Expanding my job titles

So it turns out that I may have a lucrative career as a wood worker. OK, not really but I was fairly crafty today with a 'do it yourself' box that I picked up at Joanns today. My mothers sent me some money for my birthday and I haven't gotten anything crafty since I've been here and there have been some things that I have needed and wanted.

Exhibit A would be a toy box for the kids. B has killed one of the plastic totes that we brought up here with us for his toys, and it seems like getting them in the tote at the end of the day is too difficult. (Yes, I know a toy box won't help but at least it will make me feel better when I'm picking them up at the end of the day!)

So I present to you:

super cheap and cheesy, made in China, wood box that I stained, lacquered, and painted!!

Exhibit B would be all the gosh darn hair clips that have been hanging out in the bathroom with no place to go. I had these cute frames much like these, but not quite as awesome:) But alas, they were left behind. So, wanting to make the most of my extra cash I found some frame mats that were on clearance for .97! I knew I had a hot glue gun, ribbon and tacks. Put it all together and VOILA!!!

and

Cute eh? I was proud of myself. So since I was super productive today...what have you all done?

Losing talents

I will have to agree and say that is really is true that if you don't practice the talents that have been given you by the supreme being...you lose them. I am referring to sewing. 

We have been able to sell some of our stuff in Utah.(we have a storage unit there costing us money) With the money we have made I've been able to get my in-laws to pack up and send us some stuff that we (I) have wanted. One of the big things was my sewing machine. Between having to fix pants, and darting a skirt that is way to big for Miss C, there's been some projects I've wanted to do also. A quiet book being on the top of my list. So to make a long pointless story longer and even more pointless, it's been a while since I have used my machine. Before Christmas last year I think.

I'm not proclaiming to be the worlds best sewer, just take a look at some stuff I've made, but I enjoy it. Making something from scratch and having people think you're like...amazing, is pretty neat. :) So I pulled it out tonight. (my machine people!) I wanted to make a 'baby doll sized' blanket for my daughter because trying to use one of her blankets to wrap up a doll that is, surprisingly smaller than her, is a pain. And if I can make the tantrums less and give me a moment of peace...I'm going to do it!

I used a cotton material and some minky. I know that it is easier to use a quilting foot with minky because it feeds through the machine sooo much better than without. I forgot, however, how to properly put the foot on. So when I started sewing the fabric wasn't going anywhere. Duh! I need to put the feed teeth down.

Nope.

Putting the teeth down doesn't do anything when using the quilt foot. Only when free-motion sewing. Way off base here.Well what's the problem? Put the feet back up. Hmmm. Well you big smart person you, you forgot to put the arm on the shank for the foot to actually go up and down properly. Yah. Special. 

The whole point is that, if you have a talent, practice it. If you don't you may just think you aren't any good and should just quit. That is usually how I end up quitting so many things. It's a vicious cycle in my brain:) But I am glad I have my machine and can practicing making things so that I can feel good about myself. And so I can remedy melt downs with a simple quick stitch. 

This is what she gets

Now to make some clothes for the exhibitionist doll!

I'll show you blankets!!!!

I love my husband...really. But sometimes he is a grade A putz. Like when I get really excited about a quilt I'm doing or crocheting something and I tell/show him and he kinda shrugs and says "that's nice hunny". Which we ALL know is a nice patronizing way of saying...I'm bored with you! haha. He has in fact told me that ..."anyone can make blankets". So the things I accomplish are no big deal.

So when he saw the purse his sister made...you'd think they just discovered the earth was round! Why? Well because it wasn't a 'blanket', it was 'functional', something you would use every. Day. I'll show you functional! 
Behold....the dishcloth!

And the Oscar the grouch hat that looks like a handicapped frog!

I had high hopes for this cute hat. My SIL sent me the link to make this and trying to branch out I tried. Looks like I will have to make another one and tack the eyes on closer to account for stretch when it's put on. And work with the mouth a little bit. It will work. I can do it! If you'd like the tutorial for this hat can be found here. But don't go making one and showing me up! (yes, you Jen;))

But really, Matt's inadvertent insults have helped me want to do more things. So really, thanks hunny! He is the best man I know. I'd even share some whales with him:)

mess of pictures:)

Ok here we go! This is a picture of our finally planted rose bushes. Matt and I planted them last night. I put some miracle grow for rose bushes that's got bone meal in it so I am a little nervous that the neighbors dog might get frisky with them. All was well last night though...so maybe we're good.

This picture is of the wood flower that I did at the neighbors house. I say i did it...but I kind of suck at using tools....I ten to hurt myself:) But I used the sander and helped hold the board while my neighbor cut. I know...don't hurt myself:) lol. She put hers on a stick and then in her front garden area. I didn't think it would look right so...I hung mine on some twine and put it on the front door...voila:) It was alotta fun.

And here is the Magnolia tree that finally found a home! lol...Matt likes that it's in the middle of the yard. "something else to mow around". pfffff!

And here we have a child that was supposed to be taking a nap! We put some balmex on his face last night because it gets really dry. Well apparently he needed some today and took it upon himself to apply it. LOL. It's really really hard to reprimand when he looks like an apache warrior. LOLOLOL.

Last but not least...I guess...is a picture of me at 25 weeks and 6 days. Looking a little pokey:)

So here you have it. The picture update. Hope you enjoy! Till then,

Meg

White chocolate trash bags...lol

I should have posted this a few days ago...but... I am now:) My MIL and I have been keeping ourselves fairly crafty this week. We have been working on various projects and it has been a good time. Thursday we were going thru Paula Dean recipes to figure out what to make that was fattening....she was having kind of a rough day and wanted to rebel against her hard work at eating healthy. Well we came across a recipe called "white chocolate trash". It kind of reminded me of puppy chow that she makes. Well we got a giggle out of the name and moved into the sewing room to make the "go green" bags. So we're sewing and getitng in a better mood while making these ridiculously simple yet annoying bags. Lol...we get to talking about our awesome bags and I made the comment that they were our white chocolate trash bags...lol. Well that was the funniest thing either of us heard all day so we had a fairly good laugh over it. We finished our bags. And here's the proof:

And after all was said and done the pattern cost $9.50, fabric was free(thank you G. Rose) and man hours was probably 1 to 1 1/2. Cost of these bags at grocery store $0.99 :) So much for saving money:) But we didn't get the laughs:) So till the next random post,
Meg