Simplicity 4711

Boll Weevil again would not cooperate for pictures. He has been a little cranky and sleepy a night this week. I think we are all trying to get used to our new schedule. This is Simplicity 4711 View E. This pattern was moderately difficult pattern to put together. I only say that because the instructions weren't easy to read. They also had one of my pet peeves in them. Which is making you look at another views direction to put the view your making together. At one point I had my mom and my aunt helping me on this. My aunt finally finished the back the way she wanted to and not the way the pattern said. Also I'm very lucky to have a good co-worker finish the button holes for me. I hate doing button holes. I will say that this the first time I sewed in snap tape and it wasn't hard at all. I will make this pattern again if time permits.

Oliver + S Pattern

When my aunt was visiting I convinced her to make Boll Weevil a few outfits. We went to the local smock shop and purchased some fabric and the Oliver + S Pattern Tea Party Sundress + Bloomers. This was the first time either one of us had worked with an Oliver + S Pattern. We both liked it and went together pretty easy. We did make some modification to the bloomers. Instead of making our own bias tape for the leg openings we used single fold bias tape that I already had. This made the pants go together so much quicker. Then we appliqued a coordinating onesie. Let me just say Boll Weevil looks adorable in these outfits. He wasn't in the mood to try on clothes last night or have his picture taken.

I should add that another aunt monogrammed this onesie for us. She also monogrammed a matching burp cloth.

Hoda

Between a lightning storm that knocked out my Internet and Boll Weevil (Bo gave him this name because he likes to eat his cotton sleeves.) getting his first set of shots, I haven't had time to take pictures of his new outfits. But I have had time to finish the last new chapters of Hoda's book. Really there isn't much you can do when your child just wants to cling to you and you have no TV. I watch Hoda and KLG on the internet. So that leaves good old fashioned reading.

Let me start off by saying I love Hoda. Some days I don't know how she puts up with Kathie Lee, but then again there is always someone like Kathie Lee in every ones life. Hoda's book was a good easy read and I'm so glad that I got to read it. It was like learning a little bit more about the new girl in school. You think you know her, but you really don't. I have to admit that I have had this book for a while. I got it for Christmas and I just finished it. I actually took this book to the hospital with me when I had Boll Weevil. Don't ask me why because I definitely didn't have time to read, but all of the pregnancy books I read said to make sure I took reading material with you. So Hoda came along to the hospital. Actually from this book Hoda seems like the person you would want at the hospital because she would be the one who would tell you to look forward. So I'm glad I took her along with me.

If Hoda wrote another book I would definitely read it.

By the way Hoda - some people do know where Dothan, Alabama is. I loved it that she mentioned my home town. I was disappointed that they didn't hire her at the local TV station. She could have been in the Peanut Festival Parade instead of the Mardi Gra Parades in New Orleans.

Overview from booksamillion.com:

SHE'S JUST LIKE THE REST OF US : overstuffed purse, always losing keys, high-maintenance hair, snack guilt after an evening binge. But she's something different, too. Hoda Kotb grew up in two cultures--one where summers meant playing at the foot of the ancient pyramids and another where she had to meet her junior prom date at the local 7-Eleven to spare them both the wrath of her conservative Egyptian parents. She's traveled the globe for network television, smuggling videotapes in her shoes and stepping along roads riddled with land mines. She's weathered the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and a personal Category 5 as well: divorce and breast cancer in the same year. And if that's not scary enough, she then began co hosting the fourth hour of Today with Kathie Lee Gifford. (Oh, c'mon, KLG! That's funny . . . put down the huge pour of Chardonnay and laugh with us.) Hoda reads just like Hoda--light, funny, positive, and positively inspiring.

Just like old times

My aunt is tracing off an Oliver + S pattern.

While I was on maternity leave my very creative aunt came to visit my parents for a week. I packed up my sewing machine and the baby and headed home. I had loads of fun and the baby got 3 new outfits. My mom, my aunt and I stayed up until 1 in the morning sewing and laughing, just like old times. The 3 of us have always been creative and many times we help the other out with a project and we are always bouncing ideas off each other. I have to say the weather was great that week and the company was even better. Pictures of outfits to come tomorrow.

Two Fools in Love

Yes, Bo and I got married on April 1st. Happy Anniversary! As you can tell by my lack of post that life has been really busy lately. I have sewn a few items and hope to post pictures in the next couple of days.

Crock pot whole fryer

A Year of Slow Cooking has a lot of wonderful recipes and I tried one the other night. I have to tell you that this smelled wonderful, but the taste was little to lemony for Bo and I.

It was the most moist chicken you could have ever eaten. It was fell apart when I removed it from the crock pot.

This is one of the only creative things I have done this week.

Finally a model

I finally have a model to wear the clothes that I made.

This first one was made for my nephew several years ago, but he couldn't wear it when I finished it. So Baby Bo is now wearing it.

This is Baby Bo's gown that he came home from the hospital in. It fits him much better now.
This is Baby Bo's Easter outfit. He just looked adorable, but he hated getting his picture taken.