Calder & Company

I'm back...

~Well, I know, its about time I re-enter the "blog-world".  I had a horrendous spanish graduate paper final and paper due, and right about the time, mi esposo (my husband) put a virus on my computer (accidently I know)!  So that was enough stress to send me into a mental health facility (kidding or course).  So I got the computer back and it wouldn't talk to my printer.  Ay no!  Then with all the additional duties of Christmas...whew!  I just had to take a break.  Of course I am still "making" things as usual.  Food, rug hooking, sewing, embroidery...y knitting. 

 

 

 

 ~So I am hoping to update and share some projects soon...Saludos y Feliz navidad!

Oh No Crow, Finished...

~Finally, the "oh no crow" rug is finished (seems like I started it a lifetime ago).   I have a million spots on where to put it, on table, in office, near bed...guess I need to start on another rug.  I have some small pillows in mind (for the holidays) that I need to draw out, so can get going on those...

~I have to include some photos from our trip to Lake Superior seashore.  Of course we have to pick destinations so remote that there is no phone service (eek!) or gas (double eek!).  It makes you grateful for the technology that we have available at our fingertips every day.

 ~thank goodness the boys had their hip waders.  Every time we are near a seashore, my laundry load quadruples!

~Our only store on the peninsula for necessities (like dried cherries and wheat thins--latter for moi).

~The sunsets are magnifique!  I always look forward to a change of seasons.  It is a necessity for my soul...

Rug hooking: for the tooth fairy...

~My sweet guy of seven, lost his second tooth last week, so glad that I had his "new" tooth pillow that I hooked--ready to be stuffed...Whew!

~N. needed a fairy pillow--so I thought to design something that was just for him (being the middle child--always striving to make him feel special).  It has a tiny pocket on the backside for his "precious pearl" --as I hear the wee fairies call them.  A dash of red piping on the side was added because it just needed a little more....something.

~C.C.'s school does this wonderful walk in the forest in the fall.  We look for leaves, pine cones, acorns, and yes PUMPKINS.  They are scattered throughout the forest, which yields, a good old fashioned "pumpkin hunt".  Es un buen momento!

Reversible trousers.

~I know I used to post several times a week, and now I am posting about every two weeks.  My computer time seems to be less and less these days, so I will try and catch up with the "making" that I have been working on...

 ~these are reversible trousers that I made for my three year old.  I drew this pattern on a brown garbage sack while on a weekend holiday a few weeks ago.  I was inspired, and just went to work in the cabin.  (Hooked pillow is the design of my 7 year old son---his owl interpretation)

~I love the fact that my three year old helps to pick out the fabric.  They are elastic waisted and perfect for little hands to pull on and off...I think I made 3-4 pairs total.

 ~Not only have I been sewing trousers, but also traveling.  These photos were taken when we went down to the river to watch the fish spawn. 

~this is where we catch the fish jumping the rocks.  It is a sight to behold.

~Here is C.C. with the "skeleton" trousers on (that was sale fabric from a few years back)--and holding some fish eggs...so dainty and brightly colored.

 ~Here are the "pretzel" trousers reversed.  He was having a little fun with one of my favorite scarves from a french store...He has good taste!

~A few mini ghosts that nana made for us about ten years ago.  The crew loves to put them out every season.

~the best tree that I spied this year.  I love that is is one color on the outside and others as the interior opens up.  Marvalous.  Dinamico.

Moment-by-moment

 

 

 

 

 

 

~I know I have been missing from the world for a while, but I have been busy learning espanol, entertaining, absorbing nature, and making of course! (will share soon)

~Some of our moments-by-moments include (de Nana):

Magic tricks, Stick fighting, Karate, soccer, Chicken stuffing, Football watching/playing, "Toading", Pizza eating, Candles and flashlights (powers out AGAIN), Flower and tomatoe picking, and lots of Lemonade making. 

And most of all....watching our world enter Autumn!

Happy face embroidery...

~I woke up today with my three year old using his hands to manipulate the corners of my mouth saying, "happy face, sad face, happy face, sad face...ect."  So I found it appropriate to add a little happy face to one of his tops (and he does love a good cup of hot cocoa).

~Seeing the leaves highlighted by the sun makes for some striking leaf colour.

~I love finding little scenes of moss and mushroom...

 

A Little Needlework...

 ~found this embroidery of a stamp from Norway in this (Scandinavian Designs:  A Japanese Craft Book)  book.

 ~I love the way you can add personal embroidery to a child's garment. 

Are those two "in cahoots" or what??

 ~some rocks from a recent visit to Lake Superior.  It is a great place for "rock-hounds".

~Some of the above are C.C.'s.  Can you spot::  the ice cream cone, the hot dog bun, and a crabs claw (Z's)?

It's all about the water...

~there is something magic about being around water, so when our family has had enough of the city, we head for the wide, deep bodies of water.

 ~My husband likes to stop at every river to check it out.  This gives the boys plenty of "explore time" when we are traveling...

~Wading is a favorite past time of our children (all children really).  They are never content with standing at the waters edge... 

~Three summer "Above knee A-line skirts with contrast pockets" that I managed to put together one week...all have zippers and facings...an old kwik sew pattern

It's time to fix the CHAIRS....

~When you have three little boys eating around the table, the chairs are only going to last for so long.  It was time to reupholster!  It is a great way to use up discontinued decorator fabric.  Ugg, they REALLY did look terrible...

 ~there were a gazillion staples to remove...

 ~the yellow chair is MINE.  I thought it would be fun to select all different fabrics for each chair.  Next time, I want to upholster them with animal fabric...I thought it would be fun to pick what animal you want to sit on.

 ~three are finished and ready to go...after some major wrist cramps (staple removing) and a visit to the hardware store for a new staple gun.

~Here is the final chair for NOW.  I used some scotchguard, and now they are ready for action!  A nice generous piece of fabric that I picked up from the Baker (Kohler) furniture store.

a little this, a little that...

~I find that summer seems to speed up once we are over the middle, so we are trying to get out of doors as much as possible.  Leisure bicycle rides, strolls around town, ankle wading, water splashing, carrot picking...those are the top favorites as of late.

 ~purposeful strolls...Can a stroll be purposeful?  Seems contradicting...

 ~ideas for next years garden...some sweet fleurs...

~another pair of trousers I made for sweet little boy of three. I find that he much prefers simple fabrics with identifiable objects.  "I want to wear the french fry pants."  or the lollipop pants, or circle pants...you get the idea.