Chicken Beanbags

Why? One of the kindergarten teachers wanted them, that's why. But really, why not? Shouldn't everyone have a set?

Baby Booties- I swear I can quit any time I want to...?

I made several more pair of baby booties, using leftover polar fleece... They're addictive. Whenever I sit down to make a pair, I can't stop. I wonder if there is a 12 step program for recovery?

Baby Bibs and Potholders

I used small brocade samples to make a bunch of pretty potholders. I insulated them with an old towel. I found out the hard way that quilt batting doesn't protect fingers from the heat very well!

I used up some scraps from my bag-making frenzy by making these little baby bibs. Using buttons on baby things is technically a no-no, but I defy any baby to dislodge a button that I have sewn on.
It simply can't be done !

Handbags!

As usual, once I start making something I have to go overboard. I must have borderline OCD or perhaps it's addictive behavior. Anyway, I made about 10 bags,some of which I have already given away. I used fabric samples given to me by my uncle, who used to run a home decorating business. These beautiful fabrics retailed for about 100 dollars per yard 20 years ago. Most of them are imported from mills in England or Italy. My cheapo camera doesn't do them justice.

Baby Clothes From Old Band Tee Shirts

My darling niece is expecting a baby boy in September. The Papa-to-be has numerous old band tee shirts from his miss-spent youth. I made some of them into baby pajamas for the new arrival. It's hard to get too excited about making baby things, when they cost so little to buy, and are sort of fiddly to sew. I do think the Papa will get a kick out of seeing the old shirts being recycled, though. These shirts had been destined for the Goodwill, so at least I rescued them from obscurity.

Dresses for Little Lola

What do you do with fabric remnants of a yard or less? Summer dresses for my littlest relative! I love bias trim, piping, and rick-rack. The pink & blue dress is made from vintage fabric scraps from my mom's stash. The red dress is made from scraps leftover from one of Lara's dresses. I used scraps from a wedding dress alteration to make the built-in petticoat.

Pettiskirt and top for Little Lola

Dolly gets a pettiskirt and top too. What else do you do with the scraps?

These were really fun to make!

Well, I figure I should update my blog once a year whether I need to or not. I have had some requests for pictures of my recent projects. Since summer began, I have been doing some sewing- I made several new dresses for myself, but I'm camera shy, so you don't get to see those.
We've been staying fairly close to home. I went to Bozeman, Chico Hot Springs, and Yellowstone Park last week. I had a lot of fun and accidentally got a sunburn. Ouch! Conrad and I went to Butte, America for the National Folk festival this weekend, and got our dose of great music, too much heat, and too many people. We got home last night and sat down for a few minutes, then headed downtown to listen to Mark play with his band. I am pooped.

Woe is me

Can it really be 2 years since I have updated my blog? I have just been such a busy bee with my school web page, facebook, twitter, etc. that I haven't had the time! So much has happened since I last wrote. My father, who was this blogs biggest fan, died last March... almost a year ago today. I am still almost paralysed by his loss.
I am gearing up for next year's NUTCRACKER performance. It is the 25th anniversary, so it's kind of a big deal. I have been commisioned to make all new soldier's costumes. Last year, I made all new mice, new party boys, new angels, and a few new party girl dresses.

Jourdan's "Fine Lady" gown

Friday we were fortunate enough to be invited to the in-law's house for dinner. While there, I coerced Jourdan into trying on the Halloween costume I made for her. What a doll!

Kangaroo Kutie

Recently, I've made a kangaroo costume (complete with Joey) for my little niece Amanda. She's planning to wear it for Halloween. Who doesn't love dressing up as an animal (especially a marsupial!)

Ahhh... the sweet days of summer... gone.

Here is a picture of Lara, crossing a dicey-looking bridge in a nameless Central American rainforest. It looks so lush and green. Can't you almost hear the monkeys howl?
I'm watching our own local greenery fade and dry up, now that autumn is here. School is in full swing, and I've even overheard conversations about (horrors!) Christmas shopping.
I got a wonderful email from a dear friend with whom I lost touch 20 years ago. This is one of the small benefits of growing old, I suppose; rediscovering and reinventing relationships.
I seem to be in a particularly reflective and somber mood tonight. Must be the barometric pressure. 

Back 2 School funk

Tomorrow is the first day that I have to be at school. I'm attending an Indian Ed. workshop, and hope it will be good. I've been in a bit of a purple funk all day over my summer ending. Chocolate Chip cookies sounded good to me, so I sent Conrad to the store to buy a few ingredients and a 6pack of beer to aid in the baking process. I intend to drown my sorrows in Belgian ale and cookie dough as soon as possible. Do I hear him pulling in to the drive right now?

Baby Booties

I can't seem to give up the bootie making. Here are two pair in size 0-3 months, and two pair in size 3-6 months. I will give them to the baby that is expected across the street soon. I'm not sure what the gender will be, but these look suitably unisex. It's fun to use up all my little scraps of fleece.

Baby presents

While at the lake, I made 3 pair of little baby booties for a recent arrival in the neighborhood:
Kiley's new baby, Asher David.
I got the free pattern online at www.HELLOmynameisHeather.com

Trout Creek Huckleberry Festival

A jolly time was had by all at the Huckleberry festival in Trout Creek this year. Various members of our clan were able to partake in Pancake breakfasts, foot races, a parade, a craft show, and the ever-popular Family Dance. I still think that this event is begging to be made into a mockumentary, but filming could get a little dicey, as Northwestern Montana is known to be a haven for backwards, paranoid types, who have a tendency to shoot first and ask questions- never. With my luck, I would aim a camera at some crazy white supremacist dude without teeth, who would undoubtedly get hostile. Here is a picture of one of my darling nieces getting into the spirit of the separatist movement the area is known for. These toy guns shot out obnoxious little green pellets which littered the ground by the thousands by the end of the weekend.
On the way to and from the lake, we stopped at a trinket shop that had several aquariums full of various local fish. This picture is my attempt at photographing my nieces with one of the fine finny fellows that reside there. I don't know how I could have avoided the glare from the overhead lights on the glass, but I am determined to get comfy with this new camera.

Weird Dreams

I had the most vivid dream that I was swimming in a shallow lake, when a large alligator came off the bank and began to swim toward me with malicious intent. I knew that I was awaiting certain death in its jaws. It was such a potent dream, I told the family about it, which caused a great deal of fun to be had at my expense. The next day however, I was vindicated when reports were made of a large alligator loose in a pond in Kalispel. Perhaps I am clairvoyant? Anyhow, it took an angry mob to dispatch said alligator, which turned out to be someone's wayward pet.
Last night, a band of hungy zombies were giving me a great deal of trouble. I was attempting to change their appetites by tempting them with hot oatmeal. I met with mixed success in this endeavor. Luckily, morning relieved me of my responsibility to these finicky eaters.

What I've been reading

Last night I completed The Book Thief, which was very good, but I'm not sure that it lives up to all the hype it has been given. As a WWII novel, it pales in comparison to Milkweed, Katerina, Slaughterhouse 5, Night, and so many others. However, it makes a very powerful statement about the transformative power of the written word. The story is narrated by Death, which is a device that is new to me. The style is largely poetic and sparse, and I think it would be a book left unfinished by quite a few readers. The book has been touted as written for young people, but I believe it is more suited to adults, despite the fact that the main character is a child.
A few days ago I finished The Space Between Us, a story about a untouchable servant in India, and her relationship with her employer. The two women have parrallel, interdependent lives. The rhythm of their lives is disrupted when the careful boundaries between their castes erode. The result is catastrophic. The book was reminiscent of Kite Runner, but was much more depressing- it lacked the feel-good sense of redemption at the conclusion. Of the two novels, however, I expect the former is more realistic and haunting.
Presently, I am in the middle of JesusLand which is a memoir written by a woman about my age. It chronicles the harsh reality of a bi-racial family trying to live in rural Indiana in the 1970's. The treatment of the family by the Hoosiers is truly shocking. I can only hope that some of them read this book, recognize themselves, and feel ashamed.

And it begins...

Today I received "The Letter" explaining exactly when I am expected to resume my teaching duties this fall. It's a little early this year, probably because we've had some changes in the administration. They are, no doubt, attempting to make a good impression by having this information out to us promptly. I wonder if any of them realize how depressing it is to see the dreadful letter in our mail.
Today I went to a day-long inservice at the High School. My attention span has withered to a shadow of its former self, and I had a terrible time staying focused. The class was all about using MS Moviemaker to edit video and create presentations. Despite my wandering mind, I was able to digest a fair amount of information. I look forward to teaching the kids how to use the program this year.

Family Reunion

All day Saturday we sat in a hot, isolated schoolhouse and made idle chit chat with aging family members. It is important to do, but that doesn't make it any more fun. Meanwhile, my closest sister is about as far away as one can be while still residing on planet earth. She returns to me from the nether regions of New Zealand on the 19th. Isn't it strange, these familial relationships we have?

Here's a shot of Wonder Woman spanking The Beaver! The costumes turned out pretty well. I still have to make the mitts and spats for the beaver outfit. I made it out of an old beadspread. I just love recycling old things into something new. The fabric for the tail and ear centers is new, however. It is a perfectly textured "Pleather". It was the most costly element of the costume at 3 bucks.
The gold fabric on the Wonder Woman costume is from a Christmas tablecloth that I picked up for almost nothing at a post-season clearance sale. It's far superior to any of the metalic fabrics available for purchase. It's got terrific sheer, and is backed with a flannel-like substance which gives it weight and body. I will never buy lame' again if they keep manufacturing these tablecloths! 

Super Heroine, her friend beaver, and pesky mosquito

The lavendar mosquito turned out great. Modifications after this picture include tubing inside the probiscus that allows the wearer to sip a drink by dipping the probiscus into a glass. Especially good for an occasional Boody Mary. This Mosuito has been a big hit at the Red Cross Blood Drive functions.