boys have birthdays too
and eve knows that because her daddy has a birthday and she remembers when charlie came out of my tummy, and that was his first birthday ever. but he was zero, which is a little funny.
so, because they have them too and because i believe in the glory of two-in-one, we now celebrate birthdays with this banner. one side for the girls. one side for the boys. or if the kids decide to break free of the gender-specific color regime, they get to choose whichever side they like the best. either way, this thing is going to be around forever. i love thinking of hanging the banner up 10 years from now when these exact shades and designs are decidedly out of fashion and the kids think it's so ugly, but love it still. because it is tradition, and you can't help but love tradition.
if you don't already have your own and are thinking of the awesomeness of reversibility and segregating colors, this is a fun project. great for using up fabric already in your stash, in fact, i like this so much more knowing i used only what was on hand. and even though it sat in the "almost finished" pile nearly a year, it really is quick. especially if you sew the triangles, wrong sides together, and use pinking shears on the edges rather than spending the time turning each right side out, which i'm happy with, but am not sure was worth it when pinked edges are fun too. and faster.
. . .
things are most likely going to be calm around here for the next week or so. i've got my hands full watching over little charlie as he recovers from a terrible burn on his left hand. my chest is tight with guilt just thinking about his sad bandaged hand. i will never doubt his determination or strength again. nor will i assume that trains and a chair barrier are enough to distract him from the heat pipe of his desire while i wash my face. as i was waiting with him in cornell's burn unit, clowns came in to cheer the room up. people laughed. a lot. but i couldn't look at them, it was too sweet and right and made me want to cry for little charlie, that we were in a place where clowns come to cheer up the sad and broken. but i was so grateful all the same. people are awesome.
(and so were your treat suggestions! it's almost scary how many delicious things there are to shove in my mouth. . . i haven't stopped dipping my apples in honey since jackie suggested it and i can't wait to get going on all the other favorites. but slowly. because charlie and his paw need more attention than my belly. . .)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 09:57PM
Reader Comments (17)
Katie!! Poor poor charlie! Oh I ache for him... but take it from me, only you will be scarred with the memory...unfortunately, and now he gets some serious Mom time!
Ok, I love the banner so much, you want to make me one?? sigh... I think I may have to make one, such a fantastic idea, boy and girl sides... and it will become the thing every child wants to inherit for sure. love you, and give Charlie a squeeze from is aunt.
so sad for poor little Charlie. maybe you could hang the cute banner up for him...it has to make anyone feel happy!
aahhh! seriously?? poor charlie!! greta just pulled my flat iron on her hand this morning and got a nice painful burn - i even had the door to the bathroom closed. not sure how she opened it. poor baby hands. poor mothers who have to feel guilty.
on the other, um, hand....i love the banner.
i love your banner. it looks great! they seem so fun an festive. one of these days i'll get around to making one.
i am so sorry to hear about Charlie's burn. poor guy! i am so sorry for you too. i know that feeling of guilt well, all mothers do.
i'm glad my treat suggestion is doing the trick. i hope your little boy gets better soon. i am a huge fan of this blog and feel like a rock star for having my little recipe mentioned. wishing you calm days ahead.
p.s. love the banner!
great banner!
and all the best for little charlie!!!!
I can remember very well to a little accident, which happend to kid1: once I ran a screenprinting workshop. kid1 was just a few month and sat in babysit near the hot press. I had to finish a job and was in a real hurry. Suddenly she started to cry and didn´t stop. I was really angry on her and complained about the crying baby later at the lunch with her dad.
We spent the afternoon with some other newly mothers - and there I saw it!
A big BLISTER was on her finger!
I placed the poor wee too near to the hot press - and she burned her finger - and I was angry with her - I never will forget this - although this year she´s turning 3!
Oh that cold, heart-wrenching feeling of guilt ... if only ... if only i hadn't given him that slice of salami before checking the ingredients.
Better to not dwell on these and move on. And not think about what happens if something is really broken - that cannot be fixed. How one feels then.
We must be on the same wavelength Katie.. I'm working on two banners at the moment (and I agree that the turned out triangles look nice!).
And I'm sorry to hear about Charlie. I remember little C burning his hand on the toaster oven when he was about that size. I had turned it off a while before, but those suckers stay hot for a while. Hard to not feel badly, but really.. somehow these kids survive and grow and thrive anyway.
I love the banner! I do not have little ones yet but it's such an adorable idea and a wonderful keepsake & memory for them in the future.. I may just start on one now because knowing me, it could take until i'm ready to procreate to finish it.
I also hope little charlie heals quickly!
hey kate, me again... how long is your banner?
jean-
it's really long (or at least a lot longer than i thought it would be), about 25 or 26 feet. . . i just started making the triangles and before long, i had a ton. . .
love the banner. So brilliant. Hope your little man gets better soon!
hello from Chile!!! To the south of Latin America. Letme tell you that you are an inspiration for me. I´m a newly mother, and I think that your projects are very nice!!! Congratulations!!!
(sorry for may bad english...my native laguage is spanish...)
so happy to have found your blog! Can't wait to look around.
I love the idea that you've had for your bunting and I think that using up one's fabric stash is ALWAYS a good road to go down. My heart goes out to you and Charlie. Please don't blame yourself. As children we all got in to scrapes and much worse. What a lovely soul you are and a very good mummy.
Cherry x
So colorful and great!
Here's a good image of the other technique you described:
http://www.sarahkaye.com/show.php?PicID=5762