So I participated in a swap a few weeks ago and look what I got in the mail from my swap partner!

I love this pillow and the picture does not do it justice!

The fabric is so thick and the quilting is fantastic. It matches our bedding perfectly as well! Thanks so much, Angela!

.

A few weeks ago I submitted a color combination to Kevin as a design idea for a new set of notecards he was creating. He narrowed all the submissions down to his favorite 3 and accepted votes from the public to decide the winning combination. My colors were in the running. Guess what? I won! So I will be recieving a set of his new notecards all the way from the UK soon featuring my color idea. Thanks, Kevin!

.

Say hello to my little friend.

Oh, you may catch me flirting with Joel.

Or see me making eyes at Robert.

But Alexander has my heart!

And he's sending me a special gift that should arrive in my mailbox today!

The new spring line recently came out and all of the fabrics are stunning! Go to the website and check out the entire collection. Be sure to take a peak at the new fabrics coming out in June. They are really gorgeous!

A Camping Diary From A Non-Camping Kind Of Girl

4pm~ Walk through the woods with Josh and the boys. Perfect weather!


4:30pm~Stop for wading in the river. Nothing like baby bottoms!


7:00pm~Hobo dinners and smores around the fire. I think every boy loves fire!


9pm~Boys in the tent for bed. I smile as I listen to the boys talking. Zachary tells little brother, " Don't worry. God did not create monsters. Well, maybe He created them, but they are extinct now."


10pm~ Josh and I go to bed.


10:02 pm ~ I'm excited that my hair, which had been up in a clip all day and is now down, still smells like my fruity shampoo. :)


10:21pm~ Now sharing my pillow with Zachary. Wondering why we decided not to bring the boy's pillows.


10:56pm~ Hear the man in the tent across the campground talking about a chupacabra.


10:59pm~ Wonder if the chupacabra is Big Foot's pet.


11:16pm~ Josh swipes my fruity hair out of his face.


12:01pm~ Hear a donkey hee-hawing in the woods. (I'm not kidding!)


12:06pm~ Hear a gun shot in the woods (still not kidding!)

    
1:12am~ Plan on designing a terry cloth robe jumpsuit.



1:17am~ Reconsider the robe jumpsuit idea.


1:25am~ Forgot how cold it gets at night.


1:32am~ Relieved to see that the sun is beginning to come up.


1:57am~ Disappointed to see that the sun is not coming up.

2:33am~ Zachary swipes my fruity hair out of his face.

2:47am~ Wonder if it is just a coincidence that after the gunshot I never heard the donkey again.


3:41am~ Start to worry that Lucas might me hypothermic.


4:00am~ Wonder why no one commented on how good mom's hair smelled.


4:51am~ Hear a creature creeping around outside the tent.


5:07am~ Put Lucas in the sleeping bag with me. Now sharing my pillow with 2 boys.

5:30am~ A little sleep despite the sore hips and sleeping arms.


8:30am~ Breakfast tacos cooked on the fire and one final hike.


10:30am~ Thank goodness we are home. It was fun for a change. Looking forward to the next camping trip when the boys go and I get to stay home and sew all weekend! :)

Zachary has been searching for a 4 leaf clover for several weeks now.

I'm so glad that he found his 1st one yesterday, on St Patricks Day!

6 years ago yesterday Zachary was due. We were planning on a St. Patty's Day baby.

But he came a day late. Which makes TODAY his birthday!

Happy birthday to my big 6 year old.

You are smart, extremely sweet and sensitive, kindhearted, and funny.

Zachary, you make my heart smile!

Better Luck Next Time~

Well, I guess I'm not moving to California.

So I'll try my luck elsewhere....

My new niece would look so cute in this~

I would look cute in this~

The only doctor that makes me giggle

I'm not really afraid of going to the doctor. I think having babies pretty much nixes all fear of shots and doctors as well as any sense of modesty. Still, it's not my favorite thing to do.

EXCEPT...

Going to the eye doctor!

Now, there's an exam that has some humor in it. I guess I could do without the air-puff-to-the-eye. But the rest is not bad. I've never had someone get so close to my face while in a dark room without actually kissing me than an eye doctor. Last week I went in for my eye exam. I am a contact wearer and am in a world of blurry colors without them. I think an eye doctor should understand this. So I was a little surprised when she suggested I visit the eyeglass frame gallery in the shop next door....while my eyes dilated....without my contacts in. She actually seemed a little surprised when I told her that that would be a waste of time since I wouldn't be able to see what the frames looked like. She should have know that. Just minutes before I miserably failed my eye exam. Not only could I not decipher the giant letter E on the wall, I couldn't even see that there was anything on the wall.

So I opted to look at a magazine in the lobby instead. I wonder if anyone in the lobby thought it was odd that the strange-lady-with-the -giant-pupils holds her magazine inches from her face. Probably not. They probably couldn't see either.

$82 dollars later I walked out with drug addict pupils and a fantastic pair of sunglasses. At least my kids have a new toy.

We enjoyed a fun day outdoor in this gorgeous weather!

Zachary had fun fishing (only 2 casts and he was bored) and watching the ducks.

Lucas enjoyed chasing the ducks

until one got tired and stood his ground.

I caught a glimpse of the Sasquatch.

.

Giveaway here....

Kim is my all time favorite card artist and to celebrate 100,000 views on her blog, she is having a GREAT giveaway! I am hesitant to share this info. because I actually REALLY want to win this! :) But hop over to her blog to enter the giveaway...and while you are there, browse around. You will be amazed at her creativity. My goal: to one day own one of her cards! Thanks for the giveaway, Kim!

.

Reversible Tote Bag Tutorial

This is a fun, easy and relatively quick project. You can make this tote in about 1 1/2- 2 hrs start to finish.

By the way, don't you love the Joel Dewberry fabric????!!!!

You will need:

* 1/2 yard of cotton fabric (print a)

* 1/2 yard of cotton fabric (print b)

* interfacing (optional)

* 1 yard of heavy cotton webbing (for handle). Cut it in half.

* thread to match

* Sewing supplies such as machine, scissors, etc.

Cut 2 pieces of fabric A and 2 pieces of fabric B. (Of course wash the fabric first and iron it!) In the above example I cut the fabric about 14 inches high and 17 inches wide. Fuse the interfacing to the 4 fabric rectangles according to manufacturers directions. (This step can be skipped, but the interfacing will give added stability to the fabric). Now determine how deep you want your bag. I made the photographed bag 4 inches deep. You will cut a square out of the bottom left and bottom right section of your 4 pieces of fabric. Cut them 1/2 of what you want the depth to be. For example, since I wanted a 4 inch deep bag, I cut my squares 2 inches x 2 inches. If you want a 3 inch deep bag, cut your squares 1 1/2 inches x 1 1/2 inches.

Place both pieces of fabric A right sides together (that means the nice, printed sides together and the ugly sides facing out) and do the same with both pieces of fabric B. Stitch the right, bottom and left sides (not the top). (In the next photo, the sides marked with the scissors and ruler are the sides you would want to sew). Do this with both fabrics A and B.

Now grab the front and back of Fabric A and pull it apart, making the side seams and the bottom seams come together . Do this with fabrics A and B.

Sew down these new edges. Be sure that your seams are open and laying flat as you sew over them. Do this with Fabric A and B.

Now you will have 2 inside out bags with nice bottom edges. Leave one inside out and turn the other one right side out.

Stick the wrong side out bag into the correct one. Now turn the top of bag A down and in between the bags about one inch. Do the same with Bag B. Pin all the way around. Use LOTS of pins! I think it is helpful to start at the 2 side seams, and pin there, making sure they are flush with each other.
Pin the ends of the webbed handles in place, making sure they are even with each other on each side of the bag. Now sew all around the top of the bag! You are done!!!!

Please comment and be sure and let me know if you have another way of doing this. I know there are lots of ways to achieve the bottom edges of a tote and I am open to all ideas!

If there is something you need me to clarify, please contact me with the sidebar email button!


.

Extreme makeover dog edition~

Our little Opal has won!

I wish I could say it was a beauty contest, but it was not. (Random drawing)

Nevertheless, she is a winner!

I know she will look stunning in her new bandana due to arrive later this week. Thanks for this fun giveaway, Rachel and Steve.

Actually, it's been a love hate relationship with Opal and me.

I love you....

She is so protective of the boys and has unending patience with them.

I love you not...

Did you really have to poop all over the living room floor a few months ago, Opal? I mean you have been housebroken now for over 3 years.

Unfortuanly Lucas found it first and "cleaned" it up with his blankie.

I love you....

Opal is the best excercise buddy anyone could ever ask for. She runs in the "heel" postition for as long as you choose and will not dart in front or to the side at all.

I love you not...

Opal is the smelliest dog I have ever encountered. She is full of gas at all times. It is never ending. The makers of Fabreeze owe us big! Who knew that much air could be packed inside a 40 lb body.

I love you...

She really is extremely obedient.

She won't eat until you give her permission. She will jump in the bath on command and when her bath is over she will not jump out until you are ready with her towel. She will sit, stay and come on command and is "calm submissive". Cesar would be proud.

Truthfully, I do love her and would miss her if she wasn't part of our family.

We'll have to keep an eye on her now that she's getting her "makeover" later this week. Don't want any boyfriends coming around. The last thing we need is another dog.

Recently Zachary's class celebrated the 100th day of Kindergarten.

Lucas hauls his "gobbles" all around the house.

Makes me think of Project Runway for some reason....

Anyone remember this???

.

And the Winner is.....

First, let me say thanks so much to all who entered the giveaway! I appreciate it! And a huge thanks to Angie for allowing us to get to know her, taking time to share her family and shop with us and offering the wonderful prize!!!!! Please visit her shop often as you are sure to find a great design there for all your special occasions!

Congratulations to.....

You are the winner of the fabulous prize!

.

Scrapbookers and card makers....

Hop over here for a chance to win some great supplies!

Scroll down a few post to enter our current giveaway as well!

.