MommyCoddle

good things to know

1. Always check your barley

...before you shake a big pile of it into your hot bubbling stew that has been happily cooking along in the crockpot all day. Because that barley---that you didn't store in an airtight container--just might be laced with tiny bugs that you'll dump into the stew before noticing them wriggling and writhing around in the hot broth. And you'll hurriedly scoop out as many of the offensive bugs as you can, but when you take a big ladle full from the bottom, there'll still be a few stray deceased offenders floating in it.   

2. You can't register for classes at the local community college

....if you're on academic probation. If, last year, you accidentally signed up for pottery workshop as a credit class instead of an audit, and then you had a difficult pregnancy and didn't do one stitch of pottery, and your professor called you two days before the end of the semester wanting to go over your goals and see your work, and you had nothing, he'll give you an F. And if you have an F on your permanent record, you can't sign up for pottery again (as an audit) without dragging your three children over to Student Services to meet with an academic advisor who will give you permission to take another class. You're never too old for a little academic probation.

3. Don't give your daughter a sharpie

...and tell her to draw her best bird on the muslin cloth so that you can embroider it, without first giving her some direction. Because she'll draw a really good bird on the cloth, one that you really love, with wing bars, but she'll draw it so close to the edge of the cloth that you won't be able to fit it into the embroidery hoop. And the project that you wanted to sit down and work on right away that evening to unwind, will have to wait until you figure out a way to get more room around the edges of that very good drawing of a bird. But then she'll draw you two flowers to work on instead, and that will make you happy. And as you work, you'll realize you really know nothing about embroidery, but it's extremely relaxing and it just might be your new thing.

for the mouthy one

I made this wee patchwork blanket for Elizabeth yesterday. The child loves to suck on fabric--a girl after my own heart. She's not picky-- she'll yank a piece of her onesie into those gums or gnaw the dishtowel over my shoulder or the tag hanging off the playmat where she spends some serious time. If she spits up, she gets the purest pleasure if I mop out the insides of her mouth instead of just dabbing up the stuff making a mad dash out of the corner of her mouth, down her cheek and behind her ear lobe.

It's all made with things I had on hand--including some of Kristen's fabric and a perfectly worn piece of flannel from my grandmother's old sheets for the back. It is something I'm really trying to stay committed to lately--the ideas of economy and getting as much life out of an item as possible. Of course, you had to know I'd have a Wendell Berry quote for this one, too:

“Granny was sitting by one of the windows with her sewing basket and button box and a heap of Graddaddy’s and Uncle Ernest’s work shirts beside her on the table. She was patching torn places and replacing buttons, making the shirts last. She too was not making a sound. She was under the spell of her own quietness in the quiet house, and was enjoying being alone”. 

I love that. And if Elizabeth decides that this just might be a favorite thing --(Elizabeth, I so won't mind if you decide that), then I hope it gets full of patches and extra stitches. I'm sure I can find lots of life in it.

more with the tag-team theme

In keeping with the theme of tag-teaming (or not) in life, Emma and I have been working on this new soft horse for her this week. It was definitely a tag team effort in the sense that it was like working with an editor-in-chief constantly over my shoulder:
"I think its ear is a little too long."
"The nose looks funny."
"Why do the legs look backwards?"
"Don't you think it would look better with a smaller head?"
"Well, in real life, a horse's mane, forelock (yes, she used the word forelock), and tail would all be the same color."
"Don't you think you should put a little more stuffing in it's neck?"

I really do believe that part of her was making plans for something more than just a little stuffed pony. She was putting so much thought and effort and detail into this pony, I think she was secretly hoping it might magically become the real thing.

The other night as I was leaving her room at bedtime I saw some serious eye-squinting, hand-clasping and feverish whispering. I asked her what she was doing and she told me she was making a wish. I put it all together when the following morning she ran outside (in her pajamas) to check the barn to see "if her wish had come true." This girl is pining away for the real, living, breathing version of the one we just made together.

So after much help in the 'design' phase of everything, I worked on stitching it up and adding the mane and tail. It was pretty fun making the hair. I just pulled lengths of yarn through the fabric and knotted them so they wouldn't slip during any braiding or brushing sessions.

I love crafting for my children. I've said before on here, that there's something different and special when you're making something with someone in mind, especially someone you love. But I do look forward to the day when we'll be taking turns at the sewing machine or with the needle and thread.
That will be special in its own way, too.

{kind of}making the cut

When I get a piece of fabric that I love, I have a hard time cutting in to it. It's silly really, because why have it hiding away in my cupboard, when it could be made into something I might actually use and enjoy. I don't know what it is. For one, I just don't trust my sewing skills enough. And I can never decide what it is worthy of becoming--a simple pillow, a quilt, a bag...? So, the truth is, I've got a big stash of fabric that I love and have yet to work up the courage to actually cut into. Cutting, stitching--it's all so permanent.

But, when Kristen sent me a new batch of fabric recently, she made me promise I'd cut into some of the fabric that she'd given me in the past. So this week I finally worked up the nerve and put some to use. Technically, I did cut the fabric but I think this is really baby steps in my "favorite fabric cutting therapy".

I got the four cork board tiles at Target. And my initial thought was that I would use these as little inspiration boards above my desk. But once they were all made, the idea of sticking little pins through the beautiful fabric was too painful to think about. So they became some fresh artwork for above the bed.

So I did it. Baby steps, but I did it.
And a big thank you to my husband who measured and hung the boards while I got to slip out of the house and run a few errands all. by. my. self. xo.

practical sewing, bedtime drama and the recipe

My creative life lately has been filled with very practical things--like sewing up a gaping and quite revealing hole in my husband's work-as in saturday outside, hard labor-pants, replacing buttons, and appliqued washcloths.  Which obviously means that my sewing machine is working now. Thank you for all your suggestions. I did almost all of them, so I really have no idea what worked. But new bobbin, new needle, rethreaded, screws tightened, dust vacuumed...it's working.

But back to the washcloth....it's a small part of Dan's and my attempt to work through some bedtime battles. The girls share a room now, and the struggles have been escalating since Elizabeth was born. It's call you in a million times, get all settled and tucked into bed then remember you have to go the bathroom, grumbling because your sister is talking, whining because your "tummy hurts", bad attitude, hyper-active, over-tired--you name it, we're experiencing it at bedtime.

When we first put them in the same room it was heaven. Dan and I would be dumb-struck, sitting in the living room waiting for the little voices to call out to us, but they never did. It was like they were so happy to be together, they didn't need us anymore. I guess the charm has worn off.

And really there's nothing worse than ending your day with them with these struggles and anger and frustration, especially for Dan, who's time with them when he gets home from work is already limited.

SO, we're making some changes around here. (how many times have I said that on this blog?) Starting with adopting my grandmother's (mother of 15, granola recipe to follow) strict bedtime philosophy. Many times since we've lived here on the farm with her, I've heard her mention how they would call the children in from playing at 7:30, even in the summer when there was still plenty of light for playing, and all the other neighbor children were still awake and available.
Granted, I don't have quite so many children to get ready for bed but we'd been letting bedtime slip later and later this summer and the kids were so tired...ugh. it was just horrible. So we've established a "time to come in" time--a tiny bit later than my grandmother's but still early by previous standards. And we've established a bedtime routine.

Part 1:
after dinner before before you can go outside, play, swim, etc, the girls must have three things on their pillow:
--pajamas
--a book
--whatever stuffed they are sleeping with

Then, once we come in, we have a bedtime routine:
1. Get on pajamas
2. Brush teeth
3. Wash hands, face (usually legs, feet and arms in the summer)
4. Go to the bathroom
5. Get a cup of water for beside your bed
6. Get in bed
7. Story
8. Pray
9. SLEEP

It seems like a lot of steps, but really all those bathroom steps flow together. I mean, we've tried everything but a real routine, so I'm hoping this helps. And we took down their bunk beds until further notice. (It seems to help mary to be able to see emma. She doesn't call us in as much.) And as I write this many of you are probably thinking, "Duh, molly, we all already have a bedtime routine, this is nothing new...", but I'm pretty sure we all still have a few bedtime battles that we fight each night. Ours has just grown quite a bit, lately.

So what does this have to do with a washcloth? Well, the day I introduced the new routine, we sat at the kitchen table and drew little pictures of all the steps--I never thought I'd spend so much time trying to teach emma how to draw a toilet...and then I gave each of them their own appliqued washcloth to hang on the hooks by the sink. Just trying to drum up some enthusiasm for the new routine, you know?!

It's day three of "Project Bedtime Routine" and it seems to be helping. Things seem calmer at bedtime. And I do believe that children like a little routine and structure and regularity in their lives. I do, too. I'll keep you posted on how this works. Parenting is contstant evaluation and adjusting, isn't it?!

+++++
So, this is really long. Thanks to those that stayed with me.
I think I"ll save the recipe for Monday. If you're desperate for it, let me know and I'll email it to you. I just finished up my jar of it and want to make some this weekend, too.

mmm bop{py}

Elizabeth was starting to get a little bored with the life of resting flat on the floor on her quilt. So yesterday I decided to gave her a little support and whipped up my version of a boppy for her. It's made from some fabric I've been hoarding for probably more than a year now and the under side used up that last big piece of some brown and white seersucker.
It's nice because it props her up a little bit so that she can see all the action going on around her and it helps control those flailing baby arms.

I also added loops on the sides in case I ever want to hang it up and out of the way on the back of her door, or if I want to add a few links of toys for her when she gets a little older.

I think she likes it.

And it's also good for viewing her favorite music box toy--which at this moment I'm realizing is basically baby TV....hmm. not sure how I feel about that.

And because it's friday and this heat and humidity is making me slap-happy, I leave you with some profound lyrical words, straight from the lips of Hanson (it gets really good in that last verse):

In an mmm bop, they're gone
Plant a seed, plant a flower, plant a rose
You can plant anyone of those
Keep planting to find out which one grows
It's a secret no one knows
It's a secret no one knows
No one knows

Mmm bop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, Ba du dop
Ba du bop, Ba du dop
Ba du

In an mmm bop they're gone.
In an mmm bop they're not there.
In an mmm bop they're gone.
In an mmm bop they're not there.
Until you lose your hair. But you don't care.

the best kind of sewing

Really, I could never sew for a living. 
I realized yesterday, as I was happily stitching along on a project for my cousin's birthday, that my best sewing comes when I'm inspired by who the gift is for. The reason I say I couldn't sew for a living is because part of my realization yesterday was that my best work happens when I'm sewing with a specific person in mind. Yesterday it was my four year-old cousin. (yes, you get cousins younger than your own children when your father comes from a family of fifteen) He's a soft-spoken, chubby-handed little boy in  gold, wire-framed glasses who knows more about tractors than most grown men. He'll drool over glossy Case IH literature like some kids drool over chocolate frosted cake.

So in the final hours before his party (and in the final minutes trying to take three pictures by ugly overhead light), I became inspired to make him a tractor to lay his head on, to usher him off into his own, personal, machinery dreamland. And I tell you the project couldn't have gone more smoothly. Each piece of fabric fell into place--the colors, the prints. Not a stitch (well maybe one or two) fell out of line. It just came together perfectly. And not because I think I'm the end all of pillow-makers, but because I think that when I'm sewing from my heart everything falls perfectly in to place.

the stockings: (un-hung)

It was beautiful outside this morning when I snuck out in my pajamas and slippers to get logs for the fire from the barn. Everything is icy and grey and pink. My camera doesn't even begin to capture what my eyes are taking in...

I finished stockings yesterday--one for Mary and one for Emma. It was such a relaxing project and while I was in the midst of fabric scraps and ironing boards and little hairs of thread everywhere--it was cozy and warm--holiday crafting feels good.

today's project...

...stockings for Emma and Mary. Usually I hang two wool stripey ones that I bought from Martha Stewart's catalog, which I miss...but they are packed away in Wisconsin, so it's the perfect excuse to finally make some of my very own, which I've been meaning to do for years.

This morning I went over to the "big house" to help my grandmother make granola. She makes a gigantic batch. The first ingredient is "five pounds of oats". She mixes it in two huge--I'm baking for an army-sized mixing bowls with long wooden spoons. So we each took a bowl and stirred away. It bakes for several hours and gets turned and stirred every fifteen minutes. Now I know why she only makes it for the holidays and special occasions. It was wonderful working along side her this morning.

While I was over there she also offered me some of the stockings she used to use. We went upstairs to her closet and she pulled out her bag of Christmas stockings. And they were the real deal--literally thigh-high stockings-but thicker than what we would think of today. She said there was a name for them but she couldn't think of it at the time. I guess "the stockings hung by the chimney with care" really meant stockings, not the wool, embellished types we're all hanging today. I love it.

turkey(s) with stuffing

I'm still working my way down that to-do list. Yesterday was 'place cards' for the kids at thanksgiving dinner. My place cards are pretty non-traditional--these stuffed turkeys will be at each plate along with a little name tag strung around their middles.

There are five turkeys in the clutch (brood? what do you call a nest full of turkeys?) And the worst part was cutting out those knobby-kneed legs.
Emma is having a hard time distinguishing between turkeys and chickens. Every time we pass one of those over-the-top inflatable turkey yard ornaments, she laughs and says, "mom, did you SEE that chicken??!!" And no, Emma, these are not the chickens for the kids at Thanksgiving. These are the turkeys--for the tenth time!!

(this one's my favorite because I put his feet on backwards)

Perhaps her forgetfulness is closely related to the fact that "it hurts inside her horehead (forehead)", the skin below her nose matches the color of her rosy-red lips, and I listen to her sniff and snort every twelve seconds. Yes, two days before thanksgiving, I'm nursing two babes back to health. Mary has pretty much the same symptoms as Emma, along with a nasty fever. I like those fevers because it means her body is fighting off the sickness. (right, mom?) We barely made it to the drug store for grape Tylenol and the library for a few movies before everyone collapsed in tears in the parking lot. (I did manage to hold back tears of my own, tho').

Now, they're both under quilts on the sofa watching Kipper. Emma is sucking her thumb and rubbing her belly and Mary is sucking her hand (yes, her hand--just below the thumb) and rubbing back and forth right under her nose.  My little lumps on the sofa. Eventually, I'll drag them off for chicken noodle soup and naps....And I'll take the quiet afternoon at home to get laundry done and my pies and bread made before we head to western Maryland on Thursday.

getting in touch with my preppy teen horse-girl, farmer's market, trendy mom-self.

Phew. Can you tell I have lots of projects on the brain?
It seemed like last week was one filled with phone calls and emails packed with possibility. For starters, I finally got in touch with the manager of the farmer's market. They are definitely still interested in hiring me to blog for the market, but now I need to prepare a presentation to present to the board members next week. It's a mixed bag of people--including some who want nothing to do with the internet or email and have never even heard of a blog. But I'm excited to share with them my ideas and yours. I have such a passion for farmers markets and all that they stand for. And I'm thrilled to be part of it.
Then another possible project came up that will definitely involve me getting in touch with my preppy-teen-horse-girl side. A friend in the horse community got in touch with me about working on personalizing horse blankets, saddle covers and other "girlie" accessories. Apparently, these girls like all their horsey attire to match, even down to the cuff (that's my idea). So we're working on patterns, collecting ideas, and gathering ribbons in all those preppy colors like hot pink and green and red and navy stripes. I've been googling things like 'preppy horse ribbon' and 'matching saddle pads and covers' and 'teen horse apparel' to get myself in the proper mindset.

And if those two things aren't enough to keep my brain happily busy, I've also heard about another possibility at a trendy mother/baby store downtown. They opened this summer and the shop owners-a mother/daughter team-are looking for some unique handmade items from local crafters. So I've been brainstorming ideas of items that I want to take down to the store to share. The girl who told me about the shop had already told the owners about some of my projects and they are interested in seeing things. Honestly, I'm feeling very intimidated by it all. I've never approached a shop owner like this before, and I'm not exactly sure the best way to go about it. Knowing she already has some interest in what I'm doing helps. But I think I'd like to put together some sample work. I'm thinking embroidered tees and onesies....(is embroidered the right word? when I say that I think some people think of machine-embroidery instead of fabric embroidery) and maybe some personalized totes and cuffs. Ugh.

We'll see. I think I'll just start putting things together and see what comes of it. I raided my overflowing scrap basket today and began checking out some of these blank baby tees that I really like.

So, there's much going on in my brain these days. But it is all very exciting to me. I've really been looking for opportunities to make a little bit of extra income on the side, so maybe one of these possibilities would help.

Oh, and that first picture is Emma's pencil can. Yesterday, she opted to clean her room instead of nap. She's at the age now, where she's napping about three days a week and the other days she spends some time in her room 'resting'. She got this mad cleaning buzz that included reorganizing her pencils into said container and setting the dinner table. She even managed to get some "school" done with me, too.

Do any of you mother's of lefty's out there notice that your children write their words and letters backwards? She can spell certain words, like her name, perfectly, but they are mirror-image backwards. Today I had her putting plastic alphabet letters in order and half of them she placed down were backwards. I'm not worried. I really think it must be a left-handed thing that shel'll grow out of. But I'm wondering if anyone else notices this same quirk with their children....?

I spoke too soon...

...in my last post about avoiding my sewing machine. But this week, I was inspired by the fabric in a present that arrived from Didine. (is anyone else having trouble finding her blog lately?) It was definitely screaming "fall skirt for Emma".

I traced a skirt of Emma's that has a really nice length and fit. But, duh, didn't think about the fact that the skirt had an elastic waist. When I measured this skirt's waist, I realized that I needed to gain some more room. (a lot more room). Emma was napping when I was sewing, but I keep a little notebook beside my sewing machine with notes, including the girls' measurements (very handy), so I knew it was going to be tight.

I tried putting a little v-notch at the back of the waistband with a ribbon and button closure. But when I tried it on her, it was still too small. So now, Mary is the proud owner of a new (albeit a little long) fall skirt, and Emma and I are in the process of picking out some new fabric for a better fitting one for her.

The weather is absolutely beautiful here today. The wind has come in this afternoon blowing out grey skies and rain. I'm looking forward to a few more evenings like this over the weekend.

(FYI: since I took this picture, we've removed the wooden train, plastic box of blocks, wooden chair, and table holding my bags of precious clay, away from the blazing fire...!)

Jennifer Turkington's pottery smock

If you don't get the reference in my title, you're missing out on a fantastic read-aloud with your children. I highly recommend  checking it out of your library this week. It's one of the Emma and Mary's favorites.

So, this pottery smock obviously isn't Jennifer Turkington's, but it is mine! I get covered in glaze and muddy clay when I work, so an apron of some sort has been on the brain for awhile. When I was working at the college a few weeks ago, I saw a school-issue royal blue smock hanging on the back of the door. Not much exciting about it, except for the wonderful pattern. So I swiped it for the day, traced it, modified a bit, and then made it a little more me.
It is made out of a gigantic thrifted linen tablecloth I found here. with two pockets in the front, cotton tape ties at the sides, and bias tape (which I'm slightly obsessed with at the moment).
By the way, I have yet to find the 'sweet spots' for taking pictures in our new place...and I'm especially horrible at taking the mirror shots. we won't talk about how many it took to get this pathetic shot.

even a pillowcase dress feels hot

It's hot here. Aren't most of us going to be saying that this week? Just in time for a heatwave, I made these pillowcase dresses for the girls. They were so easy I couldn't stand it. Emma's was first--I love the fabric of this pillowcase, but sometimes I chuckle when I see her in it because it has such a 'housedress' look to it. And Mary literally stood beside the sewing machine while I pounded out one for her.

(the heat makes her grumpy--just like her mom.)
These dresses have elastic at the neckline and bias tape binding around the arm holes which then becomes the ties at the shoulders. There's a fantastically(is that a word?)  simple tutorial here.

In other news.....I have picked six names out of the hat for the fabric giveaway from the birthday post. Instead of choosing which fabrics everyone will get, I'm going to let it be first come first serve with with six winners....leave me a comment to let me know which of the three fabrics you'd like. There are two pieces of each available--retro orange flowers, small red/orange print, and blue birds/horses/flowers. Leave a comment so that others can see what's available. I'll send you an email to get your mailing address:
the six winners are:
BLAIR
GKGIRL
EIREANN
ALICIA A.
MICHELLE
KRISTA

Stay cool everyone. We can be found here:
(and for the record, she wouldn't even go past her waist at the beginning of the summer)

a hiccup in the plans

I turned on my digital camera two days ago and got no response--batteries charged, all parts seemingly intact...but nothing. I couldn't believe it--I had a desktop full of buttons and pendants ready to post on etsy, two little sewing projects to share. I told my husband I couldn't imagine a day without my camera---he told me it was an idol. Thanks, honey.
I'm starting to think that I'm a walking disaster zone--the broken cars, digital camera, and to top it off--yesterday, I was sweeping my bathroom floor and I bumped into the sink and it fell off the wall! (apparently this has happened before and my dad came to the rescue) but c'mon, I'm starting to wonder about myself!
Anway...my girls are champing at the bit to visit the thrift store this morning, their chance to play with "junky toys", and I'm fiddling with my  new camera (thank you, Mom--another slightly early bday gift!) So here's a few pictures of a little weekend sewing project...two very different looking elephants. One named "horse" by Mary, and the other "sally" by Emma.

"Horse" came first:

My plan was for a simple design, and I wanted them to have an "Eyeore-esque" tail...held on by a button

The second time around I wanted to chage the skinny long trunk, and the legs weren't quite right...so "Sally" had some alterations.

They were roadtested yesterday on a day trip to my mom and sister's. And they enjoyed it immensely. They mostly get carried around by their trunks or tails, but so far, they don't seem to mind.

Alright, children are clinging to my arms, so I must step away--the thrift store is calling....