squeaky bean

noodles take two. (maybe ravoli)

2009-05-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

step 1. dig out one dusty food processor.

step 2. spill a minimal amount of flour.

step 3. crack eggs at the exact moment

the timer on the camera goes off

step 4. process! and wait.

will update with results!

newness

2009-05-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

Spending sunday reading blogs and I came across this on how about orange (link on the right). I think I have to try this... I feel a new obsession coming on.

How to etch glass by Melissa Esplin

what a break, strawberry jam and noodles

2009-05-09T18:44:00.000-07:00

After a big break from posting about crafting (but not a break from crafting) I am coming back to this blog with some renewed energy. I am not sure where I put my memory lately, because the last time that I tried to post here I honestly couldn't remember my own sign in.

Today:

1. After making chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast I found the long lost freezer jam making packet that I purchased last summer in Ontario and smuggled across the border. I remeber eating strawberry freezer jam at my grandma's but never knew exactly how to make it. When buying groceries for a family reunion last summer I came across this packet of magic mix, which you add to fruit and wha-la! Freezer jam. I had intended to use it much sooner, but in a burst of cleaning madness I squirrled it away in the cupboard inside a tupperware labled, "chocolate chips", which somehow made sense at the time. Once I found the packet I was overjoyed and really needed to make jam RIGHT NOW.

2. During my many trips past the kitchen to take the dogs out, check the weather and search the fridge for post pancake snacks I was confronted by a small pile of red potatoes that I got last weekend, but had no idea what I was going to cook. I started to rummage around for dinner/savory inspiration and I started to think about soup. After a string of really warm sunny days today started to feel cold/chilly. soup it was. But then I needed onions, and carrots, and celery and something else. Homemade noodles. I'm on a real kick of newness, figuring that if I can find an internet video I can figure out how to cook it. There was a very failed attempt at tortillas last week, but today I was sure I could do it. After a couple of hours I had a pretty good pile of drying noodles. Which was then transformed into a pretty good veggie noodle soup. Yum.

Crafting?
No sewing today. Maybe tomorrow.

shop update...

2009-01-18T13:04:00.000-08:00

just procrastinated with the laundry by updating the last of the completed lunch bags to the etsy shop. I've sold one so far which was great. I loved making these, the process of figuring it out and then all of the individual steps... I think it brought out some neurosis in me.

a tiny pillow

2009-01-18T11:19:00.001-08:00

I have no idea why I crafted this little pillow. It's ridiculous I know. Way to small to provide comfort to a big head. Maybe for an arm? Some smaller and tired body part that needs to rest it's weary self.

Sunday, laundry day. My dogs are quietly sleeping on their beds, my love is off at work. I am here trying to put off going to the basement.

Yesterday I had brunch with a really good friend and the talk went to babies. I am trying to limit my incessant chatter at home about the baby craving, but it's hard.

this icicle could kill you

2009-01-17T08:18:00.000-08:00

this is what we found outside our window

one tired dog taking a break from playing.

these are the chairs that I use to "save" my space

when I am gone for the day. although I see it as a

valid chicago tradition it seems to be a pretty hot

button issue.

all cleaned out

it's been bitter here in chicago, but I have been building up the biceps shoveling and shoveling and shoveling out my parking space. the dogs have been enjoying the snow, but after a few minutes they have to roll over and nibble out the ice cubes that have formed in their paws. poor babies.

one week, no posts.

2009-01-17T08:05:00.000-08:00

A week of no posting.

does it count that I did a lot of blog reading?

today I will...

2009-01-10T10:18:00.001-08:00

Today I will finish, photograph and post the lunch bags to etsy.

Today I will be in a good mood when my love comes home from work.

Today I will...

not make too many plans.

**update

so it's good to not have plans when it is snowing, you never know when the majority of the afternoon will be spent shoveling snow and getting to know your neighbors.

I did have some time to update my etsy shop and add 3 of the 6 lunch bags that I have been working on.

The Monday of All Mondays

2009-01-05T19:18:00.000-08:00

I am an infant/toddler teacher by day. What this means is that I get to spend my time in a smallish room with one other adult and eight children under 3... well under 2.5 right now. All of the children in my care are wonderful, but these past two weeks have been the longest time that we have been apart since they each started at the center.

We were prepared. We told parents that the first day back after the break was going to be hard. Really hard. We thought the kids would cry at drop off, that getting back into the routine of things would take a while... we were wrong.

Today was one of the smoothest days. Ever.

We played, we danced, we cooperated during clean up times. Kids helped them selves to art materials, and 2(!!!) little guys started to use the potty. Maybe this doesn't seem like much, but it was. It was big. (and great)

What I did today plus cravings for things other than food

2009-01-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

I started out with a pile of threads, what a mess.

Came up with some patches for the lunch bags.

I have 1 bag completed and 2 others close to being done,

but I am waiting for a set so I can post them to etsy together.

How many makes a set?

And spent a good deal of time reading other craft

and mom&mom blogs. Check out the list on the right

for some of my favorites.

Although I haven't posted about it here, I crave motherhood almost nonstop. My partner is patient, I am not. For now I read blogs, I think I am addicted.

A crooked needle was the culprit.

2009-01-03T11:27:00.000-08:00

I have two sewing machines in my house, one which is mine and another lent to me from a good friend. I prefer the machine that isn't mine, it's older, has a metal case and feels sturdy. My machine is cheap and plastic and although it gets the job done the experience of sewing with it is not the same.

So with the borrowed machine out of commission due to a problem with the thread tension, I decided to dig around on our back porch for my machine. I had put it away a year ago after it wasn't working right (I know I should have had it fixed) and decided to do some trouble shooting. I tinkered. I looked on websites. I tinkered some more. And after 2 hours I took the needle out and yup, it was crooked.

So now I am back up and sewing.

yeay!

A New Year

2009-01-01T08:15:00.000-08:00

After a not so early alarm, a cup of black coffee and oatmeal with apples, two well behaved and quick to pee dogs- this new year is off to a pretty good start.

This morning is being spent at home with the two girls that I routinely pick up from school (P: 7yrs, N: 3yrs) and we've been able to keep the sibling fighting to a minimum. :) They are doing a good job spreading out and inventing new ways to play with some of my childhood toys.

Unfortunately it's too cold to head outside and relocate with all of the noise that we are making, so my love (who is still sleeping soundly) will just have to put an extra pillow over her head.

What a Mess

2008-12-31T11:37:00.000-08:00

I lot of junk in a lot of piles means that it's time to pull everything out and put it back again. I desperately need to clean out the closet that my sewing machine calls home.

Maybe after a shower and walking the dogs... maybe.

Lots of Little Stitches

2008-12-31T11:03:00.001-08:00

Last night I hunkered down in the soft spot of the couch and did some stitching. That along with what I completed while out of town for the holidays gives me a tidy pile of patches to sew (and steam iron, check out those wrinkles) onto something once I get my sewing machine fixed.

All Pooped Out

2008-12-30T15:36:00.000-08:00

Can you spot the sleeping dogs?

Worn our after a busy holiday weekend, lots of driving, new parks, walks in quiet neighborhoods...

I had plenty of time to sew, and did get a lot of hand stiching done. Some new designs that I am working on. I've been thinking about lunch bags, sewing them, using them.

Making lunches that I can't wait to eat. So I've been designing and embroidering happy bits of food.

To make these lunch bags I need to get my sewing machine in to the shop this week, I was sewing and sewing right before christmas, and them plop. The thread came loose and when I threaded the machine again the thread just ran through, no tension. Hmm. Ideas?

new projects

2008-10-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

saturday morning.

spent cutting out pieces for dogs toys, and watching my dogs play/nap. Jenny -pictured- is currently on a doggie weight loss plan. Being about 5 lb overweight for a 55lb dog is a lot, and any amount of movement, even in the form of play must count for something.

will upload new pictures of the dog toys just as soon as I can get my camera to read on the computer. Not sure why it's not working.