Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Out of the mouths of babes

  • "I'm being haive!" -- 2 year old son, when his mother told him told to behave
  • "I'm not an oxymoron!" -- 7 year old
  • "TNT." -- Given as an answer for a written spelling bee, when the teacher called the word "dynamite."
  • "I'm glad I'm finally eight. This is the oldest I've ever been in my entire life!" -- 8 year old son.
  • "I had to read and write six book reports." -- Girl, in an email to her friend, attempting to explain what she had to do over the summer. She later tried sending a correction, which read, "I had to read and write six books."
  • "Oh, well Mom said all I had to use was the sponge and dish detergent." -- 12 year old daughter, when her father told her he used elbow grease to get the dishes clean
  • "Do they look after the Pokemon?" -- City kid, when asked what a gamekeeper does.
  • "Why don't you get some expensive money?" -- 3 year old daughter, when told by her mother that she could get a small toy but that the ones asked for were too expensive
  • "I have a rock in my nose." -- 2 year old son, greeting his mother after preschool, a full hour after recess was over.
  • "There's no one in there." -- 6 year old son, in response to seeing his father hanging pictures and tapping on the walls to find the support beams.
  • "Quiet!" -- 4 year old, when asked what begins with 'M' and sounds good.
  • "If I was a raccoon I would eat the farmer's corpse." -- A kindergartener, writing a story about what we would do if he were a raccoon
  • "Well, sometimes I say something mean to my brother, but I feel really good inside. Does that mean I'm a hypocrite?" -- 7 year old girl, after a Sunday School teacher explained that a hypocrite was someone who says one thing but feels something else.
  • "Daddy, did your hair slip?" -- 3 year old son, to his bald but long bearded father
  • "Daddy picked them up and looked underneath. I think it's printed on the bottom." -- 3 year old son, when his mother asked how his father knew the genders of four new baby kittens

Monday, June 4, 2012

Ways to Use Your Unconventional Baby blanket

In the past week, the Boy has discovered about a dozen new uses for his Unconventional Baby blanket.

1.  He made a tent with it (a time honored tradition, of course). 
2.  He made me tie it around his neck like a cape, and then ran around in just his blanket and Captain America underpants, pretending to be an Avenger.  Yes, I took pictures. 
3. He swept the driveway with it.  Yes, this happened.
4. He wrapped his Mommy Turtle up in it so she didn't get cold.  Awwwww.
5.  He used it as a whip in the coffeeshop.
6.  He had a picnic on it.
7. He hid under it.  Didn't you know that it is -impossible- to see a child if they are hiding under a blanket?
8. He rolled in it and became a burrito boy.  His words.
9. He polished his new Lake Michigan rocks on it.
10.  He used it as a shield from the wind of the fan.  This was a terrifically fun game that I still don't quite understand.
11.  He used it to make a fairy house with.
12.  He snuggled it at bedtime, tiny little fingers rubbing at the silky edge in his sleep.  Which is nothing new, but still sweet enough to melt me, even after all this time. 

<3

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Nothing makes me happier than Pandora rockin the music, a glass of wine, the windows open, and my sewing machine or press.  Some people need the money- I need the creativity.  Go out and enjoy the weather tonight, if its good- because here in Michigan, its extraordinary. 

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

my workspace

I dream sometimes of having a dedicated workspace.  One spot for all my fabrics, my machine, my packing stuff, my screen printer, and my press.  Right now, my stuff is pretty much strewn around the house, and I'm constantly moving things around based on what I'm working on.  You can tell, just by coming in my house, what it is I've been working on- if the sewing machine is on the table, I've been making blankets.  If the heat press is out, its shirts.  The iron is a sign I've been adding labels, and if you can see the packing tape and postal scale, I've been packaging.  It's not perfect- good Lord, its far from it, but for now, its how I work.


There are many downsides to the way I currently use my space:
1.  my stuff is everywhere.
2. I always have to start and end by moving things around
3. I'm constantly misplacing things
4. Did I mention my stuff is everywhere?  :-)

 But there are also some pretty awesome things about the way I work, as well:
1. I'm right in the kitchen, so its no big deal to tag or package while Liam plays in the living room
2. I work at the kitchen table, which just lends itself to friends chatting with me while I work, sharing a bottle of wine
3. I'm close to my computer, so if I need to pull up Etsy to check orders, or print labels, or change my music its handy
4. I can always hear the doorbell.

I think, when it really comes down to it, I like being in the mix of things.  I really feel like a crafter mom with her own business, building gorgeous things at my kitchen table.  While in some respects, it would be nice to be able to close a door and call it a day, I like the feeling of my work always being at hand, of it being such a part of our lives.  I think the only thing I would really change is just finding some place to store everything.

Which might happen someday, if I'm lucky. 




Monday, April 23, 2012

The internet saves the day #1- how to remove fabric paint from clothing

I'm pretty sure that fabric paint is the scariest material on the planet.  It's made to, well, stay on clothing.  Which is awesome, unless you got it on your clothing by accident. 

I was sitting in preschool today, helping a group of four year olds make Earth Day Shirts, when I noticed the big green smear of fabric paint right across the front of my new-ish shirt.  I was less than thrilled.  My wardrobe in pretty sparse as it is, and this wasn't a shirt I was ready to put out to pasture.  So when the teacher suggested I use vinegar to get it out, hope blossomed in my mind.

A quick web search (oh, google, how I love thee!) led to ehow.com and this article.  While my son napped, I sat down with hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, hairspray, a couple paper towels and a handful of  Q-tips, and got to work.  

And.... it totally worked!  My shirt is in perfect condition, no worse for the wear.  no bleached out spots, no staining, and no wearing of the material.  best part of all- no big green smear!





What do you think, internet?  How'd I do?  Looks fab to me!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Quote of the Day





Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.
Elizabeth Stone