Welcome to Michigan

We made it!  

Paul trucked it through the night through rain across I-80 from Cheyenne to Iowa City where the rest of us woke up at 7:00 am in a Walmart parking lot.  After stretching our legs up and down the toy section we celebrated Clara's birthday back in the van where she opened her new strawberry shortcake doll and Dora coloring book then sang to her over bananas and individual wallaby yogurts.

I had a small crash onto my behind while trying to exit the van backwards with my arms full of sandwiches.  Lunch was saved but after 5 days I'm still suffering from a very sore tailbone - it made the remaining hours in the car almost unbearable.  My only relief was being propped up sideways on pillows. 

The only other notable episode from our journey was the CD player once again jamming just miles into our trip. This was especially disappointing because we just purchased the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Cd's to help pass the miles.  The sharp knife I had along for slicing cheese became the rescuing tool and after several stabs into the malfunctioning unit the Cd's eventually ejected.  I even mastered this move while driving and it never failed to get a chuckle out of Paul.

Now we are comfortably staying with Paul's parents while we wait for the arrival of all our stuff. The above photo was taken at Cranbrook gardens not too far from their home. We arrived just in time for all the beautiful fall colors. As we explored the gardens one of the children asked "is this a hike"? where's the trail?" they were answered with "there aren't many hikes in Michigan, here you just wander".

It is also colder than I ever remember. 45 degrees and raining here feels colder than it ever did in Salt Lake City, even in in the winter. But still it feels like home and we have already drank through gallons of apple cider. We are excited to get settled but not so excited about facing and dealing with a truck load of stuff. William graciously pleaded in his prayer last night "please bless that we can have an easy time getting back to normal".  My feelings exactly.    

Orange wool coat

This one is Burda 9596, it needed a bit of work.  The proportions were a bit off with the waistline placement so I cut off 2" from the bodice and added the band.  The fabric was picked up when fashion affair was clearing out their inventory.

I suppose I could say a lot more and rant about pattern companies and sourcing good interfacing but I'm so tired and just glad I got it finished.  She also wanted a bonnet and I actually cut one out but it is now somewhere in a bag, in a box, under junk, on a truck and on it's way.   

There's no time to post other projects but check out what I've posted on The Joy of Japanese Sewing Blog.

 

Purple coat and bonnet

Here are a few more - she looks very purple.

refashioned purple wool coat

The ladies wool coat was picked up at a Value Village in Spokane, WA - it was only $4.50. The pattern was purchased on Etsy.com for $5. I was willing to give Simplicity another shot since this one was vintage. Unfortunately even going down a size this pattern was frustratingly over sized! Clara looked like a football player at our first fitting. I also poked her with a pin and had to bribe her with chocolate chips with each subsequent fitting.

It took me days but I got through it. It looks especially cute with the matching bonnet and fabric flowers. Clara is still afraid of getting poked by a pin though so I'm still bribing her to wear it. Once it is really cold though the promise of keeping warm should be enough.

refashioned blanket to maternity coat

I've been bidding on wool maternity coats on ebay but I guess I'm just not bidding high enough - too much garage saling has made me kind of cheap on re-sale items.

My mom pulled out an old blanket wrap she got in Austria and suggested I use it as a coat. The edges were already finished and frayed so the transformation was simple.  The sleeves are not set in but sewn kimono style and the closure is just a tie.  I also added some inseam pockets, back elastic and fabric flower to prevent it from looking too much like a witch costume or even a bathrobe.

 I will have very fond memories of my mom helping me pin it and shape it late at night.  We were laughing so hard it was hard not to get pricked from the pins.   

refashioned sweater to toddler coat

Here's what I did with another wool sweater from Karen's Dad.  The ribbing was added as a collar and pockets and the hood is detachable.  I hope it keeps this little guy warm!  (pattern info here)  

refashioned purple sweater

Here is another project finished just in time, it was quick and no pattern was required.  The sweater was purchased for $1 at a garage sale.  It was first shrunk in the washing machine on a hot cycle then leaving the neckline in tack I cut a high yoke and attached a slightly gathered front and back.  The sleeves were cut narrower and shorter and the bottom ribbing was cut off allowing extra scraps for the added pockets.  The bottom was serged then turned up and hemmed with a regular straight stitch, the felting process kept it from stretching out.

This is "super warm and cozy" says Clara.  She also likes it because it is purple and she can hide things in the pockets. 

Mad sewing and Moving

Our moving truck is just about packed and we'll be rolling out across the plains in just a matter of days.

I should have packed up my sewing supplies weeks ago but instead broke all my own rules finishing up projects and starting projects all because it calms me and especially because I know it will be weeks before my life is settled enough to resume sewing.

Here are two (there are several more to follow) that were photographed yesterday:

Wrap maternity dress.  This fabric has been sitting in my stash for 15 years!  The small floral print is so out dated that I think it's almost back in.  Well, that is what I'm seeing all over French and Japanese blogs lately, small floral prints in muted colors.  Either way I was ready to use it up and in need of a new dress.  I didn't really use a pattern for this one (probably because it is impossible to find a pattern that fits) but just went at it with some scissors, pins and very awkwardly draped it around my jelly bean body.  You may notice the front hem is hanging long but that is because I still have 3 months to go and I get really big with my 9lb babies.  You may also notice I look very tired but that is because this picture was taken after church and it is hard to hold a toddler still for 3 hours especially when you are losing your lap.

Refashioned baby sweater.  One of Paul's co-workers passed a size L merino sweater on to me to refashion.  I used it in combination with one of Paul's old Brooks Brothers button down and am very happy with the result (pattern info here).  I should have made it bigger but Henry will still get several wears out of it this Fall/Winter.    

Oma's old turtle necks

"Oma" is my mom, it is German for grandma.  She really likes turtle necks and I can even remember her wearing them at the beach, she said it was to protect her skin.

With all the sewing and refashioning I've been doing she was motivated to clean out a couple of drawers and donated a pile of turtle necks in a  variety of colors.  Here's what I made for Henry and his cousin (pattern info here).  There were so many turtle necks that I went ahead and made them double layer T's - they will be almost as warm as a sweatshirt.   

My first "Give Away"

Attention local friends and family:

I feel guilty leaving without sharing some of my starts - who wants some?  

The joy of garage saling and frivolous purchases

Our move date will hit us in less than two weeks yet I still went garage saling yesterday.  

The hope was to find a few warm clothes for the boys since it's cold and we are still living out of the suitcases packed for summer.  Instead I returned home with some maternity clothes for myself, a Coach purse, baby boy clothes (yes - it's a boy! with all the uncertainty of point B I could not wait to find out), Little House on the Prairie books, Bionicles, a brand new diaper bag, boy scout shirt for William, and a purple wool sweater to refashion for Clara - all under $25.

This morning I dressed quickly for church then spun into Paul with a smile announcing the total for my whole outfit, $5.  $3 skirt, $2 sweater, $1 blouse and the necklace, gold and onyx with a cloisonne pendant was found in the pocket of an old suitcase I picked up at an estate sale (I would have returned it but it was months after the purchase that this treasure was discovered).  My boasting continued with all the kids clothes, books and toys picked up at garage sales over the past couple of years.

Paul smiled kindly then asked, "what about your shoes? how much did you spend on them"?  Unable to lie I fumbled, "oh, um, yeah.... I think they were around $90" then desperately added "but that was when I was over due with Henry and feeling really sorry for myself".  Paul chuckled as he quoted Jim Bob Duggar "buy used and save the difference", then with amusement added "I don't think that is the same as 'buy used and spend the difference on something frivolous' ".

It's true, I admit shoes and fabric are amongst my weaknesses as a home economist.  Perhaps our transition to farm living will finally cure me of it, unless of course I just transfer the weakness to something like heirloom chickens, pretty work wear for women, or fancy canning equipment. 

Family biking and the Madsen Cycle

Now we can all ride together!  

Well everyone except me, my stomach is already too big but I can't wait to take the new Madsen Cycle on family bike rides and even to the grocery store.   The cargo bucket has seats and belt buckles for 4 passengers or enough space for a weeks worth of food.

For now we've decided to rent a home in Ann Arbor but we are hoping to be settled on a nearby farm by Spring/Summer.  When we do finally settle this bike will serve as our farm utility vehicle (it actually does great off road) but until then it will get much use on all the bike paths in and around Ann Arbor.  Paul is even selling his car - we'll see how long we can last as a one car family.

Here the kids are enjoying the flat path around Liberty Park. Peter just barely took off his training wheels and stated: "Mom, I think my heart is smarter than my brain because when l listen to my brain I get scared and fall but when I listen to my heart I just keep pedaling".  I told him I'd remember that the next time I try something new.  

Refashioned sweater to baby vest

My good friend Karen sent me a box of wool sweaters her dad was getting rid of - here is my first experiment.

The first step to refashioning wool is to shrink it or felt it.  It took two hot wash cycles to get this one to tighten up (if it is not tight enough then the knit will run and it is harder to re-shape).

This vest was very quick and simple because I left the neckline in tack.  To finish the armholes and bottom I cut off the original bottom ribbing, folded it in half and then serged it on.

I suppose I could have made it a bit roomier but this will still look nice over a button down with some toddler khakis - a great winter church outfit.     

Two more living things to care for

Last week I picked up both a kefir and sourdough start, it feels like I've adopted two pets because they came with 10 pages of instructions.  This is my second try at both and I'm determined to keep them thriving.

After a good week of regular feeding, stirring and fermenting we enjoyed a kefir smoothie and batch of sourdough pancakes, there are still some kinks to work out but again I'm determined.  I've named one "bubbles" and the other "critters" and like to cheer them in their growing and fermenting.

There are great health benefits to fermenting - check out this kefir site where I spent hours skimming.  I'm still looking for some good sourdough sources though - specifically gluten free sourdough.  Several individuals in our family have developed food intolerances and the hope is that these two "starts" will aid in digestion and give us more food options.  They may be stinky and not look very pretty on the counter but they are good for you and we like the way they taste.       

thrifted and refashioned

We are still living out of the suitcases that were packed for summer.  The big switch did not happen this fall because most of it is packed far away in our storage unit.  Instead, I've been sewing and filling the need for warmer clothes at yard sales and thrift stores.

I hit a great Value Village in Spokane, WA where I picked up this pink skirt for $3 and coordinating T for $2.  The T was actually just a basic long sleeve T (size 12) so there was definite need for re-sizing and refashioning.

Refashioning is both fun and quick. First you need a pattern for a T-shirt that fits well, that can be copied off ready to wear or a purchased pattern. In this case I used the same pattern used for their fall turtle necks. The rest is just a matter of making something new out of something old. It isn't always easy to get a little girl to wear brown so it helped to add a bit of a ruffle and shiny buttons. This is basically just a fake placket top stitched on top of a ruffle.  The sleeves were cropped at the elbow with an addition of a split cuff.

Unfortunately she got into some markers just 10 minutes into the first wear, but that's what happens with kids clothes. A toothbrush and a few minutes of scrubbing with zout should fix that - and if it doesn't, at least it was only $2 and offered a bit of creative entertainment.  

deconstructed maternity skirt

This skirt used to be  jeans.  I picked them up at a yard sale for $2 from a Japanese woman who said they were too big for her because she wore them during her pregnancy (these were never maternity jeans, just a standard US size).  At 14 weeks I couldn't pull them up beyond my hips.  I liked the jeans but to be honest skirts are just more comfortable during any stage of pregnancy, so the deconstruction began with an addition of a panel.  

Clara (almost 3) was at my side as I stretched the cotton Lycra panel across my round belly.  She said, "oh mommy you're getting so fat", then continued "are you going to blow up like a balloon just like Aunt Marge (from Harry Potter II)"? I answered, "no I'm just growing a baby" and she replied "oh, that is going to be a fat baby".  So then I added a bit more ease into the panel because there's still 4 months to go and I'm sure to keep growing.