Lunta odotellessa / Waiting for the snow

Lunta odotellessa ajelin koneellani. Olisin mielellani tehnyt ilta-ajelun eilen mutta pikkuneiti oli toista mielta. Mahtaa varkata lisaa hampaita kun sellaista metakkaa piti ja lampoakin oli. Onneksi sentaan nukkui Panadolin avulla koko yon rauhallisesti. Neiti on todellakin sellaisessa vauhdissa tuon purukaluston kanssa etta hitaampia heikottaa. Kahdeksan komeilee jo suussa ja lisaaa siis tulossa.
Eksyin eilen taas kavelylla tuohon kangaskauppaan. Tai siis en varsinaisesti eksynyt kun piti hakea tietynlaista liimaa, mutta itse kaupassa eksyin sitten kangaspuolelle. Mukaan lahti kankaita ja vetskareita. Ei tule eteiseen viela kangaskoreja eika trikoopipojakaan. Tein vetoketjullisen pussukan ja lisaa on tulossa. Varmaan ihan itsekin tuon olisin pahkaillyt mutta loysin TAMAN ohjeen ja se olikin ihan nappara apuvaline tassa hommassa. Nyt kun yksi on tehty, seuraavat tulevat varmaan huomattavasti nopeammin vaikka tamakin projekti oli nopsa.


As I've been waiting for the snow to arrive I did some sewing. I would have like to have done this sewing last night but the little miss disagreed with me. She's most likely getting more teeth with the kind of racket she was keeping in addition to the little temperature she was running. Luckily she slept peacefully the whole night with the help of pain relief medication. This Miss of mine is in such a hurry with her teeth. Eight are already gleaming in her mouth and more coming.
I lost my way yesterday on our walk and found myself in the fabric store... again. Well, actually I did mean to go in there to bet specific glue but I lost myself in the fabrics. I got few nice fabrics and zippers. I'm not making fabric baskets for the hallway. I'm not sewing hats either. I made a zipper pouch and I'll make more. I would have figured out myself how to make these but I found THIS tutorial and followed it. It was a useful help. Now that I've made one the following will be much quicker to make (this one was quick in itself).

Hallittu kaaos / Controlled chaos

Olen tullut siihen tulokseen, etta vierashuone on aika vaarallinen paikka. Siita on nimittain tullut vierashuoneen lisaksi, vaatehuolto-, askartelu-, varasto- seka tavaroiden dumppauspiste. Yksinkertaisesti huone on hallittu kaaos silloin kun talossa ei ole vieraita ja huone sen tarkoituksenmukaisessa kaytossa. Kaaokset ovat minusta kuin mustia aukkoja, jotka imevat kaiken sisaansa, myos voimani. Niinpa yritan kovasti vartioida ettei kaaoksesta tule sellaista selattavaa voimaa, joka vie sitten viikkoja selvittaa. Voin siis rehellisesti sanoa etten ole mikaan kodinhengetar, joka saisi pidettya paikat tip top kunnossa. Kaukana siita. Huusholli kuitenkin toimii ja tiedan mista tavarat loytyvat. Viikkosiivouskin tehdaan.:) Kerran viikossa pyykkipaivana hivuttaudun tahan kaaokseen pyykkipinoineni ja toivon ettei huoneessa sijaitseva musta aukko imaise minua itseensa.

I've come to the conclusion that a guest room is a quite a dangerous place. In addition of being a guest room it has become laundry sorting and folding, crafting, storing and dumping ground. Simply put, the room is a controlled chaos when there's no guests in the house and the room used as it's been intended to be used. I find chaos to be like a black hole that sucks everything, including my strength, into itself. This is one of the reasons that I'm battling to keep the chaos under control and not turn into something that would take weeks to sort. I can honestly admit that I'm not a domestic goddess who can keep all places in tip top order. Far from it. Our household works and I know where things are and I do clean every week. :) Once a week I'll tip toe with my piles of laundry into this chaos and I hope that the black hole located in the room does not suck me in.


Tassa pikkupyykkariapulaisen viihdytyssetti.
Here's my little laundryhelpers entertainment set.

Ihanat 2,5 tuntia / Wonderful 2,5 hours

Sain lauantaina itselleni hetken ihan omaa aikaa. Kylla tulikin tarpeeseen. Hyppasin kaaraani ja kaarsin kirjakaupan parkkiksella ja santasin sisaan. Siihen se kiire sitten loppuikin. Ihan kaikessa rauhassa (kerrankin) sain hortoilla kirjahyllyjen valissa ja tutkia juuri niita kirjoja joita halusin, ilman kiiretta, ilman etta joku nykii hihasta lastenosastolle. Kasityokirjat kavin lapi tarkasti (kumma kylla mitaan ei siita hyllysta lahtenyt kotiin mukaan). Paikalliseen matkailuun liittyvat kirjat tuli myos kaytya lapi (tasta hyllysta mukaan lahtikin sitten kolme). Ruoanlaitto tuli myos koluttua lapi tarkasti, samoin lehdet ja kavin mina siella lastenosastollakin, josta napsasin mukaan pienen kirjan aloittelevalle lukijallemme. Kaiken kaikkiaan sain kulutettua aikaa kirjakaupassa 2,5 tuntia ja nautin joka hetkesta.
Kevat on tulossa ja paljon ollaan taas puhuttu paikallismatkailun aloittamisesta taas saiden vahan lammetessa. Niinpa mukaan lahti pari referenssikirjaa, jotka ovat osoittautuneet vallan mainioiksi ostoksiksi. Nyt mielessa pyorii vaan etta milloin sita reissuja tekisi ja mihin. Suunnittelua siis ja ajatuksia onkin jo muutamia. :)
Yksi korjattavien listasta on korjattu, tanaan pitaisi korjata toinen ellei kolmaskin. Olen myos miettinyt mika voisi olla seuraava kasityoprojekti. Trikoohattuja voisi tehda. Tai aloittaa niita tyttojen kesavaatteita.....(juu, muistan kylla etta olin jo paattanyt odottaa niitten kanssa). Olen myos miettinyt kangaskorien tekemista (joskos tuo kaaos tuolla eteisessa pysyisi niiden avulla aisoissa - tuntuu ettei hanskat ja hatut ja huivit jne pysy mitenkaan niille osoitetuilla paikoilla).

On Saturday I got some time for myself. It was OH so needed. I jumped in my car, turned the steering wheel to the book store parking lot and hurried inside. After that my hurry was over. In peace (for once) I got to wonder in between the shelves and study just the books I wanted, without rush, without anyone pulling my sleeve directing me to the children's books. I went through the knitting, crocheting and sewing books carefully (wonder of wonders: I didn't get any). I also had a good look at the local traveling books (saldo: three books to go home). Recipe books, magazines, and I did go to the children's department as well to get a small book for our beginner reader. Altogether I spent 2,5 hours in the book store and I enjoyed every single moment.
Spring is on its way and we've been talking a lot about continuing our explorations in the state/neighbouring states as the weather warms up. So I did get few reference books which have proved to be good buy. Now my head is whirling with when and where we coud do some of these trips. Planning is on and I already have some ideas to present to the rest of the family. :)
One piece from the list of TO BE MENDED has been mended and I'm planning to mend one today, hopefully another one too if I only have time. I've also been thinking what would be the next project to make. I could make few hats from knit fabric. I could start making the girls' summer clothes.... yes, I do remember that I decided to wait with them. I've also been thinking about making some fabric baskets (if I could contain the chaos in the entry hall with the help of them)

Mista on suloiset sunnuntait tehty? / What are sweet Sundays made out of?

Mista on suloiset sunnuntait tehty?

Auringonpaisteesta,

nauravista lapsista,

hiljaisista hetkista,

lohoilysta vallyjen valissa,

valkosuklaapannareista,

tekemattomyyden tunteesta,

villasukista,

takkatulesta,

tuulenpuhureista talon nurkissa,

juttutuokiosta aidin kanssa,

legolinnoista,

hoyryavasta teesta,

suklaarusinoista,

ilosta kiljuvasta vauvasta,

palapeleista,

suunnittelusta,

haikeuden tunteesta,

kypsyvan ruoan tuoksusta.

Niista on suloiset sunnuntait tehty.

What are sweet Sundays made out of?

Sun shine,

laughing children,

quiet moments,

lying in between the quilts,

white chocolate pancakes,

the feeling of doing nothing,

woollen socks,

fire in the fire place,

gusts of wind in the corners of the house,

talk with my mum,

Lego castles,

steaming hot tea,

chocolate raisins,

baby squealing out of joy,

puzzles,

planning,

feeling a bit blue,

smell of cooking stew.

That's what sweet Sundays are made out of.

Pinkkiakin pinkimpi / Pinker than pink

Valmista tuli! JEEE! Ja jopa ihan ajoissa. Kaksi paivaa etuajassa omalle dead linelle. Sain eilen illalla pikkuneidin tilkkutakin sitten valmiiksi. Jos nyt viela jostain syysta oikein innostun tekemisen puutteessa niin saatan siihen jotain kasin viela kirjailla. Mutta se on valmis! 9kk neidin syntyman jalkeen. Korkea aikakin jo. Ja kuinka hyva mieli siita tulikin. Aikamoinen ikuisuusprojekti ollut. Kansihan mulla oli oikeestaan valmis jo pari kuukautta ennen H-hetkea. Mutta se sitten jai kun tuolla lattialla konyaminen ison mahan kanssa oli sen verran hankalaa. Neiti jo kokeilikin uuden peittonsa. Koirakin kavi sita testaamassa (koira testasili sita vahan valia nyt talla viikolla kun sita tein - valilla oli alla, valilla paalla).Onhan se aika pinkki. Mutta menkoon. Esikoisen tilkkutakit (2kpl) ovat kaikkea muuta kuin pinkkeja eli kaipa tamankin varinen tie piti kulkea. Helpotuksen huokaus kuitenkin. SE ON VALMIS!

PS: Yksi hikka matkalla oli. Suunnittelin kovasti etta olisin tikannut koko tilkkutakin koneella. No ei onnistunut koska tilkkutyo oli liian iso ja en saanut natisti tilkkua kulkemaan neulan alla (en siis omista kunnon tilkkukonetta). Yhdessa kuvassa nakyylin kuinka epatasaista tikista tulikin. Meni siis purkuun ja kasintikkaukseksi.


It's done! YEY! And it was in time too. Actually two days ahead of the deadline I set to myself. I finished the little one's quilt last night. If for some reason I get inspiration I might stitch something to it. But it's done! Nine months after she was born. It was about time too. And how good it makes me feel. The cover was basically ready 2 months before the due date but as I was so clumsy with my big tummy, crawling on the floor was not really my idea of fun. The quilt has been tested by its new owner. Also the dog has tested it (he's been testing it several times during the week - sometimes he's been under it, sometimes on it). The quilt is quite pink. But let it be. The two quilts I made for the first born are everything but pink. So I guess I had to walk this coloured road as well. However, I'm letting a big sigh of relief. It's finished!

PS: I did have one hitch along the way. I had planned to stitch the quilt with my sewing machine. Well, I didn't get the quilt to move nicely under the needle as it was too big (I do not own a sewing machine designed for quilting). The stitching was very uneven as you can see in one of the pictures. So had to undo that and hand quilt.

Varia ja kankaita / Colors and fabrics

Tuli kaytya kangasostoksilla kun kaytiin kavelylla. :D Tuo kangaskauppa tuossa vieressa on todella vaarallinen. Ostin kankaan pikkuisen haalareita varten seka kolme mekko kangasta. Pari muutakin lahti mukaan. Niista pieni ajatus mita tekisin mutta ajatukset muuttuvat paassa sita vauhtia etta heikommat ei pysy kyydissa. Mutta noita kankaita katsellessani tuli niin iloinen mieli. Pirteita, kirkkaita vareja. Nautin niista nyt ihan kankaina ja pian sitten vaatteiden muodossa muksujen paalla. Pari kaavaa pitaisi hankkia. ne on katsottu jo valmiiksi mutta ne pitaisi viela ostaa. Sitten ei muuta kuin sur rur rur ajelemaan koneella. Tosin jos olisin oikein fiksu en tee noita vaatteita ennen kuin ilmat todella lampenee ja naen minka pituisia nama minun prinsessani ovat (ja saan sitten tehtya siita hetkesta pikkaisen isommat). Molemmat kasvavat sellaisella hohkalla ettei perassa pysy.

I did some fabric shopping when we went for our daily walk with the baby. :D The fabric store next to us is a dangerous place. I bought a fabric for the little ones dungarees/overalls and 3 fabrics for dresses. Couple other fabrics also came home with me. I have ideas of what to make out of them but at the moment my ideas change so quickly in my head that the slowest won't be able to keep track. While looking at the fabrics I felt happy. Such bright happy colours. Right now I'll enjoy them as fabrics and soon in the form of clothes on my girls. I need to acquire 2 patterns. I've decided which ones but I just have to get them. After that it only requires a little drive with the sewing machine. But if I was really smart I would wait before making the clothes. Wait for the warm weather so that I know for sure how big they are (and then make them appropriately a bit too big), and the girls can actually wear them. Both of them are growing so fast.

Korjattavaa / To be fixed

Ihan ensimmaiseksi on kylla pakko sanoa kuinka mukavaa oli aloittaa paiva vauvauutisilla. :) Onnittelut vaan Viccanille ja Danielille pienesta suloisesta prinsessasta! Jain tuossa miettimaan etta minkakohanlaista on vauva-arki kuninkaallisilla. Se voi olla hyvinkin samanlaista kuin mita meilla tavallisilla tallaajilla tai jotain ihan muuta. Toivon heidan nauttivan niin taysilla kuin vain voivat tasta pikkuvauva ajasta. Se kun karkaa kasista niin uskomattoman nopeasti.
Olen kerannyt tuonne meidan vieras/silitys/vaatehuolto/askartelu/tavaroidendumppaushuoneeseen kasaa korjattavista vaatteista jne. Katselin tana aamuna tuota pinoa ja sille pitais tehda jotain. On tyynya, josta pursuaa sisukset ulos, on kolmet pikkuvaen sukkahousut, jotka pitaisi parsia, yhdet rakkaat, isan vanhat velour verkkarit (jotka tuunasin itselleni sopiviksi), tyton verkkahousut, jotka tuli eilen kotiin reiallisina.....listaa on lisaakin. Mutta tuohon pinoon en koske ennen kuin saan sen tilkun tehtya. Piste.

Right here at the start I absolutely have to say how wonderful it is to start a day with baby news. :) Congratulations to Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel for their new darling baby princess! I started thinking how royalty handle the small baby time and everyday routines? It can be very similar to us "normal" people but very different too. I hope they enjoy the little baby time fully as we know how it slips away so fast.
I've been making a pile in our guest/ironing/laundryfolding/craft/stuffdumpingground room. It's a pile of items to be fixed. There's a pillow with it's innards trying to come out, there's three pairs of little folk tights that need to be mended, one pair of comfy trousers of my dad (that I "tuned" for myself), pair of my daughter's trousers that came home "holy" (sorry, couldn't resist) yesterday ..... the list does not end here. But I'm not going to touch this pile before the quilt is finished. Period.

Missa koti? / Where's home?

Aikaisemmin tuolla jo pariin kertaan olen ohimennen maininnut tulevan muuton. Kaksi vuotta olemme olleet vuokralla tassa talossa. Se on ollut koti. Kohta ei kuitenkaan enaa. Joulukuun alussa saimme vuokraisannalta kirjeen ettei han aio jatkaa vuokrasopimustamme. Aikoo pistaa talon myyntiin. Meidan vuokrasopimus meni umpeen tammikuun lopussa. Kamala paniikki. Mista uusi koti? Minne menna? Mihin me mahdutaan? Tarjolla ei ole vuokra-asuntoja juuri lainkaan. Ja varsinkaan niin isoa, etta me mahtuisimme sinne ja minne otettaisiin koira. Pyysimme kauniisti lisaaikaa ja saimmekin sita toukokuun loppuun. Mutta ongelma on sama. Mistaan ei loydy uutta kotia. Vuokrattavia taloja on todella vahan tarjolla ja koska USAn taloudellinen tilanne on edelleen mita on, kukaan ei halua ostaa (vaikka korot ovatkin takalaisittain alhaalla). Kaikki haluavat vuokrata. Siksi tarjontaa ei ole ja vuokraisannat voivat valita keta ottavat ja pyytaa ihan huikeita vuokrahintoja. Toukokuun lopussa meidan pitaisi siis olla poissa tasta talosta. Mitaan tietoa siita minne me paadymme ei ole. Etsimme koko ajan kuumeisesti, mutta se on todella turhauttavaa kun mitaan ei ole ja jos jotain sattuisi loytymaankin niin emme paase edes asuntoa katsomaan kun meidat jo tyrmataan koiran takia. Ahidstaa. Tilanne alkaa tulla jo uniin painajaisina. Emme pysty oikein ennakoimaan mitaan saatika sitten suunnittelemaan mitaan koska emme tieda mihin olemme menossa. Kahden lapsen kanssa, joista toinen alle vuoden, muuttaminen on haasteellista jo sinansa. Mutta stressitasoa tassa vaiheessa lisaa tietamattomyys tulevasta. Yritan ajatella positiivisesti: kaikki jarjestyy kylla. Valilla se on vaan todella vaikeata.

I've mentioned few times earlier in the blog our forthcoming move. For two years this rental house has been our home. Soon not anymore. In the beginning of December we got a letter from our land lord telling he was not going to renew the lease as he was going to sell the house. Our lease was up at the end of January. Terrible panic. Where do we find a new home? Where to go? Where do we fit with all of this stuff? There's hardly any houses for rent out there. And especially as big as we need and where they would take a dog. We asked nicely for some extra time and got until end on May. But the problem is still the same. We haven't found a new home. There's very little houses for rent and as the American economy is still what it is no one wants to buy (even though the interest rates are very low). Everyone wants to rent. That's the reason there's no rentals available and land lords can pick who they want as tenants and ask for exuberant rent prices. So, we have to be out of this house by the end of May. We have no idea where we are going to end up. We're constantly searching. However, it's extremely frustrating that there's nothing out there and if there happens to come something up we don't even get to go and see it when they hear that we have a dog. I'm very anxious. This situation is starting to creep into my dreams as nightmares. We cannot predict anything or plan anything in regards of the move as we don't know were we are going. Moving is challenging on its own but with two children, one under 1, it's even more. And adding to the stress levels at this point is the unknown about future. I'm trying to think positively: everything will sort itself out. But I have to admit, being positive is sometimes very hard.

Noitarumpu unia / Noitarumpu dreams

Olen nyt viimeisen viikon nukkunut ylellisesti satiinilakanoiden valissa. (Elamani ensimmaiset satiinilakanat.) Eika ihan minka tahansa satiinilakanoiden vaan Marimekon Noitarumpu lakanoiden. Taalla USAssa loytyy sellainen sisustustavara liike kuin Crate & Barrel, ja he myyvat vaikka mita Marimekon tavaroita (jopa joitain vaatteita). Kurkkaa TAALTA jos kiinnostaa. Alennusmyynneissa naiden hinnat laskevat yleensa todella hyvin ja nytkin nappasin tuon ison pussilakanan ja 4 tyynyliinaa -65%. Huusin kaupassa melkein jippiita aaneen!!! Samaisesta kaupasta loysin Marimekon kankaasta tehdyn paivanvarjon terassille. Sekin tuli meille alehinnoin. Yritin kovasti saada samaa kangasta kuin paivanvarjo voidakseni tehda pari tyynya terassille mutta eipas sita kangasta saakaan. Se on ollut joku erikoisera nimenomaan tata paivanvarjoa varten. POH! Olen kuitenkin todella tyytyvainen naihin ostoksiini. Kaikki naapurit kovasti ihailivat viime kesana varjoa. Iso punainen unikkolaukkuni saa myos huomiota osakseen. Kaupassa melkein joka kerta joku huomauttaa jotain laukustani. Mina myhailen itsekseni: kylla suomalainen suunnittelu savayttaa ulkomaillakin.

Paivanvarjon kuvat on Crate & Barrel sivustolta eli kuvien tekijaoikeudet kuuluvat heille.

For the last week I've been sleeping luxuriously between satin sheets. (The first satin sheets of my life.) And they are not just any sheets but Marimekko Noitarumpu (translates to troll-drum; equals to shaman drum) sheets. We've got a furniture and home accessory shop called Crate & Barrel here in US and they sell all kinds of Marimekko things (even some clothing). Have a peek HERE if you are interested. When they have sales the prices of Marimekko products are very good and the same this time when I grabbed the duvet cover and 4 pillow cases -65%. I nearly yelled YIPPEEE out loud in the store! :) In the same store I found an umbrella with Marimekko fabric for the terrace. It came to our house with sale prices as well. I tried very hard to find the same fabric to make few pillows for the terrace but it's been some special lot especially for this umbrella. Darn! However, I'm extremely happy with these purchases of mine. All the neighbours were admiring our umbrella last summer. My red Unikko - bag draws attention here as well. Nearly every time I go to the store that some one comes to comment on my bag. I'm pleased and smiling inside: Finnish designs does strike also abroad.

The umbrella pictures are from the Crate & Barrel web site so the picture copyrights belong to them.