Martha Stewart employees have some seriously good ideas

The kids and I have been working on Valentine’s things for a while now. While glancing through this month’s Martha Stewart I saw a little how-to for wrapping paper.

I decided I had to try it, so we ran off to Michael’s for a heart punch (I should have just cut them with some scissors, but I was far too excited to think rationally) and Julia punched away for me. Once I got started, I just kept going, trying out different arrangements and colors and paper thicknesses. I think I like this haphazard tissue paper style the best.

I didn’t really have anything to wrap except all the cards the kids have been making, so I made envelopes. I love them!!! Far more than is normal I think. I want to mail everything in wax paper envelopes!

one of the things thats been keeping me out of blogger world

My mom came to visit recently and when we visited the fabric store, she bought all kinds on fabric for me to make her more placemats with. These, of course, were needed for Valentines. The picture isn’t good in that it makes the ribbon color look like it doesn’t match. Rest assured it does in real life.

Those little bows took longer than I expected the first time or two.

holy moly

I cannot believe it has been almost a month since I’ve updated this poor neglected blog. It’s not been for a lack of crafting. More of a lack of blogging hours in the day. I love to blog, but right now I’m so much more loving being in the craft room, trying random things. I just finished up a map quilt for the kiddos (i still haven’t gotten a picture of it though). I’ve only made one quilt before and was rather ”creative” with the binding that time. this time I tried to do it more like you’re supposed to, but it’s still not quite there I don’t think. I made it too thin and it was a bear to finish.

I’m also trying to figure out making a doll or two…

and we’ve been gearing up for valentine’s cards. I’m working on some placemats for my mom that need to be finished and mailed cross country before Valentines, but no pictures there yet.

rounding out the edges

I’ve never been a drinker. Not that I have anything against it, but I haven’t really ever found anything I enjoy (course I never really seriously tried) and I just don’t get it. I don’t like the taste of the alcohol I guess.

People told me they liked it cause it ‘took the edge off’. I never really felt like I needed anything to be less edgy I guess. Until this week. Every night around 5:30 or 6 I start feeling done and craving something. What I didn’t know, but something that would just be relaxing and (oh!) take the edge off. I’m still not ready for something real so much, but I found my own little edge-taker-offer.

so much good stuff

A picture of trash bags??? wtf? Boring I know. I’m sorry. But I can’t resist. I’ve been trying to take six bags like this to the thrift store for about a month now and I just haven’t been able to do it. I keep looking at those clothes and seeing all that fabric potential. So much to make into something else. I’ve resisted a bit cause it seems a shame to cut up something somebody already spent time putting together, but I finally went through them yesterday and kept about two bags worth. Maybe now I won’t need to go fabric shopping for the next couple whiles. or maybe i still will.

merry christmas, happy new year

oops. took an unintended blog break there.

the  gifts were well recieved

and we even got some snow which was received by some better than others,

Overall I’d have to say it was one of my favorite christmas’s ever.

This next year, I’m hoping for all kinds of good things. Like sewing and paper cutting and excercising and looking absolutely fabulous in my clothes and sleeping and just being with my family. They’re pretty awesome.

gearing up for christmas, full steam ahead

I’m digging these stockings that I made this year. As much as I like them, I’m already planning different ones for next year…something a little thicker than the flannel…maybe just some interfacing? or maybe some felt? or maybe some stripey canvas?? something not tradtionally christmassy perhaps.

this is the tote I made my sister…first time I’ve added some little applique patches. I like them. rather a lot. but my favorite bit is the lining.

and a table runner for a sister-in-law. for some reason i did not want to make this and procrastinated quite a while, but once i finally started it was fun. i think i thought it would be hard for some reason. why i’m not sure. maybe those loooong straight lines intimidated me.

And these are some of the placemats for my mom. There are six altogether, but only two with this fabric. the place mats are double sided, so there are six of one fabric, four of another and two of this one. This wasn’t exactly intentional, but I made a slight mistake on the cutting of the fabric with four place mats and decided to go with a completely different one for the last two. This way she’ll have lots of fall options depending on how many people are eating.

Julia and Jeremiah and I have spent a lot of time in the studio making some christmas cards to send to everyone. And I do mean everyone. Julia made sure that all of the pets we know got a card.

And there must, there really must be sugar cookies at christmas.

Makey make

the bad news is i haven’t gotten to blog as often as I mean to. the good news is I’ve been making stuff.

I saw this on A Little Hut and thought hey I can do this. Julia really really likes this bowl. I’m not sure why the paper clips are still there. Just lazy I guess.

And a little half apron. Not so sure about that bottom ruffly trim.

Joann’s is having quite the nice christmas sale. I got lots of good flannels and I’ve been making us some stockings. I’ll show you when I’m through – still have two more to make.

wintery goodness

mmm-mm.

when he put the cup down the candy cane was sticking to his head.

two more links I feel I must share (in case anyone actually reads this blog yet)

I *love* these trees over at Treefall

And I have *loved* the daily project ideas and tutorials over at SewMamaSew this month. I can’t tell you how many of them are currently stored in my “to make” bookmark folder.

advent garland love

since this year my family is doing a homemade gift exchange I don’t think I’ll get the chance to make an awesome advent garland like this one over at hopskipjump.typepad.com. But I so want to. Maybe next year. And when I do get around to making it I’m sooo going to use this list of ideas from uncommongrace.typepad.com to fill them. Check out these awesome ideas!

Chuck E Cheese

The kiddos earned themselves a trip to Chuck E Cheese through our little system we have set up. This feels like one of the best rewards I’ve come up with since its not really something I’m tempted to do very often, and its super exciting. Jeremiah even ate pizza – which he never does. He’s the original vegetarian – health foodie in our family. But at Chuck E Cheese, he’s a pizza eater. The soda is a special treat too – they get it on birthdays or extreme special occasions.

Plane bags

Here’s the assortment of goodies for the kids on the airplane ride. the playdoh was definitely a big hit. Inside of the little books are various things I drew for them to color and questions to answer about thanksgiving and the plane. I think I may have had way too much fun making them. Since I was sitting with the baby, Michael was sitting with the kids in the opposing aisle…which meant he was in charge of keeping them occupied. He didn’t go through the books with them, so we didn’t really get into them till we got back home after Thanksgiving. But when we did they thought it was pretty cool. Now I need a new reason to make books for them.

no clue

we have some friends who seem to be playing with a stacked deck. against them. A lot in their life has gone wrong and it wasn’t their fault at all. And now at this point in their lives, things continue to go wrong. Some of these things are because of their earlier lives and some of them are by their own making.

I got a phone call from this friend telling me about something she was incredibly excited about that she felt was going to get her on the road to success and feeling better about life in general. But after listening to the news, i couldn’t help but feel like this was going to be one of those things they would regret in the (near?) future. And it could be a big deal. i don’t know what to say to that – it can’t be changed now so its not like I could tactfully advise against it. I ended up being supportive and excited with her, but I wish I knew the best way to handle it.

thanksgiving

We headed out to the in-laws for Thanksgiving this year and it was pretty fun. Unfortunately all three of the kids got sick on day 3, but they still had a good time. Julia was incredibly upset when it was time to fly home. She said she really missed the dog.

I learned a thing or two about getting your own row in the airplane. Having a dirty diaper on the seat next to you works wonders. It doesn’t even have to stink. Just a rolled up diaper sitting there moves people right along.

Usually we take the laptop and have the kids watch movies on the airplane but we decided against it this time. I wanted to make sure they’d be entertained (read not annoy everyone else) so I made them some ‘airplane bags’ of goodies to keep them occupied. I’m pretty thrilled with them and more importantly so are the kids. I’ve got a picture here some where, but I don’t think its online yet. I’ll post that in a bit.

Hope you all had a happy thanksgiving too!