When people ask me how I do it all...

I should probably just show them this picture. Obviously, some things (many things, if we're being honest) fall by the wayside. Sweeping up my scraps after sewing-- well, it's just not that high on the priority list, you know? (Do you see what he's doing? He's CRAWLING! Six months, one week and 2 days... just one day later than his big bro!)
This is what I was sewing: a Daddy-shirt re-fashion. It didn't go all that well. I a) did not use a pattern, even one I traced out onto newspaper beforehand and b) didn't measure the baby or the pieces before I cut them out. So it took hours and hours and was much, much too small. I'm still working on this one, though. I love all the cute re-fashions of menswear for girls, but as a mama to boys, I'm sadly aware of how few cute things are out there for boys. I'm here to remedy that.
Do you care if I plug Hoot Baby one more time? Oh, what the heck. Check us out here!

Can you see my smile from where you are?

Looks like it's time to add a "Press" link to the website...

I believe she even Tweeted about me. Or is it Twittered? Hmmm.

Of Avecados and Liederhosen...

Confession #11 from the Honest Swap/Scrap (that I really do need to tag some people for. Any volunteers?): I totally cannot spell. I've actually cultivated really awful handwriting to disguise this fact. I'm pretty sure none of the words in the title are spelled correctly, but you get the drift, right? So, without further ado, introducing:
A Boy and his Solids
Do not be deceived by the empty bowl, or by his big grin. He's really not a fan. At this age, his big brother was eating CUPS of mush every day. This was about 1 teaspoon of mashed avecado mixed with water, and I think about an 1/8 of a tsp. was swallowed. We tried some sweet potatoes a little later on-- still no dice.
This is what happened when we tried a whole tablespoon of food. Avecado boogers.
Grady was SUCH a demanding nurser-- like 20 times in 24 hours was not at all unusual. John Harper's much more laid back about it-- he probably only nurses 6 times a day, for 5 minutes at a time, and he's a wonderful sleeper. The only real reason I had for trying to make the G eat real food was to give my poor bosom a break, so I'm not all that fussed about this one not liking his food. I can take 6 times a day for five minutes at a time for a long, long time.
Noticed those little bumps on his fat armies, did ya? We've got chicken pox here, of all things. I toe the line of crunchy/non-crunchy mama, but that vaccine is actually one we don't give. But the big boy who I WANT to get it-- nothing. The baby who will most likely not get antibodies from this very mild case but still means that we are basically confined to the house for the next two weeks-- yup. I think he caught it from a cart at the co-op, or as my son affectionately calls it, the Hippie Grocery. Which is usually followed by "that place where you peed on the floor." And he did. All over the local organic veggies.
So here is a non-poxy but very proud of himself boy. My dad gifted him with these insane liederhosen when he was just a baby-- it's quite an interesting ensemble. He thinks that this is what cowboys wear, and accessorizes with a black cowboy hat. It's like Johnny Cash meets the Sound of Music around here.

Another Scrap (the reverse applique kind this time)

So I realized that I was supposed to scrap with Joy-- not swap. I'm a very scrappy person-- I'm surprised I didn't jump at that opportunity. But since I did not scrap (nor did I tag 5 friends-- I stink at chains...) I'm making her another kind of scrap here. I saw this amazing book a while ago, and I've been fascinated with the idea of reverse applique ever since. I really wanted to do something with these nice (and well-priced!) organic cottons I found, and the idea of this kind of applique just lent itself to working with organics. It's all cool and hippie chick (like you know I want to be.)
Natalie Chanin works with jersey knits, which I'm interested in, as well. I am starting to yen for a serger. Just a tiny bit. But I'm still mildly to moderately terrified by all that thread. We'll see. So I'm using cottons, and I expect it to fray artfully as it gets washed.

This was supposed to look like a peony. It does not. I've got an idea to do a smaller-scale applique that is more recognizable next time. But then I get all funny about the fact that sewing for summer really should be finished, and this weight of fabric really lends itself to summer. So I'm kind of torn. I think I'll put it up in the Etsy and see if anybody responds. Maybe. But anyway, about the technique. It was utterly soothing and relaxing to sit and stitch with my hands, rather than the machine. I love the visable hand of the construction here, and I love the loose, slightly untidy feel of the design. I've been meaning to make up this skirt for myself in this fabric-- I can totally see some of these stencil-like flowers being cut away and backed with these amazing chocolate and ruby colored upholstery-grade linen scraps I have squirreled away. I've never sewed for myself, though.... what'cha think? Should I go for it?

Honest Swap (without the swap part)

I am oh, oh, so tired tonight, but I had to rise to the challenge Joy set for me: 10 Honest Things about me. Since we're laying it all on the table, I'll go ahead and tell you that I ripped this image off from the very first thing Google found when I looked for images of "honesty." Told you I was tired-- it's from here, to keep everything above board.

Before we dive in, I'll tell you why I'm so tired. Partially because I've been filling orders like crazy and trying to figure out which direction lil' ol' Hoot Baby is going to go-- and feeling a little sad that I don't have time to "create." I spent an hour last night (or four, if we're counting. Poor Adam-- he should know by now that I have a, shall we say, fluid relationship with time-keeping. 7:30, 12 am... who's counting) with a wonderful group from our neighborhood. I'm serious when I say that 90% of the people in this neighborhood create-- with paints, fibers, metal, wood, flowers, music, words... everything. The energy can be amazing-- and we are planning a super-fun and amazing (and totally catering to voyers like me who are desparate to see the inside of people's houses) studio walking tour and happening afterparty. Coming to a street near me Oct. 3-- come on over. I love the name we chose-- "Westerwood Art and Sole..Art You Can Walk To." So anyway, I'll probably be talking about that a lot. I have also had lots on my mind this week I've wanted to post about, but I've had trouble with the whole camera thing. Even though I know you log on to hear me run my virtual mouth, it's way more fun with pictures. But I am going to be talking about it next week. My feet is one topic. And my tomatoes. And hand-embroidery. Fun stuff.

So.... here we go. 10 Honest Things About Me. I'm not sure I know who to tag in this-- I'll have to think about that.
1.) I'm an unabashed carnivore. I ate approximately 1 million hamburgers while pregnant, all from here. Yes, I know it's gross. I make up for it by being basically vegetarian all summer, when I eat tomatoes 19 times a day.
2.) I'm a horribly judgemental person. I'm working on that. Almost every single one of my closest friends is someone I initialy judged (erroniously) and now adore.
3.) I'm very good at growing things. I guess it's ok to say that because I'm being honest. I really think I do have a genetically green thumb, because I never even kept houseplants until we bought our first house and I dug up a half-acre of land and turned it into garden after garden after garden.
4.) I secretly wish I was a cool hippie chick. In reality, I look more like I came from J. Crew. Except I never, ever wear headbands.
5.) I have the ugliest, grossest feet you will ever see. And I'm gonna blog about them. Lucky you.
6.) Some folks say I'm witty. I dunno, but I like to talk, and sometimes funny things come out.
7.) My proudest accomplishment in my life is helping John Harper learn how to breastfeed. I hear August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and so I'll wait a few weeks to tell that story. It's a good one. Get that hankey out again.
8.) I would much, much rather watch children play than play with them. This is problematic as my main job these days is to stay home with kids.
9.) I eat so, so, so many desserts. The only reason I make it to the gym so many times a week is so I can eat my more of those.
10.) I often don't start things for fear of failing. Like, really often.

So, there we go. Now you know all about it me-- tell me all about you. Only I just realized I'm not on the computer with all the bookmarks, and my eyes are clooossssinnggg. I'll getcha tomorrow!

But PS: Thank you to Rachel at One Pretty Thing for bringing Wo-Bot to the masses. He looks kinda sad in his chair. I have REALLY got to read that photography manual....