to tell you the honest truth

a busy weekend

Last weekend was full of busy-ness.  I was cruising along on a custom quilt order when my brother, Brady, called and said he was coming through our end of town for a short couple days.  Unfortunately, his kids Grandpa passed away so they had a funeral to attend.  Of course, you crafters out there understand that when you are crafting away, not much else is getting done around the house!  Equation looks like this:  Crafting + more crafting = disaster in the home.  Therefore, crafting came to a screeching hault and "fire on your butts" cleaning began.  Side Note*  "Fire on your butts" started when I was a kid and we were all suppose to be doing our chores when parents were out.  Well, we played instead, until someone heard or saw parents coming down street or into garage, then the shouting began..."Mom and Dad are home!  Fire on your butts!"  and we ran around picking things up.  Anyway, back to the weekend.  Ryley and Brenna are wonderful cousins to Caleb and Taylor in particular because of their ages.  Caleb has admired Ryley since he was probably 2!  We didn't tell them Ryley and Brenna were coming, but told them we were having visitors.  They were so excited to see them, even though they came around 9:30 pm and just were able to stay for a few hours.  We so appreciated Brady stopping by, since he had driven about 9 hours and still had an hour after he left our house.  We missed seeing Lisa and their new baby, Maya. This first picture below makes me laugh because they suddenly got all serious and rigid for the picture like they don't know each other or something.  They were like wild monkeys , okay maybe a little more tame than that.  :)

Saturday, I worked more on my custom quilt order and it should now be arriving at it's destination any moment.  The lady had sent me some bedding that she wanted mixed into the quilt.  So, some flowered fabric, a little China doll appliqué and some flower appliqués were taken from her quilt and put into this quilt.  I also had fun adding some personality to the backing with a fabric strip and another little patch and flower appliqué. 

I also purchased 2 of these baskets that has helped tremendously to cut down on the amount of "shelf clearing" that Austin does with the books in our den.  One basket I put up on the highest shelf and this one is on a middle shelf.  The baskets are quite sturdy and heavy so it isn't easy for him to take the one that is in reach off the shelf.  His board books are still out for him, only the older boys picture books are in the baskets.  So many were getting ruined by getting knocked down and then stepped on, this has helped a lot!  And I think it looks nicer too.

Sunday was another exciting day for all of us when Pete's sister, Maria came for dinner.  We hadn't seen her for about 2 1/2 years since she had moved to California and also lived in Iowa for about 6 months.  Now she is back "home" in the Seattle area, living with a friend and their family.  She couldn't believe how big the boys had gotten and she hadn't ever met Austin before.  We really enjoyed her being with us and plan to see her often!  We love that our boys will have another Aunt around!  Maria is fun and so easy to have around and talk to.  (Picture is a little blurry :( )

Here is one I took of Pete and Austin.  Pete loves his boys so much....I love recording these moments!

THE END!!!!

i'm so excited!

I got this message today in my Etsy mailbox from a design blog called Lily and Tulip letting me know that they featured my Vintage Quilt Kit from my shop!  Take a look, it is a really nicely done blog.  If you love me, please bookmark it AND my shop.  Yes, I am marketing myself.  :)  Anyway, that was my excitement for the day! 

 

baby boys

I know I do a lot of whining and wishing that I had a little girl, but there are also times when I would be perfectly happy with another little boy.  For example, after making this hedgehog onesie for my shop, I had one of those moments.  Girl or boy...they are all blessings from heaven and make our lives complete.

Below is Little Hedgehog and his Mushroom Friend. 

embroidery happiness

I am really having a great time with embroidery lately.  Not something I would have ever guessed myself doing.  I love the vintage look it has and I love that I can draw my own design and use my own handwriting.  And it really is very simple to do.  Well, at least the one basic stitch that I have been doing.  I need to investigate that french knot sometime.  Anyway, if you haven't been keeping watch on my shop, I do have a few new creations listed using embroidery.  I would love it if someone took a peek!  My dream really is to be able to have more time and money and just do this stuff for fun, family and friends. 

So this is what I have been up to!

Meanwhile, this is what my boys are up to!

Are plastic bags safe for children to play with??? OOPS a daisy!  ;)

blogging/crafting world fun

Now this is where things get fun in the blogging/crafting world I have recently entered.  I sold a quilt kit on Etsy to the funnest girl named Kimma.  She lives in Virginia (where Pete served his mission), is married and has a new baby girl.  She flattered me by posting a picture of my vintage style quilt on her blog and adding me to her blog list.  What fun and how nice is that???!!!!  She does custom banners on Etsy, her shop is ohkimma and offers other business type services too, like hang tags for your handmade items.  COOL!  Check her out, she is in my sidebar and her blog is Home Sweet Chestnut Street.  Thanks Kimma for your support!  Now get to work on that quilt!  (So, my point is that it is really fun to meet new people and who are so nice!  Did you get that?)

Another fun thing, if you have kids, (I am thinking Ian, Maya, Savannnah, Jacob, Ashley,Ella) there is a blog in my sidebar called Allsorts.  Click on it and scroll down the sidebar until you see a Gingerbread House.  Click on it and have fun decorating.  There are also a few other cute things to do, like dress a doll and build a robot.  I even had fun doing some of them!  So cute!  My kids love it!  And such a fun blog not to mention.  Cute crafts and all and she an illustrator!  So cool!

i made a cute bag!

I had so much fun learning to make this little bag.  I found a tutorial on a blog and it seemed pretty simple and it was.  Although, because it was my first bag I've ever made, it did take me awhile.  Sorta figuring things out as I went, then having to unstitch a few times and fiddling with edges and straps and such.  A good time though and I want to make another sometime.  I'd like to add a pocket inside next time and maybe some embroidery.  I want to try that.  So, this one is in my shop now and if no one buys it, heck I won't mind keeping it for myself! :)

scrumdidiliumtious!

I am excited to have completed this totally cute quilt!  I very much would like to keep it for my own, but unfortunately that wasn't the purpose for making it and i don't have much need for something so absolutely girly around here.  So, go see it in my shop!  I need to learn how to do links.  another time.   oh, kits for this quilt will be available shortly!

a happy project coming soon!

my store has been a little slow starting because i have been working on something a little more time consuming.  almost done! can't wait! and oh so girly! :)

the hayloft is open!

So I officially have an Etsy Shop, which I am having alot of fun with!  It 's called The Hayloft and sells girly items with a vintage flair.  Like I said before, I am into the vintage look and love finding old things to incorporate into my projects.  My mom has donated lots of ribbons, trims and lace and they have been finding new homes little by little. 

The desire to make boxes were inspired by pictures I have seen in magazines of stacks of old-fashioned hat boxes.  I have always just starred at them...I love them!  I was charmed by the story of a lady named Hannah Davis who, during 1825-1830, sold "bandboxes" covered in wallpaper to young girls who worked in the enormous factories.  They bought the decorative boxes as luggage pieces to proudly carry their valuable items such as; bonnets, dresses, jewelry, ribbons and artificial flowers.   Today, a Hannah Davis bandbox is much desired by collectors.  So, in my shop you can find my version of a wallpaper bandbox.  I like adding the ribbons/trims/fabric for extra character. :)  Since I have had the wallpaper around, other ways to use it have transpired, like the Notecard Sets.

Anyway, it's time to attend to the family!  I hope you check out the shop often as I intend to add things on a regular basis.  At least that's the idea!