I've gotta try it!!

Here a few things I can't wait to get my fabric mitts on and try out.

Freezer paper stencils-I love this idea so much, look how easy that would be! I should probably keep my mouth shut until I try it though. I think I have a bunch of freezer paper just begging to be used for something other than frozen meat. This super cute girls rock shirt is found on the House on Hill Road blog, definately go check her out.

And this- Lounge pants cut from a T-Shirt- pure genius! I could live in those kind of pants, seriously. I own more pajama/lounge pants than I do regular pants of all varieties. Now to find a shirt Cody won't miss.

And this- Free hand machine embroidery. I can see how this would give a person a headache but my expectations are low and I think it would be a lot of fun so I'm going to give it a whirl.

Sadly I have two costumes to make and a bunch of Christmas to get a head start on so these will have to wait for another day. If anyone makes one or more of these post a comment with a link to your picture so I can take a peek! I think they would make fun Christmas projects so maybe I will weasel them in somewhere. Happy Sewing!

Make a wish...

I thought it would be fun to take pictures of Ashlyn's dress as I went along and show pictures of the different phases of how I make dresses but Cody took my camera on Saturday so all I have are the pictures of the finished product. This was the funnest dress ever and it came together so quickly. It took me 8 hrs from the very start to the last hand stitched bead and sequin, that's quick for me ;o). Very Gymbo inspired, oh and a shirt style that I want for me.

We tried to get a good picture of Ashlyn wearing the dress but we took her out right after church so the lighting was not so great. I never got a good picture of the "good" side with the dandelions on it. The dress didn't turn out exactly like the one in my cabeza but it's awfully darn close and who's gonna know anyway. Ashlyn calls it her wish flower dress. Cody calls it her golf ball on a tee dress. I call it done. Now bring on the pumpkin costume frenzy...

What I've been up to

I've been knee deep in laundry, dishes, kiddos, and sewing. I love sewing. I feel so much better when I'm cutting things. I'm winging Ashlyn's dress design from a dress in my noggin so I hope it turns out. So far so good- hopefully I can finish it tomorrow so she can wear it on Sunday.




I would finish it today but, as I was reminded this morning, it's one of my anniversaries today! I only slightly forgot because I got so caught up in the dress and helping a very important person find the right invitation which only took me 2 hrs. It was 5 yrs ago today that we were sealed in the temple. We always celebrate our civil wedding and that one so I'm a lucky girl who gets two fancy dinners a year, wahoo! We were going to see a movie but there's nothing good playing right now so we're going to dinner and we'll rent one. Speaking of that, has anyone seen the illusionist- VERY GOOD. It made me mad but a good mad. Gotta go hop in the shower and get the kids ready. I haven't been to a real restaurant since February 5th.

Yeah, I sprecken

I am very fluent in the language of Whine-eese. It took me about a year to pick it up but I finally got the hang of it and have been interpreting it for about 7 years now, I think I could speak it just like a native if I wanted to. It's originates from a small tribe of pasty white smallish children in the Eastern Oregon region. They are a funny little group of ankle biting primates with a peculiar characteristic. They have a definite pecking order and routinely prey upon the adult members of their tribe to try to gain the chief position. To outsiders it's quite fascinating and sometimes hilarious.

Okay, I think I'm funny sometimes but seriously yesterday I cut out a dress for Ashlyn. Mary and Kaci are already set for fall with all the hand-me-downs but Ashy being the oldest girl is totally out of long sleeved dresses. Since yesterday was -spend 4 hours grocercy shopping when it only should have taken 1 hour but I had all the kids with me day- I thought today would be a great day for sewing her dress up and testing out my lube job (on my machine). Mary and Kaci wouldn't hear of such a thing.

Mary kept crying and whining all day and Kaci was a koala. Where ever I went she was attached to my leg. I felt like a human Kleenex all day with her grabbing me and rubbing her face all over me, not happy style- we're talking whining.

Then Mary fell on the steps and banged up her little limbs. She cried and cried until I looked it over and promised her it wasn't bleeding. She wiped her little face and then told me...

"Mom, oh no! I have cry in my eyebrows!"

Okay, that was cute.

Then they started playing puppies and Kaci was "lick" kissing and fetching and they were getting cuter.

Then they started playing like real friends and being totally cute. So today I got nothing but my dishes done and pre-heated the oven for Cody to throw in the fish and chips. I just want to play!

Recipe Swap with a twist

Sherelle Christensen came up with a great idea for a recipe swap and is inviting who ever would like to to join her! She's hosting a swap where you create 2 cute digital layouts of your favorite recipes and email them to her and at the end she sends you all the recipes from all who participated.

Here's a snipet from her blog- I would love to set up a digi recipe exchange for anyone who is interested. All you would have to do, is create 2 digi pages of your favorite recipes (I will send specifications by email to those who wish to participate) and email them to me. I will then make sure that everyone who participates in the exchange gets the files for all of the other recipes! Then, if you wish, you too can make a photo book of all the recipes shared.

If you'd like to be counted in just head on over to her blog here.

I think this is an awesome way to have a super cute recipe book, some of the best tasty recipes -I've personally tried a few and now weigh a good 10 lbs more, and have the opportunity to print as many as you want. I've never done a digi layout and have only dabbled in the digi world (and felt dirty like my paper could see or something lol) and to be honest I've lost my paper super powers so hopefully I can whip out something decent. Ohhh, to scrapbook again and try some new recipes and gain some hefty dessert pounds would be so fun!

This page is lifted from her blog so all credit goes to her. So much cuter than the red checkered cookbook!

Tonights the night

Last night Cody and I managed to cut over 800 pieces of wire (800!!!!), 40 pieces of metal foil, and 80 pieces of paper and arranged them in *I hope* an easy kit. I always get huge butterflies right before I have to teach a class. I only have a little bit left to do so I'm not stressed about it, I just feel nervous. You would think I would be over that by now, I've been teaching different classes every month for over 4 years- but no.

I am excited though because I think this will be something everyone can do and will enjoy once they're finished. We'll see... cross your fingers for me and pray no one bleeds from all the sharp wire and sheet metal and that at least 40 people show up. If not guess what some of you will be getting for Christmas!

Can you spare a little sanity please? Oh,never mind-

I thought today was going to be a very hectic day. I'm the yes girl. Every time some one asks me to do anything my automatic reaction is to say yes to whatever it is and then find out the details later. Wednesday night I got a phone call from Jeremy's friends mom. "Can I ask you an odd question?"-the rest is history. I volunteered myself to babysit one of Jeremy's friends (he's only been over once) and his older sister all day today. Normally I would have respectfully declined because I have so much to do and he's a real hand full and I don't really know them that well at all . I have 50 kits to put together for my wire tree and teach the class on Tuesday and I'm totally unprepared. I really could have used the time today to do that but something in me said "You can do the kits later and it won't be a big deal to watch them".
It wasn't a big deal at all, in fact I feel really good about it. Their parents were so appreciative and the 11 yr old was kind of my shadow all day but turned into a great helper. She kept asking me to fix her hair so I did and it felt really weird at first but I have to say she looked really cute when I was done. I realized she doesn't have a sister and probably really enjoyed having an older but younger girl to talk to and act "cool" around. I think I'm going to like having 11 yr olds around when my girls get a little bigger. Jeremy and his friend didn't cause that much mischief and I put them to the task of finding more acorns for my basket which was nice. The day just flew by and the kids had a ton of fun and I feel good, so why don't I do this more often? I really need to go out of my comfort zone to help more often, it feels so good.

Oh- and here's a pink *PICTURE* because every post has to have a picture (okay maybe I did lose some of my sanity today LOL!)

Hold the phone...

I just ran across a sample pattern from the book mentioned below and thought I would share it for anyone who's interested. I still don't have the foggiest clue on how to do a satin stitch so I might not try this until after I get the book (Cody- that means you) but here ya go.

A little eye candy and a teeny hint...

I've been eyeballing this book lately called Doodle Stitching by Aimee Ray. I think it looks soooo fun! I thought my sewing machine bit the dust which was quite devastating because Halloween is right around the corner and I have costumes to make. While on the hunt for a sewing machine quick fix I found the book. Spending a few days without my machine I thought I would have to learn to hand sew because a life without sewing is no life for me and heaven forbid I actually scrapbook before memorial day. I don't embroider well at all and this book shows stitches and some really great patterns and projects (I think). If my machine acts up again I want something fun to fall back on while it's being fixed. Thank goodness I just had to oil the snot out of it and it works alright now, I think. I might even get a wild hair and sew a dress tonight.

This part of the post is for the eyeballs of HE who says I never say what I really want during the holiday seasons. With the season approaching here's a little help in print. Because I've already had 2 birthday guns, a birthday car stereo, an anniversary wok, a Christmas pilates video (yes, you paid for that one), and a pile of hot chocolate mugs - all gifts I love dearly mind you- I wouldn't mind owning something like this book if you happen to be surfing the internet one of these days. I also wouldn't mind a new sewing machine, a serger, a subscription to the scarlet lime kits, a new hat like the rooster one, a movie and dinner, a new magazine, gum, I'm not picky . Chocolate's always a winner to. LOVE YOU!

Five years in the making

I'm the worst decorator in the entire world. I kid you not. I really don't like change. I never really decorate for any season. I have 3 Halloween decorations. I have 6 Christmas items. I just don't like moving the things I love everyday for something seasonal. It's a disorder of mine. If I find a piece of something that I think is flaming fantastic I hang on to it forever and keep it in the exact same spot forever. Granted most of the things I find I don't have a spot for so they live in a box or drawer for years. Five years ago I found a little package of the coolest metal leaves that I just had to have. I had no idea what I wanted to do with them so they have lived in my craft drawer ever since. Yesterday I decided it was time to change my Easter egg wreath (yes I said Easter, I love it so much I leave it up all year-for shame!) and replace it with something a little more season appropriate. This is what I came up with.

I love it, though I think I need to beat the leaves up a little and sand them down so you can see the metal. I just wanted to get it done and put up quickly before I changed my mind! Kira came yesterday to visit and she took the kids over to the park to gather acorns for me, thanks Kira! I love that they are still green and I get to see them change right on my wreath. Very fall. The neon bucket 'o acorns will be replaced with a cute basket 'o acorns as soon as I can find it ;o). I'm thinking something big and some frames with fall pictures.

I also made a tissue cover for my purse. I hate it when I go to grab a Kleenex in the middle of sacrament and everyone can hear the crinkly plastic so I sewed myself a cute quiet one. I feel so chain on the glasses, waist up to my chest, afghan old but it works!