Sewing Love

I spent the better part of Sunday working on two dresses - one for my sweet Miss S and one for her niece...I'm making the one pictured in yellow here.


I have the tops done and just have to do the skirt. The purple one is for Miss S and the white is my niece. The fabric is a beautiful satin with silver sparkles which don't show up here. I'm really excited at how nice they are turning out so far. My niece has requested a matching wrap and crown for both of them though I don't know if I'll have time for that:) They both have to be done by next Tuesday when Miss S and I leave for San Diego for a few days. I can't wait. I really need a vacation and to spend some time with my family. My mom, Granny, Dad and Stepmom and my sister's family will all be there:) I have plans to hit Ikea and the San Diego zoo. Does anyone know if there are any Japanese book stores in San Diego? I need to do a little research on that.

Sweet Treats

The crud has hit out household big time! Miss S was sick last week and this week hubby and I have been sick. Unfortunately, what little patience I do have goes out the window when I am not feeling good....I'm afraid I have yelled too much at both Miss S and hubby this week as a result. I hope this next week will be better. My beaner, Tammy, and her friend will be here for a short visit on Friday and then next Tuesday Miss S and I fly to San Diego to visit for a few days with my mom, my granny, and my sister and her family. I cannot wait!!

So here's the sweet part of my week - Miss S and I participated in mommycoddle's mini swap and Miss S's package arrived this week from the fabulous George:

Just look at all these lovely treats!! A felt doll kit, paper dolls, stickers, cards, books, crayons, colored pencils, milk chocolate hot fudge sauce (we can't wait to use that!), hair clips, artwork by George, pom pom animal kit, and a bracelet kit for me. Such wonderful and thoughtful goodies! Thank you so much George (and Dawn:)).


And I won Monica's giveaway for her new blog location...a gorgeous little Japanese quilting book. She figured it was destined to come live with me...notice the little Dutch girl on the bottom right corner - my hubby's family is Dutch and we are completely enamored with all things "Dutch". Thank you Monica! I was even miraculously paired with a Dutch partner in Monica's Potholder swap:):)


And a new blog friend sent me this surprise - a little photo album just right for postcards as it shows BOTH sides:) She even filled it with several postcards for me. She also included a little pincushion she made. Thank you Miss Tola!


Lastly - this little bundle arrived just before Valentine's Day - my goodies from Amy's Valetine's ATC swap. I received atcs and goodies from Regina, MaryAnn, Dawn, Deborah and Susan. Thank you ladies for these wonderful treasures!!


So....heres

A Marvelous Mini-Meme

I'm participating in the current What's Cookin apron swap...this round is an apron for your little one. All participants have been tagged with this cute little meme.

1. What is your first food memory? Hamburger Helper and jello - a very common dinner when growing up:)
2. What was your favorite dish/food as a child? I love jello....jello with fruit cocktail....jello with sliced bananas...jello with shredded carrots and raisin. Yes, I'm weird.
3. Name one of your mini's favorite foods: Pizza
4. What was your mini's first solid food? Did they love it or hate it? I would say her real first solid food (that was not baby food) were McDonald's french fries and she LOVED them
5. What was something you were excited to make for your mini for the first time? Sugar cookies - or as Miss S calls them - cookie cutter cookies
6. What is your favorite food memory? Oh this is a hard one....family dinners at Golden Corral. With 8 of us, buffet was the way to go! Everyone got whatever they wanted and however much of it they wanted too.
7. Your mini's birthday party : All out theme with perfect kid food ala Martha? or Quiet family home party with scrumptious cupcakes? Something in-between? Something in-between, with heavy leanings towards ala Martha.
8. Name one thing you absolutely love to make and eat when you are feeling like a kid again: macaroni and cheese - the classic Kraft one in the blue box.
9. Name something you ate as a kid that you now look back on and wonder "what were my childhood taste buds thinking??" : See #2 - the jello with shredded carrots and raisins.
10. Name 3 things your mini loves (doesn't have to be food related): She loves Disney princesses, Hello Kitty and candy:)

Love is in the air....and some snow too!

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day!! We woke up to this scene on Wednesday morning...another winter storm! I took this at about 6:15 am and it continued to snow until about 1 pm - 4 to 9 inches fell throughout town. School was cancelled so Miss S enjoyed her snow day with some friends. Her fever finally broke Wednesday morning. But today hubby got a call from the school nurse right as he was heading out to work - the fever was back. I think hubby was happy to finally get to call in:)


Anyhoo....this is the apron I made for Miss S for Valentine's Day - I was inspired by this lovely apron. I just made it a little smaller, and added only three ruffles. Miss S was thrilled:) Hubby got an extra large bag of dark chocolate M&Ms and we're going out for a fancy dinner tomorrow night sans child.


And a parting shot of me...taken by Miss S - please excuse the crazy Kramer-ish hair. I am in serious need of a haircut!!! I'm wearing the awesome flower pin Vallen made for me:)


Did you know it's Random Acts of Kindness week??? I've already been blessed with several this week:) I challenge you to RAK at least one person before the 19th.

Sick Days and Swaps

Miss S is sick - nothing too serious, but an inexplicable temperature over 100 the last two days. It has been nice to call in to work yesterday and today:) I've been able to get a few crafty things done, some packages ready to mail, and some much needed cleaning around the house. I made Miss S the CUTEST apron for Valentine's Day last night - I'll take a picture of her in it tomorrow.

I went to check the mail yesterday and my box was filled to the brim with goodies! I received some fabulous lip gloss from this sweet woman that I am testing for her:)
Also - my Sweet Pea Valentine's package arrived from Meg, and a wonderful surprise from K8tykat arrived too.


A beautiful chocolate box filled with all sorts of bits and bobbles - and tiles that spell my name! What a wonderful and thoughtful gift - thank you Kerry!!



And look at all these goodies from Meg! The CD is of all Beatles love songs - so cool!!! Lots of candy, vintage Valentine's, candles, handmade goodies and more! Thank you Meg!!

Have a great day!!

Good Mail

Let me first apologize for these horrible, dark pictures. It has been cloudy today but I was so anxious to post about these that I just couldn't wait until the sun cooperated:)

I received a sweet Valentine's day package from Miss Vallen - it included some lovely zippers, a vintage "R" postcard, a sweet card that was made by Mary Ann and one of Vallen's beautiful sweater flowers. I love it! Thank you so much! I am going to wear the flower to church tomorrow:)


And my Pink and Brown swap package arrived from Angie in Canada. We mailed our packages the exact same day - hers made it to me on Tue or Wed I think, but the one from me to her is still in transit. Clearly Canadian postal service is superior to USPS:) I have long admired Angie - she has a beautiful way with fabric and paper crafts. She absoutely SPOILED me:) So much lovely goodness that I couldn't even fit it in one picture!

Fabric, a whole bag full of buttons, trim, zippers and a few other notions, a ribbon embroidery kit (I LOVE ribbon embroidery and haven't done it in ages so I'm excited for this project), pink and brown ephemera and envelopes, a pink and cream lace doily, tissue holder, vintage linens...

a cute pattern, apron, more vintage linens, two craft magazines, a cheery chick pin cushion (would you believe this is my FIRST pincushion! I'm so excited) and a FABULOUS altered clipboard filled with beautiful tags. I love it all Angie - thank you so much! I hope you are as pleased with your package: )


I joined a new Craft Magazine swap on Flickr that one of the members of my Fat Quarter swap group started. From Mac Villiku I received an issue of Country Living and Memory Makers, and she also made me this beautiful heart card and brown floral pouch. I love the pouch - the fabric just totally screams "Raesha" to me:):) Thank you so much!

And lastly, this beautiful thank you note arrived. Back in December I was inspired by this post
and put together a package for the Any Soldier program - I sent a package to the ladies of C & 15th companies. This thank you card so took me surprise that I started crying as soon as I saw who it was from.


Hubby is closing, Miss S is watching a movie and I have a PILE of stuff to put away/work on/organize....so I better get cracking!

Want One?

I just returned home from my monthly ATC group - we have a fabulous group of ladies that always leave me energized and inspired:) I have 4 atcs left - our theme was "Resolutions". If you would like one, please leave me a comment. I have lots more pictures to post after I clean them up a little - I've had a FABULOUS mail week:):)

My child is a goofball

How on earth did I birth a child that is so goofy? I am NEVER goofy, so I'm not quite sure where she got that gene from:) I came into my bedroom after washing the dinner dishes and found her all snuggled up in the laundry basket - yes, the laundry basket. At least she does have her pajamas on:):)

OOHH - And check out this beautiful baby:):) Introducing Miss River Elise - born this morning at 2:00 am. My brother, Ian, is on R&R from Iraq for two weeks. Tracy picked him up at the airport at 10:00 pm last night and just four hours later River arrived! I am so glad that Ian made it in time.

Thanks for the Love

Thank you all so much for your awesome comments on my last post. I agree, that as long as I keep their memories alive, both Michael and John will be here with me forever.

My sadness finally started to lift at the end of this week and I had a very productive weekend. I finished up some goodies for our partner in the Mini Swap, some atcs and some Valentine's cards. I'll post pics of the package we sent Mr. G. after it has arrived. It was hard putting a package together for a little boy! But, it was really fun:) Oh I finished our taxes...I had to check them three times, cause our refund is unusually large, to make sure I didn't mess anything up
:) So I'm happy to report we are looking forward to a nice big check from the feds in a few weeks. I am also happy to report that are getting a whopping $54 refund from the State of New Mexico too!! We usually owe money to the state so ANY size refund from the state makes me happy:)

Here's the Valentine's Day card I made - easy peasy - I think I made about 10 so I better start getting them mailed out! I'm sending five out for the Red Velvet Art swap I participated in.

A little dark, and a little blurry - but it's two layers of purple patterned pattern, some stamped hearts from a conversation heart stamp set, a purple ribbon....and they're done! I haven't made card in a while so it was fun playing:)

I hope your weekend was productive!