Free As a Bird Far, Far Away

stunt belly

I haven't posted in a while.  Pregnancy is taking a serious toll on my brain these days.  Activities that require lots of computation- out.  Activities that are based on a set of explicit instructions or require nothing but respiration on my part- in. It's not that I feel bad.  I'm just here.

cutie patootie baby pants

I've been having days of on-again, off-again contractions that look promising, but go nowhere.  This suits me to a 'T,' as after about 6 hours of this, I come to the somewhat irrational decision that staying home is fine and that Mr. Flavius is perfectly capable of catching the little one when she comes.  Of course, this is a pretty lousy plan considering the fact that I'm taking a goodly amount of anti-clotting drugs and they pose a real risk to my health after delivery.  Thank heavens for Mr. Flavius, who I married because (among many other reasons) he told me, "No" (a word I seldom heard growing up or among my friends and beaus).

more baby pants

These are the days that I am grateful beyond belief for priests, readers, and choirs that carry me along during Liturgy; for children content to play with blocks or playdoh, while I sew little pajama pants for our little baby that will be here sooner than later; and the capable women and men of the internet.

We made a huge batch of Food Renegade's Double Fermented Kombucha.  My most successful fermented endeavor to date.

Then my googling led me to an excellent article on the hows, whys, and whens of using corn syrup or another substitute, by David Lebovitz.

Made by Rae, baby tights

And finally, because I am currently obsessed with things that cover baby behinds, a tutorial from Made By Rae on how to make baby tights, which are so adorable I want to make a dozen pairs.

I hope all of you are well!  God bless!

    

I made a skirt! And other Nifty Noodle ideas...

M. in her 3-tier ruffle skirt.  I know not very ruffly.

A long time ago, my sweetest husband bought me a fine quality serger and an even finer quality sewing machine.  Unfortunately, my plans to sew and sew until the end of time came to a screeching halt the first time I spent way too much on fabric and then wrecked my project.

Occasionally, I will be inspired to sew a quick this or that, only to be cowed into submission by the thought of ruining the fabric I am about to lay waste to with my scissors.  I have made quilts, a plushy octopus, and a few gift bags, but I have stayed away from clothes.  Until now . . .

This past weekend, I strolled boldly into not one, but two fabric stores, expertly purchased fabric and notions, and proceeded sans pattern to make a skirt.  And it wasn't horrible.  In about 2 hours I had cut, pieced, lined, and made the casing for one skirt.  Best of all, I did not die or become injured, blow up my sewing machine, waste hundreds of dollars, or wreck the house in the process.  I did have some help from the interwebs.  I can happily pass along a handy tiered skirt calculator that I found, here.

I am looking forward to practicing so more.