Me: What's in the bucket, Edie?
Edie Strawberry Shortcake: 'member we talked about this Mum? My name's Strawberry Shortcake Barbie Cinderella but my nickname's Strawberry Shortcake. These are strawberries and mint from the garden.
We made some ice tea with the mint, and jam with the strawberries. There's oodles and oodles more. And some flowers, too:
We just got back from visiting my mom last week and came back to summer like temperatures which have us swimming everyday since. Ever since (here we go) Craig knocked me up again, I haven't been able to ride my bike by the river lest I insanely fling myself into it. Being in water's been like a food craving. It's like when I was in labour with Edie - I kept asking my midwife "is it time to go in the kiddie pool yet?" "no" (two minutes later) "should we tell Craig to fill up the tub now?" "no" (knit, knit, knit).
So what does a girl do in one of the swelteringest days of the year? She sets up a table at the local farmer's market (the one that our super duper underground top secret famers coalition started) and tries to sell yarn. Yeah. Craig thought that was a greaaaaat idea. Let's just say it was a slow day.
It's been a week of firsts for Edie. Above pic is clue number one.
First horsey ride at her buddy's fourth birthday party;
witnessed her first rainbow (gawd, seeing her little eyes light up when she saw this was one of those moments I've only experienced a handful of times and only as a mom where it feels like my heart grew an inch in a single spurt);
and, her first haircut. Again, this was one of those few (okay, many) moments I've experienced during my gig as mom when I had to step out of the room momentarily because my crying would confuse the child. This was actually her second haircut. I cut off 2 mm when she was a year old to promote hair growth but I don't think it counts as a haircut if your able to snort up all the hair trimmings. I cut a few inches off all over and then she really wanted me to cut her bangs so when she goes to her playschool the kids will say, I actually couldn't believe she said this for some reason (in her mock deep kid's voice) "Edie, did you do something to your hair?". So I did, asking her about twenty times, "now, are you sure?" and, oh my god, she aged, like, a year. So I had to step outside (luckily the bathroom door leads directly outside) and wipe the tears away. It was so weird. Craig thinks she looks like a Little Miss Beauty Contestant now. I want my little Ragamuffin back! Just kidding. I'll just cut back on the baths from 10 to 15 days now.
There's little Miss and Mr Sunshine. These two lounging around on Father's Day. Edie's sporting by the way the Tea Party Dress I spoke of over here. So cute, she picked out the fabric because Strawberry Shortcake is her alias. The pattern comes with bloomers I made but she's not into wearing. Not sure why. I would totally wear them myself. Hmmm....
It's been a fine, fine week. I had a cold last week, nothing too gnarly but enough to be ugh-ing it and wondering when exactly does the first trimester end so I can feel like my normal self again!!!? I knew once the cold fades away i should be out of this hormonal hangover and sure enough these days I feel pretty darn tootin' good comparatively. Yay - because I have a whole whack of spring projects lined up and I'm raring to go. To celebrate, my friend Kimberly came over and gave the whole family a massage. Edie went first...
And then she promptly fell asleep about five minutes after this second picture was taken. Craig carried her to the couch where she woke up and was upset because she didn't get her 'face cheeks' massaged yet. Luckily she got her other cheeks massaged as she was so looking forward to. Kimberly had a pregnancy pillow so I could lay face down for 45 minutes without having the bun squished. I'm only thirteen weeks along (today, actually) but I'm totally showing and feeling something squishable already.
Still, the only crafting that's talking to me these days is sewing. And I have my (and Edie's) Spring 2008 collection to get started on. I have a few projects I'd like to crank out sooner than later and have some ideas that are a little more realistic (after spending a day in garden) and practical for what my my day to day routine and girth are bound to dictate.
The Barcelona Skirt has been in my collection plan pre-Drippy Head so I had to adjust the skirt pattern to make it a medium at the waist and small at the hips. As a Mother's Day gift Craig took us out for brunch then made himself and Edie scarce to help me get some sewing out of my system. I was able to get the A-line skirt done today. I'm washing some paisley cotton I found at this year's Yard and Yardage sale to use as the apron over-lay's trim. Skirt fits great. For now anyway.
And for Edie, I was inspired by the ever inspirational Soulemama, she made her sweet little girl this bubble dress. There is an Oliver + S a tea party dress that will be whipped up from some Strawberry Shortcake (Edie's alias) cotton we found at fabric land. She's big into tea parties these days too. Maybe her next birthday will be a tea party at a massage parlour.
I have all the Built By Wendy patterns now too. Thanks to a $1.99 Simplicity pattern sale at Fabricland. This project has been inspired by America's Next Crafty Model, Leya. She made this cute version of it last month and just, ugh! So cute! Spring makes me want to sproing around in dresses all season long.
There's so much more. But I don't want to bite off more than I can chew, especially with my cravings being so shifty right now. Maybe next week I'll be into macrame.
Man, it's been a while since the last post! Has it really been nine months? Woah, baby brain. Anyhow, meet the newest member of the Quackhouse Qlan, Strawberry Margerita (named after my Mom's middle name, Margerita, not Strawberry).
Psche! It's our friends' little girl that visited us for Easter dinner from the Big City. And Craig's not backing that stripper name.
We had a lovely Easter egg hunt in the snow. The Funny Bunny left Edie some easter egg shaped candles, a little felted bunny and some beads that she whipped up a necklace and bracelet from. I'd post pictures but that would take waaaaay more energy than I have allotted to me these days. This is huge that I'm actually vertical right now.
Warning: if you're lactose intolerant the following post contains large traces of cheese:
We had a Sunday that very much reminded of me of first being sickly in love at the beginning with Craig (which I still am of course). It probably had something to do with Little Prozac (my cruiser - we rode our bikes to town for breakfast) but everyone who stopped by our table was saying how cute Edie is and my knee jerk reaction was "thank you!" and Craig kept telling me to stop saying that. And I was thinking how she is the result of the picture in my head I always had of my future husband growing up. He had beautiful curly blonde hair ala Christopher Atkins in Blue Lagoon, beautiful, soulful googley eyes ala Gene Wilder, shy guy crooked smile ala Nicolas Cage in Valley Girl and that yummy naked Statue of David bod that always made me want to go to the Louvre to eye"ball" it myself since I was a little girl.
I know that sounds all superficial and jr high diary entry but there's obviously more to it than that. It was like some divine intervention that gave me clues from long time ago that this speciman was going to be my future partner in all levels, all lifetimes and will help in beckoning sweet little Crystal Kids to save the world. I recognized him right away. I'm partially psychic especially when I'm wasted. I saw him at a party and went right up to him basically and said "ugh. You mine." and came over to his apartment on Monday with all my belongings. So yeah. I kept my legs crossed for my designated soulmate and here's the beautiful little by product; why thank you! You have to excuse me, I'm super sappy these days. My hormones are pumping out some major love juices for some reason.
Speaking of love, I got to wear my Gretel on the bike ride too. My official Spring 2008 chapeau. This is a Ysolda Teague design (she has some cute stuff!!). Took me much longer than anticipated but I guess I've been spreading myself thin with creative pursuits. But still, I'm such a slow knitter! Recognize the yarn? It's leftovers from Edie's Second Birthday Sweater; gawd I love that sweater. Now I have my own mini version to wear on my head.
It's been slow at the good ol' Etsy store so I've been using this time on research and development. One item I'm trying out are some felted kerchiefs and started off with a Mommy and Me batch to try out. Hmmm...
Edie says she like how it keeps her hair out of her eyes. Love her feedback on my handmade items. Wait until you here what she thinks of the hemp hoody I made this weekend. I'll need photos to go along with that story. Let's just say it still stings a little but I grew up with a brutally honest mom so I find strange comfort in it.
Look at my little ham! Little bit of a vast improvement from these days, hey? You have to scroll because the pictures are at the bottom of the post but it's pretty darn worth it it's so funny (imho).
So I'm on this petticoat kick. The first one I put for sale on my etsy shop sold and needs to be replaced (was really popular looking at the views and heart counts). But first I had to make Edie one because the one I sold I originally made for her when she was an even munchier munchkin but turned out too small. So I made her this one but, alas, again, too petite of a petticoat.
Doesn't she love the camera? I wonder if it's because I use to coo to her as an infant as we watched America's Next Top Model that Tyra Banks was her Auntie Ty Ty? Not very Waldorf-y, I know. So because this was a little too snug, I went gangsta-busta and made her this giant not-so-petticoat:
Awfully cute, but she finds it too big. What a shame. Now she wants to keep the purple one which is probably only going to fit her for two more days. So today's the day she goes to her once a week daycare (she loves it !) and Mama gets to work non-stop until three o'clock. What a luxury, though I get almost paralyzed by the options though. So I'll be working on the finishing touches on one of those, not sure yet, and throwing it up on my shop later. Maybe. Or perhaps Craig and I will go for a cross country ski. (OH. MY. GAWD. Have you seen Away From Her yet? Canadiana in contention for Oscar! I loved it. Craig refused to watch it. About an older couple dealing with the onset of Alzheimer's. So romantic though.)
One more shot of the cute because I took a million and just can't decide which one to share. Off to work now!
Shots are blurry because it's been that kind of a week. Big disclosure moment: Craig's been away all week again. So what's a new Etsy Mama to do when Dada's away and she needs a picture taken of her smelling her new clutch with two hands and is too lazy to read the camera's owner manual to figure out the doodad to take a picture of yourself with no hands? Get your three year old daughter to take the shot:
Not bad! Who's mommy little photographer? So, with Craig out of the house, and a plethora of wholesome children's dvd's at the corner store, I've been able to craft down and crank out some inventory for the shop. More to be cranked this weekend now that's the manny's home.
Speaking of my soulmate, thank God he's home safe and sound. I begged him to fly instead of drive out like he normally does. Strangely, when he called me from the airport on the way home he's was talking incessantly like he normally does (that's a super tongue in cheek inside joke for everyone who knows him in real life) and then he says "I think (insert cute girl name here) is sleeping right beside me". I said "rub her feet awake". He didn't but the reason she was there is because she crashed her car on the way home. The roads are terrible right now. I'm so glad he flew. <Cute Girl Name>'s okay by the way.
So Craig was gone then the cat went away. I lost the cat. He lasted ten hours in my care without incident. It was very scary. Long story but the cat came back. But the neighbours think I'm the crazy cat lady now though hearing me yell his name, sobbing for hours then having me call them on the phone a few times. Yikes. I lost my cool. Poor kitten. He was stuck on top of pole during the snow blizzard. Luckily Edie's babysitter found him 9:30 at night while she was walking home. She's getting a raise.
So, it's now Saturday morning and I can post my pretend it's Friday post and feature some of the finds from my Etsy Favourites list:
Camel toe anyone?
I'm not much of a jewellry person but I can easily see myself smothering myself allover with wool.
A sign of better road conditions to come.
I took this picture shortly after Christmas to show Grandma Nancy how beautifully the quilt she made for Edie goes in her bedroom. Edie loves it so much. She's fully on this fairy princess kick and that's exactly what she so thoughtfully crafted onto this special blanket. I tried to get a close up of the dancing fairies on the quilt but it's so out of focus is was making me nauseous to look at (no, I'm not pregnant).Edie doesn't like the covers on her while she sleeps but she does allow the Princess Fairy Quilt to cuddle on top of her.
Edie loves her little set up in here. Unfortunately so does Barney who likes to climb up the netting and those beautiful curtains that my mom made that works as the door to the room. We might need a real door soon here. The little critter (Barney) has a really precise internal clock that likes to try and wake Edie up at 6:30 on the dot to play.
What a big bed for a little girl, eh? Well, now that we weaned her out of the family bed, finally, it's time to wean mama out of the princess fairy bed. Even though mama's a princess fairy, too. The Princess princess fairy told me so. It was going well, the me sneaking out once she fell asleep, then lately (since she started the once a week daycare gig - which she loves but maybe that was enough of a shift in her attachment psyche) not so goo. But, this too shall pass. Until then, thank you Grandma Nancy. We love the quilt.
