Sew, What is Success?

I did not have the success that I was aiming for this month on the sewing projects, but what success I did have was sweeter than anticipated.

The Setbacks:

One: I melted as pair of pretty blue eyes smiled in the face of a soon to be three year old who was so excited to tell me that she was going to have a princess birthday party. I was powerless to resist. My mom immediately volunteered to help and we set to work making a pretty pink princess dress. Our princess picked out the fabric and the pattern last spring. It was convenient that I had everything for her dress on hand waiting for just the right moment to make it. Only one problem, I thought that moment would be, um, Christmas time. She happened to drop by the first evening we were working on it. Excellent, that way we could see if it would fit. The pieces my mom had just cut out were sitting on the table. When mom asked our princess who she they thought were for, our princess answered: “You?”, “My mom?”, “Madilyn?”. In short, she thought it was for everyone except her. Emma is so sweet and so unassuming. Mom held up the various pieces to her and put them back on the table. Our princess was ‘looking’ at the pieces {I love how kids always ‘look’ with their fingers.} and she asked: “Could someone put these together for me?” If I had not already melted, I would have then. She is so precious.

Two: I lost 5 days (aka one Saturday {the only day I have to really accomplish anything} and four evenings) to an exacerbated sternocleidomastoid. Dumb, but I am all better now. Instead of sewing I spent that Saturday with Philip.

Three: I learned that there was a book sale right after being told that my last week with sewing potential would be eaten up by overtime.

The Successes:

One: A Pretty Pink Princess who looked just like Sleeping Beauty in her pink dress. She even wanted to wear the tiara to bed the night of her birthday party.

Two: Quality time with Philip. Who is thankful, I am sure, that I did not sew him anything.

Three: A great day spent with my mom, and finding more books to make a home for. Now, my bookshelf is completely full, even behind the books.

Four: Probably my most triumphal, making Stacey the Queen of All the Land. A definite upgrade from the role previously assigned to her {that of The Royal Cleaner}. She looked absolutely beautiful at her final fitting last night! Emma, The Royal Pin Cushion Holder and Assistant to the Royal Seamstress, sure thought so. Emma was darling following her mom and me around as we moved to find better lighting, and visit the only floor length mirror in the house. With my pin cushion in hand, she was ready to supply me before I could even begin to ask. I could not find a better little assistant.

It is funny to see that even when things do not turn out how I wanted them to, they are better than I expected. And, maybe now I will have time to make the chemise, bloomers, and petticoat for my costume next year. One thing is for certain, I am not putting it away this time. Slow progress is still progress.

Snug as a Bug in... Beans?

Last night after dinner, Garrett fell asleep in his dad’s arms. When it was time to have dessert, his dad put him in the beanbag chair. This is how much he liked it. {At least, until Emma “bumped” into the beanbag chair one too many times.}

Welcome, Garrett, to the wonderful experience called

Naptime in a Beanbag Chair.

New Meaning to Book Bag

Here is a cute idea I found online.

I am not sure how I feel about them defacing Pride and Prejudice, but still fun.

Steal of a Find

For the last while I have been looking for an old dictionary. Not just any dictionary, but one of those huge dictionaries. I have found them online, but they are so expensive. We are talking $375 expensive. I could not rationalize spending that much. No way. But today was a wonderful day! Mom and I went to the used book sale at the local library. I love used book sales. I found a 1939 Unabridged Dictionary, seven volumes of Pushkin in pre communist Russian, and two writing books from 1924. They were $1 each. So cool! Aren’t they beautiful?!

Lunch Break List

Yesterday one of my coworkers, knowing my penchant for literature, told me about an article published Monday in one of the British newspapers. In this article the results of a survey are discussed. What was said survey about? Well, this survey tried to determine who are the most romantic heroes in literature? I am not going to share the link, because I do not agree. Instead, I am going to give you my list compiled on an obliging post-it note during my lunch break. I am certain upon greater reflection I would determine that someone has been overlooked and/or may not be ranked as they should have been… Not so, for my top three. But how much more time, really, should I spend thinking about this? That being said, I will withhold no longer:

10 Most Romantic Heroes in Literature:

1) John Thornton (North and South)**

2) Frederick Wentworth (Persuasion)

3) Константин Дмитриевич Лёвин, Konstantin Dmitrievich Levin (Анна Каренина, Anna Karenina)

4) George Knightley (Emma)

5) Gabriel Oak (Far From the Madding Crowd)

6) Daniel Deronda (Daniel Deronda)

7) Allan Woodcourt (Bleak House)

8) Fitzwilliam Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)

9) Percy Blakeney (Scarlet Pimpernel)

10) Gilbert Markham (The Tenant of Wildfell Hall)

**Note: Please refer to the book {not the movie} for his true character!

Worthy of an Honorable Mention:

Edmund Bertram (Mansfield Park), Dick Dewy (Under a Greenwood Tree), Edward Ferrars (Sense and Sensibility), John Ridd (Lorna Doone), Edward Rochester (Jane Eyre), Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing), Eugene Wrayburn (Our Mutual Friend), John Harmon (Our Mutual Friend), Paul Emanuel (Villette), Gilbert Blythe (Anne of Green Gables), Graham Bretton (Villette), Waldo Hawkridge (The Nonsuch), Arthur Clennam (Little Dorrit), Nicholas Nickleby (Nicholas Nickleby), Arthur Goring (An Ideal Husband), Robert Chiltern (An Ideal Husband)

Inspired by Google...

I love the randomness of Google's doodles. So, I clicked and found a link to make my own bar code. Love it. http://www.barcodesinc.com/generator/index.php

Bungee Bunny

I picked up a leash for Peter so he could play outside. It is hilarious. First, it has a jacket that is blue like Peter Cottontails. Second, is has a little bell that jingles when he hops. And third, it has a short stretchy leash. That last part is its best feature. If he hops faster than I am moving it has a bungee effect when he reaches the end of the leash. This is the best when it happens mid hop. He becomes Bungee Bunny.

Three Cups of {Herbal} Tea

Tonight was our monthly ward book group meeting. I have to say it was just delightful! We discussed all sorts of things including our book for this last month. We read Those Who Love by Irving Stone. It is a biographical novel about John and Abigail Adams. I have to confess I did not have time to finish the book before this evening, but I was familiar enough with the history that there were no “spoilers.” I am still looking forward to finishing it. Great pick Karah! Both the book and the refreshments were wonderful. When reading a book that includes the Boston Tea party… what other refreshment is there, but {herbal} tea? Karah made all of these little tea sandwiches. Yum. She also had a floral tea that she put in a glass tea pot and we watched it bloom. So cool! There were several yummy varieties of {herbal} tea that we put in the prettiest tea cups ever. I have to admit I had three cups. I wish I would have taken a picture of the delectable tea accoutrements. Unfortunately I only have this photo of my Petits Fours. Not too shabby for a first attempt, but I will admit to using a cheater method. And I even cheated on the cheater method. I did not fill them and I did not dip them, and worse… I froze the cake before I cut the squares. Still it was fun. Next time I make them I need to give myself more time to decorate them. What a lovely evening!

New Chick Flicks

Yeah, fun chick flicks that are rated PG!

1) Bright Star. This is already out in theaters, but I have not seen it yet.

2) The Young Victoria. (December 18, 2009)

3) Emma. (The next Masterpiece Classics season.)

Thanks Google images for these fun pictures.