my first shades: questions, insecurities, and a little sense of accomplishment...

I took Avery to Crafty Planet where he (mainly) and I picked out the fabric. The pattern is from Butterick, I think.




We really like the stripe, but we're wondering--now that it's up--if the valance fabric looks like flowers too much. Kinda looked like amoeba-ish at the store, but now not so much...




The next thing I'm second guessing is the shape of the valance. Maybe less curves will help out that not-a-flower fabric. The one on the left is just pinned up to see. What do you think?



Lastly, I'm afraid the tie-ups look feminine, too. (Sensing a complex here???) I was thinking about somehow using discreet hooks that you'd use at the top of a zipper. These will be down for the most part, but we want some way to let light in on occasion. hmmmm... Got any thoughts???

super cute (although slightly impractical) burp cloths

A trip down memory lane: My first projects

Truth is, I (kinda) learned to sew many moons ago in college, in the costume shop. But, there was a dry spell for, oh, seven years.

On a whim, in mid-October of 2006, I decided I would make the boys costumes for Halloween. I asked Tiffany to for a sewing machine loaner (how trusting she was!!), I found a fabric store and that's all it took. I was hooked.

Before I started on the costumes, I made this (just to see if I could sew at all):



Then I made these:

And then I bought my own machine and made this:

And then my incredibly trusting sister, commissioned this:


(It's a t-shirt quilt. It was a gift. I look scary. I know.)

Just wanted to share some of my roots.

christy, is this "nothing too funky" enough?

Don't get too excited about that pencil. It's just there for a size reference.

try this at home

Rachel said, "I have an idea. Use some of your fabric scraps, and some of that yarn that you never use,"--I don't knit...or crochet, but I love yarn--"...and make one of those banners with triangles..."

Here's what I made:




See how simple? No needle and thread. Just cut holes in the fabric and weave it through. It would work with twine or string.




And, voila!

it just kinda happened, but i want to be totally honest

"jennapants". it all started when another "jenna" started commenting on a few of my favorite blogs. and i needed a new name quick. the first thing that popped into my head was "jennapants". but, i'm not an original. you must know that it's an homage to a rip off from the original pants-wearer, jared van alstyne. we did improv together in college. he was lovingly known by our improv team as jaredpants.

i had two names (that i can remember): "mama improv" and "jenna, the looooooove sandwich". the latter came from the time we did a show that required a little road trip, and i sat in the backseat between jeff and jayme. nothing dirty. i promise. but, i don't think EITHER of those would be good names to use when commenting on blogs or selling crafty things.

so there. i'm not original.

kiddie aprons i made for sarah t

how about this melissa??

a little blurry, but you get the idea.