A .studio Freebie

I haven't been here in a while!!!!

I went back to work 10 months ago and LOVE it!  Unfortunately my 20hrs a week at work has taken away from my crafting, sewing, painting and creating... not to mention spending time with friends :(

I did manage today to create a silhouette file...

(download free .studio file here)

Leah, my brilliant fitness instructor at Motion Fitness said this Wednesday morning (while we were busting out a couple hundred squats and lunges with a barbell on our shoulders).  Of course she was referring to strength training but it struck me as profound in relation to every experience we have in our lives!  If my dramatic little girls didn't challenge me, then I wouldn't become a better mother and person.  If people I worked with at church and work weren't difficult it wouldn't help me to be more patient, understanding and forgiving.

I believe we have a great responsibility while on this earth to become the best people we can be.  To make mistakes and learn from them and to encourage those within our sphere of influence to do the same.

I will be cutting this out in vinyl and placing it somewhere in my house where I will see it regularly.  Perhaps this daily reminder will increase my patience and understanding as a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.

Perhaps someone else will find the same motivation from these words!

Please leave a comment letting me know if the link worked properly - this is the first time I have used GE.TT

Here Fishy, Fishy, Fishy

Another batch of magnetic fish, these ones for my nieces!  These are so fun to make (and so easy).  If I didn't keep giving them away I would have a whole pond full!

They have been having a lot of fun fishing :)

My first quilt!!!!

Ya.... not the greatest!  Ignore the yellow rows that are fairly off center.

I have made quilted blanket tops in the past but I always went the less 'scary' route of flipping them inside-out to sew the edges then turning it right side-out again to finish.  This was the first time I did a real quilt binding.  It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be (though binding in general never looks very nice for me - I know I just need practice).  I can't seem to make the back edge line up nicely with the front of the binding.

Well it was a learning process and the next will be better.  I do feel kind of embarressed that I am giving this away (it was a service project for a local shelter).  I am hoping the toddler who receives it (and his mother) don't notice its messy construction.  It is solid though and should hold together well and keep them warm.

I already want to make another one :)
 

Tutu for a birthday girl!

 I had fun today making a tutu for our soon to be 3-yr-old!  I got a HUGE garbage bag stuffed with tulle from my sis-in-law.  THANKS Christy! 

Hailey's birthday is in 5 days and her party in 10.  I am making tutu's for all her party guests.  They are far easier than I thought they would be.  I used a no-sew tutorial, but the sewn ones are nice too.

My craft room as been SO AWESOME!  The girls just play away while I work.  I can create fun things and still supervise the kiddos.  I'm in heaven!

She was pretty patient waiting for it to be done...

and then testing it out immediately. 

Canvas Baby Stats

I completed another pinterest project... love pinterest for craft ideas.  This is an 8x10 canvas with vinyl lettering.  I made the girls' matching as they will be sharing a room come next year.  It will be great to finally have something on the wall in Hailey's room!

Craft Room Sneak Peak

The room is all put together it just needs some final touches (aka- Vinyl).  This was the first one I put up.

Thank you to Ian for his master crafting skills! My pegboard, cup hook and other items are so handy!!!!  Keep an eye out here for the big reveal in the next couple weeks.

Jen

For Logan

I made this cover for Diana and her precious premie Logan!  He needed some protection from all the sick kids on his numerous visits back to the doctor.  This cover has only 1 layer instead of 2 (as it is now spring) like I have on my winter carseat cover.  The elastics keep it from blowing up in the wind and exposing baby.  It is also a super soft minky that Diana won't be able to stop 'petting' while she waits to see Logan's dr!

Welcome home Logan, you are such a trooper!