A Little Less Traditional...

So, I know that it seems a tad bit odd that any woman with a family would not fit into the traditional Better Homes and Gardens idea for a holiday home, but I am convinced I am not the only one! I may like crafting, I may enjoy opening and gifting as many Christmas presents as possible. I enjoy the heck out of gathering for the holidays and seeing my family and laughing with them until someone pukes (two holidays now, I'm serious, this has happened!). I definitely love the food... Until the aforementioned happens, anyway. I try to eat quickly, haha!

Anyway, this year I managed to shed a little bit of my "bah, humbug" and actually appreciated putting up decorations, including a tree, and didn't feel as grumpy about it as I had expected. In fact, I believe I was more grumpy about the fact that something had changed in me, making me less grumpy! I even put together my own little Ugly Christmas Sweater party, and made delicious treats for it. I would say I have gained a large deal of Christmas spirit this year as compared the the few years past...

One thing I have undeniably maintained a strong dislike for, though, is Christmas music. Don't get me wrong, I hate it much less than I did when I worked retail during the holidays and heard it all day every day, but I certainly do not prefer it, even still. So, two years ago I decided to hunt down some less than traditional Christmas tunes. I figured it would help me celebrate the holidays without listening to "O' Christmas Tree" or "Silent Night" several times a day, by several different artists. Some of the results were completely vulgar and disgusting, and some only slightly so, and some not at all. Obviously I had much more preference for those that were of the latter groups. A little touch of inappropriate is much more delightful for the occasion than a completely distasteful tune at Christmas time.

So, without further ado, my favorites!

Lady Gaga - Christmas Tree

Simple Plan - My Christmas List

The Ready Set - Wishlist

Tenacious D & Sum 41 - Christmas Song

Weezer - The Christmas Song

All of these have a bit of a different flavor from the others, but I like a variety of stuff. That variety doesn't include most traditional holiday songs! Haha. Hope you all enjoy, and I hope I helped a few of you who aren't into the typical Christmas music!

The Holiday Spirit!

So, last year I was so "bah-humbug!" that I didn't even put up a tree or anything of the sort. We had just had our twins in August, and my step children would be at their moms the week leading into Christmas and when we got them the day after Christmas, we spent our week in Spokane. I just didn't have the patience for such little reason. I knew I'd procrastinate taking it down, too. A few years prior I had put up a Christmas tree and (beauty of fake trees...) left it up until well into March when I moved out of the house I was in and was obviously forced to put some effort into packing the ornaments and branches back up. And yes, I do fake trees... What do you want from me??


You'd think someone as excited about crafts as myself would be all about the holidays, but really, I am a slow-going and very deliberate but also very paced crafter. In other words, if you had asked me last year to sew a valance for the Christmas season in November, you'd be lucky to get it for this Christmas. That's why I find it surprising that I cleaned my house, organized a Christmas party for this weekend, put up a tree, spent additional money on decor and new ornaments, and dare I even tell you... I actually did sew a valance for the season, and I did it in just a few hours time (rather than a very comfortable 13 months' time!) this evening.

Forgive me, but I couldn't help but share!

If I'm feeling rather ambitious, I may take some better quality pictures later this week and post. I am smack in the middle of finals week in my very first term of college, and I should focus maybe just a bit more attention to the Math final I have this Friday... Wish me luck!

Ohhh, busy busy! I've been going to school full-time since late September - talk about a lot of work! I haven't been in school since I graduated High School in 2005, and let's face it, I didn't really do any work back then anyway. This term has been kicking my back end!

Winter break is approaching - three finals and I'm there! I've just revealed a few new designs of booties on my Etsy shop! they've had positive responses so far from friends and fans, so hopefully they'll be a success!

I did a booth in our small mall here in town a month or so ago. It wasn't very busy, because our town is pretty quiet and our mall is pretty lackluster, but it was a fun experience. I wouldn't be against doing it again someday. I really enjoyed the opportunity to feel like I really had my own business. When I sell online, I feel like everyone does it these days and it's not really having my own business, because all I'm doing is listing my stuff, right? Well, that's my negative Nancy getting the best of me, I suppose, but it felt pretty legit when I had a booth in the mall! If only I could produce enough product to run an actual store, that would be so exciting!

In other news, my ever so talented husband won a karaoke contest tonight! Whatta man! :)

Light Weight Blankets?

My one year old twins will be going to day care part-time starting in 2 weeks, because I am going back to school (yay!) and they can bring a blanket with them. Last winter I bought a Raggedy Ann flannel fabric at Hancock when I was visiting Spokane for Christmas. I thought that it would be perfect for blankets for boy/girl twins. Well, 9 months later (you're all really learning just how bad of a procrastinator I am!), I think I might use it! I bought perfect backing fabric to go with the flannel - for Voisie, a red with white and blue flowers, and for Owen, a light blue fabric with dark blue leafy looking print. Both look somewhat rustic which I think fits the Raggedy Ann look. I am going to get them done within the next two weeks so they can be their special day care blankets... hopefully!

So, my question is this: if I want them to be lightweight and somewhat floppy so they are more of a comfort blanket than a blanket for a lot of warmth, would it make sense to just add cotton quilting fabric to the back of the flannel and call it good, or should I find a really thin batting? I want them to be really flexible and light. I'm just not sure if it would be TOO thin/flimsy. Ideas or opinions?

I can't believe I am putting my little ones into day care already! But, I am really excited to be going to school this year! This will be my first time continuing education out of High School, so I am nervous and super eager at the same time! The first term, I will be taking basic classes: Math, Writing, Speech, and Intro to Business. Who knows where the second term will take me? Hopefully just not to a corner of my bedroom balled up in fetal position having a mental breakdown. Ha ha! I think I'll be fine, though! Wish me luck, I'll keep you posted!

Long Day & New Progress!

As some of you may or may not know, I have significantly changed my eating habits and have been getting my cardio on! I started with a weight of about 196 (on July 16th) and as of today I weigh a miraculous 174.6! That averages out to a little over 3 and a half pounds a week! :)

For those of you looking for some motivation in the matter, check into the following:
"Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" - a documentary sharing the benefits of juicing, featuring the weight loss/health developing journey of two men sharing the same rare (seemingly incurable) disease.


"Food Matters" - a documentary sharing the benefits of raw fruits and veggies, including information on super foods and the history of modern medicine and its role in nutrition and general overall health.


"Food Inc." - a documentary that shares the dangers of fast food and processed super market foods. Shows the reality behind many mass meat producers and what goes into many of our foods.


"Heavy" - a reality series that outlines the dangers of obesity and shows inspiring transformation in people dealing with very severe and debilitating obesity, over-eating disorders, and food addictions.


All of these have been very motivational and inspirational for the journey I've been on and have made this venture to lose weight and be healthy different from any other time I have done so. I've learned now all the right things to do and that it is a lifestyle change that has to be made if I want my body to change for life! In the last month I have felt volumes better than what I used to, my energy has boosted quite a bit, and I have also been enlightened about what I should be feeding my children everyday to help them live happy healthy lives!

Today I went to the Y and I busted some serious tail. I have pretty much stayed in my comfort zone for the last couple weeks and I decided it's time to kick it up a notch. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I challenge myself and make progress!

What is your favorite machine at the gym? I love the elliptical trainer and the stationary bikes! The treadmill is not yet a good friend of mine! Haha!

Paisley Button-Up Shirt

Back in June of 2010 (over a year ago, yes) I made my husband a shirt and promised to make him another one. He picked out the fabric for the new shirt shortly after he got the first one, and got really excited, and kept reminding me... And I kept putting it off until finally, Monday and Tuesday, I got it all out and made it for him. Poor guy had to wait over a year!!!

On the bright side, he lost a lot of weight between shirt number one and shirt number two, so it's kind of cool for him to be able to compare the two photos. :) He was really excited to be able to wear his new shirt for the first time on the day that he got to meet this year's 4th grade students. I'll share the new one first, and then I'll show you all the first one I did over a year ago... Just for kicks!

Made in August 2011

He's pretty handsome :)

 

Made in June 2010

Oh my, long time!

So, I suppose I've gone M.I.A. yet again! Nobody ever contacted me to claim my last giveaway, either! This is the second time I've held one where the winner did not claim their prize!

The new news is that I recently costumed a show (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and felt pretty good about the outcome. Most of the costumes I didn't have to make myself, but there were a couple pieces that I actually did do. I am also throwing together a few small costume pieces for a summer youth musical called "How To Eat Like A Child" that my husband and I are directing. Most of the kids will just be wearing clothes from home (There are over 40 children, so thank goodness for a simple costumed show!) but there is a part as a lion and as a dog, so naturally I made a lion mane and am working on some dog ears. I'll see what I can whip up for pictures, but our main computer crashed recently and the one I've been working on does not have a card reader! C'est la vie! I could really use a newer and better laptop. Maybe I'll get one in a few months... On that note:

I'm starting school in September, for the first time since graduating High School six years ago! It's an exciting thing for me! I will be taking Math, Writing, Speech, and Business. I am not sure yet exactly where I will go with it, but I've gotta start somewhere and find my purpose!

And, as if I wasn't already throwing enough new stuff at you all, I just started a juice fast/cleanse yesterday. My husband was skeptical when I first told him I wanted to do it. He kept giving me funny looks because I am the pickiest person we know here, and I typically do not like many fruits or veggies. So, he was sure I'd take a drink of the first juice and wimp out! Well, he told me last night that after he saw me finish my first juice (which was essentially alright, but had a tad bit of a dirt flavor to it) he knew I could do it better than he had thought I would. So, day one (and a miraculous 5lbs!) is down and I'm on day two. Feeling pretty healthy and energetic so far, but from what I have been able to gather the worst days will be day 3 and 4. I'll try to update!

Announcing Winner!

The contest ended at 11:59pm last night, so now it's time to announce a winner! Just to make sure everyone knows, each comment entry was assigned the number that it was in the order it was posted. My comment did not count, and one comment was removed by the poster. So there were a total of 11 comments, but eliminating my own and the one that was removed there were 9 entries.

I used a random number generator, I did not choose the winner based on preference, and it was completely random. So, without any further ado, the winner is:

#9 - Jennifer.

Since I wasn't provided an email address for this person the only way for me to contact them is here. Jennifer, please send me an email at sewspecialcrafts@gmail.com OR leave a comment here with your email address so I can contact you. You have one week to claim your prize!

BOOTIE GIVEAWAY!

Well, I made a couple of promises back in April: to dedicate the month of May to a charity (and if you missed that, I am donating 10% of every purchase made in my Etsy shop to the March of Dimes for the entire month of May! Be part of a good cause and get some cute stuff out of the deal!) and also to have a giveaway!

What better to giveaway than my signature product, a pair of baby booties! I tried hosting a giveaway for a pair of custom booties quite some time ago, and the winner never claimed them, so this time I am doing a specific pair, to take off the pressure of deciding what you want. There will be other giveaways in the future, as well - so if this isn't for you, tell your friends and hang around until the next one!!

~May Giveaway~

One pair of`my handmade baby girl skull booties! Size 0-6 months.

Details about the booties can be seen here. Entries start now and last entry will be accepted no later than 11:59pm Monday May 23, 2010 (That gives about a week to get entries in!). Winner will be announced Tuesday, May 24th.

How do you enter?
You are eligible for 5 entries total. For every extra entry, please remember to comment a SEPARATE time, letting me know you have followed the directions for an extra entry (which one, and where I can see that you did it!).
If you do not post a separate comment for your extra entries, they will not count, because the numbers that go into the generator that randomly picks a winner are determined by the number of comments on this post.
1. The first entry is easy! Comment on this blog post, and you have one entry! 

Extra entries:
2. Post a blog entry on your personal blog about my contest, linking back to my page - send me the link and get a second entry!
3. Post a link to my giveaway on Twitter! - send me your Twitter username and get another entry.
4. "Like" SewSpecialCrafts on Facebook and tell me what name is on the FB account you liked us with! If you already like us, it still counts. Just the same, comment telling me so and include the name on your Facebook account so I can confirm that you've liked it!
5. Add my Etsy shop to your favorites on your Etsy account, and comment with your user name telling me you have added SewSpecialCrafts to your favorite etsy shops!

And that's it! Make sure I have a means to contact you, whoever wins will have 1 week to claim their prize before I will give it to a different entrant!

Get commenting and spread the word!!!

Wine Love!

I love a little wine now and then, and although I don't have any fancy wine decor or anything, a girl can dream! So I was perusing the world wide web, looking at some pretty things, and decided to share some things I wouldn't mind having at some point!

Any other wine drinkers out there? What's your favorite wine? Do you have a rack or special decanter that you use?

Anniversary Time!

Ben and I are celebrating the anniversary of the night we started seeing each other today! We don't have any big plans, but his parents are in town for the weekend and he has the night off from rehearsal. So, even if we don't end up doing anything alone together, at least we get to be together all day! So glad it fell on a weekend! Now that we're married, I feel kind of silly paying any attention to our dating anniversary - does anyone else still celebrate their anniversary of being together once they've gotten married? I can't seem to think of anyone who celebrates two anniversaries a year... This is why I always think it'd be easier to just get married on your dating anniversary! Then none of us would have to ponder these things!

Time sure flies! I love looking at old pictures because until I see what we used to look like, I forget. It's not until I go through old photos that I realize how much has really changed and how much we have changed, but also can see things and remember things that haven't changed at all!

What a wonderful time we've had together and will continue to have together! We've gone through so much, learned so many things about each other, and we continue to grow and learn together! I love you, Ben! Happy Anniversary!

“Love just doesn't just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made like bread, remade all the time, made new.”
-Ursula Kroeber Le Guin

Two and a Half Men: Ashton?!

I just read that Ashton Kutcher is "replacing" Charlie Sheen on "Two and a Half Men"... This is all fine and dandy, I understand their desire to keep the show up and running, but really? Okay, a few questions: can a show be the same when the star is taken off? Disregard his "real life" character, that he may be a little crazy, etc... Must the show go on, when the main star is no longer able to be played by the same actor? Second question, and most important really - Has there been any mention or speculation as to whether or not Ashton is meant to play the same character that Sheen played? I mean, it's one thing to replace an actor with another because you have to have character balance, but unless you're making "Batman" sequels, you can't exactly change around the actor who plays the star role...

So the big question is: Is Ashton playing Charlie, or is he playing another, brand-spanking-new, character to replace Charlie entirely? If you have any insight or have seen an article that gives some, please do share! What are your thoughts on the show? Should it continue? Do you think Ashton was the right replacement?

Cupcake Couture

It seems like fashionable cupcakes are really trendy right now, and I love LOVE looking at them! I start browsing the web for pictures of cupcakes, and I have actually spend hours looking at cupcakes on the computer because I am fascinated with the fact that some people sit and make every little detail on every single cupcake!

My mom is a cake decorator, and I know she's done some cupcakes, but looking at all the cupcakes online (and having seen that cupcake contest show one time... Cupcake Wars, I'll assume?) makes me want to start getting into cupcake decorating. Don't worry, I have so many projects started and hobbies in mind that I'll probably bake one batch of cupcakes, and never do it again...

At any rate, here are some of my favorites:

I wonder if I would have the patience to complete more than 4 or 5 cupcakes just ONCE, let alone trying my hand at it enough times to gain some skill... If I have a go at it, you'll be the first to know!

What's Up With Scentsy??

I'm starting to think I am not a normal woman. It seems like all my girl friends, and girl not-so-friends even, are all caught up in this Scentsy thing. It's a giant fad right now, and I'm not sure I can understand why it's such a big deal. First of all, sure, I like things that smell pretty. I use candles now and then, and I've sprayed smell pretty sprays in the house before. But though the scent of the candles is a plus, I usually use them more for the ambiance that the lighting creates. And though the scent of smell pretty sprays and air fresheners are dandy any time, I usually only pull them out after someone's been in the bathroom too long, or something out of the ordinary threw the smell of my usual every day smell of the house.

I think if I were to have or go to a Scentsy party, personally, I would spend more time at the party enjoying the smells of the samples than I would at home enjoying the smells of the actual product, assuming I'd be willing to drop stacks on some chunks of wax in the first place. More than likely, they're going to end up in a cupboard, never used. Second most likely scenario: the burner with previously melted wax remains is going to be on the shelf, covered in dust and paperwork. The few places in my house that aren't busy collecting mail, books, old schoolwork, and trash are those which will likely result in turning my babies into wax figurines, if you know what I mean.

A spice scented Scentsy set.

But all that aside, I'm not sure why everyone is so into this whole Scentsy thing, period! It's like they've never burned a candle before! And for those who say that it's like a candle but the lack of a wic eliminates the smell of a burning wic, and the smoky aftersmell when blown out - that's why I own a candle warming plate. I can still buy my inexpensive, perfectly permeating candles at a department store, set them on a hot plate for that purpose, and accomplish the same thing, right?

Spill it ladies, are there pheremones in these little blocks of wax, or what? I expect a few comments here, because I know there have to be several of you readers who are caught up in this whole thing!

Vintage Style Romper!

So, I made a romper for a friend whose daughter was turning a year old. It's been done and given away for a while now, but I never got pictures onto the computer until last night, and I am really proud of how it turned out so I wanted to share! The pattern I used was from 1986 and I just adored the finished product. I chose to embellish it with some fabric yoyos that I made, and I just want to make a whole bunch of these little rompers now! The style is just wonderful!

Full shot, albeit sideways... :)

Close-up of top/front with hand-made yoyos.

Sew Little Time!

So, first of all: sorry I've been sort of MIA for a while! Seems like life doesn't want to offer me much downtime at the moment! I am currently working 50 hours a week doing childcare. It's been great, albeit a bit exhausting! I take care of my twins as well as a 10 month old baby, a 3 year old, a 4 year old, and a 6 year old. I've also been working on costuming the local community theatre production of "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." It opens in a couple weeks, so not much longer will I be working on that, which is relieving and stressful at the same time! Costumes are not all squared away yet, so the pressure is now on!

Beyond those things, I am also expecting company this weekend. My in-laws will be visiting from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning. That means I need to get my house in order, because right now it's a little crazy! I'm really glad they're coming, though! They haven't seen us or any of the kids since Christmas and New Years, and a lot can happen (especially with babies) in that amount of time!

For those who have been standing by, I wanted to let everyone know that the cause I chose to support with SewSpecialCrafts this month is March of Dimes! Any purchases made in my Etsy shop for the month of May will help the March of Dimes. For every purchase made, I will be donating 10% of the purchase!

Go check out what you can buy to help the March of Dimes today! http://sewspecialcrafts.etsy.com :)

Easter Weekend!

So this will be the first Easter for the twins, and I am excited! Unfortunately our older two will be with their mom most of Easter Sunday, but we'll have them in the morning for baskets which will be nice! And we'll probably get them for Easter next year. I'm still not sure what our Easter plans are, exactly, but they will probably involve going to either my mom's house or my grandma's (or both?). We've got baskets for everyone (even the babies, regardless of the fact that they don't get it and won't have a clue what's going on) and it's kind of funny to me the difference between the Easter baskets I used to get and the ones we made for the kids.

When I was younger I used to get ridiculously awesome amounts of candy (and I ate it too!) and usually an outfit and stuffed animal. Later the outfit and stuffed animal turned to a couple of CD's, but still lots of candy! The strange thing is this: our kids don't eat that much candy! It's probably because they're always limited, but they don't even expect to or ask to eat a whole lot of candy, and really we try to make sure it stays that way because it's much healthier for their teeth and general health probably if they don't eat 40 pieces of candy in a day. My mom must have just been used to us being hyper and wild, so maybe it didn't never phased her when we were loaded on sugar, but these kids go crazy if they have more than just a little! So, their baskets consist of just a couple of candies, will have a couple of jelly bean filled plastic eggs, and each kid is getting a DVD. I forgot what else. I think we got a stuffed animal for each twin and I know we got a magazine for Bethany. I'm not sure if we got something else for Chapin and if so what is is... Guess I better get them together tonight to make sure everything is even and we have what we need!

What are your Easter plans? Any long-standing traditions? What kind of baskets are your kids getting this year? Happy Easter, everyone!

These are some of the cutest and most elegant Easter eggs! Wonder if they're real? Found at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/butterflysha/129107480/

Roller Derby in Roseburg!

So, a roller derby team has been in the works here in our small town of Roseburg for quite some time. I'm pretty sure I was hearing about it at least a year ago, and that wasn't even the beginning of everything. They were having trouble getting a venue to skate, but apparently they finally got everything worked out, because last night our local derby team, The Umpqua Valley Roller Vixens, made their debut on a flat track at the county fairgrounds.

This was the first derby I have seen in real life, and only the second time I have seen a roller derby if you include watching the movie Whip It, and you probably shouldn't, haha! I had a great time! Before the derby I was explaining I could never be in a roller derby because I am too much of a whimp and was afraid of getting hurt. After watching, I realized it's not quite as brutal as I expected it to be and it's something I would actually consider doing if I had the time and finances to go that route. It was fun, it was active, it was different, and it was just agressive enough to be able to take out some anger and bottled up tension without being so agressive that people were getting skates in the teeth or something. My friends and I were instantly trying to think of awesome derby names, most of which I would decline to share with you out of respect for some of your innocent ears/eyes, and have a great time just talking about the possibility of joining.

What about you guys? Have you seen any roller derbys, thought about joining, played yourselves, or come up with fun derby names? Let's hear all about it!

Growing and Changing

I'd apologize for the lack of updates in the last week and a half, but I don't think I have anyone to apologize to, so I'm not sorry!

The 11th was my little brother's birthday. He is the youngest of my three siblings and he turned 14. I used to help change his diapers and babysit him, and it's truly strange to me that he has a teenager mustache and armpit hair, but for the most part he's a good kid, so I will take credit for being the most amazing and perfect role model of an older sister... As I roll my eyes at myself.

My brother is in the middle with his new XBOX360 Slim. My mom made the cake on the table.

 

you can't really see the cake well in the above picture, but my mom made a cake to look like his new XBox - She told him she couldn't get him a real one so she made the cake instead. He was excited when he found out she'd fooled him.

A better picture of the Xbox cake my mom made.

Then Monday (yesterday) I responded to an ad on Craigslist and got myself a job doing some in home babysitting full time. Outside of Etsy, this will be my first "job" since having the babies. I haven't worked outside my home for a year. The awesome part about this gig is I will be able to bring my babies with me and they will get to play with another 9 month old baby 5 days a week! I'm really excited and hopeful that this will be a good thing for me!

And speaking of my darling little babies, they turned 8 months old yesterday! Every month we take a new photo of them in the same glider-rocker so that we can compare and see how they've grown. They are so big compared to when they were just a month old. And my son, Owen, broke his first tooth yesterday as well! Well, it may have been before but I discovered it yesterday. It's amazing to see the world around me grow and change.

My sweet little twinlets at 8 months old!

I didn't get any replies here in regards to what cause or charity everyone would like to see me support in the month of May! I'm still taking ideas - I will make my final decision at the end of April! Until next time...

SewSpecialCrafts Would Like to GIVE!

For the rest of April, SewSpecialCrafts will be gearing up for a very giving month of May! First of all, I am planning to do at least one giveaway in the month of May. The giveaway will be held here on my blog, so make sure you bookmark me and stay tuned for the fun! I would like to do more than one, depending on the turnout, so when the time comes (or even now, in anticipation and preparation!) make sure to tell your friends about the giveaways I'll be holding!

The other exciting news from SewSpecialCrafts in the giving department is this: I have planned to use the entire month of May as a giving opportunity and donate to a special charity or cause! For every sale I make, I will donate 15% of the money to whichever charity/cause gets selected. Note: I am not talking about just 15% of my profits, but 15% of the sale itself - that means for every pair of booties I sell, I will be donating $1.50 to a special charity or cause! I am really excited to reach out and make a difference, and I hope to be very successful in this endeavor.

Here's where I need the help of my trusty readers! Please comment and let me know: What charity or cause would you like to see SewSpecialCrafts reach out to next month? Stories, reasons, information are all welcome and encouraged! Help my craft to be really "Sew Special"!

Some finished products!

I have been working on an order for a friend who has a couple friends having babies, so I thought I would post a picture of the newborn dress I made her for an upcoming little girl!

Tie straps and butterfly print!

Full view - it's not as wide as it looks!

I really wish there were a way to better photograph clothes when I don't have a model for them! They always end up looking very different or shaped strangely when I photograph them laid out flat! If anyone has any tips on how to take better pictures of things like this dress, let me know!!

The other thing I really wanted to show off is actually something I made months ago. I really liked how it turned out and I never posted it anywhere! Even my husband just saw a picture of the finished product just a couple hours ago for the first time! Another friend had ordered Oregon State Beavers booties and a car seat cover, and this is how they looked when I was finished:

 

I am personally a fan of this team, so I am biased about the turn-out!

That's it for today! We'll be off to get pictures of the twins here shortly, and then we're seeing a local community theatre production of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" which I am hearing is a really long show, but I've also heard is a really good show! I'll let you all know!

Friday Fave

This Friday I am featuring an Etsy seller who specializes in resin jewelry, most of which is displaying 80's and 90's pop culture images! I found her shop on the hunt for something specific, and while I happen to have my favorite, all of TrailerTrashTrinkets jewelry rocks!

Animal print has a special place in my heart right now, and we all know I like pink!

"I really need... To kill somebody." Gotta love Dexter!

And, well, my absolute favorite has to be the one and only... Captain James T. Kirk. Dreeeamy! Okay, so I may or may not be a bit of a Trekkie!

What a guy! I wouldn't mind wearing this necklace!

You can find the Etsy shop here: TrailerTrashTrinkets where she sells the above as well as many Nirvana, Hole, Wizard of Oz, classic monster movie, and other pop culture necklaces and earrings!

Sewing Room Progress!

While I can't honestly say I've made the progress I should have by now, I have actually made a little progress in my new sewing room! I have a certain old ugly couch I need to get rid of that is being stored in there at the moment, but the walls are completely finished being painted, and I have moved all the other stuff out of the room, and moved in my new ironing board (I didn't have one before because I didn't have anywhere to keep one...) as well as started folding some of my fabric in a more uniform and neat manner... I have SUCH a long way to go before I have it how I want it, but it's a start! And at least I have a room to work with now!

Nicely washed/ironed/ folded fabrics... So much more to do!

Isn't the pink great!? The big pile of fabric that isn't folded needs washed.

Like I said, a long way to go, but most of the painting is done and I can start moving things in at whatever pace my little heart desires. I just need to get the energy and time to finish! I still also need to paint the inside of the door white, as well as shelves, and get some decorations and stuff on the walls, but that can all come in whatever time it takes. Just thought you might all like to see [part of] what I'm working with!

This, That, The Other...

I finished painting the walls in my sewing room, so all I have to do now is set-up! The paint I picked looks perfect in there and it's SO me! The color is called "Rose Heartstring" and is some variation of the "in" color of pink right now (which means it matches my Old-Navy flip-flops, a pair of my pajama pants, and one of my tee shirts, haha!). As soon as I get it at least somewhat set-up, I will take a picture and show everyone what I am working with!

In other news, I tried my luck and auditioned for a musical at the community theater here in town. Obviously, I am not a great singer and I didn't get a part, but my husband got the part of Barfee in the musical "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." I got asked to help with costumes, which is unfortunately mostly regular every day clothes, so won't even require my sewing skill. All that will require is my time and effort going to thrift stores. They also asked me to stage manage, and I am still not sure why, as I have never done it before and I have no clue whatsoever how that works or what it requires. So, all in all I will probably require more teaching and attention than the actors themselves.

And all that being said, I hope I have something much more interesting for you folks tomorrow. I'm going to sit down with a glass of Riesling and contemplate the meaning of life. (Really original, I know...)

My Own Sewing Room!

So, for almost 7 months, I have had my sewing area set up in our living room. It had once been in a spare room which became the nursery 7.5 months ago, and when the babies came I couldn't sew in there because they slept virtually all day in the nursery and I didn't want to wake them.

My 3 year old bonus son, Chapin, has been sleeping in an office/foyer area in the house ever since he was a baby. The room is between the hallway to the rest of the house and our living room, so every time we go to the living room, it requires walking through his bed room. It can be frustrating trying to tip-toe while he's napping or after he's gone to bed for the night, but we never really knew how else he could room. This was until we finally realized the room the twins were in was more than big enough for all three of the younger kiddos.

I think we had overlooked the idea of all 3 in the same room for so long because when we first discussed room options the babies weren't born yet, and after about 2 months they suprisingly started sleeping through the night consistently. So, we decided a few days ago to move Chapin into the nursery with Voisie and Owen. This means I get Chapin's old room for my very own sewing room!!!! I just started painting today and will hopefully be finished today or tomorrow.

Finally I will have sufficient space and seclusion for my sewing needs! It's a very exciting thing for me. For those who have sewing rooms: what are the must haves? Any tips on organization and set-up?

Spring Fair 2011

The Spring Fair is happening this weekend at our local fairgrounds, and I got a chance to go down and check it out! I was really excited to see a friend of mine as a vendor this year for her first time, sharing a booth with a couple of friends. I took the time as an opportunity to chat with a few of the vendors, including my friend and her boothmates, about their crafts and experience at the fair. I had a great time looking at all the unique crafts and listening to the live music!

Precious hand-made stick ponies.

Super classy hand crafted earrings and feather hair accessories.

My friend Karen and her friends Joyanna, Melinda, and Aubry had a booth with stick ponies, feather hair accessories, and earrings. Everything at the booth was quality and unique, and I bought a feather hair clip for myself. Their display was also well executed and looked classy and hip! Karen is working on starting an Etsy shop for her jewelry and accessories, and Joyanna has an Etsy where she sells her stick ponies as well as other fun things for children! Joyanna's Etsy shop can be found at nickmaxmama.etsy.com.

Painted stick candle holders.

Painted stick "furniture" pin-cushions.

I was really intrigued by a booth run by a woman who made all sorts of things out of just sticks. I asked her "how did you do this?" she said "I just grab any old stick and make them!" She had things made from sticks of various shapes and sizes, including minature furniture with pin-cushion seats, candlesticks, and magic wands with the stars on top. I was really impressed with the creativity and uniqueness. She didn't have a website, and she said this was her first time doing a craft show! Very cool!

Scented gelly candles.

Shelf of various scents of gel candles.

I spoke for a while with Tim, who had a booth with gel candles made primarily of mineral oil. There were a lot of different scents, including one called "Dirty Hippie" and another called "Butt Naked," which I couldn't help but purchase for myself. It's green and smells like a clean, someone-just-showered bathroom. He'd done tons of shows, and said he did over 40 craft shows last year. His "Gelicious Candles" can be found at www.fragrantgelcandles.com.

It was really cool to see what other people were crafting and talk to people about their trade and business. I'm hoping it won't be long before I get myself into one of the local craft fairs for the first time!

Feather hair-clip purchased from Karen's booth. Love it!

Friday Fave

I'm not sure what has sparked this current owl fad, but I like it! I could have cared less about owls before, but as soon as they started to sprout up all over the place I was intrigued and took no time at all to get caught up in it!

My favorite Etsy shop this week is EvelynX. Not only is it full of owl related merchandise, there is also a lot of music stuff tied in to some of the products which is another sweet spot for me!

Wishing I had an iPod Touch so I would have a reason to buy this! i am in love with it!

And these ornaments are beyond adorable. Again, I'm particularly fond of the ones with the sweet music design!

Do you love the new owl fad? What's your favorite Etsy shop of the moment? I'd love to hear what you all think!

March Mommy Baby Day

Once a month a friend of mine gets all of her mommy friends and their kids together as a sort of play date for the kiddos and an adult social life for us mommies - many of us who spend several hours a day with little more interaction than "GAAAA! Eeeee. Uguh!" and a few gurgles here and there. Most times they have a craft (geared more towards the moms) and snacks, and the kids just run around with each other.

My bonus-son, Chapin - flirting with his friend, Faith.

I have only actually attended a few of these gatherings, as lugging twinfants around can be quite a chore - and seeing as how it's Mommy Baby Day, Ben doesn't get to come which leaves me without a second set of hands that seem so necessary with tiny twins. Now that they are 7 and a half months old, it is a little more feasible to do outings with them so I am hoping to attend on a regular basis.

Today was a lot of fun, because we have Ben's older two children for the second half of Spring Break. I manned the minivan and packed both babies and my 3 year old bonus son to Mommy Baby Day, which gave hubby and my 8 year old bonus daughter some quality time together. They went and saw a movie together, and the three youngsters and I went and exercised what seems sometimes to be a complete lack in social skills. I had a great time, and while the babies got crabby after a while, Chapin really enjoyed the opportunity to play with some kids his age. Everyone made tutus but me - c'mon, I have two babies! Does anyone believe that I, in a group of toddlers with two 7 month olds, had two hands to make a tutu? Definitely not! But I go for the community more than the crafts and snacks... Except the summer sausage - that's a must!

My First Blog Post!

I spent more time than I'd like to admit trying to think of a cute title for my first blog post, but in the end I decided that there's nothing better than getting straight to the point when starting something new!

What to blog about in the first ever post of a brand new blog? Something I've also been contemplating, only to come to the conclusion that it probably doesn't matter! It's a brand new blog! Precious few will stumble across this particular post, and no matter what I write or how I write it, let's face it: the first post is always awkward.

So here it goes, folks. Do you know how much a polar bear weighs? ;)