Peach Coglo

Weekending ~ June 19 2011

Today I am joining Amanda at the habit of being for her Weekending series.

 

Ah this weekend was the last of the super busy weekends for a while.  It started with a bang and then slid into a nice languid pace.  Yay!

Saturday Elijah went to his birthday party by himself.  He and his friends checked out a movie, had ice cream cake and present opening.  His friend loved the mouse Elijah made.  Then of course there was a water gun  fight

While this was happening the other three were at a birthday party for our friend Ben.  His mom, Darlene, is amazing. She has turned their house into a sensory sanctuary for her son

There was swimming and cake.  Elijah returned from his first party to join in on the swimming.  One borrowed swim trunk later, he was good to go.  Too bad I left his bag with his towel and his shoes somewhere between their backyard and the street.  It's been a little busy

Sunday was "unplugged".  Though I tried to convince him otherwise, Greg spent part of the day installing new windows.  I must say I am happy he did

Greg harvested the first and possibly last of our strawberries.  We moved the patch a couple of years ago and they are still recovering.  We were elated to see several strawberries.  There's always next year

The kids spent the day making gifts and playing in mud.  Elijah sewed a bookmark; Helena wrote a few books, and Eden and Doran and I gave Greg a book he had been wanting

Elijah took two showers he was so dirty.  Then he, Helena and Eden soaked their feet in warm water with some Dr. Bonner's lavender soap-separately of course

Greg took a nap-a miracle in itself

A summer bucket list was considered

We ate lunch and dinner outside-a new tradition on a new-to-us table that the whole family loves.  There are plans to take as many meals outdoors are possible

I'm looking forward to some time in the studio this week-several hours in a row on the same day

The day ended with a broke-down Father's Day cake.  I don't know what happened but the second later fell completely apart.  Hey but it was still tasty and everyone ate it.  As Eden put it, "I need dake!"

Helena wrapped a brownie left over from Friday's Movie Night as part of her Dad's Day gift-very resourceful.

 

I don't know what happened here.

I hope everyone had a wonderful and restful weekend.  I'll be back at this space on Wednesday for "Yarn Along" with Ginny. 

Elijah's Sleep Mask

All of my children have a flair for the dramatic. Moreover, each child has a unique way to solve (or not solve) problems. Lately Elijah has been complaining about the light coming into his room from the kitchen. You see his bedroom is off the kitchen of our small house. As you all know, a parent's work is not done simply because children are in bed. At night, I am usually working in the kitchen preparing the children's snacks, lunches, etc. for the next day. Now we could solve the light problem by closing Elijah's door, but he wasn't in favor of that. Even though it is a simple solution, I understand his hesitation. What to do?

Enter the sleep mask. One of the first projects Elijah latched onto in his Sewing School book was the sleep mask. He figured it would help block out the light so he could get to sleep faster. He has been using the mask for a few weeks now with much success. It usually slips off sometime during the night, but at every bedtime Elijah dons his mask. I thought it was pretty cool that he was able to figure out what would best help him and then make the mask himself.

 

Goodnight Elijah. This boy is a trip and a half!

I would love for you to share how your little or big one's are taking control of their world and solving their challenges. Have a great day everyone.

 

Found Treasure

You know how I have been missing my grandmother's quilts and wishing that I still had one.  Well, over the weekend my mom gave me a family quilt!  I was ecstatic.  My mother recounted some quilting stories to me and I loved hearing them.  It is such an insight into my family and our history. 

My great-grandmother, Granny, and her mother would salvage fabric scraps from a store in Augusta, GA.  The store would actually throw away their scraps.  Now many stores sell their leftovers.  I can hardly believe they threw fabric away back then. 

Summertime was quilt-making time, a chore my mom truly disliked.  Granny and her mother would sit on their front porch hand sewing the quilts with thick thread.  That had to be hot work.  Once they asked my mother to piece some blocks for them.  The blocks fell apart, and they didn't ask my mom to help them piece again.

I didn't know my great-great-grandmother.  She was a child when the United States emancipated its slaves.  I did know my Granny.  She used to smoke a corncob pipe.  We would hang out drinking tiny glasses of ginger ale or root beer and eat Nilla wafers.  Today, my children and I use the glasses my Granny and I shared.

I can picture the two ladies now.  The road in front of their house was red dirt.  (It remained so until I was about 10.)  I can feel the hot sun, smell the heat and hear the cicadas.  I can hear the rocking chair and glider creak.  I am so grateful to have such an important piece of my family's history in my house.  I think of how they provided for their families with dignity in a time where others tried mightily to deny and diminish their dignity every day.  I think of their sacrifices, how they worked and suffered to make a better life for their families.  Could I have done the same? 

I am grateful for these women.  I am grateful to be able to hold this quilt and show my children the stitches they sewed with their weary hands.

Can you see that?  "A Waverly donated fabric?"  I suppose that was  a free sample given to the store.

 

I think a lot of these fabrics were upholstery fabrics.  They make  a nice heavy, warm quilt.

 

You gotta love those unique 1950's fabrics!

 

I love looking at their stitches and thinking about the conversations they were having or not, the thoughts they were thinking as they sewed.  Those Calhouns could be fairly lively, so I am sure it was raucous at times.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much mom!  This quilt is so much more than a quilt.  It holds part of my grandmothers' humanity.  It speaks to their lives. This quilt leads to thoughts of how we are all connected and how we try to take care of our families and how we need to take care of each other, especially in light of the tragedies in Japan, Haiti, New Zealand, Congo and around the world.

Thank you for sticking with me through all of these photos of it.  I couldn't get the whole thing in my lens and I just loved photographing it. 

So now I am on to the stage of repairing and preserving my quilt.  I have a few instructions from Martha Stewart's fabric book.  Does anyone have any advice? 

Have a lovely day all!

Mice Everywhere!

Elijah and Helena have fallen in love with stuffed mice.  This is a very simple sewing project from the book Sewing School.  At last count, Elijah made about six mice and Helena made two.  They raided my fabric and button stash.   We had to have ourselves a little talk about that one.

They are having a great time making mice and playing with them.  I wish I had bought Sewing School months ago!

 


The brown mouse is called Cinnamon and the grey one is called Stone.  There are others: Skylight, Blueberry; it goes on and on.  Even though the mice are made of brightly colored felt, I still get a little freaked out when I see them all piled up together.  All I can think about is the movie Ben and the song by the same name.  Eeep.

Have a great day everyone!

Sewing Now

Helena was very grateful for the stuffie Elijah made her.  After she saw all the things Elijah was creating, she decided that she wanted to sew too.  Helena wanted to have the same sewing box her brother had, so we waited for a 50% coupon and got the same treasure box.  She says her box will be different because she is going to paint hers.  This drives Elijah a little batty.  Often I try to make sure she picks and receives some of her things first, as she is inclined to pick whatever Elijah has chosen.  Right now the copycat squabble is over American flag buttons.  I would never have believed it until I saw it happening.

Anyway, she is now happily trying out some projects after a rocky start.  It was easy to get Elijah to start with the beginning projects to practice some stitches and techniques.  However, Helena wanted to make a couture dress now - as in right now.  I had a hard time convincing her she needed to start a little smaller, say with a pin cushion-just to get a little practice tracing a pattern, cutting and stitching, not to mention following directions.  She was not happy with me.  I was not going to have her start a project that I knew would try her patience (and mine) while possibly turning her off to sewing before she even got started.  Is this house full of stubborn persistent people or what?  ;-)

I did let her try a slightly more complicated project, a stuffed mouse.  She had already started it.  Instead of stopping her, I just let her go with it.  When stuffing started spilling out and button eyes popped off, she saw the light.  Now we are working on her pin cushion and dreaming of other projects to start soon.   Hopefully Helena can finish her cushion today since school lets out early.

I apologize for the fuzzies; again, I had a little person wrapped around my legs while I was snapping shots.

 

 

It's such a delicate balance trying to teach a child.  I think it worked out pretty well given our similar personalities.  I am happy we made it to the other side.  Helena is enjoying the craft and I am enjoying sewing with her. I can just imagine the possibilities.  Next up-Doran!

Helena's needle book

What has your experience been like teaching children?

I hope you have a wonderful Wacky Wednesday (as Helena has named them).

First Stuffed Animal

Elijah decided he wanted to make a stuffed animal/monster for Helena. He just decided with no prompting or suggestions from me. He chose the fabric, notions, and project. Elijah refused any input from me. This was a nice moment for me to learn to let go and not be in control.

Helena loved the stuffie. She said it was the best stuffed animal ever. I am proud of both of them. Helena was very gracious and effusive with her praise. I know Elijah was very proud of himself. I was proud of him too.

Well I was going to share some pictures with you but Typepad or my computer has decided to be uncooperative.  I am going to try to stay calm and see what I can do to fix it.  It's a little early for wine so I think I am going to have some Tension Tamer tea.

Have a great day everyone.  I'll be back with pictures as soon as I can.

Here are the photos-finally.  It's simply how amazing and a bit embarrassing how dependent I am on technological luxuries.

I love how Elijah designed his stuffie.

 Elijah didn't want to be photographed with his work this time, but Helena was more than happy to oblige.  Here she is, proud little sister.

 

Okay, have yourselves a great day and thanks for your patience!

 

Sewing Lessons

So far, Elijah is very excited about his sewing lessons and projects.  Ever since we put together his sewing kit this past Saturday, he has made one project every two days.  I am amazed that he can thread his own needles and tie his own knots.  It turns out that have been doing it wrong (or at least not as neatly as I should have) for years.  There is a lot to be said for correct technique.  

We have been learning together.  It takes patience on both of our parts.  Elijah has to be patient while waiting for me to get to a stopping place in whatever dinner prep or homework issue I am doing.  I have to be patient with his exuberance.  You can't cut a pattern if you are in too much of  rush because you will forget to do things like flatten the pattern completely out before you cut.  Elijah learned that the hard way.  Sewing has been helpful too in teaching Elijah logical and sequential steps.  In my attempts to teach him, I realized with growing clarity how much sewing flexes the right and left sides of the brain.  I find that fascinating and reassuring.

This may be overkill, but I have him read all of the directions for a project before he even pulls out a pattern or needle.  I think it helps him become familiar with the directions instead of approaching them in a piecemeal, chopped-up approach.  Having an overall vision of the project is helpful.

Now Helena wants to learn, if only to not be left out.  Her goal is to make a sleep mask.  So this weekend, we'll head out to get her sewing kit stocked.  Elijah occupies himself for hours with his projects.  He either sews in his room where it is most peaceful.  We had an incident where both of his sisters were on top of him while he was trying to sew.  There was all kinds of room on the couch, but they both literally camped out on top of him.  While flattering, that would have worked my nerves too.   Sometimes, he can peacefully sew amongst the rest of us, other times not.  It's nice to a have a few moments where everyone is content, slowly busy with different projects and peaceful.   

 
I loved seeing this.

 

 
Elijah's first project-his needle book.

 

 

Elijah is so proud of himself.  He really loves the fact that he made these projects and that he can make useful and fun things for himself.  The turnaround on these projects are pretty fast too.  He can spot a project and if we have materials on hand, he can make it immediately. 

What kinds of things are you working on lately?  Have a wonderful weekend.

 

Of Fabric and Memory

I have a fabric fetish.  I love looking at it, dreaming about future projects and yes sometimes even sewing with it.  I am not the most proficient seamstress.  I am not sure my sewing exploits even qualify me being called a seamstress, but anyway . . . .  Since I love looking at patterns, color and the designs they create, it's really beyond time for me to start my first quilt.  I have no idea what I am doing, but therein lies the adventure and fun right?  Right?  I remember lovingly inspecting my granny's quilts when I was a little girl.  I loved looking at the different snippets of repurposed clothing, ticking covers, and feed sacks that made up the quilts.  I'd give anything for those quilts now.  So I am on a mission to make my own. 

I gave my three eldest children Sewing School for a Valentine's Day present.  I bought it on sale and had been hiding it for about a month.  Both Helena and Elijah love to create things, but Elijah looked most enthused.  He actually spent time looking at different projects.  Doran loves watching my sewing machine and unwinding my thread all around the basement, but he didn't look super-excited.  Helena couldn't even feign interest, even though I bet she will be on board once we start our "lessons" if only in the interest of not being left out.  Ha!  Imagine that, me who barely knows how to sew, will be teaching the littles.  Well I suppose I can learn along with them.  It's all a part of the adventure right?  Right?  I am pretty determined to indoctrinate them on the value of handmade and being able to create things for themselves.  I think these skills bestow confidence and a feeling that one can take care of oneself.

So I have been hoarding and collecting fabric-old baby and adult clothes, things from Goodwill, sale fabric.  I surprise myself at the size of the prints and the vibrancy of the colors I choose.  Maybe it's the result of growing up in the 70's and 80's when matching wasn't really a priority.  Recently I could not resist a pound of fabric because of one piece of fabric.  The rest of the bundle is lovely, but that one small piece hooked me-all because of a childhood memory.

 
I purchased this bundle of vintage fabric from The Magic Fishbone.  Heather from Beauty that Moves runs this store with her teenaged daughter.

 

 
I recognize this yellow and green fabric from somewhere, maybe from another blog or one of my many sewing books.  I told you I hoarded craft stuff.

 
This is the guilty party.  I remember my parents had this bedsheet set when I was about 5 or 6.  I couldn't believe it when I saw this nestled in the pile.  This is what memory does to me.

So off I go, I think I will try for a lap quilt first.  I don't need anything too huge to depress me or get me too disoriented too quickly.  I have a mother-in-law and some sisters-in-law who can make some pretty awesome quilts.  I look at them and shake my head in amazement.  Hopefully I can join the ranks of the quilting proficient.

Memory is more compelling than I thought it could ever be.  It makes a life.  If you are interested, I would love to hear about the things you have bought or projects you have tackled based on a memory?

Have a lovely day.

 

I Got a Rock

 

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween.  Things were buzzing and hopping around here.  I finally got the kiddos' costumes together.  The baby had an awesome hand-me-down jack o' lantern costume.  Thank goodness.  Eden was pretty happy with it, at least for a while.

Helena had been planning to be a panther and Elijah had been planning to be a monkey for the longest time.  You would have thought that I would have started their costumes a long time ago since they did me the favor of deciding what they wanted to be so far in advance.  Ah, yet another lesson learned - maybe.  Who knew fake fur could be such a hassle?  Doran decided he wanted to be a spider.  I thought that was pretty good.  He has been getting more into the dressing up part of Halloween as the years have passed.  It was fun to see him have so much fun!

 

 

He doesn't look so psyched in this photo, but I am telling you he was beyond thrilled!  ;-)

 

 

 

Everyone wanted to greet the trick or treaters who seemed to come earlier than usual this year.  I wish I could have gotten more pictures of the children in their get-ups, but they kept moving around, even before they had any candy.

 

 

A great time was had by all.  The baby caught on quickly.  She held onto her candy with a death grip even though no one was after it.  She has instincts I tell you.  We enjoyed making decorations (which I will share tomorrow) and just hanging out.  We haven't carved our pumpkin yet even though the squirrels got a head start, but seeing that all Soul's Day isn't until tomorrow, I figure we're good! 

I really enjoyed sharing my candy tradition with the kids.  Yay candy corn!  Elijah is not a follower of the corn but you can't win them all.  We enjoyed trying some new things.  I dressed up this year- a first.  We had a great time listening to Helena recite Sally's speech to Linus in the pumpkin patch.  "I want restitution!"  We did have to have a conversation about how you don't call people 'blockhead'.  :-)  It was a great season.  The little ones are looking forward to next year and so am I.  Now it is time to hunker down and prepare for the holiday season.  We will be doing a lot of creating and hopefully spending some slow time with each other.

What was your favorite part about Halloween this year?

 

 Happy Monday and Happy November everyone!

Reusables

 

Lately we have been trying to reduce the amount of plastic we use.  All three kids take their lunch to school and they also bring in their snacks everyday.  For a while I was using plastic snack bags and cringing every time I did so.  There had to be a better way to separate and transport their food to school.  I investigated using some plastic reusable containers, but then Greg brought up his concern of the plastic leaching chemicals even without being microwaved, as well as the by-products used in manufacturing them.  He has his suspicions, and I agree, that the rapid increase of autism the world population is experiencing is at least partly affected by the chemicals in our environment from manufacturing, pollution, etc.  The FDA states that the "microwave safe" plastic is fine and it may well be.  However, we try to have a non-plastic alternative when we can.  Eventually that plastic has to be thrown away.  With the current  technology, there is only so much plastic recycling you can do until the quality of the plastic degrades so much that it can't be recycled anymore.

Regarding the school snack and lunch conundrum, glass isn't practical, nor is it allowed at school. Consequently, I got the kiddos some stainless steel snack containers.  I also bought a couple of lunch-sized steel containers for Doran to use.  He likes for his lunches to be hot.  Luckily for us, his aide and teacher don't mind heating his food on a plate I sent into school for him.  They are so sweet to do so!

The price of these steel boxes are definitely more expensive than their plastic counterparts.  Consequently we are slooowly adding to our stainless steel collection.  I did manage to finish one lined cloth snack bag to add to our non-plastic reusables.  Hopefully I'll get the rest done before the kids graduate from college.

When packing their lunches, I can't help but think of Laura Ingalls carrying her lunch to school in a tin pail covered with cloth.   I love those stories.  I also think about how my grandmother would save glass jars for storing her leftovers.  I remember seeing a whole lot of chicken and dumplings stored in an old huge Hellman's mayonnaise jar. 

 

The snack containers have two compartments which are handy when little folks want apples and cheese or other foods that should probably be kept apart.  We don't put 'wet' foods in these containers, not that the teachers would appreciate wet food being slopped around the classroom anyway.

 

I made this fabric snack bag using leftover material from Helena's cape (not the greatest picture, but you can see it's a bag;-).  I lined it with unbleached muslin.  It is a super simple pattern that I found here.  It is easy to adapt.  I made mine a little more narrow than the pattern states, but of course you can size your bag to fit your needs.

 

The kids are really enjoying their boxes.  I like the easy cleanup and the fact that I am no longer tossing out a ginormous stack of plastic bags practically every school day-whew.