to tell you the honest truth

not the norm

Orange and Green!  So, not the norm for me!  I joined the 3 X 6 Mini Bee on flickr and have color requests other than red, pink and aqua.  Imagine that.  I was surely not prepared for green and orange, so I went a looking.....oh, dear....poor me...had to buy a little fabric.  Plus, I thought it was great stash building for anything I might make my boys in the future or for swapping or other bee's or whatever.  And it's already growing on me!!   

I came across Ruth's Sewing Room on Etsy where she is selling 2 yards of Katie Jump Rope for $6.99.  I thought it was a great deal so I snatched some up.  A couple of these are smaller amounts.  She has a few others that are sort of odd amounts of fabric for like $5.  I don't think she has a lot left, but I asked on one fabric that was in one of her pictures, but not listed in the shop and she had just a 1/2 yard left.  It was the orange flowers.  So, if you're interested in some KJR, head on over! 

Other excitement in the house today....

Star Wars speeders in space made with cheese.  mmmmm!

 

C-ya!

Tasha 

sweet things

New Lollies for Ava's room!

Remember this:

 

Now, it's also an embroidery pattern!

 

Not exactly what this will turn in to, but I like it.  Pete said her shoes look like they are floating, so I probably need a better skin color thread next time. (I was using what I had on hand).  This is also my first attempt at doing a log cabin quilt block, and I like it too.  If you notice any un-even-ness, that is because it is suppose to be "wonky"....that's what the quilting world calls it....the wonky log cabin.  My wonky-ness is very slight compared to some.  I was able to use some fabrics I swapped for too, so that was a highlight for me.  Anyway, that's what I've been up to lately.

Have a great day!

for fabric junkies

I've been doing some totally fabulous fabric swapping on flickr lately.  It probably sounds strange to most, but the fabric loving people are really into this!  It works like this:  I upload photos to my flickr of the fabrics I want to swap, I list the amounts I have available to swap and I also can list a wish list of fabrics that i would hope to aquire through swapping.  Then I wait for the flickr mails to arrive!  I can decline or accept someone's offer or do some negotiating.  A couple swaps have come in the mail and a couple more are on their way.  I am super excited about the variety of cute fabrics I now have to work with.  I won't bore you with anymore details, but all I have to say is...........YAY for swapping!  :)

TTFN...tata for now! 

miniquilts, mugs and milestones....okay, and memories

I have 3 mini snippet quilts ready for quilting!  Yay!  When they are all done, I will show you.  ;)

Next up, MUGS!  (exciting, I know.)

Pete went to Florida again for work....it was a long HOT week when he was gone.  He always brings back little surprises for us.  This time he brought back Nasa Mugs.  He has been able to tour the Space Center the last couple times he has gone and has been able to go and see and do things nobody usually gets to see and do!  Basically, "special clearance".  He has been very fascinated by it all, if you can imagine.  Which, if you know Pete, you can imagine his fascination quite well.  So we all love and adore our Nasa mugs A LOT around here!  :)  One thing I will add about Pete...just because I feel like saying something nice about him....is that I am very grateful and impressed with Pete's honesty with his job.  Since he works from home 2-3 days per week, he has plenty of opportunity to "pretend" he is working.  This is never an option for Pete.  If anything, he OVER estimates his time and works without compensation.  A slacker he is definitly not.  In my opinion, he is quite the stellar employee.  I appreciate him everyday for his dedication to working hard and being honest with his time.

 

Now, onto MILESTONES.......

Little Ava is showing some of her brothers up!  Only one has surpassed her in the crawling department of life.  She isn't crawling yet, but at just 5 1/2 months, she is doing what we call "Rocky-Rocky".  It's that cute little back and forth motion they do once they have mastered getting up on all fours.  Way to go Ava!

Here's the action...well as best I could in photos:

 

   

 

 

 

That was tiring! 

Here's a couple other recent pic's of Ava.

And finally, one more milestone....sort of.

There are two brothers that come to the neighborhood, from North Carolina, to spend the summer with their dad.  They are Cody and Ethan and our boys have become friends with them.  They met in the summer of '07.  Summer of '08 they didn't come because their dad was in Iraq (or somewhere).  So we were all excited to see them this summer!  They are really good boys, super nice and well mannered, kind to the little ones, etc.  They already went back to North Carolina and we look forward to seeing them next summer!

Here are the boys in '07:

Caleb, Ethan, Isaac, Taylor, Cody

And here they are summer of '09:

And a group photo:

I love it!

For MEMORIES.....some of my FAV-orite songs of my teen years are playing.....such memories!!

C-ya!

hip hip hooray, it's a sewing day!

I've decided to take a little time to make something fun....just because!  In the quilting world, little mini quilts are all the rave.  They're cute plus they are quick so you get that instant gratification feeling.  The above work in progress in called snippets inspired by Crazy Mom Quilts.  If you do a search on Flickr, you can find lots of examples of this fun technique.  There is a tutorial here on the Lady Harvatine blog, which is the one that Crazy Mom followed.  Anyway, it's super easy and fun.  Especially when doing the little quilts.  The point of the mini quilt you ask?  (I know that my sister wonders! hehe)  Well, yes, they have been known to be used for baby dolls, but also for something like this:

This is an ever so popular photo from the blog of Hillary Lang's Wee Wonderfuls and also found on Flickr.

This is something I would like to do in Ava's room over time.  Probably won't ever get that many up, but on a smaller scale.  So, the floral snippets quilt is the beginning. 

Here's a little red and aqua one I did on Sunday.  Not sure what to do with it yet, but i'll keep you posted. ;) 

C-ya! 

it's a miracle!

So I'm actually doing extra curricular activities now!  As much as I love holding and snuggling my sweet little Ava, I also love being able to have some time for other things.  Sometimes it's even nice just to get some cleaning done.  Ava seems to be working into some nice long morning and afternoon naps and also has been hanging out happily in her swing more often.  I have taken these new opportunities to get some old projects off the shelf and hopefully start some new ones brewing in my head.  We'll see how that goes, but for now I am just so excited to finally get my red and aqua quilt top finished!  YAY!

 

I'm also excited to pull this other quilt top out of the woodwork.  I actually made this quilt top when I first found out I was pregnant and didn't know what I was having yet.  I had wanted to make something for the baby and thought I would attempt the gender neutral thing.  Oh dear me.  So, what happened was a very strange thing....the colors actually made me feel nauseated!  Literally sick to my stomach, and I just didn't like it anymore, so I hid this thing away!  Now looking at it, I think it is cute and I really don't have a good reason not to finish it.  So it will just be a hang around the house quilt I guess.

 

  

I can't wait to see these all quilted up!  :) 

39 weeks

Taylor said he couldn't wait until she was born and I said "yeah, well she seems to be taking her time" and he giggled and grinned and said "Like a girl!". 

So here I sit, at 39 weeks, wondering and waiting.  I did check myself into the hospital the other night because her movements have slowed down and it was making me a nervous wreck.  She was moving, but I just wanted to know that her heart rate was okay.....and it was, but I was really glad I went because of the peace of mind.  However, as much as I want to meet little Ava, the hospital gave me the willies.  I was happy to be going home and at the same time, I just wanted to have her.  It's a strange, exciting and totally unpleasant experience to be going to the hospital to have a baby.  That's my opinion anyway.  One I am grateful for, but still....ug.  Anyway, on to to brighter thoughts and pictures.  I have Ava's hospital bag packed and I finished her little baby blanket.

The backing is pink chenille and it measures about 25" X 30".

Here's some of the cute fabrics, most of these are japanese imports:

Here's the bag and it's contents:

Super soft velour outfit from Gymboree.  I love the ruffles on the arms and legs and of course the argyle giraffe.

Soft and cuddly polka dot outfit from Carters.  Aside from it's polka dots, I love the little deer patch and the ric-rac on the collar and pockets.

I need to wash the onsies, don't you think?  So they aren't itchy on her skin?  I haven't taken tags off or washed anything yet.  Should I wash the outfits first?  I can't remember what I did with the boys.  I don't think I was as worried about them because I just knew they were boys.  I have been shown girl parts 5 times though, so what should I do about the washing?   

Kerri brought over this little matching hat she had leftover from her Etsy shop.  I hadn't found a hat yet and this one is perfect since it matches the booties she made.  I thought they would look cute with the polka dot outfit. 

So, that's that!  Now, I guess I need to get my bags ready....oh and something for pete, and make sure the video camera is charged.  We are planning to take the laptop so we can do some updates and pictures while we are there. 

C-ya! 

the nursery...

....or should I just say it?!  AVA's ROOM!!!  It's so totally cute that I go sit in there daily.  I've had some good excuses though, like putting away all my wonderful baby shower gifts and hanging up a few things, moving things around and just staring and more staring.  We all just LOVE IT!  We have a few odds and ends to still take care of, like the baseboard trim and another coat of paint on one wall, hemming the curtains and sewing the ends of the crib bumper together.  I'm sure it will be a work in progress too as I add new little things and move things around.  It will be essentially, Ava's Room and my PLAYroom.  The girly-ness will now be pouring out of me folks!  But what do you expect?  So, on with the pic's! 

First off, the view from the doorway. (above)

Crib bumper made by me and crib quilt made by my sister-in-law, Kerri.  She knew what colors I was doing for the room and also knew which fabrics I loved because of my Etsy Favorites, that is how she was able to coordinate it so well.  Not to mention the fact that she can't keep a secret so I knew she was making it.  A couple times she asked me about different fabrics for the quilt.  It got me off the hook for making one myself for Ava at the moment.  I still plan to make one too, but at least I can take my time.  I have a lot of the same fabrics that Kerri used so everything will coordinate, but still be different.  I am also so happy to finally have a place to hang the peg rack from our old house in Tacoma.

AVA letters painted, distressed and glittered by me!  Letters from Joann's for cheap.

I had a berry garland that wasn't being used so I bought a super cheap grapevine wreath at Joann's and added some pretty glittery butterfly's that were actually sold at Target in the Christmas tree decorations.  I didn't know what I would do with them at the time, but I think they found a perfect home!

Closer view of the bumper and quilt!  I LOVE this beautiful quilt!  As you can see, I am still waiting on my crib skirt I bought off e bay.

I am so happy I decided to paint the dresser a light aqua instead of pink.  We still have the little nightstand to paint as well.  And I need to find some cute pink "glass" knobs for the middle drawer. 

A little closer view of the dresser.  Remember this was a $40 Craig's List find!  I sanded it first to rough it up, then Pete did the first couple coats of painting.  I did the final touch ups and then sanded the edges.  It's so cute!  I am happy that one of my drawings matches perfectly and I love the little doll that Kerri made. 

I love this adorable lamp the Kerri found at an antique store...it's perfect!  I made the round box from a paper mache box from Joann's and some vintage wallpaper I bought off e bay.  The trim is vintage from my mom's old stash.  Kerri also made the sweet little booties in some of my favorite fabrics. 

How sweet are THEY?!! 

I am thrilled to finally have a chair for one of my baby's rooms!  I found another Ikea Ektorp chair on Craig's List for just $90.  (I did put in a wanted add and got several replies!)  The chair we bought was in MUCH nicer condition than the chair we already had so we ended putting the old chair in the baby's room and the Craig's List chair in the living room.  The CL chair had a very nice sagey green slipcover, but of course I am using my white one here.  Kerri made the doll quilt on the back of the chair and I made the small quilt on the arm of the chair.  Sorry I didn't straighten out the wrinkles before I took the picture!  oops.  :)

Here is a closer view of the doll quilt from Kerri.  I may end up hanging it on the wall, but for now I think it looks cute here!  Each center square is a "forest friend".  Austin likes finding the different animals. 

Little dishes I saw at Target....they were an instant must have item!  Some of the silverware has been misplaced by Austin.  I love my little shelf that runs around the room so I can set things on it.  Something I have always loved when looking at magazines.

Kerri mentioned that she saw some curtains in Pottery Barn that had a bunch of colorful ribbons at the top, so that's where I got the idea to do this.  I loved how it made the project fast to do instead of making ties from fabric.  I think I have mentioned before that I am not always the most patient sewer/crafter.....so the faster, the better.  I actually did use some skinny fabric strips and didn't worry about the unfinished edges.  I love the shabby look it gives.  Oh, I also painted the rod.

And of course, this darling banner was made by Kerri also.  She called me one night because she couldn't decide what fabrics to use since there is just a limited amount of triangles.  Since we are both a little obsessed with fabrics right now, we actually know them by designer and name so she went through her fabrics over the phone and I chose the ones for the banner.  I think there were a couple extras that she was able to fit and so they were surprises!  These are very popular on Etsy right now and on Flickr!

So, here's a good beginning and ending comparison:

I would also like to add that Pete is amazing and this would never look so stinkin cute if it wasn't for him and all his hard work.  We both did the painting of the beadboard, mostly me, but he installed everything to absolute perfection!  Even when I would say, "Oh, don't worry, that's no big deal, no one will notice...", he insisted on getting it all perfect!  He also has not once peeped about how much I was spending or fussing over the room or if I came home with another little outfit.  I think he has understood and I couldn't be more appreciative. 

Also, thanks to Ben, Pete's brother who helped out when he was visiting during Christmas break.  Can you believe it actually got finished?

And to Kerri, who's "cuter than ever", handmade items, have added so much to the room! 

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!  It's the cutest room ever!  Come see for yourself!  :)

new baby date!

So looks like I'm in luck because my doctor is going out of town!  He knows I am always early and most likely wouldn't make it till he gets back.  He gave me a February 5th option to be induced.  I'll gladly take that!  That leaves us with about 4 and a 1/2 weeks till baby arrives!  He was suggesting an amniocentisis before hand to ensure baby's lung development, but not sure if he meant I HAD to have one for him to induce or that it was my choice.....still have to ask some questions there.  Maybe she will just come even earlier and I won't have to worry about that.  Anyway, meanwhile......we have some work to get done!  Here's a couple hints.  ;)

C-ya! 

done!

I am loving my new Christmas quilt!  I took longer to get it done than I hoped, but mostly because of busy-ness, not procrastination.  (Usually it would be procrastination, but really...not this time!)  The quilting was pretty time consuming...probably took 6 hours (guessing).  The whole thing was about a 15 hour project.  Give or take a few.  (guessing again).  The backing is a super soft white striped minky, which I am so glad I used especially for this time of year when you really want to be cozy.  Size is approx.  45"x50".  Got the instructions here on Crazy Mom Quilts blog.  She is very inspiring and makes quilts like crazy!

Last weekend we also enjoyed having Pete's sister, Katrina, stay with us for a couple days.  She was in town from Arizona for Maria's wedding.  Little Adin is so cute and my boys absolutely adored him!  Although we stayed home, after all the "wedding rushing about", we had fun chatting, lounging around, making soaps, decorating gingerbread houses, more chatting, watching snow fall, and Katrina, being the cool Aunt that she is, made us all hot chocolate when I didn't feel like moving!   Pete worked  ALL weekend so I was extra happy to have the company.  

We miss you both already!  :)