elaine and company

i train superheroes

2011-04-27T22:51:00.001-04:00

I have a new blog! Needed a fresh start. :)

unplugged

2011-04-02T11:28:00.002-04:00

I've been taking a nice long internet break and it feels great! There is lots of sewing, embroidering, schooling and playing going on at the Jones house.

As the school year is coming to a close, I've started looking more and more at redecorating. The house is still the same as it was when we moved in and that just won't do. So I'm going to spend the summer making it our home. Most of it will be handmade and fun, so I'll post a whole lot of tutorials and such in the next few months, but it will be in a different spot than elaine and company. More details to come!

As for now, I'm working on Easter outfits for the littles. I'll post pics soon.

That's it for this tiny update. I hope my two readers enjoyed it. ha

ahhh...

2011-02-18T10:44:00.002-05:00

to hear the whirring of my machine is wonderful! I'm starting to find sewing time again. I made these little dresses for some American Girl dolls that belong to a friend's daughter. Now on to the quilt I've been working on and the other long list of things I want to sew!

Ring in the new...

2010-12-30T23:38:00.004-05:00

How fitting is it to have my 100th post coincide with the new year? Very fitting if I do say so myself!

I'll stray from my usual bland posts about sewing and knitting and wee ones just this once. I'm sure my one reader won't mind. Here's a bit of my 2010 in review:

In January 2010 we started the long, stressful, fun, scary process of relocating from Ohio to Texas.
In February we celebrated our sixth anniversary. I'm still totally in love with him.
In March our daughter turned 2 and our Ohio house went on the market.
In April our fourth child, Matthew, was born. I had no idea how silly he would be. I celebrated my 32nd birthday even though I still feel like a teenager. An offer was made on our Ohio house.
In May all was calm. Then came the storm...
In June we sold our home and bought a new one in Texas. My aunt passed away a week before we moved from Ohio. My mother passed away a week after we moved to Texas.
In July I moved into my new home and buried my mother two days later and had a birthday party for my four year old son two days after that. My best friend from childhood called me when he heard about my mother. I didn't recognize his voice and that saddened me.
In August my oldest son started Kindergarten.
In September I rested.
In October we trick or treated with our family. My sweet celebrated his 39th birthday.
In November my first born turned 6. I made him a cake and hugged him a lot.
In December my King celebrated his birthday. We helped him celebrate by baking lots of cookies and spending time together.

How do I feel about 2010? In a word, happy. I know it's a strange word to use when the year seems to have been so full of stress and heartache. But I do really feel happy. I'm happy to be living near my family, so the stressful move was worth it. I'm sad that my mother and aunt passed away because I miss them dearly. But I'm happy because they are no longer sick. And mostly I'm happy for all the little things that happened in 2010...the morning snuggles, the giggles, the countless board games and games of hide and seek, seeing my kids getting better at reading and writing, seeing the baby smile for the first time or roll over for the first time, walking the silly dog, playing World of Warcraft with the husband, date nights, the final Harry Potter movie, my morning cup of coffee, my afternoon cup of tea, I could go on...

What do I want in 2011? More little things. It's in those little things or little moments that I find happiness. I don't want to spend my time chasing after things that I think will make me happy. I want to sit back and notice all the things that do make me happy.

Happy New Year to all.

Some Christmas Sweets

2010-12-23T09:34:00.003-05:00

I went out to do some late night shopping (along with everyone else in the city). As I was piling food in my cart for multiple gatherings, I stopped to look around at all the people in the store. It was very sweet to see a few young couples celebrating their first Christmas together and a few older couples who have done this Christmas thing many years but still enjoy every minute of it.

traditions

2010-12-17T17:20:00.013-05:00

Here are a few (ok a lot) of pictures of some of our Christmas traditions... Our Advent Calendar (each day is a little book that tells the story of Christmas) lined with some porcelin angels that my mom used to decorate with.

Liam's first ornament.

Jack's first ornament.

Matilda's first ornament.

Matthew's first ornament.

One of my mom's old ornaments.

Some more of my mom's ornaments. I vividly remember taking these off the tree and playing with them. The polar bear is a candle.

Another of my mom's. This was one of my favorites as a kid.

Lining baby Jesus' crib with good deeds. The kids get to put a piece of "straw" in for every good deed they do. The more good deeds, the softer Jesus' crib will be when he arrives Christmas day.

Our Advent wreath. It's small and humble. We bought it our first Christmas together when we didn't have much money. I haven't replaced it and don't know if I ever will.

That cranberry garland took a while to make, but I kinda like it! And the Santa all the way to the left hold Christmas cards and candy canes. This is another thing I remember playing with as a child. And of course our Nativity is on the mantle so the kids can see it every day.

And here's a tiny new addition to our Christmas.

hi

2010-12-15T23:39:00.001-05:00

It's been around a month since I posted so...hi. I'm tired now, but I'll be back to give you some blog lovin' tomorrow. I've been taking some pictures for just such an occasion.

giverslog

2010-11-23T15:22:00.002-05:00

Awesomely sweet giveaway here:
http://www.giverslog.com/giftguides/?p=2700

It's an awesome blog. Check it out!

A Legend of Zelda Birthday Party

2010-11-13T23:17:00.010-05:00

Treasure chests filled with rupees, Link candy dispensers, and pieces of Triforce combined with...
a Hylian Shield birthday cake (with lots and lots of icing that turns little kids' mouths blue) along with...
the Triforce pieces making a map when put together that leads to...
a Ganon Pinata filled with candy and ready be be bashed apart by the Master Sword makes for one...
fun party with family and friends for one...
very happy little six year old.

More pictures here.

Mario and Luigi costume tutorial

2010-11-07T12:58:00.014-05:00

Items needed: one sheet each of white, red, green, and brown felt; elastic cord; scissors; red newsboy hat; green newsboy hat (purchased here); sewing machine and thread; overalls, red and green shirts
Cut two "domes" out of the white felt. I held the felt up to the hat to gauge what size I would need to cut it, then I folded the felt in half and cut half the dome on the fold so the sides would be even. You could also do a circle instead of a dome if desired.
Cut an M out of the red felt and center it on the white felt. Sew it on to the white felt. I used red thread to blend in with the felt.
Cut an L out of the green felt and center it on the dome. Sew it on using green thread.
Next, pin the M onto the hat. Carefully sew it to the hat. I found that using lots of pins to hold the M in place helped.

Repeat the pinning and sewing with the L hat.
TaaDaa! The hard part of the costume is done!
Now we're ready for moustaches! Cut the moustaches from the brown felt. I measured my kids' faces to see how big of a moustache I'd need to cut. For my kids, I needed one approximately 3 inches long and 1 inch high. For Luigi, cut a moustache shaped like the one above.
Then poke holes on the sides and tie the elastic cord onto it.
Mario's moustache is slightly different than Luigi's as can be seen in the picture above.
Finally, get a plain green shirt, a plain red shirt (I got both at Target for $5 each) and some overalls. Throw in a Princess Peach and you have a Nintendo Halloween! These costumes have made their way into our dress up trunk and are still used a lot!

mi familia

2010-11-07T11:55:00.002-05:00

http://www.ktylerphotography.com/blog/?p=1161

saturday...

2010-11-06T22:46:00.002-04:00

the day when my husband is here to help change diapers and kiss boo-boos
the day when I can get some cleaning done
the day when I can get a few uninterrupted hours in front of the sewing machine
the day when I can make the party favors and pinata for the birthday party next week
the day when the whole family can go to the park together
at least that's what my Friday night imagination is telling me
then it turns into
a day when my four year old crawls into bed at 5 am and vomits everywhere
a day I spend comforting him
a day I spend watching Toy Story 1, 2 and 3 just to keep him still so he can heal
a day when my super hero husband washed the knee deep sheets, towels, and blankets known as the "vomit pile"
a day when I take my tired and whiny 2 year old to grocery shop because I know she loves it so much
a day when I push a full grocery basket while holding a sleeping 2 year old
a day when I pray the three other kids don't get sick
a day when I smile because the sick kid says he's not sick anymore just so he can help me clean the bathroom
a day when I snuggle on the couch with the littles to read them as many books as they want

I prefer my real day to my imaginary day any day.

obligatory halloween post

2010-11-01T23:38:00.006-04:00

Mario, Luigi and Princess peach prepare to set out.
The little pumpkin obviously borrowed Princess Peach's crown.
Returning home after filling up their candy buckets.
OK, so this isn't so Halloween-y. We threw a surprise party for the husband. I let the kids decorate the cake.
They also chose to put 39 candles on the cake instead of the boring #3 candle and #9 candle.

Sorry about the oh so boring post, but this mama is tired! I have been mulling over a few posts on crafting vs. art, feminism and a promised Mario and Luigi costume tutorial...so stay tuned!

busy bees!

2010-10-24T19:17:00.004-04:00

Between sickness, family pictures, Renaissance Fairs, getting put in jail and elephant riding, we've been busy little bees! But the end of busy-ness is in sight! We have costumes ready for Halloween. Now we just need to make all the good food for the trick or treating party!

Then I'm going to wrap up all the projects I have going and start on my handmade Christmas!! I'll keep everyone updated on what's knitting and sewing at the Jones house.

Look here for a Mario/Luigi costume tutorial in a few days.

getting there...

2010-10-15T15:11:00.002-04:00

I love seeing my sewing queue dwindle down! I finally finished this jump rope dress just in time for family picture day next week. I used fabric from Heather Ross' Far Far Away II collection. I love the way it turned out.
This dress probably isn't great for beginners to tackle, but if you're pretty comfortable in front of a machine, give it a go!

lots o' laundry

2010-10-15T14:19:00.002-04:00

I have four kids and a husband. One of those kids is a wee one who spits up on everything. The other three kids are, well, kids who are capable of getting their clothes really, really dirty. And the husband runs a lot therefore produces sweaty clothes. That's a lot of laundry folks. I could do a load a day and still not be caught up. That's also a lot of laundry detergent, which as most of you know can get expensive. Instead of telling the kids they can either go to college or have clean clothes, not both, I decided to try to make my own laundry detergent. I tried many different recipes and finally settled on one that I'll share with you.

1 cup Borax
1 cup Super Washing Soda
1 bar Castile soap

Grate the bar of soap and mix it with the Borax and Super Washing Soda. Put in a sealed container to store when not in use. Use 2 tablespoons for a large load.

If you want no additives at all, you can use a bar of Fels Naptha (but grate only about 1/2 of the bar) or Ivory soap. You can find all these items in the laundry aisle of your grocery store, except the Castile soap is usually in the "natural" section or body soap aisle. If not, you can order online from a number of retailers or ask your grocery store manager to stock it.

The great thing about this detergent is you can change it to fit your needs (fragrance, no fragrance etc). And it is super, super cheap!! One batch goes a long way. You can double or triple the recipe to make it last a long time. Another trick is to add vinegar to a downy ball and put it in the wash. The vinegar rinses all the soap out after washing. If there is soap left in the clothes, it tends to attract dirt and weakens the fiber of the clothing.

For those of you with HE washers, I think it works well. I don't have and HE, but if someone wants to buy one for me so I can test it out, you are very welcome to.

the fun of fall!!

2010-10-12T22:35:00.008-04:00

Did you know that before pumpkins, turnips used to be used as jack-o-lanterns? Says so on Wikipedia so it must be true! (Check out the picture of the Irish jack o lantern on that page...freaking scary!) Anyway, I brought some pumpkins and a turnip to my sister's house to carve with her minions. I love the way my little turnip turned out! I plan on making a few more and hanging them with twine on the front yard tree. They look extra spooky when lit.

I used a melon baller to gut him. It worked really well. To keep turnips and jack o lanterns to last a bit longer, I hear soaking them in bleach for 8 hours then drying them out helps to keep mold away. But make sure you get all the bleach out and not let it pool at the bottom, or rot will set in.
Another great thing about fall is the squash that comes with it! This here is South American Ragout cooked inside of acorn squash. I got the recipe from this month's Vegetarian Times. It tasted even better than it looks!
And last but not least, a fall dress for the little lady. This is the Ice Cream Dress from Oliver and S made with my very last yard of mermaids from Heather Ross. If you're new to sewing or want to start, try this pattern. It's easy and sews up quickly.

spooky fail (but an awesome giveaway, yay!)

2010-10-01T23:14:00.004-04:00

So the first day of my spooky craft every day until Halloween didn't happen today! Oops. This morning was a home school morning and by the afternoon, I had a sick kid to take care of. There's always tomorrow.

On a good note, there's a giveaway for this gorgeous necklace over at No Biggie. I want!

spooooky

2010-09-30T15:45:00.004-04:00

It's almost Halloween!!! OK, we have about a month to go, but I can still get excited!! I love this time of year...the candy, the ghouls, the candy, the witches and did I mention candy?
Well this year I've decided to do one spooky craft with the kids a day. So craft along with me. It doesn't have to be huge, just fun! I'll post all the crafts (when I remember) that we do.

The pictures up there are from last Halloween. It's amazing how much the kids have grown since then! I'm working on their costumes (you'll notice last year was store bought/hand me down. I was super pregnant at the time so give me a break!) They are some super excited kids! Spook you later!

overdue diaper bag

2010-09-24T23:01:00.005-04:00

My friend Sarah saw my diaper bag on the floor in my dad's living room. She asked everyone in the house who the "diaper bag that doesn't fall over" belonged to. I then promised to make her one also...that was almost three months ago. I'm embarrassed that it took me so long to sew, but we all get carried away in the stream of life sometimes and things get pushed aside.

Well, I'm happy to say it's finally done! I used fabric from Lizzy House's Red Letter Day line. The pattern is the Everything Bag in Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones.

***If you don't sew, you can ignore the next part or read and be bored!***

I'm not going to do a full pattern review, but I will say that it was pretty easy to sew up. The longest part was putting all the interface and fusible fleece on. I've made three of these bags so far and not found any errors in the pattern instructions. The only thing I don't like about the bag is that the divider is not attached at the bottom, so I may try to change that next time I sew it.

Oh and please excuse the poor lighting in that picture (and the messy desk).

jump rope dress

2010-09-10T14:42:00.004-04:00

I made this dress from and Oliver and S pattern (the jump rope dress). I used fabric from Lizzy House's Red Letter Day line.
I loved the pattern since the collar was so easy and came out great! I think I'll make one other version of this dress then on to sewing some boy clothes!

It's official!

2010-09-10T12:36:00.003-04:00

Ian is officially part of the family! This little cutie's adoption was finalized this morning!
Here's the now officially formed Nordin family! Congrats Evelyn, Kim and Ian!!

tatonka

2010-09-09T12:47:00.005-04:00

Liam is studying Native Americans in class. So at home I thought we'd try to make a little teepee. Liam picked out the fabric from my stash. I personally think he has great taste! I used the teepee tutorial from Sew Mama Sew except I had to change a lot of it since I wanted to use what I had on hand.
Well, the teepee collapsed moments after this picture. Liam hasn't even had a chance to sit in it since he's at school. Oh well, the little ones still had fun with it! And I can rebuild it. Word of advice, don't try making one without bamboo. I used zebra sticks and they weren't strong enough. And no I didn't plan the shirt/teepee match. Just a coincidence. Can you tell we like Anna Maria here?!
And look out world! Little Matthew has finally figured out this whole roll over thing! I think he was very excited about it all. He kept doing it and squealing.

janie's blanket

2010-09-08T23:47:00.003-04:00

For a sweet baby Jane in Ohio to keep her warm on those chilly nights. I started knitting this around 5 months ago. It's seen me through a lot. Truly a comfort knit.
This was knit from a pattern in Comfort Knitting & Crochet Afghans. I changed it up a bit though. (What knitter doesn't?)

ahh then end of summer...

2010-09-06T01:17:00.011-04:00

and the Pullman Strike. However you spent your Labor Day weekend, I hope it was full of

rhino dimples,

knights in plastic armor,

skateboarding lessons,

baby pow wows,

tricycle excitement,

ducklings on bikes,

and super hero conferences on picnic blankets. Happy Labor Day!

little tidbits

2010-08-26T23:06:00.006-04:00

It was Liam's first day of Kindergarten today. He loved it!
Matthew caught up on some reading. He's reading a book that just arrived by a fellow blogger. He has drooled over the parts he's already read.
Jack asked me to take a picture of him pretending to wash his hair. So I did because what Jack wants, Jack gets! I think it looks a little more like he's practicing to be a calvin klein model.
Matilda asked me to take a picture of her feet. They weren't smelly at the moment, so I said yes. Here is the result.

Theater in the shadows...

2010-08-26T22:34:00.004-04:00

We've been on a little golden book kick lately. I'm not talking about the new little golden books. The ones we've been reading are from my childhood. I find that they're longer and more "meatier" than a lot of today's picture books. Of all the little goldens that we've been reading, my kids really love The Three Bears. So one too hot and sticky to go outside afternoon, I decided to make a shadow puppet show of the little golden version of the three bears.
All the puppets took about 15 minutes to make. They don't look that great in the picture, but when put up to the flashlight, they looked a lot better. The kids loved the show and I had to do it multiple times. We also had lots of fun manipulating the size of Goldilocks' shadow and dancing with her. It was a fun, new way to get the kids interested in and old story.

A banana conversation

2010-07-23T13:42:00.002-04:00

Matilda: Mommy, I want a banana.
Me: What does a banana look like?
Matilda: A banana.
Me: What color is a banana?
Matilda: Blue
Me: What does a banana taste like?
Matilda: (rolling her eyes at me for asking such an easy question) A banana.
Me: What is a banana shaped like?
Matilda: A circle.
Me: I think it's shaped like a cresent.
Matilda: OK. It's shaped like a present.

Two year olds...enlightening the world one banana at a time.

Drinking with Roy G Biv

2010-07-19T21:56:00.002-04:00

I'm not a big drinker, but I would definitely give this by Camper English a try! I'm all about aesthetics!

Sunday Brunch

2010-07-18T15:18:00.009-04:00

Breakfast burritos, muffins and cake Oh My!
Getting some Aunt Maddie lovin'.
We promise we didn't plan this! The boys showed up at Mass wearing the same thing! I guess sisters have the same fashion sense.

And sometimes you just have to play in the rain barefoot in your Sunday best!
Happy Sunday!!

Things people do over a lifetime...

2010-07-15T20:44:00.009-04:00

:Sell a home and buy a new one:
:Move across the country to Texas and purchase a car:
:Give birth to a baby:
:Experience the death of a parent:
:I've done them all in the past three months:

:But God gave me a great support group:

**Yes, that's baby me in the second to last photo being fed by my mom.

looking backwards

2010-07-15T12:02:00.002-04:00

It's really funny, strange, sweet and so many other things to look at old posts. I was in a completely different place back then and continually go to new places. At least I'm learning that a blog makes for a great memory book!

hmmm...

2010-07-08T14:41:00.002-04:00

I feel the blogging world calling me back. It's just a whisper right now, but I think it's getting louder.

we've moved

2009-06-22T19:27:00.002-04:00

Hola! I have some exciting news! I've finally decided to take my fabric obsession to the next level. I am opening an online store! For now I'll be selling fabric and clothing on Etsy and my new website is being worked on as we speak.

So I've started a new blog to go along with my new shop. The Handmade Republic. I will be moving operations there. Be sure to subscribe!

baby laugh a lot

2009-05-22T14:39:00.000-04:00

I've been laughing at this all morning...

What the hell?

shopping spree!

2009-05-15T09:40:00.006-04:00

I recently received a $50 shopping spree at my local quilt shop. This is some of what happened with it. I really do intend to make some of these Oliver + S dresses to sell, but it's hard to part with them! Pattern review for the birthday party dress coming soon!
PS Sorry if it's hard to see the playsuit or dress completely. My model wouldn't keep still!

perfectly happy

2009-04-09T14:08:00.003-04:00

What American society says I should do daily:

1. Feed the kids a nutritious breakfast
2. Do flashcards with my 4 yr old; review colors with my 2 yr old; language development with my 1yr old, all while cleaning the breakfast dishes
3. Go to story time at the local library
4. Go to playgroup at the local park. Remember to cheer each and every time my kids go down the slide because it's obviously all their doing and not gravity. Oh and talk with the other moms about nothing but our children.
5. Have a well balanced lunch
6. Nap for the little one; arts and crafts for the older two; laundry, housework, etc
7. Dinner
8. Bath, books, bedtime
9. Clean kitchen once again
10. Time for mommy (to research which kindergarten is the best and how I can push my kids to the limit academically. It's never too early!)

What I actually do with my day:
1. Give the kids a nutritious breakfast.
2. Let the kids watch cartoons (yes even the 1 year old) while I thoroughly enjoy a cup of coffee
3. Morning nap for baby, I take a nice, hot shower and tickle a few bellies or toss them over and over again on my bed while they giggle
4. Run errands for myself; stop by the park on the way home to let the kids get totally dirty and slide a billion times. Since the park is near railroad tracks, we have to go explore the tracks too in the hopes that a train will pass. (No luck today though.)
5. Realize that I stayed too long at the park, so lunch will have to be veggie burgers from Burger King. I only allow fast food once every two or three months but only b/c my tummy can't take too much of it.
6. Nap time for 1 year old, 2 and 4 year old run around and play on their own while I surf the web and/or read a good book. Quickly clean the kitchen and perhaps vacuum. (If not, the cleaning can wait until Saturday.)
7. Go to the gym by myself after the husband comes home from work.
8. Nutritious dinner cooked either by me or the husband, clean up the kitchen with help from the kids
9. Bath, books, bed
10. Spend time with a good book, sew, knit or do whatever I want.

A few reasons for this list comparison---Ladies, take plenty of time for yourself because if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. Let your kids play freely because they'll have all the time in the world to learn when they're in school. We worry too much about being perfect when we should worry about being perfectly happy.

don't laugh! at least i tried!

2009-03-21T22:05:00.007-04:00

So I decided to make a doll for Matilda for her birthday. This was at Liam's suggestion after seeing Coraline. So I set out to make a "Matilda" doll. Keep in mind this was my first doll ever! I have also never embroidered anything before. I wanted to do a simple embroidered face, no buttons or anything.
She seemed to like it and even gave it a hug and kiss.
I used the pattern from Emily Martin. (I think Martin is her last name.) I think you can find the pattern on Martha Stewart's website. I also used Anna Maria Horner fabric from her garden party line.

So the doll's a little scary but not scary enough to not play with. (-:

a birthday cake's journey

2009-03-21T21:39:00.010-04:00

Rainbow batter...yes, those are all the colors. ROYGBIV FTW!
Spooned into my cake pans.
Baked. They look kinda like eyes or very colorful boobs.
The finished product. I learned a couple of kids ago to not try to write a message on the cake. A cake decorator I am not!
A lovely rainbow-y slice.
The birthday girl is all smiles!
Shhh don't tell anyone how old I am!

I got the idea from here. I didn't use the sprite, but instead followed the instructions on the box. That's probably why my colors weren't so bold. That or my 4 year old "helper" didn't put in enough food coloring. I also put the cake in the freezer a bit before putting the icing on to make the application easier. The cake was enjoyed by all!

happy me

2009-03-13T12:30:00.002-04:00

Target + Orla Kiely = a happy me

I see Orla Kiely plates decorating my kitchen walls in the future!

ready for planting

2009-03-13T10:25:00.006-04:00

So we all have our boots ready to hit the garden! Liam's already have a bit of dirt on them, Jack's were purchased last night. He's already put some mileage on his cows. Matilda isn't quite up to walking in hers yet, but I'm sure by the end of the summer, she'll be wearing them around. Now all we need are our seeds (the boys made the shopping list already) and for the cold weather to go away!
And I whipped up a cape for Super Milo! Happy second birthday Milo! I hope you have many new and exciting adventures this year.

books, books, and more books

2009-03-04T15:58:00.004-05:00

It's almost time to change my fall/winter reading list over there to my spring/summer reading list. I did make quite a dent in that list. I also strayed a bit. There are some books that I just wasn't in the mood to read, and other books that I couldn't wait to get my hands on. Let's get started with some little reviews, shall we...

The Great Divorce by CS Lewis

Who doesn't love Lewis? This book was in one word, wonderful. It was a short book by page number, but powerfully packed with things to ponder. You start out on a bus ride with the main character from a grayish town to a wonderful (or not so wonderful) place. With him you learn about the great divorce between Heaven and Hell. I highly recommend this book.

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

I didn't get around to reading this. I watched Capote with Philip Seymour Hoffman though. Does that count?

Inkspell by Cornelia Funke

This is the second part in the Inkheart trilogy. Yes, it's for younger people, but it's fun. In this installment, Meggie and her father, Mo, along with her mother, Resa, find themselves in the Inkworld. I liked this one better than Inkheart because it seem like Funke better understands the characters in this one. I recommend it if you want a fast, fun read. I highly recommend it for kids 9-12ish.

Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke

Obviously the third installment of the Inkheart trilogy. While I still enjoyed Inkspell more, this one wasn't all that bad. It's definitely the darkest of the three, but it tends to drag out in some areas. Still, a good read for those younger folk.

OK, that's it for the reviews now. I'll review the rest in another post. I know they're short and sweet, but I have a baby hanging on my pants leg.

On another note, I just started work on a quilt for my etsy shop. The shop is going through a revamp...slowly. But the quilt I designed, if it comes out the way I want it to...awesome.

uuggghh

2009-02-21T08:02:00.003-05:00

Sure vacation is fun and all, but it's not so fun when you come home with a horrible sickness. I don't even know what it is we all got. It's like a hybrid flu/cold thing. That's why I've been out of commission for so long.

On another note, I'm halfway done with a quilt top for a birthday present. I seem to have run out of thread though. Darn looks like I'll have to go to Joann today! I'll be out and about picking out an anniversary present anyway.

Happy 5 years Jason! I love you!

yes, i'm still here

2009-01-25T21:03:00.002-05:00

I've just been taking it easy. Busy making the solar system now. I'll explain soon with more pictures.

birdcage

2008-12-31T20:54:00.006-05:00

I finally finished! It was very difficult to photograph though. Sorry about the lighting. And in case you were wondering, that's my husband behind the quilt holding it up.

Birdcage on a Chain quilt using Amy Butler's Belle quilting fabric and Gutterman thread. All 100% cotton.

Now I'm ready to start my next one! Especially since my wonderful husband went out and got a wonderful new sewing machine for me for Christmas!! I won't have to hand quilt anymore...well, maybe sometimes!

I really am getting things done!

2008-12-19T14:29:00.005-05:00

I had to share this super cute picture. This is our friend Betsey at a cookie decorating party we went to. (We had two cookie parties in one week...sugar high.) I thought she looked cute covered in icing.

Here's the cookie spread. Notice everyone busy decorating, but Liam is busy eating.

I made a couple more dresses last week. One went to my niece Gemma, and this one is for my Matilda. I think it will be her Christmas dress.

Now off to finish my quilt! Pictures of that tomorrow!

PS One of the local quilt shops here has all their Pfaff machines (including the floor models and used ones) on sale for 70% off! Should I?

busy...super busy

2008-12-05T09:05:00.001-05:00

I'm finishishing up a load of projects. I think I'll finish most by Sunday. Excpect pictures then.
Also no Wii Fit Challenge update because I broke my toe...again...and haven't exercised too much on it.

As a matter of fact...

2008-11-22T23:09:00.001-05:00

I am a nerd.

wii fit challenge: week 2

2008-11-22T17:08:00.003-05:00

So I was doing great. I consistently lost everyday. I got in a 30 min. workout daily (which is really great considering my busy day). But then today, I somehow gained 2.9 lbs. All week I exercised at 7:30 pm but today I decided to do it earlier. I don't know if that made a difference or what. Oh well. I've gotten loads better at balance and strength. As soon as I get my old lady orthapedic shoe inserts from the doctor, I'm going to throw running in the mix. The only cruddy thing is it has already started snowing. I guess my sweat will just freeze!

weight: same as week 1
BMI: same as week 1
determination: going strong
coolness: to high to calculate

wii fit challenge: week 1

2008-11-14T23:10:00.003-05:00

In case you haven't noticed, I'm into crafting. That's what this blog is supposed to be about right? Well, it's 1/4 crafting and 3/4 kids and family. So in keeping with the spirit of crafting, I have decided embark on the most important craft of my life...me. Or should I say mii?

I have either been pregnant or breastfeeding since 2004. Needless to say three pregnancies and almost 3 years of breastfeeding (still breastfeeding the little one) takes a toll on one's body. I'm rather soft in places that used to be firm. I am in no way vain, nor do I care what others think about my body, except my husband. We have 3 kids so you all obviously know what he thinks about it. But after reading You: the Owner's Manual, I realized that there are areas of my life which can be improved. Until I read this book, I had no idea what HDL cholesterol is or what causes a heart attack. One major thing I learned from the book is that I should get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. It is the one thing I should be selfish about. I don't care I have to put off mopping the floor or cleaning the windows, I need to make time to exercise!

Here's where the wii fit comes in. I don't have time to go to the gym. I just don't. Nor can I afford one with a play center for the kids. I also don't want to have to drive all the way to the gym. (Trying to leave a small carbon footprint!) So I did the calculations. A Wii and Wii fit together cost a fraction of the price of a gym membership. It also weighs you and gives you your BMI. Along with that you get a handy graph of how you're improving and you can easily set goals for yourself. And it really does work you out. Just ask my thigh muscles.

I've decided as extra motivation, I will post, hopefully once a week, my wii fit progress. I try to do it everyday, but I know I need to be realistic. I will probably get to it 4 times a week. It's a start right. I may even post a picture of myself once a week just for the record. I hope I have everyone's support in this and more than that, join my challenge yourself! You don't have to have a wii fit. Just get outside and walk or run for half an hour. Do some yoga. Dance around the living room.

So here are my results for week 1 of the wii fit challenge:
weight: 155 (goal 135)
BMI: 27 (it's 27.something, but I can't remember at the moment) (goal 20)
Wii fit age: 29 (-1 of my real age!)

need

2008-11-13T22:04:00.003-05:00

I absolutely need this bedding set. Isn't it wonderful! It can be found at West Elm. (Honey if you're reading this, Christmas is coming soon!)

pattern review: oliver and s playdate dress

2008-11-10T23:05:00.004-05:00

Yes my addiction to Oliver and S patterns is still going strong. I decided to make the playdate dress for two very sweet twin girls I know in Texas.

It was really fun making two dresses at once. Liam picked out the fabric. Pretty good choices for a 3 year old boy. And it just so happened that he picked fabric from Amy Butler's Daisy Chain line while she was sitting right behind him signing books.

So to get to the review...the instructions were very detailed and easy to follow. This was my second time doing a pleat, and it was super easy to do. This was also my first time to do piping, and I now know that I was way to scared of it for no reason. I also made the buttons myself because I thought it would look better with coordinating buttons. I used a button kit from Joann. The only thing that didn't come out quite right were the ruffles on the front. I think, however, that's due more to my inabilities than the pattern.

Basically, it's an easy, fun pattern for an intermediate sewer. (I think that's what I say about all Oliver and S patterns.) Although if you are a beginner sewer and want to be adventurous, I say try to tackle it.

a few things

2008-11-07T22:51:00.006-05:00

The kids and I spent hours at the park this week enjoying our Indian summer. There aren't words to describe how beautiful the changing leaves are with the noon sun shining through them.

I want to knit those colors. It makes me feel like there is really a Lorien on Earth.

We had a delicious mommy and daddy only dinner last night. It was my first experience with spaghetti squash. Yummy recipe found here. The great thing about it is that it was very filling, very nutritious, and extremely tasty! Now I'll have to test it out on the kids.

And finally, Jack is Charlie Brown. Doesn't this shirt fit him so well? All I need is Lucy holding a football.

PS Pattern review of Oliver and S Playdate dress coming withing the next couple of days. I just need to press and take pic of said dress.

YES WE DID!

2008-11-05T08:58:00.001-05:00

happy halloween!

2008-11-01T01:08:00.003-04:00

Thing 1 and Thing 2 in action!

Thing 1 and Thing 2 and the goldfish in the pot who said, "Tell that Cat in the Hat you do not want to play!"

pumpkin farm fun

2008-10-17T13:53:00.007-04:00

Mommy the horse, Liam the cow, and Jack the pig at Circle S Farms.

Our jack-o-lanterns (which Liam wanted to know if we'd make Liam-o-lanterns too). The seeds were roasted and thoroghly enjoyed by two little boys.

Liam and the great pumpkin.

Matilda on her pumking throne.

Daddy and Jack in the sunflower maze.

The butt pumpkin.

quotes and hikes

2008-10-17T12:51:00.003-04:00

I know that most kids say cute things, and mine are no exception. I've decided to share a few prize quotes from them.

Liam (3 years old):
"Is medicine made of pizza?"
"Mommy, I like you because you are always beautiful, which starts with a b."
"Did Jesus make booties so we can fart and poo poo?" -The thing I find interesting about this quote is that I always say that God (I never mention Jesus.) made us. Maybe kids have some inherent knowledge about the trinity...hmmm.

Jack (2 years old, and just figuring out that words can make people laugh):
"Accidents happen now and again. PBS Kids-Go! hmm hmmm hmm"
"Really? M&M?"
"Annie (our dog) go in the water! No!"
"CD 101 tip."
Jack usually sings or shouts these nonsense sentences, then giggles...a lot.

On another note, the leaves are changing around here so we went on a hike at the park across the road from our house. It was an overcast kind of day and a bit chilly. We had a wonderful time collecting leaves and acorns. We'll make our annual "Leaf Man". Pics of him to come.

*post edit*
I forgot to add a quote from my tiny one!
Matilda (7 months)
"ahhh da da da da"
She also squeals so loudly that we have dubbed her Nazgul.

amazing

2008-10-09T15:49:00.001-04:00

I love finding new artists (well new to me at least). There is so much inspiration out there.

vote your conscience

2008-10-03T15:54:00.001-04:00

hanging with my bff

2008-09-30T09:39:00.002-04:00

I actually got to meet the Amy Butler last night! There was a book signing at the quilt shop (Quilt Beginnings) near my house. She really is as nice as everyone says she is. I wanted to get a picture with her, but between my shyness and my kids being ready to go home and eat supper, it didn't work out.

I picked up a copy of her new book and oh are there awesome patterns in here. I almost can't wait for friends to get pregnant so I can have an excuse to sew! There are a few clothing patterns, toy patterns, and an awesome pattern for a crib bedding set. (So Evelyn, I'm waiting for you to give me some happy news so I can get to sewing!)

I also picked up some fabric from Amy's (we're on a first name basis now, haha) new line daisy chain so I can make some dresses for some sweet twin girls down in Texas. It took a long time to pick out fabric because it was all so beautiful. I guess that means I'll have to go back for some more to make some outfits for Matilda!

more yummy food

2008-09-30T09:32:00.004-04:00

Once a week or so the husband and I cook dinner for just the two of us after the kids go to bed. This week I made something that I used to make a very long time ago, and now I just can't understand why I ever stopped making it. It's baked feta stuffed tomatoes. It's a very light but filling meal.

Easy Feta Stuffed Tomatoes Recipe

Ingredients
2 tbsps oil (can use olive or vegetable oil) .
1/4 c breadcrumbs .
grated parmesan cheese (to taste) .
4-5 oz feta cheese, crumbled .
salt & pepper .
1 tbsp sliced fresh garlic (can use about 1/4 tsp dry garlic powder, fresh is better!) .
4 large firm tomatoes, scoop & reserve pulp .
2 tbsps dried parsley .
3-4 tbsps onions, finely sliced (can use more)

Directions
Step #1 Cut the tops off of the tomatoes; carefully scoop out & reserve the pulp (try not to slice into the tomato skin when scooping out the pulp).

Step #2 Chop the pulp & then mix with the onion, pepper, bread crumbs, salt, dry parsley, oil, garlic & feta cheese (except the Parmesan cheese) in a bowl.

Step #3 Carefully stuff the tomatoes with the breadcrumb/pulp mixture (be careful not overstuff & tear the tomato skins).

Step #4 Sprinkle top with Parmesan cheese.

Step #5 Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 mins (can bake longer if desired).

Step #6 Serve hot.

Enjoy the Easy Feta Stuffed Tomatoes recipe

*I didn't add the onions and may I suggest perhaps adding spinach. Very yummy!

lights out

2008-09-19T10:15:00.002-04:00

In case you haven't heard, Ike got us all the way up here. Last Sunday we had a huge windstorm in Columbus and the surrounding area, knocking the power out to thousands. We lost power for only 24 or so hours. I thankfully hadn't done the grocery shopping for the week yet, so we lost some milk and veggies, but that was about it. It was actually quite peaceful to have no electric humming in the whole house. Jason and I read by candle light, and the kids and I pretended to be camping.

There was also another form of lights out in our household. The big surprise that I mentioned is a bust. I was working on opening an online store to sell fabric and patterns, but have decided not to go forward with it. I have my reasons. Yeah, I just linked myself twice. I'm just that cool!

Easy Blueberry Muffins

2008-09-10T19:40:00.003-04:00

3 ripe bananas
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups flour
3/4 cups fresh or thawed frozen blueberries

*Preheat the oven to 350

*In a medium bowl, mash the bananas with the oil and sugar and mix well.

*In a small bowl, sift together the salt baking soda, and flour.

*Add the dry mixture to the banana mixture and stir by hand until the two are thoroughly combined. Fold in the blueberries.

*Pour the batter into a lined muffin pan.

*Bake the muffins for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

I got this recipe from here. We've had them twice already and loooovvveee them! I also added walnuts to them once, which was extra yummy!

exploration

2008-09-10T18:36:00.007-04:00

I'm in the middle of a "life revamp." I got so wrapped up in doing so many things for other people, that I neglected to do anything for myself in a long while. In order to enjoy my kids, my husband, my hobbies, I've decided I'm not doing anything for anyone unless I really enjoy it. Selfish? Nope! Healthy? Yes!In the past few weeks, I have simplified my life a lot. It's great! I was so stressed for a while that I suffered great fatigue for about a month. I'm talking about slurring words fatigue. So to de-stress myself, I've dropped all obligations and such except being Mommy and wife and just me. I love it!

As part of being Mommy, the kids and I have decided to explore Ohio a bit more every few weeks. So today we went to Granville. This is the most adorable town I've been to in a while. We had a picnic at this great park. It was a beautiful day, and the kids had a blast.

On another note, I've been reading some great books. I'm working on a few book reviews for the blog just for fun. I'm also working on another pattern review for a dress that was really, really fun to sew.

pattern review: bubble dress

2008-09-10T18:35:00.003-04:00

This is another Oliver and S dress, of course. I was scared to start this one at first, but once I got into it, it was easy peasy and really fun to make.
Pros: -Instructions very thorough
-Great for advance beginner/intermediate sewers
-Can be made with or without scalloped sides (which are easier than I thought)
-I learned a new, easy way to gather
Cons: -Bubble dresses aren't that great for 6 month old babies (would look cuter on someone who can actually walk
-Finishing the seam allowances where the bodice and skirt meet is kind of awkward.

All in all, great dress and easy to sew. The finished product fits well and looks neat.

still working...

2008-09-09T21:28:00.003-04:00

I'm obviously not great at time management. It takes a little longer to redo a basement than I thought. It's mostly because we can really only work on the weekends. We're done with the painting though! The color looks great. In the meantime, I'll leave you with a few lovelies I found.

The earrings above are from this etsy shop.

I also found this cute shop. I love the bird necklace.

More later...

under construction

2008-09-01T16:21:00.001-04:00

I'll be gone for a bit. Perhaps a week or so. We're renovation the basement/sewing studio! I'll post before (ugh) and after (yay) pictures.

update

2008-08-28T21:27:00.002-04:00

OK so maybe my big surprise won't happen in mid-September. It will take a bit longer than expected, but that's OK. It takes longer than I expected to do some paper work. I'm in no rush, and this little hiccup gives me some extra time to work on some other things. Can I be any more vague?

amazing

2008-08-23T13:25:00.001-04:00

things are happening

2008-08-19T14:43:00.002-04:00

Things are all falling into place for a fun project I am working on. What is it you ask? Well, you'll just have to wait. I think everything will be ready by mid to late September. Exciting things are going to happen over at Elaine and Co.!

a few fun links

2008-08-19T14:39:00.001-04:00

I want to make this with my kids.
I want dearly to subscribe to this magazine. (both the women's and children's magazines)
I found an awesome artist.

knitting and sewing and fairs, oh my!

2008-08-14T21:10:00.007-04:00

We went to the state fair last weekend. It was a gorgeous day!
Jack enjoyed the Ferris wheel immensely. Poor guys was too short to ride any other rides, so we rode this one twice.
Liam's first roller coaster ride was on this freakish caterpillar.
I finally finished a little cardigan for my niece who will arrive in September. It's from a Debbie Bliss book, and I used the oh so soft cashmerino aran. I love the simplicity of it.
I'm also sending my sister the baptismal gown we've all been passing around for years. My siblings and I were all baptized wearing it. So far all of our children have also been baptized in it.
Since it's been around for so long, I had to make some repairs to the smocking. I hope I did a decent job. It was my first smocking and I was kind of nervous.

so sweet

2008-08-10T23:49:00.003-04:00

I know this post really has no point except to say that I have the most adorable daughter. My mother-in-law took this picture (or at least her husband did since I just noticed her hands in the pic) about a month ago. Don't you want to kiss those chubby cheeks?!

good mail day

2008-08-08T15:24:00.003-04:00

I got two new patterns in the mail today, and I'm itching to get some sewing done. But I made a pact with myself to finish all outstanding projects before I get to sew any new stuff. It's hard!

I also made another big oopsie and cut some batting the wrong size. Now it's too small for my quilt. I either have to sew it together or get some new batting. The cheap side of me says sew it back together, but since it's for someone else, I think I'll just get some new batting. I have a Joann coupon anyway, so it will be inexpensive. (Joann coupons are my nemisis!)

All these big oopsies seem to happen at 11pm. Maybe I should stop cutting/sewing at 11pm.

whooty-who

2008-07-31T21:05:00.006-04:00

I have finally completed this Moby Dick of a blanket. I haven't blocked it yet or anything, but I have finished crocheting it!!!
I like the way the colors turned out. I used Palette from knitpicks.com. There are soooo many colors to choose from and only $1.99/ball! Now I have to ship it off the the luck recipient.

Liam asked me to make a circle out of a sheet of black construction paper today while the other munchkins were sleeping. It somehow turned into Hootie here. Liam directed me and operated the glue stick. For some reason the dog was very afraid of little Hootie.

work in progress

2008-07-30T22:43:00.004-04:00

I am almost done with this quilt top. I just have some sashing to finish, then I can begin the long process of hand quilting! I'm really excited with how this turned out. The colors are a lot more vibrant than in this picture. I didn't have good light while taking it, but I will be sure to post many pics of the finished product.
We had to take a picture of this. This is what two tired little guys look like after two weeks on vacation. We stopped at a hotel on the drive back from Houston, and it took us a couple of hours to calm them down (hotels are exciting to little guys). When they crashed, they really crashed!

blog pick of the week

2008-07-30T22:35:00.002-04:00

My blog pick of this week is Kitty Genius. I am, as I have said in previous posts, in love with Ashley's work. Even though her blog is mostly about what she does in her daily life (going to the coffee shop, etc.) the way she describes these actions makes me want to live a life like hers. It seems like she finds joy and inspiration in so many little things. We often take these little things for granted in this hectic life, so this blog reminds me to stop and smell the coffee.

I am also in love with one of her new pieces, One of Those Days. (hey Jason sweetie, my 30.5 birthday is coming up)

back

2008-07-23T08:28:00.002-04:00

We're finally back from vacation! Well, we've been back for a while, but we all got some little bug and have been taking it easy. I'll post some pics and details later.

messy desk

2008-07-01T14:36:00.002-04:00

I see these other blogs where people take pictures of their beautiful workspaces. Do people really have extremely neat workspaces? Or am I the only slob? I'm working on a quilt, and there's no way to keep things neat (especially since I only have nap times and night time to work). Does anyone have any organization advice? I think I'll make a trip to Ikea soon or get the husband to build shelves.

tea party sundress pattern review

2008-07-01T14:02:00.003-04:00

I fell in love with this pattern as soon as I got it. It's really hard to find classic and cute patterns for kids anymore. Well, Oliver + S certainly does that!

I made two tea party sundresses so far out of leftover fabric from Matilda's bedding. This pattern is phenomenal! There are a few different options that come with it. You can do piping (which I will try next go round) or make a unisex playsuit instead of the dress.
The pattern is super easy to follow and is easy enough for beginner sewers to tackle. The way the bottom hem is done and the understitching make this little dress look so professional. I made two in 0-3 month size, but the pattern goes all the way up to 18-24 months. You can also purchase 2T-5T. I did make the bloomers with the dress in the bottom picture. I do, however, usually put a onesie underneath it, so I don't really use the bloomers.

I really have no complaints with this pattern. It takes little fabric and is so fun to make. Bonus: Oliver + S is having free shipping on their patterns this summer!! You can bet I'm buying more as soon as I get back from vacation!

*I'm trying to get better at these pattern reviews. Please give me some feedback as to what you would like to hear about the patterns I try out.

Sunday's blog pick

2008-06-29T15:41:00.003-04:00

I get so much inspiration from other blogs. I thought it would be a great idea to occasionally share my favorites.

This week's pick is Poppalina. I don't even remember how I found this blog, but it was one of the first "craft" blogs I started reading. Shula always has such great pictures and I am extremely envious of her embroidery talent. I don't even want to learn how to embroider, because I know I'll never be able to turn out pieces as beautiful as hers. Bonus point: she's an Aussie. (I'm not really sure why that's a bonus point; maybe because I like the Australian accent or the fact that it's warm during Christmas there.)

ahh summer

2008-06-29T15:38:00.003-04:00

There were a couple of glorious days when I got to actually hang the laundry outside to dry. It's been raining every day since. As a matter of fact, I had to rush out to get clothes off the line in a sudden storm. Getting pounded with hail while doing so wasn't fun.

pattern review: prairie girl

2008-06-15T23:09:00.004-04:00

I just completed the cute Prairie Girl pattern from Favorite Things. I used Alexander Henry's Aviary print in green. I originally wanted to use the pink and white fabric, but I already told my sob story.

So about the pattern...I bought this originally because I love the look of the shirt. There are also so many different options included in the pattern, that you can use it a few times without making the same thing over and over. You can make a shirt, or dress or have ruffled sleeves, plain sleeves, or none at all.

I made the shirt with plain sleeves. It was a fairly easy pattern to follow. It's definitely for intermediate sewers. I only say that because it assumes the sewer knows things like understitching. If you are a beginner sewer, you probably could still tackle this one with the help of the internet to define a few things for you.

The only bad thing I could find about the pattern is that it's kind of hard to sew the dickie on. The pattern gives the option of sewing snaps to snap the dickie, sewing the dickie directly to the shirt, or buying a cami to go underneath. I don't think the cami underneath would have worked for me b/c the shirt would have opened up too much at the top, but I think that just because I'm a bit large in the bust area. I did manage to sew the dickie on in such a way that it doesn't look bad.

In all, I really liked the pattern and the way the shirt came out. I think next summer, or maybe later this one, I'll tackle making the dress.

I'll try to remember to post a picture of the finished product later, but it's currently being washed since it was lovingly worn for the first time today.

for daddy

2008-06-14T23:20:00.006-04:00

Happy Father's Day!

I got the idea from here.

busy busy

2008-06-14T22:54:00.005-04:00

The divine Miss Mattie Mae was baptized a few weeks ago. She did a great job and didn't even cry. Her brothers however were extremely cranky, but immediately got over it when they discovered there was going to be a party (with cupcakes) following Mass. Some very sweet and generous people at our Parish held a very lovely party in honor of Matilda's big day, which brings me to...
A tablecloth and napkins I made for the lovely woman who threw the party. The set is for her kiddie table that her grandkids use. I used the oh-so-adorable Dick and Jane fabric. I love the laminated cotton! I have also been working on several other projects and have even completed some! Someday I'll possibly get around to taking more pics!
Last but not least...summer weather is finally here. This is me enjoying the great breeze just after working a bit in the garden.

mosaic fun

2008-06-02T14:05:00.002-04:00

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name

1. Elaine Davidson - Worlds most pierced woman, 2. Chuy's, 3. The Passage, 4. ♫ YO Yo yo, there's no place like a green penthouse... so i told the genie i wanted to be well hung. ^o^ ♫ nah... wildlife from singapore♫, 5. Cheeky hobbits, 6. water droplets in the shower - o.k. bokeh, 7. "Dreamland", 8. heaven by the spoonful, 9. Aurigid meteorite #1, 10. Serenity 1, 11. Calm Nature Scene12. Not available

aaarrrrggghhh

2008-05-17T14:07:00.002-04:00

I made my first big boo boo. I was cutting out fabric for a shirt I was making. I had some gorgeous fabric. I mean I love this fabric and thought it would make a great shirt. Well I made a boo boo while cutting and didn't have enough fabric to remedy the problem. So I was going to order one more yard...no problem right? Well, it's sold out everywhere. I ended up having to order 3 yards of the green version of the fabric to make the shirt. I guess I have extra quilt fabric now.

king for a day

2008-04-30T13:59:00.003-04:00

Liam asked me to make a "king hat" for him. I did the best with what I had. He sorta looks like the Witch King of Angmar now. He also requested a super hero cape. I'm going to attempt something like this. The pose in the picture is a sleeping king, in case you were wondering.

i heart the internets

2008-04-29T21:38:00.002-04:00

Dare I?! Three posts within an hour!!

I just wanted to share some things I've found on the tubes. First, I love this idea that Jesus' favorite, aka Annie, has come up with. I found her blog via Wil Wheaton's blog. I've been trying to keep up with being grateful, but some days I just can't get to the computer.

I am also going to attempt to send a shirt to African Kelli. I wanted to do a care package last year and never got around to it. I'm going to send a shirt this year dag nabbit!

back to sewing

2008-04-29T21:25:00.002-04:00

I've finally gotten back to sewing! I made a dress for Matilda and one for a friend who is going to have a baby soon. I'll try to remember to get a picture of Matilda wearing hers.

My mother-in-law was awesome enough to get me a gift certificate to my favorite online fabric store. So I ordered plenty of fabric to get my summer wardrobe going. I can't wait to get started. Of course with the time I have, I probably won't finish everything until the fall.

I've also decided to basically give up on my etsy store. I just don't have the time or energy to make or market anything. I think I'll just stick to sewing for gifts and for myself (which is rare). Oh well...maybe someone out there will buy the rest of the aprons and handwarmers.

one month

2008-04-29T21:04:00.003-04:00

For Jason: Sorry I haven't posted in a while! hehe

For everyone else (which means my in-laws):

The display on my poor laptop broke! I'm much too lazy to go all the way down to the basement to use Jason's computer hence the lack of posting. Now all the kids are asleep, and I finally have time to upload some pics and make a post. Yay. *I just looked at some of the pictures that are uploading, and about sixty of them are Liam's face. That's what happens when you let a three year old play with your camera.*

So, you can tell what I've been doing from the above picture. Matilda Mae arrived on March 24th. She was 7lbs 7oz and 19in long. Tiny compared to my other two chunkers. She is an absolute doll! The good thing about being the third kid is that she definitely gets plenty of kisses throughout the day. I'm so glad she picked us to be her family!

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T11:27:00.003-04:00

The good news: I finished making a much needed diaper bag. I used the country messenger bag pattern from Amy Butler, and of course some Amy Butler fabric from her Nigella line. I love how it came out. It's so roomy! The bad news: there are about a billion other projects I want to finish before the baby arrives, which is any day now. I think tonight I'll start on the tea party sundress from Oliver + S. I'm so excited about this pattern. I have to figure out a way to make multiple sizes from one pattern. I was thinking tracing onto newspaper or something. Any suggestions out there? I'm also nervous about making buttonholes, but I think I can handle it. I'll practice lots before going for the real thing.
Here's a sweet picture of all my guys dressed in their Easter best. I brought the camera with us to church so we could get someone to take a picture of the whole family on the altar, but of course I forgot all about it. At least it stopped snowing and the sun came out so we could get good outside pictures. I even broke out the Pentax K1000 35mm, which is around 40 years old and still working just fine, and took some pictures.

It's time to go prepare Easter lunch (yummy portabello and mushroom and roasted red pepper sandwiches). Then I of course have to clean the house top to bottom for the arrival of the mother-in-law tonight. (yay) Hopefully I won't go into labor within the next couple of days so I can drag her around with me to flea markets and antique stores. The hubby's no fun to go with and just gets a glassy eyed stare when we walk into places like that.

little surprises

2008-03-05T22:29:00.003-05:00

I received this beautiful little gown in the mail the other day. It was sewn by a woman from the tiny town in Louisiana I grew up in. I love getting little things like this when least expected. And the picture just doesn't do it justice. Maybe one day I will be able to sew like this! This will definitely go in Matilda's keepsake box, after I take 1,000 pictures of her wearing it of course.

awesome weekend

2008-03-02T21:30:00.009-05:00

Well what a great weekend. I got so much done! I finally made the laundry detergent. I haven't used it yet. It was extremely easy to find the ingredients too. I got the borax and fels naptha soap from Kroger. For the washing soda, you can call Arm & Hammer at 1-800-524-1328 and they'll give you a list of stores in your area where they sold it in the past 90 days. If this detergent works out, it will be uber cheap to wash clothes from now on!
It was also very gorgeous today. Most of the snow melted away and it was in the 50's! So we took the opportunity to go to the park. It was the first time in a long time that the boys didn't even need coats. Jason and Annie went for a run on the path next to the playground while the boys played. As you can tell from the picture above, Annie was quite worn out at the end of the day.
I made a small shop update. I listed one women's apron and two children's aprons. I'm really please with how the children's aprons turned out. The fabric is so adorable. It's from Anna Maria Horner's Chocolate Lollipop line.
I finally finished all of the bedding for Matilda's bed. Whew it was hard but worth it. Notice the wonder AshleyG prints hanging on the wall. I love them! I need to get more for the boys' room. I like the way the bumper pads turned out. I wasn't sure about making them all separate pieces, but I think it looks OK. And I don't think any tiny feet can push their way between each pad.
I really like the dust ruffle too. I think it looks better straight than all ruffely. All I have left now is to make the curtains and a mobile, which I'm almost done with.

Now I need rest! I think I'll sit back and knit for a while.

random stuff

2008-03-01T23:15:00.003-05:00

Yeah, I know I'm already failing at posting a lot. I have good excuses! One is that I am so huge and about to burst! I have about 3 1/2 weeks until this kid finally comes out. The only problem is that in the last month, I gain the most weight and get really, really tired all the time. If I don't sleep when I get tired, I get a horrible headache. But that's how pregnancy goes I guess. Otherwise I feel fine.

Another excuse is that I have been sewing/knitting every free moment I have. I have completed the baby bedding set I was sewing for Matilda (pics soon). I'm still working on a mobile and curtains, but those got put on hold until I'm done with all the aprons I'm working on. I'm trying to use up all the fabric I have and list everything on my shop before the baby arrives. I did sell and apron, but it got lost in the mail. )-: I felt so bad, because I know how I hate to not get something I ordered. So I made another one and am going to mail it soon.

I haven't tried the homemade laundry detergent yet. I got most of the ingredients today, but couldn't find the wash soda at the store. I found out that they sell it at a store near my house and will be getting some tomorrow. I'm excited about trying it, because now I won't have to use separate detergent for clothes and diapers. Also, all the ingredients are natural therefore good for the environment and good for your septic tank. yay

On another note, I've been waiting for Oliver + S to start selling patterns. The site says February 2008 and today is March 1. Oh well, soon I guess. I really want to get this one.

dirty laundry

2008-02-23T14:45:00.002-05:00

I found this recipe for laundry detergent via this blog (which I love, and now I love the modern cottage blog too). I never even thought of making my own detergent, but I'm am so going to try this tomorrow! I think it will work perfectly on the cloth diapers we use too. And so cheap to make!

OK, it's nap time, and I have some sewing to do.

big hit!

2008-02-21T15:27:00.004-05:00

I got to catch the eclipse last night. It was pretty cool, but didn't transfer to camera really well. Well, at least not my camera.

Apparently Liam likes the sweater I made for him. I haven't even had a chance to block it yet, and he's been wearing it for two days. At least I finished it before winter ended! The good thing is that it's made out of cotton (Debbie Bliss Cotton DK to be exact) so he can wear it well into spring without getting too hot. I made Jack a purple one, so now I can be one of those moms that dresses their children the same. hehe

new boots

2008-02-19T13:17:00.002-05:00

Liam got some new rain boots so he'll be ready to puddle jump as soon as spring gets here. Of course he's been wearing them every moment he can for the past three days. Each time he puts them on, he asks me if he looks spiffy and snazzy. And yes he does.

I was sad that I couldn't find any in Jack's size. There were some cute giraffe ones that I know he would love. Luckily a friend of mine bought Matilda a pair that happen to fit Jack. Since it will be a while until Matilda can use them, I figured she wouldn't mind sharing with her big brother.

getting somewhere

2008-02-17T21:17:00.003-05:00

So I'm finally getting somewhere on the babette blanket!! I've finished crocheting all the squares and am now starting to stitch them together. Of course I still have a lot of other projects going on, so it will probably take me while to actually finish the blanket.

I also made a shop update after all this time. I finally came up with an apron pattern that I love. I've also made a kid's version, but the ones I've made so far have gone out as gifts--much to the happiness of some little girls. I'll make some soon for the shop.

I've started on the bedding for Matilda's room. She'll be here in 5 weeks, so let's hope I can finish it by then!

matilda's room

2008-02-02T21:42:00.000-05:00

So I'm due March 25th for my first girl!! I am so excited, but I have only just gotten around to decorating the room. So far I really like the wall color. I went with purple because I thought it was way more fun than the regular girly pink. I also decided to paint all the trim white.

I ordered a great crib that just reminds me of classic Americana. But my favorite, favorite part of the room is going to be the bedding! I just ordered all of the fabric yesterday from above all fabric. My hubby was a great sport and helped me pick it all out. Of course it was Amy Butler fabric since I am in love with everything she does. We picked some from the Lotus line. I can't wait to get going on some sewing!