don't laugh! at least i tried!

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

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

Target + Orla Kiely = a happy me

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

ready for planting

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

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.