Um...I don't Know if we can be friends anymore....

Ladies....we need to have a conversation...

I don't know if we can still be friends. Kristina, you craft like some people check their email... I am just trying to say that you make it look really easy, and its not! I would never have tried that barn! You are just straight up AMAZING!

And Jen, You make up quilting patterns? what?! um... I feel silly... the sewing machine in my house has been put away for two months now... save hemming trousers, and repairing a lovely bumper... You get the point. I think the answer is for one or all of you to please move next door to me where we can bounce between each other's houses again, stealing (me) the ideas out of your living rooms... I can barely get my house cleaned laundry done, dinner made, children cared for, exersizing done, calling fulfilled, not to mention crafting... which brings me to my point. I wasn't made of the same stuff you ladies were! I admire you both and am so glad you are still making things for your children to enjoy! IF I accomplish half nay a quarter of what you do I would jump up and down with joy! Thanks for the inspiration and consider the fire lit under my sewing behind!

I’ve been crafting

Okay, I'm here to share a few projects I've been working on…. Some finished, some not…

The baby quilt I made Reagan got dyed pink in the wash. I always wanted to remake it anyways because it wasn't as perfect as I liked. Dying it (unintentionally, I promise) gave me the perfect excuse to make another. I used the same pattern, but different fabric. I love it (can I say that about my own work?)… it's not the work I love though, it's the fabric. I am seriously considering making one for my own bed, we'll see.

This is a fold up chalk board I made for the kids to bring to church… and one for Carson's birthday. I found the tutorial HERE. It's super easy, with genius pockets for the chalk and sponge to wipe it off. I didn't even know they had chalkboard fabric???

And it folds up cute, like a baby changing mat… just funner!

This is the barn I made Reagan. I got the tutorial HERE. I honestly thought it would be bigger. Doesn't it look big in picture on the tutorial? I foolishly thought so. Not that I regret making it. If you ever choose to make one I have to warn you that the instructions were a PAIN to follow. I didn't understand a thing, but it turned out, so all is well. Someday I plan on appliquéing a barn door.

Okay, then there's Grant's I SPY quilt. I waited in anticipation for weeks to get the fabric squares from the swap…. Total disappointment. I got some of the ugliest fabrics I have ever seen in my whole life… and I'm not exaggerating! I threw out the ugly ones, added some more from my own stash… and I was left with these.

I haven't quilted it yet. This picture is before I pinned it to the backing (which is adorable, I'll have to show a picture of it when I'm finished). I am happy with how it turned out. I was complaining the whole time… first the fabric, then I didn't like the way I was sewing them together, then this and that, and you guys know me, I like to complain….. but, I'm finally happy with it.

I have to show you my work-in-progress too. I'm using up all my bright scraps to make a string quilt. I love using scraps! And I like the way this quilt is turning out, even if I've only done 6 blocks. It's a little too much on my eyes, but I think the kids will love it!

Anyways, that's what I've been working on. Did I ever say I was taking a break from sewing? When was that? I don't think it lasted for more than a week.

It's good therapy though!

Bittersweet Song of September

You ladies MUST read this article.

It made me cry!

I find it especially applicable to you ladies who have a 1st grader!

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2010/08/22/bittersweet_song_of_september/

Jen

Carter's new "Nigh-night"

Carter has been pretty excited about this blanket. He LOVES the cars on it, and today, he took his first nap with it. (His tattered blanket was there with him too...it's gonna be a while before he's willing to give it up...)

Brandon's grandpa picked this up at a garage sale while he was here last month...I asked Brandon if I could turn it into something else...so, this is on the stack of "potential projects".

I've been slackin'...

It's funny...

I keep checking to see if you ladies have posted anything...
I guess I just really wanna see what you're up to...

Nothing...

Nothing...

Nothing...

Wait a second...I haven't posted a dang thing either! (Mostly cuz I haven't been doing anything other than cleaning, taking care of kids and trying to squeeze a nap in here and there...)

But, last week, I finally did a little sewing. These little crayon rolls have been on my list of things to do FOREVER, and I finally decided to just DO IT! I even made two extra! (One for Carson Schneider's ((spelling!?!)) birthday and one for a nephew for Christmas.

I didn't even buy anything for them. Just a bunch of scraps and ribbon I had on hand...Recognize the ribbon Molly?

The kids took them to church on Sunday and they were a HIT!

Then Saturday night, after a really LOOOOOONG afternoon of cat naps and fussiness from Gavin, I had all 3 kids in bed AND asleep by 9:00, and with Brandon gone to Portland for some Optometry deal, I decided to pull out the fabric I bought at Fabric Depot for Carter's new blanket...(his is falling to pieces and I'm hoping that if I have something to replace it that is appealing...like, has cars on it...then losing his "nigh-night" won't be so traumatic.

There it is...all cut up...it only took me an HOUR to figure out dimensions and cut it all...

pretty pathetic that I was SO exhausted at just 10:00 pm...some things NEVER change...

See the puffy redness around my eyes...I was very tired!

I started piecing it today during the boys afternoon nap. That's not sewn together...I just wanted to give you a little idea of what it'll look like since it's gonna be FOREVER before it's done...

Close up of the car fabric...isn't it adorable!?! I just love it...hopefully Carter does too!

Signin' off~

Jen

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY!

I selfishly want you both to enter this giveaway on the blog homemadebyjill because if I don't win, maybe you will, and then I can bum it from you all the time and use it. Anyways, it is for the most awesome machine ever (why haven't I heard of this yet). The cricut is lame compared to this. Seriously, check it out and enter the giveaway (who cares if there's already over 1000 other people entered).

Here it is!

The MOST ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL ROOM EVER!

So I love this room with all my heart and just happened upon it during one of my "research" sessions online. You see I needed some inspiration for Hattie's current room. I have had enough of the purple and green combo. And now that she is in her own room... Well, we put the some toys in her room as well, so she knows she still shares the space during the day, anyway...I needed some ideas and found this lady. Here's the link: littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com

I really love this room on her blog.

Jen! i need link lessons asap! How do you make works into links?

Oh and the Ithinksew site! to die for! My oldest sis lost sleep over all those to die for patterns! I am not even joking! she couldn't sleep and HAD to buy her fav ones! Miss you both!