Crafter-hours

I admittedly stay up waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to late doing things like watching 'Bride Wars' and 'Music and Lyrics' with a bit of crafting on the side. So here is what I have to show for myself other than dark circles under my eyes...

Inspiration Jars for Craft Night with the Relief Society Ladies.
(this is the prototype to entice comers)

The awesome, easy to make paper roses come from Little Birdie Secrets fabulous blog and then she added them to a jar, and well the rest is history! We are going to have lists of Date Night Ideas with your hubby, Family Fun Ideas, and another with daily scriptures all about charity, love, kindness..etc. This little baby is going on my nightstand when all is said and done.

And then because, well, I apparently can't be left alone with paper of any kind, I whipped up these little ditties for my girls' room.

I am now in love with rick rack and buttons.

Bedtime Battle Rewards

Now my little man, is my super star sleeper. Of my four kids he rocks the nighttime kasbah like this is the last night for Mr. Sandman, so make it a good one. But the girls....oh, the giggly, talkative, Chatty Cathys just can't help themselves.

Every night it is a new antic.

...climbing the bunk bed latter because their beds, pardon me boats, are sinking...

...the rapid fire one hundred miniature stuffed animal volley...

...the contagious giggling virus that seems to infect them as soon as the lights turn off...

...the thirst epidemic that grips the girls bedroom each night at about 8pm...

..."Didn't you pee all day? Why are you out here...again? Potty...wow that's original"...

..."Mom, my rooms to hot/cold/quiet/loud/dark"...it supposed to be that way...because I said so...

..."I'm scared, Mommy."..."Of, what?"..."The breathing!"..."That is just your sister. That is the sound of sleep. Now you try it."

..."Mom, my eye, I mean my foot hurts."

..."I have a hangnail and will need a clipper and a bandaid..stat"

and my personal favorite...

..."Mom, I am not tired. Maybe if I had a cookie I think I might feel more sleepy."

Oy.

It is just after 10 pm and my littlest girl has finally joined her comrades in the fight against all that is snoozy and is finally asleep. Her last words to me were, "Mom, you tucked me in wrong."

So I reshuffle a perfectly fine blanket layer a smidgen to the right and boom...she is out like a light...seriously. I watched it with my own two eyes. But, not before her sweet angel face with hands snugly tucked under her cherub cheeks says, "Thank you, mommy.", expertly shooting an arrow straight to my heart.

And that is why I can't trade bedtime for anything else.

Sew Crazy or Who Let Me Near JoAnne's

With Christmas on it way, the sewing machine, pricking my fingers like a pin cushion, and putting love into each gift have been keeping me up to the wee morning hours, but I love it!

Here are a few of my projects that have been keeping me sew crazy.

Purse turned backpack for Jelly Beans in the cutest fabric...

With button backings...

a closable pocket with bonus wallet...

Then the big girls' sophisticated front pocket purses,
complete with matching wallets...

and lined with double pockets:
one open for crayon rolls (post coming soon)
one sewn as color pencil holders...

Then I couldn't forget my sweet boy!
However, I am sure a purse wouldn't be his cup of tea...

but a notebook holder, now that's more like it...

and for keeping his moolah handy...a dinosaur wallet!

One would think that would put out any crafter's fire, but JoAnne's near my house had killer Black Friday sales and there are more projects on the way! Crayon rolls, doorway puppet theaters, and double sided fleece blankets for Christmas Eve.

I better get crackin'.

Something I didn't know about myself

It is strange the experiences that have been put in my path. Things I never thought I could do, I have been blessed with the capacity to do.

I never thought I could live day to day life as a single mother of four in a rural town that requires 2 hours of driving to the nearest Walmart and still get in things like, shower, sleep, and breathing. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't be happier that we (hubby and all) are safely under one roof with a great job, but I could do it again if needed.

Or how about run a 5k race, then turn around a few weeks later and run 10 miles in 1/2 marathon training? Who ever thought that was possible? Certianly not me! But I did it, and now think of myself as an athlete, a complete beginner but the potential has been opened.

As a child of God, I am stronger than I gave myself credit for.

Then there is my newest calling as the Relief Society counselor over activities. I am a naturally shy, quiet, reserved person. At least I used to think so. Slowly over the last few years that has been squelched in my efforts to grow in my callings that require public speaking, appearance, leadership, and cooperation of large groups. I have to put myself out there and let it settle however it does, fumbles and all.

I realized something about myself today, I love people and sincerely want the best for them but at the same time,

I am who I am...

and I am happy with that.

Sunday Funnies

Let me introduce you to what looks like our old neighbor dog, Brutus, from our mini-farm days a couple of months ago.


He was a lovable guy, a bit slobbery for my taste and apparently Jelly Beans as well. Here is the following conversation I had with her as I tucked her into bed...

JellyBeans: Mom, I liked the white house. (mini-farm)

Me: That house sure had a big yard in it, didn't it?

Jelly Beans: Yep! It was fun...except when Brutus would crawl under the fence.
He thinks I am lunch, but I am not!

World from a three year old.

Halloween Par-tay!

This has to be one of the best Halloweens that my family has ever had.

No school stress or homework to bog us down, living with my favorite sister (I can say that, I only have one.. ;), and finally breaking out of my shell we decorated a our trunk and passed out candy after a most delightful and fun filled dinner party with the ward. By the way, I absolutely love, love, love my new ward! We were made for each other.

Always a challenge and delight to make the kids costumes. We are all about thrifty and unique usually one use costumes, because lets face it...my kids picking the same costume twice just isn't happening.

Besides making the costumes is half the fun! A Glittering Glenda's crown (and consequently the whole house for weeks), Davy's leather outfit from paper bags and some paint, and tutus for the little fairies, wings and wands compliments from the Dollar Store!

The Diagnosis is Not Good

That's right. It has been confirmed, I have it...the crafting bug. It lasts from early October till just after the New Year. Symptoms include raiding your embroidery stash in the middle of the afternoon because you are sure you could start a project now with out having to leave the house, dreaming of endless isles of darling fabric after darling fabric, and being completely distracted by thoughts of these:

or these:

How 'bout this!

and the companions...

There is something about the crisp fall air and earlier sunsets that cozy me up to the idea of evenings creating a textiled smorgasborg of items to give away, scatter through the house spreading festive cheer, or merely because it is just too hard to pass up in cuteness!

All I know is I am going to need more felt at my house and possibly these:

and these,

Oh my it is hopeless!

It doesn't help that I just finished my knitting projects for the fall either...



idle hands...all kinds of mischief! ;)