Thursday, November 27, 2008

I'm Thankful For...

God
an amazing husband
our sweet baby girl
wonderful family
friends
church family
being able to be a stay at home mom
a daughter who loves books already
peanut butter
my sewing machine
garage sales
America and the freedom we have
Christmas music
digital cameras
internet
homemade apple pie
all the ideas running around in my brain
cell phones
Pancheros burritos

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Just wanted to share

These are just some pictures that I thought were too cute not to share. Evie and her little friend Miciah, Daddy and daughter sleeping, playing and just being cute. Oh and that first pic he was putting her shapes on her head and she thought it was the funniest thing. She would hold still for a bit and look over at me and start laughing, it was great! I love that she has gotten to a stage where she cracks herself up!





Still one spot open on Pay It Forward

Okay, so I know that there are quite a few crafties that are lurkers on my blog (don't be offended, I am a lurker too!) and I would love to have a 3rd participant that doesn't live in the same city as I do :) So, again you just have to have a blog and be willing to repost Pay It Forward on yours to keep it going! And you have a full YEAR to get the handmade stuff done and sent out... who will be my last participant?

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Pay it Forward - this will be fun!!!

Okay, so I got in on this fun Pay it Forward challenge that is going around the craft community over at the Nuts to You blog. Now its my turn!
Here is how it works. The first 3 people to comment on this post who wish to participate will get a fantastic handmade gift from me. I have 365 days to complete the gifts which is doable even for me!
Anyone can participate, the only catch is you have to have a blog and you have to promise to continue the challenge through yours and give away 3 handmade gifts.

So who wants to see what I can whip up? The challenge is extended...

Saturday, November 22, 2008

First Snow... and a Tree






You might be wondering what these two things have in common. Well, only that today we planted a new tree in our yard... while it was flurrying like the dickins! We didn't really plan it that way, it just happened. I know, November is pretty late in the season to be planting trees. But it was a free tree. Evie and I had gone back to my parents at the beginning of the month while D had to work all day and while we were there they asked if we wanted a scarlet maple that they had bought. It was an impulse buy said my dad... they were on clearance and it was the last one left! They had been looking for another tree for their wonderfully "wooded" yard, but then after getting it home they decided that they wanted a tree that turned a different color in the fall. So this brings us to why we were planting a tree in November. Anyways, we were able to get it done while Miss Evie was napping and then... it stopped snowing :)

Friday, November 21, 2008

Peek-a-boo!



So today was not what most people would label as productive. At the regular midday nap time, Evie woke up just as I laid her down in her crib... minutes from when she fell asleep. She was awake past the point of no return and so instead of sleeping and me getting the cleaning and such done that I had hoped to I got some extra mommy daughter time. She wasn't fussy either, she was happy and ready to play! First, while she was still in her crib we spent about 5 minutes playing "where's Evie?" It is so amazing to me how smart she is... she was standing at the rail and then without any prompting she crouched down still holding on and waited for a minute, then she popped back up and flashed a huge "here I am!" grin at me... I was hooked, so it continued and the smile got bigger and BIGGER and then by the end had turned into hysterical giggles! Then we went downstairs and read some books and she played with her gladware in the pantry. She did eventually succumb to sleep and took a mid-afternoon nap and by that time I had no motivation to clean, as D had gotten home from work. I guess cleaning will have to wait for another day.

Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!!

Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!!

These are so stinkin' cute!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Soft shoes

So, here are a couple pairs of soft soled shoes that I had been working on... I used a pattern from stardustshoes blog and it came out okay. I think that I am going to try a couple others and also try making my own. They all are generally the same idea just different shapes of the pattern pieces. The tan cord pair is for a friend's little boy and the brown flower pattern are some soft slipper ones for Evie, you can even see them in action. I will say though that they slip off even when I tightened the elastic. I am not sure if it is because the fabric I used for the inside was fleece or the opening is just a little too big... we will see.

I should be doing the dishes...





Okay, so I usually do pretty good with keeping my house at least picked up, but I have to admit that my house is not spotless - at least not all at the same time. Since becoming a mother, I have struggled with the fact that my time is not really my time any more. Now, I do get moments - like this one - when Evie is napping or her daddy has her that I can get things done like cleaning the bathrooms or vacuuming or dishes and sweeping... the list goes on. Some things I can even do while she is awake if she is independently playing for a while or in the sling or occasionally she crawls around chasing me while I sweep - not the easiest way to do it since I am constantly trying to keep the dust away from her and she is fast - but it works when it has to. But I never seem to have the chance to do a top to bottom deep clean all at the same time. I think that I am getting more okay with it and also better at doing little bits here and there both while she is awake and sleeping. Being a mom, you really need to try to find a balance so that you can take care of your family and yourself. So, sometimes things don't get done right away... but she is growing up so fast and I don't regret any of the times that I chose to hold her or play with her instead of cleaning... it won't be long and maybe I can get her to help me clean :) Anyways, just some ramblings from a SAHM.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Why are kitty toys more fun than her toys?




It is so fun watching Evie explore and wonder about things. She made her way over to the box of kitty toys (I know - it's just a box... I am planning on changing it out for a cute little basket or something, eventually). Anyways she sat there pulling them out one at a time and then she would turn to me and hold it out with a triumphant "look what I found!" smile on her face.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Tag Blanket and matching onsie

This is a gift I made for a friend's one year old birthday. It was something that I originally thought of for my daughter because if a toy has a tag... that is the only thing she plays with on it! But I have yet to make hers since his birthday was coming up first. So anyways... here is my first attempt at blanket sewing and putting an applique on a onsie. It turned out okay and was neat to give a handmade gift!
Before:
After:

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Caps to Cap-Haitien Project




In my blog searching I came across this project. The pattern is for repurposing t-shirts and other jersey material into newborn caps to send to Haiti to help combat infant mortality. This is a really neat cause that even someone with limited sewing ability can contribute to. Please see the link below for more info on how to help.




Saturday, November 8, 2008

Handmade Holidays








Gifts Do you have a favorite gift that you love to give? I have started coordinating stockings for my mom and mother-in-law for the last few years - since they are the ones getting everyone elses stockings ready they didn't get one, so now I find fun little things and treats for them that they have fun unpacking and if any of the siblings wants to, they can add things as well


If you’re making gifts this year, what are you making? (Post photos if you have some, and if the recipients won’t find out via your post!) gonna have to wait to divuldge that info :) but I will be checking out the "Sew, Mama, Sew blog" for great ideas


Do you have any good stories about handcrafted gifts you’ve given or received? for our anniversary one year, my husband made me a decorative wood box to keep special cards, letters and pics in, he really put a lot of heart into it and it was very special


Do you have any great gift compilation ideas (a grouping of gifts just perfect for certain recipients?) bath and body products are great for women and especially great for hard working moms who never take time for themself


Name one thing on your personal wish list. its not handmade but I love getting gift cards for a local organic spa for massages and esthetics




Traditions



What is your favorite family holiday tradition? really, I think that it is just that we all still make time to get together, I have 3 siblings and this is the first year with any grandkids in the picture and there are two, my little girl who will be 10 months and my older brother's little girl who will be almost 4 months


Have you started any new traditions with your family that you didn’t practice growing up? not yet, this is the first Christmas since we had our little girl and we are looking forward to starting some of our own family traditions


What do you love most about the holiday season? getting to spend time with family - and all of the lights and smells and food and decorations


What do you like least about the holiday season? that it always goes so fast and it is so commercialized - people buy gifts because they feel like they should and no thought goes into it


Anyone close to your heart that you’ll be missing this year? my paternal grandmother... she had been sick with cancer for about a year and passed away this April, we had been spending that time getting to know each other as women instead of just grandma and granddaughter... she is also the namesake of my daughter who was born in February so I am still very sad that she will never get to know her great grandma




What is your favorite holiday food? we always have a big ham and I love to make apple pie with a crisp topping and a deep dish peach pie for my father in law




Do you have a great recipe to share? coming soon...

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Handmade Holidays



So, there is a neat blog that I read that is doing Handmade Holidays for the 2nd year in a row. Each day, they post things related to a certain group that you might be needing a gift for like kids, pet lovers, music lovers etc. They include tutorials for things you can make or links to shops where you can buy things that are handmade. You can also win things by commenting on the daily blogs. If you want to know more go to the link:

Can you get a sugar high through the wrapper?











This was Evie's first Halloween, we don't really get into it but her and I had gone back to my parents' and so I thought it would be fun to have her help hand out candy. Well the money that was spent on candy to hand out was totally worth it because she was so entertaining! She had a fun time playing in the candy bowl and then every time she saw the kids she would squeal with delight! She was dressed in her jeans with a tutu overtop for her "costume".