It's been a long time

It seems my posts always start this way, beginning with how it's been so long since I last posted. My excuse this time is I was taking a very much needed break from almost anything related to sewing pads~including my blog. My pad break is over and I'm ready to slowly get back to sewing up some pads, I actually have some almost ready to list, I had hoped to be listing them this very moment but we were so busy this morning that the snaps didn't get done, this afternoon for sure though. If all goes as planned they'll be in my shop by Monday afternoon.

We (not me really) finally got a start on our kitchen renovations, what a luxury to have a functioning window and more counter space. I've been doing so much extra cooking, oh and a dishwasher is a real treat. I do feel like a energy consuming monster with it though and still wash at least one sink of dishes a day to maintain my once a day dishwasher run rule.

My break from here hasn't been all true productivity, I've fallen so in love with all the wonderful support, creativity, and knowledge I've found in the blogs of other women. I do hope in time to start to share some knowledge back, for now here's a start with some finds that have been helpful to me...

~sew yourself the best skirt ever (seriously, I've made three of these skirts for myself and want one more from before our cottage vacation, I've LIVED in these skirts this summer. I should get pictures of mine posted)

~make big batch yogurt (I've been making my own yogurt for over a year, but in a rinky-dink little yogurt maker. The small batches meant I was always rationing the yogurt (who wants that!?) Now we have lots of yogurt and lots of smoothies and smoothie pops, it's the only way I can get plain yogurt into my kids)

~Amazing tutorials for little girls clothing, so many great resources here.

~and this dress, I need several for Rowan's fall wardrobe (yes, I'm thinking about fall sewing & knitting)

~one more thing...this waterfall hair trick is saving me this summer

there, I feel better or sharing I really need to sign up for Pinterest to store all my online wishes, there's sooo much inspiration out there!

I hope to be back soon but it's summer, kids are home, the kitchen needs more work, there's sewing to do, swimming, garden harvests too, oh and canning...I better get started on the relish this week.

Custom Minky and a Custom Wetbag

Here's another custom order, another really customized custom order. Often I learn so much from my customers when working on a custom order, and gather many ideas to better serve all of you! Here's the specifications on this one...

~each minky topped pad (these are 14.5" length) has a full body of PUL (rather than just the core backed as I usually do it)

~the customer want to be able to identify them as having PUL so I stitched an X on each wing.

The wetbag was customized too, using larger pads may you need a bigger wetbag too. This one is 10" x 10" and is my new dual zipper wet/dry style.

Over a month!

I do have visions and ideas to use this space more often, but I'm terrible at it so far. It's been over a month since I posted last. I've been really busy, that's my excuse I suppose. I've been making the choice to stay home more often, I was often running out for this or that and realized all these errands were not that necessary and were eating into my time (and budget-gas prices, especially for a 12 year old van OUCH!). So, I've been staying home much more, spending time outside nearly everyday and just making do with what we have on hand. Rowan is even enjoying walks in her stroller, I think for the first time in her life! There's been a lot of sewing going on because I've got so much fabric that I need to use it up, it's taking up too much space. I also went through my overflowing basket of clothing that I intended to re-purpose, it's been sorted into piles and I'm making my way through it.

I made these little boxer briefs yesterday and I'm so happy with how they turned out. They're made from a favorite jersey sweater I had (see photo below for the sweater story!). I was so happy with these boxers that I had Q put them on right after school so I could see if they fit well enough that I could make more. They fit him perfectly and when I asked him if they were comfy he said 'yes, everything you make is comfortable' <3 Can I also tell you that he's reading on his own now? It's been a journey but he's doing it, and I'm so proud...more importantly he is too.

This is the sweater I used for those boxers, it was a favorite thrifted sweater that lasted all through my pregnancy with Rowan and beyond. Then the zipper broke (should I be surprised?!). The quality and stretch of the knit was worth hanging onto though so I've been using it for some sewing projects.

I've been cutting into some of my vintage fabrics too. I've realized that they've been sitting in my fabric drawers for a reason-I'm attached to them. I made these Star Wars napkins and put them in my shop. They sold already which is really great because every bit of extra money is needed.

And these hankies, another new sewing project with more vintage fabrics.
Pads, of course. No worries I'll always and forever make these gems :)
There's been much more sewing too, peasant shirts for the little girl. I'm hoping to make myself a couple smock style aprons because they seem to be dreadfully practical for holding clothes pegs and protecting myself from cooking spills and muddy toddler rain boots (which also often have a skim coating of chicken poo). I'd really like to try sewing myself a couple jersey knit shirts for summer-it's doable right?

Yarn Along :: Gifted Knits

Joining Ginny again...
I came up with this simple pattern for wrist warmers/fingerless gloves based on something my mom described to me...I hope I got it right because these are for her birthday. I think I'll need to make some for myself too (must jot down some pattern notes as I knit the second!!) I wasn't looking forward to making these, but this is my kind of mindless knitting, isn't it perfect how all these stitches become something?
I'm still reading the same book! I'm still enjoying it but I'm ready to put a little more time and effort into finishing it because I've gotten some new books that are tempting me, plus issues of Small Farm and Harrowsmith to catch up on.

Glad for more snow

I know, glad for more snow? I am, it's true. I'm not ready for spring yet, I've got more inside organizing and rearranging to do. Diapers to repair, orders to sew, summer skirts and shorts to make (see I am thinking of warmer weather, just not ready yet.) Knitting can at least travel outdoors with me, but there is so much work waiting for us outside that there will be no knitting under a tree for a long time. First will be getting these girls contained, then the yard cleaning that needs to be done. (For now the snow hides that mess from me, thank you snow).

Yarn Along :: pink!

Joining Ginny for another Yarn Along

It's been quite a long time since I bought or wore anything pink. This is my Mustard Scarf, it's almost finished and I realized while working on it this morning that I somehow have gained an extra 10 stitches?! I'm just going to keep on going with it though, I don't think it will affect the finished look (not while it's on anyways!). Next I'm going to knit myself a 'Ela's Favorite Hat' from One Skein Wonders 101 Yarn Shop Favorites. My mom knit me one of these hats for Christmas and I've loved the fit so much and I wear it all the time.

Bill thought it strange that I should be knitting hats and scarfs this late in the season but I know there's still more winter left here and I need something new, bright, and pretty to get through the rest of it.

I'm still reading Sisters in the Wilderness from my last Yarn Along. I've become so interested in the lives of Catharine Parr Traill and Susanna Moodie, a main reason is because they were settled right here in the very area of Ontario we live in, the struggles they endured are just unbelievable, heart breaking, and often inspirational.

A Customized Custom Order

I wanted to show this custom order I just finished, it's been a while since I've sewn any of the hunk fabric up (I'm actually almost out of it!). These are all 12.5" pads but have a core more suitable for average to moderate flow (rather than heavy flow) and the customer requested PUL too.

I've got to get back to some nap time projects, Rowan's birthday is coming up in just a little over a week and we're planning a mostly handmade birthday, but I've got nothing done yet!