tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29538851563918958082024-03-18T19:59:29.321-07:00From The Handbasketcolleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.comBlogger185125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-82702965851312361132011-03-19T19:35:00.000-07:002011-03-19T19:44:16.370-07:00A Belated Birthday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiNWBzHK5EaynhAbEKNgcA4AohUo48ZyFEpTbSHxlP523vlwzfwDeSuV6Z8cDKgv7jSrPYvaItJv3QgfbfNOE7vpgZ4El4CRTsMNYjy40f-El5jRhNwFf1mQ_uljggHvvuqGnMSAmM_sY/s1600/Jennifer%2527s+Bag++full.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiNWBzHK5EaynhAbEKNgcA4AohUo48ZyFEpTbSHxlP523vlwzfwDeSuV6Z8cDKgv7jSrPYvaItJv3QgfbfNOE7vpgZ4El4CRTsMNYjy40f-El5jRhNwFf1mQ_uljggHvvuqGnMSAmM_sY/s400/Jennifer%2527s+Bag++full.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585985217179438802" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The past couple of months haven't felt very inspired. I hadn't sewn anything between when my Dad fell and when I whipped up Sarah's<a href="http://fromthehandbasket.blogspot.com/2011/03/in-celebration.html"> Cat in the Hat costume</a> the beginning of March. Working on that sort of got me in the mood again though, for which I'm thankful. Especially since I was overdue with a birthday gift for a good friend that always gets something handmade. I finally got around to finishing this tote bag this past week, which was a good thing, as we were meeting for a belated (very) birthday lunch on Friday.<br /><br />This bag is based on the Odekake Tote bags that I made a slew of to give as <a href="http://fromthehandbasket.blogspot.com/2010/12/getting-down-to-business.html">Christmas gifts</a>. The pattern and instructions are from the Fall 2009 issue of Stitch Magazine. I used the measurements for the bag and applied the same principles to assembling it, but embellished it with some happy buntings blowing the wind. It's a great way to use up some of those itty bitty scraps that I once thought were meant for the trash can, but now can't imagine tossing.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP2EuCJ0tVKPQVxo58M_FhEP0h_w5nhLDz7XAbpeU8aDbJgM57lqDMaTpzMqWVqa_tc0SEf1k4He4-WdxGRd0VRid5fpXp1f6fcpXYvgKN3MSkF_QzolUExQG6KFMGnV0Cwl4l87VuQsj/s1600/Jennifer%2527s+Bag+close.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP2EuCJ0tVKPQVxo58M_FhEP0h_w5nhLDz7XAbpeU8aDbJgM57lqDMaTpzMqWVqa_tc0SEf1k4He4-WdxGRd0VRid5fpXp1f6fcpXYvgKN3MSkF_QzolUExQG6KFMGnV0Cwl4l87VuQsj/s400/Jennifer%2527s+Bag+close.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585985222858828226" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I might be wrong, but I think there might be more of these bags in my future...........<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-48702137214668207912011-03-17T17:06:00.000-07:002011-03-17T17:45:05.887-07:00Happy St. Patty's Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplnVp97oH5sH_tKww7LdEg8ciF1ynzgQJXgCD9-n2Co3Xhb4xP14-KIHpr_3_VIE_2qGcH7n9w-YUSn0H_vTQNkyiadjjFuIo7wZblVp-DPnlEzeY8qtIsgFv5pz-104nWTcIbRFSSYHO/s1600/sisters+horizontal.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplnVp97oH5sH_tKww7LdEg8ciF1ynzgQJXgCD9-n2Co3Xhb4xP14-KIHpr_3_VIE_2qGcH7n9w-YUSn0H_vTQNkyiadjjFuIo7wZblVp-DPnlEzeY8qtIsgFv5pz-104nWTcIbRFSSYHO/s400/sisters+horizontal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585204825119963698" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My girls seemed to be under the misguided idea that a little leprechaun was going to pay them a visit and leave treats, treasures and what have you for them today. Between all the other magical visitors that we have, I honestly could not let another squeeze in under the door, but I did whip them up some special shirts to wear to school today. Just a simple four leaf clover shape attached with Ultra Heat'n Bond. Yes, not enough time to even stitch over it, but I had other fish to fry (so to speak) last night as well. In the end, they were happy and I'm ignoring the fact that the price of the plain green t-shirt was the same as the ones made for St. Patrick's Day. At least theirs were original and momma-made.<br /><br />Tomorrow I'll show you that other proverbial fish.<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-43888953805337926462011-03-02T10:41:00.001-08:002011-03-02T11:02:25.563-08:00In Celebration<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkTcSkX545fNnG4jUjj0HIQQlaGqWrW4R1kDrgpwvjGN7AKgYeMiancHRzmbcY8ayXH3HYHvJI-8v5mluDZiL7LoTi-NwP_uTJCVVM0D0tMBzxy_ReI7kQ0VyZ4uUZhalaFwnxc45yxf6/s1600/face+hidden.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkTcSkX545fNnG4jUjj0HIQQlaGqWrW4R1kDrgpwvjGN7AKgYeMiancHRzmbcY8ayXH3HYHvJI-8v5mluDZiL7LoTi-NwP_uTJCVVM0D0tMBzxy_ReI7kQ0VyZ4uUZhalaFwnxc45yxf6/s400/face+hidden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579555251208486562" border="0" /></a>For once, our morning did not revolve around clean blue jeans. With their input earlier in the week, I got to assemble their outfits/costumes for today, in celebration of Dr. Seuss' 107 th. birthday.<br /><br />The past two years I've had it easy, I've suggested that Rachel be a "Who", she's gone for it, we've pulled out full skirts, striped tights, fun hair and called it a day. This year, when I suggested that Sarah also be a "Who", I was shot down. She wanted to be the Cat in the Hat.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithYPmrtUGb9jChdlHg5TlDGL34r3b0Zd9qeqZAGa1b3wcuBvzsEKCv_AO5_vp_yjbX46H3RRGcgPBTyge6YPC1e9WDOcsIXd2Qslr9i5zo4mCRv0pWN5QsfQMQpgJ5oH-dczrc-CITPFF/s1600/Sarah+outside+1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithYPmrtUGb9jChdlHg5TlDGL34r3b0Zd9qeqZAGa1b3wcuBvzsEKCv_AO5_vp_yjbX46H3RRGcgPBTyge6YPC1e9WDOcsIXd2Qslr9i5zo4mCRv0pWN5QsfQMQpgJ5oH-dczrc-CITPFF/s400/Sarah+outside+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579555245016779266" border="0" /></a>...but of course - why would we want to use existing items we have at home that can be put together the morning of, when we could have momma whip up an entire costume for us. Of course that's what I did, because it's her first year to dress up for the celebration and tomorrow is her own special day. Despite the costume taking most of last evening to make, it still came together rather quickly and easily. If I had actually employed math in figuring out the hat, it might have come together even more easily, but math and I try to avoid each other. Her top half is just a black t-shirt that I was happy to find on sale for half off at Hobby Lobby this week, setting me back a whole $1.50. I just cut an oval of white felt and stitched it to the belly, then used sharpie around the edges to blend the two together. The ears on the hat, I regret. They will be coming off this afternoon. The hat is also large enough that it fits me as well (oops), so maybe it will get some use again some time.....but probably not. I will add that the entire costume (with the exception of the black leggings) was off by 10:30, meaning more time was spent making it than was spent wearing it. She said it was the tail that made it hard to sit in a chair ( it was attached to the bottom of the shirt and secured up over her right shoulder).<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSYarmg-FWMqpYOI_vUMwWJgjEjCE3uwrBFvfl-vwFbxolOabonKMUVP8mVqG_-QxPbMHryVat0YeP7XMRJ4FAwQ8Tb7cJK0kJ3-lkD9WQk94ULD7QA4K0EODNMXQ1D-Twvu-tOf3Ian7/s1600/Rachel+inside.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSYarmg-FWMqpYOI_vUMwWJgjEjCE3uwrBFvfl-vwFbxolOabonKMUVP8mVqG_-QxPbMHryVat0YeP7XMRJ4FAwQ8Tb7cJK0kJ3-lkD9WQk94ULD7QA4K0EODNMXQ1D-Twvu-tOf3Ian7/s400/Rachel+inside.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579555234154337362" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">At least Rachel went easy on me with yet another incarnation of Cindy Lou Who. Putting her hair up like this, which she never lets me do, makes me really want to cut it short so that I can see that sweet face that's always hiding in hair. And to be honest, given the chance, this is how I'd dress her every day. She'll be having none of that though because rest assured she packed blue jeans in her backpack "just in case".<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMF3X8ujpr7ejRjMc_HXRJeE1YajgjgwTjVUwR_p0mPN3-_0w2tSoiVYNBVGWqwNMQKXKOVN9BuBzoi0iPYUycP7qq37ytcKdfxxwZINZleh6popnv4Ihn57w-27B1b6gvoLqt50dE3Gfn/s1600/Rachel+in+car.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMF3X8ujpr7ejRjMc_HXRJeE1YajgjgwTjVUwR_p0mPN3-_0w2tSoiVYNBVGWqwNMQKXKOVN9BuBzoi0iPYUycP7qq37ytcKdfxxwZINZleh6popnv4Ihn57w-27B1b6gvoLqt50dE3Gfn/s400/Rachel+in+car.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579558540471719234" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I also wanted to add an update on my Dad. He's doing much better. His strength in his right side has returned, his ability to find the words he's looking for is greatly improved and at first encounter he seems "normal". He is still having memory issues though and often says or does things that just aren't typical for him. He's also a tidge cranky (ok, maybe more than a tidge) and seems to be lacking some sensitivity (in his personality, not in sensation). This makes it hard for my Mom, who's not quite sure what the final outcome will be, but all in all, things are looking much better.<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-42739623952190049012011-02-02T17:51:00.000-08:002011-02-02T19:06:03.416-08:00Coming Back Around<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cGeP0tz29Z7LyLC5gwltSTBE1g_Y4NjPJB4VkwEhfxXAGAYVZehSaaeJQ0TMODEsTS-jisJxubMR0EIbLQzBnfoLyCdwabgNQwvxzrNvSvI9RIedxD8PCjdYynKgufa5QLy3UjU6kYK3/s1600/Dad+with+quilt.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cGeP0tz29Z7LyLC5gwltSTBE1g_Y4NjPJB4VkwEhfxXAGAYVZehSaaeJQ0TMODEsTS-jisJxubMR0EIbLQzBnfoLyCdwabgNQwvxzrNvSvI9RIedxD8PCjdYynKgufa5QLy3UjU6kYK3/s400/Dad+with+quilt.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569275358206204306" border="0" /></a>While I have not passed out as of late, I feel like I've been quite out of it. Two and a half weeks ago I got a call on Saturday morning from my mom. My dad had passed out while walking the dog at night and fallen and hit his head. I experienced a similar incident with him this summer, when he passed out at the city pool with the girls and I and hit his head on the steps to the water slide. At first we thought we were in for an experience like that - he would be sent to the nearest major city that specialized in trauma cases, be monitored for a couple of days and then come home. Except this time it was different. He had a severe brain bleed and there was a lot of swelling on his brain. He could talk, but just in short, curt words. His heart rate was also out of control (part of the problem that caused him to pass out). It was scary.<br /><br />A week later he was discharged and sent not to the rehabilitation facility they'd said they'd send him to, but home, with just my mom to care for him. That was a Friday. At his first meeting with his PT and OT on Monday, both agreed that he should not have been sent home. After some phone calls on Tuesday, they were able to get him into a rehab facility on Wednesday. He was there for five hours before being sent via ambulance back to the hospital. He has stopped using his right hand, his right foot was dragging and his right arm was swollen and cold to the touch. Another CAT Scan showed more swelling and what turned out to be a second brain bleed. He was not in good shape. Thankfully, a week after arriving back at the hospital, he has been released to rehabilitation. As of this morning, his swelling on the brain is decreasing and he's regaining use of his right arm and hand. His speech and cognitive skills have a long way to go, but I am hopeful that with lots of therapy, the dad I know will be returned to me.<br /><br />So, all my artsy craftsy ideas have sort of been consumed by fear, worry, concern, dread - you name it. I've laid in bed and watched more mindless TV in the past two and a half weeks than I've seen in years. I'm feeling optimistic now though and might actually get something accomplished soon. I cannot say that the quilt on dad's lap was made by me though. A good friend of my mom's belongs to a quilting group that makes these "prayer quilts". The centers of the blocks have a tie that remains untied until a visitor says a prayer and ties it. A neat idea, I thought.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhFwcR78hH8OVmuKcEgMynght51SfWKPZ7CFv5B2AjTDJ-tKhMlzYBYuG2U6Wy_SostNPAmPStW3s6wuZLfXrtV4ihEvSvDA_EeRC7EdFzxj9AwqRY58BbHeXewIid7dptYgjAWDHEtni/s1600/roberts+blossom.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhFwcR78hH8OVmuKcEgMynght51SfWKPZ7CFv5B2AjTDJ-tKhMlzYBYuG2U6Wy_SostNPAmPStW3s6wuZLfXrtV4ihEvSvDA_EeRC7EdFzxj9AwqRY58BbHeXewIid7dptYgjAWDHEtni/s400/roberts+blossom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569279422792835858" border="0" /></a>And if you looked at the picture of my parents (taken on my mom's birthday - happy birthday mom!) and thought "That man looks familiar...". Then maybe you're remembering the creepy, old neighbor from Home Alone. As my dad ages, he is being "recognized" out in public more and more, but no that is not my dad hanging with Macaulay Culkin.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONA6MkHrV6fKvuJOrCIJ2BLZiUhHzBy4rWCyzQmtbzAmDQ1_Z7vSoLKZWzR8X9-7zWvDHebrYMI-YKJW3cfys-laiJQS0EoirGCoH1uS5wf38U0K0qYW41_kUzGW9Ovv-3lVtVvuDuJ0o/s1600/Monkey+bars.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONA6MkHrV6fKvuJOrCIJ2BLZiUhHzBy4rWCyzQmtbzAmDQ1_Z7vSoLKZWzR8X9-7zWvDHebrYMI-YKJW3cfys-laiJQS0EoirGCoH1uS5wf38U0K0qYW41_kUzGW9Ovv-3lVtVvuDuJ0o/s400/Monkey+bars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569275354409788146" border="0" /></a>On a brighter note, we welcomed an eight year old into our family this past Saturday. Well, she was previously our seven year old, but she's graduated now. She also shares a birthday with my dad, which makes it extra special (we think). We were blessed with an incredibly beautiful weekend - temperatures in the high 60's, blue skies and good times. We spent time at the park as a family, walked next door for pizza and scored ice cream - our first outside ice cream of 2011!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFvQT_xKFbrXjdLevawRvDTA-PFVm1P3LZOolcQrnXwG5We-TnTCIQxy_nBAirp3AkMPzKeILaKyXDxHivH7Is_2-728cRNlQEUfd-yVktNl9LNQUPtsVIsO8uDrGALOR-jbnHi8LWYNn/s1600/Ice+cream.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFvQT_xKFbrXjdLevawRvDTA-PFVm1P3LZOolcQrnXwG5We-TnTCIQxy_nBAirp3AkMPzKeILaKyXDxHivH7Is_2-728cRNlQEUfd-yVktNl9LNQUPtsVIsO8uDrGALOR-jbnHi8LWYNn/s400/Ice+cream.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569275349738702850" border="0" /></a>Now to plan the slumber party for five 7 and 8 year olds this Firday. Why am I tired already?<blockquote></blockquote><br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-440592064347863282011-01-22T08:52:00.000-08:002011-01-22T09:07:58.461-08:00Pancakes for Breakfast<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSGkGLzGecLg7a0JRsbaOTankxPoUvYQVlwgWfGLtO_YpMEAuNLBA9woBVK8AiqzzUKZUJ_Jrt4thTVTJjBP_HGYUoeUAj7VtQLUBnwZ-a9i8pGoQjFfetW2QzsK-auDjrPC-OxgjoC_I/s1600/pancakes+3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSGkGLzGecLg7a0JRsbaOTankxPoUvYQVlwgWfGLtO_YpMEAuNLBA9woBVK8AiqzzUKZUJ_Jrt4thTVTJjBP_HGYUoeUAj7VtQLUBnwZ-a9i8pGoQjFfetW2QzsK-auDjrPC-OxgjoC_I/s400/pancakes+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565054466459379042" border="0" /></a>It's Saturday and the kids let us sleep in - they deserved a treat. I do try and make something yummy for breakfast on the weekends, just to break up the monotony of the cereal, yogurt, oatmeal that we eat regularly during the week. Today it was pancakes. Chocolate chip pancakes (you can guess who put in that request). It's OK though, these pancakes are actually pretty good for you - even with the chocolate chips!<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The recipe is based on The Little Red House's recipe for <a href="http://inthelittleredhouse.blogspot.com/2010/05/breakfast.html">Blueberry Pancakes</a>. We have made them and they are yummy as well, but chocolate chips won out this morning. I dropped the cornmeal to 1/4 C and added 1/4 C oat flour (oatmeal ground in a coffee grinder does the trick) and also added 1 t. of vanilla. I only sprinkled about 5-6 chocolate chips per pancake, so it doesn't take many and no one complained. Of course they did ask for whipped cream, which I nixed. If you are looking for more wholesome, healthy recipes, be sure and check out <a href="http://inthelittleredhouse.blogspot.com/">The Little Red House</a> - I've tried several of her recipes and they have all been yummy. Happy eats!<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVZxBvqZg7zGzZ-Lyna91Gwsa6O0qUEBdaRGhyphenhyphen9eVGquSqKWs2SY_Tva0xN7LKYdvlbIWKoBLHyQQ3Do54MjLAVQj_VIJ3XtU-5UJlQVJfGhJL3VFo3p2Nf8a57EE1077mwFKXIdr7uKl/s1600/pancakes+1.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVZxBvqZg7zGzZ-Lyna91Gwsa6O0qUEBdaRGhyphenhyphen9eVGquSqKWs2SY_Tva0xN7LKYdvlbIWKoBLHyQQ3Do54MjLAVQj_VIJ3XtU-5UJlQVJfGhJL3VFo3p2Nf8a57EE1077mwFKXIdr7uKl/s1600/pancakes+1.jpg"><br /></a>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-2217633524971402672011-01-15T12:22:00.000-08:002011-01-15T12:41:02.952-08:00What You See is Not What You Get<div style="text-align: center;">It was with great eagerness this year that I packed away the Christmas decorations. I don't know what it was about them, usually I'm sad to see them go, but this year they were closing in on me. Maybe it's that they're the same every year, maybe it's that they really clutter things up (not that we aren't typically covered in clutter anyway), who knows, but they were driving me nuts and New Years Day they were gone.<br /><br />So, of course, the next day my five year old came to me and wanted to know when we'd be getting the "winter decorations" out. Apparently she loves a good decorating jaunt. "We're not" sounded a bit too grumpy of an answer, so I told her we didn't have any "winter decorations" per se. Smart cookie that she is, she proposed that we make some. So we did. Well, at least one.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoJIIpAcDXPfl-CbDF05HWfrJLlxSGSWOax6ZnNzyh4Ds7sAc7TvWjDM1r3ucaSK3OPdSwgTO4rZ0l7wJq3ShFwx_1XEzYhymuJuNMRxfU8toeDBP32X6jn9UQBLT7AOrizqsgWcTOCFG/s1600/wreath+materials.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoJIIpAcDXPfl-CbDF05HWfrJLlxSGSWOax6ZnNzyh4Ds7sAc7TvWjDM1r3ucaSK3OPdSwgTO4rZ0l7wJq3ShFwx_1XEzYhymuJuNMRxfU8toeDBP32X6jn9UQBLT7AOrizqsgWcTOCFG/s400/wreath+materials.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562510887365641250" border="0" /></a>I did some googling and flickring to see what I could see, and finally decided that we'd make a coffee filter wreath. This fit the bill because A. I liked the looks of it B. Little people could help and C. I had the materials on hand. They are simply, coffee filters (a bunch) - we used the basket shaped - I'm not sure if the conical ones would give the same effect, hot glue and a wreath form. If you don't have a wreath form, improvise - a wreath shape cut out of cardboard or foam core would work as well.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8gWaY1IKWn3TTY4s8WcMe3hMi7MNNUvW0yPjBfhs62XDck33HPZfJ8HwZ3crYImYu8SSjceoqPClY6UGBKbdTO5XfHLAjYvyQKMtP0mRiAhz8lH6Me1L2vMoJ0zvMTiKfB3epppkPAC9/s1600/wreath+flowerette.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8gWaY1IKWn3TTY4s8WcMe3hMi7MNNUvW0yPjBfhs62XDck33HPZfJ8HwZ3crYImYu8SSjceoqPClY6UGBKbdTO5XfHLAjYvyQKMtP0mRiAhz8lH6Me1L2vMoJ0zvMTiKfB3epppkPAC9/s400/wreath+flowerette.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562510882141217730" border="0" /></a>I watched this <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/article/coffee-filter-wreath">Martha Stewart video</a> to get the gist of it, but rest assured there's not much to "get". Simply take two coffee filters, one on top of the other, fold them in half and then make sort of an ice cream cone shape out of the half circle. Fuss with it till you've got a shape you like, and open the layers up to make it fuller.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_o0u345CfMyuIkLU82ujvxZtvvmNeXBEphvgcCM7c5ZEVV2iNLddsIqWzmswBgGFH8Eh4l3cink8z81KAwZTKKhaLIDzXyoPyNnG5UQjtqd5Zx65YQLRK2JRBzyglI7SiJuyQZzh5kTu/s1600/wreath+in+progress.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_o0u345CfMyuIkLU82ujvxZtvvmNeXBEphvgcCM7c5ZEVV2iNLddsIqWzmswBgGFH8Eh4l3cink8z81KAwZTKKhaLIDzXyoPyNnG5UQjtqd5Zx65YQLRK2JRBzyglI7SiJuyQZzh5kTu/s400/wreath+in+progress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562510878673580082" border="0" /></a>Fold the tip of the ice cream cone up, about 1/2" and flatten that out so you have a flat area to glue to your base. I glued a row opening outwards and then glued a second row opening towards the center of the wreath (tips pointing in the opposite direction of the first row). This made the wreath nice and full and sturdy.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3YqmjAo5cfyQVwmo6-D6nnD94pR__Rd5oiCZRFcglXivKcrfUUZK7DI6_CJVMPu4N9kH3XHtqkspClGJjbjoV2voKcNhu6VsViupfC8DfMY8pzaKC5Uv2Dhf3ZUATYdOuBHqJD6xmzhf/s1600/wreath+full+.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3YqmjAo5cfyQVwmo6-D6nnD94pR__Rd5oiCZRFcglXivKcrfUUZK7DI6_CJVMPu4N9kH3XHtqkspClGJjbjoV2voKcNhu6VsViupfC8DfMY8pzaKC5Uv2Dhf3ZUATYdOuBHqJD6xmzhf/s400/wreath+full+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562510874895097314" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And there you go, our winter decoration. I stuck the bow in (which could stand to be bigger) with a T-Pin and hung it with ribbon that's also secured with T-Pins. The beauty of that - come Valentine's Day, the ribbon can turn red or pink, come Easter it can turn spring green or light blue, come fall it could be black or orange. You get the idea.<br /><br />Yes, the five year old did lose interested before it was all done and yes, she did break my glue gun while sitting right next to me (it wasn't on), but she's still happy with the results and so am I. Now I've got lots of other ideas on how to vary this - coloring the filters, glittering the filters, heart shaped forms, embellishing the wreaths, etc. Goodness knows, I need a few more craft ideas for my spare time!<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-401140076464638132011-01-10T20:09:00.000-08:002011-01-10T20:32:32.384-08:00Let it Snow!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfzMvK6p347f6aWG1nWPzA-GbO49PusSis45xorcsNkw0n2mdMx3_rNN3U8-d5jLeofB0Hs0XVVfnN1bMXFQsgdKq2lpR-ZbIAP7jKwfmMGLXp_LPYPktiPnRc4RkPBwiivG8YHUEwPlr/s1600/night+sky.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfzMvK6p347f6aWG1nWPzA-GbO49PusSis45xorcsNkw0n2mdMx3_rNN3U8-d5jLeofB0Hs0XVVfnN1bMXFQsgdKq2lpR-ZbIAP7jKwfmMGLXp_LPYPktiPnRc4RkPBwiivG8YHUEwPlr/s400/night+sky.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560776643935191586" border="0" /></a>This was the sky last night (Sunday) as we waited with great anticipation for the predicted snow storm that was to sweep through the South. I felt like a kid on Christmas Eve, I was so giddy. Twice this morning, as I drifted in and out of sleep, I dreamt that we actually didn't get a big snow fall, just a measly splatter of snow that was already melting. I was apologizing to the kids over and over (in the dream) while feeling disappointed myself.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyOMGpbJ5LjIohJvZr9Si6VSsEp1iY16xCsdUHEP-TplBhNOrBapbIN1ywWrhkQSz0AEfaBf4_QQ4b4KJU5-MCqkZi-EV2uq92K_d7bR-5R7xcGr_RbXYOSQLXFFdP2FQoyXFC_uHuMVe/s1600/a+the+girls.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyOMGpbJ5LjIohJvZr9Si6VSsEp1iY16xCsdUHEP-TplBhNOrBapbIN1ywWrhkQSz0AEfaBf4_QQ4b4KJU5-MCqkZi-EV2uq92K_d7bR-5R7xcGr_RbXYOSQLXFFdP2FQoyXFC_uHuMVe/s400/a+the+girls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560776561428747922" border="0" /></a>I was however, not disappointed. We got a healthy 6.5 - 7" of beautiful, powdery snow overnight. Someone said it was snowing at the rate of 2" an hour at one point. I was asleep and cannot verify this fact, but can say that at 11:30 PM there were teeny, tiny, practically invisible flurries listlessly drifting down that made worried that mother nature wasn't going to come through for me. Clearly she kicked into high gear later on.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZeU3IrvfNt5nYZGoHcvmZnGTW1P02qRa8jsF0PFHkyn113QPEOOJV3eernyKc7IWeUr8OU6wX0-qUk7eYzNK6YUYnXOozeWdBD1so7wlsCSJjdpdH8IUsMI3Up7AsrVRTrrf_nCgZWnE/s1600/a+street+view.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZeU3IrvfNt5nYZGoHcvmZnGTW1P02qRa8jsF0PFHkyn113QPEOOJV3eernyKc7IWeUr8OU6wX0-qUk7eYzNK6YUYnXOozeWdBD1so7wlsCSJjdpdH8IUsMI3Up7AsrVRTrrf_nCgZWnE/s400/a+street+view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560776545687085506" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My kids are eager, anxious, impatient (or maybe just kids) - call it what you will, but while most people were still in their pajamas enjoying the view from inside, we were already outside. Thankfully we are blessed to have neighbors with children very similar in age who joined us not too long after we set out to explore our street.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKU6iLi1X701T8a-TE0YA9RciDqp1mVQpI6Let2BS94C-JR8wY6APqYM_-2-6yCs0YNlocHEDPlvaeDIo92h1M6ul7AJrkrfgirQcmFwF9My_HVEHD7WgQh6IQT1BCK_h7P3F_iCZtezq/s1600/berries+in+snow.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKU6iLi1X701T8a-TE0YA9RciDqp1mVQpI6Let2BS94C-JR8wY6APqYM_-2-6yCs0YNlocHEDPlvaeDIo92h1M6ul7AJrkrfgirQcmFwF9My_HVEHD7WgQh6IQT1BCK_h7P3F_iCZtezq/s400/berries+in+snow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560776280810663074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwOt8MIGFXWKGPeDwoPXJLlwuKGudhQIBFquNAPh3_wvX26gmAYOHKNbGvRsJzc46kI7NFowQzkHvGJOB4wdubWQdGdbBpSLhxABuR04EHqeH4rLVYLworR9PRt7MymMiQbjfjySbhvyw/s1600/a+plant+austins+yard+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwOt8MIGFXWKGPeDwoPXJLlwuKGudhQIBFquNAPh3_wvX26gmAYOHKNbGvRsJzc46kI7NFowQzkHvGJOB4wdubWQdGdbBpSLhxABuR04EHqeH4rLVYLworR9PRt7MymMiQbjfjySbhvyw/s400/a+plant+austins+yard+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560776275743295458" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZozhJLvsb11mOze8YaXw_DhNcOsLEVqLnt0gcdWRQe0527KapKvMMfjsJ_fFMBjQZXyJURCzoYAKQmUB_DZ7TyE3QQznP4if07yC5M_eu1FZJuH1_RewIwio3CN3n4ui3eL5_6yDu6Aek/s1600/a+house+from+street.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZozhJLvsb11mOze8YaXw_DhNcOsLEVqLnt0gcdWRQe0527KapKvMMfjsJ_fFMBjQZXyJURCzoYAKQmUB_DZ7TyE3QQznP4if07yC5M_eu1FZJuH1_RewIwio3CN3n4ui3eL5_6yDu6Aek/s400/a+house+from+street.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560776549381169042" border="0" /></a>We spent several hours outside today, and appreciated that our neighbors shared their sleds with us. We are also lucky enough to live at the top of a steep road - the few cars that did brave the road this morning established excellent grooves for the sleds to travel in. Some serious sledding was done!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhkSyK4aQM70Qfb95fKp94ae-Ly5HSmgcJM5lZzMbDyJAa_sBBMHLiBdmX8B9OC1TKHUcgv_roeh-MfVXN4KE3Mri7sBwVPp3CYSGikQjC_cOABi5S8bocyA9CL3xiXn2nsfPC2zqivfb/s1600/a+snow+caked+sarah.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhkSyK4aQM70Qfb95fKp94ae-Ly5HSmgcJM5lZzMbDyJAa_sBBMHLiBdmX8B9OC1TKHUcgv_roeh-MfVXN4KE3Mri7sBwVPp3CYSGikQjC_cOABi5S8bocyA9CL3xiXn2nsfPC2zqivfb/s400/a+snow+caked+sarah.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560776560276605074" border="0" /></a>For some of us, a sled wasn't even necessary, it was just fun to roll around and become caked in snow (she does have multiple layers on), eat snow, sit in snow and just revel in the wonderful miracle that is snow!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4Cq4osHL5MjvDA7PTofTW2ZwFcJzfTl3NLqOswmNrZoGl5dANyLqbGejVvBhX04BHsTluJsd5HHdY73qluXlnfEIqsMyU5B9qyVb0yQpjOg0V7cGKSFTZLKwZhTbdeKUxyDGbc9vL6lv/s1600/a+all+kids+on+sled.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4Cq4osHL5MjvDA7PTofTW2ZwFcJzfTl3NLqOswmNrZoGl5dANyLqbGejVvBhX04BHsTluJsd5HHdY73qluXlnfEIqsMyU5B9qyVb0yQpjOg0V7cGKSFTZLKwZhTbdeKUxyDGbc9vL6lv/s400/a+all+kids+on+sled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560776265498032786" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We took indoor breaks to warm up with hot chocolate and cookies in the afternoon and shared a big pot of chili together this evening. What more could a person ask for on such a magical day? If anything was left undone today, we've got another snow day tomorrow to cross it off the to do list!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpk9oR2eQCJ6IGGHOr5Havtju7oFjy1mC2xH2XiwYAEiRQCknBM0VgVhlwKieoa7k0dEXRM3qIOoP1244TWehksmDVDVwPTzvLqdx6Qq4ZhiuKcuKwSKHkyY64sSAfJ2zPpyOB2GmA2qGk/s1600/a+rachel+close+up.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpk9oR2eQCJ6IGGHOr5Havtju7oFjy1mC2xH2XiwYAEiRQCknBM0VgVhlwKieoa7k0dEXRM3qIOoP1244TWehksmDVDVwPTzvLqdx6Qq4ZhiuKcuKwSKHkyY64sSAfJ2zPpyOB2GmA2qGk/s400/a+rachel+close+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560776556493067426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAB6tM7m8J3AAE1y_0INg0D6frr0MNPER7_7BI5GCInnErROivPbZyTdUdDU74L9Ba4Rd3bCiYlx4NU5r0Ig4rf8Ev_q27asdMoV1mtU0PdMzGF8KXYL0lAfyBV2LX4MoPeJlZcEpqK0QG/s1600/a+austins+fence.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAB6tM7m8J3AAE1y_0INg0D6frr0MNPER7_7BI5GCInnErROivPbZyTdUdDU74L9Ba4Rd3bCiYlx4NU5r0Ig4rf8Ev_q27asdMoV1mtU0PdMzGF8KXYL0lAfyBV2LX4MoPeJlZcEpqK0QG/s400/a+austins+fence.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560776272485262290" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Until then, I think I know some little girls that are going to sleep very soundly tonight!<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-39245041893654561592011-01-07T20:03:00.000-08:002011-01-07T20:25:41.987-08:00Christmas Wrap Up<div style="text-align: center;">So, organization is not one of my strong skills. Getting really excited about doing stuff, doing it right away and making a royal mess while at it is pretty much the way I operate. So perhaps it would have been better to share what I was working on for under the Christmas tree before I wrapped up 2010, but at the time, I was more excited about reflecting on the past year. Now that Christmas is all packed away in the attic, I can think about it a bit more fondly now.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgViSoVEj7MQ_JvZ0DjCXaB7qOkdKs4UJ9boZAwR_3sVKg2ZwgQjwbAO__SdhMBZUWJ-ikMYV6JEJ8Ar7UVj5erchArJwOmreNAURTu_DxGME6OYPrB3kytwoO8i6wspWrSp0n8l4bEUQtk/s1600/Pajamas.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgViSoVEj7MQ_JvZ0DjCXaB7qOkdKs4UJ9boZAwR_3sVKg2ZwgQjwbAO__SdhMBZUWJ-ikMYV6JEJ8Ar7UVj5erchArJwOmreNAURTu_DxGME6OYPrB3kytwoO8i6wspWrSp0n8l4bEUQtk/s400/Pajamas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559661320147618498" border="0" /></a> I wasn't sure I was going to have much in the handmade area to give for Christmas this year, but after Thanksgiving I lit a fire and got going. Both the girls got to open pajamas on Christmas Eve. Last year I cut both of theirs too long, so this year I cut Rachel's too short. I tacked this red plaid onto the bottom and really like what it added to the pants. Finally a mistake that turned out for the best!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KcM2BfDxfl_9fTG3dWbbA9qQupxJ6TY4Z-r-IvWmgKXCWPSPLhVQ_xcPpOz_dZY5Z3vHAL58nYIiZYMSqAJRQ1pDs9AEVe47a8qKjQJrdpqyIfed571RXdezPcjEy0o-DJ8FN0uYr77y/s1600/cards.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KcM2BfDxfl_9fTG3dWbbA9qQupxJ6TY4Z-r-IvWmgKXCWPSPLhVQ_xcPpOz_dZY5Z3vHAL58nYIiZYMSqAJRQ1pDs9AEVe47a8qKjQJrdpqyIfed571RXdezPcjEy0o-DJ8FN0uYr77y/s400/cards.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559661328981775186" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Inspired by so many cute bunting items that I've come across lately, I whipped up several sets of note cards with buntings across them. I tacked the tiny triangles down with a dab of glue stick, which held them perfectly while I stitched across them. When I got to the other side, I turned the card around and stitched back, going down both sides of the triangles to fully attach them. I was really pleased with how these turned out and intend to make more, and I'm also thinking maybe some tote bags with buntings across them.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEC2tcQspi3GpZDPDTz_lqjVWNBRrutNOTY_4N5ImOSYEV343QLJPBhA7-3UgK1Nr-4K3pWwv_nhoPrYlrBGyAe_qWkKp6h4G3h6_eoM_SUxquScOXx5wU3kwwNquBIQ0iWblqYJyVCc4/s1600/muff.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEC2tcQspi3GpZDPDTz_lqjVWNBRrutNOTY_4N5ImOSYEV343QLJPBhA7-3UgK1Nr-4K3pWwv_nhoPrYlrBGyAe_qWkKp6h4G3h6_eoM_SUxquScOXx5wU3kwwNquBIQ0iWblqYJyVCc4/s400/muff.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559661324080283154" border="0" /></a>The muff was in response to a good friend seeing the one I'd made for another friend back in <a href="http://fromthehandbasket.blogspot.com/2010/05/seasonally-inappropriate.html">May</a>. When she saw it, she excitedly declared "Oh, I want one in animal print!". Imagine my happiness when that little bit of filed away information was still available for retrieval from my brain come December! I waffled on what kind of animal print to use, but think this leopard with the brown velvet does the trick. The instructions come from the Fall 2009 issue of <a href="http://www.quiltingdaily.com/blogs/stitch/home.aspx">Stitch magazine</a>. I did not however, give her my hat and gloves....I'm not that nice.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFGrf8qq9Unj24VI16bimCXBifXqgYDYHyzrbwKGDlP_L4u0SUuwtbiC46z5jrnwEaX2bXKO4ZunrG6AETVfpUVK2uX2UTc92z1mhUhVZm3o8UpJWjtoy2mumpD1tgA0HyhG1VM1raFq9/s1600/bags.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFGrf8qq9Unj24VI16bimCXBifXqgYDYHyzrbwKGDlP_L4u0SUuwtbiC46z5jrnwEaX2bXKO4ZunrG6AETVfpUVK2uX2UTc92z1mhUhVZm3o8UpJWjtoy2mumpD1tgA0HyhG1VM1raFq9/s400/bags.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559661313842805602" border="0" /></a>And while I shared the first of these bags that I made, I am happy to tell you that I was able to make ten in all, including one of my very own. Once I got going, I was a factory with these (which led to a really messy work area, but hey, I got results!). I'm so happy when I stumble upon something nice that I can make several of to give as gifts to friends and family. This year my mom, sister, aunt and sisters-in-law all got one, as well as Brownie troop leaders, friends and a few others! If you didn't get one from me for Christmas, expect one for your birthday ; )<br /><br />And speaking of handmade, a friend posted this post on facebook today.....<span class="messageBody"><br /><br />A Handmade 2011: I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment. They must in turn post this and send something they made to the first 5 people who comment on their status. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011. Let's all work towards a more handmade life!<br /><br />What fun! I signed up under her and have five people signed up under me. Why don't you start a post too and see how much handmade goodness and appreciation we can spread this year?<br /></span></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-78834659222768201652011-01-04T18:54:00.000-08:002011-01-04T19:38:30.376-08:00Happy New Year<div style="text-align: center;">I hope you've had a wonderful holiday season. The girls go back to school tomorrow, so I guess it's time to finally accept that they holidays are over, the new year is here and it's time to stop wearing pajamas all day when you don't have to leave the house.<br /><br />This past year I did my first 365 photo project, taking a photo (or more) a day for the year, and keeping them together in a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cburer/sets/72157622991723209/with/5272296907/">flickr set</a>. At times it seemed like drudgery to have to find something to photograph and some are pretty boring, but looking back at the whole year now, I'm glad I have a little glimpse of each day. Some were big days - most were not. A picture of each makes them all seem special. I've seen several other blogs sharing a photo from each month in the past few days and thought it would be a good way to kick off my new year, reflecting on the one that has just passed.<br /><br />January<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXvNc6zlP0uB1yIe2lkgCtovu7-fGYMBQjajayxPpVu0Cj_LpMZkFY94hbxuWsmw73kkV6mDcHaeZNk9Bp0j2OTR-owcmBoC0DMsSrusfea0DFsKNqcs2rMy2SDi_Z3Hb9i3x5qe_X8XH/s1600/chalk+on++bench+in+snow.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXvNc6zlP0uB1yIe2lkgCtovu7-fGYMBQjajayxPpVu0Cj_LpMZkFY94hbxuWsmw73kkV6mDcHaeZNk9Bp0j2OTR-owcmBoC0DMsSrusfea0DFsKNqcs2rMy2SDi_Z3Hb9i3x5qe_X8XH/s400/chalk+on++bench+in+snow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558539679823936194" border="0" /></a><br />February<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXS8gMRa06KqdbUvcvkDu07-G5jTK5Nm-TppUFCoKSXfAd8C6FjTgxwn0PG0QWxfBASBGgnrxqN1Hq_88KGJmuHZDkQYAviFPyHANjZTZsBdvllsWZtNbQhZJRy-a4yKhoySjF_J9ph0Yj/s1600/blue+skies+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXS8gMRa06KqdbUvcvkDu07-G5jTK5Nm-TppUFCoKSXfAd8C6FjTgxwn0PG0QWxfBASBGgnrxqN1Hq_88KGJmuHZDkQYAviFPyHANjZTZsBdvllsWZtNbQhZJRy-a4yKhoySjF_J9ph0Yj/s400/blue+skies+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537781227734962" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">March<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LueeJeDr6cll4gG316t-gS5twy4aHZGWhzkIYwhjr7_4F3gLs1hxygwJIW3nuvD_2Ap5Sgcl53m77_LHI1is4M9nxngRHWZfExbiY4lrDb3XX4Icdrxm0mMp4DQ9kjL6o2yTKtY4xT7Y/s1600/door++.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LueeJeDr6cll4gG316t-gS5twy4aHZGWhzkIYwhjr7_4F3gLs1hxygwJIW3nuvD_2Ap5Sgcl53m77_LHI1is4M9nxngRHWZfExbiY4lrDb3XX4Icdrxm0mMp4DQ9kjL6o2yTKtY4xT7Y/s400/door++.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537616668995346" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">April<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw11JrNwZj-Gpa3_oDAmpj8ddNC8oWzQ29WAlGPDqsBA6ADVLbAfCiYxXPiyQWDNaoETg7dQ7JA3rdQxneQJrFHpXv-t9hU2rgtF503xR40xdt4z_r348pEVVmcnytDpsYjQJGY-xajtXu/s1600/picnic+.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw11JrNwZj-Gpa3_oDAmpj8ddNC8oWzQ29WAlGPDqsBA6ADVLbAfCiYxXPiyQWDNaoETg7dQ7JA3rdQxneQJrFHpXv-t9hU2rgtF503xR40xdt4z_r348pEVVmcnytDpsYjQJGY-xajtXu/s400/picnic+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537615581993154" border="0" /></a>May<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kOecbAps38kFHqr7YCs86OSsHa6hWZWl7R575s9TxG32Lcp2Gn_qkL6sCAuPfc70-VlFSqXRRGTFtPqcbly3TNDsVy7_4BYiNaVU8-jeixObaJpkEsoyrug-BXsJc1732lHfVFvvHtuO/s1600/zucchini.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kOecbAps38kFHqr7YCs86OSsHa6hWZWl7R575s9TxG32Lcp2Gn_qkL6sCAuPfc70-VlFSqXRRGTFtPqcbly3TNDsVy7_4BYiNaVU8-jeixObaJpkEsoyrug-BXsJc1732lHfVFvvHtuO/s400/zucchini.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537605472158706" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">June<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQuicHpiTznqmvXgOM_da6r7a_P7-KpsgZKUBwuuTRwXhCu_PyXZXVvAsZgf-sAnHH11iV2SGGEmyd1f-IfN429zRrv70xxTLQCcg1lOFusrwMMHWagPjmCWYPdEQVk8rAR5uFe8K66aT/s1600/water+balloons+.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQuicHpiTznqmvXgOM_da6r7a_P7-KpsgZKUBwuuTRwXhCu_PyXZXVvAsZgf-sAnHH11iV2SGGEmyd1f-IfN429zRrv70xxTLQCcg1lOFusrwMMHWagPjmCWYPdEQVk8rAR5uFe8K66aT/s400/water+balloons+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537602343476754" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">July<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjbkbARNeqLnaNpbBPs03HGHF1uULSpEkZ8HS2IhE3Pq13I8n9MdExKKpPIlqGQwuw4_XDq8iP_27-byWMU3E5889mwKddTzTJq3D9AcembzD2MxYLZCrVsXosFhpwJGDPv4PA4OPIB85/s1600/Blackberries+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjbkbARNeqLnaNpbBPs03HGHF1uULSpEkZ8HS2IhE3Pq13I8n9MdExKKpPIlqGQwuw4_XDq8iP_27-byWMU3E5889mwKddTzTJq3D9AcembzD2MxYLZCrVsXosFhpwJGDPv4PA4OPIB85/s400/Blackberries+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537597727283154" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">August<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eWqoSxrbLPVrdvLa6PMgexy-dnuoTHJtfkscHR84gtmQ4g0JBDLUh5e-GHr3JDiFB6qUSY0Nyi_ol8jGZSMFbhPg933SIq5KdzI8f-kqnvCKhu0fiVAfc6yIg2NEhRuHaFby41LbVBDc/s1600/new+shoes+1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eWqoSxrbLPVrdvLa6PMgexy-dnuoTHJtfkscHR84gtmQ4g0JBDLUh5e-GHr3JDiFB6qUSY0Nyi_ol8jGZSMFbhPg933SIq5KdzI8f-kqnvCKhu0fiVAfc6yIg2NEhRuHaFby41LbVBDc/s400/new+shoes+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537308521221394" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">September<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvksZrFv0abyf8Kbt3sMjxt0r70vqJLW04uChXOVjUnHUz90xArZHdpXIfuKR-O9hGxTtj5t42_hdOjm7N_EJYSUSQXbhAXCOsmicN2ovv5RRKQoOgS_c54rAMxK69SJ5MXvO9t86iZ5D/s1600/butternut+squash.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvksZrFv0abyf8Kbt3sMjxt0r70vqJLW04uChXOVjUnHUz90xArZHdpXIfuKR-O9hGxTtj5t42_hdOjm7N_EJYSUSQXbhAXCOsmicN2ovv5RRKQoOgS_c54rAMxK69SJ5MXvO9t86iZ5D/s400/butternut+squash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537304398824466" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">October<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsCOr5iKfi3O9EJ2A425JTF-qKp_SsUJ-fajFDOgRriELCM1qy-Ev_gZWsR4qJvJ4lUgJZzgFIhj8mMpftKFkErCSARlLdTypvhSF5T7nXYfEkmDK3DslZeTnzfLA2VfbyXP18OXt0N11/s1600/Driving+North+Monday.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsCOr5iKfi3O9EJ2A425JTF-qKp_SsUJ-fajFDOgRriELCM1qy-Ev_gZWsR4qJvJ4lUgJZzgFIhj8mMpftKFkErCSARlLdTypvhSF5T7nXYfEkmDK3DslZeTnzfLA2VfbyXP18OXt0N11/s400/Driving+North+Monday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537301443946802" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">November<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQlKLKQ1rRKodPKSt4QVMKC9Jd-0AXxpdLzuvmBKYZDKF78aZaXn6soaXTrtV-_wZ8OBcXVIq-Zky3wHFSOMuO4yfhj9NjD_QxRVmx-faoG-cDJz-8wNQmGV-lMoxJ1mY-ozlsl8RuUV_/s1600/street.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQlKLKQ1rRKodPKSt4QVMKC9Jd-0AXxpdLzuvmBKYZDKF78aZaXn6soaXTrtV-_wZ8OBcXVIq-Zky3wHFSOMuO4yfhj9NjD_QxRVmx-faoG-cDJz-8wNQmGV-lMoxJ1mY-ozlsl8RuUV_/s400/street.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558537298080683906" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">December<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8-LFOrd6QIxoCB5kWR-JeugDhZrmVhWDFpLDMaCeZ_qnJAqjhWPAaldizKJsdO_EZ5mfBFHaAnj3BUv1Qvhc93PUcneVEWCgxmd34xchoK4a9y-5XM6mkfYDBZsBUTr0GtntF35qDIOE/s1600/coloring.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8-LFOrd6QIxoCB5kWR-JeugDhZrmVhWDFpLDMaCeZ_qnJAqjhWPAaldizKJsdO_EZ5mfBFHaAnj3BUv1Qvhc93PUcneVEWCgxmd34xchoK4a9y-5XM6mkfYDBZsBUTr0GtntF35qDIOE/s400/coloring.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558540259784755250" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It's hard to believe that the year has passed so quickly, especially when I can still clearly recall some of those January days! Now it's time to start taking note of 2011 though - I hope it will be another year full of good times and memories.<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-2067088706673476252010-12-18T18:18:00.001-08:002010-12-18T18:33:38.794-08:00Santa's Elves<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicf5KhT8AtOglLo1odPjziiBVhbPEDLQUzwYJy7Kd50j5UKQzzZo74HOIftx61SaxWVl-NVbpqMgE5mmZdIjN-c-pF2OcN7lRSHRPbuo5GQQQkajtV7tSOBjHYijs845iSPBaG750cj1oo/s1600/Christmas+tree+drop.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicf5KhT8AtOglLo1odPjziiBVhbPEDLQUzwYJy7Kd50j5UKQzzZo74HOIftx61SaxWVl-NVbpqMgE5mmZdIjN-c-pF2OcN7lRSHRPbuo5GQQQkajtV7tSOBjHYijs845iSPBaG750cj1oo/s400/Christmas+tree+drop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552212479514300210" border="0" /></a>The girls and I took to the streets of downtown today to play Santa's elves as we participated in <a href="http://thetoysociety.blogspot.com/">The Toy Society's</a> annual Christmas drop. The idea is simple - make a handmade toy, package it up and leave it in a public place to be found and taken home by someone. You can download "Take me home, I'm yours" tags and letters explaining The Toy Society once you join (they'll email you instructions on just how to go about doing things). In between all my other making, I've been working on some softies so that we could make a fun afternoon of it.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjTj3d8imUKeW_Oh0Pub3stkh7VzJ_f0Noz_nC3RT8k-bfMfqQu4u3_V4M73MSkWDURBjL2GcdfDRrDX5cOMl3JXCD3gtGxsDp8ESlW63nZ3FRJLKyYhubWjk3nK6oahm79IKUFh5L9qJ/s1600/Doll+1+dropped.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjTj3d8imUKeW_Oh0Pub3stkh7VzJ_f0Noz_nC3RT8k-bfMfqQu4u3_V4M73MSkWDURBjL2GcdfDRrDX5cOMl3JXCD3gtGxsDp8ESlW63nZ3FRJLKyYhubWjk3nK6oahm79IKUFh5L9qJ/s400/Doll+1+dropped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552212489078339298" border="0" /></a>I told the girls that we were on a secret mission, that people couldn't see us leaving them and we had to be all slick and sly. They loved it and were very into choosing which toy to leave where. We covered both ends of the city, walking from location to location on the north end, then catching the electric shuttle to the south side.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHVuK9R4qKDweS6WMLvRRiA9Q2kISXE5QLSjjGkXEHkT0uSWcnQrC78FHdiTHY3VNPHYaVrmqzxqWeXbuFAx6QZlgU5fH5Mn5TFXHZaOkalG6I-ZeV6PFxMn94AXl1Cb7wmCiEbiCE5xM/s1600/Ornaments.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHVuK9R4qKDweS6WMLvRRiA9Q2kISXE5QLSjjGkXEHkT0uSWcnQrC78FHdiTHY3VNPHYaVrmqzxqWeXbuFAx6QZlgU5fH5Mn5TFXHZaOkalG6I-ZeV6PFxMn94AXl1Cb7wmCiEbiCE5xM/s400/Ornaments.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552212484907417842" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We had five toys to leave in all. The above two ornament dolls (at least that's what they're supposed to be), two Black Apple dolls decked out in Christmas fabrics and one Christmas tree girl. Aside from the Black Apple dolls, the others were all made from thrifted wool sweaters that I've felted. A big thanks to my Aunt, who has scored lots of sweaters for me!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1zh4LgcqIvgnCtf_vYmif5VI8Gt35RRXRw4in7aDTRPnBjTvICCA7fTZKOe1fRdrR2ZpnObDD87qb2_u8GWfa2QzsFYwsWQP8WSLy8q6aqoB86SoOaSsN6CJb9EeQzpvu8XOi9C1vN5D/s1600/Ornament+2+dropped.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1zh4LgcqIvgnCtf_vYmif5VI8Gt35RRXRw4in7aDTRPnBjTvICCA7fTZKOe1fRdrR2ZpnObDD87qb2_u8GWfa2QzsFYwsWQP8WSLy8q6aqoB86SoOaSsN6CJb9EeQzpvu8XOi9C1vN5D/s400/Ornament+2+dropped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552212486197533570" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">After riding the shuttle back to the north end of town, we went by two of our original drops and were glad to see that the toys were gone - that made the girls so excited. We celebrated with hot chocolate before heading home and now they're both sound asleep after being on the go all afternoon. This was so much fun to do with the girls, especially making it a top secret mission - I hope to have a stash built up at some point, so that we can do this more often!<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-90962149203334881522010-12-08T17:19:00.000-08:002010-12-08T17:27:49.787-08:00In Full Swing<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fGy6LeRf1D21scsqilwGJjLklCJAADgETKHp2eeHikeDb9jumS_7j9AL6a0cFJHmphXGE3YhhMCR7PeVIgPNr7poSFDCJnFaMdCBgiUsC8g05QHOUtPxNMni6sRIEGNqazawohSqoY_l/s1600/work+area.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fGy6LeRf1D21scsqilwGJjLklCJAADgETKHp2eeHikeDb9jumS_7j9AL6a0cFJHmphXGE3YhhMCR7PeVIgPNr7poSFDCJnFaMdCBgiUsC8g05QHOUtPxNMni6sRIEGNqazawohSqoY_l/s400/work+area.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548486131802344466" border="0" /></a>Remember <a href="http://fromthehandbasket.blogspot.com/2010/11/fancy-pants.html">this scene</a> from just a few short weeks ago? It is no more. The above it what I'm seeing now. My Christmas crafting is in full swing. Unfortunately, I can't share some of the things I'm working on right now, but I can share my mess. That's part of my wool sweaters waiting to be fulled (felted) in front. There are three more boxes out of view. The remnants of the tote bags (I've made four so far) are in the window sill and at the end of the ironing board, as I hope to get a few more made and there's just a general mess going on right now. I'd be fine with it too...if I could just find that disappearing marking pen I bought just last week. I even attempted to pick up a bit in the hopes of finding it. So far no luck.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvy9XfUC23GOLDxcv8RwAEQRp3STWfTSiWLKRJCCar8pVrTklqXT2SpcuGWbJcQxtBNtVRrE1Su4-r97LSpHtjHs-dnPoCnIYRAqYBPdSmsOxKyoqkAEtiJLa6L8YOBhPobtKxvuHtlYZ/s1600/Christmas+Carol.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvy9XfUC23GOLDxcv8RwAEQRp3STWfTSiWLKRJCCar8pVrTklqXT2SpcuGWbJcQxtBNtVRrE1Su4-r97LSpHtjHs-dnPoCnIYRAqYBPdSmsOxKyoqkAEtiJLa6L8YOBhPobtKxvuHtlYZ/s400/Christmas+Carol.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548486129273966066" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is something I started last night and hope to finish up tonight. I'm calling her Christmas Carol and she's part of a covert operation the girls and I are working on. At least that's how we like to think about it. We're planning to participate in The Toy Society's World Wide Christmas Drop on the weekend before Christmas. Hopefully we'll have several toys to leave around town and the weather will cooperate so that we can leave them outside in some of the fun parts of town. Stay tuned for photos.<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-30984709402330875202010-12-05T19:20:00.001-08:002010-12-05T19:35:19.527-08:00Getting Down to Business<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxYZW9q8Okr9qNQWLpvS-aORIlezE-cdsj3ckeMAZliku6q5UjWn5cnuktbTpts1VultJfj1QkLT-eNQeQnkrO1KafmcWPy9W_SdV0f9afZ7YFm2C76VtINM6PAE_RsnD20XgFfQVwu5k/s1600/Christmas+tote.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxYZW9q8Okr9qNQWLpvS-aORIlezE-cdsj3ckeMAZliku6q5UjWn5cnuktbTpts1VultJfj1QkLT-eNQeQnkrO1KafmcWPy9W_SdV0f9afZ7YFm2C76VtINM6PAE_RsnD20XgFfQVwu5k/s400/Christmas+tote.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547404113775729234" border="0" /></a><br />So, the word on the street is that Christmas is coming. It's not like Easter, which can fall at any time between March and April, and yet still I seem to be caught off guard. It's not because I've been sooo busy with Thanksgiving festivities or anything - I don't know what it is....I should be prepared, ready and maybe even done preparing ahead of time so that I can sit back and enjoy this time of waiting and anticipation. But I am not ready in advance. again. this year. I have made some positive strides though! (Phew!!)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNm73cIakeZSehwtjGvCpITmpkyjfXp1vl4ibMzWGfw_hLC3aqfYFXbY5W4Flg69HIGbuTVHd0Drd_B6GLsieXJGtn9w3_GBJ1RbCK4ur8EGdlteSLEEaU1w-E7iLbtVmLOzIuj7gZ_55k/s1600/Bag+close.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbLceHl_RsDcinkNeBh61PoWaEGofERr0rihmvwYXL7XcAjm3eNKtpN92h6Y07Of3W4TShkjvCKaZL8Mr1IBcoZbmpbxJxp_GMxXauw3OmAzfv3KC5N2WrHB0xFRh3oiqEhgDZBXg1vbX/s1600/bag.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbLceHl_RsDcinkNeBh61PoWaEGofERr0rihmvwYXL7XcAjm3eNKtpN92h6Y07Of3W4TShkjvCKaZL8Mr1IBcoZbmpbxJxp_GMxXauw3OmAzfv3KC5N2WrHB0xFRh3oiqEhgDZBXg1vbX/s400/bag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547403953353106994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNm73cIakeZSehwtjGvCpITmpkyjfXp1vl4ibMzWGfw_hLC3aqfYFXbY5W4Flg69HIGbuTVHd0Drd_B6GLsieXJGtn9w3_GBJ1RbCK4ur8EGdlteSLEEaU1w-E7iLbtVmLOzIuj7gZ_55k/s1600/Bag+close.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This is the first of four bags I've made over the past few days, fulfilling my need to give certain people homemade gifts. I won't name names though : ) This pattern for this bag came from the Fall 2009 issue of Stitch magazine. I really love this magazine and try and pick it up with a coupon each time it comes out (otherwise it's $14.99... bit to rich for my budget). The first bag took some time, as I worked through the directions, which were very clear and easy to follow and subsequent bags have come together much more quickly. One key is cutting out all the pieces at once, before you start - that really seems to move things along. Also, there was a lot of switching threads for design purposes (and practical purposes). I found that once the first one was made, I could do all the steps that used a specific thread at once and save a good bit of switching and re-threading. My other shortcut had me skipping the use of basting spray (because I have it but can't find it...a-hem) and "basting" my batting to my bag fronts with a few dabs of clear, washable glue stick. This worked for me - please don't cuss me if it doesn't work for you though.<br /><br />I bought enough of the green fabric for two bags, but now I'm using what I've got at home, so these are very cost effective bags. Even the batting I've saved from quilts that were slightly smaller than the batting I bought was just the right size for these bags, which measure about 11 1/2" wide by 14" high (with my sewing skills). And speaking of saving scraps, the bottom of this bag is the leftovers from this <a href="http://fromthehandbasket.blogspot.com/2010/07/bit-of-this-and-that.html">skirt redo</a>. Reduce and reuse!<br /><br />On the agenda for tomorrow....come up with a new banner head - one that no longer feels of fall. After all, Christmas is coming!<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-35919168164838028582010-11-27T18:34:00.000-08:002010-11-27T18:59:08.406-08:00Jumping the Gun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nKUnb83Zi8ndkrnUa1Ndp64doiIOfDEAPPWpuX_QOfoUD8tTlD9nmVcRVVxZqyIwPzb_5FmDhfw2oDsTgOlBfJFRzqBOIMp5qTfLI3lkfoIBs1o1ESWWpYxjKjHoTSRZQ7ui1Et5qTnh/s1600/frost+on+cypress.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nKUnb83Zi8ndkrnUa1Ndp64doiIOfDEAPPWpuX_QOfoUD8tTlD9nmVcRVVxZqyIwPzb_5FmDhfw2oDsTgOlBfJFRzqBOIMp5qTfLI3lkfoIBs1o1ESWWpYxjKjHoTSRZQ7ui1Et5qTnh/s400/frost+on+cypress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544424568967406066" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Last week, or maybe it was two weeks ago, I explained "jumping the gun" to Rachel when she came out of her room, dressed for school in one of her Christmas shirts. I told her that we really ought to wait for Thanksgiving to be over before we dust of the Rudolph attire.<br /><br />When we woke up this morning, the temperature was 30. That's pretty chilly for these Southern bones, so in the spirit of going to pick out our Christmas tree, I donned my Christmas tree shirt. I was soon being told that <span style="font-style: italic;">I'd</span> jumped the gun. In all fairness, Thanksgiving has passed and we were going to get our Christmas tree.....I still think it was a good choice - I think she was just jealous of it ; )<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOXa7G2TQzsFqsmiRxTBsR0U0bNISfRDM9dP0BRJ03A7y_nGOamTcgMAiuCAJ8lYdq2_JexrwCly-eCnKmPZ2d0ww0IAmi3Vq18xec0stuOeXyPh3DdLeoSsZ7ss2WgpUMiI0gEaeAIBG/s1600/birds+nest+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOXa7G2TQzsFqsmiRxTBsR0U0bNISfRDM9dP0BRJ03A7y_nGOamTcgMAiuCAJ8lYdq2_JexrwCly-eCnKmPZ2d0ww0IAmi3Vq18xec0stuOeXyPh3DdLeoSsZ7ss2WgpUMiI0gEaeAIBG/s400/birds+nest+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544424597989826882" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Local, pick your own tree farms are a bit of a dilemma for this Northern girl in the South. Cypress and Ceder trees do not even register in my book as a qualifying Christmas tree, but they are what are most easily grown in these parts. We found a farm last year that grew a smattering of Virginia Pines, which at least have needles, so we returned this year. Upon arriving, it dawned on me that if a tree farm gets cleared out one year, they're not going to have a huge selection the following year. Yes, it took staring that fact in the face for it to hit home. I had almost resolved myself to a poser Cypress Christmas tree wanna' be when we found a pine that looked like it would work. Further inspection on Sarah's part revealed a bird's nest tucked in the tree as well - isn't that supposed to bring luck?<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhWRIYaBClz80qsCxk1kqDE-eM1mq-ufMBOSVjiWuO7_BPeQvGydk7ZDC0rwXhqmiOLnpz-Ah_IHBAA2t56E6ncTJI3S0ty9-Dctzb_4HkPHrLjwmChHKQAmTOEz0HdMsXxn9IF2EshVS/s1600/cutting+down+tree.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhWRIYaBClz80qsCxk1kqDE-eM1mq-ufMBOSVjiWuO7_BPeQvGydk7ZDC0rwXhqmiOLnpz-Ah_IHBAA2t56E6ncTJI3S0ty9-Dctzb_4HkPHrLjwmChHKQAmTOEz0HdMsXxn9IF2EshVS/s400/cutting+down+tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544424574189660466" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">So chop chop chop (actually, saw, saw, saw) and we had a rather large tree to drag home. As a matter of fact, last years was sort of large as well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qOW8baB0zq-suWRgPJZWjiOxdtBCuhq4oi-Y2Fj30KLt6M8mK50wHmV-mo179iUetCdcrOtiXImQDVXa6HJaNXhHxunL6PQy2vanVDPD4PUfquygr6U2MVGo9_TZKQLAlHSH8Ou4yZyR/s1600/Bringing+the+tree+in.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qOW8baB0zq-suWRgPJZWjiOxdtBCuhq4oi-Y2Fj30KLt6M8mK50wHmV-mo179iUetCdcrOtiXImQDVXa6HJaNXhHxunL6PQy2vanVDPD4PUfquygr6U2MVGo9_TZKQLAlHSH8Ou4yZyR/s400/Bringing+the+tree+in.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544424586789949186" border="0" /></a> This one is a bit of a Charlie Brown tree on steroids, with some rather large empty spaces, but it will do. My decorating plan involves lots of lights in bare spots and large ornaments strategically placed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcP2C9MGuxkdVOmOyH08kp49cCm9YrjuIBTntT5gptpfyfXzyCLVeGS-0i5pBuI8OFnbUin9eQLAuwxg-60HWsId3ERw8HmFgHb5Vf9VS0smC1WFB6KM9hde1qgy3x71YW314AYGLjTdI/s1600/Elf.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcP2C9MGuxkdVOmOyH08kp49cCm9YrjuIBTntT5gptpfyfXzyCLVeGS-0i5pBuI8OFnbUin9eQLAuwxg-60HWsId3ERw8HmFgHb5Vf9VS0smC1WFB6KM9hde1qgy3x71YW314AYGLjTdI/s400/Elf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544424603788169410" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And what did we find when we got it home and into the tree stand? Santa's elves have returned! How they got into the tree, we do not know, but there they were and Sarah's pretty sure they have a look of mischief about them. The girls are actually so excited for the elves to get into some mischief that they were eager to go to bed! Oh, and Sarah called their arrival a "Christmas miracle". Too bad we're short on drama and flair around here.<br /><br />But about that luck.....I'm guessing it wasn't luck that sent the fully lit and decorated tree crashing down on Rachel tonight. Perhaps it was karma for all the very similar scenes we've seen on America's Funniest Home Videos and laughed at. We found it much less entertaining when it was in our living room. And a tree stand full of water was spilled all over the floor. And Jim's one and only sentimental ornament lay shattered on the floor. Hopefully it's secure now and those naughty elves won't try tipping it over in the night!<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-55408250847999436172010-11-21T18:07:00.000-08:002010-11-21T18:26:27.060-08:00Fancy Pants<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghp-t46qVWbhA-pyVFxZ8puUkdi5sd_Jj2uPk4X7BtFYgaBAFwmupCLGDH7GLiZ64TN4BVbrt-1EY0x3gDmVIOoejlyofH47Ac-792ijI084whwoWgAP6brkAvZHt_AzAuYo5IINsGjLPf/s1600/sewing+area.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghp-t46qVWbhA-pyVFxZ8puUkdi5sd_Jj2uPk4X7BtFYgaBAFwmupCLGDH7GLiZ64TN4BVbrt-1EY0x3gDmVIOoejlyofH47Ac-792ijI084whwoWgAP6brkAvZHt_AzAuYo5IINsGjLPf/s400/sewing+area.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542190125891470834" border="0" /></a>I could have easily called this "weekend cleaning" as well, but I'm feeling pretty fancy about how much I tidied up this weekend. It was long over due....long, long, long. Normally I don't let people into this area of our house, but because I tidied up, I thought I'd share.<br /><br />We live in a house built in 1935 with lots of quirks. We chose our house because, of all the older homes that we looked at, we thought this one would require the least amount of work. We were wrong. Take this area, for instance. It was a crudely finished attic area - no central heat or air, divided into three areas with the laundry in the hottest, darkest, dirtiest corner. Because it became clear that we really needed to rewire the entire house (like I said, we were wrong), the easiest way to do such a thing proved to be going through the floor of the upstairs. That line of thinking led the Mr. to completely gutting the upstairs. And by completely, I mean completely - no floors, no walls, nothing. I'll have to dig some of those pre-digital photos out some day.<br /><br />The upstairs area is an odd shape - long and rectangular with a stairway and chimney up the middle. Not ideal, but it's worked for us. I have one side, the girls have the other for playing and the Mr. has the area past the chimney for his man cave. Theoretically we could all be up here doing our own thing, happy as clams, but in reality it doesn't seem to work that way.<br /><br />Anyhow, my sewing area is the first thing you see at the top of the stairs. I scored that Hoosier Cabinet (needs a good bit of repair) for $35! It holds lots of sewing stuff. All my fabric scraps are sorted by color in the empty (and washed) kitty litter buckets under the table.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRJjKcLUDtsTXdeBYFzrJ53coom1myioYcco7DQwEkuS9zuuncVh7Vw8lGHRO4xtbYLCJeumS1e0VOGXMc34x7Z2-SEWBJs8TUyz8PtPeAr_RN_pvB77TZ4wpnth6PP3HZAxhCgZoLDqv/s1600/computer+and+paper+area.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRJjKcLUDtsTXdeBYFzrJ53coom1myioYcco7DQwEkuS9zuuncVh7Vw8lGHRO4xtbYLCJeumS1e0VOGXMc34x7Z2-SEWBJs8TUyz8PtPeAr_RN_pvB77TZ4wpnth6PP3HZAxhCgZoLDqv/s400/computer+and+paper+area.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542190122537036130" border="0" /></a>The computer is in the middle of my area. I have a kitchen cabinet in the attic that I'd eventually like hung on the wall over the monitor....for stashing more stuff, of course. At the end, before you get to the man cave, is where I have all my card making and crafty stuff. The windows are original to the house, crooked, and <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> drafty. Charm, it seems, comes with a price.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbFPHynuIY5bBZlfbrsQz5thUU4PmK1PCXEH4KTxZa3qHfW4myD2et4AUW8hr5tLgM00oOKzFh4h-jjDDn0A5PpW8w3vZHNAvRWSWo4SoUb7wCMiIOJ2T1KVtsSMkD1-ooXkVsWWUB4FG/s1600/paper.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbFPHynuIY5bBZlfbrsQz5thUU4PmK1PCXEH4KTxZa3qHfW4myD2et4AUW8hr5tLgM00oOKzFh4h-jjDDn0A5PpW8w3vZHNAvRWSWo4SoUb7wCMiIOJ2T1KVtsSMkD1-ooXkVsWWUB4FG/s400/paper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542190116422170034" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My final crafty nook. The large white cabinet on the left became a necessity when a wee Sarah started using my stamp pads to color the carpet. It use to have a child lock on it (and probably still should). My table top is the top to an old Ikea drafting table. I still have the legs, but the top is currently set atop a series of our old kitchen cabinets which form an L. In the cabinets...more stuff, of course! Sometimes I feel bogged down my all my crafty clutter, but then I think about people who don't create and just watch TV at night and I don't feel so bad. I'd much rather be up here getting my craft on...although sometimes I do wonder where I might squeeze a little TV in.<br /><br />Thanks for taking a peek - feel free to drop by in the next two days and see for yourself. After that it will probably be a mess again and I won't let you upstairs ; )<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-69340293363193655362010-11-20T07:56:00.000-08:002010-11-20T08:02:46.230-08:00Good Intentions Gone Awry<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46CiKeoU79p7IXCu9qIqv3r2TfXjXOBF7HHs3vZNwsMHWjCnOyHYu3dVWRl9SiY3zZf0aVvg0A-8wlGS-U08m59kTTPupSeuXvvBiO9jBo6wC_zBs-t3KKHAf6GNDB-XmjHpdFnSIM2aR/s1600/cinnamon+rolls+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46CiKeoU79p7IXCu9qIqv3r2TfXjXOBF7HHs3vZNwsMHWjCnOyHYu3dVWRl9SiY3zZf0aVvg0A-8wlGS-U08m59kTTPupSeuXvvBiO9jBo6wC_zBs-t3KKHAf6GNDB-XmjHpdFnSIM2aR/s400/cinnamon+rolls+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541661637610992834" border="0" /></a>With the holidays quickly approaching, I thought now would be a good time to really try and lose some of the extra pounds I have stumbled upon in the past two years. This week I got serious, counting my calories, measuring portions - really trying. The Mr. and I even had a discussion about how to add some veggies to our breakfast. My intention this morning was to make spinach and tomato omelets and somehow I ended up with <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/easy-sticky-buns-recipe/index.html">Ina Garten's Sticky Buns</a>. Seriously, how did this happen?<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRfsXBWwiKhEtb224jKFeItzJq23RHgt-Ah8wMT2EiHtFMy1hbXB8u9M23fpwsYu7ZYPgdgja7vxFyYcGatKdfh9X3r_KeRKeKyx4B8HzAc1kJsp4rp6fX-EhdNNy7eMms2tbtaMf92lY/s1600/cinnamon+rolls+on+table.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRfsXBWwiKhEtb224jKFeItzJq23RHgt-Ah8wMT2EiHtFMy1hbXB8u9M23fpwsYu7ZYPgdgja7vxFyYcGatKdfh9X3r_KeRKeKyx4B8HzAc1kJsp4rp6fX-EhdNNy7eMms2tbtaMf92lY/s400/cinnamon+rolls+on+table.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541661661961751362" border="0" /></a>I will say that I still tried to be good and ate just one.....for now. The recipe makes 12 and if I'd actually read the recipe through entirely before jumping in, I would have realized that it can be easily halved and have saved myself from all the buns still sitting in the kitchen. Alas. My only change to this recipe was to nix the raisins. Why make a good sticky bun go bad, in my opinion. And while this surely isn't going to help me lose any weight, it sure did taste good!<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-29197009530903715992010-11-18T10:03:00.000-08:002010-11-18T10:21:50.664-08:00One Down<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUUCtGjJWXELhmj5K0SflvS1CqizggKPLOtwmslVeDJSVCorjTsqrxfvNPIUYT6g-aely797USqgzF4OhODI1q1yeRLrcDur4Gqp3BUVyxBjr_uiout4bEl7zipr9eaub5p9Jor9rQau2/s1600/Caroline%2527s+Quilt+full+.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUUCtGjJWXELhmj5K0SflvS1CqizggKPLOtwmslVeDJSVCorjTsqrxfvNPIUYT6g-aely797USqgzF4OhODI1q1yeRLrcDur4Gqp3BUVyxBjr_uiout4bEl7zipr9eaub5p9Jor9rQau2/s400/Caroline%2527s+Quilt+full+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540953313114033570" border="0" /></a>Well I've got one Christmas present taken care of. Even if it isn't from me to anyone I know, at least it's done and I know I won't be letting anyone else down. I was all set to head out to the store the other day and pick out something to bind this with when I stumbled upon a pink gingham Ralph Lauren sheet that I'd picked up at a thrift store. It made the perfect binding, complementing some of the other ginghams in the quilt and saving me a trip to the store.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPf3wT2XKxx61aiNsxMkzO-cYpv8Z8aZBKc-7lCCv9IgcYwH30A1uG3DSYskLdhOq9D77zozjl5gRG7BVguVlTYdo7tYzgZdfz9cdrZUrao2JxocFcmQ5cGr5d5EqewTjk2NVw4yZBtQ6/s1600/Caroline%2527s+Quilt+detail.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPf3wT2XKxx61aiNsxMkzO-cYpv8Z8aZBKc-7lCCv9IgcYwH30A1uG3DSYskLdhOq9D77zozjl5gRG7BVguVlTYdo7tYzgZdfz9cdrZUrao2JxocFcmQ5cGr5d5EqewTjk2NVw4yZBtQ6/s400/Caroline%2527s+Quilt+detail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540953307614912962" border="0" /></a><br />I'm relived that this quilted as easily as it did. I was worried, as some of the monogrammed squares were done on cloth diapers as burp cloths, and there was an extra thickness to those squares as well as the center panel being backed with a water-proof material. If held to the light you can pick the squares out, but otherwise they blend in and don't drape too differently from the rest.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to delivering this on Sunday. The recipient will be a seven year old little girl, so I know it won't be a terribly exciting gift now, but hopefully she will treasure it in the future.<br /><br />Now it's time to think about what <span style="font-style: italic;">I'm</span> giving for Christmas!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iWgykov9_qXLd5hNOMmKl3M4RIeRnAnjM_CSPtFyqODeG0biz9GFDtoIChHCe3HcPrKoA63tnszSdjJ32Bz0wAZDYjb6PWXnHbFXURyk7BFFLntLShdhTl9INK6Y6UkcFpaVh2bncHqO/s1600/Caroline%2527s+Quilt+folded.jpg"><br /></a>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-6035926614312404742010-11-09T11:15:00.001-08:002010-11-09T11:31:59.482-08:00Days of Yore<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcj6jyRvNdO41LGzwEBINMO_vN713DMZ4_aMQkDHVqvXXfL1Dy5IGX7V2FNAw1tbu7eOfQ9OJ9aPLzL77QGxNDRZrrkXiUGE8tO8UiSRnXRwBZIFu9jtBIG5V9YM1BbFDq8MvyTurDBfew/s1600/pot+holders+.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcj6jyRvNdO41LGzwEBINMO_vN713DMZ4_aMQkDHVqvXXfL1Dy5IGX7V2FNAw1tbu7eOfQ9OJ9aPLzL77QGxNDRZrrkXiUGE8tO8UiSRnXRwBZIFu9jtBIG5V9YM1BbFDq8MvyTurDBfew/s400/pot+holders+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537630944594590642" border="0" /></a>This past weekend we went to a housewarming. I wanted to take something handmade, but had very little time in which to make it. The idea for these little potholders had been rolling around in my head, so I took the opportunity to the idea to paper....and fabric. The above is the end result. I was happy with one and the other fought me the whole way. I won't tell you which is which, but I gave both.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaRVQ308NuqQPe59OP3wRM7D581mMo1mDg6wrzoOmae1cYAD81PmjOpDFV61z3g_74YasO9rKSLkcsaF8UO-zAc07dn0UGmfZgDnSjGp5DGlA27NHU9nGIPe0B6FOUM13XW5TGUluPDES/s1600/shoes.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaRVQ308NuqQPe59OP3wRM7D581mMo1mDg6wrzoOmae1cYAD81PmjOpDFV61z3g_74YasO9rKSLkcsaF8UO-zAc07dn0UGmfZgDnSjGp5DGlA27NHU9nGIPe0B6FOUM13XW5TGUluPDES/s400/shoes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537630938830245410" border="0" /></a>I paper pieced the house blocks, which is something that I'd done a lot of several years ago (as in before kids - when I had the time.....in the days of yore). I had a bag of pillows I'd made stuck in the attic and dug them out yesterday to see what I had stashed away. My oldest daughter is almost 8, so these pillows have been tucked away for a while now. The shoe pattern came from a quilt top that a friend had - I used the quilt to develop the block.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVhsVojEORgVUjuHABjqCmqxKVsII78w7ecXkhlUqOGb8AV8C8ipsS-vZOAHy9zBNK3ig486AfMi8wWreCnLrRlt69JScQIGg_7IsjMUhHeziQf-ldSZHoCBlc8_12Ejf4_iKH0YWO4wD/s1600/kimono.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVhsVojEORgVUjuHABjqCmqxKVsII78w7ecXkhlUqOGb8AV8C8ipsS-vZOAHy9zBNK3ig486AfMi8wWreCnLrRlt69JScQIGg_7IsjMUhHeziQf-ldSZHoCBlc8_12Ejf4_iKH0YWO4wD/s400/kimono.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537630926794733970" border="0" /></a>I designed this kimono pattern after looking at several others - combining what I liked most from several designs.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ31rO2_mrJdSt-JAgon1cEaW14X8vls3TIl3E-9W3VfOxvoBL-qromfE6dlW8KwIjWG5JZL91Y3rWFUz9u5XQde4PQkvRBYGQwZdSf8XKviYLyIllYdf0QVr1bH2C3wgr7Mz_4PnXn_z0/s1600/butterflies.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ31rO2_mrJdSt-JAgon1cEaW14X8vls3TIl3E-9W3VfOxvoBL-qromfE6dlW8KwIjWG5JZL91Y3rWFUz9u5XQde4PQkvRBYGQwZdSf8XKviYLyIllYdf0QVr1bH2C3wgr7Mz_4PnXn_z0/s400/butterflies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537633642735433586" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This butterfly pattern was from a book - 101 full-size Quilt Blocks and Borders by Better Homes and Gardens, I think, although I didn't find it in a quick flip through. I had fun with these butterflies, adding beading, hand stitching and layering fabrics.<br /><br />Making the house blocks gave me lots of ideas for more paper pieced blocks. In the meantime, I need to figure out what to do with these pillows. I'm also thinking there might be another bag of pillows as well, as I also designed a bikini pattern and a button down shirt. I can feel an attic excavation coming soon!<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-89116038913199876842010-11-06T12:08:00.000-07:002010-11-06T12:18:24.165-07:00Christmas is Coming<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWRJBsFOHV9aS1OtdmR9JBb1BnNTF5IRuCJOPJAP-IxVCtqxAliDORGjt0bDit_koQj0_94fizlyn0ELhER7AOLPa5_xGOli06DA613kb7_SetBRJjmxc7FA6dm2ZaxNfT2j10BxbSjOv/s1600/Caroline's+quilt+.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWRJBsFOHV9aS1OtdmR9JBb1BnNTF5IRuCJOPJAP-IxVCtqxAliDORGjt0bDit_koQj0_94fizlyn0ELhER7AOLPa5_xGOli06DA613kb7_SetBRJjmxc7FA6dm2ZaxNfT2j10BxbSjOv/s400/Caroline's+quilt+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536515863098429330" border="0" /></a>I'm sure this isn't really news to anyone, but Christmas is coming and it's coming fast and soon. Especially if you're the type that's inclined to try and make as many gifts as possible. I am inclined....and worried, because I have a loooong way to go! Take this quilt for example. The top is done, I have the batting and backing already - all I need is a few hours to quilt it, a good movie to bind it by and wham bam, I'm done. And that's excellent, because it isn't a gift I'm giving - I'm making it for a friend to give to her daughter. Yes, when this quilt is finished (hopefully next week) my gifty pile will still be empty.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hOXuSde5PoKx86iuiuW9UWygfStJ8zevt90WMCrOBwXcYsXL9sjfCmrHWK6ctaXX1RYUoAxWDUH8ywi56Ja2FODafr3rLSryngdpbHavkwhg20ZRvwm8s6ZF8cwn3GM4gUCdKBUqOhLN/s1600/quilt+detail.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hOXuSde5PoKx86iuiuW9UWygfStJ8zevt90WMCrOBwXcYsXL9sjfCmrHWK6ctaXX1RYUoAxWDUH8ywi56Ja2FODafr3rLSryngdpbHavkwhg20ZRvwm8s6ZF8cwn3GM4gUCdKBUqOhLN/s400/quilt+detail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536515846759477938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHa2kYMqyofEVMq_53Gzv1OvFijgzfMIou67DYEtbRnv1QNWC7NdsNy8T8l2wS8nfX3B4LJoW5ppw0YBiIoDPAmxUFrU35zwGZWL3fIJfkPflfq2w2wyFHm1EH9iX6j7TSd3RtqWct-ue/s1600/Quilt+bottom.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">About this quilt though. She wanted it throw size, which I found varies greatly. It will end up somewhere in the neighborhood of 4' x 6.5'. The monograms dictated the size of the squares to an extent, which then dictated the size of the quilt. Aside from the white sashing (which will also be the back), the quilt is comprised entirely of baby clothes from the little girl who will be receiving it. Each center square features her monogram and is surrounded by fabric from her dresses and bubbles. I think my favorite squares are the ones cut from diaper covers because you get a bit of the shape of the cover in the square - a reminder of those tiny little baby bottoms.<br /><br />Quilting this will be a bit of a challenge, as some fabrics are thicker than others, the center square actually has a waterproof backing and a few pieces have a bit of stretch to them. Hopefully all will go smoothly and I'll have some better pictures to share when it's done. I had a hard time finding some nice warm light to take these photos in - another reminder that winter is coming!<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-1003321480899615142010-10-31T18:36:00.000-07:002010-10-31T18:51:52.792-07:00Happy Halloween!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjmx7q0UwRpojD83fc2PDA2UlZh5MNmL9fW0dGX5XFK8v_kEhqk56A2RXvkqJUA6z8kKe4Jl0UVxcA_NE-I3LfRJPHaOPaHWQOSVE8YiRre7R-1PBS-QxPH0-Cqbn9Y14qJ9A9PjFIP57/s1600/Silly+Sisters.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjmx7q0UwRpojD83fc2PDA2UlZh5MNmL9fW0dGX5XFK8v_kEhqk56A2RXvkqJUA6z8kKe4Jl0UVxcA_NE-I3LfRJPHaOPaHWQOSVE8YiRre7R-1PBS-QxPH0-Cqbn9Y14qJ9A9PjFIP57/s400/Silly+Sisters.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534389477760033474" border="0" /></a>CANDY!! They have candy!! And lots of it. Oh my goodness, the candy has to disappear fast because if I hear "Can I have....." much more, I'm going to lose my mind! I believe Halloween was a hit this year, even though we celebrated a day early on our street.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPaJteytlbVuPegKE6j1uAwC_D_sA3QjbVbq0VkrLSviYypPfj2fEn7gjIGTcwofarXdgwgL9hqHTHWuZlJHfCxO4qWDuEcf8EaEnhsUBPLyucUQPcSh8enjcFhZKy5MEsjINIRwMZ-p8/s1600/Costumed+Sarah.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPaJteytlbVuPegKE6j1uAwC_D_sA3QjbVbq0VkrLSviYypPfj2fEn7gjIGTcwofarXdgwgL9hqHTHWuZlJHfCxO4qWDuEcf8EaEnhsUBPLyucUQPcSh8enjcFhZKy5MEsjINIRwMZ-p8/s400/Costumed+Sarah.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534389460558068258" border="0" /></a>Cuteness was in abundance as we traveled our street with our neighbors and some of their friends. Even the shy kids seem to come out of their shells and be willing to knock on doors, ring door bells and take candy from (mainly not) strangers.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeOJJCAUMgtjm9N_bg50-49knC0mqPoJxnB6ZiplipD1GXyGvmZjrfs52E63xqibdtBHiRnNsnKO3LXAElKMBMstjRM5rL6PU0AO8zfFLRkc5KMpegb28Ryk5NHQbbnEm4YMkXJjKY-Cy/s1600/Action+Rachel.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeOJJCAUMgtjm9N_bg50-49knC0mqPoJxnB6ZiplipD1GXyGvmZjrfs52E63xqibdtBHiRnNsnKO3LXAElKMBMstjRM5rL6PU0AO8zfFLRkc5KMpegb28Ryk5NHQbbnEm4YMkXJjKY-Cy/s400/Action+Rachel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534389457923173698" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The girl's pumpkins turned out great, in their mother's unbiased opinion. Sarah designed the Frankenstein face and her dad did the carving. There was a lot of debate between the two artists about cleaning the guts out. The designer wanted them out and the carver felt the gave the effect of brains and wanted them in. I think they came to some sort of middle ground and then I let Sarah gut my butternut squash that was about to become soup to appease her.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTHCcku1EKbSBgqsZA2z0vYegt0oKh9uyUwHawccjdmRWymdREzA4UYgaZVeHZYlM29VRSEQiEagzYTpBsWvkpc8GVz6OVXL5we7YZC7dSAbRCaebsAyMuLZe-UMci080UTUVxRy5k0fC/s1600/Sarah's+Frankenstein+pumpkin.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTHCcku1EKbSBgqsZA2z0vYegt0oKh9uyUwHawccjdmRWymdREzA4UYgaZVeHZYlM29VRSEQiEagzYTpBsWvkpc8GVz6OVXL5we7YZC7dSAbRCaebsAyMuLZe-UMci080UTUVxRy5k0fC/s400/Sarah's+Frankenstein+pumpkin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534389506132544482" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Rachel drew her pumpkin's face as well, and did her own carving until it came to the mouth. By the time she got to the mouth, all the small carving tools had broken off their handles, so I was relieved when she asked me to tackle the mouth instead of watching her jab at the pumpkin with a sharp kitchen knife! We're not ready for the blood and guts kind of Halloween yet - especially when it involves our own family members!<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OGKwKWZ4XB9gg0MI4ZqdqQu8Dmto0a0YAPzjxi1aahiyAM1xUqJucaQ_La1jpdHrnZBM0VI4dwCt-DCx74OVxCWbhk3D_uZjU-UOME_SXti3MuJnqm7G6rp4Rqhba0-UFfZVSrGjx6yT/s1600/Rachel's+Pumpkin.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OGKwKWZ4XB9gg0MI4ZqdqQu8Dmto0a0YAPzjxi1aahiyAM1xUqJucaQ_La1jpdHrnZBM0VI4dwCt-DCx74OVxCWbhk3D_uZjU-UOME_SXti3MuJnqm7G6rp4Rqhba0-UFfZVSrGjx6yT/s400/Rachel's+Pumpkin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534389497476814578" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OGKwKWZ4XB9gg0MI4ZqdqQu8Dmto0a0YAPzjxi1aahiyAM1xUqJucaQ_La1jpdHrnZBM0VI4dwCt-DCx74OVxCWbhk3D_uZjU-UOME_SXti3MuJnqm7G6rp4Rqhba0-UFfZVSrGjx6yT/s1600/Rachel's+Pumpkin.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We had a nice evening at home chilling out together with the two bags of candy that we stopped and bought today, "just in case". Aside from what we gave our little two year old neighbor, that bowl is still here. I think it will be headed to school for the second grader's treat jar in the morning - especially since I was cautious and bought candy I didn't want to eat myself!<br /><br />I hope everyone had a fun holiday weekend and don't look now, but Christmas is creeping up on us. I have no plans for making gifts right now, but I think I'd better get some, and fast!<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-17808180426936387332010-10-29T18:50:00.000-07:002010-10-29T19:02:04.292-07:00Getting Ready<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbuhCZeNLpytNrO9nRr9tOmoSRyzj8uM09Zl8uW6EYXk0z24kpOjBd1qOVQcdvDNpo7lJsfN8LF8FSKLaTusB28WettpuhtWz411TBM2ImsTt23qqKG-_srTr8iEsDPGdZmY3xoWDyOUa/s1600/Brownies.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbuhCZeNLpytNrO9nRr9tOmoSRyzj8uM09Zl8uW6EYXk0z24kpOjBd1qOVQcdvDNpo7lJsfN8LF8FSKLaTusB28WettpuhtWz411TBM2ImsTt23qqKG-_srTr8iEsDPGdZmY3xoWDyOUa/s400/Brownies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533650741373737186" border="0" /></a>Halloween is beginning to be a week long holiday around here. With all the activities going on, it's hard to find the time to get a costume together or do any of the cute, fun things one might have (had, at this point) in mind. Monday the Brownies went trick-or-treating at a local assisted living facility. We send candy ahead, they distribute it to the residents and then our Brownies and their siblings come after school to trick-or-treat. I'm so glad they do this, as the residents really enjoy seeing them come in costume - it seems like a win-win for everybody.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxV93y1tsSdNksKhD4_JBLXof0zxyxFgfu_HdmIVJ-MaVMiBL-7WjFQ0mlbhyphenhyphenEBJAGrEEkTBSfdwqAVCii6Pltnddhyphenhyphen7MEHvDt9rsUlkCGttTJlga4qKViy9VBpOuAUXrapOwd7D2ZfbXE/s1600/Haunted+House+Finished.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxV93y1tsSdNksKhD4_JBLXof0zxyxFgfu_HdmIVJ-MaVMiBL-7WjFQ0mlbhyphenhyphenEBJAGrEEkTBSfdwqAVCii6Pltnddhyphenhyphen7MEHvDt9rsUlkCGttTJlga4qKViy9VBpOuAUXrapOwd7D2ZfbXE/s400/Haunted+House+Finished.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533650734115154498" border="0" /></a>The girls didn't have school today, so after getting some of my chores done and making a run to the store for candy to pass out this weekend (trying to keep it out of the house as long as possible to prevent myself from eating it!), I dug a Wilton haunted house kit out. I think I picked it up at Walmart last year after Halloween for about two bucks. We got two bucks worth of entertainment out it today for sure. Hardest part is discouraging the kids from wanting to eat the year plus old candy! Ack!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKZTGT-kWjZJn7uP9jrIEpWJdXrd70LNS7d_bB_zlWG2-NR97hB2FmMFKsWGXp7okScbPv-ehLGRdFrby-y_VcF_0sovOdIfXBUeA_58W_-nkALKvOZ6mkKxpNfcMk5mhvfUvfyDh8F1n/s1600/Jim+pumpkin+planning.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKZTGT-kWjZJn7uP9jrIEpWJdXrd70LNS7d_bB_zlWG2-NR97hB2FmMFKsWGXp7okScbPv-ehLGRdFrby-y_VcF_0sovOdIfXBUeA_58W_-nkALKvOZ6mkKxpNfcMk5mhvfUvfyDh8F1n/s400/Jim+pumpkin+planning.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533650729460171554" border="0" /></a>And since it looks like we'll be trick-or-treating tomorrow night in our neighborhood (this date changing thing really has me confused...will the neighbors be expecting us on Saturday????) we figured we ought to do some pumpkin carving tonight! Both girls made their own designs and Jim carved Sarah's while Rachel took her first stab (you can take that literally) at carving her own. Most of the handy little carving tools were broken, but in the end we still got two great Halloween faces that we'll light up and share this weekend.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzN7rVUO8YBdwppTuZYpzAy_B3qPuucS0jLv81eBKt8Vo6iscmcJJsu-cOW-SrzsP7e0PONhkZ_MDeD_KLBJEJPqQErcI_EnC1V0zOnVW5I8ajzRBDGkelpyl9gonz9hwtee2KxwF6eH_L/s1600/Rachel+gutting+pumpkin.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzN7rVUO8YBdwppTuZYpzAy_B3qPuucS0jLv81eBKt8Vo6iscmcJJsu-cOW-SrzsP7e0PONhkZ_MDeD_KLBJEJPqQErcI_EnC1V0zOnVW5I8ajzRBDGkelpyl9gonz9hwtee2KxwF6eH_L/s400/Rachel+gutting+pumpkin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533650724854585250" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And believe it or not, there is actually a sewing project in my life. It's sat idle now for about two weeks while I've run around all loosey goosey, but as soon as I have the top finished, I'll share. <br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-54958192268239211632010-10-24T18:44:00.000-07:002010-10-24T19:05:45.010-07:00Saying Goodbye<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5DAKdHwiTvlU8Oa3gXtn6BQ-8pMXQbWR2inK7anmPH63UfMtUu15tkw2YmJSSWcAmg7Sd3g9NsLz1zYeF3zh9kRGJXuMiBGnx_uSQbGoN1_KdglvazbOQfu49QqcmPaghS-vI-h8iKY2/s1600/Gravestone.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5DAKdHwiTvlU8Oa3gXtn6BQ-8pMXQbWR2inK7anmPH63UfMtUu15tkw2YmJSSWcAmg7Sd3g9NsLz1zYeF3zh9kRGJXuMiBGnx_uSQbGoN1_KdglvazbOQfu49QqcmPaghS-vI-h8iKY2/s400/Gravestone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531794115184317106" border="0" /></a>The girls had Fall Break this past week, so we took the opportunity to head North to my Grandparent's house. For the past several years we have been up at least twice during the summer. This time it had been a full year since we'd been and it was not a happy anniversary. It's been a year now since my Grandpa passed away. This trip was my last chance to say goodbye to the town and house that I spent summers growing up in.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdsEm2GWNXfPhfDhSUYcp0u8O3G5gN2Xlhr3FQeHqmAwmQvcccnQCu3KPA-rkPtZb9km4CzKFYkQC3BnFWQZ99R7JIkQRNd4-oojdPSXODV3DZtsmaHRnp3zU96R25f4h4-MhRxj6LCZf/s1600/Driving+North+Monday.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdsEm2GWNXfPhfDhSUYcp0u8O3G5gN2Xlhr3FQeHqmAwmQvcccnQCu3KPA-rkPtZb9km4CzKFYkQC3BnFWQZ99R7JIkQRNd4-oojdPSXODV3DZtsmaHRnp3zU96R25f4h4-MhRxj6LCZf/s400/Driving+North+Monday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531793946456820082" border="0" /></a>Our first day on the road proved quite eventful when Sarah started throwing up just hours into the trip. I was sad to have to cancel our visit with friends for the weekend, but thought a detour to my parent's house with some recovery time for Sarah might prove wiser. With everyone (relatively) well on Monday we headed North. Michigan greeted us with gorgeous color and beautiful skies. And yes, I do drive with my camera in my lap....please don't tell on me.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaixv0e1K2lUhHA5mk6TpxIgHplp-VhIDjvM7dgLt7X2pLUhYq2v-JQXCrB83WcvmMPs6ogK3SHWvMvUYh7A_yJJpVGOX91OviLCsyi5REVeIHlsKcvCE7oIpgKkP001eU0RbNU924et-R/s1600/Girls+in+bed.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaixv0e1K2lUhHA5mk6TpxIgHplp-VhIDjvM7dgLt7X2pLUhYq2v-JQXCrB83WcvmMPs6ogK3SHWvMvUYh7A_yJJpVGOX91OviLCsyi5REVeIHlsKcvCE7oIpgKkP001eU0RbNU924et-R/s400/Girls+in+bed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531793943068786450" border="0" /></a>My girls slept in the same hide-a-bed that my sister and I grew up sleeping in. It's in my Grandparent's den and I loved how cozy we were in there. When we were up for Thanksgiving, we got to watch the Macy's parade in bed - such a poignant memory for me. It's also where we slept on Christmas Eve, giddy with anticipation at what we'd find in the living room, come morning.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0f9Nzj5pHljeuofFbNguPzsM8Xwt_Rp_u5LHgKiBhfxdpjSLPCLt8lsqbDcIngzxp9OjKi7ReRhrgw3PlfNUsvtTmX1wGucwhfP7-GYj_j_bvf_CS0EU9pNCW8391eUh1WonZTWYTJSq/s1600/Tool+cabinet.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0f9Nzj5pHljeuofFbNguPzsM8Xwt_Rp_u5LHgKiBhfxdpjSLPCLt8lsqbDcIngzxp9OjKi7ReRhrgw3PlfNUsvtTmX1wGucwhfP7-GYj_j_bvf_CS0EU9pNCW8391eUh1WonZTWYTJSq/s400/Tool+cabinet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531794269898183858" border="0" /></a>My Grandpa loved three things above all else: God, Family and Wood. My Grandma has been known to say that the only thing he ever showed patience with was a block of wood. He taught me how to use his jigsaw, band saw, belt sander, drill press and many other things. I thought nothing of being a young girl in his basement going to town on pieces of wood. I loved it and he loved it.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvjTLAE-cJ1FR45loaP0XEuj9kEgVpRE0N1ikcDrHzZgkXJ3m_rKd0XjRAQtclwbPa2PhJJt4k9PIRqu6smB3BiOTP6xmL__Zjfpsp0PlL5ru97rSNnW4IXEyyHTc4IIfk0LzqiFMvVD_/s1600/Nuts+and+Bolts+Wall.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvjTLAE-cJ1FR45loaP0XEuj9kEgVpRE0N1ikcDrHzZgkXJ3m_rKd0XjRAQtclwbPa2PhJJt4k9PIRqu6smB3BiOTP6xmL__Zjfpsp0PlL5ru97rSNnW4IXEyyHTc4IIfk0LzqiFMvVD_/s400/Nuts+and+Bolts+Wall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531793943183178546" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">He truly amassed an amazing collection of tools, hardware and "materials" (for lack of a better term for all the random boxes of things we found). The above shot should give you some idea of what I'm talking about. Sadly, part of the mission of this trip was to pack up the house. What stays in the family has been taken and what's left will be up for auction in the spring.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4IPO_s8kOpb9nuXqOFYAv6WtVrRZuDWW1vzlygqRGlB-9XefjEpcbtrti9f_BW5ZevO414RW3Md6ca5uBcWaBDYL7kHRQ40zJhafDpHvusXw2inA7QQX70-KxNstaR_WzPT2E1V3WQ1k/s1600/Sarah+on+beach+at+sunset.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4IPO_s8kOpb9nuXqOFYAv6WtVrRZuDWW1vzlygqRGlB-9XefjEpcbtrti9f_BW5ZevO414RW3Md6ca5uBcWaBDYL7kHRQ40zJhafDpHvusXw2inA7QQX70-KxNstaR_WzPT2E1V3WQ1k/s400/Sarah+on+beach+at+sunset.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531793939492861506" border="0" /></a>I'm thankful that I got to make one last trip back while this place still belongs to my Grandparent's. Grandma is now living near my parent's in Indiana and we will have to return once more to bid her goodbye, but the house will no longer be ours to return to and there will no longer be a reason to visit this small town that has been a part of my family's life for generations.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvbSltOtTir20ReWz6zs4EBi41WwsT7LcKJC1vZtbBPEcwECiXN2UxmU70RoHCpUHkrIg0y2f9FbikEIj7KnvjUsbzvyvyP0hKnxlfbZi3z3tuVwwwAYg46pb8R12KiakA4ladGrsi0Wv/s1600/Sunset.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvbSltOtTir20ReWz6zs4EBi41WwsT7LcKJC1vZtbBPEcwECiXN2UxmU70RoHCpUHkrIg0y2f9FbikEIj7KnvjUsbzvyvyP0hKnxlfbZi3z3tuVwwwAYg46pb8R12KiakA4ladGrsi0Wv/s400/Sunset.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531794264820513778" border="0" /></a>It seemed fitting and also a blessing that we were given gorgeous weather and beautiful sunsets while we were there. Closure looks so much nicer in the glow of a sunset on the lake.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIkcH8M3jvkqy-7rurJRQAMcPwDZN1ercV_YmseQBhXEZW2cFtx5Ty-uVGKxR-10t4hs2vS-fZDDVTT5mmgr8C6hrhMsJdSCCkmthYFN1lXHsWlXBg_-HXYypB8tYY2-T2sXhhO1Uv17A/s1600/Tasty+Treat.jpg"><br /></a>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-61804278610109040432010-09-24T19:37:00.000-07:002010-09-24T19:44:05.641-07:00You Know You're Loved When.....<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyB-WJXgBNHnbzIhYE3lJy5v1hMFOLfbgRYc-y4SQtC3k7cgcPyUP3EZHUbpLbKm-3ufEePyq7zEtudVkSRJZ-8EXhC5TtJrXURFiHqOCXaK0Aafz7CbQfV7vXNumqHpXSWs5LNDa4p1n/s1600/dresses.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyB-WJXgBNHnbzIhYE3lJy5v1hMFOLfbgRYc-y4SQtC3k7cgcPyUP3EZHUbpLbKm-3ufEePyq7zEtudVkSRJZ-8EXhC5TtJrXURFiHqOCXaK0Aafz7CbQfV7vXNumqHpXSWs5LNDa4p1n/s400/dresses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520674711970266418" border="0" /></a>Your mailbox contains a nice squishy, unexpected package from a friend.....and you find these in it. Two doll "robes" in fabric that has a Flea Market Fancy kind of feel to it (at least to me).<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVBzAJKfUPTtIEgLoq6AZYelw6-MSPfGkeHHhgl7PdQEG0_t1ztg0o5L3iWGZWHRtM7UXs89fK3rRreICAouOBvGe4iZbRUgF43DI3x0CFUe98H6_J5xqSyWE20ES5Xd6tIT0vVdlHzXG/s1600/fabrics.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVBzAJKfUPTtIEgLoq6AZYelw6-MSPfGkeHHhgl7PdQEG0_t1ztg0o5L3iWGZWHRtM7UXs89fK3rRreICAouOBvGe4iZbRUgF43DI3x0CFUe98H6_J5xqSyWE20ES5Xd6tIT0vVdlHzXG/s400/fabrics.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520674717489603298" border="0" /></a>As well as a good bit of yardage of the two prints on the left, an awesome "Cowboys and Indians" print (totally not PC, but look at the colors!) and an apron in the prettiest little pink print. I was lucky enough to be home alone when the mail came and was able to open my package all by myself and then pour over the fabrics, take pictures of them and admire them some more without being interrupted or having them taken away from me. What a way to start the weekend! Wishing you an unexpected (and good!) surprise this weekend as well!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyB-WJXgBNHnbzIhYE3lJy5v1hMFOLfbgRYc-y4SQtC3k7cgcPyUP3EZHUbpLbKm-3ufEePyq7zEtudVkSRJZ-8EXhC5TtJrXURFiHqOCXaK0Aafz7CbQfV7vXNumqHpXSWs5LNDa4p1n/s1600/dresses.jpg"><br /></a>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-28538924941363876702010-09-23T18:28:00.000-07:002010-09-23T18:49:35.520-07:00For Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-IcRpL6E_xQi1uODK0UKISN2td3dA3CmibIwUhV7bl-aY5tkb2pBxccTMPB4q-FCFLNAbrs17yftB9KhteTnfuLPjPnmLl2ZkvIVb__W9WyxYDKQhTF4AR7LVSNonh7XTZY0SqMYM2yD/s1600/pillows+on+couch.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-IcRpL6E_xQi1uODK0UKISN2td3dA3CmibIwUhV7bl-aY5tkb2pBxccTMPB4q-FCFLNAbrs17yftB9KhteTnfuLPjPnmLl2ZkvIVb__W9WyxYDKQhTF4AR7LVSNonh7XTZY0SqMYM2yD/s400/pillows+on+couch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520286071740681106" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It's hard to believe, but I made something just for me...new pillow covers for the couch. And if I'd measured, they might have even fit properly. Instead, they are a bit tightly stuffed, but when you realize that at the very end, when the only step left is to insert pillows into their new covers, well then it's really a bit too late, isn't it? These blocks were inspired by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbanpatchwork/4304207382/in/set-72157624235729346/">this quilt</a> by urban.patchwork. I don't love mine nearly as much as I love this quilt, but they will do for now. They have an envelope back on them because zippers....well, yeah, like I've said before, they elude me. One day though, watch out! I also thought that plain ol' muslin would be the perfect thing to sash these with. A quick perusal of my flickr favorites makes me think that a background and finish like<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/artsycrafty/3435694899/in/faves-cburer/"> this</a> would have been better (don't you love these?!?). Oh well, there can always be more, can't there?<br /><br />I actually made several smaller squares like these a while ago in the hopes of making a quilt for our bed. For a while I fell out of love with my blocks and several became <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cburer/4530160534/in/set-72157603953860645/">potholders</a>. I really like the way they look as potholders, but as of late I'm back to thinking about them in a quilt again as well. I even had the nerve to wonder if I could finish such a quilt by Christmas and call it my husband's Christmas present. (Probably not). But in the interest of trying, I think I'll go work on a block. I've got a whole hour ahead of me, as it's taken two and a half hours to put two little girls to bed tonight. Something must be in the air - I just hope it's not an illness!<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-3384397351551627242010-09-13T17:32:00.000-07:002010-09-13T18:13:35.083-07:00Craft Hope Project 9<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2rxcu-ZdlUH4rvxINpCzu5avbFU9tqku-vc308NEeZdCvowkBUUY4F7Nljw-e8EN4S7UbuWdDuLa11axW5tE3dG5Dob6A8eIAvaDS_LipHKVHYNosN7_RAYGLeh0Bi2cweaFkI5WXNii/s1600/pillowcases+front+view.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2rxcu-ZdlUH4rvxINpCzu5avbFU9tqku-vc308NEeZdCvowkBUUY4F7Nljw-e8EN4S7UbuWdDuLa11axW5tE3dG5Dob6A8eIAvaDS_LipHKVHYNosN7_RAYGLeh0Bi2cweaFkI5WXNii/s400/pillowcases+front+view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516560756541938834" border="0" /></a><a href="http://crafthope.com/">Craft Hope's</a> Project 9 is about to wrap up. The deadline for sending in pillowcases for <a href="http://www.conkerrcancer.org/index.html">ConKerr Cancer</a> is Wednesday. I was holding off on mailing mine until the last minute, so that I could send as many as possible. I was off to a strong start on making pillowcases and then school started for Rachel...and then school started for Sarah....and hey, whoa, where'd those last few weeks go? In the past week I picked up steam again and was able to send 21 pillowcases. All the main fabrics came from my stash and I only about a few small pieces to use as the trim when I couldn't find anything in my stash that would work. Since it was mentioned that they are often running short on selections for boys, I concentrated mainly on making boyish pillowcases. This was a good way to use up an unusually large boyish stash of fabric for a person with two girls.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEw3vK1UiigQZKOWmX5Lz_nkXJnGKcznoqUv__fNc8lKbkJvBaeQwumzpwm4QYG-WKF4aGKuoInIzkFsra866Yn5O4Pb6UB1S9L7iJYInxVTX4jNLVMPytGlbnYUEnCTVphbKrgqe4OV1/s1600/pile+of+cases+no+light.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEw3vK1UiigQZKOWmX5Lz_nkXJnGKcznoqUv__fNc8lKbkJvBaeQwumzpwm4QYG-WKF4aGKuoInIzkFsra866Yn5O4Pb6UB1S9L7iJYInxVTX4jNLVMPytGlbnYUEnCTVphbKrgqe4OV1/s400/pile+of+cases+no+light.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516560742075879522" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSAEEZP5WVoNDAi0tAnYQfvjDDiF_3XGmOc6cpRP0dnoUzohPCfoM1HdfFlcvoPWv8zwD46rdDxHXLh-3tiPxDV8lbJ-1AxqrCImyF8n0gW9bRQxRB1kY8wGJfJTToKn_zBuKlwdPkhyphenhyphenu/s1600/pillowcases+side+view.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I got everything packed up per the organizations requests and popped them in the mail this afternoon. And while the deadline for the Craft Hope project is the 15th., ConKerr Cancer is always taking donations. This page will take you to a state listing, where you can search for organizers in your area, hospitals they work with, brick and mortar stores that serve as drop off locations as well as mailing addresses where you can send pillowcases. These really work up super fast and are such a good way to share a smile.<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2953885156391895808.post-26068853363270777072010-09-10T18:39:00.000-07:002010-09-10T19:00:48.501-07:00Little Red Part Two<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DlYZtY_VjnQmFVgqu9U81s065HGl-eLqpbjsxbOTrNtetMfOeEGR5OBCJuiEO3ep6HSyR8NPwyPikYwuwxe2aaaSM8k52k3iPC70t9gQv-H9Ih4SzZYwX-xDWqzoLNezL1t6uLACwvuM/s1600/fairytale+parade+020.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DlYZtY_VjnQmFVgqu9U81s065HGl-eLqpbjsxbOTrNtetMfOeEGR5OBCJuiEO3ep6HSyR8NPwyPikYwuwxe2aaaSM8k52k3iPC70t9gQv-H9Ih4SzZYwX-xDWqzoLNezL1t6uLACwvuM/s400/fairytale+parade+020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515465504503297362" border="0" /></a>So here's my real life Little Red Riding Hood. She was so excited for today and it was so much fun to see all the kids dressed up - almost entirely in homemade costumes. It gives me a sort of Hallmark movie choked up kind of feeling - in a good way. Which might be a strange way to describe it, as I can't recall seeing a Hallmark movie ...... ever? Yeah, so maybe way better than a Hallmark movie!<br /><br />I made cape number one following this <a href="http://indietutes.blogspot.com/2007/07/basic-hooded-cloak.html">tutorial</a>. Sometimes, when directions aren't coming to me clearly, I don't do such a great job. That's not to say that this tutorial isn't clear, more that I wasn't clear. And I made a crappy cape with a hood that was really too small. And even if the hood was purely for Momma's photo shoot, I needed it to be good. And then suddenly I needed it lined as well. Cape number two followed the same tutorial with larger pieces except that I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out how to line the hood without a seam showing on the inside. For a visual person, sometimes I'm not very visual. I kid you not, I tore that hood apart no less than four times. I was getting cranky. That's when I found this <a href="http://skippedydoodah.wordpress.com/2009/08/25/childs-hoodie-tutorial/">tutorial</a> and skipped down to the part where she makes the hood. And you know what....the first time I'd done it, I'd done it right (and ripped it out and then proceeded to do it incorrectly three times). So there we go.... lined hooded cape.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYrp64H0w46NLVD0sWIdZegT7hCUv5AWunLyihyPDKpIBRN9XJz1xbMyNYWZErAfnQkFIEon1x2WnuqwtK0mZTan1Xvut0_bhRVt4klU1dPg5DGnrT4TsfvIZRJJIT6jr1xtTZRthQapb/s1600/fairytale+parade+011.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYrp64H0w46NLVD0sWIdZegT7hCUv5AWunLyihyPDKpIBRN9XJz1xbMyNYWZErAfnQkFIEon1x2WnuqwtK0mZTan1Xvut0_bhRVt4klU1dPg5DGnrT4TsfvIZRJJIT6jr1xtTZRthQapb/s400/fairytale+parade+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515465517020820834" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYrp64H0w46NLVD0sWIdZegT7hCUv5AWunLyihyPDKpIBRN9XJz1xbMyNYWZErAfnQkFIEon1x2WnuqwtK0mZTan1Xvut0_bhRVt4klU1dPg5DGnrT4TsfvIZRJJIT6jr1xtTZRthQapb/s1600/fairytale+parade+011.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">But do you want to know a secret? In the first tutorial the cape is closed with a button.....Yeah, well, I have never sewn a button hole. Save from Mrs. Koch in seventh grade, my sewing skills are self taught and so far I've not gotten around to teaching myself button holes (......or zippers). It's sort of like Algebra and I ... I can always can always find a way around it. My detour this time took me via this cool hook and eye closure that is kind of hard to appreciate in the picture. My Aunt picked up several cards of these from the most awesome Goodwill thrifting opportunity near her - "the bins". They are from Norway and are pewter - very pretty, heavy duty and just what I needed!<br /><br />So the costume worked, the day was a blast and I won't go on about how the icing on the cupcakes was too runny and most of my cupcakes had their faces slide off before they made it to school. Nope, not going to dwell on that. Instead, I'm going to get the rest of my pillowcases wrapped up for <a href="http://crafthope.com/2010/07/project-9-conkerr-cancer/">Craft Hope's</a> Project 9. The deadline is almost here and I've got a few more to make.<br /></div>colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14986179374584083408noreply@blogger.com0