Hot Damn, I can't believe I did it!!!!

I made a blog button from scratch!
I know this may not seem a large accomplishment but for someone as computer illiterate as me, I'm about to bust because I'm so proud.

So here it is:


Just copy and paste in your side bar section and you can be selfish too!


Edit: While I may be super cool, I still can't figure out how to put the html code on the page without the button showing up. So if you would like the code for your blog just email me and I'll send it to you. Or I'd love any advice. Thanks!

Rainy Day

Don't worry, I haven't forgotten my promise of a Selfish Button but work tends to frown on spending too much time on my blog. But I will have one soon so we can all proudly proclaim our selfishness!

Selfish, Selfish, Selfish

I had a wonderfully selfish weekend. For the first time in a really long time, I actually made something just for me! I've been loving these tissue holders, that the fantastic LLA directed me to, and you all know about my obsession with the zippered pouches which I've been making non-stop for everyone but me. So Friday night, I made myself a tissue holder, small zippered pouch and a large zippered pouch. Oh, I just can't say how good it felt to keep it all. I really love making things for other people but I rarely make anything just for me. I think that we all have this common problem, we create and gift and create and gift but never get to enjoy it for ourselves.

So here's a simple challenge for everyone, make something just for yourself. It can be simple or extravagant but you have to complete it (no half finished projects hanging over your head) and it has to be something that you will enjoy. Choose a fabric that you know no else likes, pick a pattern you've been dying to work on or just make something you need as long as it's just for you!

Come on girls be selfish, we deserve it!!!!

If I get enough pictures, I'll start a Flicker account (yes, Lori, you heard me right) for eveyone's projects. Also I'm trying to create a button for everyone's side bars but I need some help! Anyone got any good advice?

The Coolest Kid at Daycare

I am loving the Wonder Under, it only took me moments to adhere a cut-out from one of Arlo's old onesies. I just couldn't stand to throw it away so I put it on the back of his jean jacket so it will last a little longer.

For those of you who don't know, Cash is Arlo's middle name. Originally Matt wanted to name him JohnnyCash. Now before you say awww, It was not Johnny (firstname) Cash (middle name). No, no, He wanted to name him Johnnycash, all as his first name. As a giant pregnant woman, I was not amused especially since he stubbornly refused to discuss any other names except Luke Skywalker(really I'm not kidding!). With all the Johnnycash talk, I was afraid that the only job options opens to a young man named Johnnycash would be Tattoo artist, 50's car enthusiast or Lead singer in a Rockabilly band. Not that I would mind if my son wanted to become any of those professions, I just wanted him to have other options too.
So the Great Name Debate began, it quickly turned into nights of me reading off various boy's names and Matt saying no to all of them. We also threatened to name the baby when the other was out of the room, asked numerous family members and bought waaay too many baby name books. Then thankfully, a week before I was due, we were discussing names in his mother's kitchen. Matt says "What do you think about Arlo?" I said "You drove by the Lied Center and saw that Arlo Guthrie was coming to town! But yeah, I could live with Arlo."
So Arlo Cash it was.
Thank goodness it fits.

Easter? I'm not ready for Easter!

I can not believe that Easter is almost here!!

April 8th, people, April 8th!

I have an Easter dress to sew, 2 big footed bunnies for easter baskets, a birthday robot to finish before the 3rd, my granny's birthday present and various other projects that move up and down in importance on my list. I'd better get working!

So I leave you with some random photos of my girl (pre-hair cut) and some Marshmallow bunneis that she could draw on just to get you in the Easter mood.

C-A-T

Artwork courtesy of Maisy.
Photo courtesy of Mom (it was her birthday present after all)
Idea courtesy of Amanda from Soulemama

Oh and it's not a purse it just looks like one :)

Shhh, don't tell....

I have a new boyfriend. His name is Adjustible Zipper Foot. (Isn't it exotic?)

We met at the fabric store, I was hanging out with a rough group of plastic zipper feet when he caught my eye. He was so shiny and strong that I just couldn't resist! I took him home and we made beautiful zippered pouches together. Oh, what a weekend.

Alright, maybe that's going a little far but I am really happy with my new zipper foot. It made putting the zipper in so easy that now I'm addicted. Also I found this great tutorial that was so straight forward and simple.

So be warned that there may be alot more zipper action going on around here.

I love this book.

I really do love this book.

It's one that my mom read to me as a little kid.

When my parents moved 2 years ago, I found it in all of the boxes and took it home. I remembered the pictures and a little bit of the story and it made me nostalgic. And then I re-read it with Maisy. Oh, I fell in love all over again. The story had so much more meaning for me as an adult and I actually cried while I was reading it.

See, funny Miss Twiggly lives in a tree. She lives with her dog and two bears. Miss Twiggly is very shy and doesn't go to town. Now, the town's people don't care for Miss Twiggly, they think she's strange and shouldn't be allowed to live in the tree. Until one day a there's a massive flood and the only safe place is Miss Twiggly's tree.

The part that gets me every time is:

"Miss Twiggly put on some tea and buttered the bread,

"Bring them on in, I'm ready" She said."

I just love how Miss Twiggly so easily forgives the town's people and opens her home to them in their time of need. I love her determination and acceptance of the situation. She doesn't complain or refuse to help, she just does what needs to be done.

So here's to everyone who puts away their fears and worries and does what needs to be done!

I can't believe I drank the whole bottle.

Okay, I can believe I drank the whole thing. It's just so teeny, tiny that I just couldn't resist.

Monday night was such a nice evening. Matt and I enjoyed the beautiful weather and sat on our front porch and had a drink. It was the first time I had sat on our porch since the Raccoon Incident. It was such a pleasant night and I didn't even mind...
What? You want to hear about the Raccoon Incident?
No, no I couldn't.
Really you want to know?
Nooo.
Okay, since you twisted my arm...

About a year ago, I was sitting on our front porch talking on the phone to my friend, Amy, who lives in Tucson. At the time, Maisy's bedroom was right next to the porch so I kept the light off and was talking very quietly. All of a sudden something rushes up on to the porch, I just think it's the cat but IT'S NOT!!!! It was a mama raccoon and her six (count them -6) babies looking for food. Well, I have a very healthy fear of all wildlife and jumped up on my chair. I couldn't scream because that would have woken up Maisy and the raccoons were between me and the door so my only option was to start hooting and waving my arms wildly. Amy's on the phone yelling at me and I'm in hysterics. Finally all my arm waving and hooting payed off and the raccoons moved off the porch and I ran inside. I couldn't stop laughing and it took a long time for me to calm down enough to tell Amy what happened. Poor girl thought something terrible was happening to me and was starting to get concerned.
Since I am a HUGE chicken, I hadn't spent an evening on the porch since. Even with Matt near by I was still wary and jumped every time the darn cat walked on to the porch. It didn't help that Matt kept saying "Look! There's a raccoon!" and then start laughing.

He won't be laughing when they come for him!

It's like a freakin' Rollercoaster.

This weekend was filled with Ups and Downs.

Up: These Daffodils that my mother in law bought for us. When Matt and I got married, our flowers were daffodils in mason jars, so I have a soft spot for them.

Down: I have to keep them in the kitchen because the dumb cat will knock them over.

Up: I got 5 whole hours to myself on Saturday!

Down:
I spent most of it working on the Bath Room Towels from Amy Butler's In Stitches and it did not turn out well. You can't see it but the fabric band is hanging 2 inches off the towel. Just a tip, Don't buy towels that already have a decorative band.
Also is anyone else having trouble with the Amy Butler patterns? I am just not getting it. It must be like the trouble I have with Spanish and crossword puzzles, I know that some part of my brain understands it all but it's just not connected to anything else.



Up: My girl got her hair cut. Now she and I don't have to fight the tangles every morning!!!

Down: Day Light Savings! I woke up so late this morning that Maisy was the one to get me out of bed. She asked me "Is it morning yet?" When I said "yes" she said "Then why isn't anyone up yet?" Good question, honey, good question.

Okay, this isn't an up or down but does anyone else have a stack of quilt squares that they started years ago and now they don't like? I was digging through my stuff (yes, literally digging) and found these squares I had cut about 2 years ago when I was bitten by the quilting bug. It must not have been a very hard bite since I've done absolutely nothing with them. Also I have no idea what I was thinking with these fabric combos, they are just butt ugly. Anybody have any suggestions?

Hope everyone in Blogland is doing well and getting to enjoy some of this beautiful weather. Thank goodness Spring is finally here!!!!!!!!

Freezer Paper Stencils- Consider your butt kicked!

Oh yeah, I did it. Oh yeah, I'm awesome.

Okay, that may be going a little far but I did conquer my freezer paper stencil fear!

Arlo now has a super cool romper and I know as soon as Maisy sees it, she'll want a pirate shirt too.

I was amazed at how easy it was to do and it didn't take very long at all. I'm going to have to watch out because I keep looking around my house for other things to stencil and paint.

Things have started to quiet down at our house and I can get back to my projects. I think that sometimes I get mired down by what I "have " to do and I don't enjoy the process as muchas I usually do. Being forced to take an extended break reminded me that I do all of this for fun and not because I have to. I do it because I enjoy people's reactions to a homemade gift and knowing that I gave them something special, not just what I could find at Target. I do it because I needed an outlet for my creativity and to have something that was about me.

Let's hope that I remember why I do this, so the crafty gods don't feel compelled to send another 4 sleepless nights my way:)

Way too tired to be creative

Due to a very cranky baby during the night, I have been waaaay to tired to get anything done!

So here's a picture of me, not horrifically tired , back when I actually got a few hours of sleep.

Oh, babies and small children, you've just got to love them even if they don't let you sleep.

Hopefully, I'll be well rested soon and back to normal. I've got so many things I want to get done... patterns to cut, fabrics to fold and shirts to paint.

Thank you Martha!

You know, I've just got to love Martha Stewart. She may be really up tight and waaaay more of a perfectionist than me but she and her team of crafty people come up with alot of "good things" (ha,ha couldn't resist). One is this baby blanket or Springtime Cover. It was super simple to make and it's stinkin' huge (35 x45). One side is flannel and the other is a cotton print. It's very sturdy and seems durable enough to grow with the baby.

This was actually a gift for a co-worker expecting a little boy and in dire need of boy things. (she already has an adorable little girl) If I hadn't been so lazy, I would have made some matching burp rags. But it was 11pm and that's way past my bedtime.

I like this blanket so much that I think I'll make one for Arlo and since I have all that great fabric from Jenny at Red Shoe Studio, it should be no problem to get done.

Wait... did I just add something to my List. Dang, I've got to quit doing that.

I feel like being grateful

I am grateful for my two pancake lovin' kids and the fact that I have a home, food and a lovely oilcloth for them to eat on.

I am grateful that my daughter loves to draw, paint and write. She's outspoken and never afraid to ask questions (Do elephants lay eggs? ) or speak her mind. I'm grateful that she pushes me to be a better person everyday and to be less afraid. (Once you've had the conversation about mommy elephants having a vagina- you're not scared of anything!)

I'm grateful for my little man who loves to eat and already has a quirky sense of humor. I love the way he dances at the drop of a hat and that he seems to find joy in everyday. I am grateful that he makes me take the time to stop and appreciate all the good things around me.

I'm grateful that she's got more willpower than me!

I'm grateful that he's not afraid to be silly!

I'm grateful for these two wonderful people who made my world a much, much better place.


**All photos courtesy of Matt Needham. I'm grateful to be married to such a great photographer :)