mondays

It's Monday and I will admit that I got the boys off to school and then headed back to bed just to rest for a bit. An hour and a half later I woke up and am feeling quite out of it. I wanted to get a jump start on the week because it's the last week the boys are in school and I have a TON to do. So, now it's 10 am and I am sitting in my work out clothes, trying to get this darn exercise ambition going. But, while I am waiting for that to kick in, I thought I would share a few things -

1 - The blog c.r.a.f.t has a m.m.m (making monday marvelous) feature and she has featured the Road Trip Pillowcases that I made last summer for our friends. I am going to make some for my children this summer.

2 - My friend Karyn at Releases by Rufydoof gave me a Kreativ Blogger award. Now, I met Karyn back in 1990 when she came from Australia to San Diego to be an exchange student with my best friend Angie. I had just gotten my driver's license, so we all had a blast driving around, shopping, and just having a great time. We still keep in touch sending each other gifts to each other for special occasions. This girl has an awesome talent for jewelry making and has been featured on the cover of beading magazines. For this award I must tell you 7 things you may not know about me -

1 - I got a degree in geography and tourism from BYU and still study the atlas at night before I go to bed.

2 - My husband asked me to marry him on the 50 yard line of the BYU Football field and I agreed because he had 2 tickets to Italy in his hand he was offering me as well.

3 - I grew up in a family of 8 kids and thought I would have 8 children as well. I now have 4 and truly believe that 4 is the new 8!

4 - My favorite music is ska. My favorite groups are Madness, English Beat, Special Beat, General Public, Ranking Roger, The Specials, and a few others. I need to make a good mix for my ipod to help me exercise. That might help get me off the couch!

5 - I grew up in San Diego and used to love to camp and the beach. One of my favorite things was when we would spend weeks and weeks camping at the beach and you would get so tan, even the tops of your feet and you would have Flojo marks!!!

6 - I love Kentucky. I moved here with my husband and family 10+ years ago and never want to leave. When I go back to visit my friends in San Diego they always ask if I am sure that I love it. There is just something good here - the people, the scenery, and the feeling. I pass by a horse farm every day on the way to the store and I live in the city!!1

7 - I love my family. I love these little pip squeaks that are in this house and my detail oriented, scout loving, Spanish speaking, home building husband. He's cool. Sometimes I am not. I am glad he loves me anyways. And, I love my extended family and wish that the states between Kentucky and California weren't so big (or even there - just put somewhere else, not gone altogether) so that I could see them more often.

Okay, enough about me on this Monday morning (it's now afternoon). I am off to exercise....maybe.

apron for kate

I am grateful that my friend asked me to sew an apron for her daughter. I am happy to make it because it gave me a reason to dust off the machine. I'm serious - I need reasons now. I did find that as soon as I was done and had Mallory trying it on, she did want one. So, I now have a reason to keep the machine going since she wants one too. For the apron, I just traced a store bought apron I had for my boys. I added a ruffle and made it reversible too. I love a reversible apron because who knows what mood you are going to be in when you want to wear it and with this, there is an option. I think I need more reversible clothing! That would give me more options and if I spilled on one side, then just turn that shirt, skirt, etc. over. A thought. I added a bird applique on one side with a pocket, but since I don't like making pockets, there isn't a pocket on the other side just her name.

In other news, I went to see Wicked last night. Still love it. I decided next time I see it, I want to take the kids. They have been tortured with the music in the car for the last year and a half and the need to see the story that goes with it.

Okay, that's all, but let's hope my postings are a bit more consistent. Lots of jewelry, but I won't bore you with any of those photos. Cute custom orders though!!

confessions

Do you want to know the truth? The truth is - my daughter won't wear anything I make for her. It's true. It's been since last Fall. Suddenly, she stopped and said no to anything handmade and went for her Princess, Minnie Mouse, and Dora shirts and dresses. She won't even wear hair bows and headbands. And, if you knew what happened last fall you would know that she really could use a few! I could blame it on my seamstress skills, but she's not that picky. I think I will blame it on our trip to Disney World in October (therefor a new love of Princesses) and the fact that she is the youngest of 4 and knows too much too soon. Why? I had three boys who don't really need for me or want me to sew much for them. When I had Mallory, that's when I really started to try things. I don't spend more than 10 minutes a week upstairs in my craft room. I can make jewelry downstairs and I have been doing that more lately. I sit upstairs and try to be inspired, but you know how it is...the more you do - the more the creative juices flow. So, I guess that means, if you aren't doing much, they might not flow at all! Will she grow out of this? I hope so. Are there other reasons to sew? Of course. I just need to get some juices moving again. Here are some tutorials that I hope to win my daughter over with -

- Lil Blue Boo's Border Fabric Sundress Tutorial

- The Pearl Bee's Rose Barrettes

- Simply Modern Mom's Retro Ruffle Dress Pillowcase Dress

- Calico's Easy Headband Tutorial

- Make It and Love It's Girls Ruffle Front Shirt Tutorial

Do you have any other awesome tutorials to suggest? I know I don't just sew because I have a girl, but it was a bit more fun - especially when she needed things like shorts, dresses, etc. and I could pick out at a pattern and make them for her. I just thought my window to make things for her would be a bit bigger!!!