Thanksgiving Challah Bread

So, yes, Thanksgiving was a few weeks ago. I am finally getting caught up on pictures.

I made this challah bread for our special family feast. The item in the middle? A Teepee Corinne made in her class that same week! It was not planned at all, but the two fit together perfectly.

Never having braided Challah bread before, I took it on and had awesome success, thanks to the Internet and Maya who's tutorial was absolutely perfect! If you ever want to take this on, check out her link. Success on the first try, even with two little ones pulling on my legs most of the time.

Toothfairy Pillow

Toothfairy Pillow, originally uploaded by KathyMade.

The toothfairy pillow #1 is done. I am very happy with the way it turned out. Corinne loves it, too. It means so much more to me since she helped me make it.

She loves the Alexander Henry circle fabric the best. I love the Amy Butler Coriander in combination with all the other colors.

Of course, we have a few years until it's really used as a tooth fairy pillow. For now, it's a great memory.

Special craft time

Nap time, bedtime, those are the times I can get any crafting done.

Nap time might be dwindling with my oldest...that will be a sad day.

This weekend she "couldn't fall asleep" after many tries. So....I had her join me. I was making a toothfairy pillow for my niece, who is about to start losing teeth.

Like it? I was inspired by Stephanie, and Katie. Ever since I saw these, I had an overwhelming desire to try some patchwork. I also knew I wanted to make a tootfairy pillow to hold lost teeth and toothfairy treasures. Why not combine the ideas? See that squre in the middle? It's a pocket!

My helper loved the idea of it. She wanted one for herself, even though she doesn't really understand what it means to loose baby teeth since she is NOT a baby.

After showing her how to hold her hands and guide the fabric, and after letting her push the pedal while I guided the fabric, and after her picking out the next strip of fabric...how in the world can I give this item as a gift? Looks like I am now making 2 toothfairy pillows.

Good times in bloom

Life.

Puppet Show Time.

Row, Row, Row your boat time.

Alpaca open house time.

SHE walked up to them all, no problems. HE clung to me and only pet them while holding onto me.

Bloom time.

Family time.

My quilt is done!

MY QUILT IS DONE!

I have finally finished my quilt. I have actually been done for about two weeks, but was awaiting the right lighting to get the picture. I am really happy with the way it turned out. I stitched in the ditch for all the rows. I did some free motion quilting on the white part. I was trying to go for an all over meander in that area. It's definitely not perfect (hence, no pictures of the back), but I think it came out well for a first "real" quilt.

I learned how important a good quilting area is around the machine. I also don't have an extension table on my machine and I think I'll be putting that on my Chrismas list this year so I can improve. I think quilts of all sizes can make great gifts, given some time and pratice. Who wouldn't want to warm up in something that was handmade in love?

This is going to be a great gift to give. But, it does have special meaning to me, and I have become slightly attached to it. So have some others in the family.

Halloween Review

Dear blog,

I's been a while, again. I hope these next few posts hope you feel like I am keeping you up to date.

Halloween, 2008, Review

We had a great time on Halloween this year. It started early in the month, as my previous post talked about. We had pumpkins gallore between this trip to the patch, the field trip with Corinne's school to the patch, and some pumpkin gifts from friends. What do you do with so many pumpkins?

Painting them is a great option.

I have lots more painting pictures, but since I made the two of them strip down to minimal clothing...not a great idea to share on the WWW!

Trick or treating was a hit this year. We were visitors of a very friendly neighborhood, and boy did they go all out. Corinne got into it this year, wanting to run from house to house. She walked into any house when they opened their door too far! She also had NO fear of the scary houses. One was all decked out with smoke, lights, a moving ghost on a wire across the front yard, scary noises, etc. She had to walk through a tunnel with spooky lights to get to the house, and she went right up. No fear (ever). However, Nathan, he held my hand tight and didn't want to go anywhere near the noises. I truly feel that HE will protect HER one day.

The best part of trick or treating....checking out the loot on the return to the house!

A wonderful fall day!

Hello all!


Today, I got to spend the day sewing with my sister, and what a great day we had (thanks Grandma and Grandpa!). Although she didn't get much sewing in, I think she had a great time finishing up another project - staining a piece of furniture. And, I got to get a lot further on the quilt! All is done but the binding - final pictures to come soon!


How many of you have been enjoying fall? I don't know about you, but I think it feels so nice to have a crisp breeze in the air this time of year. Something about the coolness of the air, the leaves showing their colors, the angle of the sun, makes it so nice to be outside this time of year! My sister and I also got to get a great run in today, and it was a great treat to enjoy the air, the city, the leaves all on foot.

So, being that it's fall, I thought you'd enjoy the pictures of a trip to the pumpkin patch.

Searching for the perfect pumpkin.

Found!

(Yes, she picked out that outfit herself! I could not get her to change it...that girl has her own sense of style)

Hmmm...

This is it!

Attempt to get a group picture #1.

Attempt to get a group picture #2.