I was chilling on the couch watching the new Jane Eyre yesterday when W got home from work, it is absolutely fabulouse (BTW). I want to own it, watch it every day and...well, you get the idea.
I was on the couch, watching the movie with a pile of these beside me:
W says, "What the heck are those? Tiny berets?"
I sigh, "No, they're not berets. Those are yo-yo's, baby."
W: "What the heck do you do with them."
Me: "Ummm, you make things with them."
I understand his confusion, they don't look like much, but check out this inspiration photo from one of my new favorite blogs, The Purl Bee. It's a mini quilt made of yo-yo's.
So gorgeous, right?! And such an improvement from the ones that they used to make in the early 1900's, those tend to look kind of frump and chaotic. They can also look country if you don't watch out. I really like the idea of grouping colors and textures in interesting ways like they did at Purl Bee, so...I made a bunch of yo-yo's and put them together to make a pillow. There is not a single throw pillow in my house, that's the honest truth, and we do need one or two.
I'm happy with how it turned out, I wanted it to look handmade so I stitched it kind of roughly and used old-fashioned cotton ticking (a fabric I'm kind of obsessed with right now). I arranged the colors sort of dark to light in rows and didn't want the entire pillow to be covered with them. The stripe looks sort of clean and simple-good contrast for the froo-froo yo-yo's. Ha, froo-froo yo-yo's...
I'm finally updating my blog, for you sweet friends who actually read it and have been asking for an update. I'm a terrible "bloggist" and cannot believe that my last post was in May!
Since May we have relocated to NOLA, yes, that's New Orleans, Louisiana! It's such a fun town and we are quickly eating our way through it. Here are a few things I've learned about this place.
Po' Boy: Do not pronounce "Poor Boy" or you'll get "Silly out-of-towner" eye rolls. These are delicious sandwhiches, eat one soon.
Muffaletta: It's "muff-uh-LAH-tuh" not muffaletta. These are delicious sandwhiches, eat one soon.
Praline: Do not pronounce it "Pray-leen" or you will be mocked ruthlessly. It's "praw-leen." YUM, YUM. This is the home of the praline. It's a candied pecan, they make praline coffee and syrup among other things and I know it's a flavor I'm going to miss!
SEWING!! ...when not enjoying the wonderful, warm weather, power walking with my walking buddy Hannah and our strollers , feeding Baby P (who is getting to be such a chub and pulling up on everything), grilling out, packing for the big move, and of course reading, singing, cooking and cleaning.
Here are a couple of examples of what I've been making for Baby P. Little bubble leg overalls, diaper covers and trousers, gotta have that seersucker in the spring and summer!
These are a fun substitute for shorts and just look so precious and babyish. Find the tutorial here at MADE.
A summery clutch for me...there's a chance it was an attempted mother's day gift that didn't turn out just right. :) Everybody has those projects, good enough for me to use but not perfect enough for a gift. I love the fabric though!
...and a summery top for me...Simplicity 2360, adapted from a dress... My next project is a romper because I'm built with a long torso, I can't find one that fits me right. I ordered some fabric that I love (below)! I also ordered a piece of black and white polka dot jersey, I might make the romper out of that and a cute dress out of this. I want to be able to wear it a lot and I'm afraid rompers might come and go.
And this fun, little beside-the-bed pocket for my books and kindle and such. Tutorial here.
Lately, I've been noticing that lots of the sewing blogs I keep track of mention"Shabby Apple" in posts, on patterns or tutorials or they have a "Shabby Apple" button on the sidebar.
I finally got around to checking it out and everybody needs to know about this site! So, so cute and everything they have is droolworthy. I'm completely in love with the vintage style bathing suits, every single dress they have and the overall fun, flirty style-super wearable! I also love that they have great pictures of every angle of the garments and they have a really descriptive, specific fitting guide. (Important if you're going to order without trying on!)
My sweet husband, in anticipation of Mother's Day (and my birthday a few months from now, and Christmas :) gifted me with a new sewing machine!! Let me just tell you:
I. am. in. love.
It is amazing! It has features built in that my old sewing machine only dreamed about in its dreams. It's a Pfaff, which in my opinion (after researching and trying out Berninas, Brothers, and Vikings) is a superior machine...and quite beautiful (and really on sale). It sews through tons of layers of fabric without a hitch, makes perfect button holes, has INTEGRATED DUAL FEED (patented, specific to Pfaff, and wonderful!!), and has more than 100 stitches (including little turtles :). I really can't say enough great things!
If you're in the market for a sewing machine (Ashley and Sarah :), get a Pfaff!
My how a month does fly, especially in the spring when we can get outside (read: not bundling up in a blanket drinking coffee, blogging or napping with Baby P). Here's what I've been doing...
These books are so, so good. They were recommended to me by a friend and I've been enjoying them immensely! If you like fantasy then you will love these! Though this is way over-simplifying, think: "Harry Potter is suddenly dark, brooding, brilliant, good looking and goes to college."
I've also been finishing Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller and let me say that if you read ANYTHING, read this book. Keller's insights on American culture, analysis of those things that the human heart makes into idols, and application of Scripture are deeply convicting and incredibly uplifting and gospel focused at the same time.
Idolatry is not just a failure to obey God, it is a setting of the whole heart on something besides God. [...] Jesus must become more beautiful to your imagination, more attractice to your heart, than your idol. [...]
Rejoicing and repentance must go together. Repentance without rejoicing will lead to despair. Rejoicing without repentance is shallow and will only provide passing inspiration instead of deep change. Indeed, it is when we rejoice over Jesus's sacrificial love for us most fully that, paradoxically, we are most truly convicted of our sin. [...] When we rejoice over God's sacrificial, suffering love for us--seeing what it cost him to save us from sin--we learn to hate the sin for what it is. [...]
(My favorite) To rejoice is to treasure a thing, to assess its value to you, to reflect on its beauty and importance until your heart rests in it and tastes the sweetness of it. 'Rejoicing' is a way of praising God until the heart is sweetened and rested, and until it relaxes its grip on anything else that it thinks it needs. (Keller 171-173)
Singing:
It's Easter season so it's been music, music, and more music preparation for Easter Sunday and other special services. There's a piece that we do every year with 70 member choir, organ, timpani and glorious brass that I absolutely love and I think the text is one of the most moving and beautiful poems ever written about Christ's resurrection.
Joy to the Heart
1. Look there! the Christ, our Brother,
comes resplendent from the gallows tree
and what he brings in His hurt hands
is life on life for you and me.
Refrain:
Joy! Joy! Joy to the heart
all in this good day's dawning.
2. Good Jesus Christ inside His pain
looked down Golgotha's stony slope
and let the blood flow from His flesh
to fill the springs of living hope. Refrain
3. Good Jesus Christ, our Brother died
in darkest hurt upon the tree
to offer us the worlds of light
that live inside the Trinity.
Joy! Joy! Joy to the heart
all in this good day's dawning!
Here is this "Joy to the Heart" by K. Lee Scott
performed on Easter 2009 by the choir
at the American Church in Paris.
My friend Zach is the organist and assistant there!
Cooking:
Well I have been cooking, but mostly on the grill. That's been great! We have been experimenting with marinates and rubs. I'll share some of our favorites soon.
Last week I had to take a dessert to a dinner so I looked on Tasty Kitchen for ideas. Found a great one!
Make it. I one and a halfed the nutella part of the recipe and topped it with simple whipped cream instead of the corn starch spiked cream. I also used a sweet tart shell recipe instead of plain pie crust, but that's just preference.
Cleaning: Well, I have been doing some packing and cleaning to get ready for our move at the end of June, a little yard work here and there in honor of spring and some wiping down baseboards on my hands and knees...but....I've mostly been doing some fun sewing projects.
Found a website that I love! Dana at MADE is so talented and she posts free tutorials for sewing projects from baby diaper covers to women's skirts and home improvement ideas. I've been making tons of these sweet diaper covers in cute prints for Baby P. They're not just for girls!! He's small enough to pull them off with a cute little onesie and a sun hat.
I've also been making little pants, shorts and overalls. Pictures to come...this post is already too long.
Happy Easter week! Reflect on what God has done for us through Christ, in His 'hurt hands' He brings life and peace and joy!
