Gramps

It took me a long time to finish Gramps here. He was just such a regular guy, which is wonderful in the real world, but in the softie world it seems strange to spend all sorts of time sewing ordinary people. I couldn't seem to take him from drab to fab. I know he really isn't fab, but he's not drab--which is an improvement. The flower on his hat certainly helps. I also am having an identity crisis with him. At first he seemed like the instructor for the Mathletes, but now with the hunting-plaid suspenders he has become more of a farmer's man. Now that he has a flower on his hat I don't even know, but I do know he is chivalrous, because you can't have a flower on your hat and be rude. That is against the laws of nature.

I decided to try photographing gramps on my bright yellow table. Bright yellow as of 2 days ago. Being home all the time has me being a little adventurous with our furniture. There is the bright yellow end table, and now Walter's high-chair is neon green. There is no telling what is next, but I am feeling a sad lack of pink in my life.

In non-softie relate news, today I take my first tai chi class! I am very excited about it---I am hoping it helps with my neck pain I still have from being a crazy, addict sewer. I think I will like it because:

A. I like the idea of being a zen master, and
B. If you switch the sounds around it becomes Chai Tea which is probably my most favorite hot beverage.

Gavin

There is nothing Gavin likes more than a hard-boiled egg and a bit of cheese. He'll eat this breakfast every morning, outside under the shade of his umbrella. He makes toast too, but only to give to the birds because he is a gentleman who knows the importance of sharing. After the birds eat their toast, they are full of gratitude and in return groom Gavin's mustache for him.

So far stay at home motherhood has been a dream. I am not deluded to think it will always be this way, but for now it is basically awesome. I hang out with Walt and sew when there is time. Usually during this time, Walter is in his jumperoo screaming. He is not in distress or anything, the boy just loves to scream.

Ch, Ch, Ch, Changes...

All good changes. Joseph got a job! I no longer have a job! Or rather, little Walter is now my full-time employer. Cutest employer ever. He doesn't offer benefits, but due to decreased stress levels I am sure I will be healthy as a horse. We had to move away from Bloomington and to a small town in Southern, IN known for old french architecture and watermelons. This small town is not known for Thai food or strong coffee, but there is a sweet little downtown that is trying very hard and a nice YMCA (great for my pursuits of becoming an amazon woman [one of my goals this year]). Mainly though, this town offers time. Time, sweet time. To play with my son and sew and take Albert on ridiculously long walks. I am going to get back to blogging, though probably more like once a week instead of daily so that I don't go to the dark-side (too much obsessive clicking). I am anxious to get back to sewing and share my creations with you though. Yippee!

Cone of Silence

Joseph and I kept Walter's name a secret throughout the entire pregnancy. It was very serious for Joseph, he did not want me even saying Walter's name when it was just the two of us at home, things may have been different if we had a cone of silence. When I made this banner for my little man he was still in utero and I was not allowed to piece it together until after birth. So while he was in my womb it was like a word scramble. This photo was taken by Mike Lee who came over to our house and took the most charming photos of Walter and Joseph and I (and Albert) as a family, including this one:


Look how tiny! To see more of MDLee's photos, go to his blog-----soooooooo fun.

Walter Nicholas Holsapple

He's here! I'm smitten. I can easily spend 8 hours straight staring at him and making various "aww" sounds when he makes a facial expression. And he makes a lot. Such an expressive boy (imagine proud mom face). I imagined my maternity leave being a creative time. I wanted to dust off my sewing machine and relocate my drawing pens. I imagined Walt swinging in his swingy chair while I sewed up charming stuffed creatures. I would show him my works in progress and he would coo with approval. And though I had heard rumors, I didn't imagine that nursing would be a full-time job. Some days I feel like all I am is a pair of boobs. I am deliriously happy, just not as productive as I hoped to be, but hopefully I'll find some balance and be able to do more frequent posts. It will be difficult to resist turning this blog into a Walter-centric blog (though my Facebook is another story---I'm waiting to see one of my status updates featured here), but I want to keep it about sewing and fabric, so the pictures above all involve Walter wearing a onesie designed by yours truly with fabric markers (thanks Tracey, Spaldo and Molly). He's going to wear it again this week when he watches Star Wars episode four with his daddy.

Nesting

It has been cold and snowy in Bloomington. Partly it's been nice because snow is beautiful and it gives you things like snow days which are my favorite. I got one of those on Thursday. Joseph said I was acting like a little kid because I woke up really early and looked out the window and then obsessively checked the internet for cancellations, squealing joyously every time they added a new one and then waking him up by shaking him when the news came in that my work was cancelled. Then on Friday, my body decided I should have another snow day by going on strike and making me sick. I have been blowing my nose and sewing ever since. Little baby Ichabod (as he's known in utero) will be here in 5 weeks (though please knock on wood that it is in 3 weeks because that is still in the safe zone and I am ready already). I wanted to make him something interesting to look at while he is in the crib hanging out and I know babies are drawn to high-contrast images, so I wanted to use black and white stripes. Black and white stripes ofcourse make me thing of burglars, so the first guy is one of those, but because he will be hanging over my future son while he sleeps I am telling myself that he is a polite, thoughtful burglar that only steals pre-stolen things from bad burglars and then he gift wraps the items and returns them to their rightful owner. The other guys are just plump-bottomed silly men. I like how they look above his crib and I hope they make him laugh and give him good, sweet dreams of magical silliness.

Post-Handmade Market Post

Bernadette and Simon

Bernadette is my first Softie with removable shoes!

Moko, a butch ballerina

Neville and Moko

The Bloomington Handmade Market is over and done. I had the greatest time, it made me want to bake all of my neighbors some cookies---the good kind with large chunks of chocolate inside. I have no pictures of my booth (oh how I neglect you, blog). The market in general was very cozy, in the auditorium of this art center downtown. There were about 40 artists there and I felt a little bit like I needed blinders on, so that I wouldn't run around and cheat on my frugal "I'm broke and having a baby" self, which is to say, everyone had very beautiful, unique, well-crafted things---the kind of things I want filling up my house for my child to look at. Everyone that came in was so nice and friendly and responsive to my work which is a special feeling. A few of my plushes even got spontaneously hugged out of delight which made my face muscles hurt from smiling. I did well, but really it was nice to be a part of a community event that so many great people showed up to. Joseph and I have only lived here for a few years, and yesterday was the first time that it felt like home to me. It also probably helped that I saw about a million bright-eyed babies being bopped around in Baby Bjorns or Moby Wraps and my hormones have me feeling warm and fuzzy to the max!

I have a little bit of a surplus that is going into my Etsy shop right at this moment. This includes 2 paper-clay dolls with movable limbs and Simon (the orange haired boy above) who charms the socks off of me.

This post feels completely self-indulgent. I'm sorry!