CHICKPEA SEWING STUDIO: Baby

A few little nothings

Maybe it was the rough day finally looking up at 4:30pm but I felt the sudden urge to take a few pictures and write this entry. Of course by then I had exactly 10 minutes to capture the last of rays of sunlight. Daylight savings is not kind to the procrastinator. It's been all up and down at La Maison Lanvers and seeing Finn sick, in pain and clutching his belly all day is just heartbreaking. We are all better now, which is a huge relief for everyone. Hence a little frivolous posting...

baby hat for Quitterie

First and foremost I finished Quitterie's white baby hat. It is much larger than I anticipated but her little head is certainly growing. It is made of the most wonderful Cotton-Wool mix from Rowan. Very special and never itchy. It only took one 50gr skein which means I could probably make another smaller version pronto. I always feel that any present needs a custom bag, and sometimes one is already there waiting for the perfect gift, convenient! The pattern and my Ravelry notes can be found here.

This strawberry Liberty of London print is just lovely, I might have to make a diaper wallet with the leftovers.

baby hat for Quitterie little Liberty bag

Moving on now to the little things we picked up during the veteran's day sale at the thrift-store. Books mostly, an English deco book and a collection of Nature Science books for children from the 60's by Dr. Glenn O. Blough. The illustrations by Jeanne Bendick are to die for, so are the titles: Not only for Ducks, the story of rain. The concept reminds me of an uber popular independent French nature gazette called La Hulotte. It is written by a former elementary school teacher who is also an exquisite illustrator. It is completely possible that most of my plant and wild creature knowledge came from those pamphlets. They have a facebook page ! it feels all wrong but I am liking anyway!

Thrifted nature science book from the 60's

The little house was unpainted but strangely compelling and cheap ($.99). I am giving it the usual treatment of grey paint. At this stage only the first coat is on. The little gilded box came from a closet somewhere in the house. It was still Ikea meeeh and as I was considering letting go of it the idea struck to make use of the pot of gold used for the bamboo frame. It's considerably more regal now and Finn thinks it's "very beeeeautiful!".

thrifted little nothing and a gilded Ikea box

Posted at 06:13 PM in Baby, Books, FABRIC, Kids, Knitting, SEWING | Permalink | Comments (4)

Quitterie

I have a new niece! technically speaking she is my little cousin but since her mother and I are the only two children on that side of the family we consider our offspring nieces and nephews. Regardless of her genealogical status I am super excited! She came three weeks early but is already a normal weight, all is well in Paris while here I scramble madly to put together a gift worthy of the event!

Quitterie

My cousin has a very classic Old France taste, which translate here as preppy. It suits her well and she has the lifestyle to go with the tartan headbands. It's not an easy style to find in the West and I usually fall back on Ralph Lauren, which I know she loves. I found these tiny shoes and a two piece outfit for a quick-ship package, but as a little personal touch I decided to sew the child a little bag.

Quitterie

The tartan is from Pendleton, I have kept this little piece of fabric for years. It's a precious reminder of a trip taken there with my dad. I used a script font not native to the Bernina 580, which meant that I had to make each letter a file or layer. It's hard work working without an embroidery software but I am working with Thomas to procure an older inexpensive PC laptop. Still I am grateful that even without a computer I can create a design directly on the machine and have it look so perfect. I have saved the folder and will only have had to align 10 layers once! The frame comes from Swakembroidery.com and seems like a versatile shape to invest in.

Quitterie

The bag is lined in a narrow striped shirting and for the casing I used a large decorative scalloped stitch instead of a strait line of stitching. I can imagine this type of finish on the bottom hem of a pair of pajamas... Ideas abound! Next in line for the baby a little bit of Liberty + a bunny. Stay tuned!

Note: in case you are wondering about the unusual name of the child, it belong to a 5th century Christian martyr later a Saint and has the same linguistic roots as the word "quiet" in English

Posted at 08:14 AM in Baby, embroidery, FABRIC, family, SEWING | Permalink | Comments (4)

Kokedama

Ivy Kokedama

Sometimes you find that you have (almost) everything you need on hand to complete something that has been lurking around your consciousness for a while. Today it happened to this little ivy when it became my first effort at kokedama.

Ivy Kokedama

I followed more or less the online instructions found on Design Sponge, so far as the roots are wrapped in moss but I had to use regular potting soil around that initial ball of moos/roots, I guess I am not worried about it failing, it's much more interesting right now as it lives than before in its lousy plastic container. The moss is held to the soil with floral arranging pins.

Posted at 03:44 PM in Baby, floral design | Permalink | Comments (2)

Finn, what am I going to do with you!

Finn and I have been having a rough go of things. He is three and a half now and knows what he wants: the complete opposite of anything we/I might ask or need to do. In all honesty I am tired, of fighting, of yelling, of bargaining etc... as he puts it, sometimes we are just not friends anymore. I know though, deep down, that most of this is my fault. I am paying twice for all the times I/we say yes when it should be no. I am too emotionally attached to "the nap" and when it doesn't happen, such as almost every home day, I just want to cry. In fact I want to just sit on the carpet and cry, way too frequently.

Often, if I just let go of things; scrap the program and start something new, we can make it through the day without tears (on my part). Last week was extremely trying and in the end we baked this little cakes with lavender oil and strawberries.

I even made these tiny flags to decorate with crayons. The drawing didn't really happen but the playing went on and on.

Posted at 11:07 AM in Baby | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)

love is ugly sometimes

the little american (don't trouble yourselves, it's not soda)

Finn and I went to JoAnn today to buy a book called Let's Draw Happy People. I thought it would be great fun to try and practice together. We found the book and that atrocious batman fabric as well. Explaining to him that the lady wasn't cutting his Batman blanky was interesting, he thought the entire bolt was his (shivers down my spine). I had plans on trimming the eyesore with one equally tacky satin double fold, but back at home I scrapped the idea and went for a white serged edge that took less than one minute. The entire time Finn is jumping up and down, tripping on the cord and screaming; " I AM BATMAN!!!!!". Meanwhile I am thinking: "This is unquestionably the ugliest, most yucky feeling thing I have ever made, it will be his favorite for sure..."

So like I said, Love can be ugly sometimes, but it's so so good.

Maybe I should forgive him his bad taste, he is extremely color blind. It's a challenge at that age when everything is color coded. As I am typing this he is getting frustrated with crayons 'that are the same' or in the case of the grey/white one "doesn't work". Maybe a little nap under the Batman cape will settle things down? Dream on.

( getting a thank you kiss, yeah!)

Just a reminder that I am answering comments directly on the blog from now on, not that I get that many, except from you Lisa love!

Posted at 02:36 PM in Baby, Books, SEWING | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)

A little piece of my mind.

Sundance

Claudia asked me for a mini interview about my personal experience bringing Finn into this world. It is published today on her blog, aux petits oiseaux. She gave me those questions months ago and frankly it was funny reading what I wrote again. I still agree with me (wink) !

Good luck with your new baby girl Claudia, she should be arriving anytime now. Patience...

Posted at 01:04 PM in Baby | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

I love You

When I came home today, from the most traumatic dental visit of my life, a lovely message of seasonal thanks was waiting for me on the answering machine. I called back my girlfriend and the first thing I wanted to say was: "I love you too!"

I don't really understand Thanksgiving as a holiday, being an expat transplanted in a family of expats, but never mind that, I will go skiing tomorrow afternoon and when Finn is old enough he can come with me. We'll tell his dad he should come too and it will be our family tradition.

For now I'll just be posting more nude pictures I know you enjoy so much (wink!)

Posted at 09:52 PM in Baby, Holidays | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

Posh Tot and a Bolt coupon giveaway.

Here is my new baby (quilt). It's called Posh tot by blue underground studio. I spotted the idea when in Portland while visiting Bolt. The binding is sitting on top.

Posh Tot

This quilt is incredibly fast to sew together, and I think this is the first of many. I have so many idea on how to use this with solids or scraps... You get the idea.

Posh tot

Since I was buying organic fabric at $17 a yard, the good folks of Bolts gave me a 20% off coupon 'for next time'. There isn't going to be a next time for a long long while I imagine so I want to give it away. The rules are simple, you must live in Oregon or Washington and you have until Thanksgiving to make your move. Let me know in the comments if you want to enter your name.

Posted at 01:49 PM in Baby, FABRIC, Quilting | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)

Thrift Found

Where I admit to less pleasant feelings:

A trip to my local Mormon thrift store yielded some interesting founds today. I don't really like that kind of second hand stores, they give me the creeps. I know... it's not progressive of me and let me just say that I would prefer to like places like that, I just can't. On entering the smell of bad/dirty/ugly assaults me and I gag. Still, I had forgotten about my OCDness after years of staying away so ended up there today looking for books to cut up. This is what turned up:

trapped nor tamed

An extremely well bound copy of The Prophet by Gilbran. It makes for mesmerizing reading on each punched hearts. I am feeling like somewhat of an heretic ripping through this text.

the plastic baby

A plastic baby. Finn seems interested by those lately. It's a girl. I was actually chocked when I took its clothe off. I guessed it would be like Barbie and Ken.

find

A giant firetruck; this is going to win many many good-will points somehow.

Posted at 04:05 PM in Baby, Shopping | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

Singing while being wet.

I woke up to the sound of rain this morning, feeling cool from having left the window open. It's such a treat here in the high desert of the Rockies. I can almost pretend I am back home in Brittany and this is just another fall morning, our socks getting wet jumping puddles before we even make it to class. I got to dress Finn in a yellow rain jacket I picked up for him at the Gap. (see below)

Gp764258-00qlv01 Finn was totally humoring me with the jacket, being quite satisfied with himself when he was declared 'super cute'. I might want this top to complete his look, it's from their American in Paris collection after all.

Gp763441-01p01v01 I also wanted to remind those interested in free music that five pretty good songs can be picked up today on the Urban Outfitter blog for music Monday.

NOTE:

I want to thanks everyone who left a comment for the last two posts or so, I loved reading them, from bloggers I know and bloggers I don't. I have been failing at responding lately... will try to do much better this week.

Posted at 09:36 AM in Baby, Fashion, Music | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

CHICKPEA SEWING STUDIO

November 13, 2013

A few little nothings

October 21, 2013

Quitterie

March 08, 2013

Kokedama

September 29, 2011

Finn, what am I going to do with you!

April 21, 2011

love is ugly sometimes

March 08, 2011

A little piece of my mind.

November 24, 2010

I love You

November 09, 2010

Posh Tot and a Bolt coupon giveaway.

October 08, 2010

Thrift Found

August 30, 2010

Singing while being wet.

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