Hello and Thanks

I feel remiss in saying hello to anyone who is new to my site especially via Craft Critique, Blog Frog and Top Mommy Blogs! Thank you for taking time to come by and reading ramblings about my crafty-foodie life which often involves my family. Having the site for 1-1/2 years now, it’s still surreal to believe there are readers who visit regularly or whenever time allows. It’s nice to know that I’ve helped or inspired others to do something different, something new. The crafting and cooking will return soon…

It's the simplicity I envy sometimes

I’m feeling a little introspective lately. Like everyone else, just lots of things going on with family and life, but things are under control. I mean really, I have a great family life and I’m finally exploring the artistic side of me which before, I hardly had time. At least now, I sneak it in once in a while: a late night, drawing or sketching in the car while waiting in the school pick-up line.  I often wonder if my daughter remembers I used to work outside the house and I used to take her to the office with me. Or is this the me she sees now: mom, wife, personal secretary, chauffeur, cook, launderer, housekeeper, etc. I want to make sure my kids know I love them, want to set a good example, teach them life skills. We all do the best we can.

I think I just get run down with the parenting-homekeeping part of me, so it was great timing that a friend of ours managed to arrange two tickets to The Oprah Winfrey Show! How surreal is that? I ended up going by myself because Eastman had a prior school event – out of town, even. And, while there was the “extra” ticket, how could I possible pick one friend to come along? How do you pick? I didn’t. It’s almost impossible. How does that Petula Clark song go *grin*?

Like a good audience member, in accordance to the “guest contract” I signed at Harpo Studios, I won’t blog about the program I saw (it was the Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers show, by the way – aired last Friday), but I can certainly document my journey there. It was really refreshing to have some time for myself…

I had a chance to forget all my troubles, forget all my cares… downtown.

(Thanks, Darwin! Thanks, East!)

Ten Years Ago…

… I walked down an aisle, and this man took my hand. We had no idea what was ahead, only that we wanted to experience it together. It doesn’t seem like ten years; though much has changed, some things remain the same.

Lunch in Napa

Every year I take out our old wedding cards and read them. I like to remember the ceremony, the reception, who was there to share in our day. The funniest thing was my husband and I read one card and didn’t recognize the names. We couldn’t believe it and thought about breaking out the photo album. By this time, it was midnight… and I really didn’t want to go through pictures then. Of 225 guests, not to remember 2 people? Must’ve been our parents’ friends.

Happy anniversary, Honey. Here’s to the next 10 years, and then some.

Slowly but surely: T-Shirt Quilt

T-shirt quilt layoutThere I am with graph paper and pencil in hand as I’m trying to figure out where to place the squares. Stayed up a little last night and drew out a layout. Seriously, when was the last time I used graph paper? Probably when I was wearing one of those shirts from college. Hooters… haven’t been there in YEARS. Anyhow, this didn’t take too long.

I moved some shirts around, and I think it’ll be really nice when it’s all said and done. I decided to still use borders and sashing (Unlike the “toocool quilts“, which are still really interesting, I needed a little order), but the shirts won’t all be square. So, I’ll be sewing columns instead of rows. (Like this might mean anything to non-sewers?) Next steps: have to figure out sashing color, and trim all shirts to the “correct” size.

As I was totally engaged in this activity, Ollie was playing Mario Kart. He was also very engaged.

Asleep

Crafting progress

It’s April 29. I don’t think I’m going to make the April 30 deadline for the projects I wrote about here, but I’m happy to say I’ve finished “prep stage 1” for the T-shirt quilt. I had way more than 9 shirts left to interface, and it definitely takes time.

T-shirt quilt squares

I brought my ironing board upstairs so I could watch old Schoolhouse Rock videos on You Tube with Ollie while I busted my tail trying to iron as fast as I could. Now I have the Adjective Song in my head. “He was a hairy bear, he was a scary bear, we made a hasty retreat from his lair… and described him with adjectives.” I love that song. Apparently, Ollie does too, he watched it about 10 times in a row.

Relive your childhood here: Classic Schoolhouse Rock – Adjective Song

The wine cork board is in disarray. I didn’t set baselines, and my rows started tilting towards the left. Voices in my head kept saying, “What would Martha (Stewart) do?” Of course, she’d start over, and so did I. I’m insane. As for the baby burp cloths, the fabric and ribbons are all cut. While Ollie took apart the couch after lunch, I ironed and pinned. I still might be able to finish sewing the burp cloths by the weekend.

What happens when I craftimg_1970

The crafting to-do list

The little one is chowing down on Easter jelly beans, and he’s very content right now, so I’m taking this opportunity to empty my head of some projects that I want to finish.  Maybe I’ll even finish them before April 30?  I stumbled onto this website, http://tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com/, and I liked her Spring to Finish idea!

So, what do I want to finish?  Maybe the better question is, what can I realistically finish by April 30.  Can I include the Easter napkins?  I made 18 cute, Easter-Spring themed napkins for the tablesetting.  Will have to update with pictures.

1. Wine cork bulletin board – in progress

2. Baby burp cloths – 1-boy, 2-girls

3. Finish 1st stage prep for the big T-shirt quilt (I think I have 9 t’s left to interface)

I think this is do-able.  We’ll see.

“Black Holes” of time

So, if I’m ever feeling like I need to do something other than the ga-zillion things I already do now, I visit these places:

Orisinal: Morning Sunshine – these are cute flash games: http://www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/

Cake Mania – original. There are two sequels I believe, of this multi-tasking video game: http://www.shockwave.com/gamelanding/cakemania.jsp

How About Orange: http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/

These are just a few fun places.

I’m thinking about changing up the colors/theme here, but I don’t think it will be anytime too soon. I have to learn how to/where to download themes.  I don’t know that I’m that savvy enough to design from scratch.

Happy Year of the Ox!

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