Been Flyin Around

Wow!  What a week.  My brother Isaac came out for a visit (aka 4 days of enslavement to his sister) with the lovely Charlotte in tow. He put crown molding up in my living room, switched out some lighting, taught me all sorts of tricks (like how to use my caulking gun correctly) and did tons of photography work for me.  Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU to Isaac for working way harder than is reasonable and to Heather for sparing him for almost a week. We got some amazing photographs (by we I mean Isaac).  I'll be sharing them for the next few weeks.

It wasn't all work (just mostly).  We enjoyed a day at the zoo.  I LOVE the St Louis zoo.  Isaac and Charlotte went in a butterfly house for the first time. We also ate out more than is healthy and stayed up later than we should, talking.

But the bets part of the trip was my eight year old Lily's baptism day.  We timed it so Isaac and Charlotte could be there and with them and some of our beloved Saint Louis friends it was quite the event.  We let Lily choose a restaurant afterwards and she picked Mai Lee, a Vietnamese restaurant.   (She had sampled some Mai Lee leftovers Dave and I brought home after a date and she's been dreaming of eating there ever since.)  She was not disappointed and we all enjoyed the Flaming Poo Poo Platter, as well as other delicacies.   

Not to wax too mushy, but I just love that girl!  I think there is nothing sweeter than watching my child make good choices and become her own little person.

On a different note:   Thank you for all your enthusiasm about my Undercover Crate tutorial.  What a lovely bunch of friends you are.  I did get a couple of questions.  Lori Ann asked a good one:

"I want to start this project with the customized pattern but I have a question. How is it that side B is always 9 inches? Doesn't this mean that if my box is a lot taller than your crate, it would just have a comparatively small bit of the decorative fabric showing, and a lot of inside fabric hanging out? And, if my box is tiny (I have two I'd like to do), not even 9 inches tall, there would be excess fabric?"

The reason I kept side B 9 inches is that I like that you can do this project with only a half a yard of your fancy fabric.  It saves some money.  I would probably only use my instructions for customizing your pattern for crates that are just a few inches smaller or bigger than the crate I used in the original pattern. Otherwise, you'll have to make some other adjustments.  (For your tiny crates, Lori Ann, try subtracting what you want from the nine inches and adding it to you muslin measurement.)  I hope that's helpful.   

I was also asked by a few people if I would be selling the covers.  I doubt I'll get to that, but if anyone else wants to sell them on Etsy or something I'll try to link to them.  Just let me know.

Any other questions?

I'd better go.  There's some leftover Mai Lee calling my name.

Comments

[Madeline]

Congrats to Lily! Great restaurant choice, my personal favorite.

[Laurie]

Beautiful photos, Laura!
Glad you had a beautiful week!
We just got back from the Carolina's!
My brother Matthew got married back there!
What a whirl wind of a trip!
Take care,
Laurie
xo

[Julianna]

Congratulations Lily! I love your little butterfly friend. We have a monarch butterfly in crysalis stage and we're anxiously waiting for it to emerge here.

Mentioning Mai Lee twice in one post is just too cruel! I have wonderful dreams about dinners eaten there.

I can't wait to see Isaac's photos and I'm pea green with envy that Maddy is going to help you with Quilt Market in October.

[Kelly beeson]

Can't believe she's so old. I know it sounds cliche, but wasn't it yesterday she and Jane were in playgroup together? Okay, maybe not yesterday, but last week, for sure.

sniff.

[Tiff@Three Peas]

Aretn't brother's the best???? Fortunately mine lives down the street. :)

[Janis]

AMAZING photos! Can't wait to see more. Congrats to your Lily on her momentous and sacred occasion.

I can't quit thinking about your covered crates. Such a fun and functional project. I was wondering if you'd consider allowing your tutorial to be used as a class project for a sewing class. I think it would be a great project for beginners. :) TIA for your thoughts and consideration.

[tricia]

You have been busy:) I love those butterfly pictures.

[Beth]

Butterflies are beautiful - as long as they are not on me! Lily looks so relaxed and happy with that on her finger. Me, I have a thing about flittery flappy things near me.
Congrats Lily on your special day but tell me please, a Flaming Poo Poo Platter? What in the world is that?

[amelia]

Lovely photos! again if anyone makes some I'll buy them, fantastic idea!

[Gina Halladay]

Hi friend,

When can we play and post on the QuiltersBuzz.com?
Congrats!
Gina

[Melissa]

those are such sweet pictures.

i left a comment about the tutorial under its comments, but am leaving another. i'd really like to try and make those covers, but nothing happens when i click on the tutorial. am i doing something wrong?

thanks

[Iheartfashion]

Congratulations to Lily!
The butterfly photos are amazing!