Sunday, November 15, 2009

Happy Birthday, Grampy Bixby!


What began as a dinosaur ended up as a mouse monster. Stella had a hard time writing an r, so she made it wear a party hat. I helped her to spell "Happy Birthday Grampy", but in true Stella fashion she did her own thing and wrote "Happy Birth Grapy."

Which then elicited a giggle fit because, "It's not even a real word. Gravy is a real word! Should I change it to 'Happy Birth Gravy'?" We thought it was very silly and very Stella to leave it as is, so we did.

Happy Birthday, Grampy! We hope you're having a wonderful time in Mexico with Grammy.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Halloween

After a short break from the craziness that was making two Halloween costumes - one from a heavily modified pattern and the other with a pattern I made - all while entertaining a precocious four-year-old and a teething toddler hellbent on climbing everything in sight, I am now in full holiday gift-making mode. That sentence was likely exhausting to read, but now you've got some idea how things have been here!

After naming at least a half dozen costumes I had to make for her, Stella finally chose Katara from Avatar. And I did a happy dance that I was spared from making yet another Disney Princess costume, at least for the time being.


I had originally planned to make Violet a companion costume to Stella's. Then Jake brought home a Yo Gabba Gabba DVD as a reward for Stella. Violet is so enamored of the show - she shouts, "Yo Gab Gab! Yo Gab Gab!" while jumping and dancing whenever she hears the opening music - that it seemed a perfect fit. So I made a dress like some of the dancing children wear.

"My name is Violet... I like to DANCE!"


The girls both loved their costumes, and I'm using that small victory to propel me forward in finishing the heaps of projects I've committed to before we leave for Arizona in three weeks. If I haven't posted by then, please send help to excavate me from the piles of fabric and felt.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

In Which I Beg for Impossible Things



Dear Time Travel Scientists,

Should you happen to visit 1985, please give this Playmobil Pyramid playset to seven-year-old me. This is around the time that my Egypt obsession had fully taken hold and I made a scale model of the Sphinx out of hot pink Play-Doh. And I accessorized my favorite blue sweatshirt with foil-printed Tutankhamun motif with hieroglyph print Keds. Clearly I needed this playset to keep me company because I certainly didn't make any friends dressed this way.

This may also prevent me from buying it as a gift for Stella, then refusing to let her touch it.

xoxo Jen

P.S. If you're feeling especially generous, I will also happily accept the ship and Sphinx.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Craft Talk!

Eventually I'll get around to posting pictures of things I've sewn or painted, but it seems I need to get the intimidating first post out the way.

So to anyone who is ready this, since you are most likely a fellow craft-tastic lady, I'm dedicating this jam to you: