Bah Humbug! The Valentine's Day edition. With a giveaway prize at the end.

I'm a terrible wife and mother when it comes to the holidays.

Seriously.

There were no handmade cards this morning or a dozen roses.

I didn't change out all of our dish towels to adorable ones embroidered lovingly with hearts while my family slept last night or fill the children's bedrooms with candy filled balloons.

I do not have a romantic candlelight dinner planned for tonight with a menu picked out months in advance that required the ordering of heirloom spices online.


I don't even have cute matchy-matchy outfits for my kids to wear so that later I can post adorable pictures online.

I waved at my husband this morning from bed as he left for work.  Then I made eggs and toast that I didn't even cut into hearts.


It doesn't get less romantic than that, folks.


I'm sorry I'm such a holiday scrooge.  I really am.


I want to be that mom in the festive holiday appropriate apron baking cranberry muffins at 3 am to surprise her family, but I really like sleeping. 


I can't help it.  If I didn't like sleep so much---oh the things I'd have done.


Also, I'm  bitter because my perfect valentine's day present involves some laying hens and/or a miniature jersey milk cow and I'm about 1000 percent sure that it's not happening this year.

I'd totally instagram this photo to my facebook

Yeah, it really shouldn't surprise you that I'm weird like that.  Roses, chocolate and other gifts that can be purchased in the check out lane at Kroger do not impress me.  However, if I opened a box filled with beard shavings Nathan had been secretly saving up for my composter-----swoon!  Did you know the hair on your head contains 30 times more nitrogen than manure?!

But you are in luck.  I may have ruined Valentine's day for my husband and small children, but I won't ruin yours.

As part of a secret project that will be revealed later on this week I'm doing a giveaway.

That's right.

You will win your choice of these two glorious prizes.

 Fabric Covered Button Earrings

Mum Flower Cabochon Earrings

Just leave me a comment telling me about your perfect Valentine's Day present.  I'll do a random drawing at the end of the week.  

Leftovers from a craft fair

Every December the local Herb Club I belong to hosts a craft fair to raise money for the club as well as celebrate the talent of its members.  This year I went outside my comfort zone and made cabochon vintage rose earrings.  They were so much fun to make and they look stunning!  I've kept one in every color for myself.

I do have quite a few left and are selling them for $5 each or 2/$8 (postage paid).  Let me know if you are interested!  I have quite a few different colors.

an attempt to put some ducks in a row

So.  Last time we talked I was obsessed with quilts.

Not much has changed.  Still mentally working out patterns in my head.  It seems like every tutorial I find is a weird size (or maybe just the quilt size I want is strange) and I get frustrated at trying to work math in my head to decide just how much fabric I really need to make a quilt that looks like the one in the pattern, but is bigger/smaller/larger blocks/smaller blocks.

Wish I would have paid better attention in Math.  Or that Math classes would have included a special "how to relate this to quilting" section.

So.  Besides my own special November baby, I have many friends and family who are also expecting bundles by the end/beginning of this next year.  They need quilts too.

Here are my thoughts.

Warning:  If you are expecting a baby and are a friend/family member of mine and you think I may make you a quilt AND you want to be surprised----stop reading.  Visit here instead and do some prenatal yoga.  However, if you know me well---you also know I change my mind frequently and your quilt might look nothing like this.

This pregnancy has been WORLDS different from my last with A. James.  I feel icky.  I feel tired.  I keep having weird side effects.  I want to eat loads and loads of sauerkraut.  Not the pleasant walk through the daisies as before.  Blah.  I'm just glad I haven't had morning sickness.  I just hope this means that baby will enjoy car rides more than A. James (who even at three still despises the car).  Consolation prize??

So, what does this mean?  Well, sometimes I have the energy/concentration it takes to do elaborate time consuming things and other times....not so much.  I want to make some beautiful quilts but I want something quick (and fun) that I can actually commit to and (hopefully) accomplish.  Thank you Moda Bake Shop Welcome Spring Quilt.

A beautifully simple quilt!  All I need is 17 strips of a Jelly Roll (or 1/4 yard of six different fabrics cut into 3-2.5 inch strips).

Also, if i cut my own-- each 1/4 yard cut will leave a 1.5 inch strip left over and give me enough to make some blocks from the Counting by Five  quilt.  Win-Win!

A quilt for Cricket

When my sister found out she was expecting we told A. James that she was going to be a cousin.  Although she was only a few weeks along we thought it would be cute to ask A. James to suggest some names.

She said Cricket.
It caught on and since then we've been calling the baby Cricket.  Even though she has a proper name (Evelyn) it is hard to make the switch and drop the nickname.

Cricket/Evelyn will be here in six weeks and I've decided to make her a quilt.  Quilts have always been a staple gift in our family.  As I've mentioned I come from a huge family of quilters.  I don't think I ever had a store bought quilt on my bed growing up and neither has A. James.  For my shower, I received probably 10 baby blankets.  Most of those were handmade by members of my family.  It means so much being able to look at my own quilts and the quilts made for A. James and share the memories with her. 

I want to do the same for Cricket.

This is the pattern I decided on. 

Simple Stripe Quilt by Diary of a Quilter

My sister is doing a bird themed room.  I just so happen to love bird themed everything and have been collecting bird fabric for no reason in particular for a while.  After a short moral dilemma over whether or not I could part with my bird fabric I gathered what I had that matched.

Not much---- so I drove down to our local fabric store and with some help from the wonderful owner I had everything I needed.

 I followed the instructions and cut the fabric into 11 X 13 inch blocks and then cut each block into sections. 

The outside of the blocks stay the same fabric (above flowered pink) and all you switch around are the middle strips.  Very easy!  It didn't take long and I was finished and Jack had found his place on the pile of sorted strips.

Cats.

All sewn together and cut down into 11 inch squares.  All I need to do now is to sew them together!

Baby Fever

I recently found out two of my best friends (who are married to one another) are expecting their first child.  I've been so ecstatic about this you'd almost think that it was me expecting.

This coupled with my sister also being pregnant and my cousin and a few blog friends has really shifted me into baby making mode. 

Well, perhaps I should word that more carefully---making things for baby mode.  Especially, quilts.

How wonderful are baby quilts?  Not only do you get to pick out the most adorable and comfortable fabrics to use---they are a fraction of the size of a big person quilt.  All of those elaborate and intricate blocks you've been wanting to try but know you don't have the patience or time to devote to dozens of them---here is your chance.

I've been spending an abnormal amount of time looking at quilt ideas.  Here are some of my favorites:

                 

Simple Stripe Quilt from Amy at Diary of a Quilter

Nightingale Lap Quilt from Doodle Stitchingquilted here by Erin Compton Design

Pinwheel Baby Quilt from Moda

Ticker Tape Quilt from Doodle Stitch-a-long

What is your favorite baby quilt pattern?

To A. James on her third birthday

Warning.  Mushy Mama Stuff


A. James, little bird---

Tomorrow we will celebrate your 3rd birthday. We will celebrate three years you’ve been in our lives, although it is difficult to remember what life was like without here. You are not a baby anymore—although you will still be my baby when you are have your own family and I am old woman.

You are now a little girl. You’ve lost your baby face and I can only see slight resemblances to your baby pictures. You are a funny girl. You are a clever girl. You are a compassionate and loving girl. You are everything I had hoped you to be and much more I could never have imagined.

It is hard for a Mama to watch her little girl grow up. It is bittersweet. I love watching you learn and discover. It shocks me to hear you say words that are reserved for “big girls” and use them correctly in sentences. You sleep in your own bed, in your own room. You no longer wear diapers or need my assistance doing as much. You are becoming more independent and want to be alone with your friends. I am proud to see you so brave and self assured. Your drawings are recognizable and it is amazing to see how they’ve evolved from tiny little scribbles into people, horses, mermaids---and other things you love.  You can even write your name now! 

It has been a joy to have watched you change from the tiny little baby into the girl you are today. I am so thankful to your father who has worked so hard so that I can stay home to have this rare opportunity to nurture you and watch you develop into the woman you will someday (sooner than I think) be. 

Until then I will try to remind myself that children grow faster than we'd like and take the time to cuddle you when you want to be cuddled, read to you when you want to be read to, hold you when you want to be held, kiss you when you want to be kissed-----all because I know that the day will come when I’ll have to set my little bird free.

Then you'll not want me to hold you as often, you’ll be able to read books without my help and you’ll be “too big” to have your mother kiss you or cuddle you at night.

Happy Birthday my little girl.

Love,

Mama

*This book always makes me cry.





Fact: Sick Kids Love Salt Dough

I had to think of something to get us off the couch and doing something besides wallowing in our own self-pity.

Then I see this.  Salt Dough Conversation Hearts.

Bingo.

1 cup flour + 1/2 cup salt + 1/2 cup water = Fun times.

Poor Sick A. James

She was pretty excited about her name.

 .

Check out those awesome basil plants growing in the back ground.

Sorry Abby.  If you insist on laying at her feet you'll get salt dough in your fur.

Then we had to make some "real dough you can eat" according to A. James (who was having a hard time understanding the inediable nature of salt dough).

Much tastier.

Santa Claus=Super Creepy



Seriously, you can't tell me this doesn't frighten you. 

 I am currently reading Neil Gaiman's Smoke and Mirrors.

It is awesome.

Timely enough he has a "Christmas" poem.  I especially enjoyed this one because I have always thought Santa Claus is super creepy.

I think I would have been one of those children who cry themselves to sleep on Christmas Eve Night.  Or I would have just slept with a bat under my pillow.

But we never had the whole "Santa" illusion.  Lucky for me.

Here, goes. 

Nicholas Was...

older than sin, and his beard could grow no whiter. He wanted to die.

The dwarfish natives of the Arctic caverns did not speak his language, but conversed in their own, twittering tongue, conducted incomprehensible rituals, when they were not actually working in the factories.

Once every year they forced him, sobbing and protesting, into Endless Night. During the journey he would stand near every child in the world, leave one of the dwarves' invisible gifts by its bedside. The children slept, frozen into time.

He envied Prometheus and Loki, Sisyphus and Judas. His punishment was harsher.

Ho.

Ho.

Ho.

Happy Holidays!

"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow"--Mark Twain

I am excellent at procrastination.  This is just something I need to accept about myself.  No matter how many times I promise to start working on Christmas presents in July---it never happens.

I always start in November.  The exception is this year I started at the beginning of November.

Yes.  I consider that an accomplishment.

If you count spending countless hours on crafty blogs as "research" then yes, I started in July.

So lets count it as "research."  I feel better about myself that way.

However, I've been making strides in completing the gifts on my list.

Here goes.

A ton of these quilts from Cloud9Fabrics.  I was drawn in by the title.  "Quilt in a Day."

A quilt I can finish in a little over 2 hours?  Yes, please.

Here is one top I have finished.

You probably shouldn't peek if you think you might be getting a gift from me.  There is a 76% chance you'll be getting on of these.

Where I leave toys in the rainforest

Two Halloween Mice

At one of our sewing group meetings, our dear friend Kellie had mentioned making toys for The Toy Society.  We fell in love with this idea and vowed to do a MASS toy drop--- and what better time than Halloween weekend?  Little ghouls and goblins wandering the streets.  Perfect time to go out and hide handmade toys for them to find.  Right? 

So the plan was made and we put the word out on Facebook to encourage friends from all over to leave toys on Halloween weekend (Friday to Sunday) for children to find while they were out trick-or-treating.

Just so happened that my husband and I decided we wanted to take our little Lizard to St. Louis to visit the Zoo and the Missouri Botanical Gardens that weekend.  At first I was bummed thinking I wouldn't get to ride around and hide my toys with the rest of the gang.  Then Kellie reminded me that I could just drop my toys in St. Louis. 



Mouse left in the Climatron Rain forest

 How cool.  She is too smart.

So the plan was to drop a toy the first day at the Zoo and the second day at the Botanical Gardens.  I had so much to pack for the zoo; Halloween Costumes (that she refused to wear), snacks, warm clothes (in case it was cool), cool clothes (in case it cooled down), camera---you get the picture.  I packed everything but my little mice. 

Didn't even notice until we got home. 





So onto Plan B.  Both mice were dropped in the Missouri Botanical Gardens on Halloween.  The big mouse found a home along the trail in the Japanese Gardens across from the Koi Pond.  The smallest mouse in the Climatron Rain forest.  There were so many awesome places to hide toys it was a HARD decision. 

Next time I'll make more mice.

I'll become the crazy lady who is always leaving toy mice in the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

Always wanted to be known for something.



Finished Project! Blinking Flights Bug Pattern By Rebecca Dunn

I mentioned earlier, my cousin is having her first child.  Her baby shower is tomorrow and I've been working like mad to get everything together in time.  I finished the second homemade part to her gift, the Blinking Flight's Bug Pattern by Rebecca Dunn.  I didn't follow the pattern exactly---big shock, huh?  I decided to make her less "bug" like and more like a swaddled baby.  I left out the antenna and the legs.  Now, A. James wants me to make one for her.  Ha.ha.  She always gets a little sad when the projects we work on together go to their new home.  I may try to make another one, and actually follow the pattern to make a bug.  I think they are pretty adorable.  I just wasn't sure how happy my cousin would be giving her baby girl a bug toy.  

Christmas in July

Normally, I am one of those people who shake my fist at anyone who dares to put up their Holiday decorations before Thanksgiving or even mentions Christmas before sweater weather arrives.  However, this is a different story.  I am hand making my presents again this year and after last years experience, I have learned my lesson and promise to start early.  Like now, early.

So, I'll start to make my list--maybe check it a time or two and get down to business.  Want to join me?  What projects have you made in the past?  Any suggestions or links?  Here are a few books that I have been inspired by if you wanted to check them out.

Both of these books byAmanda Blake Soule are amazing.  Really.  Do yourself a favor and check them out.  I am going to have to buy them for myself because I practically keep the library's copies (which I requested to be purchased) at my house.

Itty Bitty Dress for Liv

My cousin is having her first child. A girl named Liv Caroline. Which I think is one of the most adorable name ever. I wanted to make her something special for little Liv. The shower is being planned for next month (June) so I've been busy looking through all sorts of little adorable tutorials for baby blankets, clothes, softies, shoes---so many cute ideas. I'm trying to plan ahead because events are cowards.

I've decided to make her a few little dresses with Rae's Itty Bitty Baby Dress pattern. A bib or two from Nested, this little bug from Rebecca Dunn's pattern, and maybe (maybe) a small quilt with all the scraps---if I have time.

I am feeling really ambitious right now because I finished the Itty Bitty dress last night. It was super easy to make. I even changed the pattern around and added another ruffle layer. If I can do it---you can do it. Seriously. The last thing I made was sophmore year of high school when I made *cough* my grandma made *cough* a dress. I feel like I can make anything now. I might even get started on a skirt for myself . *gasp* Or even buy a hem foot for my machine ;)

We will see how things go.

Events are cowards

"He had noticed that events were cowards: they didn't occur singly, but instead they would run in packs and leap out at him all at once.”--Neil Gaiman

All last week this Neil Gaiman quote kept repeating itself in my head. It was very true! I had the giveaway (which went fantastic, 91 comments---awesome), my mother's 50th birthday, and some random family emergencies that were unexpected. I had been planning on making my mother a great 50th birthday gift, but (as usual) I had put it off until the last week.

Come on, I have a week! What could go wrong, right?!

Ha-ha. I really should know better by now. Thankfully, my aunt slipped me a great idea for a present and we went in and shared a joint gift. Nevertheless, I felt pretty lousy about the whole ordeal.

Painting my aunt did of me when I was a young lass. I took a picture of A. James with it and framed it for my mom :)

Well, lesson learned.

Hopefully.

I' ve made myself a little calender with upcoming events i.e., birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions where a handmade gift would be appreciated. This way I can *see* what is happening and (hopefully) be more motivated to get busy and stop procrastinating. We will see how well this works.

Gone fishin'

Not exactly. It has been way too cold for fishing until this weekend when Winter seemed to give up a little and let Spring begin to peek her little head around the corner. Hurray! I enjoy a good snow, but since my package of seeds arrived from Baker Creek a few weeks ago I've been ready to plant. This morning I even found a little purple crocus in my yard! Hurray for Spring!

A. James's party went very well. The husband and I were overwhelmed, exhausted and vowing to never have another party until next year when we forget all of the trouble we went through (not really all that much trouble, unless you count A. James deciding she didn't want to be "No Bows" the night before the party and Mama having to run out and buy tulle at 11pm to make a "LadyBug Girl" Costume.) A huge THANK YOU to everyone who lent a helping hand. She had a blast and we now have so many great books!

Now, I am geared up for my first swap ever. I found it at Little Miss Heirloom's Blog So excited. My partner arrived in my inbox yesterday and I am trying to stalk her blog and decide what to make her. I think that everyone should get involved in swaps.

A Very Booky Birthday Party

A. Jame's birthday is two months after Christmas. Plus one day.

We were still trying to figure out what to do with all of her toys a month before her birthday. I knew I didn't want anymore toys. She isn't a huge fan in the first place. She has a couple of favorites i.e., (water baby, naked baby, big baby, and little baby)--but the rest I'm sure I could give away and she wouldn't even notice. She prefers to be outside, draw, paint or read.

So I decided we would have a "book themed" birthday party and encourage guests to bring their favorite children's book or make a small donation to our public library. I was a little afraid that people would become upset and feel that I was dictating what they were to buy. However, it was exactly the opposite. The party was a huge hit. It seemed that everyone was thrilled with the idea of buying books instead of toys. The library even received enough donations to purchase four new books (all of while have her name inside). Instead of having lots of toys taking up space---we had a nice neat stack of books to add to the book shelf.

It was a win-win for everyone. I highly recommend trying something like with your family. Especially making some sort of donation in honor of the event, whether it be a Birthday, Anniversary or another Holiday it is a wonderful way to teach your child about giving and selflessness.

Mission semi-accomplished

Working, working, working on A. James's birthday party. We are not going to do something huge, but I am handmaking a lot of things that people normally would just go out and buy so it is a little more hectic than usual. However, I got started early which is a pretty big accomplishment in itself because I adore to procrastinate. So far I have:

10 Morsbags finished for the kids to use as library bags. I need to make about 5-7 more to (hopefully) have enough for everyone.

Today, I need to get A. James's "No Bows" shirt started as well as the Birthday Bunting, which I might do out of newspapers and construction paper instead of fabric, I can't decide yet.

Tomorrow, I need to make a lizard and an owl for her and finish her "No Bows" shirt.

Thursday, I have Caleb the first part of the day. The second part, I'll finish the remainding bags.

Friday relax. Saturday Party!

You say it's your birthday?!

A. James is turning two. "Very Soon" as she says. At the end of this month, my baby (who doesn't look so much like a baby anymore) will be a little girl. So sad! We are throwing her a book-themed birthday party for a couple of reasons.

a) Her birthday is very close to Christmas (only two months away)and I am still trying to figure out what in the world to do with all of these presents!

b) I'm trying to discourage the "want, want, want, more, more, more" mindset that most children have today in relation to their birthdays and other gift-receiving holidays.

c) You honestly can't have enough books when you are a kid!

So, as presents for those coming I am making Morsbags for the guests to use as reusable library bags and asking the kids to come dressed as their favorite book characters. So clever I know However, that is about all I have as far as ideas. My cousin is supposed to be making the cake. I am stumped on what to actually have on it. A. James is going as "No Bows" (which as a cute little lizard in it, maybe a lizard?) Oh, well. If you have any especially clever ideas, please let me know.

Happy Birthday Caleb!

My little cousin (third cousin, actually) turned a year old this past week and I wanted to make him something special for his birthday. A. James loves soft little things, so I thought I'd make him something soft and little too. In the process I found some g-r-e-a-t websites. First, I found an entire website devoted to Softies (uh, can we say "Jackpot"). I probably spent more time on there than it took to actually make the present. Oh well. I had a good time. Plus, I found the perfect little owl here from Lolly Chops.

I was pretty darn proud of him. Then as I was wrapping him, one of my little cousins asked if it was a monster. Gee thanks. I was slightly distraught then I thought about it. If you picture the wings as ears, the belly as a mouth, and the beak as angry eyebrows---yeah, I see it.Ah, it was fun to make and Caleb seemed to like him (that is what matters right?).

However, I am going to have to make one for A. James now. She acted pretty pitiful the entire time and asked me if it was for her birthday (which is at the end of this month). The BEST part is when I told her it was for Caleb she said she was going to "grab it from him and run away" (what?! who is teaching this kid manners). I tried hard not to laugh, and explained that "grabbing" wasn't very nice (especially at birthday parties) and if she wanted one, I would make her one too. This didn't seem to work at all, and she continued to cuddle the owl and act very pathetic about the entire situation. Luckily, she was distracted at the party and didn't get a chance to implement her 'grab it and run plan.'