alittlesweetness

the happy and the sad....

Yes, there is happy and sad news!  I hate sad, but sometimes sad just happens, right? I'm just glad that my sad news isn't something much sadder.  See, already something to be happy about.

The sad thing is that I won't be going to market!  Waaaa!  (yes, that was a baby cry...)  :(  I was really looking forward to my first show and being able to meet (in person!) some amazingly talented friends.  However, with some troubles in the strike-off phase, it just wasn't possible.  I know....WAAA!  Can you pout with me?  Please!?!

Okay, so the happy?  (And yes, I soooo needed some happy) 

I was lucky enough to get some small pieces of good strike-off's back to create a few projects for a small display at market.  I'm thrilled that although I had already decided not to attend, since I didn't think I was really going to have a display, I'll actually end up with a little wall of stuff at the Riley Blake booth!  Yay!

I didn't have long to come up with some little projects and it was challenging as well since I didn't have every print in the line and some prints I only had mere scraps.  So I did my best to represent the line and worked with what I had. 

Do you know how hard it was to not have any red polka dots!!  They're a staple item in my stash.  Thankfully, the solid red was a great substitute and brings across that simplicity of this line and the theme of Redwork. 

I'm just giving you some sneek-peeks until after Market next week.  Then I'll show you everything I made and hopefully be able to get some pictures taken of the booth. 

I loved doing so much hand stitching for these projects.  I love embroidery and this line is perfect for lots of hand stitching. 

At the last minute, I remembered about Charla Anne's little felt dolls, so I quickly whipped one up before sending everything off in a big box to Kansas City, Mo.

I hope it all makes it safely and on time.  Crossing fingers, saying prayers.  Be safe cute little projects!  (eek!)  That makes me nervous.

So, although I'm so sad I'll miss seeing so many of you and miss seeing my little wall of happiness, I'm so glad at least a little bit of me will be there.  (In the form of fabric creations, but still...)  If you see my wall at the Riley Blake booth, please (PLEASE!) take a picture for me!!  I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Meanwhile, I'm going to still be pouting with a bag of some sort of chocolate.  Any sort is fine with me.  Especially in desperate times.  Not to mention, my husband and 4 boys will be camping over the weekend.  Hmmm?  Maybe a perfect time for shopping.  And nail painting. And chocolate.  Oooh, and uninteruppted sewing time!     

See you next week!  And if you're going to market, be safe and have fun!

Your sad and happy friend,

Tasha 

still here!

Yep, I am still here!  My life hasn't been too exciting lately, just taking care of the day-to-day things.  I've enjoyed doing things like making dinner and walking to the park with the little one's.  Sometimes I just feel like I need to be more available and a break is in order.

Like enjoying ice cream cones on a warm Spring evening....

and watching my son do his stuff and the skate park...

I also wanted to take the opportunity to make some baby blakets for babies in need, so I was able to round up a few friends from church to get that done and it was wonderful and fun!  (Thank you ladies!)

I took pictures in about 3 minutes and 27 seconds flat, so they aren't the best, but the blankets were super cute....

and super cuddly with fluffy, snuggly backings...

MMM!  They turned out adorable!

Since then, my 9 year old broke his arm while also doing his stuff at the skate park....he's also a rollerblader.  He always wears a helmet, but this time left the wrist/arm guards in the car.  (of course!)  We enjoyed getting Menchies frozen yogurt after a Dr. appointment...especially him...look at that bite!

yes, he ate it all!  (and needs a hair cut...)

I'm also thankful I was able to help my sister, who has needed round the clock help since she had back surgery a few weeks ago.  She has 4 young children, and she can't do any bending, twisting or lifting anything over 10 lbs for 4-6 weeks and she's moving slowly.  I stayed for a couple nights this week and will go another day next week.  Unfortunatly she lives a little over an hour away, and with the kids in school I can't be there everyday, but thankfully she's getting the help she needs. 

I loved holding this little fella, the one I made the quilt for.  I thought it would be a good time to get some photos.  :)  He's simply sweet and adorable!

For the most part, that's been what I've been up to!  I'll be getting back on track shortly though and hopefully have some new projects to show you.  If you're waiting for orders, I'm working on it.  ;)

Thanks for peeking in!

Tasha

*Edit* P.S.

I also went to this most adorable and amazing party with Ava!  Take a looky....it's so cute!  :)

spring snow

We were so surprised to see snow falling yesterday morning and it continued for about half the day.  Ava was bringing me mittens before I knew it!  Usually I like to see snow, but that's during the winter months.  When it's suppose to be Spring though, not so much.

On the positive side, I did enjoy watching Ava think it was the best thing ever! 

She thought it was pretty funny to throw snow at me!

And of course, she loved eating it.....

See ya!

 

Brrrr....that post just made me cold.  (sorry if it did you too!)

Next week I'll have some new artwork for the shop that doesn't have anything to do with winter or being cold!

Tasha

valentine WIP

Being on slow motion this week and SO inspired by SO many cute Valentine's projects on Pinterest, I decided to delve into some creativity too!

I have a couple other things in the next few days that will occupy my time, which means I might not get back to these WIP's as quickly as I'd like.  Soooo....I thought I'd just show you what I have going so far....

Little hearts....

quilted ones....

and I think they're very cute....

Sweet?

I've also cut up a bunch of little fabric squares for another little idea floating around in my head.

I hope it'll turn out the way I envision it....

Meanwhile...

I've been trying to eat some healthy things this week.  Yesterday I tried a bagel and cream cheese with spinach leaves and cucumber slices, plus some OJ and a vitamin.

It's now a new favorite of mine!  I figure the healthy things counterbalance my chocolate habit. 

At least I hope cuz there's a Milky Way dark sitting in my desk drawer....probably calling my name very soon.  ;)

Tasha

farming

This morning I woke up to a small episode of vertigo, (blah.) so I've been poking around the house today and thankfully I've been able to sew a little.  I had to be careful not to stand and lean over the table or tilt my head as I was cutting or I'd start to fall over!  I've had it much worse before, so I'm just happy it's not like that this time.  

I'm pretty badly behind on my Farmer's Wife blocks, but my stack is looking a little better now!  I have a whopping 18 now!  (woot!)

This round I decided to focus on just red and aqua.  I like how Krystine does that with her blocks....(decides on a couple of colors) ...it really helped me not get overwhelmed with fabrics and color choices.

I got some new fabrics from Kerri, which I love and made me want to sew!

Pretty huh?

For some reason I sew my blocks 3 at a time....?????????? It's like 2 isn't quite enough, but after 3 I need a break and I need to clean up the kitchen table....(that's where I sew).

This time I did Spiderweb, Friendship and Farmer's Daughter

 

SPIDERWEB {83}

 

FRIENDSHIP {39}

 

FARMER'S DAUGHTER {32}

Little story...

When I was sewing my Friendship block, I was confused as to why things weren't matching up!  I knew I had made a little error that I wasn't catching.  I called Kerri because I knew she had made this block before.  We talked for a few minutes about my block when I started listing off the template #'s ....and whatdoyaknow...one of them was the wrong template!!!  By accident I had cut out the wrong one, but wasn't noticing it on my own.  I knew I just needed somebody else to catch my mistake for me.  My point in telling you this is so that if you run into troubles with a block, double check if you've cut the correct pieces.  Some of them are very similar!  If possible, call or email a fellow wifer....it helps to talk through what you've done.  Remember, I made a silly mistake before and talking with another wifer really helped.   

Moral of the story....

it's not easy being a Farmer's Wife...

...But OHHH, SO WORTH IT! 

Tasha

girl power

via www.youtube.com

I've wanted to share this cute little song and video that I spotted on another blog a little while back.  It's really all about believing in yourself and taking your chances.  Doing that thing (or things) that you maybe have always wanted to do.  I thought it is so fitting for all of us women  trying so hard to be the best in each area of our lives.  Family, work, relationships, personal things.  Improving on the weaknesses that we all have and also taking advantage of the blessings and strengths we have been given by a loving Father in Heaven.  Whatever those gifts may be, that we remember to be grateful and continue to believe in ourselves, even when things are difficult.  We all have difficulties, so this song just will absolutely make you want to keep trying!!  I PROMISE!! 

This video features Stephanie Nielson of Nie Nie Dialogues and her children.  I followed her story when it happened and I still check in on her from time to time and she is an amazing (AMAZING!!!) example of never giving up.  The two little girls in the video where they are running, the brown hair and the red hair, are Stephanie's.  (just FYI)  I'm sure some of you have seen the video, but I'm generally kind of slow when it comes to music.  And videos. And most things cool.  ;)

Thanks for listening to my little rambling today.   

Have an extra fabulous weekend!!!

Lots of love,

Tasha

snowing and sewing

Snow has finally visited us, so we've had an interesting week.  The kids have been home so there is lots of winter clothing items draped and hanging everywhere, all over the house.  Every coat, hat, sweatshirt, pair of jeans, pajama bottoms, mittens, snow boots, snow pants and sox.

And I mean Every. Where. 

Throw in a lot of sewing by me and a blueberry waffle breakfast and you've got....well...you can imagine I'm sure. (a super big mess)

One thing I've been working on is my Vintage Bow Tie quilt, inspired by this one.  I've got the top all finished now, so I'm hoping to sneak in the quilting and binding in the next couple days. 

The little bow ties are so simple to make and they are fun because you can think up a ka-trillion different fabric combinations to use. 

I've made a small size because I think I just might hang it up on a wall somewhere.  Although I keep wondering if I should have made it bigger, like a lap size.  Hmmm? 

For now, time to get this place pulled together for another round of snow clothes and sewing. 

Bring it on. 

Tasha

around here....

Goodness Me, it's been a little bit of everything around here lately!  We enjoyed Thanksgiving here with some family, then out of town for the weekend to visit more family (tons of festive crafting there!) and since being home we've been on to the Christmas decorating, hot chocolate drinking, getting orders done (me!), working on secret things (shhh...a little longer), organizing things, working little by little on the kitchen, and even though I woke up feeling yucky today, I'm finally getting to some holiday stitching...which I'm super loving!!!  It's about time, don'tcha think? 

I decided I wanted to stitch my little Christmas Angel in all red...I can't wait to see how she turns out.

I just love sitting down with my little pile of stuff and being able to stitch away.  Happiness.

If you want to give her a try too, you can find her in my shop as a pattern now, as well as the Winter Pixie.  I'm hoping I'll get a chance to stitch her too.  We'll see!

Speaking of Pixies......

Isn't he a cutie?!

I'm simply delighted to be arranging this little collection of adorable vintage pixie figurines that belonged to my Grandma, who passed away this year.  When my mom was going through her things, she knew right where they should go.  I adore them so much and they'll always remind me of my Grandma Carlsen. 

I finally figured out that this one's peculiar pose (below) is so he can hang on the side of a dish.  CUTE!

I think he's a sneaky one. 

And now for more of the 'around here' part of the post.....

I had to giggle one night when my boys lined up to dish up there Little Ceasars Pizza....there they were....in all their Red, Pink, and Aqua glory!

(Do not, i tell you, Do NOT notice the empty milk jug on the counter or other messy looking piles in the background)

You'd think I was their mother or something!  No, really, I think these colors must be programmed into their brains as well....it's genetic! 

They seriously choose their own clothes!

And this is seriously how they pose when I tell them I want a picture....

Like for reals. 

These boys, as crazy as they are and as crazy as they make me (...at times, they each have a sweet side too) they really simply melt my heart...like crazy! 

It's totally CrAzY around here....

So I better get back to that heavenly-ly, relaxing, peaceful stitching while I can....

(Here I come little Christmas Angel!)

(Cuz it's about to get crazy....okay, I'm done)

Happy December....  :)

Tasha 

getting fancy

Finishing up my Flea Market Fancy quilt is just about as....well....*fancy*...as things have been around here lately.  Just the usual for the most part.....work, getting kids to school, clean up, dinner, bedtime, laundry...those sorts of things. 

And grateful I am for the normal-ness life has in store right now.  But isn't so great when you can sneak in some time here and there to make something pretty? 

In addition to the Flea Market Fancy fabrics, I have added a few Katie Jump Rope and some other of my random favorites that I thought coordinated well....like the red and aqua stripes and polka dots.  (Of course.)  ;)

I do think I'm getting better at my stippling.....although I still mess up alot!  I won't point all those parts out to you.  ;)  I still really need to get those gloves!!!

For the backing I did a simple patchwork strip with my Posies.  Easy Peasy.

I like my gray binding!  It's Moda Bella Solid in Gray.  mmmm!

My kids (here's just one of them!) are surely enjoying it.

 

See, now isn't that just *fancy*!?!?!!

Tasha

back to life

 

Ava and I sat and had a divine little breakfast moment together this morning.  With all the boys off to school, we had fun arranging the flowers, mixing and sipping up juice (i taught her how to do 'cheers') and gobbling up some oh so yummy eggo waffles.  With peanut butter of course.  (You really should try it!)  ;)

Ava really is all girl and loves doing this stuff.  She loves to be right in there, definitly has her way and say!

She loved using a tiny version of my mason jar!

As you can see, my counter chairs are red now! 

Over the long weekend we did quite a bit of home improvement/projects.  Sanding and painting the chairs was one of them. 

Here's my oldest having the time of his life. (Not!)

I've done alot on my bedroom finally, getting it all painted, painting my dressers and my hubby's ripped off the old mouldings so we can put up new white pretty stuff. 

I painted.....

While Ava slept on my bed.

So, all in all we stayed pretty busy.  It's definitly a work in progress though, so no great photos yet.  I've got some ideas for my bedroom that shouldn't be too far fetched, so hopefully I'll be able to share some pictures soon. 

For today, I'm opening up the the shop and here we are.....

back to life!

Enjoy!  ;)

Tasha