waldeck dry goods

Zucchini Pizza Casserole

2011-07-26T20:43:00.002-04:00

Well, hello there, old blog! It's sure been a while, hasn't it??

I started working full-time in the spring. I thought I'd have lots of time for crafting once summer rolled around, but somehow chasing after little ones, working in the garden, running, etc. leaves very little time!

Anyway, I have tons of zucchini, and since I'm the only one who willingly eats it (I LOVE it, actually), I'm always looking for ways to sneak it into foods that my family will eat. My sister-in-law, Kristy, shared this recipe with me recently. We all loved it!

Zucchini Pizza Casserole

3 cups shredded zucchini and/or squash

1 cup Bisquick or flour

1/2 t. oregano (I used Wildtree's Italian Salad Dressing Mix)

1/3 cup oil

3 eggs, beaten

1/4 t. salt

pepper

your favorite pizza toppings

1. Mix all ingredients in large bowl (except for toppings, of course).

2. Press into a 9 x 13 baking dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

3. Add sauce and toppings, and bake an additional 10-15 minutes.

Note: This has a ton of oil in it (the original had even more!). I will try using less oil and adding some milk next time.

Enjoy!
Let me know if you make it. Stay tuned for more zucchini recipes!

this moment

2011-02-11T15:04:00.001-05:00

(via SouleMama)

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Have a wonderful weekend!

this moment

2010-11-19T10:35:00.002-05:00

this moment
(via SouleMama)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Meet My Family

2010-10-28T07:55:00.003-04:00

Hi!

Long time, huh??

Things have been busy, busy, busy since I started back at my part-time day job a few months ago. I am still creating, and recently Jen of Peachy Tuesday wrote a sweet little "Meet the Family" article about ME for the Handmade in PA blog. Check it out!

New Pants for Simon

2010-08-26T10:41:00.004-04:00

In our box of boy hand-me-downs, we have tons of shirts but barely any pants.

I've been wanting to make Simon some pants to accommodate his big cloth-diapered heinie, and this morning I gave it a try.

I just used my favorite pants pattern and got some pointers from this tutorial.

I'm really happy with how they came out! I'll be making more of these soon!

Experience Creativity

2010-07-13T09:51:00.002-04:00

There's a great new local shop opening soon!

Experience Creativity

Grand Opening

Saturday, July 17th

10am-5pm

Refreshments, Prizes, Demos

978 Isabel Drive, Lebanon, PA

I'm selling things in this shop, and so are lots of other great local crafters. I can't wait to check out what's new in the shop since I was last there. You can read more here.

And the winner is....

2010-05-22T08:22:00.005-04:00

Wow! I can't believe how many visitors and comments I had this week. You all are so nice! I wish I could give a t-shirt to everyone who entered the giveaway.

The random number generator picked number 58, who happens to be Lise!

Check out Lise's blog here. Lise, look for an email from me soon to discuss the details.

Thanks for entering, everyone!

Dinosaur Rock

2010-05-18T09:31:00.002-04:00

We took a little trip to Dinosaur Rock this weekend.

This little hike was the perfect length for Ava, but because the rocks are so close to the road (and therefore easily accessible) they are covered with graffiti and trash.

Still, we had a great time enjoying the sunny spring weather and a nice outdoor lunch at a local tavern.

P.S. There's still time to enter the giveaway right here!

It's Giveaway Day Again!

2010-05-16T18:31:00.006-04:00

These personalized bodysuits are a popular item in my shop.

I will be giving away a personalized short-sleeved bodysuit or t-shirt to one randomly chosen reader. See sizing details here.

To enter, just leave a comment here. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you!

Waldeck Dry Goods on Facebook

EDIT: The cute kids above belong to my friend Laura. Giveaway ends on May 20th. Winners will be announced here on the 21st.

Giveaway Day!

2010-05-14T08:10:00.003-04:00

Sew, Mama, Sew is hosting Giveaway Day again! Check back on May 17th to enter my giveaway. Be sure to check the Sew, Mama, Sew website to enter hundreds of other giveaways, too.

February Baby Sweater

2010-04-26T22:01:00.003-04:00

Finished Simon's February Baby Sweater today! I loved knitting this, and I think it will fit perfectly this fall and winter. More details on my Ravelry page.

Simon is just about 8 weeks old now. xoxo

Mary Jane Booties

2010-04-17T16:32:00.002-04:00

Mary Jane Booties
Originally uploaded by WaldeckDryGoods

A sweet little pair of booties for the newest member of our family.

I made these for my cousin Amanda's baby girl, born at the beginning of the month. Hopefully Amanda and Haley have received these by now....

More info on my Ravelry page.

Small Shop Update

2010-04-11T11:10:00.003-04:00

I added a few things to my shop this morning.

Dots and Flowers Burp Cloth Gift Set

Happy Shopping!

{ this moment }

2010-04-09T22:26:00.002-04:00

A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

A Friday ritual started here.

Swagbucks

2010-04-09T14:30:00.002-04:00

Are you using Swagbucks yet? If not, you should be!

It is so simple. You earn Swagbucks by using their search engine, and you can cash in your points for all kinds of things. I've been using mine for Amazon gift cards.

Go check it out!

9 Tote Bags

2010-04-05T11:34:00.003-04:00

Waaaayy back before Christmas, a customer asked me to make some market/grocery bags for the ladies she works with. She didn't need them until April, and it's a good thing she gave me lots of notice. I just finished them.

I am happy with how they turned out. I want to keep all of them! I hope she likes them ,too.

He's Here!

2010-03-15T11:31:00.002-04:00

Ava's Cardigan

2010-01-25T10:06:00.003-05:00

I finished Ava's Eloise Eyelet Cardigan (free pattern from the Lion Brand Yarn website) the other night, and I'm pretty amazed that I actually made a garment!

She seems to like it. I made the 2T size, but the sleeves seem a little short, and I think the back could use an extra inch or two. Maybe blocking would help?

More details on my Ravelry page. Next up: February Baby Sweater for Baby Bird!

Craft Hope for Haiti

2010-01-18T14:38:00.001-05:00

Please visit:

New Skirt for Ava

2010-01-09T19:51:00.003-05:00

Today during naptime I turned an old t-shirt into a super-comfy skirt for Ava. I just traced another skirt I had made for her, centering the design. Then I serged the side seams, serged the bottom edge, and added a casing for elastic. Simple!

Also, instead of throwing away some cheap, ugly wrapping paper I've been wanting to get rid of, my husband unrolled it on the floor for Ava to draw on.... kept her busy for almost an hour!

Bootees for Baby Bird

2010-01-02T14:14:00.005-05:00

I've been doing some hard-core knitting this winter. So far I've made four hats, a cowl, and I have two scarves in progress. The hats and the cowl were gifted before I took photos of them, but the scarves are coming along nicely. I also have one fingerless mitt finished (need to get that other one done soon!). I received the book The Opinionated Knitter by Elizabeth Zimmermann for Christmas, and these little bootees were the first thing I made. I love them! They were a lot of fun to make, and I learned several new knitting techniques. Our new little guy is going to be wearing lots of these! More info on my Ravelry page.

CAM Tomorrow!

2009-12-04T21:21:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is City Arts Market!

I'll be there with lots of baby goodies, tote bags, aprons, brooches, Christmas stuff, and more!

Hope to see you there.

A Winner!

2009-12-02T06:49:00.003-05:00

Using random.org, I've chosen a winner for my coaster giveaway!

Kristina , you won! Please email me at waldeckdrygoods@gmail.com with your mailing address and I'll send your coasters out right away.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to comment.

A Giveaway!

2009-11-28T08:12:00.003-05:00

My giveaway prize from Happy Find came yesterday. It is so sweet, and Venus had it packaged so beautifully. I've decided to host my own little giveaway, too.

Up for grabs is a set of these Christmas coasters that I've been making for my shop and for City Arts Market.

These are perfect for

*Secret Santa exchanges
*teacher gifts
*wrapping up with some cocoa or coffee for your neighbor
*or keep them for yourself!

To enter, just leave a comment. The winner will be announced here on Tuesday, December 1st. (Oh- be sure to leave a way for me to get in touch with you in your comment.)

Look What I Won!

2009-11-23T12:29:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago I began reading the blog Happy Find. Venus hosted a giveaway last week, and I won this sweet little pincushion.

(image: Happy Find)

Thanks, Venus! I can't wait to get it.

Jacket Refashion

2009-11-19T06:37:00.004-05:00

A couple of years ago I coached for a team that I'm no longer working with, but we coaches had purchased these nice warm fleece jackets with the team's name on them. I've discovered that this jacket is one of the only ones I have that stretches around my growing belly, but I don't want to advertise for this team anymore.

So.... I used this tutorial to fix up my jacket with a pretty ranunculus. I can't wait to try more of these on other things. I think it's pretty cute!

Here is a before shot of the jacket. I followed the tutorial's instructions and just stitched right to the jacket.

New Hats!

2009-11-16T22:07:00.004-05:00

I made new hats for Ava and me over the weekend. I used super bulky yarn and size 15 needles, so these came together really quickly. I need to make them both a little longer so that our ears stay warm this winter, but first I need to learn how to pick up stitches. More information is on my Ravelry page.

Shop Update and Some News!

2009-11-04T14:14:00.003-05:00

Just added a few new bags to my shop... And if you look closely, you will see something else I've been working on!

Small Shop Update

2009-10-26T21:56:00.002-04:00

waldeckdrygoods.etsy.com

Little Punkin

2009-10-10T20:47:00.004-04:00

I made Ava a Halloween t-shirt today while she napped. These are the faces I got when I asked her to smile:

Initial T-Shirts

2009-09-30T21:29:00.004-04:00

A custom order for Laura:

The larger t-shirt has a cute little fabric and felt brooch pinned on it. Crummy photo... it's late and dark here in Waldeck!

You can order your initial Onesie or t-shirt in my Etsy shop!

A Hat for Baby Henry

2009-09-20T12:06:00.004-04:00

I knit this little hat back in August for a friend's baby who was due in October. Turns out he's here a bit early, and I can't wait to see him in his pumpkin hat!

This is my very first hat. The pattern is from Ravelry, and there are more details in my Ravelry notebook.

Welcome, Baby Henry! Can't wait to meet you.

Ava's Birthday Skirt

2009-09-06T12:58:00.004-04:00

Ava's second birthday is tomorrow (already?! how is this happening??). I haven't sewn anything in quite a while, but I knew I wanted to make her something special to wear on her birthday. I think she's going to love this skirt:

I used this tutorial, and it only took me about half an hour from start to finish. This is a seriously easy project, and I can see more of these in our future. I had to guess on the length since the birthday girl is taking her nap right now, but it looks like it is going to be a good fit. I can't wait to try it on her!

Happy Birthday, Ava!

Finally, an Update!

2009-08-14T11:34:00.003-04:00

This summer has been flying by. It's hard to believe that I'll be headed back to teaching in just a few weeks.

I've decided to put my Etsy shop in "vacation mode" for a while. I've been making custom orders and working on things to send out to some local shops.

I now have things in THREE real, live shops!!

Broad Street Bazaar
55 N Broad Street
Lititz, PA 17543

The Hodge Podgery
1100 N 3rd Street
Harrisburg, PA

Hello, Bluebird (opening very soon!)
609 Penn Avenue
West Reading, PA

All three of these shops are filled with awesome handmade things. Go check them out!

CBN This Sunday!

2009-07-03T11:43:00.003-04:00

(image: Crafty By Nature)

Come celebrate the holiday weekend at Shupp's Grove! Support local, independent artists at this month's Crafty By Nature event.

Sunday, July 5th
9:00-4:00
Shupp's Grove
Adamstown, PA
Free Admission and Free Parking!

Two More Shops

2009-06-11T17:27:00.003-04:00

In addition to selling things at Broad Street Bazaar in Lititz, PA, I'm also going to be selling at two more local shops!

Look for Waldeck Dry Goods items at The HodgePodgery in Harrisburg, PA later this summer! Dawn and Jessica are planning on selling things that are made from recycled or repurposed materials.

I'll also be selling at Hello, Bluebird in West Reading, PA. I was lucky enough to set up right next to Alex at last weekend's Crafty By Nature event. I think her shop is going to be great! You can read more about the shop on Alex's blog.

I am super excited to be selling my wares in three real shops this year!

My new friend Tara has written a great post about both of these shops on her blog, handmadeinpa.net (photo above borrowed from Tara's blog).

A Cute Customer!

2009-06-10T06:14:00.004-04:00

I love when people send me photos of themselves wearing/using things that I've made. A friend from college, Abby (we recently reconnected over Facebook), sent me this photo of her little boy wearing a custom onesie that she purchased.

Isn't he cute???

Retro Yard Sale!

2009-06-03T17:19:00.002-04:00

My friend Alicia from Ten Gallon Greetings just let me know about this awesome-sounding yard sale in Lancaster, PA. I'm definitely going to be there to check it out on Friday.

1. mtl_mai2009_44, 2. disney, 3. thrifty yard sale finds, 4. Yard Sale, 5. Yard Sale Finds, 6. Mugs & Glasses, 7. Linens at 127 Sale, 8. I must have been a very good girl!, 9. Yard Sale Stuff

Retro Yard Sale

802 N. Shippen St

(corner at Clay St)

Lancaster, PA

Friday & Saturday

June 5 & 6

8am - 1pm

Clothing, jewelry, books, postcards, purses, toys, household items, etc...

All kinds of cool stuff!

All from 1950's - 60's - 70's - 80's!!

Most items 50 cents or $1.00!

Treat yourself to some fun vintage-y trinket on the cheap.

Winners!

2009-06-02T06:17:00.004-04:00

Wow! There were 124 people who commented on my giveaway! I used random.org to choose the two winners, and it picked numbers 21 and 30:

The winners are:

Tara said...

What a great giveaway. We have a boy due in Sept and this would be great to win.

Valerie said...

Those are adorable! Great giveaway!

(Check out Valerie's blog, Paper Dreams.)

Ladies, look for an email from me this morning, and start thinking about what you'd like your onesie to look like.

Thanks for commenting, everyone, and I hope some of the new readers will stick around!

A New Bag

2009-05-30T10:57:00.004-04:00

Late last night I got inspired to sew myself a new summer bag:

I used a mixture of some brand new fabrics and some blue gingham I picked up at the thrift shop last week. I love it so much (especially that bird fabric).

If you're here from Sew, Mama, Sew looking for my giveaway, it's right HERE.

A Giveaway!

2009-05-26T21:29:00.007-04:00

It's Giveaway Day!

In honor of this special day, I'm giving away two (yes, two) personalized onesies to two randomly chosen readers. The winner will receive a personalized onesie in the size of his or her choice (see my Etsy listing for sizing details). You'll also choose fabric colors for your onesie. These make great gifts!

All you have to do to win is leave a comment here. The winners will be announced here on June 1st.

EDITED TO ADD: Check out the other great giveaways here!

Broad Street Bazaar!

2009-05-21T15:40:00.003-04:00

Yippee! I'm so excited! Waldeck Dry Goods will now be available at Broad Street Bazaar in Lititz, PA.

Broad Street Bazaar is a new shop that features handcrafted goodies by local artists, like

Yummy Pancake
Pineapple Sugar
J. Almodovar
and lots more!

There are tons of cute things in the shop. Stop by and check it out:

Broad Street Bazaar
55 North Broad Street
Lititz, PA 17543

Open Monday-Saturday 9-5

Giveaway Day!

2009-05-16T12:35:00.003-04:00

Sew, Mama, Sew is hosting another Giveaway Day! I missed this the first time around, and only heard about it after it was too late. This time I'll be ready, though. To learn more about Giveaway Day, go here.

A Satisfied (and adorable) Customer

2009-05-15T20:46:00.003-04:00

Our friend Gabriella enjoys some olives while wearing a Waldeck Dry Goods bib. Her mama says that her "lello el'phant" bib is one of her favorites!

Brooches

2009-05-14T11:13:00.004-04:00

These brooches are made from bits of fabric and felt that have been rescued from my scrap bin. They are lots of fun to create; I don't make them with a plan in mind. I just start layering and layering. There are a few listed in my shop, and I'll be selling them at Crafty by Nature in June.

New Cards

2009-05-11T20:56:00.004-04:00

When I saw these cards last week, I knew they were something I wanted to make.

Luckily, Ava is talking up a storm these days (like, non-stop), and we have been keeping a list in the kitchen of all the things she comes up with.

I haven't used a store-bought card in ages, but lately I've been spending so much of my crafting time working on sewing projects. I haven't had (or made) time to work on cards. These are quick and easy, and still satisfy my need for making and sending handmade cards.

Sorry for the poor photo quality. It's dark, and my hubby with be working on his thank you notes and sending them out tomorrow morning. Right, dear?

RAIN!

2009-05-03T13:00:00.003-04:00

Crafty By Nature has been canceled for today, but I'll be there next month.

I will be adding some things to my shop over the next few days. I also have lots of ideas to work on that I just didn't have time to get to for today's show.

So today I'm enjoying an unexpected day with nothing scheduled. We've made plans to see some friends and their new baby this evening, and until then I'm relaxing with coffee and a few books while Daddy entertains Ava.

Sunstone Soap (and a shameless self-promotion)

2009-05-01T15:08:00.004-04:00

(image from Sunstone Soap)

Last week I entered HandmadeinPA.net's weekly giveaway, and I won! Kim from Sunstone Soap sent me three bars of delicious smelling soap that I can't wait to try. Sunstone Soaps are all-natural, 100% vegetarian, and they donate a percentage of their profits to animal welfare organizations. I'll definitely be shopping here in the future.

P.S. I just saw that I'm featured on HandmadeinPA's Vendor Spotlight today! =)

"Uh-oh Ava Diaper"

2009-04-30T08:47:00.002-04:00

This morning I heard on the monitor: "Uh-oh Ava diaper, uh-oh Ava diaper" over and over. A few seconds later I heard "Jammies wash." Sure enough, when I went in to get Ava, her jammies were off, the diaper was on the floor, and she was in her crib playing happily and nakedly with her toys.

Crafty By Nature

2009-04-14T20:54:00.002-04:00

I just got the news that I've been accepted to participate in Crafty By Nature!

Here is more information about the event from their site:

Located at lovely Shupp’s Grove in Adamstown, PA (Lancaster County), CBN will take place every first Sunday, beginning May through October 2009. A local treasure, Shupp’s Grove is an outdoor vintage and antique market. It’s pastoral setting will provide a shaded haven to showcase up-and-coming indie designers, crafters, artists, and makers.

Crafty By Nature is still looking for vendors, so head to the site if you're local. The first day will be May 3. I better get busy!

New Orleans Vintage Souvenir Tea Towel Bag

2009-04-13T11:40:00.002-04:00

New in my shop:

Ava's Easter Dress

2009-04-13T11:15:00.004-04:00

The first version of The Shirt Dress I made for Ava made her look like a sausage. It was so tight! I followed Dana's instructions, and her tutorial for turning a men's shirt into a dress is so clearly written and easy to follow. After the first flop, I decided to use a pattern that I already had instead of using my own (clearly flawed) pattern. Here's what I ended up with:

I was in too much of a hurry to take a before picture, but the dress is made from a jacket that belonged to my mother-in-law that was headed to Goodwill. I love the way the embroidery looks. Unfortunately, the jacket/dress is made of linen, which is not the best for toddler-wear.

Also, it was so cold on Easter that Ava had to wear a turtleneck under her dress. Don't worry, it wasn't the red one in the photo below- that was just for practice.

Yes, those are her socks on her hands. She wouldn't keep mittens on all winter, and now every time she has on socks but no shoes, the socks end up on her hands as "mittsocks."

A Last-Minute Easter Treat:: Bird Nests!

2009-04-11T11:42:00.002-04:00

My colleague Marsha made these nests with her students last week, and they are so simple and delicious... this is a great no-bake Easter treat that even toddlers can help with. Here's what you'll need:

1 bag of butterscotch chips
1/4 cup peanut butter
10 oz. chow mein noodles
candy of your choice (jelly beans, m & m eggs, etc. I used Cadbury mini eggs in mine)
wax paper

Melt the butterscotch over low heat or use a double boiler. When melted, remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup peanut butter. Pour in 10 oz. chow mein noodles, and mix well. You may want to transfer everything into a larger bowl to do the mixing so the noodles are coated well. Use a large spoon and a rubber spatula to make "nests" on wax paper. Before the nests starts to set up, push some "eggs" into each one. This recipe makes 15-18 nests. Enjoy!

There's Hank up there, hoping one of those nests falls off the counter...

More Smocks

2009-04-08T20:15:00.003-04:00

Ava was sick on Monday so I stayed home from school. During her nap I managed to get two more smocks made for my shop. Both are made from vintage sheets and are super soft.

I've had requests for these in grown-up sizes. Does anyone know of a good pattern for an adult smock that doesn't look like a maternity shirt?

Smocks

2009-04-01T16:11:00.003-04:00

I love dressing Ava in these smocks. In the winter, they look really cute over long sleeves and jeans, and in the summer she can wear them with shorts or a pair of bloomers. This one is made from a vintage sheet, and is available in my shop. Look for more of these soon!

Waldeck Dry Goods is on Facebook!

2009-03-21T12:25:00.003-04:00

Hi Friends--

I just finished updating my Waldeck Dry Goods Facebook page. I hope you'll "friend" me, because my husband already has over 400 friends and I'm starting to feel a little bit unpopular.

Love,
Addie

Something New + Good Mail

2009-03-13T15:48:00.003-04:00

I really needed a new hobby (ha), so when I found out that my local yarn shop was offering a beginning knitting class, I signed up right away. Luckily, Edna, the owner, is super nice and helpful. I've been to see her twice in the last two days for help. I think I've finally got it, and my scarf should be finished just in time for the weather to get warm again.

In other news, I won an amazing giveaway from Lisa at Lazy May. I can't wait to get started on those adorable patterns! Thanks, Lisa!

Edison's Day

2009-03-12T21:06:00.002-04:00

I saw this video about Montessori parenting on the sewliberated blog. I really, really want to learn more about Montessori teaching and parenting. Can anyone recommend some good resources?

52Q:: Update

2009-02-20T19:09:00.002-05:00

Here are my latest pages for the 52Q Art Journal Challenge. The prompt for this one was "How do I feel today?"

And "When I look in my eyes..."
I just used my good old Crayola watercolors on these pages, along with some collage and Sharpie pens. I recently got the book 1000 Artist Journal Pages, and it's been fun going through it and being inspired by the journals in the book. I'll be posting more pages from my journal soon, but first I have to clean up the kitchen. And the living room. And the dog and cat food that Ava dumped everywhere.

February

2009-02-19T16:04:00.003-05:00

Snuggling on the couch

Resting amidst the mess

Reading

"Helping" mama sew

Valentines

(Edited to add:: Sarah asked if that is Amy Butler on my sleeve in the first picture... Yep! It's one of my many Simplicity 3835 shirts.)

T-Shirt Dress Tutorial

2009-02-01T16:00:00.005-05:00

A couple of people have asked me for a tutorial for these t-shirt dresses. I've never written a tutorial before, so please let me know if you try to follow my instructions and something isn't clear. Okay? Let's get started.

To make one dress you'll need:

-a t-shirt or onesie
-fabric for the skirt
-thread
-sewing machine or serger

I'm using a plain cotton t-shirt that we had on hand and some fabric from my stash. Look around to see what you have before you buy anything for this project. Onesies that are a bit short work well. You can also use a shirt that fits well but has a stain- cover it with an applique!

Prepare your fabric and shirt by washing, drying, and ironing.

Draw a straight line about 2" below the armpits of the shirt.
Cut on this line. (Let me know if you have an idea for using the bottom half of the shirt-- I just throw mine into my scrap basket.)
To determine the length of fabric you need for the skirt, measure the width of your shirt.
My shirt was about 11" wide. I doubled this measurement to get 22". Then I added about 6 more inches to my measurement to account for seam allowances and the fullness of the skirt. (You can make your skirt as full as you want-- the wider you cut your fabric, the more you'll need to gather your skirt and the fuller it will be). I cut my fabric about 28" x 12". To determine the length of my skirt, I just measured the length of a dress that fits my daughter well.

Set your machine to its longest straight stitch, and stitch along one long side of the skirt. Use a 1/4" seam here. Leave the tails long, and don't backstitch.
Now, gently pull the thread to form gathers along the top of the skirt. Don't pull too hard or you'll break the thread and have to start over. Keep gathering until your skirt is the correct width. In my case, I pulled until my skirt was 23" wide.
After you've done that, fold your skirt (right sides facing) and sew the side seam. I used my serger here, but you can use your regular machine and finish your seams however you like.
Now you're ready to sew the skirt to the t-shirt. Put the two pieces together so that the right sides are facing. Match the raw edge of the shirt to the gathered edge of the skirt. I like to match the side seam of the skirt to the side seam of the shirt, but you can put your skirt seam in the back if you like. I use lots of pins here.
Sew the skirt to the shirt, using a 1/2" seam allowance. Again, I used my serger here, but this isn't necessary.

Now you've got something that looks like this. (We're almost done!)

Turn your dress right side out, hem it, and you're done! You could add some buttons, embroidery, applique, etc.
If you make one of these, I'd love to see it! Let me know if you have any questions!

For All Crafty People in the Central PA Area:: Craft Show Opportunity

2009-01-29T12:14:00.002-05:00

The Quentin Riding Club in Lebanon, PA is hosting its first Spring Arts and Crafts Show. They've done this show in the fall before, and it has been very well attended. According to the organizers, they have already started advertising. There will also be a car show going on that weekend, as well as an Easter egg hunt, a parade, and more.

Saturday, April 4th from 8am to 5pm
Sunday, April 5th from 10am to 5pm

A 10 x 10 space inside is $55. Spaces are available outside for $45.

For more information and an application, go here: http://www.quentinridingclub.com/SpringArtCraft.pdf

Please forward to your other crafty friends. Hope to see you there!

Scarf Tutorial by Chara Michele

2009-01-21T20:41:00.003-05:00

One of my very first blogging friends, Chara Michele, is hosting a giveaway to celebrate her 3 year blogging birthday. She's also put together a great scarf tutorial on her blog (see the link on my sidebar). I've been wanting to make some of these, but hopefully I'll win one of hers!

Another Art Journal Project: A Year in the Life of an Art Journal: ABC's of ME Art Journal 2009

2009-01-20T21:36:00.003-05:00

I've started another art journal project called A Year in the Life of an Art Journal. Every two weeks we will get a different prompt as we work our way through the alphabet. The first prompt was ACTION, and here is my page:

And the back:

I am using envelopes that I saved from the trash at my old job to create my pages for this book. I just punched holes and put them together with rings. Get more details about the project here:
A Year in the Life of an Art Journal: ABC's of ME Art Journal 2009 'B'

52Q:: Week 2

2009-01-15T16:10:00.001-05:00

Are you afraid of change?See more art journals at the 52Q Flickr group.

52Q:: An Art Journal Challenge

2009-01-11T20:40:00.003-05:00

I've been keeping journals for a very long time, and when I started exploring Flickr a little over a year ago, I discovered art journals. When I saw this post, I knew I wanted to join in. I'll be posting my pages here each week, as well as in the 52Q Flickr group. Care to join us?

Baby Quilt-- What Should I Do With It??

2009-01-11T20:04:00.005-05:00

Now that the Christmas crafting rush is over, I've had more time to play around with some projects I've had in mind. One of the things I wanted to do was try out the quilting kit that came with the sewing machine my mother-in-law gave me when she upgraded over the summer. I ended up going into my scrap bin and piecing this simple little baby quilt. I used the open-toe stippling foot and the free motion guide grip to quilt and the walking foot to sew on the binding. I finished the binding by hand sewing-- my favorite part. I think I could hand sew binding all day! The finished quilt measures about 36 x 36. Now, should I put this in my Etsy shop? Keep it? Save it to give as a gift?

the back

the front

New Dress in Action

2009-01-02T15:41:00.006-05:00

It was nearly impossible to get a shot of Ava in her new dress, but here are a few:

I looked everywhere for instructions on how to make a dress like this, but ended up having to just figure it out on my own. I wonder if anyone would be interested in a tutorial??

New Year's Eve Meme

2008-12-31T17:05:00.002-05:00

Saw this here and thought it would be fun to play along.

Here are the rules: Bold the things you’ve done and post on your blog!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band ... I played the saxophone until I was in 10th grade.
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain – do small ones count?
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo -not in public, though!
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - sewing.
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill- only once!
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon-- a half marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - now it is a parking lot
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke – only once, on my birthday a few years ago.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie - crappy ones, but they were paychecks!
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business- Waldeck Dry Goods!
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies- 12 years in a row!
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - I still have Toby
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar – eew. Tasted it. No thanks.
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades- went there to see Phish for New Year's 1999-- I wouldn't call what I did there "touring", though
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper - it doesn't take much to get your picture in the Lititz Record Express
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating – fish. Just fish.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous- Elizabeth Dole
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Okay - who else wants to play?

Toddler Wardrobe Re-Fashion

2008-12-31T16:24:00.003-05:00

Clearance holiday t-shirt from Target+ fabric from my stash + a few minutes of sewing=

An adorable dress for Ava!

I saw dresses made exactly like this in a local children's boutique. They were a little too spendy for my taste, plus I knew I'd be able to make one myself. This one is not hemmed yet; I have to wait for my model to wake up from her nap first. I'll post a few pictures of Ava modeling as soon as I can.

Cleaning Out (Again)

2008-12-28T13:23:00.002-05:00

After all of my Christmas sewing, my sewing room is a disaster (I'd show you a photo, but it's too embarrassing). My scrap basket is overflowing. Every time I try to look for something, the contents of the basket end up all over the floor. I really can't stand to throw these little scraps away, though. They are just the thing to freshen up your fabric stash. I have several gallon-size bags that I'm packing up with scraps, and I'd like to share them with you!

How to enter:: Link back to this post on your own blog, and in your post write about your favorite things to do with your leftover fabric. Make sure I see your post (either leave a comment or email me: waldeckdrygoods@gmail.com). I'll pick a winner early this week.

Thanks for helping me clean up!

Save Handmade: Call For Action

2008-12-24T09:55:00.002-05:00

The following was written by Jesseca at Quilt Baby:

If you are not familiar with the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), you need to be. While I truly believe that the individuals who drafted and passed this legislation only had good intentions in mind, the consequences will be catastrophic for individuals, families, small and big businesses, consumers, and the economy as a whole. Not only will it effect all of us on a financial level, but it threatens the imagination and creativity that is vital to the children's industry.

I urge you to take a few minutes to read the excerpt below from Cool Mom Picks, this post on Mom-101, this Etsy open letter, to send out emails, letters to congress, post on your blogs, please sign this petition, visit Change.org and log your support- if it gets enough votes, it will be shown to President Obama in January.

Please do your part to insure that this law is amended so that we are not forced to surround our children with big box toys and clothing.

Per Cool Mom Picks:

We're all for strengthening the safety standards of mass-produced toys, clothes, and accessories made in China, and banning toxins like phthalates and lead. But this year, congress passed the ill-conceived Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act, a law which goes into effect in two months and will absolutely decimate the small toy manufacturers, independent artisans, and crafters who have already earned the public trust. The very same ones that we often feature here and in our yearly special edition gift guides.

With this act going into effect February 10 2009 so many people we love will be affected: Moms who sew beautiful handmade waldorf dolls out of home, artists who have spent decades hand-carving trucks and cars out of natural woods, that guy at the craft show who sold you the cute handmade puzzle--even larger US companies who employ local workers and have not once had any sort of safety issue will no longer be able to sell their goods. Not without investing tens of thousands of dollars into third-party testing and labeling, just to prove that toys that never had a single toxic chemical in them still don't have a single toxic chemical in them.

How to Get Involved -- it only takes 5 minutes of your time!

-Find your congress personand senators and write a letter like the sample here.
Particularly if they serve on the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection or theHouse Committee on Small Business.

-Send an email directly to the CPSC or contact chairperson Nancy Nord at 301-504-7923

-Vote for amending the law on Change.org, digg style: With enough votes it will be presented to President Obama in January!

-Place the Save Handmade! button on your blog or website to help spread the word to everyone you know who cares about protecting the little guy and preserving beautiful items made with love for our children.

Please take the time to get involved.

Love, Addie

101 Reasons to Buy Handmade

2008-12-11T07:49:00.005-05:00

Like last year, I'm trying to make most of my gifts or buy them from crafters on Etsy. I found this list this morning:: 101 Reasons to Buy Handmade. What are you making this year?

How to Occupy Toddler and Daddy

2008-12-10T21:25:00.005-05:00

I came home from teaching today and all Ava wanted was "Bup, bup, bup" (up, up, up). I held her for as long as I could (she is heavy), but I needed to get some things done. I set Ava up with her crayons and paper, but she scribbled on the wall instead. I remembered seeing a recipe for homemade playdough in one of my cookbooks, so I decided to give that a try. It was magical. Ava sat at the table and made cookies and snakes and even tried feeding some to Hank and to herself. Ava and Daddy played long enough for me to change my clothes, do some laundry, check email, and read a few blogs.

Playdough Recipe:

3 c. flour
1 1/2 c. salt
6 t. cream of tartar
3 1/4 c. water
3 T. vegetable oil

Whisk dry ingredients into a large pot. Whisk in wet ingredients. Cook on high 3-4 minutes until dough forms. Separate into portions and add food coloring if desired.

Note: This makes a huge batch. I only made half and we have plenty. I like this recipe because it is totally non-toxic. Your kids can eat it, but they won't take more than one bite!

Ava takes her first and only bite of playdough.

City Arts Market

2008-12-02T19:42:00.001-05:00

City Arts Market is back in time for the Holiday Season.

Challenge yourself and your family to each buy something from a local artist for the holidays.
Unique gift giving ideas, live music, food, and best of all it's FREE to get in.
Spread the word!

Saturday, December 6th and Sunday, December 7th
10am-4pm

308 East King Street, Lancaster, PA

Click here for a list of vendors: http://www.historiceasternmarket.org/index.php?pID=28

Ways I Could Drain My PayPal Account, Part 2

2008-11-28T16:38:00.002-05:00

If I don't win this giveaway on Simple Mom, I will have to go buy most of these things myself!

Ways I Could Drain My PayPal Account, Part 1

2008-11-25T19:40:00.004-05:00

I was looking for some felt food to buy for Ava for Christmas, when I thought, "Why don't I make her some felt food?" Then I thought, "I have no idea how to make felt food." So I headed over to Etsy, where I found this great shop called Bugga Bugs. I can't decide between the homemade bread, the fruit, or the lunch. The nativity set and the Olivia doll are seriously cute as well. See what I mean? I want them all!

What are you making (or thinking about making) for your little ones for Christmas?

SimpleMom Blog Giveaway

2008-11-10T07:06:00.002-05:00

I've been reading the SimpleMom blog for a couple of weeks, and it is full of great ideas for simplifying your life and home. Right now she's giving away this awesome printer. I am not much of a gadget person, but this is one thing I would LOVE to have.

Now, it's off to work. Yep, I am now working part-time as an ESL teacher.

The Cutest Trick-or-Treaters in Waldeck

2008-11-02T07:56:00.004-05:00

Ava's Nana made her a Little Red Riding Hood costume for Halloween.

She trick-or-treated with her cousins.

And we went to visit Great-Grandad.

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

2008-10-31T21:20:00.000-04:00

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Akron Stop + Shop

2008-10-29T20:32:00.003-04:00

I'm participating in a Stop + Shop event in a few weeks. This should be a great time. Here are the details::

Stop + Shop Christmas Show

Featuring
Pampered Chef
Creative Memories
Signature Home Styles
Mia Bella Candles
At Home Body Shop
Tastefully Simple
Stampin' Up
Waldeck Dry Goods
and lots more!

Friday, November 7th
6:00pm-9:00pm

Saturday, November 8th
8:00am-5:00pm

Free admission and parking

BCM International
309 Colonial Drive
Akron, PA 17501

Come get started on your Christmas shopping!!

I Love a Good Contest

2008-10-29T20:28:00.002-04:00

JC Handmade is hosting an awesome contest. She made a great little quilt for a new baby, and she has generously offered to make one for one lucky reader of her blog. In order to enter, you've got to link from your blog to her blog, and state the main colors you'd like your quilt to be. If I win (and I really, really hope I do), I would love some browns and yellows in my quilt. For more details, see the post here.

Shop Update Today

2008-10-19T16:47:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone--

I've spent most of Ava's naptime today updating my Etsy shop. It won't be long before it's time to start thinking Christmas, so get over there and check some people off your list!

Love, Addie

Etsy Front Page 9/25/08

2008-09-27T10:10:00.002-04:00

Etsy Front Page 9/25/08
Originally uploaded by Etsy Front Pagers

Hey! I made it to the front page of Etsy!! I've been getting ready for a craft show that is tomorrow, and I've listed a few of the things I've been making in my shop. I've sold several things, so now I'm hoping Ava takes a nice looooong nap so I can do lots of sewing this morning. This is a good problem to have, though. I'll be at the EcoFair tomorrow.

Welcome, Fall

2008-09-22T20:28:00.004-04:00

It's beginning to feel a little like fall here in Waldeck. We're starting to need an extra blanket on the bed at night, I've had to put on socks, and there is that fall smell you can catch a whiff of once in a while. The trees are still green and you can still pick a few things out of the garden, but I have seen a few leaves on the ground out back. Fall's right around the corner.

When I went to college in North Carolina, the highlight of field hockey season was the trip we made to PA the beginning of each October. I loved coming home right in the middle of fall. No one does fall like Central Pennsylvania, I think.

Some things I love about Fall::

*Fair season
*Pumpkins and mums
*Longer runs in the woods with Hank
*Cider
*Coffee all day long
*Needing a sweater

And because I have no photos of what's happening so far this fall, here's one of me and my hubby taken two Octobers ago. See how others are celebrating fall at Polka Dot Cottage.

The Omnivore's 100

2008-09-18T15:03:00.003-04:00

I saw this on jennifreckles crafts and was very interested. I am very curious about what others have tried, as well. I don't even know what some of these things are, but I'll have to look them up later. I've been a vegetarian for about 7 years now, so any of the meat dishes I've tried I definitely haven't had since then. I'm not a very adventurous eater, but I will try (almost) anything that is non-meat. I'm not going to tag anyone specifically, but if you read this blog, please participate and leave a comment so I can read your list!

Here’s what you do:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating. (I just put no in front of these because I can't figure out how to cross them out)
4) Optional extra: Post a comment at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

1. Venison - but as a vegetarian I haven't had this in a verrrrry long time.
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding NO
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp NO
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari just once in my pre-vegetarian days. A friend told me I'd love it. That friend was wrong.
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns NO
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes mmmmm I love tomatoes.
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras NO! Never!
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese NO
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters NO
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl NO
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut one of my favorite foods
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar NO. Gross.
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo NO
40. Oxtail NO
41. Curried goat NO
42. Whole insects NO
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu - pufferfish? NO
47. Chicken tikka masala see #1
48. Eel NO
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin NO
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal NO
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs NO
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake mmmm funnel cake....
68. Haggis NO
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini NO
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill EW. NO
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail NO
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef NO
86. Hare NO
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse NO
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam NO
92. Soft shell crab NO
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish NO
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox NO
97. Lobster Thermidor NO
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake NO

It's That Time of Year...

2008-09-17T16:22:00.003-04:00

Now that my hubby's second job isn't keeping him away from home as much, he's able to spend lots more time with Ava, which means more sewing time for me!

I've got a few craft fairs lined up for this fall/winter:

EcoFair (Parkesburg, PA) Sunday, September 28th

Fall ArtWalk (Lancaster, PA) October 18th and 19th

City Arts Market at Eastern Market (Lancaster, PA) December 6th and 7th

I'm also adding things to my Etsy shop nearly every day. Here are some of the things just added to my shop.

The Beach and a Birthday!

2008-09-10T20:22:00.006-04:00

Ava has had a busy month so far: a trip to South Bethany Beach and her first birthday!

Checking out the birthday shirt from mama:

Cousin Luke checks out presents, too:

Cake!!
This year has gone so quickly. It is amazing how much Ava has changed. A few observations about Ava at one:

-She can walk really well, and has figured out how to move the playpen that blocks the doorway in the living room so she can escape (time to get a real gate).

-She says lots of words, including mama, dada, Hank, more, cracker, talk, ball, and no.

-She loves to give Hank hugs (even though he got sprayed by a skunk while we were away and is totally gross).

-She naps twice a day and sleeps all night long (about 8:00 pm to 6:30 am).

-She nurses four times a day, and eats lots of different foods.

Tomorrow we go to the doctor for some shots and a checkup. Happy Birthday, Sweet Bunny!

Apron Sent!

2008-09-10T20:14:00.003-04:00

I recently sent my apron for the Sassy Apron Swap- Fall Edition to my partner, Magda. I hope she gets it soon, and I hope she likes it. We were also supposed to include a pot holder. I made one, but it's not in the picture. I think the pot holder took more time than the apron. Seriously. It was very simple: two squares of fabric, some re-purposed toweling in the middle, and some quilting. The tough part was attaching binding around the whole thing. Let's just say that this particular pot holder has lots of handmade charm.

I also received an awesome apron from Angelic. I will post pictures soon!

One Pretty Thing

2008-08-27T20:23:00.003-04:00

Have you been to this site yet? If you haven't, go there now! The creators post "Daily DIY" projects and "Roundups" (here's my favorite so far). With all of these projects in one place, I can spend less time clicking from site to site and more time crafting, right??

I was looking through some old photos, and here's my extra-large baby just about one year ago:

I'm not sure what I'm doing with those telephone books....

Top 100 Books

2008-08-19T17:03:00.003-04:00

I saw this on my buddy Lex's blog (read about his adventures here). I love booklists, and this list, according to the Big Read, is the "100 Best Books Ever". According to their site, the majority of adults have only read SIX of these books. I'd like to brag about the fact that I've read quite a few more than that, but probably not as many as Lex has.

Here's what to do:

1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.
2) Italicize those you intend to read.
3) Put a * beside the books you love.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling I started this series, but only read the first two.
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee*
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

I actually have quite a few of my "intend to read" books already. What have you been reading this summer? I'm always looking for good books to read, so if you have any suggestions, let me know.

The $1 Skirt

2008-08-17T15:53:00.006-04:00

Since I got Sew What! Skirts last summer, I've made a few a-line skirts with zippers, and none of them fit me quite right. I've also tried a few a-line skirts with an elastic waist, but those were horrible, unflattering disasters. I've had this yard sale denim (purchased for $1) sitting around, and I decided to try one more time. Instead of using the measurement suggestions in the book, I just used a skirt I have to make a pattern. The result:A skirt that fits well, has little "bunching" at the waist, and is super-comfy. I have worn this lots already, and it will be perfect with tights this fall and winter.

In non-sewing news, Ava is almost one now, and started walking about a month ago. She is so curious, and last week she did a little experiment with Hank's food and water.

She managed to eat a few pieces and dump both the food and water bowls in the few seconds my back was turned. That's paint on her knee, but that's another story.

Sweet Vintage Linen Baby Blanket

2008-08-01T21:01:00.001-04:00

Sweet Vintage Linen Baby Blanket
Originally uploaded by WaldeckDryGoods

I added some new stuff to my Esty shop, including this sweet blanket. I have lots of that vintage sheet fabric left if anyone is interested in a little swap...

I've Been Tagged

2008-07-27T15:08:00.003-04:00

I've been tagged by Trish! Trish is a friend of mine from high school, and she has a very cool blog all about saving money. Here's what you do:

1. Link back to the person who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

Six things:

1. I've been a vegetarian for about 7 years. My college boyfriend and I decided to try to not eat meat for a month, and I ended up sticking with it. The BF is long gone, though.

2. I actually enjoy doing laundry and almost never use a dryer.

3. I have hundreds of books all over our house. I rarely read books a second time, but I keep almost all of them.

4. We live within walking distance of my parents. They are probably the people we hang out with most often.

5. I love going to thrift stores and yard sales to find things for my family. I am trying to be more conscious of what I buy and where I buy it.

6. I have had the same three best friends since I was in elementary school.

I tag Melissa, Sarah, Valerie, Kathlyn, Becky, and AJ. Have fun!!

Winner

2008-07-25T09:20:00.002-04:00

Thanks to everyone who commented about my blog birthday this week. The winner of my giveaway is Sarah!

Sarah S said...

Happy Birthday! Thanks for the generous giveaway!

July 21, 2008 9:59 AM

Sarah, send me your address, and I'll send you your prize soon!

Hurry! Sign Up Today!

2008-07-25T09:16:00.002-04:00

Today is the last day to sign up for the fall version of the Sassy Apron Swap. This is a great swap, and in this round we're making full aprons and potholders. I'm already thinking about some ideas for my apron. Don't wait! Go sign up now!

Today's Thrift Store Scores

2008-07-23T14:33:00.001-04:00

Today's Thrift Store Scores
Originally uploaded by WaldeckDryGoods

Ava and I took a trip to two of my favorite thrift stores this morning. We scored big time! Click on the photo for more info about what we found.

I'm thinking about putting some of those velvet painting/embroidery things (pictured under Christmas tablecloth) on etsy or ebay if anyone is interested.

Belated Blog Birthday!

2008-07-21T08:43:00.003-04:00

The one-year birthday of my blog came and went, and I forgot all about it! I still want to celebrate, even though it's a little late. I've been cleaning out my sewing room and moving it into another room of our house. I seriously need to get rid of some stuff, so how about a little giveaway? I'm packing up 1/2 pound bags of scraps, and if you'd like to win one (plus some other goodies not pictured here), leave a comment by Wednesday, July 23rd. I'll pick a random winner from the comments then.
PS- Check out my ebay auctions for some other fabrics and notions!

Fun for Nothin'

2008-07-08T20:23:00.002-04:00

Meg from Sew Liberated has started a new Flickr group called Fun for Nothin'. The group is for parents who want to get away from the consumer culture or who are on a tight budget. Kids seem to have the most fun when they are able to use their imaginations and create something out of what we might just cast off. My niece once played for hours in her "dog house" made out of a large cardboard box bound for the trash. Even though she has lots of toys, Ava has tons of fun shaking boxes of macaroni and banging pots and pans together. Get some ideas at Fun for Nothin', and be sure to share the fun things you do with your family.

New (to me) Embroidery

2008-07-07T10:40:00.004-04:00

I've gotten my hands on some lovely finished pieces of embroidery lately.

Found in my Nan's sewing stuff after she passed away:

These are done on black linen, and the colors are so bright (hard to tell in these photos).

Another find from her basket:
This one is about 4 feet long, and I have no idea how to finish it.

I picked these up at a local antique shop:

Any suggestions for framing/finishing are greatly appreciated!