Project January, 2011

The very first project/crisis of the year was preparing for the bi-annual Celtic Ball, which was our first ever. Last minute preparations all came together as the twins busily sewed on buttons in the overhead light of the car while we drove through snowy roads to reach the ball. Does this resonate with anyone??? Joshua decided to make a vest, which we managed fairly well, until the button holes went in on the WRONG side! We discovered our mistake, and decided to simply sew the bottons over the buttonholes and trust that no one would be looking that close! Meanwhile, Caleb thought it would be just great to have a "matching" vest with big brother. No problem, since we had enough fabric, so yesterday, we began the project. Hair was pinned up, hems were adjusted, zippers fixed, and the last buttonhole on Caleb's vest was completed just moments before we left. THANKFULLY, I didn't need much time for myself, so a quick change of clothing, thread and needles for the road and whisking up the baby was all that was left.

Be watching for pictures...we had a wonderful time learning "Cahleigh" dancing in a very family friendly, modest, God-honoring way. And all the buttons were on!

It's So Easy To Make Me Happy...

Look at this beautiful pattern! A few weeks ago I won this from my dear friend Linda at Prairie Flower Farm. Linda has a heart of gold and is such an encouragement to me! On top of everything else sweet about her, she adores her chickens too :)


I cannot wait to make this apron! Look at the way it wraps around back without cinching the poor homemaker around the waist! Comfort all the way...
 
Now all I need is to decide what fabric to use...

Farmhouse Skirt Pattern

I've had a few requests for the pattern number to our favorite farmhouse skirt. It's Simplicity 2609 and if you watch your JoAnn Fabric sale paper, you can find it on sale periodically for $.99. What a deal! At that price and for the number of times we've used the pattern, I've picked up a couple. This is a pattern we don't want to live without!

 Here are a few of the skirts we've made, not all mind you, and not including the fabric waiting to be made into yet another beautiful skirt! Grace's red skirt is an experiment using fabric originally destined for a jumper, but converted into the non-tiered skirt on the same pattern. The yoke is the same, but much less cutting, gathering, etc. While it's not our favorite, it is a great pattern to learn on and have instant success.


Don't forget: when extended family is asking about gift ideas for birthdays and Christmas, a fabric store gift card is always a good idea!

And The Winner Is...

Wow! What a fantastic response to the give-away! A winner has been drawn and it is...

Elisabeth! 

Elisabeth is a dear momma to four children and has an amazing heart for adoption and special needs children. Check out her blog at No Greater Gift. Thanks to everyone who entered.


Even if you didn't win, you can still shop with the Long sisters  for that one-of-a-kind pattern and delightful fabric you've chosen.
Now, this was harder than I thought, as I found myself wanting everyone to win something...so I have a spontaneous gift and another winner! This is another favorite pattern here on the farm, so it's a perfect compliment to the give-away... and the winner is...

Victoria!!!
Check out her mother's beautiful blog Here   

 

Nine Patch At Four

Inspired by our reading of the "Little House" books, Anna decided...

...if Mary could sew a nine patch, she could too!

Look at that smile! What a feeling of accomplishment and budding domesticity!

Often I look back over what my older children have learned, how I used to teach, the experiences obtained, and feel so much more was gleaned in those earlier years of parenting. Easily, I can look at the mountain of mothering that has to go on in a day with eight children now, not just two, and feel a bit of pity for the middle group...they seem to get squished in between the leadership needs of the older and the physical needs of the little ones. And the little ones themselves? I count on God to make up for all that I lack. This nine patch was a rare snapshot of what my teaching and training ought to be. Somewhere over the years, I have been swept away in the "busyness" of mothering and forgot the "business" of mothering.

Having a renewed vision for mothering, and parenting, and teaching, and discipling (my goodness, the list could go on and on) I commit to those priceless moments, those lets-try-to-fit-one-more-on-my-lap-while-I-read moments, those projects that teach real skills, and those moments that reach deep into the heart.

Scavenging...

Tomorrow is Natalie's third birthday and we set ourselves to scavenging through our "resources" to see what we could find. No matter what cool toy we find, it seems little attention is given to it, especially considering the price tag. So after analyzing her habits and activities, we decided that an old calico dress from my life in the '80's would serve well if we repurposed it into a prairie skirt. So off came the bodice and on went a new casing with elastic. I am in process of adding a little bit of bridal illusion for some appropriate "poof", then with the remaining fabric I am trying to create a bonnet. THAT is much more challenging. I think I'm tackling something a bit outside my expertise. Thank goodness we're working with a three year old...

Rice Bags!

When I posted on meaningful tasks and making a rice bag, I completely neglected to describe what we were doing, and what exactly a rice bag is used for. Farmgirlcyn asked for more information, so here it is.
The rice bag is used in the same way Laura Ingalls used a hot iron or potato. In our cold farmhouse, we heat the rice bag before going to bed, and it does an amazing job of chasing the cold out of the bed (at least down by our feet!). It can also be used for sore, aching muscles, or on the abdomen for cramps. Every time I go to the hospital to have a baby, my rice bag goes along! It is great for a laboring momma...
There is no science here. Just cut a square or rectangle of fabric (cotton) the size desired, sew it along 3 1/2 sides, then fill with rice. Keep in mind the weight of rice when determining the size. I added a couple drops of lavender essential oil on the tines of a fork and mixed it around in the rice. Stitch the opening, and enjoy!
These make great gifts...simple, inexpensive, and useful.
Over time we notice that the rice loses it's ability to retain heat, so replacement is necessary after many, many uses.

Meaningful Tasks

We all know the value of finding opportunity for the little ones to help with chores and projects...here Anna holds the rice bag while I fill it.

Isn't the vintage fabric great? Especially appropriate for the recipient...Grace.

"...boredom will be transformed into real interest when your children are given meaningful tasks of recreation or of service..." ~Karen Andreola, A Charlotte Mason Companion

Projects!

Okay, I've tried to avoid it for as long as possible, but yesterday seemed the perfect day to go to the fabric store. We've needed buttons for two jumpers that I'm making for Grace, and I have also wanted to make some pinafores for the little ones. I haven't been able to figure out how to simplify and sew, so my temporary solution was to put back some of the fabric in my cart :) There are so many cute, feminine, and modest projects, so many old-fashioned, pioneer dresses and aprons...but the truth is, we don't need very many. And, I realized the $15 piece of flannel for pajamas was so much more than the $2 robe that we found today at the thrift store which I'm hoping to turn into pajamas! If that works, I'll definitely post about it...I'm a bit uncertain about my abilities. I have been encouraged by Mia to transform something not-so-useful into something useful!

From size 12 to size 4

How we made a size 12 dress fit my tiny Anna, who is almost 4 years old...a small tuck at each shoulder, then stitched down approximately 1 1/2 inches on each side (front and back). Then, we hemmed the sleeves. I'm sure the length could be a bit shorter, but we love long princess-like dresses! And the real treat? We were blessed with this dress for free!

Kathy