Taking a Break from Business

A few days ago I got it in my head that I wanted to take the kids to feed the ducks-I remembered how I used to go to Greenfield Park when I was a kids and feed them with my parents and paternal grandparents. It was a great memory and lucky for me the biscuits I had made were perfect to feed the ducks. So I packed the kids up and we headed to Humboldt Park. At first when we got to the pond, there were no ducks in sight and I was really bummed...but those ducks know when there's food coming and in no time Ethan was having a blast. I did have to work with him to get him to break the biscuits apart and throw SMALL pieces, but it was so much fun. We went back later on our way to Chill on the Hill to feed them again with Justin.

I also had to throw in a pic of Phin in her bow(yeah it lasted about two whole minutes :)

Mochi Mochi Yum Yum-Yes Please

I received a few lovely packages on my door today and thought I'd share some with you...

I also received in a notions order and the Riley Blake Prints I ordered. You can check those out HERE (the last 5-the others should be here Thursday)

Finished Product

So this is the best pic of me wearing the dress I made-unfortunately we were in a bit of a time crunch to drop the kids off before the wedding so we forgot the camera-had the hubby take this with my phone...so sorry it's blurry :)

I learned a lot from this project...and yes ofcourse I'll share it with you.

-Always make a tester dress on something like this-I did that and it helped me adjust the pattern for fit

-I didn't use a pattern for this dress-sometimes it's best to pick a piece that you like and draft a pattern off it it.

-This was one of the first times I used elastic thread for the back to create a tight fit-I LOVE IT-really easy to work with and very useful to create fit.

-Line the dress-I was in a bit of a hurry and didn't want to take the time-ofcourse I had a heck of a time trying to find my slip the day of-but luckilly found one but still far from ideal.

-I need to adjust the fullness of the dress-yeah I kinda look preggo(I AM NOT), but I think that sometimes just goes along with my body type(AKA chubby).

All in all it was a great learning experience and I was proud to say that I made my dress when people mentioned that they liked it.

Overwhelmed

I am officially overwhelmed by the amount of things we have. I really wish I could be someone that is a total minimalist and doesn't have a bunch of "stuff" hanging around their house, but it just hasn't happened in my last 29 years of life. I think it's even gotten worse now that we have two kids and a house, not an apt. It really is amazing all of the things that we think we need, but then never use-plus my husband and I are both impulse shoppers so that doesn't help much! Now don't get me wrong, our house is still clean it just makes me feel unorganized sometimes.

So does anyone have any good websites that I can look at to, I guess, "declutter", simplify, or just plain get rid of stuff? I already have bags ready to go to the thrift store, but I'm so bad about actually getting the bags from the house, to the car, and ultimately dropped off.

I need some organizational help please!

On another note, I had a very very productive weekend at the store and with sewing-I'll post pics on Wed.

So that's my random Monday morning, Sesame Street is on, and I have a few minutes to get my thoughts out Post.

Get over it

So you know how I said I was in a funk yesterday...well I let myself sulk and be in that funk for awhile-I even blamed it on the fact that I need to stop drinking coffee(yeah I really only have 1 or 2 cups a day, prob should give it up but not the issue). Then I came into the store today and basically wanted to just slap myself and say "Get Over It". I realized that I was in a funk because I was being really negative in my personal life-I have a friend that's been really getting to me lately and I've been voicing my opinion about it to others in a negative way and have finally realized that because I let that get to me, it was like a big negative bomb that began to hit the rest of my life. Negativity and/or jealousy is like cancer...it spreads quickly and kills everything in it's path-so I'm over it and moving on.

So to recap...I am going to continue to enjoy my iced soy lattes from Anodyne and am going to get back to crafting!

Here are some of the great new fabrics that I was imagining projects for today....

Also just had to show you this great color palette that a customer of mine is using-love it! and no she's not using the chair-just what I had in store :)

WIP WED and a Funk

So I haven't been posting too much lately-sorry! I've just got myself in some sort of funk and haven't been able to motivate myself to sit down and blog in an interesting way-maybe I'm just really ready for summer to be over and get to enjoy the fall weather-or I could just be stressed and have ADHD too-that's another explanation :)

So here's what I've been working on lately....our good friends are having a baby shortly and although I wasn't able to make it to the shower-I thought they would enjoy this sleep sack and changing pad. I love making changing pads, they're super easy, super convenient for parents and a great way to showcase some fun fabrics.

This other project was really doomed from the start. I didn't have my rotary cutter and mat so I cut the fabric the old fashioned way. Well I wasn't really paying attention or thinking I guess because I pieced all of the triangles with the black and white houndstooth on the wrong side...aurghhh I decided just to go with it and was pretty happy until I finished piecing it all together and realized I sewed that yellow triangle upside down-SERIOUSLY?!??! It's just one of those projects...I haven't decided if I'm going to rip out the seams on that one or just leave it as "homemade"....wonder how the back is going to turn out now.

I also worked on the pattern for this apron-it's reversible and a great design for men and women. I'm going to have a class or two for this during the fall. Which is another thing I really need to get going-I NEED to get the class schedule figured out for fall-really I just need to sit down and do it...maybe over coffee. Anyways, anyone have any ideas of classes they want to attend?

Linking up with Lee over at Freshly Pieced.

Ha...My Bad

So to those of you that I've shown the "shorts" I made for my little guy and talked bad about the pattern...well I took another shot at it tonight and I must have just been having a bad day the first time I was trying to make these. So why didn't they turn out the first time?????? Yeah I sewed them upside down....I made the legs the crotch and therefore had no waste-HA! They look so much better now. I'll post a pic tomorrow.

A Million Different Directions

I don't know if it's the fact that it's the end of summer, stress or finally an urge to finally get organized, whatever it is I think I'm finally realizing that life becomes a lot easier when you focus your energy and get organized. Now this pretty much goes against everything I've ever done in my life but I think simplifying my life will in turn make it....well simplified! Oh and organized. I've read Simplicity Parenting a couple of times now and always say that I'm going to follow through on many of the ideas on there...well I've taken toys into the basement but have had a hard time throwing them away, but am beginning to realize my son doesn't even miss them. Well you may be thinking "why is she telling me about this" and the answer is that I realize I have the same issue when it comes to fabric...I hold on to things forever! Hence the bins of fabric and scraps I have. I'm gong to TRY and use some of the concepts of the book, to clear out some of the clutter and pieces that I haven't been getting rid of but honestly won't use them in the near future.

Does anyone else have this issue? I can just picture myself on that Hoarders tv show in 10 years with a house full of fabric...oh I see it now....but at the same time I guess it's better to have a house full of fabric than a house full of cats or birds or something-although that would make better news....anyways just my random thought for the day...take it as you wish.

I'd like to introduce you to...

some of my new friends...I can just tell we're going to be besties and work on so many projects together! Some of my other new friends have been delayed in their arrival but I hope they make it soon.

Enjoy.

Making Progress

The top is starting to come together...just have to even out the sizes and then the final piecing will begin....

WIP WED

So I'm a bit late on this entry today, but hey Wednesday isn't over yet! I started out strong on projects and then got sidetracked so I don't have too much to show today.....

I finished all of the small blocks for the Courtyard Maze quilt I'm working on and am now going to start the next phase this week. I finished 3 more blocks in the Farmer's Wife QAL-so slowly making progress :)



And then I also made some curtains for P's room HERE.

Linking up to Lee at Freshly Pieced!

In other news I'm still waiting for the Michael Miller to ship...fingers crossed for this week, I also ordered some FQs from Riley Blake and some new home dec fabrics from Premier Prints, oh and the Sock Monkey advent calendar fabric should be here Friday!!!!!