drum roll please

I have finished up a few sewing projects. I find it very therapeutic and relaxing. So our dining room will probably be setup for sewing projects for a while. I think it's a good thing. I have something to show at the end, it's not too expensive a habit, and I can start and stop pretty quickly if the kids wake up from a nap. So here's what I have made in the last week or so.


Mia saw this fabric and really wanted it. I don't usually buy my kids character clothes but I did.
Mia's dress/swimsuit cover up

Dane's Halloween bag. Pretty simple. I made Mia one last year.

These are the curtains I made for our kitchen. They are made out of burlap. I never knew it was available in so many colors! They are lined with a thermal lining that I can take out in the summer if I want. I really like the idea of the material. It will block out the direct sunlight that sometimes blinds us when we sit down for dinner in the summer. You can see a little of the lining sticking out at the bottem. I left it long to help keep out the drafts we are getting from the slider there.

I have a matching roman shade I made for the window over the sink. It's just not up yet and I have one other project but it is just going into the mail tomorrow for my girls out in WA. Don't know how often they check this but wouldn't want to ruin the surprise!

I am still waiting for the material for Mia's other dress. Hopefully it arrives today. I will be sure to put up some pics when it is all done.

Oh well

Doesn't it just figure! Last night I got everything set up, Mia was going to help me, Matt had Dane upstairs, and then nothing! I was planning on working on a couple sewing projects. Had them all laid out and the patience for Mia to help me. As I plugged the machine it, I noticed that the plug wires were worn. Now they had been needing a little attention since I inherited the machine about 8 years ago from my Grandma. It is a Singer machine from when she was a little girl. I love it. Simple and easy to use. But last night was the night the wires bit the dust. Now I have to take it to be rewired in Peoria (if the people ever answer their phone). I hope it is a easy and quick fix!

Feeling motivated

So it's Sunday evening and we are just hanging out at home. We got the basement storage in order this morning, the house is relatively picked up (it will be years before it is all picked up), and Mia and I just got home from Elisabeth's 1st birthday party. She had the cutest little dress on and was a trooper throughout the party. Mia fed her some ice cream and promptly fell asleep as soon as we got in the car.
So I am sitting here and feeling motivated. I have a long list of sewing projects. Now I am going to add to the list: dresses for Mia. I found a very simple design and I figure if I start now I could have several done by summer. Once I get one done I'll post some pics. I need to find some good fabric. I'll take any suggestions people have on where look in the Peoria area. I am also hoping to make Dane some overalls for the summer. Here are a few other things on my sewing list:
- Halloween bag for Dane
- Curtains for kitchen door and window
- Christmas placemats
- New bedspread and curtains
- Mnd some of Matt's jeans

I think that my dining room is going to be setup for sewing for a while. I will probably ask my Grandma help on some of it. And my sewing time is pretty much limited to when Dane sleeps. Let's hope he sticks with 2 naps for a while longer!

Matt will probably read this and say to himself "I'll believe it when I see it." So I am hoping this helps me stay motivated.

Now maybe I should get motivate to make some dinner for my fam..

3!

Our Mia-Mia is officially 3! She's getting so big and smarter by the day. I can hardly wait to see what she accomplishes in the 3 years of her life. But I wouldn't mind if they went a little slower.

Her Tinkerbell cake (decorated by Kara~Thanks!)

We shut off the lights when we brought in the cake. Then everyone started singing. Mia burst into tears. She does not like everyone singing to her and I think the light put her over the edge. She didn't even want to blow out her candles after that!

Her 1st redbird apparel

She didn't want to wait to take it out of the box. Must play with computer NOW!

Keegan, Mia, and Karagan playing with the computer, out of the box.

Where did 2008 go?

The year few by and it seems a million things happened. I will remember that it was the year we moved back to IL, my baby boy started walking and Mia came out of her shell. Christmas was more like a week long celebration this year ending just in time for Mia's 3rd birthday. Now I am ready for the house to be put back in order and the kids back into their routines.
Here are a few pics to take you thru our Christmas season

The boys

He loved playing in this bag

Only a Grandma would have the patience to decorate cookies with them.

Papa put the train around the tree. Dane loved it!

This was Mia all day long. Pushing her doggie stroller.

I think he likes them!

Standing by her mountain of gifts

Jumping in the pile of wrapping paper like it was a pile of leaves

She started the morning off toting all her new doggie stuff around and finished the same way. Nice hair!

Next big stop, the FL Keys!