This Just In...

Our reversible kid's apron- New to the shop!

I guess sometimes when life is happening you forget about writing about life! This blog was started in 2007-last night I was going back and forth trying to decide if moving to another blog host was what I needed for this little blog. Zach and I decided to stay here and try to keep this blog chug-a-lugging.

 I hope you will stop by from time to time to see what's new in our shop and just in our lives. We are reworking the blog- for a fresh, new feel- simplifying and just making it happier! So stick around- you won't be disappointed! What are you working on?
xo Melissa

Wednesday

Hi There!


I'm trying to make my way back into doing... sewing, blogging and turning a small profit from Hobocamp. Hazel will be 3 in December and since she was born and I became sick I have had just enough energy to get me through the day only to pass out on the couch at 7 o'clock. Thankfully, Zach is willing to put her down almost every night so I can fold clothes,sew, clean and or just relax. The last few nights I have used my time for sewing.. so there are a few things I want to share this week. I always wanted to start fall (my beloved season) early... I have my fabrics out and that is just what I have been doing.






Along with the cuffs, I've been mending clothes for Hazel. We think we may have found a preschool for her that is affordable and seems to be a perfect place for our special girl to grow. I would love to homeschool her through her preschool years- but I think what she needs most is socialization with children. She knows her Alphabet to & fro, she can count to 30- and has a great vocabulary (forgive me for being so proud!) but what she really does need is the play with kids .. so I do hope this all works out.

Back to the grind- school hasn't started yet and our swim lessons at the lake have ended- I'm so grateful for the story times at local libraries to keep somewhat of a schedule for us. We've really been trying to stay busy. My diet and medication are still amazingly working... so grateful for that. So grateful for many things.

More Updates to come- New Cuffs in the Shop Now!
here!

A Quick Update

A Pretty Old picture- because Hazel still has her Binky- but maybe right after we got Bella- Novemberish. You know how I love the fall & bundling-up weather! They both look so sweet here- I couldn't resist!

Lately I have been devoting a small block of time to serious couponing. I've always used coupons, but after watching TLC's Extreme Couponing, I have started to look at coupons in a different more serious way. OUr savings have really doubled, if not tripled.. It does make me feel better about how I am contributing- however we are still using the same amount of money and are not able to get it down like the people do in the show. Again we are in NY and it seems like prices and stores are more strict..? Anyhow, I'll show you a couple of my free or super cheap items very soon!

This Friday will be Zach and my 5 year anniversary of marriage and our 1 year anniversary of buying our little cottage! We've accomplished a lot- but there is still so much to do. I feel a little overwhelmed with the amount of yard work... we still don't have a fence, which makes living on a busy road scary. I feel like I can't turn my back with a little one. I can't pull weeds and get on my knees and plant and I know I am complaining- I just have a fear of the yard without the fence. So we've got to work on it. Then the poison ivy...it's growing and since I was little all I needed to do was look at it the wrong way and I'd wake up covered in it. So pulling those weeds are kind of scary.

Uploading current pictures has been a challenge, I don't get a lot of computer time- since Zach now works from home and I've been a little lazy. But I am going to try to work on that too. In Hobocamp news- we've got some new ideas bubbling and my machine has been stitching away. I just snagged some more velcro for these:

Thrift, Dream, Read

The dream part is still in progress (and I imagine will always be to some extent) and as we wait wait wait for a reply from the realtor. But we are trying to be hopeful and if this specific house doesn't work out- we have a few others lined up.

In the mean time I am trying to stay busy and trying*(sorry,Z) not to call Zach a bazillion times a day at work to see if he's "heard anything".

So I've been thrifting,planning our meals out, planning out rooms in my head and color schemes and all the things I would like to try and make,find or get used for Hazel's play. I really want to get her a kitchen set, I would heart a wooden one because I know it is better for her, our home and in the long run probably more durable. That said if we find a recycled one for very little money- I won't turn it down even if we keep it out in the yard.

Here are a few of my recent finds at my favorite little place called, Grace's.

Vintage TMNT (my husband was thrilled that I snagged that), cute little navy button down and a light pink, DUNDER MIFFLIN shirt!


khaki pants that have adjustable legs and a seersucker pair of red shorts that were a mere 25 cents!


Dunder Mifflin tee


A giraffe tunic, a floral shirt and a long sundress.



Action shot!

This week we are laying low,taking in some sun and reading some new books.

for Hazey:

Good-bye Pacifier


and for Mama:
The Kind Diet.

Since the cocktail of colitis meds, seem to be working, I am feeling braver with my food choices again. We've been enjoying green smoothies. This morning was exceptionally delish- Hazel kept signing and saying "more, more!". It was a handful of fresh spinach, 3/4 banana, a splash of OJ, a tbsp of agave nectar, 1 c. of almond milk and 1/2 c. of mangoes. I am hoping this book will reaffirm my reasons for being vegan years ago and help me get back on track.. even if eggs are still in the picture now & then.
xo

Looking Forward to the Weekend..

Since Zach doesn't get home till around 7:11 after he bathes HAzel and they have some papa baby time- we don't get a whole lot of time together. So when the weekend arrives, it is always welcome.. especially if a little snowstorm is also on the horizon. This weekend though, we are looking at a few houses- one of them being built in 1850. I have no idea what a house that is 160 years old needs by way of upkeep, but I have that nosy,generally interested in how-others-live vibe inside- so we have to take a look!

There will be a shop Update this weekend *hopefully* with new coffee cuffs and a Nifty Pixie cap or two. Here are some of the photos of stitched items, new, old and the soup I've been making a lot of these days.






Have a great weekend!

early bird special

Zach left for work earlier this morning, he had some thing to catch up on. So I too started my day early- feeling pretty good as I have already taken my meds and went to bed at a reasonable time 2 nights in a row.

The wind is howling and Hazel is still asleep in our bed for the moment. Z came back with a large amount of pictures from house hunting. Some were the stuff that nightmares are made of. See many of the houses we are looking at are either fixer-uppers or foreclosed, so I guess we need to expect this. Out of the 4 he saw 1 was livable it seems. Yesterday during a good belly moment we loaded Hazel into the car and we drove around the neighborhood over from us looking at a few prospective homes. I am really torn. For awhile I was thinking-we'll move up towards Putnam County- no problem, I don't mind driving to visit family & friends. Then it hit me, my digestive issues are not yet in remission, I don't want to add another hour onto Zach's commute.. so some soul searching and pro/con lists are being created. I'll get back to you on that.

In unrelated News... a few pictures of the Nifty Pixie Hat I made for H and a matching one for mama. I am working on the ties- because the fleece is very inexpensive ( I was trying to save the nice fleece for products I will sell) so this fleece stretches and isn't quite working when I try to tightly secure these hats. Live & learn! Experiments are fun! So I will grab my little seam ripper and add some new ties for us both.


Hazel in the gorgeous sweater I made us each a hat from. I would have worn the sweater, but it just looked funny one me.



This is a hat based on a vintage party hat as well as my creature hats. The fleece ruffling is sweet mixed with a vegan-wool & cashmere-feeling recycled sweater.


Excuse the large forehead shots- this is really for a teen or younger.



Last, the Nifty Pixie Gnome- this one is also a vegan.



In other unrelated News, a reason why I love my husband and his job? A 30Rock DVD set. We spent a good hour or 2 watching 30 Rock last night and it reminded me that laughter does so much for the body. It makes you happier it can help illness if even just for the silly moment. Let me be healed by Liz Lemon!! xo

P.S. I am determined to get a new cap in the shop today.

Teacher's Pet Kisses Up!

One of my newer designs has gotten a little Etsy press. It was featured in an article in Etsy's blog, The Storque. The article, Lean, Green Machine features artists who are crafting from green & recycled materials. This particular cuff isn't crafted from recycled materials- but most of my others are and this fabric is what grabs most people.

Yesterday it was featured in a treasury that made it to the front page! That has only happened 1 other time waay back, so it was a great feeling.




Aside from that hub yesterday, I am trying a new nap-lunch over all sleep schedule with Hazel. We started having some difficulty getting her down for bedtime- when it was suggested I let her play a little after she eats, well this seemed to be a good idea as she only woke around 1am slightly to come into our bed. Then this morning rather than putting her down at 10:30, I stretched it fed her lunch around 11 and she was in bed by 11:45 out. We'll see I am certainly always open to new ideas that will make the transitions through her day easier on us both! Tonight papa Z has a movie, he won't be back till about midnight- so it is just us girls for dinner and this "new" routine. Wish us luck! Have a great day!

progress makes perfect

Jon Stewart is on so that means we should be in bed. however the diapers are finishing up their prewash cycle and then I'll hang them on our rack. the rack is set up next to the baseboard heating. we don't have heat in our bedroom, so we keep the heat in the next room on- keeping it cozy while we sleep as well as drying our diapers too!

I met a friend for coffee (although it was actually a chai) and some baby fun today. During the winter days, when you don't have your own house to host a play date and you live in the suburbs.. sometimes the mall needs to be used for things other than shopping. So we let our girls run wild around the carpeted 1st floor of our local mall. They giggle, eat snacks and get their run on. I needed to make a return at Target, so I received store credit. With the store credit I purchased a chai (the store has a coffee shop attached) I also used my travel mug. It felt good b/c technically I didn't spend any money. I then used the remaining money on my credit to get a winter coat for H that was $6.48. I got her a size 5T because she has a current coat and one for next year. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a 4T at some point! I also found a calender (%75 off it is one of those helpful Mama ones with pockets & stickers) I had one last year- but didn't put much effort into finding it again. I also grabbed some V-day stickers for Valentines we'll soon be sending, a few birthday cards and a package of Swedish fish for the ride home. I even had 14 cents left on the credit!

When Hazel when down for her nap- be a very small nap indeed, I found time to sew up 6 hats. It is amazing just how fast things go when you prepare the project ahead of time.


just a sneak peek of what is to come ** nighty-night!

2 For Wednesday!

So one of my favorite little coffee cuffs was featured in Etsy's blog aka The Storque. The article is called Lean Green Machine today. There is still one of these beauties left and more on the way!

First Attempts

I finally finished a pair of wool soaker longies for Hazel. I made them from one of my favorite sweaters- that after having for years just started shrinking. The pants are very plain. The legs are my sleeves. I left them the same legth, with hope sthese can be worn for several years. Right now our bedroom does not have heat. Although we do a bit of co-sleeping, I wanted Hazel to have toasty,wool pants to romp and nap in. To finish them, I tied them with a recycled bit of t-shirt I used as a cord.



When I first started Hobocamp in 2004, I saved ever little piece of fabric and worked it into another piece, somehow. Well with various moves every year after the creation of Hobocamp.. I started getting lazy. Perhaps it was the idea of packing up bits & scraps or then finding a place in our new home for them- either way both were a challange. I've since started using suitcases, which stack and allow me to savour some of the little bits I am just not ready to part with. This also goes for my growing wool sweater collection. When Hobocamp was a wee toddler, I made a couple of hats from recycled sweaters- listed them and voila they sold! So to keep with tradition I am digging into my sweater collection, mixing some little bits and coming up with a line of recycled caps for babe, kids & mamas and the odd papa thrown in. Sunday was spent sketching,pinning and cutting. Monday night was spent sewing. Today I took some quick shots. I mean very quick. Hazel has a superior runny nose and is in an all-around grumpus mood, so my pictures are not great. BUt this is my first attempt. Hope you enjoy them! Stay warm! The caps, I am lovingly calling Nifty Pixie Caps- will be available this weekish-weekend. They are a mix of creature,pixie,gnomes and whatever else you might imagine.




xo

December in many forms

Well as everyone gears up for Christmas, I'll leave you with an excerpt from A Child's Calendar By John Updike. We lost him this year and he will be missed. One of my favorite authors. I read this to Hazel a lot while in my tummy and now with her on my lap or rambling around the room playing as I read aloud.

:::::December::::::
First snow! The flakes,
So few, so light
Remake the world
In solid white.

All bundled up,
We feel as if
We were fat penguins,
Warm and stiff.

The toy-packed shops
Half split their sides,
And Mother brings home
Things she hides.

Old carols peal.
The dusk is dense.
There is a mood
Of sweet suspense.

The shepherds wait,
The kings, the tree-
All wait for something
Yet to be,

Some miracle.
And then it's here,
Wrapped up in hope-
Another year!

Be well- Merry Christmas xo

checking in

The weather this fall has amazed me. Pouring rain for two days straight- now we have a sunny day, with a yard full of golden yellow leaves. gorgeous.

Hermione, our first kitty has been going through something, I took her to the vet and it appears the spell of fleas we had during the summer- must have affected her and she seems to have developed an allergy of sorts. She is nibbling her little, skinny legs down to the bone. She's now on antibiotics and received a shot of cortisone for the itchy & inflammation. So when I see her in peace, sitting next to me- basking in the sun, I'm grateful for us both. A cat, that when we met her at the shelter they were calling "Angel" yet telling everyone she was "vicious" intrigued us. We didn't want a kitten, we wanted the runt- who was a little older (3 at the time) and possibly in need of real love. She is still a very shy kitty and scares easily- but the love she shares when cuddling up can warm the coldest heart. She's even gotten over that slight scratch/bite people thing.

Then there is this girl...



I can't even believe a year has almost gone by. Another holiday season beginning. Halloween starts it all off for me. I'm very excited to get dressed up- in whatever random-fun I can find and take Hazel around the neighborhood. My brother & sister-in-law and nieces & nephew- we'll also drag my parents out too. Still figuring out what Hazel is going as, Zach calls her a mischief fairy- which is very appropriate.

So much to do- 4+ knitting projects in baskets around the apartment- gifts to be finished- 3 December birthdays, including Hazel's first. I'm looking forward to the weekend!
xo

the days in photos

So the rummage sale did not let me down. The first day, I scored a bunch of beautiful & useful items and Saturday I dragged Zach back for more. It amazes me how I can go over a place with a fine-toothed comb the first day- yet when I go back there are gems I've missed!


A couple of vintage berets, a wool skirt, some wool sweaters for felting and upcycling. A pair of jeans that a perfect for roaming around town-running errands or working in the yard with leaves.


Some vintage tablecloths


Some cotton longjohns- which is perfect- I've been looking & trying to collect these!


The haul- the first day!


The last of our nursing. Hazel woke around 1 ish and Zach took a few shots in the dim light of our last nursing session. I've been dealing with it. Hazel has been a true champ and is much enjoying her bottles. This kid has an amazing spirit. She's very much a go-with-the-flow, easy going babe. Maybe her mama should take a few tips from her!


Still trying to have hope this new medicine works. But I am very skeptical as I'm sick every morning for at least 1-2 hours. The weekend is here and so is the rain. Got some light sewing in last night. Made Hazel her witch's tutu for Halloween as well as added some tulle to a new dress for an upcoming wedding. Running to the market,maybe bake some spiced muffins- defenitely drinking hot cocoa and cuddling. Then there is our new obsession,Fringe. Zach brought home the first season and I'm hooked!

Living in Hoboland

I'm so happy fall is here. I don't know if I've mentioned that. In the last few weeks I've been in blog lala land (I can't believe it has been so long) I have been trying to calm my tummy and watch as our Hazel grows like a weed and gets into everything.

We are currently taking part in a sad state of affairs, called weaning little Hazel. It isn't a real choice as it is more of a necessity. Since being diagnosed with Colitis, the doctor told me I need to take medication. A medication that isn't recommended for nursing or pregnant mamas. I've tried alternative options and nothing is working. So to help myself and to be a better mother ( one that isn't stuck in the ladies room all day) I need to try this. I feel like an emotional mess, wondering if it will affect Hazel (although everyone says no)- perhaps I am the one who is really having the issue. Hazel has always taken bottles, sippy cups,breast milk or formula. So we are really lucky. She also loves eating (accept blueberries- whoops my fault). Parsnips,kale,squash,rice & beans, tomato,potato,pumpkin,peas,quinoa,just to name a few. Tonight she had her first bowl of soup along with bread and butter. This past weekend her first taste of baba ganoush. This little girl grows into a silly,giggly,happy elf more each day. Well on her way to taking that first step any day now.

Hobocamp is quiet and slow. Ideas race through my head for the holidays- before you know it those days will be among us. My sewing table again is covered with projects needing a quick sew or a full spell of the machine. But I've started collecting leaves and dreaming of ways to stay warm in our cozy bedroom with no heat. The bed looks like the princess & the pea, covered in patchwork quilt after quilt. Hazel has started co-sleeping. I was afraid before as she was just so tiny, but now she rules the roost and I welcome any sleepy cuddles or scratches for that matter. Concerned about the fire retardant used in most children's sleepwear, I've been looking for thermals that have no chemicals, to wear under one pieces of natural cotton. My mother told me her mama would put them in long vests or sweaters with no sleeves to sleep in over their night clothes. Wool is so toasty.. so I made one for Hazel out of a sweater of my own. It just needs a few stitches. Stay inspired and enjoy the season!

Thursday

Although the day is almost over, I just wanted to take a moment to breathe. To think about just how fast the days fly by. My list of things to do either gets done or forgotten and then added to the new list. I saw my first tree starting to change today..its leaves were turning a pale red.

My sewing table is covered with library books,fabric and other random things. Tonight I'll clean it off and make room for sewing this weekend. We received 2 dear knitted caps, from Zach's aunt in the mail. Pictures to come.

Tomorrow maybe Hazel and I will take a road trip to Adam's. A wonderful market the next county over. They sell the baby muesli she enjoys so much along with some wonderful organic & local produce and local frozen goods. The trip is well worth the drive when we survey the treats we find.





Trying to live in a more simple way and on a budget. It isn't easy. Our first child- only child has so much. Clothing-new,used, hand-me-downs. Toys- new, used, hand-me-downs. It isn't easy keeping things at bay. I can be easily swayed by magazines and friends- and nostalgia thinking something might be needed when it isn't always necessary. But I think it is an always evolving process. Just as I need to allow myself a little break now & again, I need to do the same for our babe and her father. We are aware and trying and that is half the battle.

400

Here at Hobocamp we are celebrating our 400th sale in the shop! We started Etsy on May 31, 2006- before that we had just done craft shows. So getting the word out was a true challenge. Our Etsy shop has been so much fun and a lot of work! Here's to 400 more sales! Thank you to everyone who has made it possible. You are helping make my dream come true!







With that said, we have a bunch of new cuffs, Snuggle Bunny gear and other new handmade cuteness making way to the shoppe.
So fall is totally in the air- I even wore toasty socks yesterday!