the lable maker

I think someone is having a bit too much fun with the new label maker :)

monkey business

We walked into the living room tonight to find this.
Addie had been playing on the floor and I guess decided she wanted to sit in her chair and watch a bit of TV. Of course I ran for the camera to snap a shot, but before I could even get the pictures loaded to the computer she was on the move again... this time on to the couch!

Such determination!

but always ready to smile for the camera :)

"I think I can, I think I can..."

"I know I can, I know I can..."

almost...

"Look at me mom, I did it!"
It's been a big day for this little monkey, not only is she a master climber, but she finally cut her first tooth today!

fall

Fall is my favorite season. I love the cool weather, the colors, baking... I could go on. Anyway, so far our fall has been very mild- still in the upper 70's most days and the trees still green, just beginning to turn. So, today we celebrated a bit of fall in the house, starting with our favorite pumpkin pancake recipe, yum!

Then we decided to try out this project. Regan had seen the ones our friends had made and wanted to try too. We always love a painting projects and getting to use straws to paint? Even better!

Phil took the kids up the street to Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve for a hike so that I could have an hour or so of peaceful sewing (thanks, babe!) and I realized after I had laid out all my fabric for the camera straps that they too are following the fall theme of the day!
Gotta get back to that sewing, before the wild ones return :)

going batty

This seems to be a habit with me... Every year I say we are not going to do Halloween (I really hate all the skeletons and death and creepy stuff that starts appearing earlier and earlier each year) and then a week or two before I suddenly get inspired to do something crazy, like make costumes for all 5 of my kids. Or in this case- cut out 40 some odd bats and hang them through my entry hall... I blame it on Dana, they just looked so cool flying across her dining room wall!

a new skirt

I bought the last of the bolt when I went back to the fabric store last weekend. It was enough to make 3 skirts. One for Lu, of course, and two to sell at the bazaar.

Tallulah was happy to model for me and had to have the matching sketchbook cover for the photo shoot too :)
The other two will fit a 5/6 year old- just a basic elastic waisted skirt. Any idea how much I should charge for these?

birthday sewing

I am taking (another) break from the bazaar sewing to whip up a birthday present for one of Tallulah's CC classmates.
I love making these softies. Check out mmmcrafts shop and blog for some great patterns :)

a new diaper bag

I saw this tutorial the other day and loved the idea of a bag that is made to hook on the stroller. I decided to change it up a bit, but still used the messenger concept and the strap idea. I made my bag a little bigger and added pockets to the sides for bottles. I think if I make another I will add pockets to the inside too- maybe one long one to hold the changing pad and two smaller ones for toys and diaper cream etc.

Anyway, here is my version of the stroller bag
plenty of room inside for diapers, wipes, a blanket and snacks!
Well, enough procrastinating, must get back to Bazaar sewing!

church bazaar

Our church is holding it's first ever Bazaar on the 30th, so this week I started working on some handmades to sell. This is what I am working on so far:

Baby blankets- (I found the elephant fabric at Joann's, it is a Debbie Mum print and it is the softest flannel ever- I might just have to go back for more it's so snuggly!)

Some take-a-long art books (I am also loving the children around the world fabric, also from Joann's, totally kicking myself for only buying a half yard!)

This will be a new project for me, some pacifier clips.

And I think I will make some more camera straps, I've had quite a few requests for these from friends and family.
I enjoy making these things for gifts and to sell, but I've also had an itch to do some "real art"- ya know like with paints and canvases and paper and whatever else I can find- I really love mixed media collage, but have a hard time finding space and time to do it. I would love to be able to take a few art classes- maybe drawing, or textile design or a mixed media class... not sure how or when I will be able to, but a girl can dream, right?

big girl haircut

I chopped Tallulah's hair this weekend. I don't think I really intended to go that short, but it just sorta happened! She had asked me last week to cut it like this, but after it was done she was not too happy about it. I think it is cute though and a little easier to keep out of her face, but I probably won't go quite this short again.
here is a picture from last week, in curls
and another, au-naturale

the kids treated us to dinner

We had dinner at a new restaurant tonight.

I went in my pajamas.
There were games to play while we waited for our food.

Lots of tasty choices on the menu.

I thought it was a "Tapas" restaurant, but it turns out it may have been a "topless" restaurant!

And there was even an after dinner couples massage!
We could get used to this :)

rearranging... again

I know what your thinking... "didn't you just rearrange this room not that long ago?" And yes, I did, but the space just was not working for us with our new dining table and chairs. The computer chair and the table chairs were in a constant battle for the space, and although I loved my sewing machine near the window, it was really too tight of a fit for my chair with the new long computer table, plus there was no good place for our hanging file cart.

So, my (awesome) mom and I spent the week sorting, rearranging, filing etc. and here is the fruit of our labor. Here is the most recent "before" shots of the room...

and here it is "after"!

Here is a shot of the bench my dad made for us this week. We used these plans, only adapting it a bit to make it longer (66"). With all the rain this week he could not stain it, so that is a project I guess I will have to tackle in the next week or so. But we love the bench (thanks, dad!)

view from the other side of the room

One of my favorite parts of the redo?...

My sewing books out were I can see them instead of shoved in the cabinet!

waiting for the sun

It's been raining here for 5 days straight. Not just a little rain, but pretty much all-day-every-day-rain. My parents have been here since Saturday and we have been busy sorting, rearranging, organizing, purging, fixing and building. I (really me and my mom) have gotten more done this week then in I don't know how long! Sorted through 2+ years of magazine backlog; cleaned out my (many) scrap drawers, buckets, bags and piles; found places for all our school stuff- the list goes on.

If the sun ever decided to shine I will post some pictures tomorrow!