2.for.Tuesday

It's just me and the girl right now. The boys are at Camp Grandma with all most of their cousins from *B's* side. I'm sure they're having a blast. While *B* is at work I've been working on being a finisher. I'm ignoring everything else and just concentrating on completion. Specifically in the sewing area. My table is covered in fabric and thread and a few dirty dishes...

one: a pattern marked fast & easy should be just that. fast & easy. This particular pattern was neither of those. They should not judge a pattern based on the professional sewer. They should mark patterns according to ability also. In no way, shape, or form should a pattern using fusible interfacing be marked easy. This little dress was a nightmare and it's way too basic looking to be worth the hassel. From now on I think I'll be sticking to patterns like this one (only I would have to modify it to fit the girl as a smock/dress) ...

two: this headband. It was super easy to make (though I did modify it a little) and it was quick too. That's always a bonus in my book. If it's too involved I run out of steam and it goes into the pile. I just used some of the scraps I had laying around so my fabrics aren't nearly as cute as hers, but it will do just fine. I especially think it would be great to keep the hair out of the eyes while cleaning or crafting or exercising. Since I do those things you know.

** if you make it. It is a really wide headband. I shaved at least a quarter inch off each side of the pattern and it's still nice and wide (as opposed to really wide). I also really tapered the ends where they attach to the elastic. I didn't like the bulkiness around my ears. If you're interested in this I could probably hook you up with a modified pattern and some (IMHO) easier/quicker instructions. I'm not really one for pressing an entire seam in so I can sew things together. I'm more of a turn it out kind of girl. More room for error.

** this just happens to be Mel's prize. It's not so pretty, but it's done and I'm going to see her soon.

Tonight I'm off to lay in a hammock on the mountain. I can't wait.

2.for.Tuesday

warning: this one's a little different than usual... one: I keep thinking how much time I waste. I am a wanderer. I wander my house aimlessly. I can't decide what to do next. As I scroll through my list of amazing things I've encountered I can't decide what to share with you. I can't decide how to put together my family book. I've got to get my family book done. Really. It's time. One day I'll think, "I'll just slap a bunch of full bleed photos into a book + I'll order it + it will be done + I'll love it." And I'm sure I will. So why haven't I done it? I'll tell you why. It's because of all the insanely fabulous pages out there. Inspiration everywhere. I can't handle it. I think I need to take a break. Really. I just need to step back and finish something already. Medications are not helping. I need real drugs. None of this, "yes, it's okay to take while you're nursing" crap. Seriously, I've got six old school school chairs + birthday banner + family book + *A's* scripture bag + my apple picking tote + fabric to recover grandpa's rocking chair + a couch and chair that need to be recovered + baby booties + a long overdue baby name + a recipe book + a coloring/doodle/baby book + a prize for Mel + cleaning cards + My Father's Dragon summer book club + a stack of fabrics intended for summer dresses + who knows what else is lurking in my unfinished stack of great ideas... two: today I went to the temple and did initiatory work for 9 Marias and 1 Lilian. What a whole lot of amazing promises and blessings and [for those of you who can] if you haven't done this for a while, you should. I decided today that I need to be reminded of these on a more regular basis. It had been so long for me. I had totally forgotten. I need to remember. enjoy the journey

Two Hundred

and the winner is... Mel! The girl had a hard time picking. I laid all the names out on the floor and would pick them up and drop them and swirl them around. She would swirl them around and look at me. So I'd tell her to get one and I pick one up and drop it and then mix them up again. She would mix them up and look at me... This went on for a while and I was wondering if I needed to get *A* to pick instead, but finally she picked one up. Finally! Yay Mel! I'll get your prize to you as soon as I know what it is [hee hee... any requests?]. I've been playing around with some photos I took of the girl in Phoenix [her one year photos. can you believe it's been a whole year?] I don't have any patience for design right now so I've been blatantly copying pages from other people. Today Mandi is the winner. I loved this page and it was calling to me since JS was sharing that amazingly cute digi paper freebie at the birthday bash today. Again, no journaling. Nothing feels right. I'm starting to wonder if I'm just going to upload all my pages/photos to Blurb like they are and hand write the journaling in as it comes to me. Sharpie does make that cool new pen that isn't supposed to bleed through paper... I'm not even sure if these kinds of pages are going to make it into the book. I'm so undecided on the book right now. Enjoy the journey!

2.for.Tuesday

so, this is post #199... get your surveys done while you still can.

Today is all about freebies.

one: a free photo editing class at Jessica Sprague. It's their two year birthday over there and she's having all kinds of parties everyday. Check it out. There is always so much to learn and do at JS. She has so many free tutorials for digital scrapbooking and photo editing. Plus she offers a great lot of classes that you can pay for too. If I was rich I would take the photography class from Candice Stringham... Anyway, like I said. Free photo editing class. Plus daily freebies all week long. This is a quick page I did with todays drag + drop template + some some of the labels listed below [I turned them into stickers]. Easy Peasy [except for the journaling. that always stumps me. I'll have to add that later + maybe some drop shadowing around the stickers, but that's easy too].

"I just saw the cutest grandma riding a bike down the street. She had on a little black dress and a black wide brimmed hat with a white bow. Her bike was the sweet old fashioned kind and she had a great big wicker basket filled with groceries... I want to be her when I grow up. I wish I was fast enough to have taken her photo."

two: I stumbled across this great blog by Merrilee of her art work [which I am currently in love with and really keep telling myself I need to work on my illustration skills] and then popped over to her other blog mer mag and she was singing the praises of an organizing workshop she had attended + was also sharing these really great labels she created for her own organizing project. I love them. And I should do some organizing, but I probably won't. I usually never get very far with projects like that. Though it does desperately need to be done...

So that's it. I'm off to take my three littles to their yearly check-ups with the doctor. I'm sure *A* will be getting his school shots. That will be loads of fun.

Enjoy the journey!

Singing Singing All the Day...

1. What is the last thing you purchased for yourself?

On the same ticket I bought a matching couch + chair, 6 retro school chairs, 2 rolling chairs, a sweet plastic shopping bag, an old book... I'm sure there was something else, but I can't remember what. I got it all at the DI for $96.00... I just realized, when I went downstairs to find a pair of shoes, I've bought something for myself more recently: a cute pair of ballet flats at Old Navy for $0.50. I was shopping for the girl at their 50% more off clearance sale and couldn't pass these up. Even if they are a wee bit snug.

2. What's a recipe you have been dying to try, but haven't got around to it yet?

Heather Bailey's Strawberry Pretzel Dessert Ice Cream not only does it look and sound yummy, but she also gives you a free download of the recipe on the cutest [did I say cutest? I meant most absolutely the cutest] recipe card. Plus one for vanilla as a good measure.

3. Share something that is inspiring to you at the moment.

Alex Noriega's sketchblog. I love this idea. I keep thinking that I'm going to work on my illustration skills and actually do something with them. In my mind if I were to do something like this weekly or bi-weekly it would make a huge difference.

4. What's something you have been enjoying as of late?

Slushies. I keep making fruit slushies and I love them and my boys love them. Especially *B*.

5. What's something you would like to try?

Altering clothes/patterns to make my own designs. Probably just for the girl right now. Not feeling so hot in my own skin. Maybe after I've lost about 60 lbs. or so.

6. What's something you're looking forward to?

A trip to Phoenix + Anthropologie [for the first time] + Ikea (yes?)

7. Post a few of your own favorite photos from the last few days. I know you all think I'm crazy when I say she's naughty, but she absolutely is. She is not supposed to be having sugar [as in sweets] until she's two. But look at this. She found it in my purse and helped herself to it. See those crocodile tears? I had taken it away from her and then realized that I really needed a photo so I gave it back. The tears stopped immediately and she was one happy little stink. And yes, I'm a mean mom. I took it away again after we were done taking photos.

8. What's something you've been thinking a lot about lately?

Am I done having kids? I'm not getting any younger you know...

9. What is the last thing you wrote?

Besides this post? A memo about something *I* told his friend Derek. Rumor has it they were building a robot so it could sneak up into the kitchen in the middle of the night and steal some toys they bought at the Rec Center with stolen quarters. I guess he told Derek to come back at midnight so they could get the toys [with the robot of course]. Derek informed them that he would be sleeping at midnight.

10. What is something you wish you could be doing right now?

Lying in a hammock on the mountain.

*******************

* As you may have noticed I am quickly approaching my 200th post (this just happens to be #198). I will be giving away something. Not sure what yet, but it will be something I made. In order to be entered into the drawing you must fill out this survey on your own blog and let me know when you've done it. I'm looking forward to reading your answers!

ps. this survey was originally posted on this blog and then modified a little to this one and finally I found it on Kara's blog and I modified it a little for you.

enjoy the journey!

Seriously, if you can ignore the bad make-up and the low budge graphics/cinematography and probably a myriad of other obnoxious things that are sure to be wrong with the movie... you need to watch this. THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON trailer in HD
I am now officially excited about this one. I'll admit. I'm as much a Jacob fan as an Edward fan. I loved the book New Moon. I think Bella needed to be with Edward, but I loved Jacob.

2.for.Tuesday

I've got at least 10 projects in the works right now. My house is showing it too. I think *B* might be tired of me, but then I wonder: is it better to be dull + listless + slightly depressed me but have a clean house or to be excited + full of life + random but have piles stacked all around and ragamuffin kids? I know which me I prefer. If only I could get past the dirty house guilt. I would really like to have Mary Poppins live with me. Snap my fingers and all that...

one: a felt sewing book from Martha. I've been sewing [and dreaming of sewing] a lot lately and I have trouble keeping track of things like needles + the buttons I keep buying and never using etc. I need this little friend. It looks simple to make and I know it would find itself very useful. And ladies... I've just discovered that MSL has a craft blog. Of course they do.

two: a mosaic maker. I've seen these around a lot and wondered how they did it, but never took the time to find out. I'm taking a class from Elise right now and guess what she showed us today? Yep... a mosaic maker. It's so super simple and just plain wonderful. So glad she threw this into today's lesson. This is just some of my 365 project photos. Actually... it just might be all of my 365 project photos. I didn't get very far with that one...

I've got a whole lot to do. I'm trying to talk myself into focusing on the house today. *B* deserves that.

enjoy the journey!