little critters

I've been steadily working away at this fun project for my sister's baby shower coming up in Oct. I'm making things for decorations that can also be used in the babies room after the party. So it all matches the bedding she picked out.



These are little wall stickers of the animals and such that the bedding features and you can view the entire room collection here on Babies R Us.


So I got the idea to make some of the little animals out of paper mache to set around on the table looking cute which can then be set on a shelf to look cute later. :) I got lots of good tips from this segment on Martha Stewart.
And so, started with making bases for my critters out of cardboard.



This is the fox and one of three owls, two little and one bigger.


Here is the bear after a first layer of paper mache. He was a bit more technical to figure out, I used a Styrofoam ball for the head and backs of the ears on a base of cardboard. but despite the lightweight Styrofoam he was top heavy and falling forward so I raided my husband's garage and came up with some very heavy washers which I placed in his hips to counter balance him.


and here you see a much more filled out bear, an owl and fox still in the process of building up and not pictured here but I also did as much with the other two owls and a raccoon.



I think one more night of paper mache will give everyone a finished plumpness and then I can move on to the paper clay step. I can't wait to start painting them though! they're gonna be so cute!!!

and here's a sneak peak at my next project for the shower...

today it came...

Daily blogging challenge day #2

This afternoon I have been working on my skirt, last night I'd sewn up the pleats but by morning decided I didn't like the way it was turning out. As everyone knows, if you don't love it, you won't wear it. And I want to love this skirt!
So, I brought down my dress form and began pinning and playing around to see what I could come up with.

I ended up putting one larger pleat in the front, two small pleats, one on each hip, and lots of little knife pleats in the back. which is what you see pictured.

Earlier in the day I had gone to check the mail and was pleased to fine my package from Amazon had arrived!

I had ordered the book on Terrariums and the newest Enya CD, which although it's the winter/Christmas one and it's now summer, I got anyway. For anyone who really knows me knows how much I adore Enya! I'm excited to sit down and read the book though, I've been wanting it for some time and can't wait to glean knowledge and start making my own little terrariums!
you likely noticed that there are other items in that photo which I did not include in my list of arrivals from Amazon. That is because while I was sewing away the ups man arrived with Two more packages!!! One of which is the book and CD set of "Growing Kids God's Way". I'm really excited to start listening and learning from that one as well.
The third package was from Forever 21...

I have decided that while Nathan is away, and shopping with kids is so difficult that I would try some online shopping. So I got plain white and gray tees (cause I am rather boring), a skirt and top, and a black cardigan which has a lovely lace cutout in the back!(and it all fits!) You'll also notice the pink flower head band and the necklace.

The necklace was a fun find, I liked the poetry of the heart with the anchor seeing as my love is out at sea. And since the heart is a locket I can even put his photo in it! Man I love being a girl! :D
So, it's been a fun day.

recent projects...

I recently made a much needed trip to the fabric store in order to make Gabriel's cape, seen in the previous birthday post. I also picked up some patterns and some fabric and notions to work on some other projects. here are the two I finished so far.



I'd been wanting to make Gwen some jammies and finally got around to it. I had some trial and error with the pattern but it was good because I learned several new things and now next time I'll be prepared! I've learned that in sewing you can't get discouraged if you have to pick out your stitches and start over.

The button holes were completely new to me and rather fun to make! And just so you know, when I told her I was going to take her picture she promptly went and got the stool to stand on and then posed as you see here in the photos. such a difference between boys and girls! :)

I look forward to using the pattern again though as it has a lot of options and variations of P.J. ensembles.

My next project was to use the vintage fabric my mom gave me for Christmas. I've been wanting to make a cute apron for awhile now and thought this fabric would be perfect. plus there's enough of it to make something else as well! :)


I used trimmings I already had which was fun, and it has lovely deep pockets which I love! bonus...I got to try my hand at button holes again and they turned out even better on this than Gwen's night gown. For those of you who might be wondering, my sewing machine is old and doesn't do button holes.

A little something for the chilly days ahead...

Recently my Mom crocheted a darling baby sweater and posted pictures on her blog, G-babies and Other Wonderments (you should go check it out!) The post was in Oct. I believe. Anyway, she was a dear and shared it with my little Gwennie bean.



So as was requested I took pictures and am posting them so she can see her handiwork on her youngest G-baby.



Thankfully despite the sunny appearance of the photos it is actually quite chilly today so she didn't mind wearing it about. :) The weather down here can't seem to make up it's mind about being hot or cold! it was 86 on Sat, freezing cold and raining on Sunday, weird!



But back to the sweater, I love it, so thanks for sharing mom. :) It's fun to dress my kids in things like this, they're unique and made with love!

sugar cookies!!!

Today we made sugar cookies! I mixed up the dough while the kids played and once Gwen was napping Gabriel helped me cut them out.



Then while they both took their afternoon nap/quiet time I went ahead and frosted them. I considered leaving some for Gabriel to do himself but by the time I got that far I just wanted to be done and have a clean kitchen.
They are tasty though! Nathan will be excited, he loves sugar cookies. He also loves it when I bake things for him to come home to. :)

sewing, sewing, sewing...

Well, I finally made it to the fabric store and got the necessary things to finish up Gwen's costume. I was also able to get stuff to get started on Gabriel's.
He decided to be the scare crow (or snow crow as he says it).
so, here is the little felt hat... which he's wearing sideways...



And then I took an older pair of cords he has that had been accidentally bleached playing in some water and added colorful patches.



And now I'm waiting yet again to go to the fabric store to finish the top as I inevitably always forget something! But I was already in a sewing mood by now so today I made this P.J. shirt from some old t-shirts of my husbands. Now just to find some cute plaid flannel or something to make some bottoms to go with it!

it's the little things in life...

A couple weeks ago I ran to Target to pick up some diapers and walked passed this purse, I did a double take, the initial glance as you're hurrying by and then a "wait I really like that!" stop and look. But I was in a hurry and didn't have an extra $24 laying around and so kept walking.



Then I got some fun money from my beloved and while out with a friend decided to go ahead and treat myself! (thank you my love!) It is very soft and does not feel much like plastic. has a great color! I'm quite partial to bronze and copper these days. Not to mention great storage! Which is a must with small children.



Then yesterday I was getting ready to cook dinner, (yes I am actually cooking now!) and while reading through the recipe again was dismayed to find that I was supposed to be cooking the dish in and oven proof skillet. I don't own one and after looking at the scantiness that is my cook ware,(due to lack of good storage)I couldn't think of a thing to substitute or make it work. and so, off to Target, again!



$20! and I went home to cook! In case you are wondering, it was a very yummy dish called spinach and feta frittata, similar to a quiche. And also this is the third meal I've made this week from a cookbook, a personal record. The husband has given 3 out of 3 so that's even better! :)



Back to the trip to Target last night...
I was in a hurry so I could get home and make dinner for my hungry family and in the rush down the isles passed one of those end sections where they place clearance items. It had lamps for 75% off! There were three I liked but after a very quick thinking through decided I liked this one best for my home.



It's a brushed bronze and so lends warmth to wherever you place it not by it's lighting alone. It also has a classic feel to it, which I find I am drawn to more and more these days. Timeless is always better than trendy when you're on a tight budget and trying to decorate a home.



It's the little things...they warm the heart. My dear man loves me and works hard so he can support our family. I am so blessed to have so much, a home, healthy kids, a husband who loves me, and fun money to buy pretty things I don't really need. :)
God is good and faithful in his promises!



And my small stash of fun money barely noticed the loss with a price tag like this! Now I have to find a lamp shade but I'm looking forward to the hunt! :)

little bird

I painted this a couple weeks ago, I was copying a little vintage stamp of my great grandmothers so I don't even know if it's at all like the real bird out there in the world. My mom and I have been talking about doing nature journalism and watercolors so I figured I'd share them as they come into existence.

by the way, it is really very warm here today, makes me wish it were raining or snowing instead...

continued costume progress

Due to my sewing machine's lack of a zipper foot i have had to put Gwen's dress on hold till a trip to the fabric store again. (where hopefully i'll be able to find a zipper foot that will attach to my old machine!) In the mean time, as mentioned, we were keeping out eye on some "ruby slippers" for sale on Ebay. Well they ended up passing our $ limit so I went with plan B. Make my own!

I started with these shoes which we had bought for my sisters wedding. I figured that she hasn't worn them since and will just grow out of them soon anyway so I might as well put them to good use right! :)



After a quick trip to Michaels today and thanks to Martha Stewart, I was equipped with the necessary tools...red glitter and glitter glue.



And so, you have a home made version of ruby red slippers! I did them rather quickly this afternoon and need to go back after they've fully dried to do some touch up work and make sure all the excess glitter is removed but all in all i think they turned out quite nicely!

Here is a little peek at what I've been busy with lately, Gwen's costume!
can you guess who she's going to be?

I still have some work to do obviously but most of it is done
below are some more detailed pictures of the sleeves and the band on the skirt.

We are working to secure a pair of Red glittery shoes from ebay to round the look out. add a little basket and a doggy and she'll be good to go!

baby apron

Well yesterday I was in a sewing mood but since it's been awhile since i've really made anything I decided a little project would be best.

And so, you get a baby sized apron! :)
It was fun to figure out how I was going to piece it all together with the ruffles and straps etc...I put snaps on the straps so i can adjust them easily. in fact even though it fits perfect i have to redo the snaps already because it rides up her belly and then the straps fall down...
Can't wait till she starts walking! Now I just have to find a pattern and make her a white dress to go with it!

Today was my little man's early 3rd birthday.

Daddy is leaving on deployment and will miss it so we are celebrating a little early.
He enjoyed spending some time with his daddy in the garage. They both have an obsession with tools. :)

We did cupcakes as all children seem to love them!

He was so excited to eat one!
He had been talking about it all day. I made them while he was napping.
When he came down and was working in the garage with daddy he came into the kitchen about every 2-3 minutes to tell me about his birthday cupcakes. :)
Oh the joys of childhood!
Daddy liked his too!!! lol

So did I! :)

And now for the presents! We didn't do much due to Christmas and the fact that he's having a party with grandparents and cousins in a few weeks.
I love that he knows what to do with gifts now. :)
Here he is cuddling the sock monkey i made him.
I made one for baby sister Gwen for Christmas and he loved it and always talks about it and wants to play with it so i figured i'd better make one for him too.

And here are the cupcakes in a bowl with milk that i ate after he went to bed.
probably shouldn't have had them but they sure did taste yummy!
And hey, my official Diet/Workout plan doesn't start till my hubby leaves anyway!
Well that's all for today, off to bed now.

recycle

So today I decided to make something with an old sweater of mine. It was an interesting process but I enjoyed having to think it through and figure it out. :) so here is the finished product!
and here is dear Gwendolyn, with her daddy, wearing her new hat; I hadn't done the mittens yet.
We will be making a trip up to my parents soon and they have snow so I figured it was something she will need for cold weather.
And I've always wanted to make something out of that sweater!
It was a favorite in high school but got some stains and a couple little holes in it. I'm glad i decided to hang on to it. :)
By the way, the quote for today is one of my beloved's favorites.