Growing Tadpoles

 The pond at the park has tadpoles.  

It has caused quite a stir.  

Lucy was intent on bringing some home.  

I put her off as long as I could.  But, my vivid memories of being her age and longing for something to grow and take care of over came me and I caved.  

Lucy had to research raising tadpoles before she was allowed to fish some out of the pond.  Did you know tadpoles like lettuce?  They do.  We are now the proud owners of five tadpoles.  They have to go back to the pond when they get legs.  But, for the meantime, Lucy is one happy camper, telling anyone who will listen that we have SEVEN pets.

See the little leg sprouts growing under the tail?

Mom, do you remember when we lived in Australia and I found abandoned baby field mice?  You let me bring them home and sadly, they died.  I kept thinking about those mice with Lucy begging to bottle up some tadpoles.  I can't believe you let me bring those mice home.  I don't think I would have said yes if it were my child,  but you were a really good mom for doing it.  What those little mice taught me about emotions, life, death, the instinct to nurture have stuck with me all this time.  Thanks for the reminder that I need to let my kids learn through exploration and experience. 

  -xo  

Sewing Sewing

Every night after dinner dishes I disappear into my recently designated "sewing room". It is nice to see a concrete accomplishment after a day of substitute teaching junior high schoolers!

A birthday gift for a daughter-in-law!

Violin and viola chin rests for my talented husband!

A sweater top for grand daughter.

Lengthened some ready made costume pants for a grandson. Had to cut off fabric from the top of the pants and then attach it to the bottom. Used hem tape to make the most of every centimeter. Then I had to replace the top with some plain black fabric. I think it is going to work! He wears this suit for his part as a gangster in a kid's version of "Guys and Dolls" for a summer community theater production.

A summer dress for a grand daughter's birthday!

Tutorial: Book Cover Frames

I've been wanting to change up my living room a bit lately, but being on a budget means doing it creatively.  I remembered this little project I did years ago and thought it would be the perfect thing to add a bit of color on the cheap.  I first read about how to do this in ReadyMade magazine, but have since seen lots of different ways to make frames (or other things) from old books.  

Here's my take on up-cycling old books into picture frames.

Materials:

}Old book, preferably with a fabric cover and interesting graphics or title

}Rotary cutter (optional)

}Self-healing cutting mat (optional)

}Ruler

}Penknife

}Mod Podge

}2 Short machine screws (just long enough to go through both covers) 

}2 Long machine screws (3" to 4") (optional: for a free-standing frame)

}Screwdriver

}Pencil or disappearing ink marker

}String or ribbon

Instructions:

}Using the rotary cutter and ruler (or the penknife and a steady hand), cut the spine off the book, leaving the pages and cover loose.  Use a layer of Mod Podge to seal up the exposed edges and keep the fabric from fraying.

}Working on the front cover, mark with a pencil or disappearing ink the area you want to cut away for your frame opening.

}Using a rotary cutter and ruler (or penknife and ruler), press firmly along the lines you marked, cutting all the way through the cover.  Carefully use the penknife to finish out the corners.

}Tack your photo or picture into place.  Sandwich the front and back book covers together, lining up the corners and edges.  Use a penknife to press small holes into the top corners of the book, equal distances from the edges.

}If you wish to hang the frame, you only need two short screws (the ones I used were less than 1/2 inch long).  Insert the screws into the holes you marked and continue to screw them in, through both book covers using a screwdriver.  Be careful to hold the covers tightly together, so they don't shift.

}If you wish to have a free-standing frame, say to sit on a shelf or table, repeat the method above using long screws, inserting them in each corner, 1" from the bottom of the frame.  The stems of the screws will protrude out behind the back book cover, making a little legs for the frame to rest on, keeping it upright.

}Tie some string or ribbon to each screw and hang it up!

The tulip print is from Sycamore Street Press.

12 Squared: May Square

This Spider Web block was by far the most challenging square to date.  But, it was a lot of fun to get together with some of the local Squares for a quilting night.  We exchanged scraps, helped each other figure out the foundation piecing process, overdosed on some fabulous ranch dip!  To read more about that night and see the other blocks for Jen, click HERE.

Summer is Coming For Two Baby Girls

Summer is slow getting here in the Pacific Northwest this year, but I am anticipating some sunshine with outfits I made for two grand daughters, both size 12 months. I was fond of this warm pink cotton print and had just enough to make a dress and bloomers for each.

Eleanor will get this sun dress and hat.

Butterick Pattern 6033.

The dresses and hat were lined with a soft white on white cotton print from JoAnn's.

I was excited to try out buttonholes on my new Brother sewing machine!

Anna is wearing a sun bonnet made from Simplicity Pattern 5813.

Instead of lace I made a fabric ruffle.

Her dress is a vintage pattern, Simplicity 8897.

Love those buttonholes!

Now bring on that sunshine!