D.I.Y. Matryoshka Doll Tutorial

Recently, I've been working on upcycling old clothes into new things.

My mom was going to donate this skirt but I thought it would make the cutest matryoshka dolls and also be great fabric for some pennant banners I plan on making for Sonja's 2nd birthday.

First I flipped it inside out and used a hand drawn matryoshka pattern.

I cut it out, and some circles for the faces.

Sewed the face onto one half of the body.

Then faced the pretty sides towards each other.

Started sewing at the bottom but left an opening at the base to stuff the doll.

I stopped about 2-3 inches away from where I started

Flipped the fabric inside out

Then stuffed it with scrap fabric I saved for this project.

Almost all stuffed

Once full, really full I closed the bottom by folding the opening in on itself {as you can see below}

Tuck the raw edges inside of the doll and hold together with a pin, almost like lips.

Sew closed, it's an exposed seam but I didn't mind because the thread matches the face.

Trim extra thread off.

And give to a baby.

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Pregnancy Round 2 {5.5 Weeks}

I'm not one for being patient, and I'm not one for keeping secrets.  Sonja, actually, said to me last night, "Mommy has big mouth." I think it was because, I told her to take a little bite, because she has a little mouth.  But that's not the point.  Is it?

The point is we're pregnant.

5.5 weeks pregnant to be exact. 

Now, if you know anything about my thoughts on pregnancy; you know I'm a firm believer in waiting until 12 weeks to tell anyone.  So, why am I telling you all here?  Since, I already have baby and she's happy and healthy, I'm less superstitious this time.

With my Cupcake, I was all, "if I sit this way, am I going to hurt her?"  

"if I do too much cardio am I going to have a miscarriage?"

"if I sleep on my back or tummy am I going to cut off her circulation?"

"if I tell anyone, god/goddess/fate will show me, I better not jinx it!"

This time, I'm not so worried about it.  I'm really going with the flow.  I'm excited, that I know what I'm doing this time.  I already budgeted for this, because I knew it was a possibility {we pay our midwife out of pocket.  Once we get insurance involved, they start telling me what I can and can't do with my body} and I'm prepared to buy a new car once baby gets here, since two car seats won't fit safely in the car we have now.

I also know that by sharing the news early this time around, I have the physical and metal support of the people around me.  The first trimester is the HARDEST for me. or at least it was last time.  Each pregnancy is different, but since I've already experienced a few quick waves of queasyness, I'm sure I'll get hit with a few "bad" days.  And this time I will have more support for those moments since everyone is in the loop.

Now, you might also be thinking {if you know me in real life, or if you've read this blog for a while}, "I thought you were going to wait a while? I thought you only wanted to birth one baby." Those thoughts are still true.  

I wanted to wait 2 more years before getting pregnant again, but there was a tiny opening in my life plan that allowed for us to get pregnant right now!  So, for our anniversary weekend we didn't follow natural planning guidelines, we just did what we wanted.  This timing allows for me to be postpartum for Emily's wedding, meaning dress shopping and wedding planning and assisting won't be inconvenienced.  Baby will be 7-8 months old when we go to Europe in 2013, an age I'm very comfortable with for both the plane ride, and for baby wearing around all the beautiful cities.  Our big move to Hawaii was slightly postponed, instead of 4 years it's looking like 6 because of some business opportunities, here, for Husband.  So, having baby number 2 now, will make him or her a good age for the move.  Sonja and new baby {which she's convinced will be a sister} will be a "perfect" 2.5 years apart, an age I've heard is great for bonding and closeness as they get older.  And I get to birth with my midwife here in phoenix, which makes me really happy as opposed to trying to find one in Hawaii when we get there, where midwifery is not licensed the same {or at all, if I recall incorrectly}.

As far as only wanting to birth one, but adopt more... my thoughts are the same.  I really, really didn't want to deal with morning sickness (notice the book in the photo?), wardrobe limitations, nor swollen feet.  But my birth experience was really good, and I found myself telling Husband moments after, "That wasn't as bad as everyone told me it would be." {and just to be clear, it wasn't a happy go lucky orgasmic birth.  It was a real, fucking painful, birth, I just expected it to get worse, but then, it was over}.  I also have some over population issues, I was mentally processing.  Like, why should we have more babies; where there are already too many and too many without homes?  Then, I heard from one of my favorite sources, that actually, it's not so much an over population issue; as much as an over consumption issue.  So, as long as everyone listens and doesn't drown my home in another dose of baby toys or unnecessities, we'll be fine.  I would still love to adopt a few more, but that's a lot to think about right now and a lot of money we don't have.  It also sort of feels like buying a baby, unfortunately due to the legal process involved.  So, we'll cross that bridge when we get there.  

For now, I'm excited about growing this baby, sharing the early pregnancy stories, documenting the whole process, with all of you here and enjoying time with my only-child-for-now.

Happy Pregnancy Following!

-Jenn

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Food Club Meeting no. 2

This month we decided to try St. Francis a local modern American restaurant.  It's a short drive from my house, but I've never been there before and neither had most of the other ladies.  We got there at 7pm with 6 people and they told us it was going to be a 45 minute wait!  But, we got drinks from the bar and ended up only waiting about 15 minutes.  Here's how everything went ...

From the waiting seats in front of the restaurant.

Drink Above: Endless Summer, a pinot grigio with oranges, lemons and seasonal fruit. 

Even their water glasses were stylish. 

Fresh Baked Bread when you walk in. 

Discussing the menu.

This is the Baked Goat Cheese Appetizer.  

It was really good, creamy and had tomatoes and pesto.  yum!

Above: Market Vegetable Flatbread

Above: Roasted Salmon Superfood 

Above: Forbidden Rice Bowl

Above: Prime Hanger Steak Medium

Above: Kelly's Ruby Red Drink and Prosciuttio

And we all had leftovers!

Favorite Appetizer: Baked Goat Cheese.

Favorite Entree: Technically not under the Entree section; The Market Vegetable Flatbread.

Favorite Drink: I just had water, but the Ruby Red was a crowd favorite.

1-10 Service {0 worst, 10 best}: 9

Cost {$  $$  $$$  $$$$!}: $$-$$$ depending on what you order, meat dishes were more.

Mistakes {corrections?}: No mistakes.  Although, the Baked Goat Cheese came out with our meal and I had wanted it as an appetizer; since we were all so hungry.  But if that's the worst that happened I can't complain.

Reservations? I should have called to make some because they DO take them.

Would we eat there again? Yes!

I'll be back again next month with another restaurant and review, hope you're inspired to start something awesome with the ladies you know and love.  I'm so grateful for the wonderful women in my life, and am so thankful Husband watches our little Cupcake so I can get a night out!

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D.I.Y. Starting a Chevron Painting.

I know chevron patterns are all the rage right now, and I wanted to incorporate the pattern into a new watercolor painting of mine.  Below you'll find the step by step process for marking out a chevron pattern using a ruler and pencil.  

Divide your paper into four sections, mine was 24 inches across so I marked every 6 inches.

Then on each of those lines I marked one inch apart.  

I also marked the edges of the paper ever one inch, then I connected the inch placeholder on the left (the 2nd mark) to the top on the 1st column. 

I continued this all the way down the column.

Below you can see the completed column.

then in the second column, I went from the top of the page to the second inch mark on the middle column divider.

I repeated this process until the second column was complete.  THEN I went back and added the partial lines, the ones that go off the pages, I imagined they connected to an inch placeholder off the page.

Repeat the process for the 3rd and 4th columns.

Once all the columns are completed add any additional designs or images.  

Happy Chevron Drawing!

Now I just have to find time to finish this...

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