Marsbarn Designs...

Halloween day

Beef stew is bubbling away in the oven, and I can pretend I've cleaned up the kitchen (but I should really go and do a better job).  Big E is out with Little e getting who knows what at the store, and Sweetheart G is doing art upstairs.  Things are set up for the candy fairy to come tonight after bedtime. I did have plans for a sit down family style lunch, but that fell apart, so we're doing that free wheeling eat-when-you-feel-like-it  thang.  When the Es get back from the store, I think we'll carve up our pumpkins, but overall it is a slow leisurely kind of Halloween (i.e. the best-est kind ever in my book).  

Mini Dice Bags

Just so you know... and in case you're interested...  

I've started making two sizes of my square bottom draw string dice bag.

 

The Mini Dice bag is oh so cute, and very useful to boot.

I have had the occasional complaint that my regular dice bag size (4 1/2 by 4 1/2 and 5 inches tall) is too large and causes a gamer to feel compelled to buy more dice.  (Dice Inadequacy, it can be a real problem.)  The Mini bag is an easy on the wallet fix for this.  You can still carry a good number of dice, but not feel the need to add to your collection.

 

Here is the Mini with three sets of poly-dice in it.  See?  There is still room for a couple of sets more, but there isn't a dire need for more dice.

 

Here are those same dice in a regular sized dice bag.  There's a whole lotta room going on.  You can see the need for options, right?

For those non-gamers out there who are wondering what all I'm going on about, I also use these bags to corral my balls of yarn when I'm knitting.  And really, the new bag is mega cute.

Okay, I'll get off my soap box, if you are interested in more info look over here.

When then becomes now, and the space time continuum messes with my brain

Ack.  I've been having trouble with keeping track of the big stuff that's coming up, and the busy stuff that's happening now.  I've been handling the day to day stuff pretty well (everyone has clean socks and whatnot), and I've been prepping for the things that are going to jump out and say Boo to me when I flip the calendar page, but I still shock myself when I realize that next week, is actually tomorrow.  It's not that I'm not prepared, it is just the OHMYGOODNESS that day is today!

Case in point, tomorrow is the long anticipated Ladies Art Day.  Some friends of mine are coming over tomorrow morning for two hours of coffee, baked goods, and art-o-the-day.  I'm supplying the art stuff, and I'm ready to go, but.. really? Tomorrow?  Already?  Phew!

And Saturday is Halloween, wow.  Sure the girls are ready with their costumes, and I have candy, but this means October is almost over.  Ack.  

I did figure out a hypothetical costume for Halloween, you know.. if I was dressing up, which I'm not because that would be another thing on my plate, and Miss Piggy said you should never eat more than you can lift.  Anyway, I'd be the Ghost of Gourmet, because every Halloween should have the angry specter of a food magazine that was killed before its time.

Buying in anger

There was something else I bought at the big antique show.

 

This medal was given to every soldier who served 
the US during WWII in the Asiatic Pacific Campaign.

It was thrown in a box of junk, 
and placed on a $1 table.  
I bought it because the lack of respect made me mad.

Can you see the wear on the back of the medal? 
Someone wore this with pride. 
It meant something to the man who was awarded it.
It should be treated with respect and care.  

So I gave the vendor my money,
put the medal in my bag
and brought it home.

A successful hunt

On Sunday, I took a break.

Big E took the girls to our neighborhood Halloween parade, and I snuck off to do some antiquing at the Big Antique Show with my Mom.  

It was one of those shows that started with a nice find here, a bit of goodness there.  

Should I warn you that I'm going to get all gauche and give numbers?  Just look at the lovely photos if talk of money makes you queasy. 

 

I found a grey Pendleton suit jacket for $5 for me.  There was a yellow Harlequin bowl that I scooped up for $3, and then saw the exact same bowl (but scratched) for $65 at the next booth I visited.  Oh and six  milkglass juice glasses with the most beautiful translucence for $20.

 

I found the odd sewing notion, a Christmas house, three pieces of Christmas china for 50% off, some jingle bells... and then.. I found the motherload. The mythical Find.  

Twenty six pieces of Petalware for $2 a piece.  There were salad plates, bread and butter plates, and footed sherbet bowls.  Oh what a happy, fun day!  All of my finds have been washed and put away, but I still open the cabinet a couple times a day to ogle my find.

Special Order Snatching

People befuddle me.

The special order process in my shop is easy, friendly, fun, and gosh darn it you get to email with me and that just makes us better people all around with that whole "get to know the maker of your stuff" phenomenon that's so cool about buying handmade directly from the maker.  

But no. Apparently grabbing someone else's special order is.. what?  More fun? Easier?  Where was I unclear with the "If you are not (insert name that is not yours) please contact me for a special order of your own"?

Whatever.  People are buying my product, and I (luckily) have enough fabric to make a second bag,  so it isn't a big deal.. it is just befuddling.

Fiber Fungi, a Mushroom Stuffy Tutorial

This has been a busy (understatement) week,  as Book Fair week always is,  but I feel like I've done fairly well.  I've had an answer for every meal, including treats for tea time, the laundry was done, and I remembered to buy cat litter.  I've been sewing (6 dice bags, 4 fairy skirts, and a costume cape),  and I've gone to bed before 10:30 each night this week. 

So.  Here I am with a couple of hours before the final melee of the fair begins, and instead of napping, or cleaning, or being sensible, I am putting together a tutorial for stuffed mushrooms.  (The fabric kind, not the edible ones.)  Why?  It's my treat at the end of the week.  Yes, I am that kind of fiber geek.

This tutorial is more about methodology than a precise pattern.

 

I trace and cut out a circle in the fabric I want to use for the top of my mushroom.  This circle doesn't need to be perfect.  Here I'm using wool flannel that I've felted (or fulled) in my washing machine.  You can use just about anything, but be mindful of your fabrics tendency to fray.  I heartily recommend light to medium weight home felted sweaters, since this type of felt has more stretch than commercial felt, but will not fray.

 

Find the center of the circle and mark it on the wrong side. 

Working on the wrong side, sew wedges into your circle.   You can be precise and mark quadrants (quarters or eighths or whatever floats your boat), or just start sewing.  These seams are what make the shape of your mushroom.  The more seams you put in, the narrower your shape will be.  Play. Have fun! Mushrooms aren't perfectly shaped.  Funky is good in this project.

Here I wanted a rather flat mushroom top, so I made 4 shallow tucks.

 

Here it is right side out.

Lay your top on the fabric for the bottom of the mushroom.  Put right sides to right sides.  Pin around the edges, and then sew along the edge.  Be sure to leave an opening along one side.  Your seam allowance should reflect your fabric.  I generally use a scant 1/4", unless I know my fabric will fray.  Trim the underside fabric to size.

Turn your mushroom top right side out using that opening you left when sewing around the edge.  Stuff with stuffing of your choice.  I used fiberfill for this one.  Do not overstuff.  You want your mushroom to be full, but squishy. 

 

You have a choice now.  It is time to hand stitch the opening.  You can either use little stitches to invisibly whip stitch the opening shut,  or you can use larger stitches and go all the way around for a more rustic look.  This is also a last chance to finesse the shape of your mushroom.  As you stitch around the top you can tuck in bits that you don't like. 

 

Now for the stem.  For this mushroom I used two pipe cleaners bent double and twisted together.  You can use more or less depending on the shape of your mushroom top.  Take the fabric meant for covering the stem, cut a strip 2" longer than your pipe cleaners and about 3" wide.  Fold in half with right sides together.  Now, sew a seam that will make a channel just wide enough for your pipe cleaners.  I start wide, test the size with my pipe cleaners, and then make it narrower if necessary.

 

Once you have the proper dimension, trim the extra fabric, and turn the tube right side out.  Then feed your pipe cleaners into the tube.  The bent end will slide more smoothly than the rough ends.  You will have one inch of fabric hanging loose from either end of the pipe cleaner.

Choose one end, trim the extra to about 1/2", fold this over and use a needle and thread to stitch it down.  Now, choose the spot in the bottom of your 'shroom for the stem.  Using a sharp scissors cut a small slit at your chosen spot.  This cut should be small, you want to have to work to get the finished end of your stem into the hole.  It will be a tight  fit.  Push the stem in at least 1".  Now you will need a needle and thread to anchor the stem in the mushroom.

After knotting your thread and anchoring it in your mushroom, start sewing on the stem.  Take a small bite of mushroom top, push the needle through the stem (between the pipe cleaner wires), and then take a small bite of fabric on the other side.  Continue to sew, going back and forth through the stem, taking small stitches on either side.

Now, roll up the extra fabric on the bottom of your stem, and neatly stitch it shut.  Voila! You have a mushroom!

Now I made a mossy rock to nestle my mushroom into.

I made my rock similarly to my mushroom top.  

I started with a flat piece of fabric cut in an amoeba shape, and sewed in a couple of shaping darts on the wrong side.  

Then, I put a running stitch around the edge of the amoeba using strong double stranded thread.

 

Then cinch the drawstrings until you have a little lumpy purse.  Carefully push stuffing into all of the corners and niches of the rock you are making.  I wanted my rock to look organic and asymmetric, and those lumpy shapes take longer to fill lout.

 

Now you have a rock!

But the bottom still looks like this, and you need a weight to stabilize your composition.   I used flat rocks in the bottom of mine, but for a flatter bottom you could weigh down a recycled jar lid.  Whatever you use, you'll want to slide it in as you sew on the bottom.

I cut a larger than needed bit of fabric for the bottom, again using a felted fabric will mean you can leave the edges raw without worrying about raveling.

I hand stitched the patch on the bottom, cutting off the excess fabric as I went.  Then I slid my stone in the pocked, finished the stitching, and tested my rock for balance.

 

The mushroom is added to the rock via the same method as you attached the stem to the cap. Make as small of a slit as possible, wedge the stem in, and stitch it on.  Then bend and twist the wire stem of your mushroom until it is at the rakish angle you most desire, and you are good to go.

Now, if anyone makes a mushroom following my tutorial, would you please email me a photo so I can see it?  That would be so very kind.

Numbered days

As we walk down the street together 

through the fall leaves, 

my hand holds Little e's hand. 

I can feel how soft her hands still are,

how fragile her bones still feel,

how small she still is.

Sweetheart G does not hold hands anymore.

She prefers to link her arm through mine.

And, 

I am thrilled with the contact;

that despite the strength of her arm

and the firmness of her grip

she is not too old to walk with her mother.

tulle-ing about

All I want to do is stay home and play with my tulle.

Really.  I just want to stay home and make fairy skirts. Tulle is my momentary love. It is so forgiving, so bright, so fun, so full of instant gratification.  And honestly, in these days of busy, busy, busy I need all of those things.

I did recently receive a lovely compliment from one of my Dice Bag clients.  He accused me of ruining his perception of customer service. Now he'll expect too much from everyone else he deals with.  

Dad Rules

Let me preface this story by saying that when I am away from home, I am away from home.  I do the total removal routine, and I (hold on to your pants) don't call home.  I don't check in or check on my family.  They know where I am, if they need me they will contact me.  I do this for a couple of reasons.  First, I think short separations are good for the soul, both theirs and mine.  I need time to be me, and they need time to be without Mom.  Also, I think having me check in on them undermines Big E.  If I'm not home, it is Big E's world run by Daddy Rules.  And sometimes, those rules are better than mine.

Now, when I was in New York, there was a domestic tragedy, of sorts.

It went like this:

Hysterical tears and screams from the back room.

Big E to Little e, "What's wrong, are you hurt?"

Little e: "I...I..I.. killed my fairy!" 

We, as a family, don't go in for video games much, or mainstream commercials toys, but... the girls have this thing for the Disney Fairies site.  It is their only computer game vice, and most of the time they play as non-members, so it is free.  When Little e lost her most recent tooth, she asked her Tooth Fairy, Honeysuckle, for a month long membership instead of money.  Honeysuckle, being a soft touch, said "Wish granted" and there you go.  

Little e logged in and accidentally deleted her fairy. She could create a new one, but then she would have no gathered materials to buy things with.  (As non-members the girls collect flowers and berries, so when they get a month as members they can buy things.)

What to do, what to do? 

The Daddy solution?   

"Let's build a new fairy.  We can make her better, faster, stronger, and I'll stay up late into the night playing fairy games so you have berries to spend."

Really.  He spent hours filling her fairy coffers.  
Sometimes it really is better when the house runs by Daddy rules.

Yep. He's a pretty fabulous Dad.