WIW:Wedding

Today we'll take a break from the mind blowing things I make, fun stuff I get in the mail and my harrowing life as a mom. Though, I've got to tellyou, today was a very good mail day. I'm linking up with another blogger, Megan of absoluteMommy. It is her seventh wedding anniversary and has asked other bloggers to post a WIW, or What I Wore, wedding edition. Since most of you missed the festivities, I thought I'd recap.

Danny and I tied the knot December 31, 2010 in Annapolis. We planned and executed the entire shebang in 3 weeks.

dress: David's
wrap: Nordstrom
shoes: BCBG
hair: my mom
make up: my one day SIL, Jess

suit: Nordstrom Rack
tie: I can't remember but it was the most shopped for item. Go figure.
shoes: Converse with custom matched laces

The flowers I did myself that afternoon. (My first real job was managing a flower shop.) The cake topper was a gift from my ILs from Ensenada in anticipation of our wedding. I love skulls and Mexican culture.

Our daughter, Jane wore only the latest from Carter's with handmade hair accessories. (Of course.) Jimmy rocked a uterus.

Most of our immediate family were able to travel to the wedding on short notice. For those who couldn't be with us we broadcasted the ceremony and first dance live online.

first dance: Alison Krauss - When You Say Nothing At All

Happily ever after.

This Year's Resolutions and Happy Mail

So it's April and I'm just writing down my resolutions. I made them four months ago and have been working on them since. I have just decided to articulate them into words finally and share. Really.

2012 Resolutions:
1. Buy less fabric "just because" I like it (unless I really really love it.)

2. Use up fabric I already have. (My fabric hording is no where as bad as others I have seen, but if I use up what I have then I need more, right?)

3. Sew selfishly. (I'm not doing as well with this with custom orders and gifts, but I do have a swoon quilt pattern that will be for me.)

4. Learn new sewing skills.(You know, like threading and using my serger.)

Last week I finished up two sewing projects, but I can't show you because they are Mother's Day presents. What?!? Mother's Day presents done before it is even May? I know. I don't know who I am either.

Happy Mail!: I got my Pretty {little} Pouch swap in the mail this weekend! I was so psyched. This is what my partner, Sandi, sent:

I love it! Sandi even tried some hand quilting/embroidery on the bag which she confessed she had never tried before. How awesome is that?

I love this piece of Melody Miller's Ruby Rising Star, too. I've been pondering what to make with it, but I'm thinking I may just put it into an embroidery hoop to hang on my studio wall since I love it so much.
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I have found a use for the flask full of corks that sit on my kitchen counter top. Cork stamps. I can't find the original source of this idea. I read too many blogs and pins, but if you google 'wine cork stamp' you'll find a bunch. It took me a few stamps to remember to reverse my doodles. Anyone need a backwards sewing machine stamp?

It is a great mini project to do and you could make some nice cards or wrapping paper. Hey, I didn't even cut myself with my X-acto knife despite it's brand new blade! Now I just need a project for all of our beer bottle caps... One that won't make our house look like a man cave.

I'm hoping to finish up my mother/daughter vintage sheet aprons before this weekend. Hopefully, J&J will cooperate!

Happy Hump Day!

Pretty {little} Pouch Swap

This month I participated in Round 4 of Pretty {little} Pouch Swap. I learned to make cathedral windows because my partner had multiple pictures of them in the mosaic of what she liked. And, what the hell, why not learn something new, right? I was pleased with the result. They are not as difficult as you would expect but the take up a lot of fabric and add extra steps to making something. I also added in a Noodlehead mini pouch that I modified to fit a cell phone, credit cards and ID. I really hope she likes her bags.(crosses fingers)

p.s.- Inserting zippers with tabs is so easy, looks much nicer and probably will lower incidents of broken needles!

The back has stitching that mimics the pattern of the cathedral windows on the front.

It is in the mail on the way to you, Partner!

Guest Post: Ros, my Covert Robin

Here is a special guest post from Ros of Sew Delicious. Remember Ros was my Covert Robin. You can visit this link to also view other handmade gifts that were sent to other bloggers as part of the swap too.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, I'm Ros from Sew Delicious and today I'm visiting to share the gifts I made for Jill for the Covert Robin swap.

This swap was a tricky one - I couldn't make a final decision on what to make for Jill and I kept stressing that it wouldn't be good enough! I am a bit too hard on myself!  In the end I settled on three things:

First, I made a denim tote. I used some dark denim and top stitched it in hot pink and finished it with a heart shaped black button. Inside it is lined with a fun cherry print.

When I participate in swaps I like to stalk check out my recipient's blog and Pinterest boards to see what their style is. Jill's blog logo kept popping into my mind, so I used some black and white felt and made her a pin of her blog logo. I pinned it to her bag, so when she goes to the grocery store someone might say "what's that?" and she can say "the logo for my blog / etsy store"...cue conversation and potential customer!

And finally as someone else who loves fabric and sewing, I knew Jill would love a zip pouch made from selvedge. Its a project I started a while ago, and I put it aside for ages waiting for the right reason to finish it. The Covert Robin swap came along so I finished it with Jill in mind.

And the other side:

And what is an international gift without a selection of local delicacies?

Thanks for having me Jill and I hope you loved your Covert Robin gifts!
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Needless to say, I am SO in love with my gifts. Jane thinks my pouch is a magic pouch as she checks it everyday to see it it has materialized more chocolates. :)
I'm off to enjoy this nice day! Hope you all are having a good Monday.

Today I lost my lunch

No, I didn't puke. And no, I am not pregnant.

Late this morning both kids were playing nicely together amid a mound of Duplos, so I decided to make myself a nice salad for lunch and take the rare opportunity to eat a meal with out kids on my lap or being fed. Just as I sat down to eat, my daughter came over and asked what I was eating. I felt safe in telling her it was salad since she usually will only eat carrots or cukes raw. Nope. Not today. "I try some salad?"

I thought for sure with the tahini dressing, yellow peppers and flax seeds she would hate it. Nope. Chica plopped herself down on my lap and proceeded to allow me to feed her all of my salad. Then she asked me to make her one of her own. Sheesh. I can't win.

Of course Little Man was not to be left out.

Both of my kids seem to be stuck in a phase. Phases that are rather unfortunate for a momma to be occurring simultaneously. They usually only last a short while before morphing into something else and providing some relief. These however seem to be here for a bit. I can't seem to find my groove and each day I gain a deeper understanding of why my own stay at home mother used to tell my father she was going to run away and join the circus.

Today's mail brought a package from Australia, which could only be my Covert Robin gift!k My Covert Robin was Roslyn from Sew Delicious. You must check out her tutorials. Her Peggy skirt is so Mad Men awesome and next time I am in Long Beach I plan to scoop up some oil cloth and make her cute toiletries bags.

Ros will be guest posting here on my blog so you can say howdy. She can tell you all about how she made my awesome gifts. I am totally in love! The selvedge pouch is awesome and is the perfect size for me to carry my wallet, keys and phone in. And an adorable lining to boot!

Bonus: There were chocolates inside that my kids wolfed down.

How freaking awesome is the pin on my bag too! Ros stitched me a Made with Moxie logo pin. The bag has the coolest retro cherry lining and hot pink stitching. Man, Ros did a great job. Don't you think?

Nursing cover & burp cloth set

Nursing cover & burp cloth set $38

Breast is best, but maybe you don't want to flash everyone at Target? Babies get hungry in all the wrong places; Murphy's Law. This set is perfect for every nursing momma. I've made the nursing cover is larger than all the others you can find online. It measures 38 by 28 inches which gives you some extra fabric to keep tucked around you to hide your "I just had a baby" tummy and sides. Neckline is completely adjustable with easy to slide D rings. Terry cloth pocket in the bottom corner lets you tuck necessities away (breast pads, pacifier, etc.) and also is super absorbent for clean up and messes, or shall we say, squirts. It is also comes hand embroidered with your name, initials, or what every sweet something you would like.

Why settle for a pre-made cover? These nursing covers are designed exclusively for you. The sky is the limit when it comes to your set design. There are beautiful fabrics to choose from at The Intrepid Thread. Just let me know which you like best. Something swirly? Something a bit whimsical? Or make a bold statement.

Each set includes one (1) matching quilted burp cloth. Made from 100% unbleached cotton twill weave Indian prefold cloth diapers, these burp cloths are incredibly absorbent and become softer with every wash. Indian prefolds are diaper service quality and because they are unbleached the prefolds have a natural ivory cotton color and are better for the environment. Each prefold has been machine washed with dye-free, fragrance-free, non-allergen laundry soap and machine dried once to prevent shrinking and make your burp cloth soft and fluffy. Each boutique burp cloth is 2x6x2 ply and measures 9.5" x 13". If you would like, you can order additional coordinating burp cloths for an additional $4 each.

Both the nursing cover and burp cloth are machine washable and dryable. Come on, we've got babies, so they have to be! Also, this set rolls up into an incredibly small package making it super easy to tuck in your diaper bag, purse or stroller. The perfect baby shower gift. Everything a nursing momma could ask for. Except maybe a Starbucks. ;)

Just shoot me an email to start the design process. thatmoxiegirl@gmail.com

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

This was not a productive week.


Most days could have been categorized as 'bad' days had I not fought my hardest to keep them in the 'good' column. Small children like their momma to play with them. Some times I have to remind myself that my first most important job is being The Momma.



Flashlights will buy enough time to get some pattern pieces cut. Toys on the sewing room floor will get everyone into the room with you. Some times I swear they know I need to sew and do their damnedest to stop me. So instead I organize fabric. I get to run my hands over those heavenly crisp cottons and they get a momma on the floor singing silly songs to them. (Oh, and you know I put Peabo and Celine to shame with my rendition of what my daughter requests as "Song is Time".)



I suppose it does get me closer to a completely organized studio. There were still many many instances this week of this:


She is two and not having an easy time getting a hold of all her emotions. I don't blame her. I'd like to be a robot myself. Poor Jimmy can only seem to move in reverse which leaves him under coffee tables, dining benches, ottomans, beds, pack and plays....anything with four inches of height. I long for the day he can crawl forward. Please. Pretty please.

Straight lines = easy sewing = can do it in the 90 seconds allotted until someone backs himself into a jam under a rocking chair, therefore I was able to finish the top for my I Spy charm swap quilt.



For those who don't know: A 'charm' is a five inch square cut of fabric. A 'swap' is where everyone in a group cuts one pattern of fabric into a specified number of charms and mails them to a leader who them shuffles the fabrics and mails back a mixed stack of charms. This swap I participated in was specifically for fabric that would make a good I Spy quilt. You know "I spy with my little eye..." Oddly enough as a kid, my brothers and I called it " I See Something." Clearly we favored alliteration over rhyming. I digress.

During the less than three minutes we all were outside to take the quilt top pictures this happened. And no, did not put him down near the seedlings. (Hey! Does that mean he crawled forward?)


One less Serrano pepper for the garden plot.

All I have to say is Thank God It's Friday. When all else fails, make jello. Let your kids eat it with their hands. My kids are were jello virgins.



Now, if you will excuse me, I can hear a toddler who has unscrewed the spiraled boingy thing that keeps the knob from hitting the wall and is using it to knock on her bedroom door signalling that she is done with her nap. "Momma? You dere?" T-minus 100 minutes until Daddy leaves work and the weekend begins. Somebody get me a beer please!

Treading water

The answer to How do I do it all? is easy. I don't. I barely keep my head above water. Each time I clear a project away, I think 5 more. I compost a large number of blog posts in my head as I go about my day. Unfortunately, I have not yet installed the USB port in my head so all is lost. It's like I blog to myself. (shakes head)

We have been hard at work on our community garden plot. We were given a 20' x 25"' plot that someone abandoned. Trash was hauled, raised beds removed, compost bin sorted, raspberry trimmed and earth tilled and mounded. All we have left to do is plant. I have pictures to post, but they are on my husband's BlackBerry so those will come another day. (Or maybe I'll just post them in my head. Ha!)

March's Madness:


I just ordered this book (I try to always buy used books. More character, less waste.) I also needed to have this fabric. Seems appropriate, no? I think it may become a Noodlehead clutch for me, someday. Until then, I have 3 nightlights to make and ship and 4 custom orders for Reversible Adjustable Sun Hats.

The kiddos and i are off to stalk wait for the mail lady. I'm anxiously awaiting my Covert Robin gift and Jane thinks all the junk mail is for her.

Tonight Operation Sabotoge going into full effect! My husband and I, normally independents, have registered as Republicans so we can vote in our state's primary elections in an effort to cast our votes against candidates we oppose gravely hope never make it to the office of POTUS.

Check out my MIL's post about being a Gramma with CHD. Though she is not old, she is one of the oldest people living with Tetrology of Fallot. She the awesome-est mother-in-law you could ask for. And I'm not writing that in case she reads this. That lady and I can get into some serious trouble at a fabric store!

Is that a mail truck I hear? (squirrel)