Calder & Company

Fish trousers...

~Recientemente, we made a trip to Madison to meet with some family.  Lo siento (I'm sorry) if I keep posting in Spanish.  I have been speaking Spanish all day every day for the last week, and it is hard to switch back to "Ingles".

~Madison has a lovely capital building--with all the architecture and artistry.  The boys have visited several capital buildings, and we have tried to collect "patches" so I can sew them (all) on a pillow--someday...

~I had this heavy cotton fabric in my sewing space for a LONG time, and finally found a little boy who had to have the fish.  Made these fish trousers for the trip.  He loves fish, just like his dad.

~He is a dancer, that one. 

Working as Pioneers...

~Well seeing that my husband has been on a fly fishing trip north of the Arctic circle for the past 17 days, my time for journaling has disappeared.  We have been busy (as one can imagine) and I will try to write a little every few days.

~Again this year, I am sending out some photos from last week when we worked as pioneers.  It is such a special time with the boys, and I am always amazed at how much the boys learn.  As you know, pioneers wore long sleeve tops EVERY day, so I find it is amazing how we all get acclimated to the heat in our garments. 

~Yes, the boys were "Finished" (capital "F" intended) weeding their row at this point...therefore, they thought to supervise moi.

 ~An authentic recipe that was a little heavy on the salt and baking soda...

 ~The boys had some free time for games and leaf rubbings...

 

Some of our favorite activities:

~made ink from berries and vinegar and used quills to write letters
~cooking on primitive stoves and/or open fires
~weeding the garden and feeding the pigs (the boys LOVED feeding the pigs)
~the boys worked on marching and were responsible for "sending up and retiring the colors (flag)" at the fort
~participating in court cases (one was accused of stealing)
~washing dishes--ha ha!
~playing indian games and lots of chores...
~using a primitive flint for starting fires
~looking through the straw bedding (mattresses) for mice and bugs...
~had a school day with math, geography, reading and a spelling bee.  One of the boys had to be punished, and thus had to hold a small log up on his outstretched arms.

~and on of the all-time favorite activities---hanging with the blacksmith!

 ~Oh, and I had to include this photo that one of boys inquired "are those large bottle caps up there?"  Which is EXACTLY what they look like to a boy from 2011!

Catching up with July...

~I know, I disappeared off the blog world for a while...The way that I see things is that I just needed a break from the--computer, creative, photo grind for a while.  Since school has ended, we have had many sport nights, summer visitors, art days, swim lessons...the list goes on and on.  So the solution (for me) was to just "un-plug" for a while.  Updating a blog, was just not an option for me last month.  I have been creating (of course--I am a "maker") and will try and upload some of those photos...

~also decided to enroll in a graduate Spanish classes (starting this summer)...because quite honestly, there is NO reason I am not fluent in Spanish, as much as I am around spanish speaking folks.  So, yes, just another thing to add to my list of responsibilities.

~Here are some photos from the last few weeks...Starting with the ever-popular "parades"

 ~Petite tooth pillow for Mr. "NS"...who has already lost one tooth, so must step up the work on this...

~My favorite deep purple allium this year (I have about 10 varieties)...

 ~Critters galore...

~Some quick summer sewing...love the "shoe choice" sweet boy...

~And of course we are working the vegetable garden whenever possible... 

Liverpool tunic.

~As you know, I create a lot of my own garments.  Sometimes when I start a new garment the design comes from a need (like say I need a new dress--sleeveless), and sometimes I find a pattern that I want to try.  I saw the Amy Butler Liverpool pattern a while ago, and I knew it was a garment that I wanted to create, and modify.  This pattern has a gob of pieces (as do all button downs) and details, so I recommend setting aside a few days to create the top. 

(I was having a tiny problem with my photo flash working, so thus the strange coloration).  It is hard enough to maintain a family, so needless to say--retaking this photo was not going to be an option with my current state of commitments...

~I am not really a "bow" type of gal (who wants to sit with a knot stuck in their back?), so I really hesitated about the ties in the back.  As you can see, I decided to keep them, and I am glad that I did.  I like how it breaks up the silhouette in the back (see my review on patternreview.com for details of construction).

~Of course I wanted to create one with the same fabric that was on the pattern since is was so well done (and a perfect selection).  It does take time to line up the pattern with fabric pattern, but worth the effort.

~Should be packing up our swimming gear and baseball attire instead of updating the blog...just too many things on my mind!

May: Set 3.

~I have FINALLY had a morning to be at my house.  Whew!  First, I had to mail out the boys thank you cards (for their birthday presents), then tackle some projects in my sewing room.  (Like finishing an Amy Butler top that I started at the beginning of the month.)  I have been making notes in my mind about some necessary sewing items, such as:  more hats, more pants, more shorts...ect.  So glad to be at home, and I am purposely ignoring the laundry. 

~Out on a hike to the lake...found some moss-y love...

~"old man timber"....

 ~so many colors in the pine shoots...Okay, I really took this shot because the boys left me alone on the trail in search of frogs, and I was trying to keep my feet dry...thus the photo op...

 ~this has been the month of cakes...so MANY!  Made this for N. he is attracted to chocolate (aren't we all?).

~The taller the candle--the better!

~I spent almost the whole day yesterday outside tending to my garden (and thus activating my allergies).  I still have tulips blooming, and the weeding was joyous (I really don't mind it TOO much).  The boys had a giganto water fight, and changed their clothes at least three times each...

~Some of my tulips...

 

 ~fringed tulips seem to be the 'dainty' species of the tulip world...

 

~I went a little overboard on the dahlia's this year---planting (10) total--okay to be honest, still have three more to get in the ground---I am running out of space...

May: Set 2.

~Each one of the boys received hip waders for their birthdays this year.  It has saved the boys from ruining their shoes and having eternally wet socks/feet.   It allows them to explore more freely...

 

~We do gobs of hiking with the boys, and we always start out looking for the perfect walking stick...I will admit, sometimes the sticks turn into swords or a weapon of some kind, so we do have to scratch the idea on some trips...overall, they still enjoy having something to carry along and serve as an extension of their arm...

May: Set 1.

~I have been busier than a one armed paper hanger!  I honestly layed in bed this morning thinking about my day and wondering what I should tackle first on my morning at home.  We have had four birthdays, three full day field trips, visitors, school plays, select soccer, baseball and mothers day since my last post.   Whew!  It has been overwhelming.  For me, this month is TWICE as busy as December.  So I am going to just share some photos (because truly, that is all I can manage right now!)...

~Our kitchen table...

 ~The boys celebrating my birthday...

 ~So many birds have been coming to the feeders this spring, and we have baby birds under our deck...

 ~Some flowers that I planted at the woodland edge years ago...I love experimenting with new bulbs.  Planting bulbs in the fall is an experiment in delayed gratification---but makes the spring so exciting!

 

More rugs I've made...

 

~Speaking of spring insects, here is a dragonfly pillow that I made a while back.  I did not design the original dragonfly pattern and unfortunately--don't recall who did (to give them credit).  The pillow ended up being the perfect size for the family rocker--behind it is a pillow that I knitted up years ago.  At the time I made the pillow--it caused me "lots of grief" as my mom would say.  It had a lot of increases and decreases with the ruffles.  The pattern is from Knitter's Stash: Favorite Patterns from America’s Yarn Shops.  I loved how the colorway turned out, but all that rusching took FOREVER.

~One side of the pillow is flat, and the other side is rusched.  It is nice that all you have to do is insert a pillow and add buttons to the edge.  I selected wooden buttons--which seems to be my button of choice for most garments as well...The tricky part is finding good wooden buttons.  Just recieved some vintage buttons from Etsy that came from Israel (country--not store name).  I am crazy about them.  I am always on the hunt for good buttons, and will sometimes create a garment around the buttons.  I am so finicky about buttons and get frustrated trying to find them in commercial stores...

 ~Also wanted to include a final photo of the pillow that I created my sweet boy of three who was born on Valentines day...

 ~I will post more soon, we are so busy around our place with gobs of birthdays this month.  Not to mention spring gardening and sports season heating up...

Spring "Balthazar" Pattern...

~I was looking for a boy's tunic pattern that was simple design, with a worldy flair and quick to sew up.   The tunic Balthazar by Citronille was exactly what I was looking for.  I have looked and looked through the english patterns--trying to find a top that was European and classic--I had this vision in my head, so when I found it through Citronille, I was eager to sew one for my son.

 

~I tried to snap this photo before school one morning, and my hands were not too steady (neither was the model)..."stand still....no....arms down....NOT the "walking like and egyptian" pose again..."...aye yih yih!

~I finally had to capture him while he was brushing his teeth...

~This time, I quick took a photo when I summoned him to my sewing space...again before school (and thus before lunch or art or recess...to muck up his clothes)...

 ~Both of these fabrics came from Jo-ann's fabric store.  I purchased the camo spider fabric several months ago, and just had enough for this pattern.  As mentioned before, I almost always cut two of a pattern, and I had to find another fabric for this pattern.

~I stood in Jo-ann's pulling out every bolt of fabric (while my sweet three year old was also pulling out fabric...ugg)  that seemed even remotely interesting, and I couldn't find anything that would work.  I wanted this top to be inexpensive (reads: had a coupon), and was insistent that I was not leaving that store without fabric for this shirt.  So that is when I spied the wavy blue to green fabric...

~so to review the pattern, I am crazy about it.  I love the fit, very wearable/comfortable, and fits my 8 year olds "modus operendi".

 ~I made a size 10 and would made the size 12 for him next time.  He wants to wear a shirt under, so needs extra room.  I like "collared" shirts, and the mandarin collar is easy to attach.  The placket is the most challenging part and I like you tube for instruction...

~I also omitted the buttons...I know he would never use them...

Spring week...

~We have had a beautiful lead-into spring, up until the snow lately (and another big storm tonight).  It is lovely to see the bulbs pop up and my 'Goliath' poppy's are reaching out more each day.  I have wanted to grow the 'Goliath' variety for several years, so was overjoyed when I found them last fall at White Flower Farm (yes, they did cost a pretty penny).  Up until this point, I only saw them on-line in England. 

~So I quickly finished the spring 'peep' above which is the outline of my oldest son's foot (my 3 year olds foot is trying out in the pic).  I have a whole file of rugs/pillows I would like to hook and this tracing is a good 2-3 years old--so I thought, I better get on the stick and create this peep!

 ~I was trying to incorporate my son's initial "Z" into the peeps wing--mainly so I can remember whose footprint was traced...

~I had this vision of making pop-up Spring cards for the holiday, and the task ended up being more difficult than I had planned...

~I printed up gobs of photos of the boys, and I was hoping they could be the pop-up feature.  Anyhow, they weren't perfect in the end (needed time to do more research on the subject)--but were appreciated by the recipients...so that's all that matters...I love to give personalized cards that the children have created with their own thoughts and idea...

~Lastly, our little guy has been eagerly rearranging the Easter books.  The boys love getting out the holiday books, and C. keeps asking when it is time for the Halloween books...egads..

~So the rest of my day will be writing bills (ugg), finishing some Citronille shirts for Z., cutting out one more Amy Butler pattern, exchanging table cloths (I'm obsessed), and quickly reading Still Alice--which I just started last night and is due for my book club tomorrow, not to mention play-doh and puzzles with C.C....It is so nice to have a day at home with C.C.  With the gray, cool weather outside today...it is definitely a soup day for us...