Oh Baby, Baby!

Over the last few weeks I have been scouring the Internet for fun baby tutorials to try out.  I've amassed quite a collection of pieces I want to try.  As soon as I have a spot cleared for my sewing machine on the dining room table, I'll start construction.  We're currently in the process of the Great Apartment Purge, and it's always way dirtier before it's clean.  

Someday, I'll have a clean apartment and a nursery.  Hopefully, before June.  

Since I don't have a cute baby craft to update you with, I thought I'd leave you with the little baby bump I've been growing on my body.  It's getting there.......

And yes, I absolutely took these pictures in the bathroom at work.  What can I say, there is a fabulous mirror in there.

Where have you been?

Where have you been?  Why haven't you updated this blog in so long?? 

Seriously, those are some pretty good questions.  

Short answer: Who knows?  

Long Answer: Let me try to explain............

For Christmas, I went to Florida with my in laws for a little vacation.  We drove straight through from Boston to Orlando, stopping only for the bathroom, coffee, and fast food   The huge van we rented was packed to the brim with luggage, people and dogs.   Honestly, I was miserable the whole time.  Hubs loved it, even though he drove most of the way.  He just hates flying though.  I'm pretty sure I'd never do that drive again without stopping....ever. 

Once we got there, and I was able to wash my nasty hair, my nasty teeth (yes, of course I needed to stop the van on the side of the road at 4 am to vomit during the trip), and change my nasty clothes.  The horrors of the ride washed away in the shower, and I was loving being on vacation.  

We spent most of our time with the Mouse at Disney, though two days were spent at Universal.  I had never been to Disney when it was busy before....and let me tell you...it was busy.  I may have had a crowd induced panic attack on Christmas Day....maybe.  But, we had fun, and took a lot of pictures, and that's all that matters right?  I could go on and on explaining our trip....but the fun part is the pictures....so...here's a few of my favorites!

The castle was absolutely beautiful all done up for Christmas.  This is the picture that I currently have on my desktop at work.  I think it looks almost professional.

This is me and Hubs in front of the castle and topiary Minnie and Mickey.  Hubs was obsessed with taking pictures of the two of us.  He said one day the baby would want to see me pregnant.  I'm not sure I really believe that.....but I'm smiling anyways :)

This is the one picture that I pushed and shoved my way to get.  I'm sewing in Minnie's house!!  Don't I wish I had such a fabulous pink sewing machine. 

And finally, what a lovely picture of me and Hubs this would be, if only his brother wasn't sabotaging the picture.  Regardless....I think it's a cute picture of all three of us. 

So, vacation was fun.  We got back right after the New Year, and I tried to settle back into work and life. I'm just starting to get back into it now. :)

Modern Art and the Moon Man

I take the train to work on most days. The station that I catch the train at has been going through a facelift. Actually, to be truthful, the old station was leveled and a new station built. It's taken awhile. They completely refashioned the area around the station. It wasn't a really nice area, and the station was really dangerous. It was redesigned so that it was more open and less dangerous.

A few weeks ago they added a piece of sculpture to the entrance of the station. It kinda creeps me out, but I've found that just about half of modern art (especially sculpture) has that effect on me. This particular sculpture is a "moon man". What do you think?




I just find it so disconcerting, and I'm not really sure why. The other day, I got off the train and noticed that they had decorated the moon man for Christmas. I didn't take a picture that night, but made Hubs take one for me the other day. (The picture above actually was taken after the Santa's hat had been ripped off the first time).



I almost peed myself when I saw the hat. I hadn't thought it was possible to make something so silly look even sillier. Apparently, there is nothing that the miracle of Christmas can't achieve!

7 dollhouses FINISHED!! Finally!!

Yesterday, I finished all seven of the dollhouses that had been ordered from me for Christmas! Thank Goodness they are done! I cannot wait to get them off to the post office tonight.

I learned a very important lesson while trying to prepare these orders for Christmas: Don't get pregnant when you have lots of stuff to sew!

I had big plans for Christmas and my sewing machine. I was going to finish these houses, and then make a bunch of stuff for my family and friends. Since most of the orders came in during September I figured I would have PLENTY of time. Well, I was wrong. I got pregnant in September and spent nearly all of that month, October and November sleeping. I'm not even exaggerating. I've never been so tired in my LIFE!!

Last Saturday, I nearly had a dollhouse induced breakdown when I realized that I had cut out ALL of the dollhouses two inches too narrow. I had made up two of the houses already and they were just TINY. Hubs, and I could tell he was scared, tried to let me down as gently as possible. We came to the mutual conclusion that they had to all be re-cut.

Even though I know he wanted to, Hubs didn't tell me to "Measure twice, cut once". I think he realized that in a very fragile state, and on the verge of tears. I really appreciate his self control. Thanks Honey :)

So, after exhaustion, measuring mistakes and the sheer terror of leaving seven little kids without their homemade Christmas gifts, here's what I came up with. I'll take better pictures tonight before sending them off. I just snapped these with my iphone this morning.



Notice that the tablecloth on the table is orange and Halloween themed? Yup, we have our tree up, but the rest of the decorations in the apartment is still decorated for Halloween. It's shameful.

Most of the dollhouses are being sent out in twos. These two are a Farmhouse and a Barn.



This is a Pet Shop and a Vet Clinic. I love the insides on these.



A pink house and a garage. This picture of the garage doesn't do it justice. I put some cute car fabric all around the outside.



And finally, a beach house. I love the beach house. Just wait till you see the inside. There's an ocean...and buoys...lol



So...that's just a taste for now...but more pictures tonight!!

Loong Weekend.

I have been off from work since Thursday. It has been FABULOUS. Hubs and I had four full days of turkey and relaxation. There was lots of napping, crafting and movie watching. Needless to say, I am dreading putting on real people clothes and heading off to work in the morning. I think the couch and my sweats will miss me.
Today, Hubs and I put up the tree. My mother in law thinks I was crazy for putting it up since we'll be away for the holidays, but could pass it up. I love sitting in the dark with only the tree lights during the holidays. Plus, it's a fake tree, so why not right?
Last year I convinced Hubs to buy a fake tree. He was so completely against it, but I wore him down. I hate the maintenance of a real tree. It's impossible to ever get all those needles out of the floor. Also, it's impossible to not get covered in sap when u are putting the tree up and taking it down. Once it's up Guinness considers it his personal water bowl. I hate him drinking that filthy water. Finally, they are expensive, I hate the smell, and when I touch them I get a rash. Fake trees don't need water or cleanup and they don't smell like anything. Perfect.

I love our tree.



What do u think? Are u a real tree person or a fake tree person?

Epic bad Day

I haven't written a blog entry in the longest time. I hope you guys, my very small pool of readers haven't given up on me. I haven't forgotten the blog, I just haven't really known what to write about. The last few weeks my crafting has been pretty nil. Im in the swing of it again trying to fill my Christmas orders. Which I will no worries. Basically, I've just has writers block.

Today, I had an epically BAD day at work. It was the kind of day where I seriously considered walking out (before I realized how unadult and irresponsible that reaction would be). Now, I'm at home shedding the tears I've been waiting to shed all day and wondering how I'm going to muster up the strength to go back there tomorrow. I suppose all I can do is hope for the best.

Hubs is out now trying to buy a dinner to make me feel better. Cute right?

Anyways, that's it for now. Just wanted to let you know I'm still here. I'll update again soon, sooner than three weeks, with completed dollhouse pictures!

Wish me luck with tomorrow :) Maybe with a little help it will be better than today.

Time to get thinking about Christmas!

Today is November 1st.  Can you believe it? Where did the month of October go?

Now that it's officially November, I can no longer put off that I have tons of sewing for Christmas to do.  I have orders for EIGHT (can you believe it!) dollhouses for the big day.  These obviously need to get done first, and significantly before so that they can be sent through the mail (without costing me a fortune).  Each of the dollhouses in the order is different and I'm really excited. I have two regular houses, one farmhouse, one barn, one beach house, one  vet clinic, and one pet shop.....oh..and one garage.  I cut out the beach house last week.  I figured it would be easiest  to plan out all the houses, then cut all the pieces, then sew.  Once everything is all sewn then I can make the tags and ship. Very efficient right?  Henry Ford would be so proud.

Today at work I decided to do a little planning with my stolen minutes here and there.  So far I have ideas for five of the houses.  Please forgive my drawing.......

I'm still trying to decide if I should use fabric for the decorations around the house like I did the last two times, or if I should try felt for these.  Hub told me, very eloquently, when I asked what he thought "They ordered based on fabric, not felt.  If you are going to do it, you better do it right."  He sure is a charmer that Hubs, especially over email. I saw a few houses in this flickr group where they used felt to decorate, and they just look so intricate and cute.  I wonder if I can do a better job using the felt instead of the fabric.  What do you think?  

Aside from the dollhouses, I really wanted to make presents for my niece and nephew.  For Tommy I wanted to make a play mat where he could play with his matchbox cars.  For Brooklyn I loved this tutorial from Prudent Baby for a portable tea set.  Finally, I wanted to make a baby shower gift for my friend Shannon who's due on Christmas Day. 

I hope I have enough time for everything.  If only I hadn't slept through October.  Now if I can only keep my eyes open long enough for the next month to sew, sew, sew!  Wish me luck!