It’s been so long since we’ve had kittens (our three family cats are all pushing 13 years old) that we’d forgotten what distinct little personalities they can all have.

We’ve got one that’s very shy and cautious, but once she warms up to you she’s your best friend (she’s the one whose tummy you can see in the crate in the picture). Another (the one on the right with the white socks) is the definite leader of the pack and loves to “attack” anything that moves.

Another (the one on top of the crate) also loves to instigate wrestling matches but he’s also the first one at the door when you go into the room, and loves cuddles. The last (on the left) goes along with whatever her two brothers are doing, and loves to pick on the shy one.

Just like real siblings, in my experience!

Post from: Blisstree

Wordy Wednesday: Kittens

Because I want to make this jacket warm enough to be useful for the entire winter, I’m actually layering an extra piece of fabric into the middle.

For this particular jacket, I’m using a layer of fleece in between the top layer of cotton twill and the quilted nylon lining.  I simply treat the twill and fleece as one layer of fabric as I stitch the jacket together.

Adding an extra layer of fabric for warmth can be a great way to use up fabric that falls into the “what was I thinking?” category.  It’s going to disappear under the lining, so no one will ever know about it

I’ve “sandwiched” fabrics in several different pieces of clothing now – it’s a win-win situation.  You add an extra layer of warmth and it’s a great stash-buster as well!

image: C Findlay-Harder

Post from: Blisstree

Wordy Wednesday

Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something exciting about the first couple of stages of any sewing project.  That little pile of fabric has so much potential…

Of course – as fabric sometimes has a mind of it’s own – it can also turn into something a lot more frustrating too!

But for now, let’s keep on the positive side of things.  Okay, so it’s not quite ready to sew yet.  It needs to be interfaced, marked and pinned.

And let’s not forget reading the instructions too…

The pattern companies include those instructions for a reason – they can be very useful.  How exactly do all those funny markings on the tissue paper fit together?  The instructions should at least point you in the right direction.

And have I mentioned how exciting it is to actually have a cutting table set up again?

image: C Findlay-Harder

Post from: Blisstree

Wordy Wednesday

At least in my chilly neck of the woods!

The sun is shining and there’s a light breeze today, so hopefully that’s enough to at least get this heap of fabric started drying:

There’s just something about the smell and feel of fabric that’s had a chance to dry outside in the sunlight and air.

Don’t get me wrong – if it’s fabric that will be made into a garment that will ever go through the dryer, it gets thoroughly machine dried.  I don’t want to take a chance on a garment shrinking after it’s all done.

This taffeta is going to be the lining on a wool jacket, which I can confidently say will never get put through the dryer.  At least if I want to be able to wear it afterwards…

image: C Findlay-Harder

Post from: Blisstree

Wordy Wednesday

There is something so satisfying in seeing a project all sewn and completed – especially when they’re as cute as these are!

One of my habits in the sewing room is to end up with quite a few UFOs (UnFinished Objects) in various states of done-ness.  I’m not sure why, but that just seems to be how to work.  Maybe I just get bored too easily?

I’m trying to get my sewing slate cleaned off before I tackle anything else… and that included getting these blankets hemmed.  I’ve got a few projects on the go that friends, family and myself have all been waiting for.

So it’s time for me to buckle down and get all those UFOs done before I can tackle anything else.  And boy, do I have a list of sewing to get done!

image: C Findlay-Harder

Post from: Blisstree

Wordy Wednesday

I picked up a half-yard of this adorable print the other day at one of my favorite quilt shops:

I love how the colors work with the other pastel prints I had previously put together for one of the baby quilts.  The plan is to cut apart some of the motifs and then “frame” them with fabric to use in the quilt.

I’ll share another picture when it’s a little further along…

image: C Findlay-Harder

Post from: Blisstree

Wordy Wednesday

Today, I’ve got my daughter, Sarah, eating a cupcake at my sister-in-law’s 30th birthday this past weekend.  She’s got pink sparkles on her face and her hair is wet from the pool.  She obviously had a blast.

Sarah is 11 and she is going into the 6th grade in about a month. She’s my youngest - she’s quite a bit younger than her next oldest sibling, Bay, who is turning 17 in a couple of weeks.

The girls are at very different stages in their lives and they have a sort of love/hate thing going on. I have a hard time with that, because I’ve only ever been love/love with either of my siblings. I can’t fix this for them. I can guide them and lead by example, but I cannot make them love each other all the time.

Lately, they’ve been meeting in the middle more. Sarah has been handing out a lot of hugs and Bay has been in serious need of them. They are helping each other through a tough time and I am proud of my girls. It’s hard, but sometimes Mom has to step back and let the sisters work it out.

Image credit: Michelle Smith

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Wordy Wednesday – Sarah the Youngest

Here’s a shot of my tomatoes…

I started my garden early and was all set to go the all-natural GroGood way, but nothing was really happening and my front patio smelled like cow poop. Yuck. Dear neighbors, I am so very sorry.

I broke down and bought the MiracleGro plant food. It always works for me. I have a limited space and there’s only so much you can coax from a container garden. Now we are popping again. It looks like a jungle out there. I’d get a good full-shot, but the boys are outside painting our stair railing and I don’t think they’d appreciate my intruding on their gossip time.

Today, I’m going to make another Caprese Salad with the tomatoes I picked last night. Yum. I’m hooked on that stuff.

Image credit: Michelle Smith

Post from: Blisstree

Wordy Wednesday – My Tomatoes

So how would you create a piece of fiber art based on this photo?

You could always go for the literal approach, and make a photo transfer on fabric.  It could be accented all kinds of different ways, from free-motion embroidery to paint.

How about cutting out fabric leaves and flowers and using raw-edge applique to attach them to the background?

You could even go really detailed and hand-embroider it.  What about satin stitching the leaves and french knots for the petals?

So what would you do?

image: © C Findlay-Harder

Post from: Blisstree

Wordy Wednesday

Photo: SXC

1. Water balloon fights – I hate picking up balloon bits everywhere and worry a bird will eat a missed bit by accident, but kids love water balloons.
2. Sponge fights – Most of the time, I convince the kids to have a sponge fight instead. They soak small sponge squares in cold water and lob them at each other like summer snowballs. A lot less clean up, since they use the same pile of sponges over and over again until they declare the fight a draw.
3. Car wash – Give those kids a bucket of water, a rag and safe soap and they’ll be delighted to “clean” the car. Of course, most of the water will end up on them and your car will still be dirty, but they’ll have a blast.
4. Paper fans – My guys love to really go all out decorating a sheet of cardstock. Then, they make accordion folds and tape one end of the folds together. They spread out the other end and they have their own paper fans that they use to vigorously fan themselves.
5. Time warp – Ever since the farm museum visit, the thought of pumping water into a bucket and then scrubbing clothes on a washboard thrills these guys to bits. They get out some “dirty” doll clothes and do their wash the old fashioned way until they are wetter than the clothes!

How do your kids stay cool during the hot summer months?

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Wordy Wednesday – Cool Summer Activities