Crafting supplies+ me = I am a crafty nerd

Does anyone get excited about new crafting supplies?

I do. In a nerdy kind of way. I like to admire my new supplies, pet them, think of what I am going to make out of them. I guess I like to have photo shoots with them too, Casey thought I was odd :) I am a craft nerd.

Above are some yummy dishtowels I purchased today, my dishtowel stash was running low. Yes I have a dish towel stash.

I also got lots of doilies today. I think this looks like doily art.

I guess I have a doily stash too.

I heart doilies.

Flannel for the flannel stash, even amongst all the crazyiness that was the day after Thanksgiving with Casey still being in the hospital, I was able to sneak away for a bit to get some flannel on sale at Joann's.

Thanks for all your well wishes for Casey, he is doing much better now. He still gets to hang out at home for the rest of the week and still is a bit sore, but doing well :)

Shop Swap and Blog part 2

My second partner in the My Structured Choas Shop Swap and Blog , was Cylene from

Muffin Top Designs.

She sent me this beautiful knotted ring and the wishbone earrings below. So, so pretty!

Thanks so much Cylene, I love them both! (I also used her pictures from her shop)

Here is a little bit more about Muffin Top Designs:

This is what Cylene says about herself:

"I'm a metalsmithing mommy who's currently on maternity leave from my full time job in mental health housing/property management. I live with my husband and 6 month old daughter in a lovely, crooked house in Toronto, Ontario, Canada."

"I've always been the creative type, I have a BA in Visual Arts, but only discovered jewelry making in 2007. I started with simple beading, but quickly grew to love working with metal. I even took an introductory metalsmithing course instead of prenatal classes! I found etsy through my sister, and the rest is history."

"My dream is to be able to make jewelry full time while staying home with my kid(s), but right now, that isn't really an option. However, it's been quite an experience learning how to balance the running of a small business along with fostering my creative side, having a family and a full time job."

"I love having the freedom of being my own "boss", even for a little bit! I'm also constantly inspired to create new things to put out there into the handmade world. The Internet is a fantastic venue for showcasing talent and I'm happy to be a part of that. I've also been able to meet some amazingly talented people who create amazing things!"

Some of Cylene's favorite online shops:

Stitch and Swash

Bizzie Lizzie

The Girly Place

Smile Moon

Here are the links to Muffin Top Designs

shop

blog

She also has a monthly giveaway on her blog!

Thanks so much for being my partner Cylene, it has been fun!

Sorry it took me so long to get the post up!

Shop Swap and Blog part 1

I participated in The Shop Swap and Blog hosted by My Structured Choas.

I asked for two partners, Marion from Serpentaires was my first partner. I have to apologize to her for taking so long to post, things have been a bit crazy :)

She sent me this lovely package that included some of her beautiful illustrations and cards.

Here is what she has to say about herself:

"I'm a self taught illustrator and seamstress. I love creating beautiful and funny things, bringing new ideas to life..... It's like an addiction, and turning my creative needs into a business is the best way I've found to challenge myself and do what I love most at the same time.

I would love to be drawing and sewing full time, someday, this is where I want to go with my shop."

Thank you so much Marion for the lovely package! I had fun being your swap partner!

Here is the link to her shop.

Here is the link to her blog.

Happy freaking Thanksgiving :)

So, yes Thanksgiving was yesterday, and yes I should be in bed because I got ZERO sleep last night, but I can't seem to get myself to go to bed.

Just thought I would share a little rundown of the events that transpired for our family on Thanksgiving.
We always have a few places to visit on Holidays, so we head out for our first stop, get on the freeway and our van won't shift. It is stuck in 2nd gear or something. So, we turn around to go back home and get our car instead. Then head out again (although a bit more squished with pies on laps and such) talking about how we had a good run with our van (that was given to us) and how is seems to be time to start car shopping, not fun, but oh well!

We made all of our visits, all across the valley, get home, have a nice evening at home, a nice Thanksgiving day besides the vehicle troubles.

Casey and I get ready for bed, Casey says he isn't feeling the best, we go to sleep, he wakes up about midnight puking. Whenever he does that I wake up because he is so stinkin loud :) He comes back to bed and about 2 am he gets up to puke again, then lays in bed but doesn't go to sleep and keeps getting up and down puking and having severe abdominal pain. At about 3 am he is sitting on the loveseat in the most pain I have ever seen him in before, we decided to go to the ER where they gave him morphine which helped and they take him to get a CT scan. Well, at 7:30 this morning Casey had to have his appendix taken out, and he is still at the hospital right now because they wanted him overnight because he has a higher risk of infection because of his diabetes. His surgery went well, and he is feeling alot better. It's crazy though.
It was so cute when they brought him in his room after surgery, he was so drugged up. The guy that brought him in asked if he knew who was sitting in the chair waiting for him. Casey, in all his drugged up grogginess looks over at me and says "that's my beautiful wife" (he doesn't even remember)

After I put the kids to bed I went up to the hospital to say goodnight and we decided we were starving, I went out and asked the nurse if the cafeteria was still opened, it wasn't, but she said there might be some sandwiches she could round up for us. Minutes later she comes in with some sandwiches and Casey and I had the funnest time eating hospital sandwiches in his room. We made jokes about making sure to cover up "his gun" as one of the nurses called it so she could check his incisions. We talked about the craziness that this year has brought us ( Casey said it has sucked) I asked him if he has still been happy through all of it and we both agreed that it has been a crazy year, but a happy year. Right now, I am feeling so grateful for all the blessings that we do have. Sure, we have had some crap to deal with this year, probably more than our whole marriage, but I am so grateful that I have had my best friend with me through all of it, and that we are still just as happy or even happier to be together than when we first were married a little over 8 years ago.

And I am happy that he gets to come home tomorrow where I can take care of him and our children. And I love that we can have a blast eating hospital sandwiches together especially while making jokes about "his gun"

And now I will go to bed finally, and I even get to sleep on the "sweet spot" in the middle of the bed because I don't have to share with Casey. Goodnight. And goodnight Casey, I am glad you are no longer in pain and are healing, I Love You.

And with that, I will again say Happy Freaking Thanksgiving, it is one that our Family will never soon forget.

New Moon

We went to New Moon this weekend and I LOVED IT!

Casey and I had a good laugh at this spoof on Twilight from Attack of the Show ( this is Casey's favorite show, it is for nerds, but does it make me a nerd that I enjoy it a bit too?) And I'm warning you there is blood in the spoof video!

You kill vampires, you don't date them!

Really, though I loved New Moon more than Twilight, it is a must see in my book.

Weekend snipets

Isn't this the cutest? Casey curled the girl's hair for church yesterday, he said he likes to curl their hair, I love it!
Look at the turquoise necklace I purchased from Oh Sweet Sadie! I love it! I got another necklace too, they were my treat for all my hard work :) Sadly, I didn't take a card from the nice lady who made them, so I can't give you the source. My shows were a success and I am glad they are over with, I am tired. I get to finally take a much needed break this week. I have been ready for a break for months now. I still have four more holiday shows, but I think I am pretty much all prepared for them.

I hope you had a nice weekend!

Can I just tell you?

So, this is my living room. Right now, as we speak. I did nothing to it before I took this lovely picture :) I could have scared you with a picture of my kitchen, but I'll spare you.

This is what happens when I am preparing for Holiday Shows my friends. My poor poor home gets neglected. I did make my bed this morning though, and picked up the various items of clothing that my husband likes to leave about :) Doesn't it just feel better when you make your bed? Even if your fabric is in piles all over the place, and you have a box of crafty inventory waiting to be taken to the next show hanging out in your living room? And the Nintendo just hangs out on the floor in front of your TV because you and your husband play Doctor Mario almost every single night ( which by the way, I kick his trash at) Not to mention the other various things hanging about, Oh, and do you see the sewing machine? It pretty much just lives there, the only time it doesn't, is if we are having a party usually. Do sewing machines count as home decor? I think in my home they do :) I have a dream of having a lovely sewing room one day, (insert sigh here).

Earlier this week, as I have been preparing for shows, and feeling really stressed out, I put in a CD that always calms me and I felt very blessed to have that CD and wanted to share my experience with you. I have no pictures to tell this story, only memories. About 4 1/2 years ago, Casey and I bought our home, we worked our tails off for about 2 months cleaning and painting and such before we actually moved in. We were living with my parents at the time, so when we got home from work, ( I worked full time then) we would eat dinner, hang out for a bit with the kids and then head to our house to fix it up and sometimes we would be doing that until the wee hours of the morning and then get a few hours of sleep and start all over again. It exhausted us to say the least.

Well, at work, I would be listening to the radio, and my co-workers and I would call in every time they did some sort of giveaway, I swear those phones were lucky, cause we won alot of stuff on the radio. Anyways, one time, I won a pack of CDs , The Dave Matthews Band, and Jason Mraz, but then I was also, entered into a drawing to go see the Dave Matthews Band concert in California. One morning, I was getting in my car to go to work, and I get a phone call, I didn't recognize the number, I thought it was a bit weird, cause it was early in the morning. I answered, and it was the radio station informing me that I had won the trip! I WAS SO EXCITED! I mean seriously who wins trips?

It came at the perfect time, we had moved into our house, but were still working our tails off to fix it up, and it was close to our anniversary. I think Heavenly Father knew we needed a break.

We went on the trip, rented a convertible, got to stay in what will probably be the nicest hotel we

will ever stay at, had a blast at the concert, and was even able to go to IKEA for the first time. (that was before there was IKEA in Utah) and the whole trip, I was worried about NOTHING. It was awesome.

So, back to the CD that always calms me: Dave Matthews Band: Stand Up

Every time I am really stressed I put in this CD and it is like magic, it calms me like no other

music does, I think because I associate it with that trip that I needed so much.

I think Heavenly Father knew this, he knows how easily stressed out I can get and he knew that I needed that trip and this CD. He knew that years later I would still be able to use that music to help calm me and I am so very grateful for that gift.

Now enough of my rambling because would you like to see what I HAVE to get done today because I need them for a show tommorrow?

~4 aprons

~ 10 burpcloths

~ 12 dish towels

~ 9 onesies

And I should probably do some laundry and some dishes, and maybe clean up the pile of crap that has taken over the kitchen island. Wish me luck!

Looks like I should plug in Dave Matthews today huh?

Yummy Holiday shows this week!

Oh Sweet Sadie is the first show I am setting up today!

I'll even be hanging out most of the evening for the opening night Par-tay!



Then later this week, I am setting up for Tom and Lucy's Art Shoppe!

If you are in Utah, this is two great events to get some Christmas shopping done!

Sew and tell!

I'm joining in Amy's sew and tell today!

I am so excited to share Sage's quilt top that I finished! I used this tutorial from Cluck cluck Sew. Sage picked out all the fabrics herself from my stash. I love how it turned out! Now I have to get working on the back, and I think I am going to pay to have this one quilted, I'm not sure if I want to tackle a quilt this big.

By the way, my neighbor's probably thought I was strange, to get this picture (before it started to rain yesterday) I laid it out on the grass in front of our house and climbed up on the porch railing :)

I also wanted to share a Christmas present that I started last night because I am just dying over how stinkin awesome it is going to be. I am making lap quilts for my 3 girls, out of my very favoritest vintage linens, I am talking the vintage linens that I have been collecting for years now and not had the guts to cut into. I am cutting 6 1/2 inch squares and each quilt is going to have 16 different yummy prints in it, in each girl's favorite colors. This one is for the blue and purple loving Kinsley.

Sweet Tweets!

My things are for sale at the Sweet Tweets this weekend, go check it out if so inclined!

SPARK: Part 1

Over the weekend I was able to participate in SPARK!

I had such a blast!

It would seem that most of my pictures are of the decor.

It was beeeeeautiful!

Here's my little booth I set up in the General Store.

The cute flowers on the tables.

Our food was even cute.

And yummy.

It was like magic at night.

It was amazing and I feel so blessed that I was able to be a part of it.

My Spark has been lit.

Exciting and busy weekend!

I set up for Piper and Chloe tonight, I love this show! Click on the picture for more info.

And I don't know why I haven't said anything about this other thing I have going on this weekend, because I am so super excited. I am going to be a show and tell artist at SPARK! So, tomorrow morning I am setting up a demo table. I will have a little sample of what I make set up at my table. Then I have been working on getting stuff together for a little project that everyone attending gets to make. And there is a General Store where my things will be for sale too. I am excited and nervous and did I say excited? I also get to attend the rest of the event!
I should say right here that I have an awesome husband. He took tomorrow off of work for me so I can go and he is going to clean up all of my things from the Piper and Chloe show too, isn't he sweet? I LOVE him!

Kay, now I must go and make sure I have everything ready for SPARK tomorrow!
And I will be sure to share pictures next week!

A challenge

Over at Tallgrass Prairie Studio, there is a UFO challenge. It came just in time for me. I have been thinking about all of my UFO's and I have wanted to get some done.

I counted 6 that I would like to get done before the new year. Here is a list so I can hold myself accountable:

* 3 lap quilts out of vintage linens for my girl's for Christmas

* Sage's bed quilt (some of the blocks are pictured above, I got them all finished today! Now I just have to sew them together, YAY!)

* my Mod Sampler quilt along quilt :)

*my quilt from A Notion or Two

Wish me luck! I will need it because I am also busy with the holiday season shows and Christmas crafting!

Sew and tell

I'm joining in on Amy's sew and tell this week! I am always sewing something :)

Here are some of the things I have been working on this week. Above are some Bird Cage Christmas ornaments, I love these, I made some for myself last year. The backs of them are vintage linens, and besides the cream fronts, the fabric for these came out of my scrap bag, which I love, I need to use up those scraps!

I have been slowly working on a quilt for my youngest Sage. I had my kids pick out their fabrics from my stash months and months ago for their new quilts. I feel bad it has taken me this long, but what do you do? I especially feel bad because Sage (who is 5) has never had a bed sized quilt of her own. What kind of a Mom am I? :) Stay tuned for the finished quilt though, I love, love all the fabrics each of my girls picked out, they are going to be so cute.

I also finished a batch of girls purses. That mushroom one is my fave. I am getting ready for all my holiday shows coming up. They start up next weekend!

Denver Aquarium

If ever in Denver, you don't want to miss out on the Aquarium.

We love it there.

I know the picture is blurry, that eel creeped me out, it was bigger than Sage.

Casey had to get a Batman painted on his arm, he's a nerd, although a pretty hot nerd :)

Also, do you see how he wears his glasses on his forehead? Does anyone else do this? He says it is because he doesn't want his hair messed up :)

This was the best picture of all of us, I think we all have red eyes in it too :)

No picture editing here folks :)

The thrifting fairies smiled on me

I had some time to kill while my two youngest were at their singing class, so I went to my favorite thrift store.

These two are my fave. I am dying over the little orange ladybugs in the bottom piece. And can you see the turtles in the top one? So. stinkin. cute.
I feel like I won a prize.

Other news of the day: My youngest daughter Sage wore a sequined devil horn headband to singing today, I didn't care one bit. It was fitting of her today because she has been quite the devilish girl today.

And I wanted to mention thanks for all your kind words about my letter I wrote last week. You guys are great!

yummy new girly shirts

Have you ever been inspired to make something and have to make it right then?

That was me with these girly pillowcase style shirts.

The original inspiration came from a stuffed bunny with this little skirt that looked like bunting. Which I guess is a bit weird because none of these look like they have bunting on them. Sometimes that is how inspiration goes for me, my projects sometimes take on a mind of their own.

Sometimes I have to try something different just for my sanity. Yes, I make a ton of pillowcase dresses. But these little pillowcase shirts are all unique. No two are alike. I even did a bit of hand stitching on them, I love all the little details. Some have pockets, some have ruffles, some have doilies, some have hearts, or vintage lace. I love all of them and they have made my weekend fun. After I finished them all I had to admire them for quite some time.

I will be a bit sad to sell them at my upcoming shows. But I guess that means I will just get to make more.

skirts, skirts, skirts.

I've been making lots of skirts, I think they are one of my favorite things to make and wear.

I made this one for me out of Amy Butler's Love using this tutorial with a few modifications. I've already worn it twice, I love it.

This skirt I made this morning before I had to pick Sage up from school. It is for Christmas. Yes I am thinking about Christmas. I have decided that the couple hours I have while Sage is at Kindergarten in the morning will now be dedicated to Christmas crafting.

I love this little mushroom skirt! The whole thing was inspired by the red and white scalloped trim on the bottom that I purchased from Stephanie of Stephmodo.

She sells her beautiful finds (usually from France) in her etsy shop.

By the way if you haven't followed their restoration of a beautiful french cottage La Maisonnette, you should go check it out, it is amazing. I want to stay there at least once in my life.

Scrappy skirt tutorial

Here is my entry for the Sew mama Sew scrap buster contest. A scrappy skirt for little girls!

Here is what you will need:

*fabric scraps of course

* 3/4" wide elastic, I like the no roll kind

*thread

* lace for the bottom

First, dump out your scraps, it seems I have acquired a mountain of them.

Sorry the pictures aren't the best, I took them after my children were in bed because this skirt is a Christmas present for one of my girls.

You need to piece together fabrics so they are 44-45" wide. The length is determined by how long you want the finished skirt plus 2".

I wanted my skirt to have a 14" finished length, so, I wanted my fabric to be 45" wide by 16" long.

I pieced my fabrics in strips first using my serger, you could use a sewing machine, it would just take a bit longer because you probably want to zigzag the edges so they don't fray all over.

Then I pieced all the strips together again with a serger. I ended up with not enough width, so I had to piece more strips to add to get the full 45" width.

After I had a big enough piece of fabric, I carefully folded it in half and then trimmed it to the size I needed it.

Now, you'll have to excuse me I got a bit excited and forgot to take some pictures of the last steps I did. After trimming my fabric to the size I needed, I first added lace to the bottom again with the serger. Then I folded my piece in half right sides together and serged it into a tube. Then you turn it right side out and it should look like the picture above.

Now for the waistband. First fold the skirt's top edge 1/2" towards the wrong side of the fabric and press.

Now fold it over again 7/8" and press.

Now, you will stitch the waistband's lower folded edge, leaving about a 2" opening to put the elastic in.

Cut a piece of elastic your desired length, I usually just wrap the elastic around my girl's waist and cut it a couple inches shorter than their waist. I use a large safety pin attached to the end of the elastic to guide the elastic in the waistband casing. At this point, I will pin the ends of the elastic together and try the skirt on the girl it is intended for and make any adjustments to the elastic length that I need to. Then I sew together the elastic with a zigzag stitch. And stitch the casing closed.

And now you have a finished scrappy skirt!

A letter

Dear people who decided it was cool to steal from me,

It makes me sad that you think it is okay to steal from others. Not only does it hurt the people you steal from, but most of all it hurts you. It hurts your integrity. I take pride in the fact that I am an honest person and it makes me sad that others do not.

I am a stay at home Mom of three girls. Part of the reason I am able to stay home with them is because of the things that I make and sell. At times our family depends on the extra income I bring in to help pay for things we need. To me, my handmade things don't just represent the money it took to make them, they are made with my time, and lots of love. So when someone thinks it is okay to steal that away from me, it hurts.

I sincerely hope that one day you will realize the harm you are doing to yourself and others and that you can make it right.

That 's really all I have to say, I just needed to vent. Here is a good article about this.

~Amy