Better late than never

Maybe I should rename the blog 'better late than never' since that seems to be a theme here.  Anyway, some belated pictures from December which was (as always) a really really busy month.  The girls both played their flutes in 2 performances (and I use the word 'played' in the loosest sense) and had their ballet recitals (no pictures of Claudia for some reason, but damn she looked cute).  Diego turned 8 (8!) and I sewed and sold a bunch of dolls.  I decided to be a little more official on the business end of things and now have a website and a business card (and a little notebook with lists of ideas and orders!--I love a little notebook).  The website is philadelphiadollco.blogspot.com but there's nothing on it yet.

I also sewed the dresses for the girls' flute recital.  I did Penelope's well ahead of time with the beautiful Anna Maria Horner striped fabric and the black flowers.  I used this pattern (obscure) which I had used before.  I like the pinafore portion much better than the underdress.  Claudia's dress I sewed up super quick the morning of the recital and it is a Simplicity pattern (don't have the number handy) which I have made about 5 times before and LOVE. So simple and easy.  The pattern calls for bias binding at the armholes and neck, which I have done in the past for summer dresses, but since this was a warmer corduroy dress, I opted to just line it instead.

P and I have been reading Hitty and really want to buy this kit but I'm trying to hold back and be reasonable, since I'm really working a lot on the other dolls lately (3 orders for January!).

I got an iphone--more on that soon.

Better late than never

Too late to give to the kids' teachers or friends at work, but just in time for Santa Clause

I also made a pillowcase

All of our couch cushions were looking a little ratty.  And we inherited a bunch of kilim pillow cases from my dad which are beautiful to look at but way too scratchy to lean against (let alone rest your head on).  So I thought I would make some.  I finished the one and then moved on to other things (it is Christmas ya know) and now I have a big pile of fabric slated for pillow cases and a bunch of still-ratty looking couch pillows.  Oh well. 


And one small gripe: I am finding it very hard to get into the holiday spirit when it is 60 degrees and rainy. 

I sold some dolls...

At a craft show in my hood. 
So I think I'll make some more...

The baby sleeps for hours in the jogger

Running makes me feel great, be healthier and have more energy.  Why oh why is it so hard to make myself do it when it is so obviously the answer to almost all my problems?  Anyone?

Halloween and Claudia turned 3

 A pirate, a vampire bat and a cat set out with their grandmother to go trick or treating.

 Who doesn't love a marching band?

The trading--"Claudia that's really good.  It's chocolate with rice crispies in it.  You'll want to keep that."  Thank goodness for big brothers.

My my where does the time go?

Mammals learn

Al is fond of telling me this on occasions when I repeat the same stupid thing I've done before (usually involves late night sewing and broken sewing machine needles).  This is the result of another high-stakes baking episode.  I don't know why I keep doing this to myself, except that perhaps this mammal is hoping to learn to bake rather than learning to go to Metropolitan Bakery to buy cupcakes for Penelope's birthday party that is really the labor day block party in our alley ('Look how many people came to wish you happy birthday honey--people you don't even know!').

Suffice it to say that the 'Boston Cream Pie' Cupcakes in Martha Stewart's cupcake cookbook looked a little different...