What I'm working on...

We have about two weeks before we leave for another trip and in the between time I'm trying to get some projects finished that I'll share here before I forget, I hope...

I finished binding these three quilts last night and have put them in my Etsy shop in case you'd like to have a peek. 

I'm taping, tracing, and cutting patterns today to get some kids sewing done because my kids are growing out of everything and never seem to have enough shorts/t-shirts!! I'm going to try out some of the patterns I've bought recently and see how it turns out!

Good plan, right? I'll let you know how it goes...

Since last Wednesday...

-Both kids had their Dr. visits and both kids got shots.  They were both VERY upset that I let this happen.
-I held another Relief Society activity and we tied 8 fleece blankets to be donated so I'm calling it a win.
-Ben's parents came in for a visit from North Carolina that morning and have been staying with us.
-I put together 1 Wiksten tank, 1 Geranium dress, and 1 Geranium top that were cut out and waiting to go (stress relief sewing?). 
-We went to Yellowstone Saturday but didn't see any bears.  Just a really itchy Bison.
-Saturday was also our 6th wedding anniversary and we saw Iron Man (fun!!) after getting home from Yellowstone.
-Ben also graduated from ISU on Saturday (YAY!!!) but decided not to walk (it's his second bachelor's degree so we were all fine to not sit for a super long ceremony).
-I chipped a tooth on some bacon from a delicious sandwich and absolutely remained calm (not at all - I freaked out majorly). 
-Mother's day was Sunday and we BBQ'd for the first time this year. 
-It was also our dog's birthday (he got leftover BBQ so that worked well for him).  He's 6.
-Today the kids are going to the Zoo with grandma and papa while Ben works, I go to the post office (finally) and maybe take a nap do the laundry.
-Tomorrow morning I have to go to the dentist to get my hillbilly tooth problem looked at, Ben's parents head back to NC, Ben works, and I might have time to change the sheets.  If I'm lucky.  

I'm exhausted. 

How are you?

In case you didn't know...

...we have some happy news!! This little lovely is why I haven't been too productive lately, well at least not in sewing things : D

We're expecting a baby girl to join the family on August 18th!! And I'm pretty excited to sew up a bunch of girly baby things!

In other news we had a crazy week last week and all have colds now. Except Ben because he never gets sick. I do have things to show you though so don't go anywhere.

Happy May!!

Slow going...

It's been hard to get myself motivated lately...Monday was tough for everyone of course, and it's been tricky getting into the swing of things this week.

To clarify...there's been a lot on the "Must Do Right Now!" list lately and I'm getting worn out with it... and on sewing the have to things I don't necessarily want to ... I've just had no will to do it...

So here's my new system.  I get something done that I have to do (like the ginormous pile of files I organized on Monday) and then do something I want to do (like start a crochet blanket because I haven't done that in a while).

It's working out ok, but I need to pick up the pace. 

This week we have a lot to get done because next week is going to be extra busy (my mom is coming to visit!!!) and I want to get a LOT of stuff out of the way so I don't have to worry about it.

Scheduling Dr's appointments for the littles (check!), and dentist appointments, and getting the rest of the bee blocks done, finishing sleeves on dresses and tanks...that kind of stuff I want out of the way so we can play. 

I've sewn up some clothes that I just need to photograph so watch for that.  Posting the pictures are my motivation for finishing some sleeves...

I'm pretty excited about it. 

Easter sewing...and lots of eggs...and lots of pictures...and a birthday!

I bought some wooden eggs for the kids to paint for Easter and was pretty proud of myself for letting them use whatever colors they wanted.

 I didn't take a picture of their finished eggs, but they eventually mixed all the colors together and now we have some nicely camouflaged rock eggs...but they're super proud of their eggs!

Ben had a church activity the week before Easter and for some reason needed to get 10 dozen eggs for it.  There were extras, and we're just now finishing them up. 

We made scrambled eggs, dutch babies with powdered sugar and strawberries, egg salad and a birthday cake that fortunately required 6 eggs on it's own just yesterday for Abby's 3rd birthday.

 We had a pretty good Easter weekend.  I sewed up the Geranium dress pattern for Abby to wear to church and a matching bow-tie for Matthew, but...Abby and I never made it to church....oh well. That's a different story. 

The Saturday before, the kids got to go to 2 Easter egg hunts, saw "the Easter bunny" and had a wonderful time.  I love seeing the holidays through their eyes.  It's so much more exciting! 

So, Abby's Easter dress turned into a birthday dress and that was fine.  I'm already anxious to make another Geranium dress, they're so darn cute, and really not that difficult to make.  Plus, she loves wearing it and that's totally all the reason I need!

And for the next 6 days I have two 3 year olds at home!  I can't believe how fast these little monkeys grow up!

*Hope that wasn't too disconnected of a post...I had lots to catch up on! 

bee blocks swarming out...

So I've been making swarms of bee blocks lately to catch up for getting super behind over the holidays, and never really catching up from that set back.

For the Bliss circle of do. Good Stitches we had blocks to make from this tutorial, flag blocks (to be made today), scrappy blocks from this tutorial (way simple and cute), HST blocks from 7" squares (I really loved these...may need to make a quilt for myself out of them).  I can't even remember now if I forgot some...but be warned.  There's a lot more to come...

clothes sewing

This weekend I did a bit of clothes sewing to break up the bee blocks I've been working on (don't worry, they'll all go out this week!) and it was really fun!

I sewed with jersey knit for the first time and made The Staple Dress Sunday morning and wore it to church! It is super comfy and I was impressed at how easily the pattern comes together, even though sewing with jersey will take some getting used to.  Shirring was also easier than I expected.  I only did one row of shirring and like how it gives the dress shape but doesn't feel awkward either. 

This pattern is totally worth the $12 and I'm absolutely going to be making more of these.  I love that purple.  Got the fabric at JoAnn's during their 25% off every purchase weekend.

Sadly I only took this super classy and awkward picture in the church bathroom before Matthew went to primary.

I added about 5 1/2 inches to the bottom of the dress so that it'd be long enough for my 5' 10" self and it was.  I didn't bother hemming the bottom or doing the facing on the sleeves (since I wore a cardigan and I'm lazy).  It was pretty tricky to get the facing on the collar but it's there. 

The little guy has been requesting "fancy bow-ties" to wear recently so I made this one for him Sunday after I finished my dress.  I used this tutorial and it was super easy to follow.  I hot glued the center to keep it in place.

I've got a stack of fabric he picked out ready to make more "fancy bow-ties" this week. 

The Geranium Dress pattern is cut and fabric is ready to make the little lady an Easter dress...

...and the Wiksten Tank pattern and fabric ready to make myself a tank and if that turns out well I'm going to use my bird knit to make a maxi dress for summer. 

AND THEN! I saw that the lovely people from Pink Castle Fabrics have a sale code today for 20% off in honor of spring...

so I got a few options to make some more tanks, and another dress for the little girl.  I'm pretty excited because I got all brave and chose a VOILE (the Anna Maria Horner print)!!

It's spring break over here but the Mr. is spending the week working so it's kindof like other weeks, minus the homework part for him.  I'm excited about my growing wardrobe!!  I've always been kindof a chicken when it comes to prints and clothes and have NEVER been excited about sewing my own (or anyone's) clothes, so this is pretty darn exciting.  I'll be back to share how things turn out soon!