Penny Penelope

The countdown has begun

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 01:27:00 +0000

The packers will be here Monday. Movers start on Tuesday. We leave oh-so-early on Wednesday morning. And Mia is ready! Yesterday, she decided she was tired of waiting for momma to get out her new car seat so she could sit in it. She opened the box and helped herself. She's very excited about it as you can see. Which, trust me, is a good thing. Why? Well, we're about to embark on a twenty-four-hour (yes, 24) road trip to Dallas with a two-year-old. Are we nuts, you ask? Yes. Yes we are. Because not only are we going on this ridiculously long trip, but we're doing it with a toddler that's almost never in a car. We don't even own a car. She didn't even have a regular car seat until we bought this one a few days ago. (Don't worry. She did have a car seat/stroller for traveling out of NYC... a Sit 'n Stroll). She doesn't know how to sleep in a car seat like most kids. She doesn't get the concept of having to wait to get out or wait for mom to tend to her (unlike in her usual mode of transportation... her stroller). This trip is going to be interesting to say the least. I just keep reminding myself of all those times she completely blew me away with how wonderful she could be -- even though I'd worry about it for hours or days before. This is a kid that can literally eat in a five-star restaurant without disturbing a soul around her. She can go without a nap and be happy all afternoon. I tell myself again and again not to underestimate her. This trip will be fine. She'll be fine. It's going to be fun. Really.

Designed to sell (we hope)

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 01:05:00 +0000

Since my life is CONSUMED with selling our apartment right now (forget that we're moving across the country in just over a week), thought I'd share some pictures of our new-and-improved-designed-to-sell abode. How does a family of three, plus all the contents of a former children's wear business live in 875 sq. ft? Actually, fairly nicely. The trick to living in a small space is to only own what you actually need. That means really questioning whether you really need that big Kitchen Aide mixer or not (I decided no. I really don't). And every six months or so, we clean out and edit our belongings. If I haven't worn something in over a year, it's outta here. If I don't really love those shoes, gotta go. As much stuff that has come in, must go out. Furniture must also play double duty. Our bed is a storage bed. Meaning the frame is actually full of great big drawers and a cabinet-type space big enough to hold our large suitcases, etc. We also have large floor-to-ceiling wall units to maximize vertical space. I tell ya, using vertical space is so important!

I'll be totally honest here. Before we put our apartment on the market, it didn't exactly look like this. We spent a few month obsessed with HGTV's Designed to Sell, and took it all very seriously. So, we painted all the walls a neutral non-offending color. Previously the living room and hallway were a mustard yellow (Martha Stewart calls it "Yarrow"). Mia's room was a vivid apple green (loved it!). Our bedroom was a soothing sage green (loved that too). Now it's Parisian taupe (ok, beige). All of it. It was a little shocking at first to live with such neutral walls, but it has really grown on me. I actually think I'll keep the softer, neutral palette for our house in Dallas. Maybe. We also totally de-cluttered. We got rid of big pieces of furniture that cluttered the space. And all those little things we never knew where to put? We either decided it wasn't needed or found a place for it. All of it. It was no easy task, I'll assure you. But, in the end, we were left with a small space that feels larger, airier and much more serene. Just what you're looking for in New York City. Let's hope some buyer out there agrees!

Big changes ahead

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 01:37:00 +0000

Hello. It's been so long since my last post, I don't really even know what to say. This three-month break of mine wasn't planned at all. Life just took a turn of its own and left me with my head spinning. So where to start? Well, after almost ten mostly wonderful years in New York City, Tarek, Mia and I are headed south. We are relocating to Dallas, Texas, the end of the month. This past August, we made a three-week trip down and managed to find, make an offer and close on a house before we headed back home to NYC. I remember riding in the cab on the way home from the airport feeling total shock. I was looking at all the city lights as we drove over the Triborough Bridge and thought, "Oh my God. We're really doing this. We're leaving." To be honest, it sent me into a panic. In the past ten years, without me even realizing it, New York became our home. I was married while living here, bought our first home here, had the corporate career I thought I always wanted here (only to find out it wasn't what I always wanted), went back to school here, started a business here, became a mother here. It is going to be hard to say good-bye to such memories and experiences. On the bright side, I'm originally from Texas, so my family is there. It will be great for Mia to grow up around them. I think the panic I felt was also largely a big fear of change. Life will be very different once we leave. Change, while it can be wonderful in the long run, feels scary at first.

So, that's my news. The past several weeks have been totally focused on selling our apartment here. Which, of course, means constant cleaning and home showings to potential buyers. That has left absolutely no room for sewing (too messy). I can't even begin to tell you how much I miss my sewing machine. We had to remove my sewing cabinet (took up too much room and made our apartment seem small). This means all the stuff in it had to be put elsewhere. My sewing machine and serger are packed away in a closest. So sad. There is light at the end of the tunnel though. I will actually have an entire studio in our house in Dallas. I'm really looking forward to that!

It feels good to post. I'm sorry it took me so long. Oh, and the picture above is one of my favorite corners in Mia's room (pre getting-ready-to-sell-so-must-paint-everything-neutral walls).

Crazy hair and ketchup. Oh, and slipcovers.

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 23:36:00 +0000

In case you can't tell by the photo, Mia loves ketchup. She usually only has it when we go out to eat. If it's on the table at the restaurant, forget about it. Ketchup must be on everything. It's crazy. Just like her hair (a trait she got from her mom).

I started my slipcover project yesterday. All was going well until I realized I'm short on fabric. What a pain! I'm making a muslin cover first. I'll use that to make a paper pattern. Then I'll use the pattern to cut into the main fabric (white twill). I'm short a few yards of the muslin. Anyway, the chair is a dark rust color now. I'm going to keep the muslin cover on the chair to use as a base under the twill cover. Make sense? That way the rust color won't show through. Here's a not-so-great picture of phase one... draping the muslin on the chair. I'm looking forward to getting this finished. It's been on my to-do list for, ahem, 11 years (yes, you read that correctly).

A dress for Mia

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 23:18:00 +0000

Here's Mia in another sample dress I made a few years ago. It's funny, when I made this dress, I didn't like it at first. I actually wasn't even going to put it in my line. At the last minute (literally), I added it to the selection at my trade show at my mom's request. And guess what. It was my best seller! Of course, that helped me see this dress in a different way. But now seeing Mia run around in it, it's one of my all-time favorites.

I made a trip to the garment district today to buy white twill for a slipcover I need to make. I also found a great linen at a fantastic price ($6.50/yard!) for an embroidery project. I'm looking forward to getting into the swing of things. First project though... clearing out my sewing area. argh.

Still here, I promise

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 00:24:00 +0000

I bet you think I've left for good. I can't believe it's been another week since I last posted. Things have been a little crazy around here. After we got back from Texas, my step-mother and aunt came to visit me a few days later. We had a fantastic time. Lots of talking, walking and shopping. We went to check out the new Anthropologie store in Rockefeller Center. It was the first time I'd been in one, and I was not disappointed. At least with the look and feel of the store. I thought the clothing was overpriced for the quality, but the home goods were somewhat fairly priced. I bought two tea towels I'd like to turn into skirts or something. I also found a lamp I absolutely loved, but decided against spending the $500 they wanted for it. This past Saturday, we had friends over for brunch. They were here visiting from Dallas. We had a great time and the breakfast casserole I made turned out great. So... the last couple of days were spent doing pretty much nothing. And I'll admit, it felt good. I had planned on going to the garment district today with Mia to get fabric to slipcover some chairs, but the rain (three days in a row now) held us inside. Maybe tomorrow...

I leave you with this beautiful flower. A few weeks ago, my friend Cathy and her son Charlie came over to play with me and Mia. They showed up with the most wonderful sunflowers. I enjoyed them so much before I left for the trip, that I bought more after we got back. These are from Cathy's bunch. Thank you Cathy!

We're back!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 21:53:00 +0000

Wow, gone for over a week, and I didn't even say good-bye. Sorry about that. I had every intention of letting you know about our trip before we left, but that didn't work out. The night before we left, I was sitting at the sewing machine finishing Mia's sun hats at 10 p.m., and I still had to finish packing. Why I wait until the last minute for things, I'll never know. But it seems I always do. Anyway, we went to the Texas hill country (beautiful!) to spend time with my family. It was a great trip. I got to spend time with my grandmother, which was wonderful. Tarek even got these pics of us, which I absolutely love. Thank you Tarek!

Now that I'm home, I have my sewing mind spinning. I'm looking forward to working on some projects I've had sitting on the back burner. Pillows for the couch. Applique project for Mia's room. Should be fun!

Fabric bliss

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 02:16:00 +0000

Mia and I went fabric shopping in the garment district yesterday. Something I haven't done in a very long time. I had forgotten how nice it is to be surrounded by so many beautiful prints and colors and textures. One of my favorite things about living in New York is the unbelievable access to amazing fabrics. Bolts and bolts and bolts of things you just can't find anywhere else. Much of it is out of my price range (I found a nice linen for $68 a yard), but it's still fun to look and touch. I did find a cute brown and white polka dot to use on a skirt I'm making (more on that later). And while I'm on the subject of fabric... Don't you just love the way scraps of fabric can make you feel like you're moving in the right direction? Like you're getting things done. Accomplishing something. Moving ideas from your mind into someting tangible. It feels good and even looks good. I'm working on Mia's sun hats and trimmed a lot of seams last night. The tiny strips were just so pretty resting on the table. I couldn't throw them away. Today, Mia discovered them and pulled them behind her around the apartment. They can bring comfort and fun even for a 21-month-old. I love fabric. I think Mia does too.

Little dress

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 23:12:00 +0000

I'm back from a nice weekend. Saturday was spent mostly at home watching it rain, rain, rain with a quick early dinner out at Patsy's Pizzeria with Tarek and Mia. Sunday, we went to brunch in the East Village with Max and Courtney. It's been weeks since we've seen them, so it was great to catch up. After brunch, Courtney and I checked out some small clothing boutiques, which is always fun. I saw several things I liked, but didn't spend a dime. A, because I'm cheap. And B, because I can make literally everything I saw. Arrghh. It's the sewing curse hitting me again. I mean, yes, I can make any of those things. But the question is, "Will I?" I'll admit it. Probably not. I'm just out of time almost all the time. In fact, as I type this, I'm sitting here worrying that it's 7:40, Mia's been asleep for 40 minutes, and I'm still sitting here at the computer when I should be at my sewing machine finishing some hats for Mia or cleaning. Seems like no matter what I'm working on, I always feel that I should be working on something else. Geez. I really need to relax. Deep. Breath. Exhale. Now that's better.

Oh, before I forget. These pictures are of a sample dress I made years ago when I designed children's clothing. It fits Mia now, and I love it. One of the hats I'm making will go with it. The pattern is my own based on a vintage pattern my mom gave me. My mom says my grandmother made some of these dresses for me when I was Mia's age. I'd love to find pictures of those. You could probably find similar patterns today. The dress is reversible with green and white gingham on the other side. The fabric came from the garment district here in NYC. I have a few yards of this if anyone is interested in a small fabric swap. I could swap about three yards (or less) of this for fabric from you (anything but pink, please. My cabinets are overflowing with pink fabric). This fabric has some stretch, so keep that in mind. I think it's about 97% cotton, 3% spandex. Anyway, if anyone out there is interested, please leave me a comment. Have a great week!

Summer is officially here!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 20:22:00 +0000

And I have this adorable summer handbag to prove it! A few weeks ago, I saw Autum's post about handbags she made for bridesmaids gifts. Oh my, I took one look at the cherry print bag and had to have one. Lucky for me, it just so happened to be around Mother's Day. So I eagerly emailed Autum to see if there was any possible way she could make one for me too. Well, a short time later, here it is. Actually, I should say, here they are. Because not only did she make the adorable bag for me, but she sent Mia a coordinating bag as a gift! Complete with bamboo handles! Can you believe that?! I was so surprised and so excited and so grateful, I was like a little kid hopping around. I handed the bag to Mia and told her it was a gift from Autum, and you should have seen the look on her face. Total joy and surprise. She immediately took it from me and said, "Nice, Mama! Nice!" And she is so right. They really are nice. So well made and sturdy. Every detail is wonderful. And not to mention, they're the perfect size for each of us. Mine is just big enough to carry my wallet, cell phone, camera (must have), keys, and diaper, wipes and sunscreen for Mia. Mia's is just big enough for her little horse and some other toys she immediately put in her bag. Ooh, and I have to share the hang tags that came on them. So adorable. See what I mean about every detail? I can't tell you how fun it is for me to have something handmade and special from someone who's blog I read every day. I just love it. I really do. Thank you Autum!

Thank you cards

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Wed, 31 May 2006 23:15:00 +0000

Here are some thank you cards I designed to send to everyone who contributed to our March of Dimes walk in April. I was holding off posting about this because I wanted the cards to get where they needed to go first, and I was also having trouble getting a good picture. The picture is still bad, but you get the idea. I made the envelope too, which was fun. Usually, I buy envelopes, then make the card to fit them. Seeing this photo makes me think about how much I'd like to improve my photography. I know lighting is really important, but it seems to be what I have the most trouble with. A different color background would have helped too.

I have a lot of sewing on my to-do list. All of a sudden, it's hot here. Mia needs more light summer dresses and hats. I need more skirts. I better go get busy.

The bye bye stroller

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 29 May 2006 22:00:00 +0000

Last weekend we bought a new stroller for Mia. Can I just say that yes, it is possible for a stroller to change your life? It's true. The one we had before was great -- big basket, fully reclining seat, reversible handle, height-adjustable handle, the works. The only problem is with all those features it weighs 21 pounds and is big. Too big for a bus or subway with just the two of us. So, finally, I broke down and bought a lightweight umbrella stroller to use occasionally for the bus, etc. Oh my gosh! Almost immediately, the big stroller was permanently sent to the closet. The new one is now Mia's everyday ride. And the best part? She loves it. I mean loves it in a crawls-up-in-it-by-herself-and-just-sits-in-it kind of way. What a joy. Now, we hop on a bus on a whim. Need to get there faster? Hop on a subway. It's that easy. And don't even get me talking about how much easier it is to maneuver through the narrow isles of almost every place we shop. Ahh... I'm smiling just thinking of it. There was one thing about the stroller I didn't like. It was dreary. Boring (her other stroller is orange and happy). A nice seat pad slipcover did the trick. Made out of a fabric I've had stored in the cabinet for years. It has a hook-and-loop side, so I can take it off and wash it. And believe me, it will need to be washed. When Mia saw it, she said, "Nice, Mama. Nice!" Who could ask for more than that?

A corner in my home

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Fri, 26 May 2006 02:48:00 +0000

I love the idea of sharing corners of our homes, so here's my contribution. This is a table across from our (small, very small) kitchen. Underneath the table is a Malber washer/dryer (a washer and dryer all in one unit). Let me tell you, having a washer and dryer in a NYC apartment is a luxury. I'm serious. None of the 60+ apartments we looked at before buying this one had hookups. The apartment we have now doesn't either. So to use the washer, I have to run a hose to the sink. The dryer part of the machine is ventless. Why am I talking about this? Back to the actual photo... I keep my small, but nice collection of cookbooks here. I'd say out of all of those, I use the Joy of Cooking the most. It's definitely my favorite. The platter holding the fruit is from our real estate broker. It was a thank you gift for referring some friends of ours to her (hi Max and Courtney!). It's a Tiffany platter and is beautiful. Funny how Barbara (our broker) was able to pick out something that fits my tastes perfectly. The black bowl at the end of the cookbooks is a piece by our friend Tova Beck-Friedman. It was a gift. She's an amazing scupltor; and I feel lucky to have one of her pieces. The shell I found at Sanibel Island, FL, during our last trip. Isn't it amazing? The framed photos are of logs on my father's land in the Texas Hill Country. And, of course, the best photo up there is my amazing Mia. That was fun. I think I'll do more corners.

A finished skirt... if you can believe it

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Wed, 24 May 2006 23:17:00 +0000

Not only did I finish a skirt for myself, but actually wore it today. Mia and I made a day trip to Brooklyn to check out the Target store I found out was there. I have to admit, I like Target. There's not one in Manhattan, so I rarely go. When we're traveling, though, I usually make a point to stop at one. It's something I kind of feel guilty about. For the most part, I prefer to shop at small, independent shops when I can. And lucky for me, there are still some around in my area (although not nearly as many as when I moved here nine years ago). But there's just something about Target I enjoy. The bright red everywhere (I love red). The isles of wrapping paper and note pads and home storage and dishes. I just like it. I can't help it. It's my dirty little secret, so don't tell anyone. Anyway, I wore my skirt and felt pretty proud of myself. You can't tell in the picture, but the skirt is made of six panels, so there are two seams down the front and the back. I did two rows of top stitching to give them a more tailored look. I used a red (not as orange as it looks in the photo) twill that has some lycra in it. I don't really like sewing with stretchable fabrics, but it's what I had. The waist and the hem are both finished with grosgrain ribbon. Now that I know my pattern is ok, the next skirt will be in a cute Liberty twill I have.

Just wanted to say hello

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 22 May 2006 23:44:00 +0000

I actually have quite a few projects to share. Unfortunately, we've had either rain or just plain dark and dreary weather for over a week. Until today. But, now that the weather is bright enough that I can actually see in my apartment and maybe take some pictures, what did I do? Well, took off to the park with Mia, of course. We met some other members of a parenting/kids group we've been part of since Mia was four months old (Mindful Parenting given by Johanna Herwitz for those of you in NYC that are interested). Even though we meet as a class every Monday, this was the first time we got together outside of class. It's so funny. I've known these women as mothers for almost two years, yet this is the first time we've met out of class and shared with each other things about ourselves outside of parenthood. You know, where we live. Where we're from. How long we've lived in New York. What we love about it. What we don't love about it. What we do outside of parenting. I found out today that one woman is a professional photographer. One is an interior designer and sews. She even came to the park with a seam ripper in her pocket. I couldn't believe it. How could I know this person for so long and not know she sews too? I guess thinking about this, it's actually very typical about the way things work here. Of course there are always exceptions, but getting to know people is actually very difficult. At least for me. And if you do meet people and get to know them well, they eventually leave the city. So many people come here for a few years to experience the place and then realize it's a tough place to live or they miss home or want more space or more peace or grass. And off they go to wherever that may be. Long Island. Westchester. California. Or some leave for career opportunities. Sweden. Hong Kong. London. And sometimes, you can have one of the most wonderful, interesting people you've ever known live just 10 blocks away, but never see them because people here work long, hard hours including weekends. Anyway, I'm not really sure how I got onto this subject, so I'll get to what I really meant to write about... I saw Autum's borrowed meme and thought I'd borrow it too:

I AM: a wife. a mother. a daughter. a friend. trying to find my new place in the world since Mia was born. the happiest I've ever been thanks to motherhood, an amazing husband and my own determination to live a happy life.

I WANT: to love. to give. to create. to laugh. to connect.

I HATE: when things are out of my control. when I can't fix things for other people. when I feel as if I can't fix things for myself. months and months of bitter cold weather.

I MISS: my family. my friends out of NYC. walks at the end of the day, when everything is that beautfiul blue just before darkness (I don't do that much now since Mia sleeps at 7:00). the garden I had in Austin. the garden I had in Tampa. the traveling I did with Tarek when we lived in London. having enough space. having enough light.

I FEAR: losing those I love. making mistakes.

I HEAR: the hum of the computer and Mia's room monitor. and surprisingly, nothing else.

I WONDER: how my life would have been had I joined the Peace Corps after college.

I REGRET: not maintaining my Spanish speaking ability. I was basically fluent after college (minored in Spanish). The old saying, "if you don't use it, you lose it" is so true.

I AM NOT: as bold as I'd like to be.

I DANCE: every chance I get. with Mia often.

I SING: every day to Mia.

I CRY: not as much as I used to.

I AM NOT ALWAYS: energetic. I feel tired much of the time.

I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: as much as I can.

I WRITE: only on this blog and in emails. funny, because I have a journalism degree.

I CONFUSE: myself often.

I NEED: hugs from Mia and Tarek. a creative outlet. sunlight.

I SHOULD: takes pictures of my projects for this blog.

I START: projects, but don't finish them.

I FINISH: the projects I'm happy with.

Skirts are in my future

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 16 May 2006 23:40:00 +0000

... finally. I got my act together and made a rub-off (copy) of a skirt I like. I worked on it today while Mia napped. This afternoon, she played with her markers at the table, while I transferred everything to a paper pattern. I feel so good right now. I can't wait to start cutting some fabric. Summer is almost here, and I have nothing to wear... yet.

I finished the dress I was working on. Zipper, hem and all. And, well, let's just say that it's finished and leave it at that. There's no way I'm posting a picture of it. The fit is so bad, I'd be sure to lose any readers I may have out there if I shared it. Just picture Maria in the Sound of Music running through a field wearing a dress that's too big. Not quite the look I was after.

Did I say I love technology?

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Fri, 12 May 2006 17:07:00 +0000

Several weeks ago I ran across a blogger that had made a coloring book using Photoshop Elements to convert photos to drawings (I'm so sorry, but I just can't remember the name of the blog!). I thought it was such a great idea that I immediately had to try it out. I have the full-blown Photoshop software, so I had a few more options to play around with. The image above is what I came up with. Of course, that was weeks, even months ago. Trying to remember exactly what I did was tough. So, a little more playing around turned up this "sketch" of Mia to the right. I have to say I really like it. So much so, that I think I may have to frame it. Below is the original photo. Want to know how I did it? It's easy! Convert your photo to grayscale. Then under the Filter menu item, choose Sketch and then Graphic Pen. For this picture, I also adjusted the Brightness/Contrast (under the Image menu item) because the image felt a little dark. That's it. Print and enjoy!

The more I think about this image (ah, what a sweet face that is!), the more ideas I have about what to do with it. Framing, greeting cards, gift tags, stickers, magnetic paper, shrinky dink charms, wrapping paper. The list seems endless!

On a different note, I'm still working on the dress I started a few days ago. I can tell you already that it will be a wear-around-the-apartment dress. It's too big and looks like a potato sack. But it's comfortable, so I think I'll finish it. Also, it has a gathered waist right at the true waistline. What was I thinking? I'm still carrying around 10 lbs of baby weight, so a waistline like that just isn't flattering. Oh well. Live and learn. When I finish it, I may post a picture (if I'm feeling brave).

Progress

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 11 May 2006 12:27:00 +0000

I finally got started on another project. This time, a dress for myself. I managed to cut it out yesterday while Mia played in her crib. She wanted "night night" yesterday morning, so I put her in her crib thinking she'd want right out. But instead, she played happily for an entire HOUR. I couldn't believe it. I had already pinned the pieces the night before, so it was ready to go when I got my bonus hour.

I started sewing last night only after I took the time to care for my poor neglected machine. Can you believe how bad it was? It's been months since I took out the bobbin base and really cleaned. My machine started to protest yesterday by making a big knocking noise every time the needle dipped down. Dear Sewing Machine, please forgive me. I promise to take better care of you. You've been a faithful and reliable friend for 12 years. You deserve better from me. I'm sorry!

And yesterday during Mia's nap, I was able to make this. Looks simple right? Well, it should have been. But I had to make this twice. The first time I made the top ruffle part too short. On the second version, I made it a full inch, but then put the buttonhole for the ribbon in the wrong place. ahh! A "simple" project took me quite a while, but it was worth it. Next time, though, I think I'll make the top ruffle part even bigger and add another half inch.

May days and memories

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 08 May 2006 16:03:00 +0000

Well, I'm back from the weekend (a great weekend, too, by the way) and trying to get back into the swing of things. My creative slump still haunts me a little. I've decided, though, that I just have to get busy and get through it. I did make something last week, but I can't show it to you just yet -- next week, I promise.

With May's arrival, the weather has been consistently nice. Mia and I try to take advantage by getting to Central Park every day. I'm learning that LOTS of time outside and space to run around (something we don't have easily in a NYC apartment) is essential for an 18-month-old. The photo above is from a few days ago. You may recognize the hat. The top I made a few years ago when I was designing childrenswear. Mia fits into a lot of my samples now. It's great to see her in them.

Actually, here's another sample from my line. I don't think you can tell from the photo, but the fabric is pink with little white polka dots. The binding is the same fabric as her hat and the trim on the bottom is solid green (click on the picture for a better view). The center front has a little rose with green leaves. She's wearing a pink onsie underneath, but in the summer she'll wear the dress without it with a green gingham bloomer. I think I'll make several more of these for her this summer. Next time, though, I won't do straps that tie and will add a button to the center back. Have a great week everyone!

A little slump

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 02 May 2006 16:44:00 +0000

The last few days, I've been in a little creative slump. It's not even that I have so many ideas that I don't know where to start (as often happens). This time, it's that I don't have any idea what I want to do next. All I've really wanted to do is sit and read everyone else's blogs. I tell myself, "Fifteen minutes, then I'll go sew." The next thing I know it's 11:00 p.m. and too late to start a project. I've been thinking about the skirt, but don't have all the materials to get started. The garment district is an hour walk from here and difficult to do with Mia. So, unless I want to go on the weekend and miss out on time with Tarek and Mia, it just doesn't happen. I've thought about just taking a cab (buses take too long, subway too hard with Mia), but the garment district stores are often a nightmare with a stroller. Yea, it's going to have to be a weekend trip.

Anyway, during one of my morning walks with Mia, I saw this. Just being out enjoying the beautiful day can be inspiring. Central Park, oh how I love you. I really, really do. Excuse me while I go make something.

Three cheers for technology!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Mon, 01 May 2006 23:54:00 +0000

I love my inkjet printer. And my scanner. And my digital camera. And, oh, let's not forget the queen of them all -- the home computer. It's really amazing what we can do now sitting at our desk at home, or at a coffee shop, or the park, or wherever. I grew up around computers. My mom and step dad had a Data General (a what?) computer that was taller than an adult. It used big reels of tape to save data, had a weird green screen, and of course, there was no mouse. Constant use of function keys to do anything. Not to mention the printer. It was huge (almost as big as my NYC kitchen) and loud. And it used paper with the little holes on the edges. And, of course, no color. Wow, a few years later, and I'm printing my own fabric! Amazing.

I bought the paper at Kate's Paperie to frame and hang in my living room (it's framed, but not hanging yet). I still had a big strip left over and held onto it because it's just so beautiful. I saw this post yesterday and knew right away the wait was over. Time to scan the paper and print some fabric. I actually tried this years ago and the fabric got jammed in my printer and made a huge mess. I let go of the idea until now. The fabric fed through the (different) printer well this time, but had some black smudges on the edges. Nothing terrible though. The colors are not as rich as the paper, but considering my printer doesn't use water resistant ink, and I didn't use bubble jet, I think it turned out well. I can't wash it though. I was making a pincushion with it, but couldn't bring myself to put a button in the middle and cover up that pretty butterfly. I thought about letting Mia play with it, but she'd chew on it and get ink in her mouth. So back to a pincushion -- with no button center.

Great day for a walk!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 18:45:00 +0000

We did it! Tarek, Mia and I participated in the March of Dimes Walk America today and raised over $1,500! Yippee! Thank you so much to all who sponsored us! It was a beautiful day here in NYC. We couldn't have asked for a better morning to get out and walk for a fantastic cause. What a great day!

Letting go

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 19:07:00 +0000

I thought about not posting this shirt. I don't think I like it. Then I thought about how this blog is meant to be about all my creative endeavors, not just the good ones. I actually made this shirt first out of a different fabric to test the pattern. It's a good thing I did, because I had to make some adjustments. From the waist line up is one size, the waist line down a size (ahem) larger. I also took the center back seam in about a half inch. I'm happy with the fit now. It's the fabric choice I'm not sure about. It's a Liberty of London print I bought seven years ago. Yes, you read that correctly. I've held onto this fabric for seven years. Why? That's the question I've asked myself a lot recently. I have a huge stash of fabrics that I feel are too special to cut. This was one of them. It was my first Liberty purchase. What's funny is that I waited seven years to use it and now am doubting my decision to use it as a shirt. Maybe it will look better with different pants. I don't know. Anyway, this shirt has helped me move past my fear of messing up with the fabrics I hold so dear. Dare I say it? It is just fabric after all. Time to move on, let go and break out all those others I have stashed away.

By the way, this shirt isn't actually finished yet. It still needs a hem and button. I'll do that tonight. Oh, and it's New Look #6483, view E.

Bibs 'n babes

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 17:33:00 +0000

I made this bib for Mia the other day. Recognize this fabric? As you can see, I have a lot of it. Tarek asked me if I'm ever going to use anything else. Maybe. You can't see in the picture, but the bib has a pocket at the bottom. Quite useful for catching green peas and the like. I covered the fabric in self-adhesive laminate that I found at Home Depot the other day. It's in the section with the shelf and contact paper. I covered both sides to make it wipe-able. The only problem I see with this project is that the laminate only sits on top of the fabric. It's not really bound to it within the fibers. So that means when I stick it in the sink to really wash it, the water will get between the layers. No big deal unless it's not able to dry. I made just one to test it out. On the edges, I used a binding I made with my bias tape maker. A must-have tool, in my opinion, for anyone that sews a lot. Initially, I used my binding attachment on my sewing machine to put it on, but found that just holding it by hand with the regular presser foot was better. Because of the laminate, the fabric was too stiff to feed nicely through the binding foot.

I have a few other projects to share, but haven't quite figured out the best way to photograph them. I'll work it out and get it up on the site soon.

Show your support!

noreply@blogger.com (Rachel) — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 14:00:00 +0000

This Sunday is the March of Dimes' Walk America event. This will be my and Tarek's third year to participate and Mia's second. Last year, she was such a trooper making it six miles in her stroller! I wanted to invite anyone out there to show your support for the March of Dimes by sponsoring me, Tarek or Mia. You can sponsor online really easily. Just click a name to be directed to the site. Any support would be greatly appreciated... we still have far to go to meet our goal. We need your help!