Busy Weekend

This weekend, Hazel and I headed to Cape Cod to visit my parents. We had a busy Friday morning of doctor's appointments and Move and Groove at the library, then came home for a quick lunch and hit the road for our two hour drive. My mother is attempting to clean through her fabrics and wanted me to look at some in case I would be interested in them and I had two large quilts to layer and it is always easier to layer with someone else (especially someone more experienced than me) and on my mother's bigger cutting table. Plus she offered me fabric for the backings. So up we went.

My father played with Hazel while we worked. Though Friday night was more sorting than anything. Saturday morning we hit the Farmer's Market, and then my father and I moved the cutting table to where my mother wanted it (out of the basement). Then while Hazel and my father napped we went to the fabric store for more safety pins (and I of course bought more fabric).

Saturday afternoon we spent the day preparing the backings. Having such large quilts, the backings took a long time. Then we layered the largest one. We finished it by 9:30 p.m. and decided that was enough for one day. We did the other one this morning including piecing the batting. But the two large quilts are layered and ready to be quilted. Now to find time to do that.

Of course after finishing them, I had to take Hazel to one of her favorite places to go--Snow's. They have model trains set up and buttons the kids can push. They already had their Christmas trains added to the mix. A child's dream to visit. But of course, if we are going to the center of town, we have to stop at the Hot Chocolate Sparrow. They have delicious coffee, tea (chai in particular for me), chocolates and candies made there, and ice cream (made near where I live). What more could you want from a store? Needless to say this is a daily stop when we are up there. My mother and I got iced chais and I splurged and got a caramel and chocolate covered apple (my fall weakness) and got Hazel a chocolate witch pop and chocolate covered sunflower seeds. Then my mother and I had the chais as we watched the trains and did a little shopping. I got some Christmas gifts at Snow's and some a sticker book for Hazel and some fake pine trees for Hazel and I to decorate for her dollhouse at Christmas time.

Then it was time to go for lunch. We had BLT's with tomatoes from my father's garden and tomato fresh mozzarella (from the Farmer's Market) and basil salads. Then it was time for the drive home. It is good to be home, but I'm tired! Hazel slept on the way home, so she is full of energy.

We came home to see a tree was gone (Steve had it cut down while we were gone), and he did a lot of yard clean up so it looks great. And of course two cats who missed us as well as Steve. Now it is time to start quilting, but I guess I should unpack first.

How was your weekend?

Hazel Has a Little Lamb

25 Days Until Halloween!

Today I share another pair of pants. Hazel has been into the nursery rhymes so we have changed Mary Has a Little Lamb to Hazel Has a Little Lamb occasionally when we sing it. We also love Baa, Baa Black Sheep. I saw this fabric and thought it would be a perfect fabric for funky pants. I used a basic toddler pant pattern to make these, but wanted to jazz them up with a pocket--a must have for Hazel these days. I used some quilt applique techniques to make and add the pocket. The sheep itself came from Microsoft Word Clip Art. I didn't add the black tail or legs out of laziness and fear of it looking too busy.

The pants are just the correct length now, but with how fast she is growing I plan to add a ruffle when they become too short.

Family Time at a Country Fair

Today Steve took the day off so we could go to the Topsfield Fair. This fair pride's itself as the oldest agricultural  fair in America. This was my third time attending it. Steve took me for the first time when we had just started dating six years ago. We took Hazel again last year on a Saturday morning when it first opened for the day, but by the time we got to the young children rides the line for tickets was too long for her to go on any and there were not many she would have been able to go on due to the minimum height requirement. This year she made it by two inches for most of the rides.

We also had gotten two free ride tickets and a voucher for a hot dog and drink from our local library's summer reading program. We actually entered this time right at the young children rides since the entrance near where we parked was next to the flood of the Ipswich River. We headed for the rides first. Hazel wanted to go on the train first thing. She enjoyed being the only person on it.

Then the three of us went on the carousal. She didn't want to try the horses so we sat on a sleigh together. Next we went on the spinning strawberries. Steve didn't get a picture though. Then she drove a race car.

Then we bought some kettle corn and walked around. We found a magician who was quite silly and Hazel (and we) found quite entertaining. His assistant did acrobatics with silk ribbons hanging from the top of the stage. Really beautiful.

Then we found the petting zoo. Hazel of course said she wanted to pet the animals and wanted to feed the animals, but was afraid to when we got closer. She laughed as I fed the goats though. And we watched people ride the elephant and camel. She was fascinated with them, but definitely did not want to go on them.

Then we found more sheep and a cow to see. Then we realized it was lunch time and we were at the place we could get Hazel's free hot dog and drink. We also got hot dogs and some cheese fries for us to share. Then we went to see the pigs, but the line was too long and not moving so we went to see the bunnies. Hazel loved seeing all the rabbits and wanted to be lifted to see them better.

Now we knew our time was running out since we needed to be home by 1:30 for an appointment (and hopefully a nap--which did not happen). So we had one more ride ticket and that was where we needed to exit. So Hazel drove a purple car and I went off to buy apple cider, apple cider donuts and an apple (which they gave me a knife to slice for Hazel). The donuts were just coming out of the fryer when I got them and were still warm when we got them home. They were the best I have ever had.

Overall it was a perfect fall day. The weather was cool and comfortable and finally sunny. The fair was just getting crowded when we left so we timed it all perfectly. The traffic to get into the fair when we left was horrible, so we were really glad we did it how we did.

Do you do any fun fall family activities?

Fall Decorations and the Pumpkin Fairy

This morning we woke up to quite a thunder storm. It was loud and I think that is what really woke Hazel up this morning. Now the storm seems to have passed, but the forecast doesn't look great for today. Hazel wanted to start some crafts this morning, so we made some fall crafts. We started with some Indian corn. The button Indian corn came from All Kids Network. They have the template there so all you have to do is cut out the shapes. Hazel enjoyed this one.  The fingerprint Indian corn also came from All Kids Network. Again they provide a template. And again Hazel enjoyed this. We have a nice fingerprint ink set that I got her at Lakeshore Learning Store.

Hazel's New Pants

Last night I finally finished the first of the pants I started for Hazel. She has started to love to have pockets. She loves to put all of her treasures in them. She also continues to grow like a weed and several of the clothes I made this summer look short on her already. So, I added a paper pieced pocket and lengthened them with ruffles.

I used a basic elastic toddler pants pattern. Then I found the pocket pattern on line here. I have been trying to figure out a good way to make the pocket cat shaped and loved this paper pieced pattern. I hadn't paper pieced in awhile, but it is easy. To get started you take a piece of the correct color fabric for your number 1 piece and put it on the back of the paper then cut a piece of the correct color fabric for number 2 piece bigger than the piece and put it on top of the number 1 piece on the back of the paper so they can be sewn on the line between the two pieces and the number 2 piece will fold over that line and completely cover the number 2 shape. Make sure on all of your pieces you have enough to have a border to sew. Continue adding pieces until the block is finished. For a video on doing this you can check out here. After finishing the paper piecing (I had to sew the three separate blocks together to get the cat), I sewed a piece of fabric on the other side to make a stronger pocket and to not have to fold over edges. I sewed it around 3 1/2 sides leaving the hole in the bottom to turn it. Then turned and pressed it. The bottom edge gets finished when attached. I sewed the top before attaching just so it wouldn't mess up the edge (topstitching). Then I pinned it and sewed it. This would have been easier to do before I sewed the pants together, but I hadn't had the idea then.

Then I trimmed an inch off the bottom of the legs and added a no-hem ruffle. I cut two 5-inch strips of full length fabric and sewed each into a loop. Then folded them in half and stitched the tops at 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch in loose stitches. I gathered them up so they would fit the leg cuff and sewed them on. The ruffles are so full that they go out on her now, but will provide a bit more length when needed. She wanted to try them on right away so this is with her pajama top this morning.

The only part I'm not completely happy with is the pocket placement, but I will do better on the next pair. I have several funky pairs started and just need to add pockets, ruffles and elastic. Hopefully you will be seeing more this week.

For those of you with a daughter, check out Tatertots & Jello's Monday giveaway from Downeast Basics Clothing--something for Mom and daughter!
Also check out the giveaways at Raising 4 Princesses. She has some great prizes!