Sunday, March 27, 2011

i heart tacky pillows!

paul asked me to make a tacky pillow for his wife for him to present to her when the baby is born!  what a great idea!  he saw the tacky pillow i made ivy smith and really liked it, so wanted one for kimberly.  they're naming the baby something that starts with "J" (he won't tell anyone what the name is until he's born...), so the pillow got a "J" on it.
here's my starting point:
complete with the beginnings of a first ten list of what's on shuffle on my ipod.  i love listening to my ipod on shuffle.  it's like my own personalized radio station.  here's what my first ten was this morning:
  • velvet underground
  • indigo girls
  • mazzy star
  • joy division
  • billy bragg and wilco
  • groove armada
  • benny goodman
  • cat power
  • pizzicato five
  • the beatles

and here's the finished tacky pillow:


 here's fat molly, who is a hostile helper:
i wanted her to get her fat ass off the fabric so it doesn't get covered in cat hair and her answer was to hiss threateningly at me.  she's a joy.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

nom noms

after work on friday i went to serious pie with christine, denise, dave, solomon and wes.  angela works across the street at serious pie's sister restaraunt, lola, but i had never been to serious pie.
IT WAS DELICIOUS!!!
i want to go again and again and again.  there were 5 different pies on the happy hour special, i totally can't remember what kinds they were, but i'll try...
i think the front one was the sausage and something and the back one was the buffalo mozz and something:

and the one on the left was the truffle and arugula and the one on the right was the potato and something.  the only one i didn't get a shot of was the one with egg.  GREAT IDEA!  i love eggs.

and they had mexican coca-cola (with christine lookin super happy!), i think she was just super serious about picking out her perfect piece of pie...
i really love soda in a bottle.  it's the shit.


and then i had parked outside what denise and dave said was the best cupcake shop in seattle, the yellow leaf cupcake co., so we went in and i got a couple cupcakes.  these were the vanilla ones (which i got for me) and then i got an english breakfast one for maya and laela to split.

they had good stuff on the walls:

and i have to say...i loved my cupcake.  it wasn't over the top sweet like most cupcakes.  it was more buttery.  very delicious.  i'm glad i got a couple:

i have to do this soon again after work...it was fun!

Monday, March 21, 2011

changing mat tote...

paul and kimberly's baby shower is at the beginning of next month, so i got off my ass and got their prezzie ready.  i made a changing mat tote from a vintage pattern my mom gave me.  i modified the pattern somewhat, but the basic idea is totally the same.

the one i made is the stipey thing in the middle there.  basically, it's a changing pad and those flop out things are big pockets that fold inside to hold things in when you carry it.  there's supposed to be a removable rubber mat that's held in with snaps, but i just made it a permanent pad using extra thick batting.  the whole thing is washable, so if there's accidents (and it's a baby, c'mon now...) you can just stuff it in the washer, no problem.  

 they're having a boy and i didn't want to go with stupid blue, so i chose a nice thicker sea green cotton for the outside and a super cute brown with multi-colored hearts fuzzy flannel for the lining and the pockets.  it's lined with brown bias tape which matches the inside fabric.  and i really like green and brown together, so i hope they do too!

the pattern had a cute bear to put on the front of the tote, so i rolled with it.  you were supposed to sew it nicely on there with lots of folding and ironing, but i went with my standard of just sewing the sucker down with a zig-zag stitch.  i think it looks better. 
 mmmm...my icy juice looks pretty good sitting there.

so here's what it looks like all folded out.  i think the flap pockets came out pretty good.  the whole pattern is just rectangles, so it was super easy to put together.  and there are windows right above my sewing table (which is to the left of the picture) so it's casting a nice dark shadow from the light coming in.  sorry...it's a funny picture...

and with the pockets folded in on themselves.  cute little hearts :)

and the finished product!  i made the straps a little longer for being able to go over with paul or kimberly's shoulders without being too short.

it came out just like i wanted it to.  it's soft and squishy and really CUTE!!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

one for me...

i liked how poops' puppy turned out so much, i decided to make myself a horse from the same set of patterns.  i think she came out pretty good.  a little punk, a little goofy.


awww...lookit that cute horse butt!

and i really wish i could say that i planned to have the flower on the pattern match up exactly for the eye...but it was just a happy accident.  i love those.  and i didn't really mean for her to get a mohawk either.  oh well.

now what should i call her?

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

bitchin' kitchen

all right!!  2 out of 6 pay it forward 2011's done!  this one is for sarah.  she's my manager from way back when i used to work at barnes and noble.  luckily, neither of us work there anymore :)
i got the design out of a book called "subversive cross stitch" by julie jackson.  it's pretty awesome.  the design originally said "bitch in kitchen" but she told you how to modify it and i think it's going to be a good prezzie for sarah since she likes to cook and they just moved into a new place!!
it's really quite small: 5 3/4" x  4 1/4" with the frame.
i hope she likes it!!!

in other news, my mom was here this last weekend with her friend debbie for a visit.  and i know you all will be shocked to know that i made ravioli.  this time i had a helper:
lookin' awfully good in the apron!

and we made potato pesto ricotta ravioli with a sour cream sauce:



we had a really good visit and i took some funny pics of my mom with my phone, but she forbade me to put them up here.  so it's all her fault.
i'll be going back to idaho in may for my step-sisters graduation, so i'll be seeing her then and then again for our vacation in july.  where are we going to go?  we were going to go to harry potter world in orlando
but i realized it was going to be waaay more expensive than either my mom or i wanted it to be, so we reconsidered.  we will now be driving from seattle down to yosemite national park in california via the oregon/california coast, the redwoods and san francisco!!  gonna be great!  i have a feeling i'll be taking even more pictures than i did when mom and i went on vacation summer before last.  guess i'll have to make another book!!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

one down, 5 to go...

i have now finished one of my pay it forward 2011's!  another one is close to completion...just needs a frame and it will be done.  the first one totally done is for poops and i hope she totally loves it!
adorable!
this cute little puppy started out as a pattern and fabric:
 
then i cut out the pieces:

and a couple hours later:
you can't tell, but the plaid has a little sparkly red thread running through it.  so cute!

this is how it was on january 11, 2011:

Pay it Fwd 2011: I promise to make something handmade for the 1st 5 people who comment on this. They must in turn post this and make something for the 1st 5 people who comment on their status. The rules are it has to be handmade by you and they must receive it before 2011 ends.
thanks sethie!!
but you gotta give me your addresses!
January 11 at 7:55am ·  ·  · 
    • Sarah Randall I would like to play!
      January 11 at 8:24am · 
    • Alon Steuer yay! you're number one! i know just what to make you....send me a message with your address :)
      January 11 at 8:45am · 
    • James Geraint Brown hmmmmmmmm go on then.....
      January 11 at 9:18am · 
    • Sara Walsh Can it be food?
      January 11 at 9:18am · 
    • Grace Gara Vergara yes i woke up early enough to make it to top 5!!! wooohooo!!!
      January 11 at 10:43am · 
    • Alon Steuer JAMES! dude... i have rolls of film for you! give me your address and you also get something handmade. i'll try to refrain from making you a sparkly dress...
      sarah...i can take a picture of food and send it to you :)
      POOPS! YAY!
      January 11 at 11:05am · 
    • Sandy Izzo Anything made by you rocks, I'm so in! :). I'll even return the favor!
      January 11 at 11:09am · 
    • Alon Steuer sweet! sandra....you're 5!
      January 11 at 11:09am · 
    • IsaacandCelinda Downey Me please! I'm so curious now!
      January 11 at 11:51am · 
    • Alon Steuer ok celinda! you can be 6 :) send me your address! i still have things that you made me....like the beaded dreamcatcher and the painted wooden box!!
      January 11 at 11:58am · 
    • IsaacandCelinda Downey Yay! thank you Alon, I didn't realize you already had 5 when I posted earlier. I love that you still have stuff from me, that is awesome! I'll send you my address.
      January 11 at 8:28pm ·