Year in Review

Well, I am going to do it. I am going to rate how I did last year on my personal crafting resolutions. Why? Maybe it will help me stay on target for 2010.

My day is mainly full of all the things we NEED to do or things others NEED me to do (and sometimes I WANT to do those, but they are not for personal me time). Go to work, laundry, get everyone ready for the day, get everyone ready for bed, play with kids, help with homework, read with kids, teach kids lessons, make lunches, clean, etc. A lot goes into having a family and attempting to be a great mom. But we all know it, there are times when you need "you" time, and as I said...there are times when I just need it. Creativity is an outlet. Running, shopping, sewing seem to be my "me times" - the times when I feel I am doing something for myself.

How does that relate to new year's resolutions? Sort of like this: keeping a balance between my time with/for others, and the time needed for personal, individual goals for ME: making things, staying fit, making a comfortable home space.

My 2009 resoltuions:

1. I want to finish up a few unfinished projects.


These include putting some printed photographs in real albums - the last of the printed photos I plan to have...digital pictures are so much easier to keep organized!


I have two pieces of furniture waiting for me to finish them. One is a rocking chair I gave to my son for his 1 year birthday. They love it unfinished, but the whole plan was to finish it and put it in his big boy room. I am not behind on this (yet).


The other piece of furniture is a bench given to me by my sister. Last summer I took off all the stain. I just need to give it one more nice sanding and paint it.

I did NONE of those! This will remain on my 2010 list.


2. I want to finish decorating my dining room and bedroom.

I did NONE of those! This will remain on my 2010 list.

3. I want to attempt sewing clothing again.

See my comment on #4.

4. I want to make Corinne a few summer dresses. I made two last year. I can do better, they are so easy!

I did make 1 dress for Corinne. I did not blog about it because I needed to move a strap on the dress and I didn't get to it. I made 1 shirred dress for Corinne out of pre-shirred fabric. It came out OK, but I am not convinced I like the way the pre-shirred fabrics work in dresses. Maybe next time I will try to cut off the shirred part as a top and add a skirt so the dress will be more full.


5. I want to make myself a quilt. I've got the pattern. I need to do a few items above before I give myself the pleasure of a quilt for myself.

Still have not done. Still have the pattern. Lots MORE ideas this year, too. This will remain on the 2010 list.

OK, so I didn't do so well on my list. I kept up with my quilting bee, and I got a lot of blocks back on that (to add to fulfilling #5 above), I started a roman shade for Nathan's room...(add that to #1). I made a few gifts...oh well.

I had a fun year remaining balanced in other ways. I played with my kids a LOT, I continue to teach them lessons, keep them learning right from wrong, and show them love every day.

I'll just see what this year brings. My goals will still be there. They are things to aspire to, things to do on a rainy day, or a big day of needed "me" time.

Another gift…

This is another gift that was made a few months ago.

A pair of flour sacks with decorative trim.  AND, a mini-punching bag.  For a co-worker who worked her tail off with me.  She just wanted a punching bag at times.

Knitting Needle rollup - again

I made another Knitting needle roll-up.  It was a birthday gift for my Mother In Law.  She had requested it months ago and was quite surprised when she opened this up. 

I am really happy with how it turned out.   I used this tutorial from Lupinbunny.

Fully opened up.

It flips over at the top to keep all the needles in.

It was a well-received gift.

Merry Christmas!

No handmade holiday for me this year.  Just finishing up on my PTQB blocks.  ALL CAUGHT UP!  This theme was “Trees”.  I was inspired by a Christmas card at my Mother In Law’s  house. 

A log-cabin-ish block for Rebeka from Artsy-Crafty Babe.  Hope she likes it.

Last minute Halloween costume

At the beginning of October ago, Corinne told me she wanted to be a mummy for Halloween.  Of course, Nathan chose to be the same thing as his big sister.  I had planned to make a mummy costume following this tutorial.  We had many things going on in October with Stephanie’s wedding, a week long vacation planned, and a very busy work schedule for me this month.  I was planning on spending nights last week getting the mummy costume together.  It really didn’t seem HARD, just a bit time consuming, but also worth it for the great looking end product. 

Well, on the way back from Florida, 1 WEEK before Halloween, Nathan decided he wanted to be a pumpkin.  Corinne followed suit.  With 1 week to go, where was I going to find a pumpkin costume?  I was so thankful that my friend Sharon, who has 3 girls, had a pumpkin costume she could lend me for Corinne.  I went to Target looking for something for Nathan and I did not find anything.  I did not get a chance to look for one at any other stores – again a busy week at work that interrupted real life (1 more week of this thank goodness).  So, I began thinking how can I throw together a pumpkin costume for Nathan?  Hmmm, paint some cardboard and hang it on him somehow??? 

Then I remembered an orange shirt, donated to me from Stephanie, that was in the Goodwill pile BECAUSE, although it was a cute shirt, the color reminded me too much of a pumpkin.  Wouldn’t that be perfect?  I so wish I had a before picture…It is a lined knit shirt.  The outside knit had some flowers throughout the fabric, but it would not be very manly.  Luckily the shirt was lined with a solid orange.  I cut off the sleeves (which were sort of capped, again – too girly), made the shirt inside out, attached black shapes for the jack-o-lantern, and stuffed it with newspaper.  We zip-tied the sides to sort of plump up the pumpkin.  I think it came out really well!

I took a lot of pictures because I thought he looked so hilarious.  Even Corinne kept laughing at him.

   

All in all, I think it came out well.  He was happy to wear it, we had to put it on and off for the fittings, the trip in the car, a trip to the neighbors, etc., and each time he was ok to take it off and put it back on again.

I think we are going to keep it around…if I just put it down on the ground, it looks like a great Halloween decoration.  Maybe the head of a stuffed person next year for our front porch…lol.  The Great Pumpkin landing at our house.  Yes, Charlie Brown, he will be at OUR pumpkin patch next year! 

Getting caught up

Back from vacation, with the fall feeling in the air, I am having the urge to do some sewing!

I really, really want to get to some fun stuff for me and my family (curtains, clothing, gifts, etc.), but I know I need to get caught up for my quilting bee.

I left for vacation with a 5 block backup.  I was able to get two done yesterday in my small amount of free time.  I have 3 more of my backup.  The problem is, I am going to get 2 more next month!  I hope to get caught up this week so I am not behind as we enter November.   Maybe then, I can get into something more fun.

Jodi’s block.

Samantha’s block. 

Quilt Envy

Quilts, crafts, quilts.

Sigh.

I wish I had more free time.

My desire is there. Big time.

My free time - not so much. Especially since I am about 4 or 5 blocks behind on my quilting bee. I hope to start catching up on those one night this week, and one or two nights next week.

Free time with work, daughter who just started school, 2 year old boy, spending my time being a GOOD mom = little to no crafting time.

The desire was not there during the summer. But, the crisp air, the shorter daylight times, the thought that Christmas is only a few short months away all bring back my desire.

Remember that list at the beginning of the year? My goals. I have NOT COMPLETED ONE ITEM. I have patterns, I have fabric, I have desire. Time, maybe if I had not just wasted so much time on the internet figuring out how to support my daughter in learning sight words while she rests in her bed...again...too busy trying to be a good mom here.

Sewing machine? What's that?

I am feeling the urge to sew. I sewed last night. I hemmed pants. Boring, but functional and needed. I did the blind hem on two pants – by the time I got to the 4^th leg I was confident. I stitched it up, and the stitches were perfect! They were small, barely noticeable, etc. Then, I put on the pants. Oops, that last leg, the one I was SO CONFIDENT about…I sewed the hem backwards. Sigh. I put them aside and told myself I’ll come back to them later. It only took me 6 months to get to them in the first place!

Items I am making (or still want to)

I was finally able to start on Nathan’s curtains, and that feels good.  I am halfway through one roman shade.  I got to the point that I was comfortable getting to – cutting and sewing together the lining and the outside fabric.  Now, I really need to focus on adding the roman shade tape for the towels.  I am using some sort of tubing in a kit I got from Jo-Ann.  I have to make two since he has two windows, so I figured I make one from scratch, learn my mistakes, and make another from scratch all over again.  I am hoping that doing it that way, rather than assembly line style, will prevent mistakes. 

I’ve also got a birthday gift in the wraps for Corinne.  I have GOT to get started on that!  The party is in a few weeks, and it will be here before I know it.  I want to make her a mat cover to nap on at school.  I think I can get it done before the party, but at the expense of the Roman Shades, which is OK.  He still doesn’t mind the ladybugs that are there currently.

Summer Bounty From My Garden

Why can’t I get color like this every month of the year?

Thanks to my little helpers, who helped “cut” to flowers.

Catch up on Blocks

I got behind on my blocks.  I spent two weeks catching up in my limited free time.  I am so thankful I got caught up since I’ve got vacation, birthdays, weddings, first days of school, etc., coming up at the end of summer and fall.

A spider block.  I did one in the spring for the bee, and once I did one, this one was easy.

The Easy Virginia Star.  She wanted it to look nostalgic.  I did paper piecing for this thinking it would be easy.  I have paper pieced before and found it very quick.  However, this pattern I found challenging and time consuming, and I had to modify it when I made a mistake.  Can you tell?  

And, something to represent a circle for Stephanie.  I appliquéd it on.   I am still not very confident or patient with curved seams.   I love her fabric choices.

Good news is it’s my turn for PTQB!  I am so excited to see what sort of blocks come back.   It was a lot of work getting all the 19 fabric envelopes ready to go out, but it will be fun to see the returns.   I am thankful to all those other ladies out there who will be making blocks for me.

Summer

Dear Blog,

Summer is here. Can you tell? I've been quiet here. Too busy playing outside with the kids to do any crafting on my own. My list still exists. I still want to sew a dress for Corinne, curtains for Nathan, finish making his room a boy room, curtains for my dining room, finish painting that bench and that rocking chair. Pretty much everything I had on my new year's resolution. Ha! The fun days of summer have gotten in my way.

I am only able to keep up with my quilting blocks for the quilting bee. Two of 3 that are on my to do list are done. The last should be finished this weekend and all 3 in the mail next week. Hopefully I remember to take a picture to post here and on flickr.

Colleen’s block

I finished Colleen’s block over the weekend.  I really love the way it turned out.

She gave us a lot of discretion on how to put it together.  I had a creative block for a few days, but then remembered this quilt from Ashley, at Film in the Fridge.  When I remembered that, I thought it would go well with all the very cool colors and shapes in the fabrics Colleen chose.

The square was slightly short of the requested 12.5”, so I hope that Colleen has some solid to wrap around the edge.  I think wrapping it in the dark blue of the center will really make it stand out.

I’d like to try this method again, in a small quilt.

On to other things…remember my list of things to do?  Well, I finished both the blocks (One really turned out horrible…so bad that I will not post about it), and the dress to be done by 6/15…not even started!  I went to my local library on Friday, picked up some books with the kids, and one for myself. 

Talk about a phenomenal book.  I have not been able to put this down.  If it wasn’t for taking care of the kids/house/laundry/work, I would have completed this book in 2 days. 

I have not really sat and read a book for quite a while.  I kept trying, but could not seem to get into the books I picked up.  It’s so nice to curl up and enjoy a good book again. 

Back to my page…

Giveaway winners

What a fun few days - a lot of you commented on my giveaways.

I used this random number generator to determine the winners. The lucky winners are #16, Stacey, for the cape, and #33, Lara, for the Onesi set. Congratulations!

Thanks for stopping by.

Next items on my list...

Wow, you guys have been awesome about commenting on this cape! I can't wait to see who wins it. I will do the drawing tomorrow evening and post the winner then.

This weekend I have gotten a little sewing in. I made 4 more capes! One for both of my kids, one for my nephew, and one for another little guy who turned 3. They all seemed to get a kick out of them.

I also finished a block, for the Pieced Together Quilting Bee. Just the last April block I had to do....now I have two May blocks waiting for me and I KNOW this week I will have two June blocks in the mail. I have GOT to get on top of those!

I hope to finish the May blocks quickly and get onto the Summer Dress Sew Along hosted by Stephanie. I have a deadline...that should help. I'd like to make a dress from this book, I think the one on the cover. I have some Amy Butler fabric waiting for me in my stash.

After I finish a dress for me, I'd really like to finish Nathan's room. Poor guy...he's been living with Laydbugs and Dragonflies as a leftover from his older sister, when I made all the curtains and bedding. It's time he gets a boy room!

For now, I am off to enjoy this beautiful summer day outdoors in the sun, sipping iced tea, floating in the pool. Ahhh. Cleaning? Sewing? They can all wait. :)

May Giveaway Day! Item #1

Today is the big day all over blogland!  I am participating in the May Giveaway day hosted by Sew Mama Sew.  Check it out for lots of other giveaways.  It’s a great way to check out other people’s blogs, too, and the wonderful handmade things they make.

I have two giveaways.  The post you are reading, and this post. 

Item #1:  I am giving away one of my favorite items to make…a cape for a little one! 

This is the 4th cape I have made using this tutorial from Puking Pastilles, and I am making 4 more this weekend! It's a great tutorial, a great gift, and such an easy thing to make and personalize! 

Details on the cape:  my model is a two year old of average height.  A typical boy and he loves the cape.  The inside is lined with star-covered fabric. 

Close-up of the back.   I forgot to give it a light ironing when I was finished (do you ever get that excited about a finished project?).  I will press it again before I mail it.

Details on the giveaway:

Please comment on this post for a chance to win this cape.  I will randomly choose a winner on June 1.    I will ship within and outside of the U.S. 

Enjoy Giveaway Day!

May Giveaway Day #2

My giveaway item #2 is a leftover from this post.  It was a baby present for a girl…who turned out to be a boy!  Woops!

Giveaway #2 consists of 2 appliquéd onesi’s, size 0-3 months, and 3 burbcloths.

To enter the Giveaway, please post a comment on this post.  I will randomly choose a winner on June 1.  I will ship inside and outside of the U.S. 

Please make sure to visit Sew Mama Sew to see a listing of other great giveaways. 

Enjoy!

Mommy, I picked you a flower.

 

Thank you, baby.  Thank you.

How does your garden grow?

Smell that?  Peonies… 

Garden gifts from friends…hand-me-down hosta, that I shared with a friend last year.

She gave me the items in the box.  Lilly of the Valley!  More great scents to add to my garden. 

Twirly Skirt – DONE

Yay!  Remember this post?  I finally got around to doing this twirly skirt tutorial, from Erin.  It was so easy, and it came out very cute.  It was a winner in this household.

I finished this last week, but today was the first day it was worn, so I finally got a picture.  It’s at the end of the day, so don’t mind the strawberry on the shirt, or the fact that a seam is on the front…do you know how hard it is to photograph kids????

She told me she wanted to wear it to school so she could show all her friends her skirt that I made.  Sure enough, her teacher told her right away how much she liked her skirt, and Corinne’s answer “My mommy made it!”

The skirt passes the twirl test, big time. 

 

I love the look on her face on this one.

If you have a daughter, you should really try this tutorial.  It was so easy.  I will probably make another.   Maybe one for me…

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!

Woo hoo, another great Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!

I mised the first one, but I have some time to prepare for this one. Stop by on May 27...I will have something cute to giveaway to 1 lucky winner! Hint...your young kids will love it.



(Now that I have posted about this, I have really committed to this! Oy vay!)

Favorite fabrics

OK, one more post about this quilt and I am done!

 

I wanted to share with you this Michael Miller fabric.  I love, love, love it.  I have more to spare…I am thinking a cute summer shirt is in order for the little guy! 

Nathan’s Finished Quilt

As promised, here are pictures of the finished quilt.  I am very happy with the way it turned out.

I had a lot of fabrics I chose for this one, and I re-designed this quilt about two times before completing.  I ended with the design I thought best showcased the different fabrics.

I chose to free motion quilt the whole thing.  That was an experience!  I liked the way it came out, though.  I guess I’d try to do that again…I think it’s one of those things you get better with time!

I made this quilt reversible.  That was probably a big part of the many re-designs.  I knew I wanted the back to look like this, but the front was not as easy!

The best part about this quilt is the story.  Prior to this blanket, Nathan would not sleep with a real blanket.  He would only sleep with baby blankets, and always the one you see behind him in the picture.  Well, the night I put this on the bed, he let me cover him up with it and he settled in.  I guess he knew how much I had worked over it and that it was his own unique piece. 

Happy Mother’s Day

 

Happy Mother’s Day!

We all got a lot of relaxation in today.

I am so thankful for my little ones, and the hubby who made my Mother’s Day fantastic.  I enjoyed a wonderful breakfast out this morning, and played outside with my kids and my garden for the rest of the day.  I even had some visitors at the end of the day, which opened up our evening to a great meal, outside, in the perfect weather. 

I hope your day was as wonderful as mine.

More Pieced Together and One Year already?

Has it been already over one month since I have posted?  Yep…I guess I’ve been busy doing other things than crafting.  The great weather and the addition of a swing set to our backyard has kept me away from my sewing machine for any real project!

I have, though, finished this quilt.  I’ve been meaning to get a picture on a nice day…I hope to get a good one tomorrow.

I have been trying to keep up with my quilting bee.  I am behind…it requires 2 a month.  I am only really 1 behind…and that’s the block for my sister, so I know I have a little leeway there.  It’s on my list, though.

Erin requested squares and rectangles.  I am happy with the way this came out.  I really like the diagonal line of the light blue squares that happened.  I hope she likes it.

I also realized that the 1 year anniversary of this blog just came and went!  It went by fast.  I guess I have done a lot in the past year but I haven’t done as much as I wish I could.  However, being a fun, interactive mom always takes priority and for that I am can say I am PROUD.  I have a wonderful family and two very adoring fans who make being a mom the most rewarding (and challenging) thing I have done. 

Happy Mother’s Day!

Easy Summer Dress

I made one of these last year, from the “per inch” stash of shirred fabric from Jo-Ann.  The fabrics are so cute, they are hard to pass up.

I have to fix a tie that’s a little off, but other than that, it’s an OK dress. 

The fabrics are so cute, but really, when you stitch them up, there’s just not a lot of shape to the dresses.  I am wondering, if I cut off the part below the shirring, hem it, then add some elastic to the bottom to make it more of a skirt, will it look cuter as a shirt/skirt combo? 

If you have any ideas or suggestions, please comment.  I’d love to hear about your experience with these fabrics.

A baby girl gift in waiting

My friend, Missy, had her second baby recently.  I was ready with some handmade baby gifts – more burp cloths and appliquéd onesi’s.  I love the bugs on these.   How perfect for a baby girl!

Too bad two sonograms were WRONG!  She was surprised to deliver a healthy, bouncing, baby BOY.  Woops!  Congratulations and welcome to the world, little guy.

My handmade gifts were not what she needed!   I guess I’ll keep them handy for the next person I know who has a baby girl. 

Sorry, Missy, give me some time and I’ll give the little man and the big brother a sweet little gift. 

To the Creek!

We have a creek that runs along the back of our property.  Recently, we have created a path to it.  The kids love the path.  They have yet to discover how much fun it is to play in the creek, but I know that will come over the years. 

Tonight, after work, instead of heading in straight for dinner, the warm evening air and sunshine kept us out.  We went to the creek!

On the way there, we had so much fun finding things

A pine cone, two “flowers” (AKA weeds, but to the innocence of a child, it’s a flower), a large leaf, and

A four leaf clover!  Corinne found it herself, amongst a LOT of clover.  She picked it out in less than 1 minute! 

I have it in between some wax paper in a book right now.  I’d like to frame it and hang it in her room.  What a token of luck! 

Stash Busting for a Summer Wardrobe

The spring weather we had last weekend got me in the mood to not only garden, but make some more handmade clothing for Corinne.

Poor Nathan, I still have yet to make him some clothing…it’s on the list.  Girl clothes are just so darn much CUTER than boy clothes!

I am pretty sure I can make a few items without having to buy more fabric or patterns :)

A new skirt :)

  Another new skirt.  I have been wanting to attempt this Twirly Skirt Tutorial for over a year.  I love this fabric, perfect for twirling.

I’d like to also get a new dress or two for her in.

And I am still making progress on Nathan’s quilt.  I ran out of white for the sashing, otherwise, the top would be done.  I need to get this done soon.  The poor guy is about to climb out of his crib.  He really could if he tried hard enough.