diaper, shoes, and a sweet dress work wonders.

Happy Birthday, Grace.

eggs

Last week, our chickens finally started to lay eggs. So far, only 3 of them are laying, but we are averaging 2 eggs a day.

They are so lazy about it, though. I always thought that hens lay their eggs early in the morning. Perhaps in time for breakfast. But no. One lays around 10 am. Another sometime around 3pm. I haven't figured out the third's egg laying schedule yet.

And none of them lay in their nesting boxes, which we've been religiously lining with soft wood shavings...

No.

Instead they lay their eggs in the rabbit's house.

Cake and Flowers

Friday night, my mom and I were up into the wee hours of the morning creating a wedding cake and flowers for the sister of my mom's coworker. We got the job offer Friday afternoon. And the wedding was Saturday.

Short notice + Wal-Mart flowers + true talent = a lovely wedding

The cake.

The couple's monogram

A centerpiece bouquet

The bride's bouquet

Not pictured: 3 sunflowers be-ribboned for the bridesmaids and a boutonniere for the groom.

I've been busy. Really.

This was a much longer than anticipated break. Sorry. But the good news is that the morning sickness is finally gone. Oh, the magic of the 2nd trimester...

I have been accomplishing things around here, even if this blog hasn't shown much of it:

Recently Completed projects

• 3 handknit Christmas Stockings
• a refinished rocking chair
• a new purse for me

Works in progress

• 3 more stockings
• slippers for Liam
• a birthday present for my niece Grace
• reupholstering our couch

I'm also getting back into the groove of bread baking and tapering off the "easy" dinners, now that I am feeling better.

Here's the rocking chair, before and after.

This was a Craigslist freebie. It was missing a back slat and had an ugly faux oak finish. And those wings on the side.

But it was nothing a lot of sanding couldn't fix... The wings are gone, and the back slat is replaced. The new finish is Olympic's English Walnut.

I'm hoping to be in this space more often ... I guess that remains to be seen.

I can't help myself...

I just love blog giveaways!

Here are the links to several I stumbled across on Grosgrain Fabulous earlier today.

The Amy Butler Birdie Sling bag in the winner's choice of fabrics.

The Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack. Liam would just love this. He has a thing for bags, too.

The Kookles Nursing Cover. I'm hoping this next baby won't object to having something draped over while nursing. Liam hated it. But would sure love it for the sake of everyone else around...

The Gaga Bum Reversible Pinafore. Gabe and I are becoming more and more convinced that we're having a girl. It's really just a sneaking suspicion, but I would love to have a little girl for this pinafore...

I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

a little suit

Liam is going to be the flower boy for Molly's wedding next month, and he needed a little ivory suit. Naturally, I'm making it for him.

It's made from a linen/cotton blend, and I'm using Butterick 6894.

I made the coat first, which turned into several attempts since the pattern was way too big. There was lots of seam-ripping involved, but I finally got it just right.

I reduced the size of the matching vest based on how much I eventually took in the edges on the coat, but it turned out way too small... More seam-ripping. At least I hadn't trimmed the seam allowance yet, so I was able to leave the teeniest of seam allowances and it fits just right.

I wanted to get the full effect for a picture, but I absolutely could not find his white button-up, which I distinctly remember bringing home from the thrift store and washing a month or so ago. It was not hanging in his closet. Not in his t-shirt drawer. Not with the "saving-for-when-they-fit" clothes. Not with the suit materials...

So, here are the coat and vest (sans white collared shirt) on a not-so-willing model.

And here they are hanging up.

I almost have the pants finished, too. Complete ensemble pictures coming soon.

And of course, later that same afternoon, I found Liam carrying around the missing shirt. I still have no idea where he found it...

slip on something new

My mom and brother moved here, to NWA, last week, and they came without furniture. I had spent the previous few weekends trying to scrounge up some Craigslist freebies, which resulted in a dresser, a rocking recliner, a coffee table, an antique iron bedframe, a microwave, an end table, and one ugly club chair.

-exhibit a-

Thanks to Wal-Mart's fabric liquidation clearance a few months back, I had enough of this great faux-suede upholstery fabric to slip -exhibit a- into something a bit nicer. (See -exhibit b- below)

-exhibit b-

And, yes, I gave myself a pat on the back for a job so well done :-)

But of course, this would not have been possible without the zipper my neighbor Trish, ever the crafting trove, supplied at the last minute, interupting her nap, and requiring a stealthy slip around her door because she was sans pants... Sometimes I just love our neighborhood. Thanks again, Trish.