As anyone and everyone can witness, I have been MIA for a while. There are stretches of time in one's life where life takes over. Time for simple pleasures like this blog, sewing, peeing, are just not there due to being over-committed. The amount of hours needed for work has increased dramatically over the past several months. Kid activities and volunteering for said activities has taken the rest of the hours in the day. It has been months of running from sun up to sun down every day, all day long. I know we are all busy and say yes to more than we should. This has just been a stretch of time that got a little out of hand.
I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel however and am excited to post about some of the great things that have happend over the past few months from closing out the Farmer's Market to a finished baby quilt and new projects!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Travel Bag
When we decided to take a family trip this summer I started giving much thought to the logistics of course. I'm a planner and list maker. The logistics of traveling with 5 boys and 4 adults was the first thing that needed my attention. How to pack for 3 boys ages 13, 8, 3 plus two adults was at the top of my list.
Since we were flying I needed to figure out how to consolidate items and pack only the necessities. One of the easiest to combine was my purse and the all important diaper/snack bag. After perusing the closet of bags I realized all the backpacks were, well, manly. Most of them are logo'd bags from work so they are designed primarily for men and to hold a laptop. All the other bags were tote bag style. Anyone that has traveled with a three year old boy will know, you absolutely must have both hands free. Not one hand free and the other trying to hold your tote from swinging and hitting your kid in the head.
What's a designer to do? Make your own cute backpack of course!
I found this lovely pattern for the backpack. I did add the side water bottle pockets for mine that a drafted. There must be a spot for the sippy cup after all.
I made this matching clutch for my wallet and lipgloss.
Cute and functional. Win win!
Since we were flying I needed to figure out how to consolidate items and pack only the necessities. One of the easiest to combine was my purse and the all important diaper/snack bag. After perusing the closet of bags I realized all the backpacks were, well, manly. Most of them are logo'd bags from work so they are designed primarily for men and to hold a laptop. All the other bags were tote bag style. Anyone that has traveled with a three year old boy will know, you absolutely must have both hands free. Not one hand free and the other trying to hold your tote from swinging and hitting your kid in the head.
What's a designer to do? Make your own cute backpack of course!
I found this lovely pattern for the backpack. I did add the side water bottle pockets for mine that a drafted. There must be a spot for the sippy cup after all.
I made this matching clutch for my wallet and lipgloss.
Cute and functional. Win win!
Friday, August 3, 2012
This Moment
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soule Mama.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Shop Hop
Shop Hop. One of my absolute favorite days of the year! My bestie and I have participated in the old lady road rally, or Western Washington Quilt Shop Hop for several years. What could possibly be better than spending an entire day driving from one quilt store to another until you drop!
For those of you that have never experienced a shop hop, let me explain. All quilt stores in a certain region participate in Shop Hop. Each store creates a block all using the same line of fabric. At each store you receive the block pattern, and the fabric to make the block. You have a passport that gets stamped at each location. If you visit 16 stores you can turn in your passport to be entered in a drawing for multiple prizes.
For us it's not about the blocks, it's really not about the prizes. It's about spending time with my bestie. Having time for girl talk. Visiting some fantastic quilt stores and being filled with ideas and inspiration. It absolutely feeds my soul. I wish I could run thru these stores snapping pictures of everything we found, but they tend to frown upon that.
This year I managed to keep myself to three new projects. Two of which I already had on my list of upcoming projects. I just found the inspiration and fabulous fabric for them. I only picked up one new project that wasn't on the project list. This adorable fabric just jumped out at me to make a travel sewing case.
This was a leisurely year only making it to about 13 stores in one day but it was filled with wonderful conversation and creativity. I'm inspired to lock myself in my sewing room and not come up for food or screaming kids outside the door. No matter how loud they or my stomach are.
For those of you that have never experienced a shop hop, let me explain. All quilt stores in a certain region participate in Shop Hop. Each store creates a block all using the same line of fabric. At each store you receive the block pattern, and the fabric to make the block. You have a passport that gets stamped at each location. If you visit 16 stores you can turn in your passport to be entered in a drawing for multiple prizes.
For us it's not about the blocks, it's really not about the prizes. It's about spending time with my bestie. Having time for girl talk. Visiting some fantastic quilt stores and being filled with ideas and inspiration. It absolutely feeds my soul. I wish I could run thru these stores snapping pictures of everything we found, but they tend to frown upon that.
This year I managed to keep myself to three new projects. Two of which I already had on my list of upcoming projects. I just found the inspiration and fabulous fabric for them. I only picked up one new project that wasn't on the project list. This adorable fabric just jumped out at me to make a travel sewing case.
This was a leisurely year only making it to about 13 stores in one day but it was filled with wonderful conversation and creativity. I'm inspired to lock myself in my sewing room and not come up for food or screaming kids outside the door. No matter how loud they or my stomach are.
Friday, July 27, 2012
This Moment
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soule Mama.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
A Special Birthday
Thing 2 just turned 8. Now you might not say that's a special birthday, and I would agree with you. It's not hitting double digits, or becoming a teenager, or being old enough to drive. It turned into a special birthday because we were able to celebrate in a unique way.
The birthday cake has turned into quite a tradition in our family. My bestie taught me the basics of cake decorating shortly after Thing 1 was born. This is certainly a frustrating craft for me but I'm determined at every birthday to make something special for the boys. Sometimes I fail, sometimes I nail it, but it's always a dramatic experience in the house. The kids know to leave me alone when I'm working on a cake because I get so frustrated when it doesn't cooperate! Frosting is nothing like fabric! I can make fabric do almost anything I want it to. Frosting and cake seem to have a life all their own. With this cake tradition, there must be a family dinner to celebrate. This year it was a small gathering due to a few conflicts and last minute scheduling, but the cake was a hit with the boys.
This might not make much sense to many people, but this is a creeper from the game, Minecraft. Minecraft is a game that has taken off and they older two play it whenever they possibly can!
The special celebration came during our vacation. We certainly didn't plan our vacation around Thing 2's birthday. It just happened to be the only week during summer break that worked for both families. So Thing 2 had the amazing experience of spending his birthday at Disneyland! We visited Town Hall on main street where he received his special Happy Birthday button and all the boys received a I'm Celebrating button. What a day! He counted. He received 18 Happy Birthday wishes from Disneyland workers thru the day, rode every ride in the front seat, and was the rebel spy on the Star Tours ride.
Of course you have to top off your amazing 8th birthday with a large piece of chocolate cake! This truly was a birthday to remember.
The birthday cake has turned into quite a tradition in our family. My bestie taught me the basics of cake decorating shortly after Thing 1 was born. This is certainly a frustrating craft for me but I'm determined at every birthday to make something special for the boys. Sometimes I fail, sometimes I nail it, but it's always a dramatic experience in the house. The kids know to leave me alone when I'm working on a cake because I get so frustrated when it doesn't cooperate! Frosting is nothing like fabric! I can make fabric do almost anything I want it to. Frosting and cake seem to have a life all their own. With this cake tradition, there must be a family dinner to celebrate. This year it was a small gathering due to a few conflicts and last minute scheduling, but the cake was a hit with the boys.
This might not make much sense to many people, but this is a creeper from the game, Minecraft. Minecraft is a game that has taken off and they older two play it whenever they possibly can!
The special celebration came during our vacation. We certainly didn't plan our vacation around Thing 2's birthday. It just happened to be the only week during summer break that worked for both families. So Thing 2 had the amazing experience of spending his birthday at Disneyland! We visited Town Hall on main street where he received his special Happy Birthday button and all the boys received a I'm Celebrating button. What a day! He counted. He received 18 Happy Birthday wishes from Disneyland workers thru the day, rode every ride in the front seat, and was the rebel spy on the Star Tours ride.
Of course you have to top off your amazing 8th birthday with a large piece of chocolate cake! This truly was a birthday to remember.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Family Vacation
I know many families that take big vacations several times a year. Their kids are very well travelled. Much more so than myself, that's for certain! Being a family of 5 on one income, large vacations are rare. We have done our best in the past to do small car trip vacations to have new experiences and spend time together, but big trips haven't been in the budget. Well, this year was different.
Conversations about this vacation started this past Christmas. I had mentioned to my sister-in-law that I thought this might be a good year to take the boys to Disneyland. Before I knew it we were planning a trip for both our families to travel together. Five boys, four adults, one week, two theme parks, one museum, and a beach! My hubby thought we were nuts, and maybe we were, but we had an amazing vacation!
There were many firsts for the boys. First plane trip for Thing 3. First rollercoaster for Thing 2. First time at Disneyland for Thing 2 and 3. Many first foods tried from calamari to a mint julep. Virgin of course. First time seeing the open ocean. Many firsts indeed.
My head is still full of all the experiences and memories created on this vacation. Watching the boys faces as they walked into Disneyland for the first time. Their excited stories as they would come off a ride. Watching them have wonderful moments with their cousins. Chasing the waves on the beach and squealing as they got wet. Trying to dig a hole to China. Being inspired by the Lego creations at Legoland. Getting a special behind-the-scenes tour to see how Legos are made. Watching Thing 3 light up seeing a giant Tigger or riding It's A Small World. Yes, we tourtured the entire family with that ride. It truly was a vacation I don't think any of us will forget.
Conversations about this vacation started this past Christmas. I had mentioned to my sister-in-law that I thought this might be a good year to take the boys to Disneyland. Before I knew it we were planning a trip for both our families to travel together. Five boys, four adults, one week, two theme parks, one museum, and a beach! My hubby thought we were nuts, and maybe we were, but we had an amazing vacation!
There were many firsts for the boys. First plane trip for Thing 3. First rollercoaster for Thing 2. First time at Disneyland for Thing 2 and 3. Many first foods tried from calamari to a mint julep. Virgin of course. First time seeing the open ocean. Many firsts indeed.
My head is still full of all the experiences and memories created on this vacation. Watching the boys faces as they walked into Disneyland for the first time. Their excited stories as they would come off a ride. Watching them have wonderful moments with their cousins. Chasing the waves on the beach and squealing as they got wet. Trying to dig a hole to China. Being inspired by the Lego creations at Legoland. Getting a special behind-the-scenes tour to see how Legos are made. Watching Thing 3 light up seeing a giant Tigger or riding It's A Small World. Yes, we tourtured the entire family with that ride. It truly was a vacation I don't think any of us will forget.
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