Instagram Update

Oh, hello! 

Here's a quick little Instagram update before I run off to make the kids some lunch. 

Instagram Update : A day late and a dollar short

A day late and a dollar short. 

It could be my life theme right now. 

Welp, I'm dealing with it and moving forward the best I can. There has been so many big things happening at our house that I realize there's no good way to keep up with it all. 

Instagram update (family vacation)

A late night of flying was just what we didnt need. 

Instagram Update

Happy wednesday! Here's what we've been up to since last week:

Here we are on a morning walk in the new (to us) wagon. 

Instagram Update

Here we are watching daddy&grandpa pour the final concrete for the driveway/yard makeover. 

Instagram update

I dont always have time to blog a full post, so i'm going to begin filling some free space with ig photos of life, homeschooling, sewing etc! I hope you enjoy. 

Sewing up coastal cargos

Train ride at the local zoo

Summer KCW :: Day 1

Hi! 

It's been quite a while as I was on vacation and though I began sewing immediately upon my return, my time to sit down and compile posts is very limited. My husband works long hours during the summer months and the few hours each day that I see him is after the children are in bed. So, I have been enjoying my time with him, heading to bed early, and sewing during nap times. I'm such a busy momma, but sewing isn't a hassle... it's an escape. I simply LOVE it. 

Tshirt Upcycles &nonsense

It's finally summer!! I mean like, sustained warm weather not torrential downpour summer. 

There's so much awesomeness that comes with summer that I haven't sat down in front of my computer much. It seems so difficult to pull away from gardening with my husband or eating ice cream on the front steps with the kids... but I do miss being here and sharing all the fun. 

So I'll attempt to sit down more in the evenings instead of zoning on the latest show. 

I'm not a huge television fan anyways.

The Ms.Pacman Dress for Sew Geeky

I was on vacation last week and couldn't help but sneak onto blogger to check in on everyone. 

&I'm so glad I did!!

Did you guys know that Max California & Sew Chibi are doing a new series called Sew Geeky?

You probably do, huh.

Well, I was so frustrated that I couldn't create anything RIGHT THEN. 

So, when I got home my hubs and I sat down and looked at all the awesome new patterns I had won during the Fabric Matching competition. He looked through my fabric and threw out ideas (really great ones too!) & together we came up with an awesome design using the Ivy Dress from Peekaboo Pattern Shop . <--- click to visit their shop 

I won a 5 pack of patterns & it is what Lily picked for herself. <3

She's completely thrilled with it. 

Summer Shirts & Mothers Day Present

Whew! 

It's mid-May and we finally have warm weather that lasts. This is what I've been waiting for. I was outside with my husband staring at our newly seeded yard and suddenly, as if there was a moment of clarity or a subtle hallelujah in my mind, I looked up and noticed how blue the Iowa sky was... and how green the grass was ... and I saw the beautiful blossoming trees... and heard the birds (it's like living in an aviary here). I just looked at my husband and said "Isn't Iowa SO beautiful?" 

I get that feeling when I come home from a vacation where I've studied their states distinctive features, then I come home and take a look at my life from the eyes of a traveler and I have a new found appreciation for what I see. 

That moment of clarity that I wish I could embrace every day.

Sewing. 

Yesterday when the kids actually napped, I got in a bit of time to sew up another tee for the little guy. I've already instagrammed  them but they are too fun not to throw up on the blog:

KCW Started off with a BANG

Hi all, it's the first  second day of KCW & because I was so excited I started cutting my patterns out Sunday. 

I cut out a pair of bubble shorts, a lovely infant peasant dress, a new tank for Lily, and I  am still on the hunt for a great fabric to make my son a basic blazer. In addition, I've been sewing the first "mom" outfit for a series that is going on in May on the Shaffer Sister's Blog.

I QUIT! & Other things ...

We are enjoying some amazing weather here in Iowa. 

Yesterday it was like 70! Ok I actually didn't check the temp (I usually don't) but it FELT that warm so I hurried and packed a yummy lunch for the kiddos and we were off the the zoo. 

Even though we've gone 3x in the last few weeks, it isn't getting old AT ALL. 

also...

Did I tell you guys I quit smoking? 

Did you even know I was a smoker?? (I hope NOT)

Screen Printing ZIpper Bags

If you feel like my content is random, you're right! 

I'm nearly always moving from one form of art to another in a ... well frenzy of thought. 

As you may remember, at Christmas time I was all about making zipper bags as diy gifts. I totally LOOOOOVE them& how quick and simple they can be. There's a never ending amount of ways you can make them your own.. this being my new favorite. 

Screen printing!

Freezer paper rocks, right? Personalized stuff too? 

Yep& yep. 

Smashbook style Yearly Album

Lately I have been tackling those projects left for *another day* ... you know, the ones that you had great intentions to finish but never actually did. 

To start: My craft room has seen a lot of sewing lately, but almost NO papercrafting. It's really taken a backseat to my sewing, which is totally fun but the albums are looking bare and I promised myself I would realistically use them, thus justifying my purchase. Plus, I do enjoy looking back at them. 

I just don't need shelves and shelves of them. 

Plus, storing things is not something I enjoy doing. 

I could never be a hoarder, I purge whenever I feel like clutter is creeping in on me. 

So I got back on it this afternoon as the kids slept. 

Homeschool Wk. 1 Lesson Plan All About Your Body

***Disclaimer*** this is not how I schedule homeschool anymore. I really want to show how I have grown even after less than a year of homeschooling***
This post was saved from almost a year ago, and looking back at it makes me EXHAUSTED.
I spent a lot of time in the evenings preparing my lessons, finding websites, resources, etc etc...

That is in no way how I choose to homeschool now, but you can see where I began. (now back to the original post)


Hello !!  I'm sure I have mentioned this before, but for this post it needs to be repeated: I have an exceptionally smart little girl. Yep, that's it. Bet you thought it was going to be a bit more profound, huh? 

I point this out because this post is the first of 5 discussing how I homeschool. I have wanted to create this series long before I began keeping her home. Partly because I feel that I don't homeschool quite the same as other mommies and also because it is SO DIFFICULT to find curriculum to keep an exceptional student engaged. I especially find it difficult to locate curriculum that is void of religion. I do teach my daughter that religions exist, but not that one is true compared to others.  I began my planning (curriculum planning) a month before she started to stay home, which was May 1, 2012. It was tedious and fun and frustrating and liberating all at the same time. 

I certainly don't mean to discourage anyone, instead I'd like to do my part in helping other parents who have a smarty pants at home.  ALSO- I AM NOT AN EXPERT. I don't claim to be and don't want anyone to think otherwise. I'm just a mommy who wants to teach her child as best she can& I strive to give her lots of knowledge! I pull things from online, in books, and right out of my old noggin' to do with her. 

Project Run (and) Play Challenge 4 Valentines Day

No luck for nice weather to shoot photo's in. 

Happy Festivus to the rest of us.

Good morning! It's so close to Christmas & I'm really excited to hand so many of my family members a little something I've handmade them. No I didn't pair it with lots of store bought goodies... why? Simply put, because more isn't better. I love Christmas for so many reason: the snow, the family, the thoughtful gifts, the unnecessary acts of kindness, the feeling of a global community. I also have many things I really dislike: my house gets trashed and crowded from all the gifts, my daughter can have streaks of "needing" everything or being sad that wishes don't get delivered to your lap, i DO NOT like to shovel. 

So this Christmas I am focusing on the things I love, and trying to save some stress for myself and others too. Less present, more meaning, more time spent DOING and less time spent GETTING. 

With that said, here are some of my handmade Christmas items. 

<3

my niece syd loves octopuses. and orange. 

What I've been doing...

Hello all, it's been quiet around my house these last few days. We had my dad and sister in town visiting for Thanksgiving, so lots of hustle and bustle... even for this quick moving family. 

Since my dad was occupying my craft room/spare bedroom there wasn't much going on in terms of sewing. 

Baby Boy/Littlest monster chose Thanksgiving to debut his new crawl. I was so excited. He went down for nap a boy who rocked back and forth and woke up a crawler. So, one day after his 8 month milestone he crawled. That'a boy. 

Making the Most of a Pattern::

Hey guys! I surely didn't fall off the face of the earth, though that would be a much more interesting introduction wouldn't it? Instead, I've had shotty internet during the construction my husband is doing on our yard. I'm completely guilty of allowing my biggest monster to watch a cartoon while I do a blog entry. 

Sometimes it's just what I need to feel 

like I still have a little "me" time

throughout the day. 

Anyways, so I've been gone but I have also been busy using this time to sew. 

<3

I've been using a pattern like crazy lately, Heidi & Finn's Sweatshirt pattern. 

Boy is this thing handy! I believe it was 6.00usd & I've created SO much using it! The pieces work well for the hooded sweatshirt as well as coats& cardigans depending on the choice of fabric. 

Let me expand. 

For a cardigan I can use a nice thick knit fabric, exclude the lining& with a double needle it doesn't pucker at the seams at all. Also I added a bit of single sided bias tape to the neckline because I like how it lays& it won't be stretched over his head. 

CCL "Take Me Away" Blog Hop with*Blog Candy

Hey all! Hope you are maneuvering through the blog hop with ease! 

For my :vacation themed: project I chose to create a mini album for a our first family vacation since the new baby has arrived. We'll be heading off to Colorado & California to visit family members in September. I wanted this album to be photo ready. 

I also chose not to bind the album until photos were put inside. It makes layering & any sewing much easier.