Distress

Okay, so I was too lazy to move it from in front of Derek's CD player before I took the picture but it is cute anyway, right? I love how it looks aged. I distressed the block after it was painted.(that is why the edges look kinda white.) Up close it looks pretty cool. It was a craft prepared for us at church so it made it way less scary for me. I've never dared to distress my other projects because I was afraid I wouldn't like how they turned out. When it comes to these types of crafts I'm pretty clueless and mine never seem to come out as gorgeous as my friends but I'm pleased with this one. I opted out of the ribbon because I made it for Derek and Baby #2's room and even with white ribbon it made it seem too girly. But if I were going to put it elsewhere a cute combo of ribbons tied in a bow in one of the top corners would have been fun.
Oh the magic of modge podge.Now I just need to decide what to do with the blank wall in the living room. I'm also thinking about vinyl letters to go around the top of the boys' room. Of course I'll probably be just thinking about it until several months after our new arrival.

Learning from my mistakes

Remember that quiet book I started forever ago? I'm almost done now. The process has been drawn out because sometimes I have the attention span of...well, a one year old :). Here are some pictures I took a while ago. If you've ever made a quiet book or are an experienced seamstress see if you can pick up on my big mistake...(I know, it isn't perfect looking, I mean the really big mistake).

The bottom left page has a mirror in the center. I still have to get a fabric marker to write on the clock.
Did you see my oops? I centered three out of four of the pages. Meaning I didn't leave enough room for any way to bind the pages and actually make them into a book. Luckily I caught it by the time I got to the clock and the pages I've done since are modified. I've learned so much and I've really had a blast putting this together. I had to scale back the original number of pages quite a bit but I still have TONS of felt so I can always add on later. I'll post finished pictures soon.

The Quiet Book is in the Bag

 The Bag

Well at least the supplies I hope will become the quiet book are in the bag. I took advantage of an awesome sale at Hancock's and found tons of felt in the odds and ends bin. I know there is a technical seamstress term for the scraps but I just can't think of it at the moment.

 The Booty

I think I've got just about everything I'll need. I know there's still some shoelaces and a couple more colors of felt as well as some other odds and ends missing but I am so excited that things are actually getting started. I have a habit of coming up with these great ideas and then they...ummm...sorta never happen. I knew I really wanted to do a quiet book but I was worried about the cost of supplies and my level of sewing expertise...or lack thereof. Well with my sale paper and a deep breath I embarked on a journey of supply gathering yesterday that gave me renewed confidence. And can I just say I love shopping in the morning? That always seems to be when all the lovely motherly figures are about and they are always willing to give advice. Those sweet ladies will perhaps never know the good service they do.

 The Beginning

Then to top the day off with a cherry I was able to start work on the pages during Derek's blissful three hour nap. He didn't even wake up when the phone rang. I held my breath there for a minute though. I've got 24 pages designed and right now I'm working on cutting everything out for the first few pages before I break out the sewing machine. My goal is to have three pages completed by next weekend.
I am no artist so I'm relying on free clip art and objects about the house for templates. I did draw the shoe (the egg looking shape at the bottom of the picture) all by myself. The fact that that pleases me should clue you in to the handicap I'm starting with here. The pages get progressively ambitious. So we'll see how it goes. Wish me luck!

I love to crochet!

I found a fun new pattern for crocheted flowers that are waaay cute. I whipped my first one up in less than ten minutes and that included the time I had to take a break to chase Derek and get my yarn ball back. You can get the pattern here. I absolutely love to crochet. I like it better than knitting because you only have one hook and knitting in the round is such a chore for me. I started a pair of socks for Bryan like two years ago and the needles are so small and the yarn so tiny that I can only work a few lines before I get frustrated and put it down and leave it alone for months. When I crochet I can work patterns quickly and easily with one hook. Now all I need is a men's sock crochet pattern...Any suggestions? I'll let you know if I'm brave enough to make my own.
Any way back to the flowers. I was encouraged by a friend to try my hand at a headband she bought over the holidays and it had a cute vintage flower design that I loved. So when I found this fun piece I thought it would look great when I make my version. More on that coming soon.

Fashionista in Training

This has been a big year for me. Just a couple months before Derek was born I finally decided to invest in make-up. Not such a big deal for women who have been wearing it most of their lives, but huge deal for me. Of course I've had make-up on my face before but I haven't owned so much as eyeliner for the past several years. Then my cosmetologist friend gives me a make-over and next thing I know I'm layering shades of eye shadow. Wonders never cease.
So when I figured out where all the colors in my compact belonged on my face I started to get grandiose ideas and now I'm selling make-up. Oh, don't roll on the floor yet. I'm going to teach people how to use it too. "Why?" you ask. Well because after three full months of gradually increasing consistency of make-up use I'm up to daily applications (which I count as impressive with morning exercise classes and a two month old) and I'm looking for further growth opportunities. If not my face, why not someone else's?

Today, fully made-up, I went to learn how to make bracelets. I'm thrilled with the results. Next is putting my sewing machine to use for something besides hems and baby apparel. I think this last step is going to take a bit longer...I don't know if my delicate trendy ego could take a misshapen dress. *shiver*