A Collection In the Making

Right after David and I were married I started a collection of old Pyrex dishes.  

We went on a day trip to Jerome, Arizona.  On the way there we stopped in Cottonwood to poke around some of the antique shops. That's when my collection began.  I found some very unique pieces.  One, I am sad to say, did not survive after being in Switzerland for only a few days.  I'm not all that sure what happened.  I got it home safely and then during the first dinner I used it, it cracked.  I suppose it was just too old. Maybe I stuck it in the microwave and it couldn't handle it.  I don't know.  Whatever the reason it's not longer around.  I was pretty disappointed because it was a red bowl with a lid.  A pretty rare thing, so I'm told. 

Here are the dishes that make up my collection.

This is one of my favorite.  It's the best size casserole  dish ever!  Not to mention it also has a lid.

But my most cherished piece is this last one.  I bought it because my mom has one just like it - from her mom.  It's part of a set, that I'm hoping one day to complete, called nesting bowls.  There are 4 different size bowls.  A large yellow, a smaller green bowl, next the red size, and last, the small blue bowl.  Mom says she had two big yellow mixing bowls that my sister and I will inherit some day.  That means I only need the green and the red one.  

Snaps

Some time ago I found these nifty plastic snaps.  They come in several different colors.  I thought they looked like such a fun and simple thing that I should get some.  So I did.

I took them home excited to stick them on a project.  Except when I got home I realized I would be needing snap pliers to get the job done.  I was a little irritated with myself, because I really wanted to put a snap on something.  I guessed I could wait one more day.  The next day I marched off to the store to buy the pliers.  The package said that it was a universal set of pliers and should work.  I was pretty excited.  I got home, and much to my dismay, discovered that these particular pliers were only good for metal snaps.  I have plastic snaps.  I figured there must be a way I could rig up the ones I had.  I banged, I hammered, I grunted and groaned with NO success.  Surely I could get these dumb snaps on with the tool I had.  NOPE.  Back to the store I went.  Only to be informed they were out of the special pliers and it would be 2-3 weeks before I could get a pair. So much for my snap projects!  I ordered a pair and they finally arrived yesterday. 

After the boys were in bed I had to try them out.  And you know?  They worked like a charm.  Pretty clever, those snap people.  I had a little wallet purse thing-y that need a snap.  

Off course, after that worked I needed another excuse to put on a snap.  So I experimented and came up with this.  

First, I needed some bias tape.

Next, I needed some pretty material.

After a few pins and tucks, here's the finished product.  A fun clutch with a pretty little snap.

A little peak inside...

It turned out cute.  If I ever make one again there are some changes I would make.  But for now, I think it's OK.

Fall

We didn't get much of a summer.  All of June and July was cold and rainy.  I guess August helped some.  We had a few weeks of higher temperatures and not as much rain.  I get a little sad when September rolls into town.  It's then I have to come to the realization that summer is officially over.  However, September has been especially kind to us and I am still wearing short sleeve shirts in the afternoon.

I have been closely monitoring the leaves on the trees.  The first week of September everything was still pretty and green and no sight of fall what-so-ever.  Then in the second week of September we must have had some colder days and nights.  That's all it takes.  Because now, the trees aren't so green anymore.  Hints of yellow are peaking through.

This is the forest behind the house.

This is our little blueberry bush.  It turns a pretty shade of red in the fall.

Most of the trees behind our house are deciduous (thanks for the new vocabulary word Uncle Will).  Meaning they will loose their leaves.  There were a few pine trees right on the edge of our yard, but they have mysteriously disappeared.  Lets just say we will be burning pine in our fireplace this winter. David claims they would have grown tall and blocked the winter sun.  

So there you have it.  Summer is over and Fall is upon us.

Neat doodads

Here are a few doodads I've been working on.  This one I found here.  It's a pretty good tutorial until the end.  I had to zip and re-zip to get it just right.  In the end I figured it out and am happy how it turned out.

All zipped up!

I'm not sure what I'll do with it, or if I'll make more for gifts, but it was fun to make.  

I have also finished the baby gifts I was working on.  I discovered oilcloth, or vinyl.  Whatever you want to call it.  Although, oilcloth does sound a little fancier and like I know what I'm doing.  I made a few things for a baby survival bag.

It's pretty handy to store all of those little things in little bags, especially if they are cute!

Diaper clutch.

And then they all fit into this nifty matching bag.

I'm not a hundred percent happy with my bag.  I winged it without a pattern.  Next time, I'll know what to do better.  Not bad for a first try.

I've been thinking about making my own labels for fun.  I ordered these from a company in England to give it a try.  I'm still not sure about them.  For sure I'll order a different font color next time, it's too hard to see with the yellow background.  They look good on the yellow towel though!

A towel with a hood for Timmy.  I hope he likes it!

Neighborhood Culture

 We had a neighborhood party last weekend.  Each summer a committee of a few women in our neighborhood organize a party.  The theme for last year was "Cowboys and Indians".  This year the women counted 19 different nationalities in our little housing development and decided it would be a cultural event.  Each country could decorate half of a table and bring something for the potluck representing your country.  I was the lone American of the 13 countries who chose to participate.  It's a very fun way to get to know the people that live around you.  

Some people dressed for the occasion!  She's from Taiwan.  

We shared a table with Croatia.

Here - have a taste!

 My flags - hanging the right or wrong way depending on where you stand!

Here's our table.  I made chili and corn bread, rice crispy treats and caramel popcorn.  

We had a good time, ate too much and stayed up too late!

Things...

I've done quite a bit of sewing this last week.  I thought I would try and make some shorts for the boys.  It was so hot last week and I decided they needed something light weight to wear in this non-airconditioned world.  During one of my fabric buying episodes I picked up some plaid seersucker.  After ripping out a few seams and a few hours later, I had success.  I don't think they look that bad for my first attempt.  I might try pants next.

Playing on the balcony.

Brotherly love!

A friend of mine should be having her baby today.  Staying true to my roots of procrastination and using the excuse I am more creative under pressure, I got right to work!  I made this little friend.  I dug him out of the bottom of the toy box and chopped off his head!  (Shhhh!  Don't tell the boys!)  Then I attached him to some material.  There will be a matching baby blanket, but that's still in the works.

This is the underside of the dog, or bear, or whatever he is.

I also made this little bag for Adrian.  He puts his kindergarten gym stuff in it.  Once a week his class goes to a gym close by and they have a P.E. morning.  They all put their "gym" clothes on and get down to business.  Weird, I know.  But that's what he carries his little sweats and T-shirt in.  We call it the "Turnhalle bag"  Which translated means gymnasium bag.  This was one of the words Adrian learned before he knew the English word for it.  I still say gym but sometimes it's easier to refer to it that way.  Anyway, here it is.  Thanks for the fabric mom.

(Adrian found David's military helmet)

Last, but most definitely not least, is the newest addition to my sewing doodads.  As a seamstress (and I use that term lightly) I can't go on living in Switzerland without one.  And so here it is.

I bid for it on the Swiss version of Craigslist. It came with it's original carrying case, manual and some extras.

It probably weighs more than Ryan, but it sews like a Bernina should.  Not bad for a 41 year old machine.  I think I'll keep it!

Weekend Happenings

We had a full weekend.  David had a race Saturday afternoon.  It was a race where he had to make several laps.  It was nice for the boys to see  David whiz by a few times and cheer.  In the end he did very well and finished top in his category with the title "Kantonalmeister" in the non-licensed field.  I think he did pretty great and we are all very proud of him!

Getting ready.

Heading off for a warm up.

The boys playing in the car while we wait for the start.

This is the finish area.

Everyone getting ready to go.  David is in the front somewhere.

Cutting the corner...

This is my favorite picture I took of the race.  Sweet victory!

Adrian wanted to stand with David.  Pretty cute!

On a less sportier note.  My favorite fabric store had a sale this weekend.  I couldn't resist and here's what I found.

Mom asked me what I was going to make and I replied with a shrug and a, "but aren't they pretty?!"  She then called me Elsie Jr.  Elsie is my grandma who had barrels (literally) of material.  She was an excellent seamstress.  If I am lucky enough to inherit even the smallest amount of her sewing talent, then I consider it a compliment!