The plumber just left. Just left a really big hole in my plaster ceiling that is. I think I mentioned what a mess this house was in when we moved here. We were able to fix the appearance for the most part with primer and paint and the removal of a LOT of horrible carpeting. It took quite a while but we were happy with the fix. Now we are beginning to realize that there were some difficulties that go beyond the looks of the place. Yesterday, for instance, after I took a shower, the water didn't drain. Mike got some drain-o and the snake and the plunger and started in on what he thought was a difficult clog. When I arrived home from the pool with the kids there was water seeping out of my first floor hall ceiling and wall and water pouring out of the basement ceiling. Oh no. Today the plumber came and the only way for him to see what was wrong was to put a hole in the ceiling of our hall (see above picture). Guess what we saw? Duck Tape holding together some of the pipes. Two leaks. We have known that the bath and shower would need replacing when we bought the house. Nolan was four at the time and we had a five year plan. In five years the boys would be in school and old enough to not need me all the time and I'd have had a part time job for some time, giving us the money necessary to fix the bathroom (and the kitchen). Well, here we are five years later and life has turned out a bit different than we planned. The kids are homeschooled and Mike has his own business. This has been such a blessing and I know it is God's plan for our lives. But it also means that it is all but impossible for me to work and we have to pay out of pocket for our health insurance. Doesn't leave a lot of money for fixing up the house. I'm ok with that except when the plumbing explodes!
So, what do we do??? We realize that while there is a hole in the ceiling we may as well bite the bullet and replace the tub. Not our timing, but when has my timing been right. God's timing for sure. I don't understand it, but it will work out.
Anybody want to buy a quilt??? Here's the new one I'm working on. I may try to make this one into a single bed size. It will have a total of five colors of pinwheels: pink, yellow, blue, green and orange. I finished up the pink squares while the plumber was fixing the pipes. Amy and I will be at Eastern Market again this Saturday and hopefully will be at the New Holland Market the next week. I sure hope someone wants to buy my wares. But if not, it will be fabulous fellowship with a good friend who is having her own troubles (car, not plumbing).
I have been reading the book Living More with Less over the past week. It has been a very inspiring book. The ideas in the book are some practical and some radical (at least in North American culture). I have been thinking a lot lately about the way that our family lives and wanting to do more to be frugal. One of the things that has been pressing on me is the "throw away mentality" of our times. The idea that we need to own many things to be happy. Shopping is akin to overeating. Here are a few items that we are going to try to follow:
- Keep our clothing to a minimum. All of my clothing (summer and winter) fit in one closet and one dresser.
- When we need to buy clothing, take the time to look at thrift stores before buying new.
- Use the library instead of buying books for homeschooling whenever possible
- Lend what we have to others so they do not have to purchase.
- Eat the food that we have in the house instead of shopping just because we are out of our favorites
- Buy from locally owned farms and businesses whenever possible
- Minimize trash.
This last one is difficult and I am still thinking on it. One of the things I have been doing is eliminating the need for paper products. I have been making "paper" towels out of an old flannel sheet that has worn out. It should be just as absorbent as the paper and not need to be tossed into the trash but washed and reused. I am also going to make everyday napkins out of fabric scraps. Instead of paper plates and cups we can use our camping or picnic supplies. I want to find out if we can recycle regular paper and envelopes as that is another item we throw away often. 
These pictures are of my "flannel towels." I cut them 11x11 inches and zigzagged the edges to keep them from fraying. I still have quite a few to sew as the queen sized sheet gave me plenty of towels. Another thing I use flannel for is on my Swifter. I have actually been doing this for quite a while as I hated buying those boxes of throw-away rags for the Swifter. I'm convinced it's a racket. I just copied the size and cut out flannel. Works like a charm.I welcome any of your ideas to eliminate trash or to save money and energy. I'm contemplating hanging my wash to dry as this will save lots of electricity and gas. Let me know what you do.
We had a great time last night at Dogstar books. Nolan won a free copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. We stayed until midnight to pick up the copy. I guess we should stay awake till midnight more often because Nolan swam his personal best in backstroke and swam faster in freestyle than he has in several weeks at the swim meet this afternoon. The above picture shows Fred, George and Ginny Weasley and below is Fred and his Patronus Charm. 
I have been pondering the fact that pink pinwheels make me really happy. I mean REALLY happy. My parents would laugh if they read this (which they won't because they don't have a computer) because I have hated pink for most of my life. I'm coming around though. It could be the circular pattern of the pinwheel that does it for me (you remember how crazy I am for circles and all things in the round?) Well, whatever the reason, I wanted to make this pinwheel pattern for a while. I actually have tons of fat quarters in vibrant colors and want to make a larger pinwheel quilt using all the colors. I think that will be next although I did see this wonderful quilt and may have to make that one soon too.
In other news...in case you haven't heard....tonight at midnight is the release of the newest and last Harry Potter book. We have a wonderful little used book store in our neighborhood called Dogstar Books. We will be attending a Harry Potter party there tonight in full costume. There is an art contest and so there will be a Harry Potter quilt on display. The kids will be all decked out although Mike and I may dress as Muggles (non-magical folks for those of you who aren't HP fans). We hope it will be good fun and want to support a local independent merchant.
Finally, the spelling part of the post. My homeschool affidavit is due soon to the school district and so I have begun thinking less of quilts and more of school lessons. Most recently this has taken the form of spelling programs. Spelling is not everyone's gift here at our home and I'm looking for some help. I'll take any and all suggestions and am looking into the Phonetic Zoo program even though it is terribly expensive.
Here is my newest mini quilt. It was completed in the Denyse Schmidt Drunk Love Two Tone style. I learned how to quilt because I read an article in a Martha Stewart magazine about Denyse Schmidt and her "take" on quilting. I loved that things were very random and not at all like the Amish quilts we often see here in Lancaster. I have great appreciation for all kinds of quilts but not all of them please me aesthetically. I'm pretty sure most of my mini quilts are going to go on my bedroom wall. I have them for sale on Etsy so if they sell, they sell but if not, I'll hang them behind the bed.
Well, here is my newest creation. This confetti quilt was made for a friend who ordered a baby quilt. I loved the quilt tutorial from Lady Harvatine's blog. I had loads of fun piecing this together and I quilted it around each colored block. The backing fabric is fun blue and green circles (the baby this goes to IS a boy).
I just confirmed that Amy and I will be at Eastern Market again on August 4th. I'm thinking mini quilts...
In all my obsessiveness about Eastern Market, I have been pondering my purpose as a seamstress (or artisan or whatever you want to call it). I have thought long and hard about what it is that I ENJOY sewing verses what I think might sell. This was the easiest of the questions to answer. I love making quilts.
Now, the next question in my head has been, "what is the purpose of Simply Sewn?" Being a Christian, I must ask myself what Christ wants from my life. My husband and I have made lots of decisions based on what we believe we have been called to do. These decisions have not always been "smart" or "fiscally responsible" if one looks at it from a worldly perspective. 
I quit my job to homeschool our children, Mike quit his corporate job because it was slowly killing him and began teaching music to children. We pay out of pocket for our health insurance because of it. I have gone to Mass and cried to God, "but what happens if..." and "This doesn't make sense, how will we pay for _____ if ____happens?" The answer that was provided to me was "Yes, you are right, it doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense in the world's eyes but it does make sense to Me." Powerful. 
I have realized that I have let my prayer and Bible study go due to this sewing business. I have dedicated myself back to my early morning "gift to God" of my time in prayer and study. Yes, it is only 7:30 am but I get up early and have already read and prayed (and drank three cups of coffee). Yesterday I read about the "ideal wife" in Proverbs to try to get a sense of how to balance my life as a wife and mother. This wife sews, she sells her wares, she gives to the poor, she works hard, she provides for her family, she watches her family's conduct to make sure it is upstanding, she is God fearing. I know I am a work in progress and I am praying that God show me what he wants me to do with all this sewing......I'll keep you posted.
My next door neighbor ordered a baby quilt for a friend who just had a boy. I have wanted to make this quilt ever since I saw it. It was really easy and lots of fun until I got to the part where I had to fit all the pieces together. That was a little harder than making the blocks. All in all it was a very fun project and I love the way it is turning out. Time to quilt.
I have been having a ball in my "studio." Translation: sewing room. Now that I am an "artisan" translation: mom who sews, I am trying to spend a few hours (translation: every spare minute) working on my craft (sewing). It is amazing to me just how productive one can be when there are fewer distractions. Don't worry, I'm still taking Nolan to swim practice, making supper, helping Nathan earn his free Hershey Park ticket and doing the dishes.
Today's project: fix up an old tee-pee for a three-year-old's birthday tomorrow. I made this project when my kids were very little. It is made out of PVC pipe and fabric and folds out into this great tee-pee but also folds up for easy storage. My kids are too big for it now and I think this particular boy and his brother (and soon to be new sibling) and cousin who lives next door will give it new life. I have the fabric in the wash and then have some patch work to do. The party's tomorrow. I'm thinking of making a bigger version for the boys since they still love to have a little space of their own in the back yard and we don't have a tree for a tree house. I'll keep you posted.
This bonnet and bag are from a pattern my mom used when I was in Kindergarten. I'm excited that my friend Amy will be at Eastern Market with me on Saturday.
The plumber just left. Just left a really big hole in my plaster ceiling that is. I think I mentioned what a mess this house was in when we moved here. We were able to fix the appearance for the most part with primer and paint and the removal of a LOT of horrible carpeting. It took quite a while but we were happy with the fix. Now we are beginning to realize that there were some difficulties that go beyond the looks of the place. Yesterday, for instance, after I took a shower, the water didn't drain. Mike got some drain-o and the snake and the plunger and started in on what he thought was a difficult clog. When I arrived home from the pool with the kids there was water seeping out of my first floor hall ceiling and wall and water pouring out of the basement ceiling. Oh no. Today the plumber came and the only way for him to see what was wrong was to put a hole in the ceiling of our hall (see above picture). Guess what we saw? Duck Tape holding together some of the pipes. Two leaks. We have known that the bath and shower would need replacing when we bought the house. Nolan was four at the time and we had a five year plan. In five years the boys would be in school and old enough to not need me all the time and I'd have had a part time job for some time, giving us the money necessary to fix the bathroom (and the kitchen). Well, here we are five years later and life has turned out a bit different than we planned. The kids are homeschooled and Mike has his own business. This has been such a blessing and I know it is God's plan for our lives. But it also means that it is all but impossible for me to work and we have to pay out of pocket for our health insurance. Doesn't leave a lot of money for fixing up the house. I'm ok with that except when the plumbing explodes!
