My Mess

New member of the family...

2009-08-11T20:08:00.001-05:00

Took Abagail to American Girl store for her 4th birthday. Daddy got her a bitty baby...she is thrilled!!! I have a feeling I will be making loads of clothes and diapers.

On the workout front. I have been doing really good. Loats of cardio, tomorrow I am going to try some weights!!

Testing

2009-07-28T21:03:00.002-05:00

Hope this works. Would make it so much easier to blog.

It's my life and I'm taking it back!!!

2009-07-28T20:19:00.002-05:00

So, I have made a decision. I am reclaiming my life. I have lived in the shadow of Ethan's illness for entirely too long. His cancer is GONE, he is back to life and now it is my turn. For too long I have not taken care of myself. I take medicine to control my blood pressure and even though I have lost nearly 20 pounds, I am still at least 25 over an ideal weight for me.

Today I made the first step. I went to the gym...ALONE. Not because someone wanted to go, or because I wanted to be there to make myself feel like I was doing something good for me, but because I wanted to be there. It was me time. My time to take back my life. Take control over the insecurities and anger that I have let brew inside me over the years. I decided to journal about it on this blog, try to have a record of what my life is now and watch it become so much more!

Arrrrrrrgh.....

2008-08-02T18:57:00.002-05:00

So, I decided to make Abagail a skull dress and found the cutest pink fabric at Joann's. So off I went being all creative and such and this is what I came up with.
Okay, yeah, the picture stinks, but Miss Priss didn't want to pose and this was the best I could get. She doesn't really like it. So as much as I do, it does me no good if she won't wear it. I swear, I spend so much time making her stuff she doesn't like...bleh!

Don't you worry, though...I manage to bribe her into most things :) Yes, I know...bad mommy!

A quick Blanket

2008-08-01T09:32:00.002-05:00

I didn't finish the quilt I had started for my friend Natalie's baby shower, so I whipped up a quick crochet blanket for her gift.

It's not the greatest, but it worked in a pinch and was finished in two nights of TV time. Now, the question is...will I finish the quilt anytime soon or will I be sewing madly when she goes into labor?

My guess is most likely the later...

Monkey...MY MONKEY!!!!

2008-05-27T12:37:00.006-05:00

Abagail now is in possession of HER MONKEY!!!She is a very happy girl!!!I guess while I am showing you her monkey, I should show you her new top. I made it from that Ikea duvet I snagged a few weeks ago for $2.99!!! Forgive the fact that she doesn't have on any pants...just take it from me, it looks adorable with capris. Oh, also forgive the horrible wrinkles, she slept in it last night...yes she did.

Off to discover another projects...hmmmmmmmm...what will it be.

Cards for me...

2008-05-26T19:54:00.007-05:00

I wanted to make some cards to send to people for various things. I often send packages to people and wanted something cute to go with them. I found this great idea on Etsy and just ran with it. I copied a few ideas from a favorite sell er, then ran with some ideas of my own.

This was an attempt at a turtle...not really great, but cute.

I just LOVE this little grasshopper. He was loads of work, not sure if I'll ever ship him off to anyone, but if he does, they better feel special.

A little monkey on the books for the girl...might cut him out tonight. She picked the fabrics, so I'm sure she'll love him.

New Projects...pictures to come.

2008-05-24T21:10:00.003-05:00

We are back home after a six day stay in the hospital, due to a nasty case of shingles for Ethan. Hopefully that will be our last stay...FOREVER!

I have been doing somethings. I am working on a crocheted blanket and also made some really cute stitched cards. No time for pictures yet, but hopefully tomorrow.

A pattern I LOVE...

2008-05-15T18:58:00.007-05:00

So I have been working on a few things. Not much accomplished that I am proud of...guess I should post pictures of those, too, that way you won't think all I make is adorable. Those "not-so-loved" items just get added to Abagail's play clothes.

I found this pattern on one of my favorite sites and decided I "NEEDED" to give it a try. Well, my opinion...WOOHOO...this pattern is the BEST! Probably one of the easiest and cutest things I have made as of late. I can honestly say I believe Abagail might have an entire wardrobe of these shirts and dresses this summer. Forgive the picture...didn't feel like pulling out the big camera and just snapped a few with our point and shoot in bad lighting. Can you say, "Hello, red eye?"

Next on the list is a few things made from some bargain fabric I picked up at IKEA today. Nothing like finding fabric for $2.49/yard and getting it cut, only to have the associate claim, "It's a little over, but the end of the bolt, all yours for the price of a yard!" I measured it and it was more like almost 2 yards...WOOHOO! I can a few dresses for Abagail in the future! The other bargain I found was in the "as is" section. I snagged this duvet for $2.99. Yes, another dress, maybe the accent fabric with the other fabric...who knows what all it will become, all I know it is was a TON of usable fabric for a steal!

I might have to so scavenge the "as is" section more often. I also have dreams for scouring through my local Goodwill, but that is very un-appealing with a toddler in tow. Do is sound weird to want to escape sans-kids for a thrift shopping day? Might have to see how hubby feels about that...

Inspiration and time....

2008-05-08T11:59:00.002-05:00

I have loads of inspiration right now. Lots of things I want to do, like this, that, or maybe even this. I so desperately need to re-vamp my time management and organization. By the time I gather all the goods to do a project, I am so DONE with it.

I am hoping for a weekend full of sewing, maybe even some knitting....definitely think this is the next thing on my list.

A Baby Quilt

2008-04-27T21:46:00.016-05:00

My oldest nephew on John's side of the family is expecting a baby so I decided I should probably throw a quick gift together. I think it turned out wonderful so I thought I would share pictures...

I added a little label to the back so the baby would always know who made the quilt. I think it is very important to label quilts. There is nothing sadder than going through your mother's things and realizing she was the only one that knew who had made them.
Life is crazy around our house. While Ethan was at school on Friday, we tried our best to entertain my little ones...that was, until I realized they were able to entertain themselves.

Wyatt is the boy of all boys. He has been as long as I can remember. There was no mud hole he didn't find, no bug who could escape his capture, and he even has holes in his jeans in all the right places...

Friday, he found a great was to entertain himself. I had emptied a container of potting soil to get it ready for some fresh, "more nutrient" soil and he found it.

Some days I wonder how his boots get so dirty, but while playing with him on Friday, the wonder is GONE!!!

While Wyatt was off spreading dirt the old fashion way, Abagail was wondering around showing her attitude, playing basketball, and basically just being CUTE!!!

I am a lucky, lucky Mommy. I just hope we can find some more ways to have fun tomorrow.

2008-04-25T16:35:00.002-05:00

I can't believe it, I WON!!!!

I am so excited I can't believe it! I think I need to attempt to be more creative and make things on my own more often.

I am in the process of making a friend of mine some maternity skirts and will hopefully have those finished soon.

I have no idea what I will do next, but I really want to get some quilts done. I have a few easy panels I picked up cheap and might just quilt them to have as gifts.

Who knows....

...and now it's a dress

2008-04-15T22:20:00.017-05:00

Lately I have been visiting loads of craft blogs and sometimes a project will hit me like a wildfire...I must make it NOW! This was certainly one of those projects. I dug around in my poor husbands closet while talking to him at work...

How about this shirt?
No, well, what about this one?

He finally decided he hadn't worn this shirt in 4 years, so it was probably safe to cut it up.

I worked feverishly for a few hours and finally came up with what I thought was a great "first" time effort at making a dress out of a man's shirt for Abagail. She was quite the little helper while I was sewing it, asking sweet little questions.

Mommy, that for me?

Mommy, that Daddy shirt?

Mommy, that Abby dress now?

She even was such a doll and took off her clothes repeatedly so she could try it on for fitting. Always making sure I knew it had pins. "Be careful, Mommy, pins hurt!" When I finished she put in on (with a little battle) and wore it the rest of the day. She wouldn't pose for pictures (little turkey), but I managed to snap some horrible ones, just so you could see how cute it turned out.

She wasn't really sure about it until Daddy came home and kept telling her, "Abby, give Daddy back his shirt. That's my shirt!"

She would laugh wildly and say..."Nope, it mine now!"

I am hoping that the pocket shadow will wash out a little and not be as noticeable. I have plans to make some more, but must go shopping at the thrift store for some fun ones. I was thinking of Hawaiian shirts or solid shirts with appliqué, none of which my husband has or is willing to part with.

While I am off shopping at the thrift stores, I am hoping to find some great wool sweaters to felt and make into bags. Maybe snag a few tablecloths at a good price to make some skirts.

Who knows?!?!

This new idea (new to me at least) of reconstructing things for a new use is a blast. I see lots of it in my future...

Welcome!!!!

2008-04-15T22:07:00.002-05:00

I am sitting here tonight, realizing I have been using Ethan's Caringbridge Page as a journal for the last 3+ years and it was high time I got a blog of my own.

As my description says, I have entirely too many hobbies. I love to craft. it doesn't matter to me what method the project takes, (as long as it's not painting...man, I CANNOT paint) I am ready to tackle it. I dream up things I want to do, but rarely get them done. I thought this would be the perfect outlet to inspire/entice me to get some of those projects done.

I really do spend most of my days making things for my baby girl. I love to sew clothes and she is the perfect age to sew for. Unfortunately, she is a strong headed little girl, who has many opinions and rarely likes the things Mommy makes for her. Most items are put on her in a struggle, then she accepts them and learns to love them (usually after Daddy tells her how pretty they are)!

Thanks for joining me on this venture, I feel like it is an opportunity for me to start finding myself again. For so long I have been a caregiver to my sweet boy and haven't really devoted time to myself. So here I go, hopefully to fill these pages with things that make me happy...