artsy-crafty babe

Gratitude Friday

I'm following Autum's lead, and doing a "Gratitude Friday".  I've been wanting to do this for a while, but never got around to it.  The picture above is me with the kids almost a year ago, last Mother's Day.  Boy, I sure look different now!  It is amazing how much can change in a year.  This time last year I was still getting used to being a mom of two, never in my wildest dreams did I think that a year later I'd be a mother of three.  It really blows my mind.

I am most grateful for being alive.  It is so easy to take for granted the little things, like being able to get out of bed in the morning and walk across the room.  I am so grateful that I can do those things.  I am grateful for my family, my  husband and children - what a blessing they are!  When I see my children playing nicely together it makes my heart swell.  I've been a bit worried about how #3 will fit in, but seeing how Lily and Alex interact I should have nothing to worry about.  I really could go on and on about Matt.  He has been so wonderful to me.  He should receive the best Dad in the world award, Lily and Alex are lucky to have him.  I do not think I could survive this pregnancy without him.  He is quick to take care of the kid's needs and do whatever I need him to, really.  I am grateful that we have a happy life with few stresses and worries.  I realize that those things we worry about are small in the big scheme of things.  We have our health, our well being, a roof over our heads, food to eat, clothes on our backs - what more do we need?  I could go on and on, but I'll save that for later.  Now for the little things.

I am grateful for:

• my bed, my sofa, any soft surface that I can recline on
• my blogging buddies - your comments and the surprises in the mail sure make my day
• apples with peanut butter - a sweet snack that doesn't shoot my blood sugar through the roof
• my kid's kisses
• my Mother-in-law for cooking supper for us twice this week, picking up the kids a few days this week, and cleaning my house
• Proin, the medication that lessens my geriatric dog's leakiness
• polka dots, just because they make me happy
• spring flowers
• the baby's kicks in my tummy, which reassure me that everything is okay
• meals shared with friends

I hope you all have wonderful weekend.  I plan to make the most of mine with lots of rest and family time.

Sick of bags yet?

Here is my latest - I made it this weekend.  I really like the colors of this one.  It reminds me of the beach or vacation.  I made it using left over scraps from a tote I made my friend last year.  Because I have no patience, I've been using it from the second I made it, even thought I need to pick apart some seams and re-sew it.  I was a bit over zealous with my interlining, I used fusible fleece AND fusible interlining AND these are two very thick fabrics - canvas and denim.  My poor sewing machine had a heck of a time top stitching around the top of the bag, which is the part I need to re-do.  Though I used too much reinforcement, I do like how sturdy it is.  I suppose I could have used my industrial sewing machine to top stitch, but I'm afraid of it (shhh, don't tell my husband who carried that 200 lb baby up the spiral staircase to my studio).  This bag is another version of the Amy Butler In Town bag that I have modified and re-sized.  The pattern makes an awfully small bag, way too small for my uses.  The only thing I would change with my current version is the height.  It is a little too short, but not too short to use!

For those of you who think I have tons of energy, really I don't.  I cut this bag out about a month ago, so all I had to do was put it together.  And I made this bag over the weekend.  Between tending to the kids, the house, and getting food on the table, there is no way I could craft during the week, especially not in my current condition!  Now I'm going to put my feet up and read one of the 3 magazines that came in the mail today.

34 Weeks

I'm running out of room.  I have very few shirts that cover this massive bump.  At least I'm near the end.  The tentative date to birth this baby is May 1st as long as something is available (scheduled c-section).  My doctor wanted me to go earlier, but Lily has a dance recital on April 30th - hopefully I can hold out that long.   Okay, go ahead, point and laugh at my expense - here's another view, stretch marks and all:

As uncomfortable as I get from time to time, I know I'll miss this once it is gone...

<---Click on the "Watch me grow" link to the left to see my growth so far.

Oh my golly!!!!

Look what arrived in the mail today - a diaper bag.  Thank you so much Linda!  This diaper bag is AWESOME!!!  As you can see, I don't have the ability to take a straight photo, but this bag is perfect.  I love the pocket on the outside, the pockets on the inside - especially the cell phone pocket, and the fabric choice.  I love that it is feminine, yet not too girly.  My husband, who doesn't like most of my diaper bag choices, said that he wouldn't be embarrassed to carry this bag (he told me to tell you that!) Linda, you did a wonderful job.  The stitching is superb.  Really, I can't thank you enough.

I love how you constructed this bag, especially the bottom - I'll have to get your secret ;-)

Here is a picture of the inside - love the storage!

Also included were these cute cards - you are too sweet!

Looking at this bag makes me happy. I really am blown away by your generosity.  Thank you again. 

Patchwork Purses

I cut into some of those fabric swatches I got the other day, along with some prints from my stash to make these cute little patch work purses.  I love how they turned out!   My favorite one is the one with the clear handles.  It is lined with a yellow floral with pink flowers - the fabric that the straps on the other one is made from - and it has a magnetic snap closure.  Sicne these were only prototypes, I didn't include any sort of interior pocket, something I will definitely add in the future.   These are both made with patchwork on both sides.  I think that is needed for the tote style one, but I think for the purse next time I'll only do the patchwork on one side.  What do you think?  It would sure save time only having patchwork on one side.  The back of the purse would be the fabric that the block is bordered with, and would be machine quilted, like the front.  I like the horizontal lines to line up.

When I first started making them I thought about offering them up for sale, but I don't know.  I ended up ruining the tote one with my iron - the gunk on the bottom mf my iron slightly stained it.  I promptly cleaned my iron as to not make that mistake again.  So now I only have one in "sale-able" purse.  I think I'll put it away until I accumulate enought to open up some sort of "shop".  It was nice making something with out an intended purpose.  It seems most of my projects are for something or someone specific.  I felt much more "free" making these.  My sketchbook has quite a few different designs, so I'm sure there will be more to come.

Gearing up for the weekend

It's that time again, my favorite day of the week.  I am so looking forward to sleeping past my normal wake-up time.  Let's hope I don't wake up at 3 am with the inability to fall back asleep (it happened twice this week).  The only thing I have to do it take Lily to the photography studio for her dancing pictures Saturday morning at 11:30.  Hopefully that won't take too long.  I am looking forward to dressing her up in her ballet costume, which is super cute this year.  It is complete with a tulle skirt, flower trim, and butterfly wings.  I think it is supposed to be a fairy costume, but the teacher is pretending like they're butterflies - close enough.  Other than that, not much is on the agenda. 

If I feel up to it, I'd like to go to the Hospice Decorators' Show House.  I love this event.  The show home is a fundraiser done every other year.  I missed it two years ago because I was pregnant and we had just moved into our house, so we had a lot going on.  Hopefully I'll be able to rest enough on Saturday to be able to tour that beautiful home on Sunday.  Now I need to find someone to go with me.  I'm sure I'll feel like I live in a dump after touring that home, but it is a good place to find inspiration.

I'd also like to do a little crafting (of course).  I have a tote cut out that I'd like to finish as well as start a new one with some of those cute children's fabrics I brought home earlier in the week.  I was inspired after flipping thought my Denyse Schmidt Quilts book last night, so the new tote will definitely have that feel.  I picked out about 8 or 9 fabrics that will look good together, I think.  As if my daughter doesn't have enough bags, the tote will probably go to her.  We'll see.

I hope everyone has a wonderful restful weekend!

Corners of my Home

This corner and I are well acquainted these days.   It isn't decorated and doesn't look all that great, but it does my achy pregnant body good.  It doesn't matter if I've showered earlier in the day or not, I soak in this tub every evening no matter what.  This house of ours has quite a few oddities, but this tub is a positive along with the huge hot water heater.  I can fill this baby up with hot water without a problem while running the dishwasher.  The only part I don't like about this tub is the mirrors (which are in dire need of a cleaning).  It isn't too pleasant seeing my big ole pregnant body swing a leg over the side of the tub to climb in or out, which is getting difficult to do.  I'm afraid I may take a spill one day soon, but I'm not giving up my tub!  I know that once the baby comes it will be quick showers for a while, so I am trying to enjoy my soaks as much as possible right now.

Check out other corners here.

More Fabric

Yes, more fabric, BUT I didn't spend a dime and it doesn't count towards my yardage in.  I visited the fabric store I used to work at and brought home a bag of discontinued mill samples.  I LOVE doing this.  It had been quite a while since I visited the "barrel" (where they throw all the old samples).   They normally charge a dollar or two for these, but I have 'special privileges'.  Here are my favorites:

I just like these fabrics.  There are multiple colors of all of these.

These fabrics are so sweet!  It must be due to my pregnancy, but I'm loving these juvenile prints.  Most are pretty small, like 12"x12", so I'm not sure what I'll do with them.

I like this color combination.  I'm such a sucker for plaids, nice ones that is.

These are bigger samples, about 27"x 27".  I thought these would look nice as summer tote bags.  I love tropicals too!

This isn't all I brought home, but the rest are pretty boring.  Oh, how I love FREE fabric!!!

Baby Quilt

My first official Typepad post - a finished project!  Here is the baby quilt I have been working on.  It isn't a proper quilt, but it is good enough for me.  The improper part is the binding - I think I did everything else right.  I was lazy and decided to 3-step zig zag the binding around the quilt edge in one step.  I think it looks cute, it certainly goes with the "funkiness" of the quilt.  The important part is that it seems pretty sturdy with the machine quilting (I stitched in the ditch) and the 3-step zig zag attaching the binding.  I'm sure it will stand up to many washings, as it will go through many!  The only part I'm unhappy about is the backing, only because I was only a smidge short of fabric, so I added some rectangles of the front fabric to make up the difference.  I'd have rathered the fabric was long enough, but I  was determined to not buy any more fabric.

Quick Update

Thank you all for your positive thoughts - everything was fine.  The Dr. said that if the baby does have a club foot, then it is a mild case that won't require surgery.  He was more concerned with the baby's size and my fasting blood sugar levels.  He wants me to try a medication to lower my levels, which should in turn slow down the baby's growth.  The baby is already estimated at 5 lbs 12 ounces at 33 weeks. 

My transition to typepad is going smoothly.  I'll probably start posting there sooner than I anticipated, but I still have lots of tweaking to do.

Thank you again for all your support!