Nursery

Not sure what it looked like last time I posted, and I'm too lazy/busy to check back in the blog so here is (another) nursery update post!

The only things left are the final curtain panel for one window (seriously JoAnn's, how hard is it to order yellow gingham...) and attaching the bed skirt.

View from the door

The rocker and changing table switched places so that the diaper genie and hamper could be within arms reach of the changing table

Rockin' crib with the rockin' bumpers and the rockin' monogram that Frank selected and applied. I love how this turned out!

I'm Excited About: Owls & Apples

I decided to make my own nursery bedding after fruitlessly looking for a set that appealed to me (that was not insanely expensive). So far I've chosen the fabric, purchased the bumper pads, and gone over the pattern for all of the pieces.

I was originally looking for a bright green gingham to be the complimentary fabric, but after scouring three different fabric stores I decided to go a different route. I chose yellow gingham! I even took a picture of it next to the main fabric, but somehow I deleted it just now. Cool.

Since our housing situation is still somewhat up in the air, the only plans we're making for the nursery involve the items that would move with us if we moved. I'll paint the walls back to a neutral/sand color to satisfy both the colors in the nursery and the possibility that we'll be moving again in early 2011.

The owls & apples will be the bumper cover, with the yellow gingham used for the ties. The yellow gingham will be the bed skirt, possibly with a line of owls & apples a couple inches up from the bottom (if I have enough fabric). The curtains will be a combination of the two, as will a throw pillow or two (for me in the rocker, not for the crib). And lastly, I've decided to make a ribbon board with the owls & apples - somewhere to keep all of the cards and things we've been receiving.

I'm Excited About: Stitch 'n Pitch Edition

Tonight is the Washington Nationals' first annual "Stitch 'n Pitch" night! That means that tonight, during the game, there will be an entire section of tickets sold to women (and their spouses in some cases) where they will be encouraged to knit, croche, and sew throughout the game.

Yes, the Nationals will do anything to sell a ticket. But, I think this will be fun, too!

There are 4 of us girls going (I have yet to decide if I'm bringing anything to sew) and 3 of the husbands are accompanying us. The Nats are taking on the Orioles so it should be a fairly good crowd, in addition to those attending for the "stitch" part.

It is times like this that I feel so badly for those people who are real deal Nationals fans, but at least I can confirm that this idea worked! I can honestly say that I don't think my friends and I would be attending this game if it weren't for Stitch 'n Pitch!

I'm Excited About: T-shirt Quilt Update Edition

Here is the long awaited update on the t-shirt quilt I'm making for Frank! I am 98% finished with the front of the quilt - I need to add the border to the top and bottom and then the front is 100% finished and I can move on to adding the back, the filling, and the quilting.

Here are all of the squares laid out on the floor from a few weeks ago. The order changed a bit in the final draft...


And here it is with the navy border and all in one piece!


It is hanging in the basement, please ignore the parts where the lines don't line up quite right. Frank says he doesn't mind, so I'm trying to just let it go.


The theme is mostly Dartmouth with a little Red Sox thrown in for good measure. There are a few other classics in there, too.


We're off to the fabric store today to find a suitable backing. Something soft and warm, but not so stretchy that I end up burning the entire project due to the endless frustration.

I'll update again when it is totally complete - hopefully before the end of May!

Cotton Anniversary

Monday, March 29th was our 2nd anniversary, which, according to tradition, is the "cotton" anniversary.

Frank gave me a beautiful bathrobe (exactly what I wanted), and I decided I would start making his t-shirt quilt. I know you should have the gift ready for the occasion, and I'm usually a big stickler for that...but I failed. Luckily, my husband is a pretty cool dude and he is happy to accept the gift at a slightly delayed date.

Here is what I have so far:

In case you aren't sure what you're looking at...you're looking at 20 t-shirt squares all cut to approximately the same size. They all have iron-on interfacing on the back which is what will save me from wanting to kill people later. If anyone reading this has ever tried to sew with knit, you know what I'm talking about.

I purchased navy cotton to be the borders between all of the shirts - we're still undecided on what the back/underside will be.

Here's hoping this gets done as quickly as I'd like. I need to have time to come up with something for next year!

I hate this picture

but I promised...

here is my complete Halloween costume:

I will never stand like that ever again, ever ever ever. I'm not pregnant but it sure looks like I am - awesome.

There you go - Happy Halloween!!

Every Monday

I stay up too late to watch the Monday Night Football game - and it is driving me nuts! I should have gone to bed an hour ago, but I have to sit here and wait and hope that stupid Vincent Jackson does not get more than 4 more points tonight so that I can win in my fantasy league!

It is driving me crazy, it seems that every week I either have someone playing in the Monday night game or I am up against someone in the Monday night game.

I hope that next week I've either already won or already lost by the end of the Sunday night game. I love love LOVE football, but I can't keep staying up this late (this stressed out) every Monday!!

On a happier note I got a lot of work done on my Halloween costume tonight at the church. The next step involves installing the zipper - which is something I've never done before. Hopefully I can figure it out so that I can be finished with my Dorothy dress before next week's sewing class/gathering.

I have a second costume to create for my Legislative Politics class - I don't really want to do it, but it can lead to homework passes or extra time on the term paper so it is at least worth a good effort. I have a great idea for my costume (it has to relate to Legislative Politics) but I'm not going to advertise what it is until after the class.

ok, back to trying to not bite my nails through the last 8 minutes of this game - RUN OUT THE CLOCK DENVER!

**Update - I hung on to win by 2, I'm 6-0 on the season and still holding onto first place!**

Crafts, Decisions, and Dress Up

I've started some serious crafting lately. With my sewing circle at church I've made two aprons, hemmed pants, sewn shirts shut, and the list goes on! I'm making my own costume(s) for Halloween this year and I've started on one of them already.

I went to Walmart and bought some simple silver flats. Then I painted them red

Next I used these things...

And now I have these!

All for less than half of what it costs to buy costume ruby red slippers! Hooray! They will get a treatment of aerosol hair spray when they are dry so that I don't leave a trail of red sparkles everywhere I go.

Then I held auditions for Toto

Um...don't call us, we'll call you?