Okay, before I forget, let me just say thank you for all your kind remarks about our, um, driveway.
I’m telling you: you just never know what will interest the internets.
So you may rest assured that the next time I go outside I’ll tell the driveway all the sweet things you said, and I bet the encouragement will make the driveway happy because it’s almost 34 years old and probably feeling a little run down.
Or run over, if you will.
BADABING!
Now. Several more things.
First of all, the LSU vs. Florida game last night shaved a solid decade off of my life. We were so happy that the Tigers won, but have mercy it was a nail-biter.
Second of all, D, Daddy and I went to see The Bourne Ultimatum this afternoon, and if you’ve seen the movie you know that the part in Tangier? When that man was chasing that woman and Jason Bourne was trying to find them so he could stop the man from killing her?
WORE. ME. OUT.
Seriously. I just wanted to put my head down and take a little nap. Mainly so my heart would SLOW DOWN, ALREADY.
And third.
About a week ago I saw a note on Alex’s school calendar that we needed to MAKE A POCKET for him to take to school tomorrow, and the pocket should be big enough to hold a small toy.
Y’all, it has been stressing me out for a week. I mean, you know how you used to feel when you were in school and it was late Sunday afternoon and you knew you needed to study because you had a huge test Monday morning? That’s exactly how I’ve felt for about the last four days.
OVER A HANDMADE POCKET.
Late this afternoon I clicked over to Bev’s and saw that she had made some absolutely adorable bibs, and as I was thinking about how cute they are and how it would take me WEEKS to finish even one of them, I decided that I needed to just sit down and GET THE POCKET OVER WITH so that maybe I could relax a little bit tonight.
But you know, funny thing: when you’re not crafty, you tend not to have any extra pieces of fabric laying around.
I looked in every single closet in this house, and I finally found about half a yard of fabric that I bought one time to make no-sew scarves for the dogs (PINKING SHEARS, PEOPLE! PINKING SHEARS!). So I pulled out the fabric, rounded up a needle and thread, and sat down at the kitchen table to make a pocket.
No kidding: I was so undone about the whole thing that I broke a sweat. And became temporarily convinced that our air conditioner was broken.
And as proof of my almost total lack of participation in your typical mama-type crafts, my child actually walked up to the kitchen table, surveyed all materials, picked up a round black thing and said, “What’s this, Mama?”
“Why, it’s a SPOOL OF THREAD, baby.”
“What’s it for?”
“Well, in some cultures people actually use it to SEW THINGS or perhaps even MAKE SOME CLOTHES.”
He’d never heard of such.
So I finally cut out a pocket-type creation on my third attempt to tame the unruly fabric, and I spent the next twenty minutes sewing up the sides. I did remember to sew it inside out because I have in fact watched Martha Stewart’s TV show on occasion (SEE? TV IS HELPFUL, Y’ALL!), and once I examined the final product I knew deep in my heart that it was really, painfully ugly (LOOK, KIDS! GRIMACING PUMPKINS!), but I was so relieved that the whole terrifying ordeal was over that I really didn’t care.
Handstitched with luv by yours truly.
And what a precious family heirloom the Scary Pumpkin Pocket will be.
Two words…fabric glue, or glue gun. (They are both made up of 2 words, so it works, you only need one or the other)
And then your son can live the rest of his life not knowing what a spool of thread is!
my goodness i never realized school was so hard on the parents. it’s a good thing i homeschool. i never make my kids make a pocket! (i don’t make them do homework either. shhh)
For a woman who claims to have NO AVAILABLE SCRAPS OF FABRIC lying around the house, how is it that the one piece you found was seasonally appropriate? If I’d had the same problem, I would have only been able to locate something with the Easter bunny on it.
OH. MY. DEAR.
Your lifetime of homework assignments has only just begun!
Having been through the (shudder) diorama stage, the make-your-own-rocket stage, the come-up-with-a-statue-of-our-favorite-famous-person-using-only-styrofoam stage, and the I’ve-got-to-have-a-costume-for-the-school-play…TOMORROW stage, I can only empathize with you over the next fourteen years or so.
And suggest you stock up on the shoeboxes NOW.
There are many times when I wonder if the school is just trying to check up on me and make sure I have not forgotten any of the skills they taught me.
My 6 year old and I should both pass 1st grade this year! :)
I’m laughing at you – if I’d had just a few more days notice, I could have whipped one up and mailed it right down to you. I’m amazed at all the ways women figure out to get things to stick together when they don’t sew. Looks to me like you did a dandy job! xooxxo
Oh, trust me, I’ve seen a lot worse attempts at sewing in my time. My oldest sister, Sue, is dangerous with a needle and thread, much less an electrical sewing apparatus. Makes me shudder just to think about it!
Your pocket don’t look half bad, Sophie. Honestly.
And it is in keeping with the season, so I know Mah-tha (Martie!) will think it’s just the most darlin’ thing! It’s just darlin’! Don’t you think it’s darlin’?
Two words: Super Glue.
May you rest in peace tonight.
Er … you know what I mean, right?
At least you haven’t YET had to construct a derby car out of a block of pinewood, in hopes that it looks decent enough to show and actually race down a track. Needless to say I’m not by any means a woodworking craftswoman so my poor son’s car looked like a boxy mini van with orange flames. Just wait til the little man gets in Cub Scouts and the crafts you will construct.
I admire your sewing skills, as last minute as they are. Well done!
(I may or may not be saying much about my sewing skills, but that’s okay.)
Okay, but wait: I think my heart stopped when I got to the part about making scarves FOR THE DOGS. For the dogs, really? REALLY?
I am laughing so hard the bed is shaking!! I love it :)
It’s only beginning Boomama! When it comes time to make the underwater diarama out of Jello Jigglers, let me know. Cutting all that jello in little fishy pieces can be a trick!
You did soooooooo good!
It’s so cute, but I wish you would’ve told me–I would’ve totally made you a pocket! With a real live sewing machine!
Looks like a great pocket to me! You did good! =)
Hey, at least it’s actually SEWN with THREAD, rather than the way I used to make doll blankets with squares of mymom’s leftover fabric… using, um, STAPLES.
I would just like to confess that I have totally co-opted your use of the term “Internets” (I capitalize) Love it!
I am beyond impressed. I had no idea you were so crafty.
And Alex not knowing what a spool of thread is reminds of the time I was in Pottery Barn Kids with Caroline and had to explain to her what the toy iron and ironing board were.
However, she knows how to pay the bill at the drycleaners.
its a cute pocket–stop being so hard on yourself! oh, and the bourne ultimatum–those movies make me dizzy–they are filming them WAY close to the people.
I, too, struggle with the feeling of inadequacy and panic when I am required to do something like put a patch on an AWANA’s or Brownies vest…mainly because even hot glue won’t keep them on. And then I sew the ugliest stitches…so for a few years I just “lost” the patches, ya know? “Mom, where are my patches?” “I don’t know honey, where did you put them?” So I was able to put them off for awhile.
Do these folks have any idea how stress increases in our homes with their demands that we be crafty????
BTW, tell your driveway, “You look mahvelous, dahlink!”
The fact that you put needle and thread to fabric is commendable. Some less crafty would have gone for hot glue! I would love for you to go to my blog and see my daughters birthday post for the dress I made for her birthday. Not to brag but to show Alex people, today, still make clothes using spools of thread.
I’m sorry…what was the round black thing again????
At least you know what pinking shears and a spool of thread are. And just WHERE was the doting grandma who was being awaited on the driveway so anxiously? I bet she’d have been just happy to whip out that pocket in no time at all.
I have four children and don’t sew – we employ the hot glue gun for everything. It works on material. And to make Boo feel better, my youngest daughter found my table ironing board – never used since I’ve never owned an iron- and thought it was a mini camp bed so she took a nap on it. Worked for me because it meant she was SLEEPING!!!!!
How fun!
For the non-sewing types, I would suggest some stitch-witchery, two pieces of fabric and a hot iron. For next time.
I’m sure if you gave us enough warning, one of the internets would probably mail you a pocket or button or valentine card holder box thingy. Or whatever.
Y’know… because we love you, Boomama! :-)
It’s not like most people generally wield needles around small children. This will make you feel much better.
While pregnant and on bedrest with our 2nd, Grahmi was taking E to a family daycare 3 days a week. The very first early morning E asks my mom, “Grahmi, what’s that?” Mom replies, “What’s what, honey?” E says, “What’s that big orange thing in the sky?” Remembering all the years trying to pry me out of bed for school my mother says, “Sweetheart, that’s a sunrise.”
See, it could be worse. You can pull a pocket out of your hat and no one’s the wiser. My mother called my sister-in-law BEFORE SHE CALLED ME that morning. It could be much worse.
I would have ripped the flap of a manilla envelope and called it a pocket and thought myself clever and crafty.
Your pocket is much better :).
Loved the pocket… And I bet Alex is thrilled! : )
The pocket is adorable. I have often said I wish they would just charge my account when the kid enters kindergarten for what, like $10,000 or whatever, and never bug me to bring anything or donate until they graduate.
Good on you BooMama
I agree with Chris–an envelope is a pocket, right? Or–how about this–just cut a pocket off the back of an old pair of jeans. :-)
If it can’t be purchased, I don’t think they should require it of you. It’s just all together W-R-O-N-G. :-o
Gasp!
You hand sewed it? Wow! About 7 years ago, I made my daughter a Christmas dress……and hand sewed the entire thing. I had no machine.
I deplore hand sewing. I love my machine. I would shrivel up and die without a sewing machine.
GEAUX Tigers! Things were a little or maybe a lot tense at my house, too during this game. While no profanity rang out from my Sweet Tigerfan, the children did threaten to go to bed wearing earplugs. I must say that not being a huge football fan myself, I do not know if I have ever been so relieved to see a touchdown in the last two minutes of a game. I praised Jesus. Really! I love the pocket. Girl, ya just gotta do what ya gotta do!
I make dresses or skirts for my girls about once a year. They were showing off their new fashions to child at church and they told her that their Mama had made the outfits.
“Don’t be ridiculous!” the little girl retorted. “Only GRANDMA’S make clothes!”
I’ve just awarded an award of, um, awardedness. But don’t go look at it until, like, lunchtime because right now I’m still figuring out how to do the link thingies and all that techno geeky stuff.
Congratulations!
Omigosh, I am so on your page. I dread, DREAD these projects. Nice job.
With all the giveaways that you do, you should let one of us help you once in a while! That is what “friends” are for! Especially those of us who are crafty or have sewing machines! I would have sent you a pocket in a heartbeat!
Aw, it’s adorable! I hate to think what mine would look like if I had to do that. Since I can bet there wouldn’t be ANY fabric OR needle and thread around here. I would have called my grandmother…
Yes, Nanny would have rescued me.
I HATE homework in the lower elementary grades. All it means is that Mom has to figure out something! I had to make a piece of clothing that Amelia Bedelia would have worn. Ended up making a baseball hat. We drew a base clef (you know, from music) on a little ball and glued it to a big floppy felt hat with fabric paint! But oh the stress of second grade homework!!!
Awwww, seasonally appropriate, too!! Very nice.
As for your driveway….up here in the north driveways are black and all one piece. They are just poured asphalt over rock. They make awesome backgrounds for sidewalk chalk creations, actually! But your driveway looks more like a huge slate patio, and it’s the SCENERY that is so amazing about it. As you look out over it it’s long and winding and the porch railing and flowers are there and then the trees arch over it in the middle and so it’s very very pretty in that sense. Now we need photos of it as you come UP it!! Now that your pocket is done and your time is free again, please get right on that, okay? :o)
Boomama, i have read your comments all over blogville, and you always crack me up..so I had to visit myself!! I will surely be back here!
your pocket looks very good! I applaud you! clap clap clap
Oh goodness, I would have been in big trouble if I had to create a handmade pocket. I have no sewing machine, no pinking shears, and no fabric whatsoever. I’m guessing I would have found myself cutting the pocket out of an old pair of my husband’s jeans and hoping it would work. Either that or crocheting one — since crochet is my one and only crafty ability.
Your pocket, by the way, looks great. Seasonal and cute!
Isn’t it funny (and yet somewhat annoying) when school makes more homework for the moms than the kids?
What I want to know is why they needed a “pocket” in the first place?
Of course, I did admire yours enough that I started trying to figure out a way to incorporate one into L’s preschool curriculum :-)
I am MOST impressed! You and Sister would make a good team!
You are too funny! I would be stressing over it too.
My mom made me and my sister take sewing lessons one summer (I was in 7th grade) and one day I thought it would be fun to take my best friend and have her work the pedal while I pushed the fabric thru…
until that needle went smack down into my finger! Then the old lady instructor came over and started turning the wheel on the side and it was going in further!
Needless to say, that day ended with a trip to the ER and a sewing needle embedded through my finger!
Well, I think you did great!! I, too, would have been totally stressed about having to do something like that. I hardly can sew on a button, much less attempt to make something!!
I loved this post and espescially enjoyed reading the comments. My favorite comment…”I wish they’d just charge me $10,000 and not ask me to make or donate anything until graduation!” I agree with you and many others…it has become overwhelming for Moms with children’s required homework and various projects. Isn’t it really supposed to be “the kids'” projects and not the parents’? BooMama, I think you did a superb job on the pocket! I would have been sweating bullets, as well. I don’t know what I’d do without my glue gun.
Let me warn you…you may want to go ahead and start loading up on some serious multi-vitamins (and possibly some anti-anxiety drugs), because it’s only going to get worse in elementary school. I must confess I’m weary from all the little extra projects that are “for the child” when we all know the one who has to do the work…MOM!!! I realize now why families with 5 or 6 children choose to homeschool. Otherwise, they’d never sleep.
Coincidentally, I just had the opportunity to hear John Rosemond speak in our hometown this weekend. He specifically addressed the issue of parents’ overinvolvement in children’s homework (as well as their overinvolvement in all other aspects of their children’s lives). He does go on to say it’s not our fault as parents…it’s just a cultural shift that began in the 70’s with various psychologists saying we needed to work diligently to boost our kids’ self-esteems.
Anyway, I realize I’m rambling, but I’m going to do an entire post on his presentation later today…I also bought his newest book, “Parenting By THE BOOK,” which is based on Biblical principles in parenting. I started reading it last night, and I can already tell you, it’s going to change my entire family. I would highly recommend it!
O.K. I’ll jump off my soapbox now and go do some laundry…or a school project! HA!
Look at you with the fancy notches at the top. See, you have to think of it as a tiny, tiny pillowcase. That is all. If you make a pillowcase and not a pocket, the stress is not so bad.
The spool of thread lesson- classic!
I think your pocket is cool! I’ll bet Alex was very proud of it when he took it to school today. His approval is all that counts anyway, isn’t it? I am not a crafty person, either. In fact, the only times I ever did anything “crafty” was for my kids. I remember MANY late Sunday night project marathons at our house, too! Just wait until he has to do a science fair project. Between my 3 children, there have been 10 science fair projects!!! There are reasons why I’m a social studies/language arts elementary teacher and NOT a science teacher. My experiments NEVER work and, besides, I don’t think that I could give an adequate explanation for the giant mushroom cloud from the explosion I’m sure that I would have caused at some time or another.
I nearly pulled my hair out many times while my two older kids were in elementary school but……I miss my kids. Those projects don’t seem nearly as irritating now as it did then.
Random:
I love your front porch view as well. Someone else made a comment under that post on how she thought it when she first saw the pictures but wasn’t going to say anything until she saw the other comments…I had to laugh. That is exactly what I thought!
Peaceful and lovely!
Sewing…yuck! I thought it was nice for quite a few “internets” to offer to do your project for you. How sweet.
The Bourne Ultimatum….good movie! I’m not usually into action movies, but I do like those. I went to see it with my husband and son while my daughter was at a friends house a couple weeks ago. We couldn’t have went with her…. not gonna’ happen.
The guys were out of town (deer lease) this weekend and she and I went and saw “The Game Plan”. I highly recommend it. Cute family movie.
Have a great day!
Two words for you: Hemming Tape. This stuff ranks right up there with Chocolate in my book. My husband, who never has sewn a hem in his life, fixed the pocket in his jeans one day while I was out. I came home & he was just struttin’ his stuff like he had just found a cure for whining three year olds. Bless his heart.
Yes, I do agree with other bloggers…your homework has just begun. But it’s all worth it! Now I wish I had some more homework to do!
So, ummmm … why didn’t you toss it out to the internets for IDEAS … EASY ONES … ’cause we’re FULL OF THEM!!!
Sorry — just trying to help A feel like he’s a PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, MAMA!
Oh I feel your pain! That could have been me in your story! I chalk it up to having a severe allergy to all things sewing!
Honestly, I am sitting alone @ my computer laughing so hard I’m crying b/c the entire CRAFTY thing causes me to break out in sweats and the part you wrote about thinking your AC was broken is KILLING me! I can’t quit laughing :) Boo will be so proud of his pocket and possibly you can DVR Martha’s show so he can make the next one “his own self” as my precious P-Dub woulda said.
My comment is about your bible verse of the day. The last highlighted part is used in a song the choir used to sing at my old church. It was the most powerful song they sang, and it brought me to tears every time. I wish you could hear it!
I’m sorry STOP EVERYTHING….did you say scarves FOR THE DOGS??? Please explain and it better be good.
Here are my two words: DUCT TAPE!
Don’t you remember you can even make a prom dress out of duct tape??? They even do a scholarship contest for creative things to do with duct tape. I ma de a purse out of it, so I KNOW you can make a pocket out of it.
— I even own PURPLE duct tape (DUCK brand)
Shoot, I would have just cut the pocket off of a pair of pants that were just suddenly shrunk in the wash. Nip the edges and add a few decorative buttons. Voila!
One word: Delegate. Shhhh…they never have to know you had it made. :) No worse than pasta sauce from a jar, right?
I can’t believe the homework projects at such an early grade. I would have sent a Wal-Mart bag. LOL–you thought the AC was broken.
I guess that just stapling it together would have been, well, hmmm, dangerous, huh?
Next time?
Hot glue.
Or, learn A all up about “sick days”.
Ah well its not a horrible pocket. I have seen worse.
Really :0)
I coulda saved you the trouble and serged you one up and popped it right in the mail girlie. Course where would the fun be in that??
Personally I think I’d much rather read about how squirmy wormy you get when it comes to these little “school projects” hehe
Trina
OK, but what’s more embarrassing than your kid not recognizing a spool of thread? How about your kid not recognizing the act of cleaning the toilet? And telling her grandmother all about the exciting new thing that mama has started doing in the house – Cleaning Toilets! Look Mema – My Mama Cleaned a Toliet! Glory Hallelujah!
Mama can’t even SPELL toilet…why should she have to clean them?
I would not of even known to sew inside out, so you did GOOD!