Buy Handmade

It was a good day. I made some pants for the kids. Reversible flannel ones with penguins on one side and owls on the other. They are a big hit, and after every diaper change, the kids demand that they are put back on immediately. In fact, they must hold the pants during the diaper change, presumably so they don't get away.  After finishing the pants, we all went to COSI and finally got a membership. I've been meaning to for a while, but our friends kept inviting us as guests so we didn't need to. We can have a guest on our membership too, so I'll be able to do the same for someone else now. At COSI, we went to the Sesame Street Presents: The Body exhibit and the kids had a blast running around pushing buttons and exploring. They particularly liked the little grocery store setup. I was pretty impressed with their food selections. 

Almost everything that the kids are wearing is WAHM-made. Their new penguin pants are somewhat visable in the photos, then they have on long-sleeved onesies dyed by Janessa of Maple Leaf Designs who is a local dyer and good friend. On top of that they are wearing advocacy saying shirts made by SaySumthing. One of the shirts says Tree Hugger, and the other says Think Green. Both shirts were also dyed by Janessa. We are waiting for a couple more SaySumthing shirts to arrive in the next week or so and I'm excited to be able to have the kids wear them. They say Buy Handmade, and I think I'm going to try to make that our theme for the coming year, regardless of the proposed CPSIA regs. 

Chocolate disappointment

I just made myself a cup of hot chocolate (with a tiny bit of mint) to help get into a festive holiday mood. I have so much sewing left to do for the holiday sale, and need to build up momentum. Chocolate usually does the trick. Anyway, as I was mixing my organic free trade cocoa, cane sugar and unsweetened soy milk, I remembered the very first time that chocloate made me sad.

I was about 7 and needed some chocolate milk. I had made myself nestle Quick plenty of times, and loved the little sweet floaters of chocolate dust that would collect on the surface. Well, we were out of Quick, so I got the Hershey's powder out of the cabinet instead. (I'm sure that it's obvious where this is going). I did know that it wasn't presweetened, so I added some sugar and stired it up. There were more floaters than with the Quick, and I was thrilled. Until I tasted it. I felt so betrayed. I did everything I could think of to save it. I heated it, I stirred with a wisk, I may have even put it into a tupperware and shaken it. Nothing worked to make it drinkable. 

Now I know how to make a proper cup of chocolate milk (or soy, or whatever). But, almost every time I do, I'm brought back to that sad day in the kitchen trying to wash the horrible bitterness of unsweetened cocoa out of my mouth. I wonder if this is one of those universal experiences that many children have, or if I was just a strange one. 

Busy all the time, yet still a to-do list a mile and a half long?

I haven't updated in over a month!! How did that happen? 

I feel like I'm working all the time, and getting so little done. My days are all toddler, evenings are dinner, bath, and night-night. That just leaves the night for all things Bootie. And I try to fit some sleep in there too. I think that I was expecting to be able to get a little more done during the day as the kids get older. My expectations are changing constantly as reality trumps my guesses. But, when I stop to really think about it, I am helping two really amazing kids learn and grow, and I'm pretty sure that doesn't count as slacking.

I've been trying to work a bit each night on things for the upcoming (Dec. 6th)  Holiday Craft Fair at Sprout Soup. I'm planning on having a nice selection of green/reusable holiday items and some cute gifty things in all price ranges.  It's a little bit of a departure from my usual products, but I'm feeling the need to help reduce the amount of disposables in my community and offer a more sustainable alternative.

I've also been working on some really fun custom orders, for some of my favorite customers. Which I should get back to. 

Blast Off!!

Blast off at K&F today at noon!

Today's stocking theme is space and you'll find stars, planets, rockets and more. I've teamed up with Bonnie of Holden's Landing on a super cute rocket ship collab. Check it out! 

Also, be sure not to miss the HC$ auction for a Huggable Planet at K&F's Showcase on Hyena Cart! 

I've been tagged!

It's been so long since my last post, but I've been super busy and have some really cute pictures to prove it.  Those will have to wait for another post though, because I've Been Tagged!

Awww, my first tag! I was tagged by Bonnie with the 7 things meme...

The rules:
1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Write 7 random things about yourself.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post.

4. Pass on the tag.

7Things:

1. I am mama to boy and girl twins who can say "elbow" and "bubble" and "water" and "Heidi". 

2. I really don't like snakes, they freak me out a little bit. 

3. Potatoes are my favorite food, I think they are perfect. I love them mashed, baked, boiled, fried, and just about any other way they can be prepared. Except for when they are in stew. I'm not a fan of stew. 

4. My kids are 19 months old and I just purchased a real nursing bra two weeks ago. Strangely enough, I love it. 

5. I'd love to have some chickens and goats some day. But not until the kids are old enough to help take care of them. The thought of changing diapers all day and then having to clean up sheep poo isn't my idea of a good time. 

6. I get the most done between 9 and 11:30 pm. The kids are in bed, and I'm still awake enough to not sew through my finger. 

7.  There are lots of books and movies that I love, but I've never been able to pin down a favorite. Favorite color, I can do (even though it changes all the time. It's currently orange.) But there are no books that hold such a special place in my heart that none other can compare. 

Now, Tag... You're it!

Ez at Emerald Isla Yarns, Jen at Dahara Dreaming, Linda at Little Flower Designs, Xan at Adventures of Davy, Abby at Sundays with Stretchy Pants, and Amy at How the Hell Did I Get Here? I know I'm supposed to have 7, but 6 was hard enough. I'll see if I can find a 7th tomorrow :)

Goodnight!

Yay for Flowergirls!

The current custom order that I'm working on is another flowergirl dress, made with Amy Butler fabrics. It's got a super spinny skirt, matching bloomers, and loads of ruffles. I'm really excited to finish it and I'll definately post some pictures. 
Tomorrow at K&F (at noon) is the 50's stocking. I made a set of mom & me aprons that look like they stepped out of the pages of Life. I love the cherry fabric, I've been letting it age in my stash waiting for the perfect time to use it. The mama apron converts from a full apron to a half apron and has a detachable towel to wipe your hands on.  The little one is a circle skirt done in the same fabric. I figured that would be easier for a little one to put on, rather than having to worry about tying apron strings.

From Dusk till Dawn

You can now find Pirate Bootie Baby at K&F Shops!
My first stocking with them is Friday 8/8/08 at 8pm, and then again at 8am on Saturday 8/9/08. 
I'm so thrilled to be a member of K&F, and excited for all the themed stockings that we have planned for this year. Come check it out!

Stardust Play Skirt...


Starry Night Dress...


Butterfly Bloomeralls...

Potty time! and COOKIE!

There has been no interest in the potty what so ever, until last night. Before the kids got their bath, the girl asked to have her diaper taken off so that she could sit on the potty. Up until now, neither kid wanted anything to do with it, and would hop right off if I sat them on it. So, she sat, and we talked about the bath and she looked at the little book that she found in the bedroom. Then after a little bit, she hopped off and pointed to the tub. I just figured that she was ready for her bath, and she was, but there was also pee in the potty! How exciting! She loved waving bye bye to the pee as we flushed it.
This has been a big week of firsts. Both babies are signing like crazy and signing things I had no idea they knew. We are also hearing a bunch of new words. They have been talking for a while, but it takes a trained ear to have any idea what they're talking about. And even then it's not always that coherant. Two nights ago I was working in the other room and the papa gave the kids each a cookie. I was snapped out of my train of thought by a little voice that very distinctly and loudly said "coo-kie". I walked into the living room to see the boy proudly holding up his cookie with a huge grin on his face. I then was treated to another round of "coo-KIE", and the corresponding sign.
Today's word of the day is "OK", but it sounds more like "aah-KAY!" I'll have to try to get it on video.

It's been so long!

I didn't realize how long it had been since my last post. So much has been happening and I've been so busy that the days are ticking by so quickly.
Almost all of my sewing time recently has been spent working on a wonderful set of outfits for a summer wedding. I've been making two flowergirl dresses with matching bloomers, a pair of bloomeralls, three sun hats, and three bridesmaid sashes. All in cream silk with chocolate brown and gold/green accents. I think I may have sewn about a mile of silk into the three layered ruffles that edge the dresses and bloomers, but it was so worth it. They are beautiful and I'm really excited to see pictures of the whole wedding party. 
I am also so excited to have been asked to join K&F Shops as a permanent member! K&F is on hiatus for the summer, but will be having a super re-opening stocking on 8/8/08 at 8pm. 

Much better now

I'm feeling so much more positive than I was the last time I posted. We're still stuck in the house with the latest round of sick, and everyone is getting a bit stir-crazy. But the kids seem to be on the mend and I'm starting to see the light. Or at least the tunnel. I'm making so many plans for next week that we'll probably only be home for dinner and bedtime. We'll be going to the park (and maybe trying a new one), the zoo, and a huge multi-family yard sale. Then there is a cloth-diaper sidewalk sale that I'd love to check out. Grandma is also coming for a visit on Sunday. I love having a full calender, it keeps the kids happy and I get some adult conversation.

Sick of Spring

I've always been a very healthy person, rarely sick. Even if I did get sick, I'd get over it quickly and be on my way in no time. This spring is a totally different story. It seems like we're getting every little cold or stomach bug that comes around. It couldn't possibly have anything to do with lack of sleep and the inability of the weather to decide if it's summer or winter. Pollen is insanely high this year, too. I'm ready for the pestilent season to be over. Bring on summer! Of course, then it will be too hot and humid :)

Spring Cleaning!

I've been clearing out the clothing that I have in stock at Pirate Bootie Baby to make room for the new summer things that I've been working on. All weekend and today I've been offering a special deal where Hyena Cart shoppers can use up to 50% HyenaCart dollars to purchase any in stock clothing item. Then, this evening from 7-7:30pm, as an extra special day after Mother's Day gift, shoppers can use up to 100% HC$!!

WAHM Spotlight- Tush Cloth Diapers

I've been searching for a new nighttime cloth diaper for the twins (they keep growing!), and one of the ones that I keep coming back to look at is Tush's Nocturne. They are beautifully made, and I love the dyeing, but they are also a real workhorse diaper. They are one of those diapers that are talked about with high regard and recommendations, and are seriously stalked on HyenaCart both at Tush Cloth Diapers and Venus Vanguard. Robin also has a blog.
Hopefully she'll be stocking again soon!

Win an Ergo baby carrier!!

Just click here to enter!! They even have organic ones, and if you win, you get your choice of carriers.

Whales in wool

Here's a pic of the surprise custom that I talked about a few posts back. I love the way it turned out. It also doesn't hurt to have such a cutie wearing it.
I'm hoping to do more customs with wool appliqué. I love the way it looks, and it's a fun technique. It's almost like sketching with wool.
I also made a pair of shorts that match this underwool, as well as the other one with the sun appliqué. They have waves along the bottom hem, and a splashy pocket.