- I've decided to put off the button hole project. I was frustrated. Michelle has a fancy digital sewing machine so my new plan is to go to her house and use her machine to make beautiful button holes. I suppose I should clear that with her first hey?
- I have this problem with pajama pants and without fail they are always too short for me. Even when I think I found a long enough pair in a couple months they end up being too short. After all my successful sewing lately I feel like I can do anything so I went and bought some fabric and a pattern to make my own pants (did you know you can buy $17.99 patterns for pajama pants? I went with the $1.99 option instead). I cut the fabric out and was all ready to sew, step one... sew a button hole. So now I have two projects on hold.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Two Things
Headband Accessory
While out shopping with Michelle yesterday I found this really cute headband.
I was excited about it and when I got home I pulled it out of the packaging only to discover that apparently I have a huge head. The headband portion is just an elastic and there's no way it was going to stay on my head.
After being inspired by all the crafty blogs I've started to read I knew just what to do. I headed over to my trusty dollar store, picked up a plain black headband. I snipped off the elastic of the headband and glued it on to my new dollar store one. It worked perfectly and I now have this cute accessory.
I was excited about it and when I got home I pulled it out of the packaging only to discover that apparently I have a huge head. The headband portion is just an elastic and there's no way it was going to stay on my head.
After being inspired by all the crafty blogs I've started to read I knew just what to do. I headed over to my trusty dollar store, picked up a plain black headband. I snipped off the elastic of the headband and glued it on to my new dollar store one. It worked perfectly and I now have this cute accessory.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Button Hole
As I work on these craft projects it's been interesting to see just exactly where my sewing experience starts and stops. I haven't sewed a lot, my skills come from Home Economics and some projects with my Mom. I've made pajama pants, some decorative table squares and even a skirt once (with lots of help). I can follow a basic pattern and it turns out I'm pretty decent at sewing on little intricate pieces. My biggest weakness so far seems to have come in the form of a button hole. My first attempt was laughable and even my 8th attempt wasn't great but at least it's starting to look like a button hole. I'll practice a bit more before I attempt on the real fabric and hopefully I'll eventually end up with something I can be proud of.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Raspberries
Catie's favorite pastime these days is making this awesome noise. I love it and it makes me chuckle every time. (Sorry the video is so shaky at the start, it gets better. It's also not the greatest quality but it's the noise that's important.)
I've also been struck with just how HUGE she's gotten lately. I look at her everyday and think where did that huge belly come from. She's sure packing on the pounds in preparation for her next growth spurt.
L
I've also been struck with just how HUGE she's gotten lately. I look at her everyday and think where did that huge belly come from. She's sure packing on the pounds in preparation for her next growth spurt.
L
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Catie Update
I haven't posted Catie pictures for a while and it's definitely time.
She's learned to scoot backwards and is all over the floor these days. This has led to her being found in some interesting places.
She's just barely started to push herself forward occasionally. She's also started pushing herself up on her hands and knees for a few seconds to crawling is coming. This is my favorite of her new moves though. I think she's super advanced though and am a little biased.
She's learned to scoot backwards and is all over the floor these days. This has led to her being found in some interesting places.
She's just barely started to push herself forward occasionally. She's also started pushing herself up on her hands and knees for a few seconds to crawling is coming. This is my favorite of her new moves though. I think she's super advanced though and am a little biased.
The Dollar Store Wins Again
I've recently developed a love for the Dollar Store. That's saying a lot for me because I've never been fond of them in the past but lately I've made so many great discoveries.
I've found multiple sets of cute clips for Catie, some that I've turned into bows. I also buy all of my felt there for $1.25 for 4 sheets. This latest find was the most useful.
After scrubbing out my disgusting microwave I decided it was time to buy one of those covers to keep it clean. I headed to Walmart and searched and searched (while a Walmart worker chatted with friends right beside me) finally coming up with one that also came with an egg cooker and a microwave grittle... not what I needed. I gave up and headed to the dollar store where I immediately found stacks of them for $1.25 each. I'm just starting to realize how many gems are there and I'm trying to keep them in mind for my first option rather than my second or third.
L
I've found multiple sets of cute clips for Catie, some that I've turned into bows. I also buy all of my felt there for $1.25 for 4 sheets. This latest find was the most useful.
After scrubbing out my disgusting microwave I decided it was time to buy one of those covers to keep it clean. I headed to Walmart and searched and searched (while a Walmart worker chatted with friends right beside me) finally coming up with one that also came with an egg cooker and a microwave grittle... not what I needed. I gave up and headed to the dollar store where I immediately found stacks of them for $1.25 each. I'm just starting to realize how many gems are there and I'm trying to keep them in mind for my first option rather than my second or third.
L
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tears and Beauty
Catty pointed me to this post about a woman who finds out, when her baby is born, that she has Down's Syndrome and how hard it is but how joyful and blessed she is. It's such a beautiful story that made me cry and it's worth reading the whole thing. I wanted to share this story with others because I was so moved. Here are some snippets:
I knew the minute I saw her that she had Down Syndrome and nobody else did. I held her and cried. Cried and panned the room to meet eyes with anyone that would tell me she didn't have it. I held her and looked at her like she wasn't my baby and tried to take it in. And all I can remember of these moments is her face. I will never forget my daughter in my arms, opening her eyes over and over...she locked eyes with mine and stared...bore holes into my soul.
Love me. Love me. I'm not what you expected, but oh, please love me.
...
That was the most defining moment of my life. That was the beginning of my story.
I don't remember a lot here. My friends have filled me in, but I feel like I was in a black hole. I know I held her. I know I kissed her. I know I begged every power in the world that this wasn't happening...that she was normal, but I knew in my soul exactly what this was.
...
My pediatrician snuggled Nella up in a blanket and handed her to me...and she knelt down next to my bed so that she could look up at me...not down. She smiled so warmly and held my hand so tight. And she never took her eyes off mine. We had been through a lot together with Lainey's jaundice and I have spent many tearful conversations with her over the course of these two and a half years. She is an amazing pediatrician. But at this moment, she became more than that. She was our friend as she beautifully shared the news.
I need to tell you something.
...and I cried hard... "I know what you're going to say."
She smiled again and squeezed my hand a little tighter.
The first thing I'm going to tell you is that your daughter is beautiful and perfect.
...and I cried harder.
...but there are some features that lead me to believe she may have Down Syndrome.
Finally, someone said it.
I felt hot tears stream down and fall on my baby's face. My beautiful, perfect daughter. I was scared to look up at Brett, so I didn't. I just kissed her.
And then, Dr. Foley added...
...but, Kelle....she is beautiful. and perfect.
...
I can't explain that evening. And I suppose it's horrible to say you spent the first night your daughter was born in that state of agony, but I know it was necessary for me to move on to where I am today. And, knowing where I am today and how much I love this soul, how much I know she was meant for me and I am meant for her, knowing the crazy way our souls have intertwined and grown into each other, I can say all this now. It's hard, but it's real, and we all have feelings. We live them, we breathe them, we go through them and soon they dissolve into new feelings.
Q&A
Been a while since I did one of these and I enjoyed reading it on Denise's site.
1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?:"I sure do need a hair cut" I have an incredible Mom who's arranging a new haircut for me. I'm real excited.
2. What's the last thing you think of before you go to bed?:Using my iPhone I read my Google Reader in bed every night so I think about what I've just read. Either that or I think about the answer Brad gave to my nearly nightly question, "What was your favorite part of today?"
3. What's a word that rhymes with door?: Door.
4. Favorite planet?: I can't say I've ever given it much thought. I didn't ever wish to be an astronaut. I suppose I would say Earth.
5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your phone?: It doesn't have a name, just a phone number, not sure who it was.
6. What is your favorite ring on your phone?: The first 30 seconds of the song Wedding Dress by Matt Nathanson, it's enjoyable every time it rings.
7. What shirt are you wearing?: I'm wearing a shirt I stole from my roommate. It's a t-shirt from a french immersion school that I hastily grabbed in the laundry room one day to cover my nakedness as my other roommates boyfriend walked by. I've had a love for it ever since and it never got returned.
8. Name the brand of shoes you're currently wearing?: I'm wearing slippers right now. they're slippers I got in London years ago at the ASDA while I was visiting Cora. They're looking a little rough these days and don't smell the greatest but comfortable and easy to slip on and off.
9. Bright or Dark Room?: I guess dark? Definitely dark for sleeping but I tend to have most of the lights on when I'm in a room. This seems like an odd question though.
10.What were you doing at midnight last night? At midnight I was sleeping and grateful for it. We just came back from a weekend in Calgary and we tend to be a little irresponsible with our bedtimes when we're there.
11.What did your last text message you received on your mobile say?: It's from Brad, and it's telling me that he's done his meeting and on his way to pick up a couple groceries before he heads home.
12.Where is your letter box?: We're in a new community so we have those clusters of mailboxes, ours just happens to be right across the street.
13. What's a word that you say a lot?:
14.Who told you he/she loved you last?: My Mom, I just got off the phone with her not too long ago.
15. Last furry thing you touched?: Catie's teddy bear. It's not the most baby friendly as the fur pulls off easily but it's a great size so she plays with it with supervision. Her cousin Riley gave it to her but don't remind him because he'll complain for weeks that he doesn't have his bear anymore. It's was a voluntary gift I'm just not sure he realized what giving it away really meant.
16. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?: None.
17. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed? Do people use film these days?
18. Favorite age you have been so far? 21 was a good age, I also really liked 25.
19. Your worst enemy? Our downstairs neighbor. He's not such a big fan of ours and we're not terribly pleased with him. Thankfully the last week and a half has been uneventful.
20. What is your current desktop picture? It's called feather texture and it's incredibly boring. I recently reformatted my computer and since having the iPhone it's become more of a way to watch things on the TV that being used all that often. Since that's the case I can't be bothered to do much customization. My computer came with some great pictures that would be fine but none of them are the proper size for a widescreen monitor.
21.What was the last thing you said to someone? I'd really rather not watch hockey. Brad and I were watching Olympic stuff and we landed on Women's hockey. I don't enjoy watching a game that's close never mind a team getting slaughtered. We're now watching cross country skiing instead. They just showed a crazy wipe out!
22. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly: Definitely a million bucks. I can fly anywhere I want to go on a plane if I had a million bucks and think of all the other fun stuff I could do as well.
23. Do you like someone? I like lots of people!
24. Last song you listened to? Something by Alexz Johnson, that's what we were listening to on the way home from Calgary.
25. If the last person you spoke to was getting shot at, would you jump in front of the bullet?: I'd like to think so since it would be Brad and I don't like the idea of him getting shot. I'm not sure you ever really know what you'd do in that situation until it happens though.
26. If you could punch 1 person in your life right now, who would it be?: I'm not much a of a physically violent person so there's no one I'd choose to punch.
27. What is the closest object to your left foot?: Catie's dress. It's real cute with brown and green and blue polka dots. I'm slowly working on her laundry. There's also a pillow for the couch and "Are You My Mother?" that I just read to Catie.
1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?:"I sure do need a hair cut" I have an incredible Mom who's arranging a new haircut for me. I'm real excited.
2. What's the last thing you think of before you go to bed?:Using my iPhone I read my Google Reader in bed every night so I think about what I've just read. Either that or I think about the answer Brad gave to my nearly nightly question, "What was your favorite part of today?"
3. What's a word that rhymes with door?: Door.
4. Favorite planet?: I can't say I've ever given it much thought. I didn't ever wish to be an astronaut. I suppose I would say Earth.
5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your phone?: It doesn't have a name, just a phone number, not sure who it was.
6. What is your favorite ring on your phone?: The first 30 seconds of the song Wedding Dress by Matt Nathanson, it's enjoyable every time it rings.
7. What shirt are you wearing?: I'm wearing a shirt I stole from my roommate. It's a t-shirt from a french immersion school that I hastily grabbed in the laundry room one day to cover my nakedness as my other roommates boyfriend walked by. I've had a love for it ever since and it never got returned.
8. Name the brand of shoes you're currently wearing?: I'm wearing slippers right now. they're slippers I got in London years ago at the ASDA while I was visiting Cora. They're looking a little rough these days and don't smell the greatest but comfortable and easy to slip on and off.
9. Bright or Dark Room?: I guess dark? Definitely dark for sleeping but I tend to have most of the lights on when I'm in a room. This seems like an odd question though.
10.What were you doing at midnight last night? At midnight I was sleeping and grateful for it. We just came back from a weekend in Calgary and we tend to be a little irresponsible with our bedtimes when we're there.
11.What did your last text message you received on your mobile say?: It's from Brad, and it's telling me that he's done his meeting and on his way to pick up a couple groceries before he heads home.
12.Where is your letter box?: We're in a new community so we have those clusters of mailboxes, ours just happens to be right across the street.
13. What's a word that you say a lot?:
14.Who told you he/she loved you last?: My Mom, I just got off the phone with her not too long ago.
15. Last furry thing you touched?: Catie's teddy bear. It's not the most baby friendly as the fur pulls off easily but it's a great size so she plays with it with supervision. Her cousin Riley gave it to her but don't remind him because he'll complain for weeks that he doesn't have his bear anymore. It's was a voluntary gift I'm just not sure he realized what giving it away really meant.
16. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?: None.
17. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed? Do people use film these days?
18. Favorite age you have been so far? 21 was a good age, I also really liked 25.
19. Your worst enemy? Our downstairs neighbor. He's not such a big fan of ours and we're not terribly pleased with him. Thankfully the last week and a half has been uneventful.
20. What is your current desktop picture? It's called feather texture and it's incredibly boring. I recently reformatted my computer and since having the iPhone it's become more of a way to watch things on the TV that being used all that often. Since that's the case I can't be bothered to do much customization. My computer came with some great pictures that would be fine but none of them are the proper size for a widescreen monitor.
21.What was the last thing you said to someone? I'd really rather not watch hockey. Brad and I were watching Olympic stuff and we landed on Women's hockey. I don't enjoy watching a game that's close never mind a team getting slaughtered. We're now watching cross country skiing instead. They just showed a crazy wipe out!
22. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly: Definitely a million bucks. I can fly anywhere I want to go on a plane if I had a million bucks and think of all the other fun stuff I could do as well.
23. Do you like someone? I like lots of people!
24. Last song you listened to? Something by Alexz Johnson, that's what we were listening to on the way home from Calgary.
25. If the last person you spoke to was getting shot at, would you jump in front of the bullet?: I'd like to think so since it would be Brad and I don't like the idea of him getting shot. I'm not sure you ever really know what you'd do in that situation until it happens though.
26. If you could punch 1 person in your life right now, who would it be?: I'm not much a of a physically violent person so there's no one I'd choose to punch.
27. What is the closest object to your left foot?: Catie's dress. It's real cute with brown and green and blue polka dots. I'm slowly working on her laundry. There's also a pillow for the couch and "Are You My Mother?" that I just read to Catie.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Quiet Book, Page 9 & 10
These are my last two pages. Once I posted about them it seems like so few but you can probably imagine that it's a pretty fat book so I think I'll leave things here. the mailbox page has the flag that stands up and the mailbox opens up and has a letter inside. Eventually I'll write some sort of message on it. Jill wrote, "To Oscar, Mommy Loves You". I'll probably do the same.
The next page is my variation of the standard book that you lace up. I didn't want to have to buy the gromet things to make holes for the laces so instead I created this dress that you tie the bow. I know it's not the same but it was quick to put together and I think it's cute.
I'm also working on a Scripture stories quiet book that is turning out even better than I had imagined. I've already completed Lehi's Vision, Ammon cutting off the arms to protect the sheep and putting on the Armour of God. I'll post pictures of those pages when I complete them but until now you'll just have to use your imagination.
The next page is my variation of the standard book that you lace up. I didn't want to have to buy the gromet things to make holes for the laces so instead I created this dress that you tie the bow. I know it's not the same but it was quick to put together and I think it's cute.
I'm also working on a Scripture stories quiet book that is turning out even better than I had imagined. I've already completed Lehi's Vision, Ammon cutting off the arms to protect the sheep and putting on the Armour of God. I'll post pictures of those pages when I complete them but until now you'll just have to use your imagination.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Quiet Book, Page 7 & 8
At this point in the process I was starting to feel a little more confidant in my abilities and I started to branch out a bit (and I mean a tiny bit) from Jill's designs.
Jill had included a tent that zipped with a bear in it, I added mesh windows (out of a dollar store laundry bag) and I created my own bear and fire (the marshmallow is stuffed with a tiny bit of batting).
The stoplight is certainly nothing special but it's a fun colour matching page.
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