More Fun Appliques

Ahhh. The tie shirt. Cute. Fun. Don't attempt at 12:30 am. Look at this! Hot damn - its crooked! Once its appliqued on there, you're screwed, aren't you?? But that's not enough. I didn't notice that it was crooked until *after* I did the shoddiest job sewing it on. Wow. I am keeping it as a reminder of not to rush. Or sew at 12:30am.

At least the cute 'C' turned out ;)

Bathroom Facelift

Years ago, we redid the bathroom. When we bought this 1920's house, someone had already 'updated' the bathroom. Horribly, horribly updated it. There was this paneling on the wall. Only it wasn't a wood paneling. It was a metal, faux wood paneling.

It was glued the wall. And nailed. Fab. The tile that was under it wasn't ceramic tile, though. This photo does not do it justice. No... it was a peachy-colored metal tile.

I know y'all love that light fixture/medicine cabinet.

The husby tiled over the 'tile' and then we picked out a paint color to match the blue in the floor and I found a shower curtain from The Company Store to give the bathroom a pop of color.



Here in the city, if we really wanted to, we could talk to our neighbors through our houses. They're that close together. That's why I've always wanted curtains in the bathroom. In the summer, when the window is open and our neighbor is out in her driveway, I really don't like her being able to see me. Or vice versa. Since I was going to make curtains, I decided to change things up. It was time.

I found this fabulous organic cotton at a LFS, Drawstring Studio. Its Nancy Mims Free to Grow for Robert Kaufman. And I got it on sale on Cyber Monday!!


The grey rug on the floor matches the grey in the curtains. I went w/ a white shower curtain that will hopefully remain white and not covered with dirty handprints and toothpaste. And we did the walls in a really light grey that's in the same color family as the dark grey in the curtain & rug. I like the airy-feel of the room now!!!

Jumping outside my comfort zone

:: What I wore Wednesday ::

I never thought I'd be *that* kind of person. But I really enjoy [s]wasting[/s] spending my time looking at other people's WIWWs. It gives me ideas and inspires me to wear more than yoga pants and a fleece. Something that's especially needed when its freezing outside and you're living in an old, drafty house and you're not leaving the house all day, save for walking your kids to and home from school.
So I am doing it. Yikes. Putting myself out there. I even had to purchase a full-length mirror! Not that I didn't need one. I've had to rely on my husband's opinion when I can't decide on a shoe choice and well, that just isn't acceptable in my book.
I am hoping that by doing this, it'll inspire me further, help me with my photo taking abilities, and also link me up with more bloggers.

Here goes...

black shirt : Target
blue dress/tunic : local consignment boutique
skinny jeans : Kohls
black knee socks : Target
boots : Target
wooden beaded necklace : Walmart (gasp! those that know me, know my disdain)

I'll be linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy for WIWW, so go check it out. Tons of fun ideas there!

What I've Made...

:: This and That ::

An advent calendar I've thought about for years, but never did. It was fun to make...don't know what was holding me back! I think when I took this photo, it wasn't adhered down or sprayed yet.

A ceramic flooring tile I mod-podged a photo of my beautiful nephew to, as a gift for my Aunt. Super duper easy and I now want to go tile crazy! We have a box of the white ones leftover and I want to cut out some cool designs on the Cricut and make some coasters.

Pillows for the chillins for the den. Nuthin' fussy, just simple and straightforward and cheap flannel.

What I've Made...

:: Flowers ::

My first singed petal flower.

...and my second one. Using this fabric was much more difficult!

The first rolled roses I made. I attached them to felt and sewed them to a cardigan for my mom.

An attempt at a flower using wired ribbon

Felt rolled roses...fun adornments and cheap & easy to make! I found the tutorial on Mrs. Priss. Come to think of it, I think I used her tut for the singed flowers, too.

I really like these. Kinda remind me of The Pleated Poppy's Petal Pusher, which I just adore to death. I had no tutorial...it was a lot of trial and error using an old tshirt until I got the look I wanted.

Experimenting with a few different flowers. I liked the rolled rose in the center the best. And I like the magnetic backs vs. pins.

What I've Made...

Appliques!

Alyson of Eisley Rae made these adorable ruffle pants for Miss N. She was so kind and sent me some scraps and I made this Christmas tree shirt to match. It was my first time using a fusible web. I used Wonder Under, following some instructions on Crap I've Made. I was super frustrated, but it turned out. And I have enough fabric left to make another matching non-Christmas shirt.

This was my second experience with Wonder Under and woah...it went so much easier. Like riding a bike!! Easy peasy lemon squeezy. And I just adore this red fabric that I got from Drawstring Studio.

I have some more adorable appliques planned. Some for boys, some for girls. I can't wait!

What I've Made...

Skirts!
This one is my first skirt. My first piece I ever made with a machine. My first pattern. And I have to say... I am proud. It wasn't easy and I did well. Its not something I'd pick out in a store, but I do like it.

A Halloween skirt I made for Miss N.

Miss N's cute owl skirt

I adore this fabric. Natch, another piece for Miss N.

There were a few others I did for Miss N, but they are non-descript and basic skirts like this :) Now I need to graduate to fancier skirts. Fun!

Where do I go for inspiration?

Its funny. I was perusing the crafty blog-iverse and was hoping to come on some new and exciting ideas. One blog I read is The Stories of A to Z. I found this recent post...A small sampling of where she goes for inspiration. Low and behold...aside from 2 or 3 blogs, there was nothing new there to me. It appears everyone visits the same crafty blogs! Not that its a problem, but I'd like to see new faces, too!!! I am a big fan of a lot of what I see out there, but living where I do, in the type of home I live in, I am not a fan of the beachy stuff or stuff that is just too southern-y, ruffley, or burlapy (nothing warm and cozy about that!). So there ya go!

New Year, New Look!

2011 brings with it some simple goals. No resolutions, since those are too easy for me to cast aside.

My days are no busier than ever before, with this being the final half-year of my PTA presidency and being chock full of activities. Not to mention volunteering in the twins classrooms and the library and whatnot. I need to carve out time each week to work on Chili'n on the Ave 2011. I need time to go to the gym. And after all that and the obligatory house cleaning and laundry duties and keeping food in the house, I need to carve out 'me' time. Time to get my creative on. I may not be all that and a bag of chips yet, but I'm learning and I enjoy it immensely.
So my goal is to come up with a daily schedule. And stick to it. Wish me luck. In the meantime, I'll post some of the projects I've done and some I am working on at the moment (curtains! chairs! flowers!).

Happy 2011!

Ready? OK!

Miss N, striking a pose

Woah. Seven?

Its really hard to believe. Seven? Seven years have passed since these babies were trying their hardest to get out of my big ole' belly? Yep, sho nuff.

3am-ish this morning, Elliott came into our room, breathing heavy, waiting for me to acknowledge him, and then said, "I hafta puke." Well by all means!! In the midst of him emptying his dinner, he said, "I...I fink.....I don't fink I can go to school to-mow-woah." Poor pumpkin.

They blew out candles in their requested birthday breakfast of cinnamon rolls (poor Ellie hasn't had his) and then Norah got ready for school.

Its funny...just in the past 6 months or so, they sure have their own style. Elliott with his mohawk....


Norah with her accessories du jour (bracelets, headbands worn 80's style, crazy knee socks, non-matching shirts and bottoms, funky shoes)...


And her recent disdain for him :( Although if they are separated for the day, she misses him like crazy and can't wait to see "Ellie". Go figure.

can you see her leaning away from him? the "don't touch me!" look in her face? ugh.

Esprit Petites-Jump from Glee!

Norah got to perform her first pom routine for us last night :) It was awesome. Its very blurry b/c Chris was zoomed in too much, but she's in the back row w/ pigtails.

10 Years.

July 25th. That's the date that my husband and I first hooked up. At a U2 concert. In Madison. It was 1997. We had been friends for a year at this point, but I had known of this guy for many years prior. Our paths just never crossed.

December 10, 1999. That's the night he proposed to me. I surprised him by taking him on a trip to New Orleans. He knew we were going on vacation, but that's all and it wasn't till the last minute. I cleared it with his boss. He didn't know where we were headed until we got to the airport. I had no idea he'd propose. He shocked me with that one. He had gone out with our friend Troy and gotten me a ring when he found out we were taking a trip. He proposed while we were out on a carriage ride in the French Quarter.

October 6, 2000. A Friday at 5pm. The day we tied the knot. It all took place in downtown Milwaukee at the Grain Exchange Room. Its a memory that is still very fresh in my mind and it was all perfect.

3 kids, 3 homes, and 10 years later.....

he still makes me laugh

he's still the crazy (maybe a bit toned down. and that's a real good thing) guy i met.

i still like to hold his hand

The awesome photographer responsible for these photos (and many, many more) can be found at www.robynviningphotography.com.

Wanna Skate?

Miss N asked for a rollerskating party for her 7th birthday. What a blast from the past!!! I tried hard, but I could not find rollerskate or 80's themed party goods. So I went a different direction and did Tiffany & Co. Although the party favors included a coloring book that included 80's themed cartoon coloring pages --boy ones for the boys (like He-Man, Dukes of Hazzard, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Fraggle Rock, etc) and girl ones for the girls (like Rainbow Brite, Fraggle Rock, Smurfette, etc). You'll notice the picture on the coloring book cover page. My initial thought was, "oh! I will find smelly stickers!..." Yeah. Not so much. They are like, $1.75 or more per sticker. And they no longer make them. Why?? Why discontinue such a good thing?? Can we start a movement to bring them back? Why deprive our kids of these cool things!! Anyone? Heather, I know you you have to be with me on this....
Anyway....the party was fun. I think the girls all had fun, despite all the falling down!

laughing while skating

Does anyone remember that scratch-and-sniff sticker? I think it smelled like leather!

Girls Trip!

whistling at pigeons on State Street

On Saturday, Norah and I took a day trip to Chicago to enjoy a few hours at American Girl. She's been looking forward to this for a year now. She carefully chose her girl*, her cat she wanted to get with her gift card, and all the accessories she wanted. We also had her photo taken with her girl and cat in the photo studio and ended the day with a 4pm tea time. What a splendid girly day!!!!

*When she first expressed interest in an AG, she wanted Kirsten. However, Kirsten was retired in 2009. Then she chose Josephina, but after reading 2 books, she decided that perhaps, that wasn't her first choice. She chose Lanie, who is the girl of the year and a lover of the outdoors and animals, because Norah loves animals.

My girl and her girl at tea

You know your baby is growing up when...

... he gets up on a Sunday morning and at 7am, walks roughly 5 blocks to the local bakery/coffee/pizza(at night) shop with a neighbor friend, and brings back a big box o' donuts, including mama's favorite, the cruller.

Wasn't it just yesterday that he was my sweet little Aidie? And now he's almost 9.

Keeping them occupied - HELP!

Summer: I had grand plans. However, on Tuesday during a simple gardening moment, I threw out my back and have pretty much been vertical since then. Grrrr. I hear a lot of "I am booooorrrred." Seriously? I mean, come on. Where's the imagination, kids?! What they want is for me to say, "go ahead, play Wii." And I am not going to. This is summer. Wii is not a beautiful outside summertime toy.
Help me! What can I occupy them with?? Crafts they can gather themselves? Ideas?

Babies, Circa June 2005

Click here to view these pictures larger

Wow. This seems like just yesterday. Where did these babies go? I know at the time, I was crazy nuts, just trying to hold onto my sanity with a string that was unravling. But the pictures remind me of happy memories. So it couldn't have been so bad, right? ;)

Little things make you happy

Like fudgesicles. And messy faces with said fudgesicle on them. And happy babies, I mean, kids. And summertime.

I was just playing around with Lightroom. Fun stuff. Another happy.

My girl

Last night when I was tucking Norah in, she said, "Mama? Sometime can you and me go on a vacation, just girls? Can we go on a scrapbooking vacation?"

That was just so freakin' awesome to hear her ask that. I'd take her on any 'just girls' vacation. Ok, well almost any.

back...

Lots to post about, but I need time!!!!

But first....new life for an old door. That's right. I was inspired by this post I saw at the Pleated Poppy, and so yesterday, when I saw a similar (and green!) door parked on the side of the road, I made poor Chris go get it. He complained and said, "what are you going to do with this door??" I wouldn't tell him. I just said that I had a vision, and besides, have I ever let him down?
He said he felt ghetto dumpster diving. lol.

Happy Mother's Day!

Um, ok. So 1/3 of my children are missing from this photo. Which means, as usual, I've failed to get a photo of myself with my kids on Mother's Day for the 3rd year in a row, I believe. This is better than nothing, though. So let's just pretend that the ZhuZhu pet is actually Elliott, who was actually with daddy, who went to see his mother. My consolation is that I am told that by 6pm, Elliott was pining for his mama because he missed me so much (although I was with him until 1ish). Makes a mama feel good to be missed. Although I do wish he had chosen to spend the entire day with me. Oh well....

Scrapped Tots

Some are old and some are new, but the ones at the end of the slideshow are the ones I did last weekend :)

Warning:This Family May Contain Traces Of Nuts

WarningThisFamilyMayContainTracesOfNuts.JPG
Originally uploaded by flabonganator

So....does it describe it accurately?

Help with paint color!

This weekend, we painted our upstairs hallway Benjamin Moore's Palladian Blue. (the photo I am linking to is a pretty accurate representation of how ours looks).
I really like it - it makes the hall, which has always felt like a cave, more airy and bright. However, because its got a hint of green hue in the blue, it could be construed as an old person's color (ie: the color you'd find in a retirement home in florida )
Its a color I see popping up more and more. But I've never done 'beachy' before. I see lots of this kind of blue, accented with golds and greens, or browns. We'll be painting the trim a white this weekend. But other than that, I don't know WTH to do. The hall is long, so I have lots of room to hang photo frames (which I have a TON of, and was planning on spraypainting all the same color). I also have room for 1 or 2 tables or smaller dressers in the hall upstairs, which I am on the hunt for. I'd like to find somehting I can paint.

WWYD with this color???

Papa

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Cool Giveaway!

Now this I can get behind! Super cute! Jen of Tatertotsandjello is hosting a giveaway from DownEast. The clothes are not only super cute, but they are inexpensive. And they come in my size!!
Its going on till Sunday. Check it out!

Funky Bunnies

Easter cupcakes. They started out as dough. Natch, they are colored...purple, green, yellow, and blue.



But they ended up as funky bunnies. I say funky, because I realized that I really needed some sort of tweezer for decorating. Its too difficult to place individual jimmies and sprinkles on a mountain of frosting.


The ears are made from marshmallows that were cut and dipped in pink sugar. The rest are jimmies/sprinkles.

Hope everyone had a happy Easter!