Packing Kids Toys

Ah! I love Value Village, don't you? Last summer, when I got my sewing machine, I went there and found a huge bag of different colored zippers mostly about a hand's length. So you ask, what are you going to do with these zippers, make mini parkas for the kids' stuffed animals? Cute idea, but no.  I've made a ton of pouches for all the multi-piece toys we plan to bring to Brazil with us.  They pack way better than boxes and the kid already knows which game is inside by the color of the zipper. I've also made some for myself to contain my art supplies, jewelry, intimates, etc...Definitely my newest favorite thing.

Spreading the Holiday Cheer Advent Calendar

When I was a kid, at the beginning of December, my mom would pin an advent calendar on the wall for my brother and I. At first, we were happy to open the little doors and see pictures of elves or animals holding presents, until one year when some distant relative send us one with chocolate inside and then after that, pictures just didn't cut it. We had to have a chocolate advent calendar every year. If the chocolate behind the 24th door of December seemed bigger than the others, we would argue about who would get the odd numbered doors and who would get the even numbered doors. I don't remember how we settled that dilemma , but I do remember running out of bed in my pajamas when it was my turn to open the little door.

For the past few years, as I grow older and wiser, (the wiser part might be an illusion...) I take a moment before the holiday frenzy starts to remember what's really important to me during this special time of year. This year, I decided to sew an advent calendar, put little 'treats' in each pocket for the boy and my husband, but also reminders of how to spread good holiday cheer. Here are the 24 cheers I came up with. Hope you enjoy them.

1. Tradition Day. Share your favorite memories of Christmas with others. Start or revive a holiday tradition for yourself and your family. My favorite is making Lussekatters for St-Lucia Day on December 13th. Watch for a post about soon.

2.  Rethink Giving Day! Before doing more holiday shopping, think about what you already have; books, games, toys, clothes, jewelry, magazines etc...and think about people who would like to receive a gently used gift.

3. Cheerful Budget Day. Set an amount for holiday spending which feels comfortable for you. Make a list of people you want to give gifts to and research the cost of these gifts before you go out to shop. Set aside a portion of this budget for special food and libations too.

4. Charity Day. Choose a way to share your resources this holiday season. Maybe it's not volunteering at a soup kitchen handing out plates of mashed potatoes, maybe it's just popping a coin in an expired meter for someone. Do what makes sense to you even if it appears to be a small gesture. It all counts.

5. Smile Day! Use your smile to spread good cheer today.

6. Happy Friend Day. Call a friend you haven't talked to in a while and wish them Happy Holidays.

7. Listening Day. Instead of contributing to a conversation by giving your two-cents or talking about an experience you've had, contribute by being super curious, asking lots of questions or just plain listening.

8. Neighbor Day! When the weather gets bad, we all cozy up in our homes and don't see our neighbors as much. Make a point to connect with a neighbor today. Give them a call, knock on their door, make extra food and share or leave a small gift at their door.

9. Story Day. Find one of your favorite books, place a note or a Christmas card inside saying something like: "Hi there stranger! Hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Happy Holidays!" and leave it somewhere for someone to find.

10.  Hug Day! Give someone a hug, not a quick squeeze, a nice long hug as if this person was going away for a long, long time.

11. Quiet Day. Seek quiet moments throughout your day. Create them for yourself; two seconds in the car before starting the motor, reading in bed before sleep, watching the weather through a window, taking a walk outside etc...

12. Red and Green Day. Get in the holiday spirit by wearing red or green today.

13.  Spread the Fruit Day! Staff rooms are notoriously bad for the waistline during the holidays.  Resist the temptation of another "treat" by stuffing fruit in your bag before you leave for work. Take extra for others.

14.  Someone you know hasn't heard you say "I love you" in a long time. Find or call that person and tell them. If you haven't told them in a long time or ever, they might be a bit shocked or weirded out, but don't worry about it. They'll get over it and love you back for it!

15. Make space for your new socks and underwear day! Throw away all your lonely socks and questionable underwear; what a way to get ready for the new year!

16. After You Day! Let people pass in front of you today. In front of your car, in front of you in line-ups, through doorways, on the bus for a seat etc...

17.  Give a Man a Compliment Day!  Men in your family, friends, co-workers even men you don't know.

18. Coffee Day! Bring a coffee to someone who looks like they might need a boost.

19. Rewrap Day. Use your creative self to find ways to wrap your gifts by reusing what you might already have on hand. Look around a home and at the office and collect materials. The internet if full of ideas and tutorials so take a look here or here or here.

20. Service Day! Imagine being in the shoes of the people who give you service today; mail workers, cashiers, bus drivers, store keepers etc. Give them a big smile, a big thank you, a card or a small gift.

21. Do Less Day. It's easy to get caught up in the holiday frenzy, even if you have your zen on, so to slow things down, take things off your to-do list. Ask yourself if each task is really necessary and if you can do without it. Scratch things off the list with pleasure.

22.  Spread Gratitude Day. Write or make a mental note of everything and everyone you are grateful for. Share it with others and they too will be reminded of all that they are grateful for.

23. Holiday Planner Appreciation Day. Someone you know has been running around, preparing the holidays to make them special;  someone is shopping, decorating, menu planning and cooking. It might be you, your spouse, a friend or a family member. Take a moment to thank them for their effort.

24.  Turn off the House Lights Day! Spend some time in the glow of your Christmas tree, light a fire or candles.

Sock Monkey Advent Calendar

Advent Calendar Treats

There are a zillion ways to make your own advent calendar, just take a look on Pinterest or you can buy one made of 24 little paper boxes at Ikea and fill them yourself with chocolates, little toys, snacks, love notes etc... Happy Advent!

Kicking Off the Season with Homemade Wrapping Paper

I saw an advertisement on television the other day with a supremely plastic family shopping for their holiday decorations. They were standing in front of a giant wall of matchy-matchy decorations; rolls of wrapping paper, gift tags, bows, ribbons, boxes of balls, garlands, bobbles, icicles, ornaments, and Christmas tree lights all in turquoise and silver. All ready to go and in this worry free color combination sure to match any home decor. BAM! Insta-Christmas!

Not my kind of Christmas. Yup, we're busy during the holidays, but so what?  It's a perfect time of year to get creative and to try to minimize our time at the mall. The key is to start early. Okay, not right after Halloween kinda of early, like some manic businesses who need holiday based decorations at all times, but you know, about mid-November.

Every year, I love to invent my own wrapping paper. I use left-over paper, stickers, string, paint, whatever I have on hand. Here are papers I've been working on with my boy:

Collage Wrapping Paper

The kid's craft station and our recycling bin is full of leftover bits of papers, stickers and string which I collected and glued together on a large piece of paper. Then I covered the whole thing with lots of white glue. To finish it off I ran it through the sewing machine, going through it in random directions to give it strength. I think it turned out really festive!

Tons of glue is the key- brush it on with a paint brush.

Wait until it's completely dry and use a wide or decorative stitch

I also collect our coffee bags because they are non-biodegradable and the only coffee company that takes them back is way out in Burnaby, so I decided to re-purpose them.

I cut them open lengthwise and washed them out

I sewed them together piece by piece like making a quilt

I added more colors of thread and zigzaged all over it

My kid is modeling the new coffee paper

I cut the paper and sewed pouches

I can't decided which I like best, the silver lining of the printed side

Ikea Fabric Frenzy

Okay, so I went to Ikea. And as you might already know from previous posts, I have a love-hate relationship with Ikea; 'cause I don't need what's there, but every once in a while, I think I do. One way I keep my relationship balanced with this store, is I put what I think I need on a 30 day wish list. If I still think I need that "thing", I'll go. I look online first or at the magazine, and take measurements. (The 2013 issue arrived at my doorstep in early September-very scary. Scary like stores that put out Christmas stuff in October). I usually skip the round-about-make-you-dizzy showroom and head straight to the "market" though the unmarked door hidden behind the staircase.

Knowing that I will be tempted to get something other than what's on my list, I have a final little game I play with myself; once I get to the till, I must take at least one item out of the trolley and leave it behind. I especially stay away from coasters, candles, fake greenery, containers of any sort, wine glasses, and any linen or pillow. I will allow myself fabric, hand-towels, and kid's items. It's just not the right place to go to keep things clutter free and minimalist even if it seems they promise this- if only you had the right container.

Anyways, I digress. I do love Ikea fabric. It's reasonably priced, a good quality cotton and has pretty funky designs. I haven't found any pillows, curtains or bed linen made of their fabric, so if you decide to sew something for your house, there's a good chance that your neighbors won't have the exact same thing too. I found heavy cotton canvas to recover our dining room chairs that used to be white (dumb, I know- the photo doesn't show how stained it is) and had enough to make pillows and little cases. I did occur to me, after I finished these projects, that I didn't really need the pillows and the cases, but anyways, it was fun to make.

Creative Energy

I hung up my painting up the other day and now it's back to the sewing machine! Yahoo! I had a lot of scraps from making the kid's big boy quilt and made up some bookmarks. I recently bought some fabric paint and wanted to try it out so I added little stencils on them. I was thinking mostly about my husband who has a pile of magazines, books and his "Porsche Bible" on his bedside table, while I have a stack of my neighbor's borrowed novels. So there, you go, 2 bookmarks for my husband and 2 for Marie-Anne.

I also completed a pair of lined wool pants for the kid. I was guesstimating how to attach the lining to the pants and ended up with two pairs of pants attached at the bottoms, oops. A bit of seam-ripping, some head scratching and presto!

 

Captain's Log, March 19th, 1996- 1st Entry

Don't ask me what got into me, but I started to make a quilt for my Kid. What was I thinking? I've decided that quilters are insane; you have to be to cut up big pieces of fabric into little itty-bitty pieces, sew all the itty-bitty pieces back together again to make a big piece, and then sew all over top of it to keep all the layers together. WHAT? Crazy, I say! I'm already feeling slightly dizzy and I'm not even making those super complicated ones. Holy smokes. I don't know, it's nice to be doing this for my son, but I feel about it, the way I feel about scrapbooking. It's a pre-made recipe.  All you have to do is glue.

too many squares.....

Anyways, this got me thinking about a quilt exhibition I saw in Port Townsend on March 11, 1996. Why do I remember this date when I can hardly remember how old I am? It's because it was on the first day of a long road trip I was taking with my then-boyfriend. We had both graduated university and decided to buy a 1973 mustard-yellow Dodge camper van which we nicknamed Good Ship Miss Debbie. We also decided to keep a travel log, this being the pre-digital age, and being on a tight budget, we didn't take too many pictures and instead we decided I would draw and he would write.


Port Townsend, Washington was our first stop and I made a special note about the "Quilting through History" museum in our log. I remember some of the quilts were over 100 years old and very well preserved. They didn't look at all like what we think of and see today. They were all hand-made, embroidered and depicted scenes of everyday life at that time. Some clearly told specific stories about the people who were making it or sleeping in it. It was fascinating that quilting was recording history just like story-telling.

Here are the first 2 entries in the log, my then-boyfriend, wrote pretty well, I think, but obviously wasn't so taken by the quilts as I was.

March 11, 9pm-1st entry
 
Left the Port of Townsend today, bound for Southern waters on the Good Ship Miss Debbie. New First Mate and Navigator on this voyage by the name of Solare Cayer, commendable sense of direction and excellent map-reading skills. Surprising given that this is her maiden voyage in such a capacity. Presently we are moored on the blacktop of the ferry terminal a few miles out of Coupeville on our way to Port Townsend. Early indications were bad, given the dead pigeon and mortally wounded young doe we have seen thus far. We must try to keep our mojo working for us and continue with the roadkill count. Minor customs delay due to rent-a-cop type with nothing better to do, but at least we weren't searched bodily as were the four young black gentlemen next to us in the office. Those people take their jobs way to seriously. Ferry ready for boarding, thus ends the first entry.

March 12

Navigator went to sleep after Aberdeen-a logging town of unrequited uglyness and menace. This goes a long way toward explaining the tragedy of Kurt Cobain. Port Townsend on the other hand was a picture postcard-more akin to America's Hollywood version of itself than to the grim readily revealed by the past few logging towns. Not that they are without their quirky charm, but Port Townsend's veneer of old world charm was nearly completely blinding. However the America within was revealed in the washroom of the restaurant where we had morning coffee. I found a label for 30 lbs or X-heavy mayonnaise. The true beauty beneath the false front. A classic theme in art and lit brought to life in Washington's Victorian Seaport.

Succcessful Sewing, Hilarious Advice from Singer 1949

Since I started my sewing frenzy, I've had friends give me compliments while adding that they just never got into sewing and found it too difficult or frustrating. It seems to be a common feeling. While buying fleece at Ikea one day, one lady was telling her friend: "Oh, I wish I was good at sewing. My mom used to sew all our clothes. But I hate it, the machine always jams and I just get all frustrated!", "Me too! replied her friend. They looked at me, and I said enthusiastically, "I'm sewing for my son! It's a new revolution!"

My mom dropped off a Singer Sewing Book at my house this afternoon. It was published in 1949 and right there, in the first chapter, it's all explained. How to prepare, avoid frustration, late night swearing and tears.

Here are some excerpts which explain how to sew successfully. Read on carefully, my dear friends, you might give it another chance!

To Sew Successfully....

" Prepare yourself mentally for sewing. Think about what you are going to do. Approach the job with enthusiasm. You must want to make something lovely, to have the fun of putting pieces of fabric together, to make a garment, to handle the fabric with appreciation, to watch the beauty of the article grow as a result of your planning and effort. Never approach sewing with a sigh or lackadaisically. Good results are difficult when indifference predominate. Never try to sew with the sink full of dishes or bed unmade. When there are urgent housekeeping chores, do these first so that your mind is free to enjoy your sewing."

" Prepare physically. When you sew, make yourself as attractive as possible. Go through a beauty ritual of orderliness. Have on a clean dress. Be sure your hands are clean, fingernails smooth-a nail file and pumice will help. Always avoid hangnails. Have your hair in order, powder, and lipstick put on with care. Looking attractive is a very important part of sewing, because if you are making something for yourself, you will try it on at intervals in front of the mirror, and you can hope for better results when you look your best.

Again sewing must be approached with the idea that you are going to enjoy it, and if you are constantly fearful that a visitor will drop in or your husband will come home and you will not look neatly put together, you will not enjoy your sewing as your should. Therefore, "spruce up" at the beginning so that you are free to enjoy every part of any sewing you do."

Feminine as powder puff, ruffles are the essence of daintiness.

Value Village Score!

Sometimes Value Village rocks! It's stinky work to go through all the junk, but when you find what you need, it's like finding a treasure.

For a grand total of $20, I bought:

A bowl of buttons
2 patterns
3 yrds of fabric
43 zippers

I figure I saved myself about $80, and that's on the low side. One of the pattern was vintage and had a price on it, $1.85, while the newer one cost $11.50. Crazy difference! Gotta think of some cool stuff to make with my rainbow of zippers! I also scored with a nice knit with boats which is crying out to be pajamas bottoms.

Value Village Sewing Loot

Organic canvas snack packs

Yesterday I made some snack packs out of organic cotton canvas. I bought one at a fair once and paid $7. Making my own, not accounting for my time, I figure mine cost about $1 each. Once I figured out how to hide all the seams, I made a mini production line and finished about 8 in a few hours. I love to use them myself for nuts and dried fruits, but you can use them for fruits too (although maybe not berries). You just need to turn them inside out when you wash them.

Measure First, Cut Second

The natural, easy and flowing lines of the clothing on the cover of Shapeshape caught my attention so I bought this book as a souvenir of my trip down to Lummi Island. The first project I attempted is the "vest" on the cover of the book. Okay.

Mistake#1: Notice the author is Japanese, and probably the model too. Notice how the vest on the model is gently flowing over the bosom. Yup, you guessed it. Once finished my vest looked more like tight scarf wrapped around my armpits and forget about flow. I undid the seam at the neck and added a good 6 inches of fabric to lengthen the whole thing.



Mistake #1- Do not try to get around not bothering with buttons and button holes. No shortcuts here. My fantastic machine actually made super buttonholes in 3 seconds flat, so I was very pleased!
 

Hanging it doesn't really show it off...

Trying to model this darn vest.

requires a zillion shots to get a decent one

Rhino Sleeps in a Jar

Last night, after a very sweaty hour at Zumba where my brain was confused because it was telling my arms to move and they stubbornly stayed at my sides as if holding heavy shopping bags, I came home and curled up with 'Simplicity Parenting' by Kim John Payne. In just the first two chapters, there were so many wise bits of information to ponder over. I won't attempt to quote all of the things that stood out for me, but I might mention them as I incorporate them in my family life in no systematic way, but fluidly as days unfold.

I suppose I still had simplicity on my mind as I woke up this morning, and so I set out to find moments in my day that could benefit from a little paring down. More paring down? Yup. If you've been reading posts in the last few months, I've been really trying to minimize the amount of stuff that lives in my house and making a conscious effort to not let things come in. (okay, except for the sewing machine) So yes, more paring down. Author and family counselor, Kim John Payne, invites families to do some serious overhaul of toys and books; to get rid of old, broken, and loud toys. Toys that have too many buttons, that do everything for you or have only one function and don't allow for imagination. So without going all gung-ho on the toys and taking out the garbage bags, I decided to sit with the information in my mind. My mind was primed for simple play....

So today, the kid and I played with a jar and a plastic rhinoceros. We put him to sleep, closed the lid and sang lullabies- all the kid's idea. We put that rhino to sleep a lot, over and over again. It was fun. Later on, I had a urge to pack up dinner and go to the beach.... umm... tempting, but I when I really thought about it, I wasn't in the mood for bringing leftover fish stew to the beach and I also didn't want to come up with another "beachier' meal. So, simple wins again. Fish stew, and blueberries for desert at the diner table, and enough time to take the kid and his push bike up the block. For some reason, I had it in my head that we should go at least a certain distance, you know, to tire him out, but no, I quickly relinquished that idea when it was clear that all  the kid wanted to do is ride his bike around and around a miniature maple tree over and over again.

miniature maple leaves

Oh! And  I sewed a pouch for my very limited amount of make-up.

Zakka Style Pouch

Zakka Style Sewing

Don't you just love the library? You've probably heard me praise libraries before, just think, there are many places in the world where libraries don't even exist! Anyways, here's my latest find: Zakka Style- 24 projects stitched with ease to give, use and enjoy. The Japanese word Zakka loosely means 'many things' or 'miscellaneous goods' as well as a style that is simple, unique and handmade. Simple, unique and handmade? Sounds like something right up my alley! Apparently, I'm not alone in this alley, a quick search on the internet turns up hundreds of pages on Zakka Style sew-alongs (sew-alongs are web-supported groups of people who sew the same project at the same time, help each other and show off) so I was eager to get started.

Here's a photo of my pencil case which I completed in about an hour while the Kid was his crib singing: "Mommy, I don't close my eyes, I don't nap, Mommy."

What's fun about this style is the small amount of patchwork included in the sewing. I'm not much into making quilts and cutting a zillion little pieces of cloth, but with these small projects you can enjoy the combination of leftover fabrics without going bananas. The use of linen also gives the pieces a simple and natural look. I think I might repeat this project again, it was so much fun. Or invent something....

Oh and I finally got my hands on a copy of Simplicity Parenting- Using the extraordinary power of less to raise calmer, happier and more secure kids from the library, so I might have to slow down the artistic challenge so I can read it before the next person on the long, long, waiting list can have it. Gotta find out why so many people want to read this book! More on that later!

Art Inspires Food

Here are my latest creations for my artistic challenge. I was happy to hear that my neighbor Lisa was inspired to start her own "cooking challenge" this month to try new recipes and ingredients from a bunch of cookbooks she's been meaning to get into. Go, Lisa, go! If you're reading this, you better make some extra batches!

This is how pockets work Mommy!

Traffic shirt with no pattern! I'm pretty proud of this one!

Impromptu rain gear a la plastic bag!

Rock drawing on Lummi Island

Artistic Challenge Heating Up

It's the middle of July, one sinus infection, a sun burn and some glorious sun and my artistic challenge is going well. I made a tourist rabbit for a one year old neighbor, some snack packs for a friend, bought an umbrella and rearranged our patio, and made new crayons.

Busy Bee Mommy

I need to step away from the sewing machine! I'm clearly having WAY too much fun 'cause I'm willing to sit in the hottest room in the house with the iron on just to play around with fabric. I'm sweaty and happy! The semi-sweet bonus is that my husband is away on business so I have lots of time to play. I whipped up a nice little bib for the kid in no time using one of his old disintegrating bibs as a pattern. It's so lovely, I don't want to use it! Maybe it will be the fancy "restaurant" bib that we bring with us when we go out....

Sew Happy!

Okay, okay, I haven't forgotten my art challenge; it's been revived by a brand new sewing machine! Yay! Remember? It's was on my 30 day list of things I want for months and finally on my birthday, it arrived via my loving husband! I've always loved making clothes, even when I was around 4 or 5 years old, I made dresses for my Barbie out of kleenex and remnants of fabrics my mom had kicking around the house. I remember making donuts shapes and slipping my Barbie's legs through the center hole and tying it with tape around her waist to make a skirt.

Over the years, my mom sewed a lot of summer outfits and Halloween costumes for us. She was amazing with the sewing machine and showed me how to use it. In high school I took a sewing class, learned some more advanced skills and made a scary '80s aqua satin bubble skirt. I remember each dress I made, especially a pair of matching ruffled skirts I sewed for my best friend and I for our school dance. I even got her hooked on sewing and she pulled out her mom's machine to make matching penguins costumes for Halloween.

After highschool, I moved out of my mom's house and moved in with friends, but it wasn't long before my boyfriend at the time found me a super retro Swedish sewing machine at a garage sale. It weighed a ton, was noisy like a lawnmower, and worked like a horse. I was back into making things for myself and my new home away from home. I even dragged it across North America and to Mexico because I couldn't part with it, and you never know when you might have to whip up some curtains while a on a road trip right? Sadly, I eventually lost track of this machine somewhere in my travels....

So, now it's come full circle. My son is two and I'm itching to get sewing again. I drove out to Fabricana the first chance I had after my birthday trip to Whistler. Oh, happiness! I didn't even get bummed out by the severe lack of sewing patterns for boys because the printed cotton section was so much fun to sift through!

Like a kid with a new toy on Christmas day, I stayed up too late on my sewing machine and here's my adorable model of a kid in his retro camera pants.