The most awesome friendship of Baby Godzilla and Panda Buns.

Once upon a time there was a wee Baby Godzilla alone in the barren wasteland.  

"I so wish that I had a friend" said the tiny Godzilla.

Along came a stylish young lady in an awesome pair of pajamas and fancy hair.

"Hi there, I'm Panda Buns.  Panda... Buns....get it? " she said while pointing to her hair.

"Yes. Yes, I do" said little Z. 

And so began a most awesome friendship.

The End

So can you guess what I made the kids for Christmas? They actually like them as much as I do.  I guess that I'm lucky to have two kids who like homemade stuff as much as prepackaged plastic crap.  Cross your fingers that it lasts for a few more years! 

I also owe my Mom a huge thank you for the  book that made these gifts possible. 

Thanks Mom!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and wishing you a Happy New Year!

What a difference a year makes....

 I know it's a little late and I should probably change it to 34 things but I'm kinda lazy so I'll just add to last year's. The changes from year to year are interesting (at least to me) so 2010 updates will be in blue.  


1) Be a better mother (This is always first and foremost) Yep, Still working on this one but I figure that's okay, because you should worry when you can stand back and say "why yes, I am an awesome and fantastic mom. Nothing to work on here!"

Still working on this one. I've learned is to stop comparing myself and my kids to other people which has helped immensely.  Just because my life isn't like theirs doesn't mean it's bad, ya know? 

2) Attempt to post more often. Once every couple of months just isn't cutting it. haahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahaha 
whew, I'm a funny funny lady.

3) Finish Maisy's scrap quilt Done and Done! AND I've already finished this year's quilt top.
No Christmas quilt this year.  We're up to our eyeballs in blankets so this will probably become an every other year occurrence.   BUT  I am making a Doll, purse and skirt so she'll have plenty to unwrap under the tree.

4) Finish Arlo's scrap quilt Completed and this year's is almost ready to be cut.
See above regarding quilts. BUT he is getting a Godzilla stuffed animal, an embroidered picture and.....something else when I think of it.  Why must crafting for boys be so hard!?!?!!?


5) Start Arlo's bandanna blanket Also done...hey, I'm starting to feel pretty good about this list.
Amend to Arlo's T-shirt quilt and it's done! Woohoo!  I AM productive!

6) Finally work on Amy's Ugly Elvis Quilt Yeah, not going to happen. We've grown up and I cannot in good conscience give someone a really ugly ass quilt.
yep, still haven't changed my mind about the ugly quilt.  But I should be a good friend and make her a pretty one.....in a few years.

7) De-clutter my house Uh, no.
Does cleaning my bedroom count?  I can see my floor again. Those shows about Hoarders are good for one thing and one thing only - freaking you out enough to get a bunch of crap out of your house! 

8) Visit Tucson again Negatory
Sad but probably not going to happen anytime soon. 

9) Not buy any new fabric until I use what I have Oh, lord, I forgot what a comedian I can be.
Actually I'm made a pretty decent dent in my current stash.  Unfortunately, I don't like some of it nearly as much as I did when I bought it.  Why must I be so fickle? And why did I buy so much ugly stuff??

10) Lose more weight (yeah, yeah, I know I say that every year. There's a lot to lose) Yeah, not feeling so great about this list anymore.....
Oh, the pressures we put on ourselves.  How about I amend this to "Liking myself how I am and just exercise to be healthier"?  That's a lot kinder.

11) Get another tattoo Wish I had.
Still wish I had.

12) Learn how to knit (though I'm not sure I need another hobby) Let's amend this to learn how to crochet something other than a simple stitch...
Hey! I did this one too!!  Well, kinda. Sorta. Okay, I learned how to crochet in a circle without it turning all wonky.  I'm calling it progress.

13) Make more of my own clothes Well, attempted but learned an important lesson....I DON"T LIKE TO MAKE CLOTHES. um, sorry to yell but I really really don't.
Still don't like making clothes.  Not so angry about any more but still don't like it.

14) Find some new good books to read or simply come to terms with my love of trashy romance novels and science fiction.
Actually have been reading a grown up book. It's for work but it still counts!  But I have to say that I need my books that have a guaranteed happy ending. Life's hard enough without reading depressing stuff for fun.

15) Start using the library more Let's keep this one for another year. Molly is going to introduce me to the mysteries of on line reservations at the library.
Ha HA! I did this! I have been using the library and it's awesome.  Thanks Molly!!!

16) Make a project wall (or whatever it is you call the thing you hang your quilt squares on) Still need that but it also falls under the "organizing/ decluttering my home" section.
Aw Yeah! I did this too!  Woo hoo!    One cheap Christmas table cloth and two wall clips later, I have a fancy schamancy quilt wall.

17) Make more stuff with the kids Oh, I wish I had the patience for this. Okay, will move it to the top of the list and work on it!!
Ohhh-kay, here's were the momentum stops.....

18) Keep going to the gym 3 mornings a week oh, look over there, what a strange place to put a piano!!
Not only stopped but spinning my wheels in the mud.....

19) Tell my friends how much I love and appreciate them more often. This is like the mom one. You should worry when you can cross it off.
still working on it.

20) Be Thankful for what I do have everyday Hmm, but then that would get rid of my favorite pass-time...complaining.
Honestly, I'm trying to give up the complaining. It helps that I made some life changes that gave me less to complain about. 

21) Get a bike Check
Still got it.....

22) Start riding said bike to work Seriously, that is a weird place to put a piano.
Well, in my defense, I got a new job at the top of a very steep hill.

23) Tell my kids how much I love and appreciate them more often Once again, worry if you can cross it off....
Doing my best.

24) Buy more grown up shoes (flip flops probably aren't the best "professional shoe" choice) I am vetoing this one. I'm happy as pie with my flip flops and I don't really care about the professional choice.
Still happy with the flip flops. I figure as long as my toes are painted it shouldn't matter.

25) Cook more I'd like to but it's pretty doubtful.
Uh, yeah.

26) Learn how to make really good cinnamon rolls that don't require hours to rise or me getting up early. Now someone find me that reciepe and I'm your best friend for life.
Still looking....

27) Plan Arlo's Thomas Birthday party (totally his choice) Done, now this year I have to find Spiderman/ Transformer decorations and cake. The boy knows what he wants!
This year was a Cars/Star Wars/ Spiderman/ Superheros/ Dinosaur Party. All his idea.

28) Talk Maisy down from her birthday party plans (seriously, the girl has the invitations already made and her birthday isn't for 7 months!) Oddly enough, not necessary this year. Hmmm, kinda makes me worry about what's she's planning and hasn't told me about .....
Oh, the birthday plans are nothing compared to the plans for a Christmas party, a Painting Party, and any other various reasons you could  think for a party.

29) Make our halloween costumes (and find a non-slutty queen of hearts costume. It's harder than you'd think!) Not necessary!!!!! Store bought, here we come!
Store bought two years in a row AND I don't feel guilty about it at all.

30) Go camping with the kids Hey, we actually did that and it didn't suck!
Went camping a few times this summer and it was awesome.I wish it was warm enough to camp right now.

31) Write more thank you notes Dang, I put a lot of uncross off-able stuff on this list!
Oh ever elusive Thank You notes...someday I will conquer you!

32) Laugh & smile more Luckily I've got good friends for that!
Now it's time to stop looking like such a grump in all my photos. Geesh, you'd think I could smile. 


Here's to a great 34th year! 


 

I sure do love this kid ....and the quilt too!

For my little man's 5th birthday, a T-Shirt Quilt.

It probably could have been a little bit bigger but for a first try I didn't want to push my luck.  I backed each square individually with iron-on fleece and then sewed them together.  The back  is a single piece of fabric and I just tacked it in a few spots.  So far it's survived the washing machine and much use snuggling on the couch.

I liked how it turned out so much that I'm already saving shirts for next year.....

Baby Love...

Lately, lots of people I know are having babies.  I mean, TONS of family and friends are going to have new little people in their lives.  This means I get the pleasure of holding the little bundles of joy without having to also get up at 3am. For me, this is a win-win situation.

But with all these new babies come new quilts!
(also a win!) 

This green and white lovely is for my good friend Laura and the new little  man in her life.  Thank goodness she doesn't mind spoilers.

When I started this paper pieced giant hexagon quilt everyone kept asking me who it was for.  I kept saying "I have no idea".  Thankfully, my brother and sister in law decided to have a little baby girl so it would have a good home.

I figure that since it's mostly hand sewn I might as well go ahead and hand quilt it.  It was a lucky coencidence that I had almost all of the matching thread already in my possession.  Once again fate decided to step in and help out with the decreasing of the stash.

And this sad fellow?  Well, it was going to be a gift for another baby but it turned out too gawd awful to inflict on the poor child.  Do you ever have those days where you wonder "what the heck was I thinking?" .

Still here......

Wow.

Remember when you were a kid and time moved so slowly.

A week was an eternity and summer lasted forever?

(Maisy using a blast shield while Trav modifies some poppers)

(One of my favorite 4th of July activities. Craftin' with the ladies)


Lately, everything has been moving so quickly. Work is hectic as usual and home seems to be a constant barrage of dirty dishes, dirty laundry, and dirty house.

But in between all the "dirty" I've had time to sew (pictures soon), began making my own laundry soap, face scrub & deodorant and spending time with my small people. I'm also starting on a journey (cheesy I know but geesh, is there a better word? ).
See lately I've been mulling over my desire to change my way of life and how my family and I effect our world. I know this isn't a new concept in any way shape or form, but I can't think of a better place to document my attempts at change and what (and who) inspired them.

So hopefully, along with sewing projects, talking about my kids and crafty whatnots, this space will become a home for something.....more.

Or I could forget to write here for another 4 months.
Honestly, there's about a 50/50 chance either way.

I can't help it...I freakin' love this pillow

My Mom and I have very different taste. Her house is very refined and with a mostly cream color palate. My house is very eclectic, chaotic and has TONS of color. You know, pretty much the complete opposite of each other. When the holidays or her birthday roll around, well, normally I have a very hard time finding/ making her something that she likes. Now don't get me wrong, she's my Mom and she loves any gift I give her but this year I made something that we both loved.

It's a Dresden Plate turned Sunflower Pillow.

And I am pleased as punch with how it turned out.

As with lots of my projects, it begin it's life with the intent of being something completely different. First it was going to be a wall hanging like the quilted one I made for Maisy's room then it was just going to be a flower type thing sewn to some green felt and then hung up ( I nixed that idea 'cause I knew she'd hate it but I will probably try it in my house). Finally I got the bright idea to make it into a pillow. The construction is pretty simple. I quilted the dresden plate to some green wool felt with another piece of felt in the middle to give it some dimension. Then I cut it out, sewed it to another piece of wool felt and then stuffed it as well as I could.

I have to say that this was one of my all time favorite finished projects. Someday I'll get around to making myself one or...I'll just steal Mom's when she isn't looking.

misc....

Dang.

Didn't actually mean to publish this but oh well.

Dreseden Plate for Maisy.

Did you notice how the M cleverly hides the wonky circle?

Luckily I have a new trick that decreases the wonkiness.

My favorite nook of our house.

THE BEST PRESENT EVER!

Thanks Matt!!

My new scrap busting project.

I love these cards.

This post is for Laura

See Laura, I did make a quilt wall!!!

And I use it too!

Even if sometimes I forget that I have one and complain to myself that I don't have enough room to lay out a pattern on my sewing table and then have an "duh" moment and turn around to use my wall.

So far that's only happened once...

Also my new shelves were scavenged from Matt's old dark room.

Just don't tell him that.



And look!

Quilt rulers in one convient place so now I won't search for them for 15 minutes and then find them sitting on the ironing board.




A gratuitious shot of my pretty pretty thrifted table!

It was a mere $10!