What I Would Buy if I Had an Extra $3,300.00 Lying Around

Seriously. It's cool. It can hold carseats and groceries and kids, and it's way better than one of those flimsy wagon things you pull behind you.

And, for the record, what Matt would buy if he had twice that amount lying around:

Ethan Climbs

He's getting a little more adventurous on the toddler playground. Like all first-time parents, we are smitten.

Ethan Climbs

Cathedral Window Quilt Pattern

I have been so inspired by finding free patterns on other peoples' blogs that I decided to offer one of my own. I wrote these instructions for a class I taught on Cathedral Window Quilting (after learning how to do it from my industrious friend Brite, who has actually finished a cathedral window quilt, unlike moi). This is a variation of a traditional Cathedral Window pattern, easier because you quilt the squares individually then piece them together.

I've been hampered by technology, though, and I can't figure out how to merge the two .pdf pages into one. I also can't figure out how to add a nice "download" button to my sidebar, so it looks as if I'll have to post the images themselves, and you can feel free to download them by right-clicking and selecting "Save image as."

Photo of finished quilt squares courtesy of The Gathering Room.

New Mooches

I'm still enjoying bookmooching, although it seems I have to look hard for books I want. Here are some I've recently received (and am thoroughly enjoying in the 4.5 minutes I have of free time every day):



Exchange your books at BookMooch.com

Reversible Bird Seed Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

In case you hadn't noticed, I am a sucker for giveaways. I like them. They're quick. They're easy. They're free. In fact, I even win things. Recently, a set of baby caps and an autographed CD. It's like slot machines. You win a little, randomly, and that increases your desire to lose even more money. Amazing, and scientifically proven. But there's nothing to lose here. So, go ahead and take a look at Grosgrain fabulous' sweet handmade and originally designed clothing:

Reversible Bird Seed Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

You might even want to enter. :)

Babywearing: The New... Oh, Wait. It's Old.

I think the recent trend toward "babywearing" and "attachment parenting" has mostly blown over my head, or flitted by me, or something, undoubtedly while I was changing diapers, nursing, or working on my Master's. However, I had a sling that I used all the time when Ethan was little. I still use it from time to time. I like slings. I liked being able to stick Ethan in one, and nurse, and make dinner at the same time. Slowly, of course, but surely. All this multitasking (in my case) and attachment parenting (in other cases) is seen as some new thing. I've seen authors of websites attack the idea of wearing your baby as if it's some new American fad. As if it's better to let little Johnny go off and be independent by himself just because he's growing up in American suburbia and his mommy doesn't work in a cane field. They seem to forget that women in other cultures have been wearing their babies for years... for millennia, really, that it works well, and that is a normal and natural thing for a mother to do who wants to take care of her baby and take care of other business as well. Does it really matter whether that business is in a Central American jungle or an air-conditioned North American house?

In that spirit, I'm posting a link to this contest: Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap). If I win, several of my lovely pregnant friends should rejoice at the gifting potential, and I will, too, because I have wanted to try some of these slings myself, before passing them on (possibly).

Ethan Gardens (Read: Plays in the Rocks)

I made this playsuit yesterday (yes, in one day!) from a great oliver+s pattern. I had seen their patterns a while back (maybe Matt's mom sent me a link? Maybe we both saw it in Mary Engelbreit?), so when they offered a free shipping deal, I pounced. Kind of. I thought about it for a day or so, because I haven't spent more than $7 on a pattern in a long time, if ever. It was worth it. Besides, they come with sweet card stock paper dolls, so it's really not that much for the pattern, if you consider how much you'd spend for a paper doll.

Now we know what he does while Mommy's at work...

Pillowcase Dresses

I haven't made any yet, but my mother-in-law has these lovely pillowcases dresses for sale in her shop The Silvery Moon:

Bookmooching

I've started bookmooching, giving books away in return for points, that I then use to request books. Here's a sampling of my current inventory:


I've recently read and relisted:
Everything Conceivable by Liza Mundy
and have on my shelf to read:
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
When Character Was King by Peggy Noonan