UPDATE: Leave it to me to totally botch a headline. My bleary-eyed version from last night was such a downer. Instead of "lemons out of lemonade" please enjoy the correct headline above. Thanks for putting up with me, guys.
Can you hear that? It's the sound of water running through the drain pipes outside. In other words, it's like angels are whispering in my ear. (I'm pretty sure I stole that line from Tina Fey.)
Despite last week's shot of enthusiasm for winter, I'm still anxious for the snow to melt away. It's disappearing, slowly but surely, and I'm almost ready to think about the garden again.
To help speed things along, I finished that sunshiny lemon dress for Bo that I mentioned the other day.
That picture makes it look like the sleeves are different sizes, but I swear it looks OK in person.
I always get a little nervous showing close ups since I haven't taken a sewing class since Mrs. Scribner's at Whatcom Middle School. (Now where is that surfboard softie I made?)
Simplicity 2711. Great pattern. I'll definitely use it again.
We've been on a crafting spree lately, mostly because I've put the family on a TV diet. Even though Bo wasn't watching a lot (maybe an hour or two every other day--is that a lot? Oh, Lordy. Maybe it is), I checked out the book Living Simply with Children from the library and was reminded of all the research that supports throwing away the TV altogether. Here are the subheads from the book's section on TV, each of which is followed by research:
-TV transforms our kids--and us--into "consumer units"
-TV gives us inferiority complexes
-TV promotes violence and other negative values
-TV induces an addictive, trancelike state (I totally see that in Bo when she watches)
-TV creates couch potatoes
-TV inhibits learning
-TV is a time vampire
Among other things, I notice we have fewer behavior problems with Bo when we haven't watched TV for a while, so I'm re-doubling my efforts to find more valuable ways to fill our time. (I'll post a photo soon of a doll we made the other day at 5 a.m. when she was wide awake asking for Dora.) We're not going TV free (they've watched two movies in the last week) and it's not like I made a grand announcement with pie charts and bell curves. I'm just trying to better organize myself so that I have alternative activities during times when they'd normally ask to watch the boob tube.
I hope this isn't annoying. Please don't think I'm telling anyone else what to do. If there's one phrase that defines me, it's "to each his own." I just think it's a great discussion to have and I whole-heartedly welcome your thoughts on the topic.
Moving on.
Another project I made recently was a hanging book display for the wall next to Bo's bed. She was taking forever to pick books to read at night because she was pulling every single one off the shelf until she found the cover she recognized. Duh! The kid can't read yet so how is she supposed to recognize a book by its spine?
I entered this into that Apartment Therapy/Etsy contest I mentioned a few weeks ago. I'll share a few photos now and a tutorial later, once (if?) it gets posted on the contest Web site. (at which point I'll be begging you to head over there and vote for me so I can win a $250 Etsy shopping spree).
(YET ANOTHER) UPDATE: Bo actually woke up excited to wear the lemon dress to school, and she even let me take some pictures tonight while we were making dinner. So here it is in action:
By the way, the fabric is by Alexander Henry, the same designer who created the apples-and-pears motif that you've probably seen around.
I saw this pattern and thought it was so cute!
I will definitely get it!
Posted by: carol | February 25, 2009 at 02:42 PM
Bo wore it to school today and looked so cute I wanted to squeeze her (like a lemon!). I didn't want to press my luck by trying to take her picture, but I'll do my best to catch her another day.
Can't wait to see what you do with it, Carol.
Posted by: Megan | February 25, 2009 at 04:13 PM
Love that!! It's on my list to make now.
Bethany
Posted by: beth | February 25, 2009 at 05:32 PM
I think that hanging book display is a wonderful idea. The dress is also extremely cute!!
Posted by: Julie | February 25, 2009 at 05:56 PM
I wish- of all wishes- to be able to ween myself off of TV before having kids. It sucks up my time like a BEAST. I turn into Melissa Zombie when it's on. I down nearly 5 hours of tv a day. THAT's too much.
My Resolution for 2010 is no more than 1 hr of tv a day.
Posted by: melissa Jade | February 25, 2009 at 07:41 PM
Your sewing skills impress me everytime, so keep the close-ups coming!
Also, that book-sling has officially blown my mind!!
Posted by: mkpoggie | February 25, 2009 at 11:03 PM
You guys are too kind. I'm always so touched when people take the time to leave a comment, and to read such nice ones--what a great way to end my day!
If it makes you feel better Melissa, one of my best friends is a TV addict. Ever since she was a kid, she has watched hours upon hours, and I'm talking Jerry Springer kind of stuff. She also is one of the smartest people I know, not to mention kind, loving, a good listener, etc. So don't be too hard on yourself. :)
Posted by: Megan | February 26, 2009 at 12:02 AM
I hear ya on the behavior problems after TV watching. We do 20 min of Sesame Street in the mornings - the original episodes from the 70s on DVD - and almost every morning I debate whether it saves me any time at all: the whining and yowling when it's time to turn it off is unreal!
That said, I have a bad case of the flu right now, and yesterday successfully used TV as a babysitter for the first time in my girl's nearly three years. It was actually quite sweet: she snuggled up with me under a blanket; I dozed and she watched PBS for an hour or so. But that is the RARE exception! Most of the time I am with you in wanting to limit - if not altogether ban - the TV.
Posted by: michaela | February 27, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Oh, Michaela. I hear ya on the whining once the TV goes off. My regular line when that happens is this:
"If there's one thing we're not going to cry about in this house, it's TV!!!" How's that for Mother of the Year?
Your snuggling story is very sweet. Almost makes me want to get the flu. I hope you're feeling better. :)
Posted by: Megan | February 28, 2009 at 10:55 PM
We cancelled our cable subcription about 5y ago and got rid of the TV shortly after that. My husband watched parts of Gladiator at least 10 times on HBO but he never watched the movie from end to end, it drove me crazy. We do watch DVDs now and then with a projector hooked up to the DVD player. The kids (3.5 and 1y old) watch DVDs from time to time and I like the fact that they are not interrupted every 2 minutes by commercials. I think the kids don't miss it too much, they do other things, they play with their toys or make up new stories while dressing up like their favorite movie characters.
Posted by: steph | March 03, 2009 at 06:48 PM
I just announced today that the TV is hitting the road...okay, I asked my husband to put it in the garage. I don't know how it happened, I was so anti-TV in the beginning, but now, Lordy, we've got pint sized addicts demanding movie, movie , movie every time I turn around. I too need to organize myself as to not fall into the I'll just put in the DVD to buy myself some time. I notice a change in behavior too- TV makes my kids a little mean and cranky. The more we watch the worse it gets.
I just love your blog!
Posted by: emily | March 07, 2009 at 12:37 AM
Ooh! I bought that pattern on sale at Joanns!
Did you make the rooster on the wall too?
Posted by: karen | March 26, 2009 at 11:41 AM