JemJam

We All Love Mail

About a week after sending me a box of goodies, Mrs. Renee sent our little stinker a box of gifts through the mail. What a surprise! E was so excited to open her package (as was I)!

 

 

Inside was a board book, a set of hairpins (heavily coveted by me), a wind-up music box that plays "Home on the Range" --it only plays as you turn it, some paper eyeglasses, and lots of big handmade confetti. This entire package is a win-win!

 

 

Wins for parents: No plastics and no noisy stuff.

Wins for little one: Aforementioned wins, a book, confetti, and most importantly, a box--she had it for months! She kept her confetti in it and played with it as necessary.

I grew concerned one day that she sorted all of the confetti by like items. It was a good concern, I must say.

Thanks, Renee!

Four

 

Here are the four items that I made for the KCWC. I made it easy on myself and used the same pattern for all four pieces, 2 of them are blouses, the other 2 are dresses.

A touch of love...

 

 

 

I really enjoyed that challenge, really, it was a busy week but, it was gratifying to create a few things that I have had on my "to do" list for a while.  *Exhale* 

Sing Your Song

Today, I want to show you a gift that I received from a woman that I met over a year ago, Renee.

Robin and I met Renee at a Paper Crown class last March, we met a lot of characters that day.

I have been running into Renee at that same store, in Omaha for Silver Bella & we even shared a flight to STL to Mary Engelbreit's workshop weekend!  

She's great (although once she tried to tell me not to talk badly about a waitress that we had.  I reminded her that it was behind her back and that made it permissible).  She loves to take notes, she keeps a pen handy and writes down the crap that we say b/c she thinks that we are quotable, I can never run for public office with her jotting...

Much to my surprise, one day in May, I received a package in the mail from Renee...

OMG, that box was so warm and intriguing! Look at this bird!

The tag with green ribbon says "2 Birds in a Pod!" What??

She made some really amazing items, I really love the aluminum tags! Also, she packed some glitter in there, that can boost a package's awesomeness by 10%.

 

Paper rosette...

It's all so great!

 

Thank you, Renee!  I can't wait to get on the road with you!

3 Things

Thing 1:

 

 

This week, Elsie Marley is having a Kids Clothes Week Challenge.  The challenge is simple--dedicate 1 hour each day this week to making clothes for kids (your own or someone else's).  Elsie has some tutorials posted on her blog for easy reference if you are not sure what to create.  Here are her FAQs about the challenge.  I want to know if you are doing the challenge!  

If you do not know what to make, Jona Giammalva just released her own patterns last week (how exciting!!), you can order this cute little dress to make!  It has been much fun reading about her journey to have her patterns printed.  She is a great pattern designer and writer, you shall not be disappointed!

 

Thing 2:

 

I am preparing to HOST a sew along!  It will be the School Days Coat by Oliver + S.  

 

If you have any resources to share for COAT fabrics (wool, especially), toggle buttons, leather cording, or for the RAIN JACKET (laminated cotton, in particular) e-mail me or leave a note in the comments.  I will post the sites in a separate post a little later to help people prepare.  Also, if you have any recommendations  on where the size 4-8 pattern can be found (local or online), give up the info!  The pattern is discontinued and now out of print and there may be a few patternless people wanting to join the sew along.  

 

Pass on the information on the "2 things" as you see fit, thanks people.

 

Thing 3:

This was a linky post.  

 

Let's Make Guacamole!

One food that never gets any rest at this home is guacamole--all three of us love it! Our families love it, too. I treat any person unwilling to try it as suspect (I don't understand people that do not love food and I don't care for those people). On this particular day, we made my outstanding chicken enchiladas, which will one day have a post of its own. While the enchiladas are in the oven, we get the guac going. First, get 4 ripe avocados--cut in half.

Remove pits and have the cutest kid in your home throw them in the garbage (we do not compost food scraps).

Next, slice avocados INSIDE THE SKIN. (At one time, I assumed that this was common knowledge, but I have seen a person scoop first, then cut, what a mess!)

Scoop avocado into a bowl w/a metal spoon.

Juice 3 limes, add to bowl use your favorite masher and mash until you have reached your desired consistency, we prefer chunky. Add 1 large minced garlic clove, 1/2 of a chopped red onion, a handful of coarsely chopped cilantro, some salt (I only cook with kosher, ever).

Stir everything together, drizzle a little bit of olive oil on top.

Test the product.

Add more salt if necessary. At this point, I portion the kiddo's guacamole. Now, we dice 2 jalapeños (from our garden) and add to the best guacamole ever on Earth. Yeah, I said it.

No final product picture, boo!