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My Tula 62

Posted by Carolyn on February 26, 2016 2 Comments

I’m basically a self-taught sewist.  My first few quilts were just thrown together squares and strips and triangles.  I have used tutorials and videos and my own intuition.  I took a class to make Harriet’s “Hoo-Hoo Coat” (it has owls and is still her favorite), and really learned a lot.  Having actual instruction was really helpful and beneficial to my sewing.

When I made Alma’s big twin quilt, I bought a pattern, and mostly followed it.  I had to change it a bit to make the colors flow the way I wanted.

I’ve been working on a new quilt, a Tula 100 block sampler.  Actually, I worked on it a lot a while ago, and it’s been sitting around all winter.  I bought Tula Pink’s City Sampler book after seeing some amazing blocks on Instagram.

I love the blocks I’ve made, and I’ve also learned a lot more about the art of quiltmaking.  I’ve learned better ways to make triangles.  I’ve learned more about piecing and fussy cutting.

I’ve learned that triangles look cool, but are a pain in the butt.

I love these squares because they are so little.  The finished size will be 6×6, so all the little pieces are tiny.  I’ve been able to use many of the fabrics I’ve had leftover from other projects, and haven’t had to buy much.  I’ve bought a few fat quarters of plain colored fabrics because I’ve realized that my tastes tend to be a bit busy and having some solids help balance that little bit.

I love going through the blocks I’ve made.  I’ve made 62 so far, so I’ve over halfway there.  Working on my Tula 100 quilt is on my Winter To Do List, and I’m really excited to get back into it.

I’m not sure what the finished product will be, but I’m leaning towards using it on our bed.  It will be bright and cheerful, and I love that sort of thing.

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Posted in: created., decorating, sewing | Tagged: create, creating, quilt, quilting, sewing, tula 100

Another Beatrix Top for Me

Posted by Carolyn on October 13, 2015 1 Comment

I really loved sewing the Beatrix Top, so I decided to make another one.  I figured I should jump on the flannel bandwagon and make my new shirt out of two different flannel plaid materials.

IMG_20151010_145123Rae designed this top with a couple different variations.  I used a different one than the first Beatrix top I made.  This one has contrasting fabric for the button placket, and a different hem that uses the same contrasting fabric.  I added little cuffs on the short sleeves to tie it all together (and because I saw a top like this at Banana Republic).

IMG_20151010_144652I thought about doing the longer sleeves, but I figured that might get too hot.  When I’m teaching, I tend to get pretty hot, so short sleeves are helpful.  I love this shirt for teaching because it has the higher neckline, and it’s nice and long.

IMG_20151010_144912For the buttons, I used bright pink snaps.  I love using snaps on clothing because they are so much easier to get right.  And they are just plain easier to use and install than button holes.

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Posted in: created., sewing | Tagged: beatrix top, create, creating, sewing, sewing for me

My Favorite Autumn Songs

Posted by Carolyn on October 7, 2015 2 Comments

Music is important.  It is the food of love, the breath of life, everything.

When I sit down to write, I do one of two things:  Turn on Pandora and listen to the Nickel Creek/ Sara Bareilles station, or open YouTube and go to Megan’s version of “Manhattan.”  The second option is sort of difficult, because I have to pay attention to go back to the YouTube tab and go back to the beginning before Megan says, “Hi everyone!  Thank you so much for tuning in and watching that…” but I can make it work.

I have already written about this song, but it has certainly turned into my Autumn Theme Song 2015.  It’s just so beautiful.  Here it is again:

Thinking about how this song has become a theme song made me think back to Autumns past.

Last year I was all about Peter Mulvey and Vlad.  This video always gets me.  I first listened to it in my car, last October.  I clearly remember driving around Eugene, looking at the beautiful changing leaves.  I felt the beauty of our Earth very clearly in that moment.   The way that Vlad explains our culture so simply makes my heart ache.  Autumn is such a good time to hear this message of mortality, and connections, and love.

Please watch:

A few years ago, I was taking a class from Kal about being bulletproof and creative.  It was the same time I was teaching art in a middle school.  This song came into my life and the power of the music and lyrics (from a poem by James Baldwin) moved me.

I don’t know, sister,
what I’m saying,
nor do no man,
if he don’t be praying.
I know that love’s the only answer
and the tight-rope lover
the only dancer.

When the lover come off the rope today,
the net which holds him is how we pray,
and not to God’s unknown,
but to each other–:
the falling mortal is our brother!

If I ever have a song stuck in my head, I use this song to get it out.  I just sing it to myself until it’s in my head.  It’s just such a beautiful piece.

Here you go:

The last song I’ll share here is one of my all time favorite Autumn songs.  It just feels like Autumn.  The mandolin, the imagery, Laura’s rich voice.  It doesn’t feel like Autumn has really arrived until I’ve listened to Laura Kemp sing “Hannah Branch.”

“This is the time the apples lie rotten on the ground, this is the time the supper sees the sun start goin’ down.”

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Posted in: gave thanks., story telling | Tagged: art, autumn, create, music, Oregon

Ballet

Posted by Carolyn on May 21, 2015 Leave a Comment

And Then They Ballet Back Looking OnThere are some things we do in our lives that seem to define us.  For me, ballet is one of those things.  I danced from when I was three until high school, and a little in college.  So much of who I am stems from my dancing.  The way I walk, the way I move, the way I hear music, the way I stretch.

I was never particularly great, but I didn’t know that.  To me, my dream of being a real ballerina was a possibility.  A real possibility.  I loved all of ballet, but I especially loved the leaps.  I would do leap turns around and around the studio, trying to get higher, faster.

When we finally learned to do fouette turns, and I felt like I was finally a real ballerina.  I could hop onto pointe, use my other leg to send me in turn after turn after turn.

My dance recitals are some of my favorite memories of childhood.  I loved the preparation as our teacher would choreograph and teach us the moves.  We would pour over the costume catalogs and memorize our music.  Then we would practice.  Those days were the best.  We would do our barre work, then rush to practice.

Dress rehearsals and photographs meant the recital was almost there.

Then the day came.

We would go in the stage door of the Hult Center (like real ballerinas).  We would go to the dressing rooms (like real ballerinas).  We would go up to the wings and wait for our music to start (like real ballerinas).

Then, for a few minutes, with the stage lights shining, we were real ballerinas.  The audience was watching us, counting our fouettes, cheering us on.

Those things, those experiences, made me who I am today.

Those things are helping make my children who they are today.

Last weekend was Alma’s first ballet recital.  Those moments that I experienced over and over in my childhood were upon us in Alma’s young childhood. And Then They Ballet PortraitAnd Then They Ballet GroupI was backstage with Alma and her group.  I got to watch her experience those same things.  She watched as the big girls got their hair done.  She had a woman put her crown in her hair.  She posed for the photographer.  She was silly with her friends.  She went into the wings.  She watched the dancers.  She saw magic happen before her eyes. And Then They Ballet BackstageShe heard her music and went on stage.  She heard the audience react to what she was doing.  She was a ballerina.And Then They Ballet Tulle LightAnd the whole experience is making her into a person, a girl, a woman, a ballerina.  And it’s changing who I am, too.

The things we are doing are defining who Alma will become.  It’s magical.

(Alma is second from right, at least in the beginning… I told her to jump up and down if she forgot the steps…)

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Posted in: a little moment, created., gave thanks., learned., STRONG | Tagged: alma, ballet, create, dance, friday gratitudes, kids, Parenting, play

Belle Dress – Now on Etsy!

Posted by Carolyn on May 7, 2015 Leave a Comment

bIMG_7505 Another one of my 35 before 35 items was to list a new product each month on Etsy.  I get to check this month off early!  I made Alma a Belle dress and want to sell them to lots of other little girls.  This post will be photo heavy, but I couldn’t help myself.  Alma just loves to play in these new dresses I’ve been making for her.

If you’d like to check out the listing in my shop, please follow this link.  To see my whole shop, please follow this link.

bIMG_7506Of course I had her pose with a book, because Belle.  Of course the threw it, because Alma.  What a goof. bIMG_7522 bIMG_7530 bIMG_7533 bIMG_7534 bIMG_7539 bIMG_7542 bIMG_7548 bIMG_7551 bIMG_7556 Seriously.  A goof.bIMG_7559I can’t wait to see what this summer sunshine is going to do to these sweet freckles, and how it will lighten her pretty hair. bIMG_7560

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Posted in: CaroMade, created., sewing, sewing for my daughters | Tagged: alma, belle, CaroMade, caromadeco, create, princess dress, sewing

Sometimes You Just Say Yes

Posted by Carolyn on February 16, 2015 Leave a Comment

IMG_6225Alma kept talking about painting all day yesterday.  When the time was right, I went out to the sunroom, set up her watercolors and paper, and she said, “No! I want to paint the fence!”  I have no idea where she got this idea, but I thought it was a good one.  Why not?  Sometimes you just say ‘yes!’

IMG_6184 IMG_6185 IMG_6188 IMG_6190We started with finger paints and they weren’t working very well, so we switched to tempera.  At one point Jesse came out and asked if it would wash off.  I just shrugged.  Who cares?  It’s art.  It’s memories.  It’s beautiful.  It’s yes.  And truth be told: we’ll probably have to replace this fence this spring anyway.

IMG_6196 IMG_6201 IMG_6203 IMG_6205 IMG_6208 IMG_6210

All the pink spots are lions.  She told me that.  Then she said, “Oh!  One’s falling down!”  Do you see it?IMG_6222 IMG_6224

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Posted in: a little moment, art, created., decorating, garden, gave thanks., learned., painting, parented. | Tagged: alma, art, create, creating, creative, daughter, garden, gratitude, kids, Life, love, motherhood, outside, paint, Parenting

Alma’s 3rd Birthday Party

Posted by Carolyn on January 13, 2015 Leave a Comment

bIMG_5730This year, we decided to have a joint birthday party for Alma and three of her friends.  This was an amazing idea because, not only did it cut down on all we had to do, but I also got to have some fun planning sessions over drinks with some of my favorite ladies.

We decided to have a simple play-date type party with a loose ballet theme.  So, last weekend we had a big ballet birthday bash with Alma and all her friends from our playgroup.

B A A M's Birthday
The best invitation ever, right?

We had eight 3-year-olds, but a smattering of little siblings.  We made 11 tutus for the walking-aged kids.  That 325 yards of tulle.  More than three football fields.  No joke.

bIMG_5719bIMG_5723 It was a wild, hilarious, fun, lovely party!  It’s so fun raising our kids with these other families. bIMG_5743This next series of photos really gets me.  I knew all three of these moms before we were moms.  I met Leia and Natalie in our birth class, and Shannon in our breastfeeding class.  I am blown away by the fact that we now have three-year-olds.  I feel like it was just yesterday that we were spending out Tuesdays at Baby Clinic, talking about how hard and amazing our tiny newborns were.  Seeing these sweet kids, so excited for their cupcakes, knowing that they once were those babies, seems impossible.  Beautiful, but impossible.  I can’t imagine what they will look like at their joint 18th birthday party…

bIMG_5770 bIMG_5774 bIMG_5777bIMG_5782We are so lucky.

The kids felt pretty lucky to have some amazing cupcakes.  These kids (and photos) crack me up.

bIMG_5766bIMG_5790 bIMG_5791 bIMG_5805 bIMG_5806 bIMG_5808 bIMG_5822

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Posted in: created., parented., pinterest projects, sewing, sewing for my daughters | Tagged: birthday, create, Parenting, playgroup, tutus

Christmas Dresses

Posted by Carolyn on January 12, 2015 1 Comment

For the girls’ Christmas dresses, I used Oliver + S’s Fairy Tale pattern (the same one I used for Harriet’s baptism dress) and solid fabrics from Piece By Piece.  bIMG_5705Alma got to wear her dress to the Nutcracker, and Harriet got to wear her dress to my dad’s Rotary meeting, but unfortunately, Alma was really sick on Christmas, so we skipped church, and didn’t have the kids wear their fancy Christmas dresses to Christmas Eve dinner at my dad’s.bIMG_5710

Luckily, we’re really lazy and still have our Christmas decorations up, so before we went to Alma’s birthday party, we had a quick photo-shoot with Jesse’s old sled, decorated with some Christmas boughs.

It was Jesse’s idea to make Alma’s dress look like a Christmas tree.  I thought it could be awesome or ridiculous, but I decided to go for it anyway!bIMG_5703I raised the waistline and lengthened the skirt, and added a few extra layers.  I think the tiers of green look really sweet, and I love the petal sleeves in this pattern.  bIMG_5698

bIMG_5702For Harriet, the initial idea was to make it like a poinsettia, but in the end, I decided making petals would be too much, so I just lengthened it, and added the dark red lining, longer than the dress.bIMG_5706I love how the Christmas dresses look Christmas-y, but are plain enough that they can wear them all year long.  I also love how Harriet was totally mugging for the camera.  She seriously cracks us up, all day long.

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Posted in: created., sewing, sewing, sewing for my daughters | Tagged: Christmas, create, creating, dresses, fairy tale, oliver + s, Parenting, photography, sewing, sewing for my daughters

‘O Holy Night’ Wood Burning

Posted by Carolyn on December 18, 2014 4 Comments

I always love pulling out all our Christmas decorations.  It’s great to see our old creche that’s been in the family for at least four generations.  I love the stockings I made for the girls.  This year, I’m happy to have some new decorations to add to the mix.  I was inspired by Sarah (a common occurrence, being inspired by Sarah) to get out my wood burning tool and make something.  We had a spare piece of plywood sitting around from Alma’s new bed.  I looked around for some Christmas inspiration and decided to do a O Holy Night wood burning.

aIMG_5552aIMG_5551I also decided to actually display the Christmas cards we received this year, and I figured they would add a little color to the yellow wall with the O Holy Night wood burning.  I just strung up some red ribbon, got some wee clothes pins, and let my friends and family provide the color.

aIMG_5547Last year, my friend Jacque made me this awesome chalkboard.  It’s been fun changing it up through the year.  For Christmas I drew a tree and added some completely random Christmas words.  Pretty sloppy, but still gets the message across.

aIMG_5558My mother in law is a fantastic water color artist and gave us this painting of Mary and Jesus with a poem.  It’s a lovely Christmas decoration.

aIMG_5560

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Posted in: created., decorating, holidays, painting | Tagged: Christmas, create, decorating, decoration, holidays, o holy night

A New Coat for Hattie

Posted by Carolyn on November 26, 2014 3 Comments

I took my first sewing class a few weeks ago at Piece By Piece.  In the class we made baby coats, so I made a new coat for Hattie.  I used a cute owl fabric for the main coat, a sweet mushroom fabric for the pockets, and a soft flannel polka dot fabric for the lining.  We followed Olive Ann Designs’ Hoodie Baby pattern, but we didn’t really follow the directions.  Our instructor, Celeste just told us, and showed us what to do.  She was fantastic!  I learned so much about sewing clothes from her.  Now for some photo overload:

ga b c d e f h i j k l

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Posted in: created., photography, sewing, sewing for my daughters | Tagged: baby, children, create, creating, kids, Oregon, Parenting, photography, sewing, sewing for kids
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If God said, ‘Rumi pay homage to everything that has helped you enter my arms,’ there would not be one experience of my life, not one thought, not one feeling, nor any act, I would not bow to. -Rumi

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