Smile

Every so often . . . we get a reminder to smile! 

Catch of the Day

I decided last night to make a birthday present for my friend Jessica.  Why don't I get these ideas a week in advance is unknown to me.  But once I had the idea - I had to make it.  So it was another night staying up until one o'clock . . . this time sewing beads on a fish softie.

I love how it turned out. 

Jessica loves to go fishing . . . in fact, yesterday at work - every time I talked to her she mentioned fishing, wanting to go fishing, or how much fun she had this past weekend while she was fishing.  : )

You can't see them - but there are fishing quotes on the back of each of these little fish.

A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work.   ~Author Unknown

If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles.   ~Doug Larson

I love fishing. You put that line in the water and you don't know what's on the other end. Your imagination is under there.   ~Robert Altman

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.        ~ Henry David Thoreau

If fishing is interfering with your business, give up your business.  ~ Alfred W. Miller

Happy Birthday Jessica . . . looks like she can now go fishing at work.  : )

I love giving handmade gifts . . . especially when I get an idea that really fits a person.  It is fun working on something with a certain person in mind.   Jessica loved her fish.  I think I loved making it more. 

Pastries with Parents . . .

Lily's first school event . . . "Pastries with Parents"

We used to have a "Donuts with Dad" and "Muffins with Mom".  This year they combined it all and just went with "Pastries with Parents".  I think I feel a little sorry for the teachers after they give the students donuts and juice - and then send them off to class.  I know what sugar does to Lily . . . watch out preschool. 

OK - it was called "Pastries with Parents" . . . but Aunt Sarah and Clare Helen were able to participate too.  I absolutely love these girls.  Lily is now the same age that Sarah was when I became her babysitter all those years ago.  Little did I know what a blessing these girls

would turn out to be in my life. 

one more thing . . .

One more little project before going to bed tonight.  I think I am in denial about the weekend being over.  Monday morning will be here bright and early . . . I will just have to be tired I guess, but I have a cute new fabric lanyard to wear to work.  I used three different fabrics pieced together - rather than making it all the same fabric.  Photos could be better - but it's late, I'm a little tired, and I used my phone rather than my camera . . . I really need to charge the batteries for my camera and start using it.

So I am done for the night - but while I was staying up sewing, I started watching the movie "Cold Mountain" . . . I will probably stay up finish watching it.

Late night movies . . and late night sewing.  I haven't done that in awhile.  If I didn't have to get up at 5:00 and go to work - I would probably make a pot of coffee and start another project.  Which sounds tempting  . . . but better not.  Three little things I made today . . . simple, but fun. 

 Here's to a great week!

peace, love, patch

 

 

My favorite pair of shorts were started to rip in the back - so I took some time to patch them today . . . sort of just reinforcing them with a piece of fabric behind the denim and sewing over and over the area where they were starting to rip. 

I decided to add a little embroidery - it made the patch a little more fun. 

 I had a favorite pair of jeans in high school - that my mom patched over and over again - until there were probably more patches than original jeans.  Years later she made me a bag out of those jeans . . . I am going to have to dig that bag out and use it one of these days.   I think I will also keep mending and embroidering on this pair of shorts as they continue to wear out and see how they end up.

 

 

t-shirt to bag

Don't be Trashy . . . Recycle!

I couldn't think of a better t-shirt to turn into a bag.  These are so simple to make and so much better to use than plastic bags when you go to the store.  A simple project for a quiet Sunday.  It is still over 100 outside and as much as I love summer and don't really mind our hot weather - today I feel like being inside, watching movies, and doing some simple projects. 

Pickle Perfect idea!

My mother has always used vinegar to clean with - so that is not something new to me.  This combination is.  Mix equal parts of Vinegar and Dawn dish detergent in a spray bottle - and use it to clean your shower door.  When I read this it said no scrubbing required - I knew better, (but maybe my shower door was worse than the person who posted this idea.) - but even without scrubbing it got rid of some of the soap scum . . . and with just a little scrubbing it made a huge difference.  And where did I get this wonderful cleaning tip????? - Pinterest of course.  Now I am going to search for more uses for vinegar.  I keep coming across these great ideas - and wondering why I hadn't thought of or heard of these things before now.  The Internet has truly changed our world!

Bath Apron

Another great idea - Abbie asked me to make her a bath apron.  Simply an apron made out of a towel to use when bathing a baby.  Having it tied on like an apron makes it easier to handle a baby and keeps the adult from getting wet. 

I just used an apron that I had for a pattern . . .

. . . zig zagged the edges . . .

then used bias tape and a matching fabric for the neck and ties.

Of course Luke was more than willing to model it for me. 

 - just perfect for scooping up a wet baby. 

Great idea!

This idea may not be new - but it is new to me.  Richard found it on-line and shared it with me.  You can to this with a 2 liter soda bottle - but I used a Gatorade bottle because the mouth was larger.  You start by cutting off the bottom of the Gatorade bottle -  (clean and dry it of course.)

Cut the top off a bag of candy (also works great for chocolate chips) and insert the open top through the mouth of the Gatorade bottle.)

Then simply pull the top of the bag down around the outside of the bottle.

Ready to pour!

Just screw on the lid when you are finished - no more spills.

Frozen Charlotte

It was back to work yesterday.  Each year on our first day back we have have a business support charge for all of the business support staff in our school district.  It usually involves a motivational speaker, a continental  breakfast, and a group of vendors  . . . they welcome us back and let us shop.  Each year I treat myself to something.  This year I chose this necklace.  There were other necklaces that I liked - but when I was talking to Holly about her jewelry - she mentioned the little china doll on this necklace was called a "frozen Charlotte".  (that name seems to be popping up everywhere these days.)   There is sort of a weird little story behind them - but then I tend to like weird little stories.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_Charlotte_(doll)

I also bought this baby bracelet for Charlotte.  Luke seemed to think it was a ridiculous purchase.  "Mom - she's a baby - she doesn't need accessories and she will choke on it." 

I can see his point - but how cute would this be in one of her newborn pictures.  OK - maybe I am getting a little carried away with this grandma thing . . . but the bracelet is so dainty, and cute. 

If you want to check out Holly's jewelry - here is the link to her Etsy shop

http://www.etsy.com/shop/tuscanroad?ref=seller_info

I kept my promise to myself - and worked on a project last night.  Abbie wanted me to make her a bath apron out of a towel.  I had never seen one - but you take a bath towel and turn it into an apron to use when giving a baby a bath . . . Great idea! . . . and so simple to make.  I would have gotten it done - but I ran out of thread.  So after work it is a quick stop at the fabric store and then home to finish sewing.   

Beanie for Charlotte

I had started this beanie before Abbie's baby shower - and finally had time to finish it today.  It is a little big - so that it will fit her this winter when it gets cold.  I tried it on Owen today to see how it fit - now I have to get busy and make him some beanies for this winter.  Although my next project will be a crocheted cocoon for Charlotte to take her picture in.  I met the photographer that took Abbie (and Luke's) maternity pictures.  (hopefully they will get them this week).  She is a wonderful young woman - I thought I would crochet the cocoon for Charlotte's photos and then just give it to her. 

I feel like my days of sewing, crafting, crocheting . . . are sort of coming to an end with me starting back to work tomorrow.  As much as I like my job - I will miss the extra time that I have had to do the things I love to do.  Due to some craziness in my life - I had gotten out of the habit of making much of anything.  I have worked hard at finding myself again and doing the things that make me happy.  So I am making a promise to myself to find some time each day to work on a project or create something.  It is what I love to do more than anything.  That is a promise that I am probably going to have to work hard to keep . . . time always seems to be an issue with me . . . never enough hours in the day to do all the things I want to do . . . but I can try to make the most of the time that I do have. 

sewing and baking

Sewing and baking, it has been one of those kind of days.  I had one more onesie . . . I decided this one needed a tree. (Again . . . not a very good photo.)  I have used up all of my onesies - so onto something else tomorrow.  I am thinking some crocheting.  We might take off to the beach tomorrow - so that is something I can do in the car.

We had some very over ripe bananas - which of course calls for banana bread.  I am thinking this with some fruit and yogurt will be good for breakfast in the morning.

one more onesie . . . Peace out!

This actually looks a little better in person than in the photo.  I also think as it is washed and frays a little more - it will look more like I want it to look.  It was sort of a pain appliqueing this on a tiny newborn onesie.  I think I will crochet a white beanie with a white/brown flower to go with this. 

onesie . . . twosie . . . three onesies!

These photos could be better - but I'm more interested in posting pics of these onesies today than taking the time on photos.  I know - I should take the time for both - but having too much fun with the onesies.

I hand embroidered around this star - but may take it out and use the machine like I did on the star and moon below.

What is the Lucky Charms jingle? . . . "Pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars,
green clovers."  I can't get that out of my head.  LOL

So I have blue moons and yellow stars . . . may just have to make a green clover.  I also want to do a tree and a peace sign. 

quilt for Charlotte

I spent yesterday finishing up the quilt that Abbie asked me to make.   A good way to spend a day with the temperatures over 100 degrees.

I believe I mentioned before that Abbie asked me to make a quilt for Charlotte - with the fabric that she had picked out, and how much I liked them.  It is not your typical baby quilt - but really turned out cute.  The most important thing - Abbie likes it.  I have some fabric to make another one for her.  It is the same fabric - only two colors though (pink and green).  Just a basic little quilt . . . my sewing skills are somewhat limited - but lots of love went into it.