I love making bags!

Just a quick post with some bags I made for my sisters. These were Christmas presents that they didn't get until March (I suck). They are from a pattern by Sandi Henderson that I think is awesome. They went together so easily. There are 2 patterns, this is the gathered bag. I also made 2 straight bags for my mother-in-law and sister-in-law but forgot to take pics (doh!) At least theirs made it out on time. (Please don't mind my horrible photography skills)






Now, if I could just find the time to make one for myself!

Sewing and other stuff

I really wish I was clever enough to come up with witty titles for my posts, but alas, I am not, so utilitarian it is.

First order of business: I got a Brand Spanking New Sewing Machine! I am so excited and have delusions that I can complete twice as many projects in half the time with this baby. I did some research on the internet and decided to go with a Brother because it was in my price range and many people thought it was a great machine. I went to an authorized dealer and tried out a few and loved the embroidery/sewing combo. Then I thought how much embroidery would I really do and is it worth the cost? So I stuck with the sewing only model, which is still a major upgrade from my 1973 White machine and didn't blow my budget. Seeing as how I have 6 (yes 6) tutus to sew for Lily's school play, it couldn't have come at a better time.

In other exciting news, Lily will be traveling with my mom to Seattle in May to visit my sister, her Auntie Juju. Unfortunately, she will have to miss a little school, which I debated for a while, but you can't replace the fun and excitement of a grown-up trip that she will remember forever. It will be hard to have her away from me for a week, but it will be a trip of a lifetime for Lily and for my mom. Although, when I told her she said, "It isn't for 2 months, oh" and went back to watching TV. I am just hoping it won't be too hard on her little sis being left behind.

At the end of February, Lily's school had a week off (and they will have another week in April, what is up with that??) Since Daddy was in Mexico for work, I took the girls on a mini vacay to Cleveland to visit my mom and Kelley. We had a great trip, unfortunately not well documented in photos (I need to get better about this). We went to the Great Lakes Science Center, B. A. Sweetie candy store and just chilled. I also got a night out with my girlfriends. It was really great. Below are some pics from the Science Center. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pics of the girls with Kelley or my mom. Oops.


This is a bit of a side note, but these cake pops are incredible and I wish I had Bakerella's talent (and patience) to make these for my girls.Happy Spring!!

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

OK, had to add a link to this gorgeous thing as well. I could follow the instructions to make one myself, however considering I still have Christmas presents to finish, I would much rather win one!

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!

This thing is beautiful and it surely won't fit me, but I have a trendy sis who would definitely love it!

The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!

Universe, you have thwarted me again!

So, for some reason, it seems whenever we plan something we are excited about, there is always a last minute disaster to thwart our plans. See the following for evidence:

1. This summer when we were supposed to go to South Padre Island and Hurricane Dolly came along and ruined that for us. I was already packed. I hate packing and unpacking especially when you are not still on a high from the great trip you just took.
2. When Lily was about 2, her dad was going to take her to visit his parents and I was going to have a whole week to myself! I was giddy with excitement as were they, so many plans made. The day before they were to leave, she got an infection in the skin of her face (facial cellulitis) that had the potential to require hospitalization, so they couldn't go. Who gets that??
3. This weekend my fabulous, amazing, wonderful friend, Kelley, was going to play mommy to my girls for the weekend to give the hubs and I a chance to be alone for a few days (and because she loves my kids). I have the car packed and ready to go as soon as Lily is done with school. Got a call around 10, Lily threw up at school

Yup, this is my life. Could be worse, yes, but right now, I am bummed.

Catching up...

Happy New Year. It is off to a frigid start in my neck of the woods. The below zero temps are a bit difficult to deal with. On the plus side, I have heard that when it gets that cold, clouds can't form so we have had many sunny days!

Clear

-8°F Feels Like -25°F

Christmas was kind of a bust for us this year. First of all, neither of my sisters were able to join us for the holiday, which was the first time in years, so that was a bit of a bummer. Then in the days leading up to Christmas, my grandmother got very sick and actually passed away on Christmas day. However, we tried to make a great Christmas for the girls and they really seemed to enjoy themselves, so that was a good thing.

I love this picture of my grandmother and Chloe checking each other out. I will miss you Mom mom.

Once again, I was overly ambitious with the Christmas projects and didn't get everything completed (I am still finishing up my sisters' gifts). I did however, make a lot of things, but like a dope didn't take any pictures! Doh! Anyone out there that I made something for (Mom, JoAnne, Lindsay, Kelley, Amy) can you take a picture and send it to me? Pretty please.

Here is a list of things I made that hopefully will have accompanying pics someday:

• The annual Christmas PJs using a self drafted pattern for the bottoms and this tutorial for the kimono style top. I even made pants for the hubs and I, but like a dope (see above) didn't get a pic of all of us in them.

• A paint smock from Amy Karol's book, Bend the Rules Sewing for my 2 year old niece. This was such an easy, fun project.
• A patchwork crocodile for my baby nephew from the book Toys to Sew.
• Market bags for my Mother-in-law and sister-in-law from my new favorite pattern by Sandi Henderson available here. She also makes the most gorgeous fabrics.
• A lunch bag for my friend from a free tutorial from Jcarolinecreative.com. This is a smaller version of the pattern I used for my beach bag.
• Oven mitts for my mom using some fabric she gave me and a pattern in Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing.
  
• I made some shoulder bags for my girls with my own pattern. I used scraps of an outfit my mom made Lily to make Chloe's bag and a great bicycle print for Lily's bag.
• My newest discovery was making some super fast potholders for last minute gifts. They are useful and fun and amazingly easy.
• The piece de resistance of my efforts, however, was a quilt (my first pieced quilt) that I made for the hubs. I used some t-shirts the girls had made with their handprints over the years and also some pictures of the girls and their daddy. I was tearing up making it, so I know he loved it. I must confess, that I only finished the top by Christmas morn, but I hope to finish it soon, so he can use it.

Wow! I got more done than I thought I did. I need to make these kinds of lists more often.

In other news, we discovered over the Christmas break (and had it confirmed last week) that my oldest daughter is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, as well as every grass, weed, and tree out there. The seasonal allergies were not a surprise, but I sort of feel blindsided by the nuts. She is 7, I thought we were in the clear. It really doesn't change what we eat a whole lot and many places are now nut-free, the difficulty is making sure that everywhere she goes people are aware of her allergy. I am grateful that this came out later because she is pretty aware of what she can and can't have, I can't imagine trying to monitor everything a toddler puts in her mouth!

I will leave you with a fun picture of us sledding over the winter break, before the temps got so frigid.

Christmas craziness

I haven't forgotten about this blog, really I haven't, but most of the things I am making are secret, so I have few pictures to post. Not to mention the fact that I am swamped at work, swamped at home with projects and the daily upkeep (if you can call it that) of the family and home. My inlaws are coming to visit in about 10 days and my husband had the audacity to get sent out of town for work (how dare he ;), so it is up to me to get the house presentable. We are excited to see them, though, it has been almost a year since they have seen the girls. They may barely recognize them!

I hope that the few people out there reading this had a great Thanksgiving. We had a pretty low-key time. We lost someone very special to us this year, and his presence was greatly missed, so it was a bit melancholy (that word makes me think of the Smiths), but we enjoyed ourselves and ate like pigs. I also went with my girls to spend some time in my home town with my mom and I was able to get a good bit of sewing done. My mom was such a help with the girls (thanks). I hooked up with my girlfriends and went to an old haunt (FST, now Scoundrels) that is much changed and we saw a really bad disco cover band. (I will not post the pic of Kelley with the band to save her the embarrassment). It was good for lots of laughs and a bit of a hangover the next day.

I will however post some pics of some of the things I am working on soon and some gratuitous photos of my kids for the grandparents. In the meantime, to see a few of the Christmas photos my very talented friend took, of my girls, go here.