A Sunday project

It was spring like weather so we sat outside for dinner.

Because we sat outside for dinner I decided we needed cushions for the chairs.

Because we needed cushions for the chairs I had to go immediately to JoAnn's while the coupon commotion was on.

Because I went to JoAnn's I came home with pillow forms and fabric that needed sewing.

Because I had fabric that needed sewing I put away all other chores and sat down to sew.

Because I sat down to sew we now can sit outside in comfort when it's spring like weather.

Because it is spring like weather we sat outside on comfy cushions to eat dinner :)

I am.....

• still happy sewing things - swaps on swap-bot, projects for friends, and projects for me




• enjoying baking - lots of lunchbox-able snacks, ALL of our bread (including this and this recipe) - yes haven't bought bread in nearly a month!!! Trying out lots of new recipes found via Pintrest and expanding my recipe box.

• Realizing that cooking more takes planning and trying to get better at that
• realizing how addicted I can get to the computer - checking emails, facebook, google reader, playing games.....trying to limit that
• still working on my OLW and trying to consciously live it every day
• trying to be content with the baby steps I am making rather than disappointed at not reaching the goals.
• saddened by the trials that friends are being but through and trying to be, in turn, grateful for the small blessings we receive every day
• all in all thinking that 2012 if starting off to be a good year!

Taking a time out....

I have a teenage daughter...........

She is exhibiting textbook teenage behaviors......

Sometimes I need a time out.......

So the other day - rather than attack the piles of laundry, or clean something that desperately needed cleaning, or curl into the fetal position and never come out...... I made something - because making things is what reduces my stress levels - plus I can close the door to the craft room and pretend that I don't hear the activity from upstairs as my darling husband takes a turn of coping with a teenage daughter - being an only child this is ALL new ground for him!

I decided that the girls bathroom needed new bath mats - and so that's what I made

It's just fabric squares (300 or so) backed with some old towels. It's not the neatest quilt project I've made (terry toweling is not the best fabric to work with...) but it gave me the time out I needed to be able to venture back into the battleground. Plus it makes me smile every time I walk past their bathroom :)

Finding a rhythm

I don't know why it's taking me so long to find a rhythm to my days....... Some days I feel energized and merrily check of my list of things to do for the day. Other days I fiddle around with this or that and never really accomplish anything before my 2nd job of chief taxi driver and homework helper starts promptly at 2:45pm. I get frustrated a lot but then try to remember that really in the grand scheme of things this is really such a short period of time in life. Next year the girls will be in middle and high school (ugh!) which adds an extra hour to "my" part of the day, and before I know it they won't be needing me for driving OR homework. SO I try to be content in the "now".

One of my goals had been to fill my etsy store by the end of this month....it's not going to happen. Don't get me wrong - I'm still making stuff all the time but a lot of it are things people have ordered from me already so the extra's are not getting made. So if you have seen something on my blog or on my flickr account that you would like me to make - please just ask me. I LOVE to make stuff :0 ) and would love to make you something. Meanwhile I will keep working away on my store stuff and hope to have it stocked soon - and hopefully soon find a rhythm to my days.

Last weekend I....

Finally got around to making myself a new bag

and as is usually the case I am already thinking about the next one......

Last month I joined

but hadn't yet started it because I hadn't decided on the book I wanted to use for it. Well it suddenly hit me that this flip book that I've had sitting around forever not knowing what to use it for would be perfect so I made this

and finally caught up with my lists of the past week.

Made a few more things like this

in between running kids back and forth to various activities, dinner, and trying to get a chance to talk to my husband when the football is not on and I know he'll actually hear what I'm saying :P

How about you?

I've been spotted!!!!

Reading through my blog roll this morning I was momentarily confused when one of my photos of a bag I made

showed up on someone else's blog

Then it hit me................

I'd been spotted!!!!!

Woohoo!!!!!

It may take me a while to wipe this silly grin off my face....... :)

A fun - but essential - project

On the way to school this morning my oldest daughter discovered that the pencil pouch I had made her 2 yrs ago finally died :( With pleads that the replacement NEEDED to be out of the exact same fabric.....she got lucky, and I got to play :)

The result.....

Since she said nothing about the design being the same I got to try something new.... I'm afraid I sew about the same way I cook...... I stick fairly close to the directions the first go around but from then I I try a bit of this and a bit of that. The size of this pouch? Well it was the size of the fabric scrap I had left minus about 2 inches to fit the zipper that I happened to have on hand.....The pattern? Well I kind of went by that I remembered doing something similar to the other day. The result? She's happy and I've got a few new ideas that I want to try... anyone need a pencil pouch made?

Scrapping along..... of the fabric kind

If you didn't already know I have several (*cough*) hobbies ;) and I tend to get absorbed by one for a while until I burn out, and then move on to the next one, and the next, until I've made the full circle. Some last longer than others, some are more seasonal (knitting seems to mainly come around Christmas). Right now I am consumed with sewing and if you came to my house right now you would see fabric covering my craft room. I REALLY love sewing (of course I will say that about all my hobbies) and I have a generous (*cough*) stash of fabric. So this time as I was happily sewing along making some of these

I decided that I should use up every last scrap before moving on to the next project. Those scraps became these

Now it seems I am addicted to finding out what I can do with scraps... like this

and I have some other ideas floating around too. I've been having so much fun and have been able to do a little here and a little there in between being chief taxi driver, chef, housekeeper, homework assistant and school library volunteer.....

On a side note - if you like hunting through thrift stores like me, you really should go check out the new Public Markets in Turkey Creek. I have been a few times already and have already marked my favorites thrifting stalls. My biggest find has been yards upon yards of vintage lace which I used on the fabric atc above and this basket

There have been quite a few other finds too and I have gotten to know some of the lovely vendors working there.

My goal had been not to buy any new fabric until I had made a sizable dent in my current stash.....but surely vintage lace isn't included in that....right????

Oh and these and more projects are planned for my etsy store which I am hoping to fill over the next few months - so if you need unique local handmade Christmas gifts for your friends/relatives/teachers think of me :)

Have a great long weekend!

Saying goodbye...

So I had to say goodbye to my mum last weekend :( It always makes me more than a little homesick when I wave her off on a jet plane - I really miss seeing my family and particularly my sisters. But it's a good chance to send a bunch of stuff home since I can't go myself. So gave her an extra suitcase and we loaded them up as close to the weight limit as we could!

For #2 (my husband likes to number my sisters rather than use a name..) with my almost 3 yr old niece and another niece on the way, we send home lots of fun new clothes and books for the girls - some new, some made with love. Some particularly requested items were a twirly skirt which my DD made, and a scarf to match the one I had made my sister for Christmas (it's winter there at the moment).

#4 received an antique cocktail shaker that I stumbled upon while browsing Nostalgia one day :)

and #3 owns a restaurant so I thought a handmade apron would be something she would like

It has a pocket to hold a order pad and pen, some vintage buttons and trims, and some paris newsprint fabric to remind her of our trip :)

Doesn't even come close to getting on a plane and seeing them in person but at least they'll know I'm thinking of them!

This week I....

Did a little sewing

played with some more ATC's

spent some time exploring new (to me) places in our area

and celebrated my mum's birthday- this year in the same country as she was!

All in all it was a lovely week. :)

A happy kind of weekend

My favorite kind of weekend - a little crafting, a little family time, and no time pressures! I did some sewing this weekend and oh how I've missed it!

First up was a gift for a birthday party next Saturday. My DD wanted an art tote to go with the watercolor paints and pad she had picked out for the gift so this is what I came up with

The friend is a frog lover so inside we used some fun frog fabric

An art tote ready to grab and go anywhere to create some art :)

Earlier we had stumbled on some 1 penny watercolor pencils to add to our collection. My older DD wanted something to keep her pencils in that she could easily see the colors at a glance. I thought a pencil roll would be too long for the 50 odd pencils she now has so I came up with this

the outer 2 flaps fold in, and then it folds in half to look like this

ready to take with her where ever she decides to go and make art :)

If you happen to have a child who is friends to one of my DD's - don't be surprised if a variation of one of these shows up at your next birthday gathering.......

What I've been doing.....

So it's been a while I know..... I have been doing little things here and there but mainly just trying to keep up with every day life. After feeling like I was in a bit of a slump, I started doing some swaps to help push me to be creative again. It's a little addicting...... I did some prayer flags

and then got hooked on atc's

also made a stack of crayon holders like the one I made for my niece

so that's what I've been doing lately.......

Gift for my niece

My niece turned 2 last month and having "been there and done that" with my girls, I thought a good gift would be one that could be appreciated by both mother and daughter. After some pondering I came up with this



A crayon and notebook purse that can be taken in the car, in the stroller, to dr's appointments and restaurants for instant entertainment during those long boring wait times.



My mother said it was an instant prized possession and hooked on the dolls stroller for a walk and then taken off for some quick doodling :o) It was quick and fun to make and I have the crayons and notepads to make some more.....anyone want one?

Back to school

Kids set off for school in new outfits (and new contact lenses)



With my few hours of quiet (first day was a half day) I made this



and this



and this




So although I hate the early morning rises and the "hurry up we've got to go" ...... it was nice to have a few hours to myself and make some fun stuff for my girls :o)

Tonight.......

Time: 8pm
She says: mum I need pj's for pajama day at camp tomorrow
Me: (bewildered) don't you have pj's????
She says: we are not allowed to wear short ones or nighties so I only have winter ones and they're too hot
Me: (wondering what this was leading to...) okay... can you borrow some of your sister's?
She says: uh - NO! they're all too big plus I don't like them
Me: okay...so what are you going to do?
She says: It's okay mum - you can make me some - I'll help you find the fabric
(Translation: I want to look cool in front of my new camp friends tomorrow and I know exactly what I want to be wearing and you are here to fix that for me)

Time: 9:15pm
Me: Is this what you wanted



She says: oh thank you mum! I love you.
Me: (I think somewhere I missed the lesson where they explained to you how to avoid being wrapped around your child's ever so cute little finger...)

Still here.....

Yes I'm still here and still trying to catch up with my life! School is back in full swing as are all the extra curricular activities and birthdays and store events..... it's just crazy! I have been doing some creating - you can see the monthly challenge group stuff over at the diva blog and some cards I've made over at the Store.
Speaking of birthday's we have had 2 in the family this month (3 if you count my dad's - miss you dad!) My older DD requested an iceskating party for her birthday so here was the invite


And here is the party in full swing.

She is also the one with the pig addiction so while in Seattle this summer I made sure to take lots of photos of Rachel - the Pike St Market mascot. So for her birthday I made her a mini book to remember our trip

It sits on her bedside table for a nightly viewing before bed :o)
My niece turned 1 this week and for her birthday I made her a rag doll which was SO much fun and I already have requests for several more. It hasn't made it through the mail across the ocean to her yet so I am crossing my fingers hoping when she gets it she loves it as much as I do


You can see behind her a matching quilt still in progress. I hope to have that completed before Christmas - or sooner even!
My older DD auditioned for and was accepted into the Tennessee Children's Dance Ensemble so that now takes up a lot of our free time but it is a dream come true for her. It's still an adjustment for me.....

My younger DD's birthday is coming up next month so I need to begin planning for that.... and then before you know it, it will be Christmas! Ugh! Hopefully I'll be back here before then :o) Thanks for checking in on me!

What happened to summer?

I know, I know - it's been much longer than a week since I updated. Summer used to be endless hours at the pool or at home just hanging out and relaxing - this summer though it seems I'm never home! Feels like I spend all day dropping off and picking up the kids from one activity or another. I guess it's just the age they are at - they seem to be enjoying it though. My mum is here for a visit and I don't think she's enjoying it quite so much. It's been a few years since she's had this much activity in her house.
I have managed to get a few things done. Made some more present pillows for a birthday party for twins (with my DH as the reluctant prop guy)



and also another bag made to order



I never would have chosen these fabrics to go together but it came together surprisingly well - a little brighter than I would have picked, but she loved it and that's what counts.

For Father's Day we went up the mountains to our favorite picnic spot. I love how every time we go there is something new to discover and this time was no different.

In all the years we have been going there I can't ever remember seeing so many mushrooms!!

They were in every color and shape and size and the more you look the more you found

So my oldest DD and I went on a mushroom hunt - hoping to catch a glimpse of a fairy or two along the way. We never did see a fairy but I'm sure they were just to fast for us :o)

Away

My older DD is right this minute in DC with 1200 other East TN 5th graders on the Safety Patrol trip. She's having a blast! Me? My heart hurts.... but I'm glad she's having a great time and I am EXTREMELY grateful to Don Lindsey of AAA who has been twittering the whole trip which makes me worry a little less - just a little.....
On the flip side with older DD in DC and younger at a sleepover DH and I actually had a night alone together!!!! First night in literally years! And I am proud to say we actually took advantage of it and went to dinner and then went and saw Star Trek. If you are a trekkie in the least way you will LOVE this movie. All the old lines you know and love come up and it's so fun to see the younger versions of all the old characters. Highly recommended!
The girls got new shoes this week



and they pretty much haven't taken them off since - but really who would blame them! They are just too cute!!
Me? I whipped up another of these bags per request - she picked the fabrics - I just put it together.



I think turned out pretty cute. (Carla - it's at the store waiting for you.......)
And tonight? Another bag in progress - same story - she picked the fabrics, I just sew it together.

Phew!

Wow that last week or two of school really wiped me out! It was crazy busy with work thrown in there too but the good news is I made a lot of gifts this week so I have lots to show you.
Firstly the pencil roll I was telling you about returned from the abyss (at least momentarily) so here's a photo of it



And you know it really works! Seems it's much more fun to put your pencils away when they have a special color co-ordinated home to go to.


Then I made a bunch of cards and such for the teachers - this one for our only male teacher and it included a resturant gift card

then 6 of each of these as gifts




and then another thank you with a gift card

and finally a clipboard (for the teacher who complained her's always went missing) with matching card



Then my oldest DD had not one but TWO birthday parties this week as well!!!! She is at the age where gift cards are the most wanted gifts but I hate to just give a gift card - luckily I stumbled upon Leslie's package pillows and I am in love with them!





So you know what all her friends will be getting from now on....

Then there were belated thank you gifts for the girl scout leaders. A tote bag (that had been requested)



(LOVE that fabric - and there is still enough left for some more projects.....)
and a note card wrap (can you tell she's an owl lover??)

I got the idea from soulemama's Gratitude Wrap but I didn't like the way she did the pockets and it seemed more complicated than it needed to be so I made my own version which is much simpler and works just fine. These would be great to have on hand for last minute gifts.... but then again last minute is all I ever do!

Then last but not least was out diva group challenge for the month. We met at the store this month so we could do a little shopping too :o) I have to say that I think out of all the pieces that I have made for the challenges, this is the one I am most pleased with

I have it proudly hanging above my piano now which is by the door to the garage so every time I walk into the house I see it and smile :o) You can see all the other pieces and what we had to use over on the blog.
Now school's out for the summer so we'll see how much gets done with the kids around. Hope you are enjoying your Memorial weekend!