Calder & Company

Kwik Sew Vest...

~Made these vests for my newly three year old.  I was looking for a vest to use up some smaller pieces of fabric and this was perfect.  The pattern number is Kwik Sew 3100 and I made a T3.

I changed the shape of the bottom and added an inch or so.  I was looking for a vest that C.C. could wear out casually.  This was an easy pattern, and made it up in an hour or so... 

 ~I think I had about a half of a yard (or less) of the linen bunny fabric.  I thought that I needed to get something made up quick for Easter, and my son was not getting any smaller...

~I adore these little carrot plants that Nana started in water...

~Isn't a angel cake perfect for spring?  As is fresh fish that the boys caught... 

~Other doings:  My oldest son (age 8) was recruited to a select soccer team a few weeks ago, so we have been mulling over ther esponsibilities, and commitments...It has weighed heavy on my heart.  He is only eight playing with 10-11 year olds--well he is close to age nine.  He does love soccer, but a serious commitment to a sport can really invade a family life these days...ugg.  It is amazing what we will do for our kiddos.  It is a great opportunity for him, and he is excited.

The best news from yesterday is that we get a tax refund this year!  Which means I finally get a new refrigerator.  My current refrigerator is old and chunky...so ready to update!

A spring peep...

 ~since I have been kicked out of my sewing space this week due to some house updates--I have been working on rug hooking...more details on this soon...

  ~If one is ever going to tackle Tolstoy...it has been this long, long winter...I am almost finished with the book--hot damn! (I had to buy two versions--both used-- to understand some of the translation)...Photo by N.

~A pair of trousers I made for my favorite Star Wars fan (made a month or so ago--forgot to post).  It is my own pattern, size 7--using some fabric the I found on ebay.  They have side waist and leg pockets with a fly front.   

~Spring is almost here, and we are cheering it on at our place.  (Lovely pot at MIL that we gave her years ago for her birthday)...

~The snow is still melting, but we have tulips and daffodils peeping up...We walked the property yesterday to pick up all the trash that the snow moves around.  (When you live in the countryside--sometimes we find people think they can just throw trash out the window.  ugg!)  Still feels good to be outside in the dirt again...trash and all....

Finished: Oh No Crow Rug...

~Worked hard on this rug last week and finally finished it...now it is ready for binding!  Woo hoo!  It is such a good feeling for it to come together...

~I did change the colors a few times as you can see from this picture.  Since the border and background are darker--I really needed to lighten up the details.  While working on a rug, I think, "Is this going to go on the floor, made into a pillow, hang on the wall, become a table-mat--or something else?"  Once I know what it will become...it helps me select the colorway.  This will probably be used on the floor somewhere in my abode--in a small place.  Wool hooked rugs can endure a lot of foot traffic--which is a must at our place.  (Actually just found remnants of a creme-filled donut on one rug--maddening--glad it cleaned up perfectly). 

~We just pulled out all the easter/spring themed rugs.  I love getting holiday-specific rugs out--I forget the ones we have--and the boys love putting them about our house.

~Here is our Saturday morning walk in the woods...

~this walk started out slow as we stopped to admire all of the beauty in the woods...as we walked on, Z's boots started hurting and N. got his foot wet while exploring a stream (luckily this happened right near the end).  Ho hum...Some things you just can't plan for!  So overall we still walked for a good long part of the morn--and it is worth getting out in the snow every day!

Wiksten Tova Top

~Received this pattern back in October--and have just recently completed two.  The pattern is from Wikstenmade and can be a top or a dress and both are included.

~I made a size medium top in fabric from a local quilt store (can't recall details of fabric name--ugg--my mind just doesn't work lately).  I have worn this top already several times since I made it up--and have some other fabric marked for more tops (reads: love the pattern).   

 ~I really think the collar stand is a smart design on this top, and adds just the needed touch for a casual yet--sophisticated look. 

~I didn't find anything I would change or alter about this pattern (which is unusual for me).  I typically run a checklist through my mind evaluating different collars, length of placket, different arm styles/lengths or adds such as ruffles, piping or bias.  I found that I like the design and simplicity of this pattern as constructed--and I love the way it lets you show off interesting fabrics.

 ~I also made up a size Large to evaluate the fit--only to find that the medium is best suited to me.  I was in between sizes and on the fence of which size to cut. Ugg.  I thought about it and measured the paper pattern (adding my ease) and I still couldn't decide. I almost always cut two of a pattern--so I can made alterations if necessary (I have to make two--because with three boys, who knows when I will get around to it again).

~This red stripe fabric was in my stash that needed a place to land--and I had enough for the Tova top which generally takes 2.5 yards or so.

~The only suggestion that I have for the pattern is to adjust the pattern to prevent "dog ears"on the top of the collar. This is such a minor detail--and I am sure there is a better way to describe the occurrence--all I can think of is the "dog ears" phenomenon with pillow corner.  Anyhow, taper inside the seam allowance slightly about inch before and after the collar corner and this will make a perfect placket and collar marriage...

~So glad I was able to get one of these patterns...it was fun to construct and I look forward to more pattern designs from Wiksten...

Burgler Bill hats...

~I can't resist making a few new hats every season, so when I had some Sublime yarn leftover from other projects, I decided to look at their patterns (not to mention I own about ten or more of their pattern books--so it was an easy call).

~this hat pattern is from Sublime #613 --the Sublime children's double knitting book.  After looking for a project to make up in the new More Last Minute Knitted Gifts book--I realized the pattern is very similar to one in there entitled 'Family Ribbed Hats'--another resource for you.

~these are super quick to knit and I made the blue one while in the caribbean and it took me 2 nights or so.  I used sublime extra fine merino wool dk for the hats with a size 3 and 6 US needles.

 

~C.C. loves to touch the moss in the miniature pots...We made this miniature cement and tile pathway a few years ago and it really lasts year to year...Note to self:  learn more about mosses (bryophytes?).  I adore them...

~In honor of St. Patrick's day tomorrow...we made some chocolate and mint cookies-- I have a difficult time going all out to celebrate St. Patrick's day since we are not Irish (that I know of...).  Here is the history...I usually buy the boys a clover plant and make green food---all kinds! 

Spring top...

~I have had this pattern for while...so when I found this jersey bird fabric--I knew that I wanted to see it in a kimono style pattern.  I am crazy about kimono style tops.  I find them flattering and comfortable--not to mention simple.  Maybe it is also related to the fact that it makes me feel as if I am wearing my favorite robe (or housecoat---or whatever name you use). 

~This top is pattern 3616 from Kwik Sew.  I made a size small--but wish I would have made the x-small.  If I were to make this pattern again, I also would raise the center seam (suggested by reviewers on patternreview.com).

~I am always amazed at the absence of good patterned stretch knits.  There are so many good patterns for knits (as evidenced by pattern review)--yet I struggle to find fabric that isn't overly colorful (think "hawaii") or juvenile (great for my kids--not for me). 

~Sometimes, I will find a good design on knit fabric, only to get hung up on the colorway--why do some designers ruin the design with such poor color choices? Not to mention scale of the design--usually too big unless you are designing panels like Marimekko.  

~This lightweight fabric was found at Hancock fabrics....I do love stripes in knitwear  (when I can find them locally--I know they are online here).  Knits with polka dots are available but hard for me to pull off (now that I'm over 30, actually I stopped wearing big polka dots at about the age of 18 or so).  Okay, enough of my ranting and raving about knits... I guess I can be a bit snotty about fabric design... 

~ahhh--spring sewing is in full swing at my abode...so good...

Catching up a bit....

~A while ago the boys had the opportunity to make (and visit) a fused glass studio.  It was such a creative day for those older two--not to mention an education about the composition of glass and the effects of heat...Oh to have this at home...so many projects going around in my mind. 

~Before we went to the studio--I brainstormed for ideas of what kind of projects the boys could create--and thinking about it for a bit--I decided to encourage my oldest child to experiment with making a face for his first fused glass project (now he wants to go again and make another one--already--whew!).  There are so many combinations of eyes, nose and mouth expressions---that the design and feeling of piece can be very personal. 

~My middle son (who is six) was crazy about looking through the box at leftover glass and finding little "gems" that he could put on his plate.  He ended up selecting a lovely ridged piece for the center.

 

~the "face" made by Z. has a hole drilled in the top--so he can hang it on his wall.  Perfect...

~Here is the birthday cake of our sweet boy of three...It was the quickest one that I ever made--mainly because we celebrated his birthday in the Caribbean.  I purchased a chocolate one for him on the island, and made this one right before we left...(If your wondering--the ratio of yellow M&M's in a bag is definitely off--I had to open more and more bags to find those golden yellows).

~And now that our little guy has turned three--his favorite activity is not sledding---but skiing.  He always is the first to chime in for a ski day.  When asked what his favorite ice cream variety is:  "Play-doh ice cream with doctors sprinkled in it"  all right then?  Oh, and he wanted to add some "spiders" on top too.  I love how their minds work!

Woolen crows and waistcoats...

~I must have purple and green wool on my mind because two of my recent projects have been in that color scheme...

~Here is the "Oh No Crow" primitive rug hooking that I am hoping to finish up soon.  I may have changed a few of the colors since I took this photo...sometimes I just look at it for a few days and decide if I like the color placement (usually I put it in the family room--so I walk by it 100 times a day!). 

 

~I recently finished a waistcoat from Jenny Watson Designs.  The waistcoat pattern is from the Noro collection:  Book 3. 

 

 

~The original pattern is for a cropped waistcoat.  In order to lengthen the waistcoat---I added nine rows to the bottom 1x1 rib pattern.  I must explain that I am on a quest for the perfect vest or waistcoat pattern.  I wear a ton of vests during the winter--not to mention I loathe  knitting sleeves...I have about 3 more patterns that I am hoping to try.  I have visited many knitting stores in hopes of uncovering the vest pattern of my dreams that I can make every year.  Yes, I know I should just design one myself---which is already in the works.  After making several vests now, I am getting closer.

~I did add one buttonhole--since I lengthened the garment.  (That darn second button likes to come unfastened all the time).  I had such high hopes for this waistcoat design---and yet, I don't find my self pulling this garment out to wear all the time.  I need to think more about it---maybe it is the colorway that makes me hesitate (though Noro in general is an enchanting yarn to use--with all the color changes).  Perhaps it is the silhouette...still thinking about this project...

Island Life Series Final...

~Okay, I know I am going on and on about the Caribbean, but it is so eye-filling and enchanting...

~Scuba goggles are tempered glass--therefore they can shatter, so we had several talks with the boys about the care of their goggles...kids by nature are just so curious that it is easy to go from one interest to another on the seashore...so thus--I was still always on the lookout for their goggles from where they were last used...

 ~this is one of the few photos that we took, that actually turned out (read: need a VERY steady hand while swimming)

 ~I did have an injury while abroad (not in photo below).  Once while swimming without protective footwear--I hit my foot on some jagged rocks and one of my toes was really sore and bruised (thought it was broken at first) for a week.  Oh my!

 

 

  ~What a stoop!  Only a six year old can do that for long periods of time...Looking for seashells and sea glass...

~The sea is already calling me back...(just organizing this post makes me miss those aquamarine waves)...It is such a treasure for me (us) and I am already looking ahead and daydreaming of my next visit...

Island Life Series 2...

 ~This lizard photo was shot by my husband when he ran back to the car to get his bottle of "Quick Spit"--which is used for scuba goggles.  Don't worry--it is a real product that he buys to "defog" the lenses and is a necessity when snorkeling several times a day.   He said this little guy was just waiting by the van. 

 

~I have an affinity for plant life, so I will try not to bore you with so many photos of the local flora, but I just couldn't help myself.  

 

~I walked by this flower almost every day on my walk to the beach.  I love that it has various shades of color which are so sweet, feminine and intricate.

~The perfect spot for lunching.  I mean really...the perfect spot...

 ~I was waiting on shore one evening--while the rest of the crew where yet exploring the landscape--and I was able to view the sun slipping down the sky.  One of my favorite moments of a day is when the sun is descending into the horizon.  I know that shortly--everything is about to change...