This morning

The kids woke up to a surprise this morning.Sitting on the couch waiting for them, was three new baby doll blankets. The kids have been playing with the dolls a ton lately. It makes me excited because it's been helping {L} get used to "baby things". Playing gently, holding babies, all that goodness. He's by nature, not the gentlest child. He's been the "baby" for almost 2 years now, so I think it's going to be a little bit of a transition for him!

The funny thing about these dolls is they are always clothes free. All the other stuffed animals and dolls in the home are routinely changed in gowns and costumes, but these 3 dolls-never! If I put anything on them, I'll find them shortly back to basics-lol. Little {L} actually took offense to his doll being covered up and quickly yanked that blanket right off!

Also on a side note: After 2 weeks, {L} is completely potty trained during the day [at home]. We've been snowed in and have not ventured out of the house lately, so I'm sure "outings" will be a different story. He still wears a diaper to bed, but undies all day! I'm keeping my fingers crossed to have him as close to completely potty trained as possible, before the baby arrives. [he'll be turning 2 years old, a month prior]. Lots of praise and potty songs have been sung this week for him! He's a proud boy, and I'm a happy, proud mama!! YAY!

Mermaid Pillow #2

Here's the sister to the mermaid pillow I posted recently. Blue has been my favorite color for years, but I've also been into orange lately. I used some more Heather Ross fabric here...yes, they really are my favorites I love these pillows! The pillow inserts are from old pillows we had purchased for the couch. They covers were never comfy, with scratchy material and stitching, but the new pillows are awesome. Now they are soft and comfy inside & out!

Color!

We are getting snowed in again here in Ohio. Lots of snow falling since yesterday afternoon. All the city schools are closed for a snow day, so we are too. My husband thinks it's silly that we have snow days when the kids are homeschooled, but snow days are fun for everyone!! A little break from the expected!

With the total lack of color going on outside, I needed a color fix inside! I made these new curtains and a rug for our kitchen last Friday. I love how they brighten up the space and make me feel more cheerful and warm!

The curtains are made with a sunny, Heather Ross print. I've been saving this one for over a year and finally cut into it. Heather Ross announced on her blog she will be doing a new line of some of her retired fabric prints with Spoonflower! I CAN'T wait!

-Please ignore my sink full of dihes and messy counters!!-

Giveaway Time Again!!

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Happy Valentine's Day!

I finally finished the kids embroidered dolls- on Saturday night at 11pm! Just in time. The front pieces were embroidered over the past few weeks. Once complete they are backed with a coordinating fabric and then stuffed like a pillow. Add a few stitches to seal them up and your done!

We also made little mailboxes for the kids from pretty scrapbook paper to hold our handmade cards. [yes, my husband actually helped!] It was fun making something with him, and the kids were thrilled to play with them all day on Sunday...well inbetween eating cupcakes, brownies and candy! I think they ate more "goodies" in one day than they have their whole lives! It was a nice special thing for them.

It was really fun, and the kids love their dolls. A great gift idea if you plan ahead and have the time. I'm glad I started these when I did, or they would not have been finished. Lots of time, but lots of smiles from the kids when they got them too! So worth it!

My sister got me the cool girls pattern as an early [2months early!] birthday gift. Thanks little sister!! You can get your own -here-

The little cowboy and batboy pattern can be found on Badbird's blog.

Fun little paper mailboxes made from this easy & quick tutorial! Also a placemat for Daddy-couldn't share that one earlier cause he peeks here from time to time!

Placemats

Yesterday afternoon, I decided I needed another "gift" idea for Valentine's Day. Typically as a family we aren't really into the "holiday". This year, I really want to make it special for the kids. They have been so understanding and helpful lately, to a pregnant mama too tired to do very much! We don't travel out the house often these days and I am physically unable to do some of the fun stuff they are used to.
They never complain about it and actually have shown me so much compassion it's breaking my heart! I want them to have a fabulous day where they understand just how much we love them!

I am suddenly super into using up my scraps. I am a HUGE scrap hoarder!! I save every little bit of everything. These place mats were made using up some of my saved treasures. I really love that they encompass many of my favorite prints that are long used up!

I wanted each one to be unique, as each of my children have their very own special personalities. The pink is for Miss {M}, who no matter how much I try loves pink more than any other color! She is the epitome of girlie! The blue is for Mr{D}. He likes blue and is a fan of several of the fabrics used in his. Little {L} gets the orange place mat. The little blond boy with the cat reminds me of him...except in real life, he's be pulling her tail.

-Back view-

Working on

All the sudden I feel like this baby will be here before I know it. Rationally I know I have a few months, but emotionally I feel like I am in a huge hurry to be ready!

I have so many projects I want to complete before his or her arrival! I spent last night making new burp clothes. I had a large box of flannel remnants that have been sitting around for about a year. I hate getting rid of anything, so they sat, and sat. Sitting in bed at 9pm last night I decided they had to be made into something-immediately!

They were quick and easy to do! The sizes vary as they were scrap pieces, but are mostly uniform burper size. I like mine a little on the thin side so they can be used for drips under a nursing babe's mouth--and -ahem- the extra sprays you get while breastfeeding!

I made a mix of girl and boy prints, although I am sure we will use all of them regardless of the gender the baby comes out with. They are for spit up and milk, does it really matter? It feels good to complete something! I feel like so many things get 1/2 done lately that it's driving me insane. Maybe I just need to "plan" less projects? Although everyone here knows that will never happen.

I'll be finishing up the kids Valentine's Day dolls tonight. They are turning out so awesome! It's been hard for me not to show the kids already. I can't wait to see their faces on Sunday morning!

Winter Wonderland

Another snow storm swept through central Ohio last night. Everything is covered in beautiful, fresh, bright white snow. It sure beats the dreary, grayness that was here!

I love looking out the window and seeing all the prettiness-especially cause I don't "have" to leave the house today. We'll be snuggling up doing some knitting & drawing from the warmth of our home!

Over the Weekend

Friday afternoon a winter snow storm blew into town. We usually don't see too much snow here [well, I grew up in Cleveland, so that's what I use for comparison]. The kids love to play in the snow and be silly together. They even got to make a snowman with Daddy! Fun!!

The snow actually makes it less gloomy & bleak here. I look out the window and see a nice, bright wintery day!

Lately

There's been lots of snuggling in our house lately! Lots of cuddle time wrapped up in blankets on the couch. I'm officially tired of winter, and I think the kids are also! While I am feeling a little stir-crazy, I've totally been enjoying the time, keeping my kids close and warm. Sometimes it's nice to have things slow down a little and just enjoy our time together. Even the kitties have been snuggling up sleeping for extended hours...well longer than their "normal" extended sleeping.

We've also been busy crafting handmade Valentine's for everyone in the family. The bigger kids have had a great time doing this and they are getting to practice their writing skills too. Each Valentine has a special message and drawing.

creative personality + pregnancy hormones=

I've had the sudden urge to make things the past few days...like, if I don't make something now, I will lose my mind. Haha-gotta love creative personality + pregnancy hormones!

I've been extra sleepy the past few weeks, and pregnant enough that I've took the time to actually rest rather than start 100 new projects. I have not made a single thing for a few weeks and it's caught up with me. I made a new set of pillows for the living room yesterday [I'll share this one's friend tomorrow].

I love the Heather Ross Underwater Sisters fabric. I have a few small pieces left in several of the colorways that I am hording. You can see the pink version in the quilt I posted yesterday and the blue in tomorrow's pic's. It's just so dreamy and fun. The fabric is extra soft and I love the texture. Big on texture here!

I've been working on some fun embroidered pieces also. Something relaxing to do, while I sit on the couch and "rest". I'll share those next week.

New Quilt

Some of you may remember this mermaid quilt I started last summer. Once I got to the binding stage, I never finished it. I knew then that I had to keep it for myself and pushed it aside for awhile. The other day I was overcome with the need to finish the blanket. I'm hoping this little baby is a girl and she can call the blanket her own.

It's hand bound in a pretty blue and white, checkered print. Every time I look at it, I smile! I love doing hand sewn bindings. The extra time and effort are worth it to me, for someone special! There are small splashes of blue throughout the quilt, so I think the blue coordinates, but also adds a sense of surprise and texture. Many people would have chosen a pink or green binding. Finding ways to use a feminine blue is my passion. I love blue, and I love blue for little girls even more!

How to: Mini-Dolls

Need something quick and easy to make for your children? Thes mini-dolls are super fun to play with and can be sewn up in an afternoon.

Pick out fabric that you'd like to use. I chose this cute Japanese import with little girls. Fabric with animals or other people work well also. Many of the Japanses imports have a small scale to the design.

Cut out the pieces you'd like to use. Don't worry about them being perfect. I made these into small circles, but depending on the scale of your "dolls" you can stitch them around the body shape.

Pin them to a felt backing. This will give them a little bit of structure [stiffness] and help them stand up better. [any thick-ish material will work]

Sew around your dolls. Make sure to leave an opening so you can turn them right side out and stuff them.

Turn your doll right side out and stuff. I like to use bamboo stuffing. It have a great shape and feel to it inside children's toys. Any polyester, cotton or bamboo stuffing will work though.

Stitch up the hole. I stitch these by hand, as they are pretty small.

Play!! I made a little tote purse for these girls to live in. Keeps them all in one place, and it's extra fun for your little one. A blanket and a kitty were added for accessories. Get creative!

One Year

One year-365 days-In just one year, the kids have changed so much! The older kids are learning how to read and write and question everything the world tells them. They seem to have grown so much in just one little year. Chubby cheeks are being replaced by more grown up features. Every other day, they seem to get inches taller also!

Little {L} is well, not so little anymore! He's a big, independent, strong boy! Climbing, jumping and running everywhere!

- 2010-

- 2009-

-2010-

- 2009-

Little {L} very "carefully" [ahhhh!] brought me my camera the other day. Instead of whisking it immediately away to safety, I told him to smile and started snapping pictures. He makes these silly faces now that he thinks your "supposed" to make for photo's. The two older kids are always up for pictures so they quickly joined in the fun!

WIP

I am desperately trying to get this scarf completed before the warm weather arrives. It seems at most these days I get 2-3 rows finished before someone needs something, or calls me away from knitting. Busy, busy these days. I love this wool yarn though! It's so soft and the colors are yummy. My two favorites, blue & green.

Worst case scenario, I'll have a lovely scarf to wear next fall!

My favorite Space

With a large-ish family with young children [and homeschooling], we spent a lot of time in our home-A LOT! There are areas of the house that I fantasize about remodelling and re-doing and well, just changing. The kitchen is one of those places. While I am in there, I am always thinking about how great it will be when we get around to adding more counter space and storage. It's actually kind of annoying because it's what I think of the WHOLE time!

One room that makes me smile from the inside out as soon as I look at it, is my daughters room. It used to be my studio and I painstakingly picked out the perfect shade of blue for the walls. It looks warm and bright in the sunlight and also cheerful at night with the lamps lit. She has a collection of things that Mama made her scattered throughout the room too. The corner that houses her bed is my favorite place to sit in the entire house! She has a nice comfy bed surrounded by happy, colorful things.

The baby will be joining her in the room [no matter if it's a boy or girl-it's the last space left]. With the large amounts of pink she has accumulated for the room, lets hope it's a girl...or a boy who loves pink. haha. I'm really happy with the room. It's a small space, but I don't think it feels to crammed or claustrophobic. I'll be adding some fun embroidered art pieces for the baby over the next few months as I finish it.

It's a......

Baby! Yeah, we decided to be suprised with the gender at birth, again this time. It was such a great moment when {L} was born and we finally got to find out. I'm so looking forward to that moment again-meeting my child and finding out it it's a boy or a girl, all at the same time.

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for another little girl! We'll see in a few months!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! Hope your day is filled with family, happiness and love!

GIVEAWAY

CONTEST CLOSED!
The winner is Christopher and Tia! Congrats, lol.
[Uprinting will email you information on your prize within the next week.]
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One winner will be chosen on Janury 4th.

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Ho Ho Ho!

We are counting down the days now!! The kids are finishing up their last week of school before our break. We are reading lots of books about Winter, Christmas and the Winter Solstice. It's been a fun week filled with lots of arts & crafts too. Our weekend plans include 2 full days of baking. Mmmmm Christmas cookies! I can't wait.

The only thing better than making tons of homemade cookies with the kids, is going to my mother in laws and eating some of her awesome cookies! Yum! She makes these really tasty cherry filled ones-they were a pregnancy craving while I was pregnant with {L}. I'm looking forward to sampling some[ok-a lot!] on Christmas Eve.