Post Holiday Bliss

Happy Boxing Day, folks! I hope you all had wonderful holidays filled with family and friends and general cheer. I certainly did and now we're enjoying the calm and lazy playfulness of the day after. It's windy and stormy outside. The fire is cozy. And Beckett's new play kitchen has been churning out world class fare all morning.
I'm sorry I went dark there in the days leading up to Christmas. I had, of course, planned on sharing all of my completed holiday projects, the cards and labels, the handmade gifts and wrapping, but as usual the holiday crunch caught up with me and mothandsparrow took a backseat.

My slacker posting schedule may end up for the best though, as now I have a few reserve projects stored up to share during this crazy month of packing and moving and excitement and nostalgic meltdowns. I'm officially leaving my sewing machine at the new place, so I'll be without it for most of January. I'm also officially leaving my husband at the new place. GULP. It'll be an interesting month, but probably not such a productive one.

For now I just want to say here's to you and yours. Wishing all the best the Winter holidays can bring and the best possible New Year.

Santa's Workshop

My niece, Ella, is into the baby doll thing. Or "creepy babies" as my sister calls them. The seemingly requisite pinks and lavenders of baby doll loot really don't jive with the red and green apple decor of Ella's bedroom. So I made her this doll bedding. There's a mattress cover, a pillow and a blanket.The hedgehog is an iron-on transfer. It's based on a design I did for Ella's nursery before she was born. The apple print is a Minny Muu design from a few years ago (it's actually left over from the nursery's curtains) and the quilt backing and pillow are red corduroy. The corduroy gives it a nice cozy weight and feel. I had an abundance of unused white fleece, so I substituted two layers of that for the batting. It's a little dense, but I'm all about using whatever I have. Saves a few dollars, and means there's less junk to move next month. Actually I didn't spend a dime on this project - it all came out of my absurd stash.While I'm sure Ella will love this, and will use it plenty, it's really a gift for my sister - to give her a break from the pinkie babyland. I just wish I could do something about those uncanny rubber faces.

Peppermint Ribbon Corsage Tutorial

Making this little sweetie takes a few minutes more than the necklace. Maybe 12 instead of 10. It's still quick and simple and super fun to wear.

Materials
- 7/8" ribbon
- Felt
- 3/4" cover button kit
- Coordinating fabric - I used corduroy
- Hot glue gun

1- Follow the instructions on your cover button kit to cover 2 buttons with your coordinating fabrics.

2- Cut 2 felt circles one with a 1 1/4" diameter and one with a 1 3/4" diameter.

3- Take one felt circle and begin hot gluing the ribbon starting at the outside edge and spiraling in, pleating as you to follow the curve. Tuck in the raw ends. Repeat for the second felt circle.

4- Hot glue the covered buttons to the centers of your two ribbon flowers.

5- Cut a small strip of felt - about 1" x 2". Arrange the 2 flowers and hot glue their backs to the new felt strip.

6- I had a pin back lying around that I glued to the back, but you could just pin it to your shirt like a real corsage, or even sew it to your shirt, though I wouldn't count on it to wash well.

I hope you all enjoy these quickie projects. Please give them a try, it's a low input- high yield kind of thing. They're quite cute together and of course they don't have to be holiday themed. Have fun!

Peppermint Holiday Necklace Tutorial

This whole projects takes only a few minutes. It goes perfectly with a dress or a chic cardigan or any number of cheesy holiday accessories - think antlers and santa hats.

Materials Needed

-Red and white striped ribbon - 7/8" wide
-5 - 3/4" unfinished wood beads
-Red craft paint
-Bamboo skewers

1 - Paint the wood beads using craft paint. I like to string them on a bamboo skewer for this step so I don't leave finger prints all over them.

2- Cut a 52" length of ribbon. Trim one end at a sharp angle to thread through the beads.

3- String the first bead about 30" down the ribbon. Push the end of the ribbon into the hole in the bead, then use the bamboo skewer to push it the rest of the way through.

4- Tie a knot and push it right up against the bead. String the other 4 beads, tying knots in between. I didn't put knots on the outsides, so there are 5 beads and 4 knots.

5- Even up the ends and trim off any excess ribbon, cutting the ends at 45 degree angles.

There's still plenty of time to make this for any upcoming holiday festivities. I'll get the tutorial for the corsage up in a minute. I hope you enjoy!

Jingle Belles

I went out with my girlfriends for a little holiday fun. We donned our gay apparel like nobody's business, and as usual managed to go through the entire evening without snapping a single photo. Oops. I whipped up these little accessories to go with my santa hat and my red belt and heels. It only took me a few minutes, some peppermint stripe ribbon and some crafty bits I had around the house (cover buttons, wood beads, felt and hot glue). I'll work on a tutorial for tomorrow!

There Are Places I Remember...

So the big big news around here is that we're moving. We'll be leaving my beloved Bellingham for greener professional pastures at the end of next month. Even then they might have to drag me away. I'm picturing the new tenants peering wonderingly at the claw marks in the floor leading down the front stairs.

In all seriousness I'm excited for the adventure and reinvention of moving, not to mention the thrill of decorating a new place, but I've lived so much in this apartment. It was our first place together as a young couple. I became a wife while living here and a mother twice over. I became a gardener here. Started avidly sewing here. I mourned my Jasper cat here. My first born said his first words and took his first steps here. It's a lot to say goodbye to.

It's not as if these memories have irretrievably seeped into the walls, but I've already had a few weepy moments and I'm sure there will be more to come. Please pardon any sap that may ooze out over the next few weeks, I'm full of nostalgia and sentiment, and pardon any gaps in posting. I'll do my best to keep up, but apart from holiday festivities and gift making and packing and caring for my kids, I'm trying to really enjoy all that Bellingham has to offer.

Oh Christmas Tree

I'm having the most marvelous Holiday season. This time last year I was dehydrated, couldn't keep anything down, rapidly losing weight, and medicated with some garbage that would knock me unconscious for hours at a time. Not exactly the merry little elf I like to be. This year though, I'm fully myself and filled with even more obnoxious joy over getting to play Santa for my 2 boys. I'm overflowing.

This weekend we got a perfectly imperfect tree at a place called Tom's U-Cut, up here in Bellingham. Wonderful people, beautiful trees, very reasonable prices. We decorated and drank hot cocoa, then rode the bus to go see Santa and take a lovely jingle bell laden carriage ride.

I try not to go in for the whole corny deal, and I certainly abstain from the ugly retail frenzy that Christmas usually brings, but I'm a sucker for the trees and the lights and the magic of it all.

Eat at Andy's

My dad is a fantastic cook. Everything he makes is delicious but, as his daughters and sons-in-law can attest, his specialty is breakfast. Nobody fries an egg like my dad. And he loves nothing more than playing short order cook to friends and family who visit. He also loves crows. No matter how many humans he might be entertaining, his backyard friends are always fed first. And it shows, the crows in his trees are sleeker and shinier than any others I've seen.

For Christmas I wanted to make him a sign that said "Andy's Diner" or "Buddy's Bed & Breakfast" or something. I was going for a sort of old timey look and I wanted "crow" in the name. I had a ridiculously hard time thinking of something suitable. Andy's Eatin' Crow Cafe? Ew. No. But it all came together. I made it using this really cool wood transfer technique. Mine didn't come out as cleanly as I had expected, but I'm ok with it. It makes it look vintage. I can't wait to give this to my dad. He's going to love it.

Shawl Pins

I did it! I actually made the shawl pins I mentioned in my previous post. I'm always looking for excuses to pull out my Sculpey stash. I get a ridiculous buzz from making these tiny figures. I always have. But how many wee statues does one house need? Luckily, tis the season for scarves and shawls. So I made these.Of course I made my go-to favorites, a fox and a couple of owls, but I played with some new things too, with certain people in mind. A bunny and a cat for my sisters. A lion and a toadstool for my good friends. A squirrel for my mom.
And, just for me (and for the look on Beckett's face) a stout little walrus, tusks and all. I'm going to put him through some quality control testing and if he withstands it, these will be the perfect little somethings extra to go with my holiday gifts.

Woven Scarf

I finished a scarf on my little vintage play loom and I'm so happy with how it turned out. I haven't woven anything in about 5 years and never a scarf. The weave makes it less bouncy than a knit scarf (just like woven fabric vs knits) but it lends it a certain elegance. It's unique too, and right up my mom's alley. I love handmade holiday giving, especially when the supplies came from my wonderful local yarn shop. Take that Joann!I used 3 different blue yarns to give the color a little dimension, a solid blue worsted weight wool, a wool tweed and a navy lace weight alpaca. I used all 3 in the warp, and used just the solid blue for the weft. I'm so glad I took the time, it would have looked pretty flat in one solid yarn. For any of you interested in weaving but not so interested in investing in a loom, there are many tutorials for DIY looms on the web. Or you could just put some nails into 2 bits of wood, clamp them to the ends of a long table and go to town.I'm pretty fired up about this, it's much quicker than knitting, which suits my current life situation, and it could be just the thing to help me burn through my excessive yarn stash. Also I'm thinking about making some shawl pins. Don't you think this scarf would be nice paired with an owl shawl pin?

Long Weekend at the Beach

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. We spent it at the coast. I'm a little tired, but also that kind of rejuvenated that I only ever get from being near the ocean. So beautiful. Things have gone crazy in our little family, major changes ahead, so it promises to be an exciting but at times stressful holiday season. A few days of quiet walks and wave watching was just what I needed. Did anyone else have Thanksgiving weekend adventures?

Happy Turkey Day!!!

Beckett's preschool had a potluck Thanksgiving feast today. You all know I'm a lousy cook. But for the preschoolers and their families I wanted to put together something fun, despite my utter lack of skills. This is what I came up with. Turkey tail fruit kebabs. These were a big hit with kids, parents and teachers alike. The kebabs were pineapple, strawberries, cantaloupe and grapes on bamboo skewers. The skewers were then pushed into half of an apple. The turkey head was cut from brown paper,then I added the wobble and beak with colored paper. Balance was an issue, but not a huge one. This really didn't take any time at all, so if you find yourselves with a little extra time and fruit in your preparations for tomorrow's festivities, maybe try one of these out. Just for fun.Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Have a great long weekend!

Winter Weaving

Ever since I wrote my post about not knitting, yarn is all I have wanted to work with. Funny how that happens. And of course the chilly hot-cocoa-and-scarf weather hasn't helped. This weekend, while digging out winter clothes and decorations etc, I stumbled upon this great vintage children's loom I picked up at a thrift store last year. It's very basic, but it has a turner, which acts like a primitive heddle (for those of you not into weaving please disregard the preceding nerdiness.)

So hey, I started weaving. It's not knitting, I won't be able to weave any hats or sweaters, but I love the way these yarns are looking woven together. It's sort of elegant. It's a solid gray bamboo/ cotton blend and a fine mottled mohair in taupes and aqua. It completely satisfies my yarn cravings. And, as an added bonus, check out the awesome vintage packaging my mini loom came in.

...In the Lane Snow is Glistenin'...

Winter in the Northwest is usually much more gray than white, but last night we were treated to an early snow. It's beautiful. Beckett and I crept out this morning while the biggest and littlest of our family were still sleeping. We had a snowball fight, found a perfect tree fort, made snow angels and fell a lot. Then we brought home donuts and hot drinks, warmed ourselves up and waited for our clothes to dry so we could go play again. Clearly the roof needed a snowman.More snow is predicted over the next few days, which means I better clear off my sewing table and make something uber warm and fleecy for little Jonesie. Though I have to admit that I loved having my big boy all to myself in the Winter wonderland today.

Pipe Dreams... or Needle Dreams

Everything has come to a grinding halt around here. The baby has needed near constant walking and the big boy has decided that 3am is his new wake up time. It's frustrating to say the least. I'm almost jittery with an "idle hands" kind of feeling. This too shall pass, right? In the mean time I've been day dreaming of an alternate universe in which I am (and have time to be) an adept knitter. All of my yarns and needles are stored and untouched, but here are a few of the things that alternate Claire is working on this winter in front of her fireplace. Because she has a fireplace. Obviously.

Hat with Anime Character (Hello Totoro!)

Baby Sophisticate Sweater

Vine Yoke Cardigan

O W L S

Meret (Mystery Beret)

It's a lovely dream, anyway. The weather up here is providing enough excitement for now, I suppose. I was photographed by the local paper this morning. Most likely because I looked so ridiculous carting my 2 bundled up kids through the bluster. Happy Windsday everyone!

My Favorite Neighbor

This handsome fellow was perched on the neighboring building's chimney this morning, just posing for my camera and completely ignoring the mob of angry crows around him. Pretty cool. I like to think that each of our hawk visitors has actually just been the same one - the one that came in the window- all grown up. He's reached near mythological status around here. But whether this is the same bird or not, he's lovely and I was happy to have his early morning visit.

I'm feeling that post-Halloween pre-holidays eye of the storm buzz. Like the tension is building. So I've been working on little things here and there, but it's nothing I can post without spoiling surprises. Weird. But I have to say that feeling girly and glamorous last weekend has made it a little harder to go back to my lounge pants and grandpa sweater norm. So I'm getting back to sewing this weekend. I'm wanting to make more of my much loved basics and maybe throw in a few statement pieces. Maybe even work from a pattern.

Music for Moderns

Last night was the Music for Moderns benefit. What an incredible event. The American Museum of Radio and Electricity is a phenomenal place, full of gadgets and curiosities and technological history. Once a year they turn it into one swell scene. I got all ginned up, cut a rug and had a ball.
There was a live Big Band and a Tesla coil demo. A multi-generational crowd dressed to the nines in era garb and a polaroid photo booth. Champagne, dancing and a theremin for all to play. It was the cat's meow, kids. And I have to say my Goodwill revamp skirt was perfect. My tailoring skills are vastly improving. It fit like a glove and was comfortable to boot.
I had so much fun putting this whole look together. As much as I love costumes, I've never dressed up as a fashionable person from another decade. So hair and makeup have never been involved. So fun. I even called my grandma for advice, I hope I did her proud.I felt lovely and stylish and couldn't have asked for a better night out with friends. The fact that it benefited this phenomenal museum was icing. Can you believe it? More pictures of me on mothandsparrow! What's the world coming to?

As Time Goes By

Tomorrow night I'm going to this party, in support of this crazy cool museum across the street that provides us with this, our favorite radio station. It's a 1940s theme USO style party. The timing is a little unfortunate, since I've been so busy with Halloween etc that I couldn't really devote myself to this costume.

Still, I had a number of era appropriate blouses in my closet, and I picked up this skirt at Goodwill last night. It was way too big and meant to be worn lower around the waist, but 2 quick seams up the sides (with some help from my french curve) turned it into a fairly good 40's daywear skirt. I'm excited about it. It's cute and flattering. Of course, styling is everything, so I'm off to go youtube some 40s hairstyle tutorials. Here's looking at you, kid.

Mr. Fox Takes a Walk

After last year's glaring costume failure - B refused to wear the darn thing, after hours of frustrating, teary eyed and occasionally bloody sewing on my part, he ended up just wearing this- I wanted to make him a hoodie and separate pants for this year, figuring I could coax him into the hoodie at least if not both. Turns out, not a concern. He loves this costume so much that he asked to wear on our walk through the park yesterday. The weather was unseasonably beautiful so I thought I'd post these photos instead of the flash-heavy trick-or-treating ones.I'm thinking about making him a few more creature hoodies. Maybe for Christmas. He might need a walrus, but for now he's happy "foxing around" in the leaves.

Shadow Monsters

My parent's house has been the big neighborhood haunted house for 30 years. My dad goes all out and I'm right there with him. We try to add new things here and there and this year Beckett wanted shadowy creatures like the ones in The Princess and the Frog. This is what I came up with for him.They're cardboard silhouettes spray painted black. So simple and pretty cool. Maybe more stylish than scary, but they were darn effective in the dark. I kinda wish I was a 14 year old goth girl so I could have these in my bedroom.

I still have to post the boy's costumes, and then it'll be on to more November appropriate posts. And a new header, because the old one was all kinds of tired.

... Gnashed Their Terrible Teeth and Rolled Their Terrible Eyes...

I hate pictures of myself, hence my usual faceless mystique here on mothandsparrow, but I'm so proud of our Where the Wild Things Are costumes I was hoping you all would permit me to post a few more photos. Halloween has always been my favorite holiday and this year was particularly wonderful, so I think I'll drag it out for a few more days.My costume was a giant fleece hooded onesie. I traced the pattern pieces from a pair of pj pants and a hooded sweatshirt pinned together. Plus some claws, ears, tail and whiskers. Zion's Wild Thing was a big fur hood attached to a dyed, redyed and overdyed striped tee shirt. The mask is an illustration from the book blown up and tweaked a little. He also had claws, horns and big furry tail. We had plans for fur pants, but time, money and overheating concerns won out. Easily the coziest costumes we've ever worn, and they were perfectly appropriate for both Saturday night's grown up festivities and for Sunday night's trick or treating. Oh so fun. Beckett was more into it than ever and I think he was proud of his silly parents.

Let The Wild Rumpus Start

Happy Halloween Everyone!!!