Craft With Me

WIP update

Ok, I finished the block (like I said, it was sewing one straight line)
I also did most of the duvet cover. The blanket I'm putting inside of it is at my friends house right now. I'm actually going to sew it inside and tie it so it's a new blanket altogether.

Also- last night I started an ABC book for Juliana for Christmas. I got the inspiration here. Her drawings are STUNNING and beautiful. My paintings are very elementary and a little on the cheesy side, but hey, she won't care, right? Here's what I have so far

Well- I am going to my mom's tomorrow and I *hope* we can figure out her serger so I can finish my shrug the easy way. Otherwise I have to do real sewing *yikes*! Wish me luck. ANd keep posting your WIPS here or on the flickr group.

WIP it, WIP it good

Today I need to work on some WIPs. Mostly so I can get started on Christmas gifts.

Here are my WIPs:

Red Peasant Shirt (sewing, elastic)
Rattle Block (sewing one side closed)

Aprons (1 for each of the older kids- just needs to be sewn)

Duvet Cover (everything, but it's just a simple sew)
Old Sweater Shrug (Hemming, adding a button and a button hole)

Alright, WIP with me? Then post links to your blog or picture to share! You can also join in here

I finally did it!!!

I made a shirt today! I found THIS tutorial and decided, what the heck, why not? So I grabbed some material. Now- I know better than to do first time clothes with anything but regular cotton. But all I had was this fairly heavy silky/polyesterish- I don't know what it is exactly. So I thought, eh, if it doesn't work, I"ll use it for a skirt for Juliana eventually. I followed the tut prety much, then went to try it on. It was a tent. I looked like an old lady that owns 25 cats and lives in a dump. It was awful! Nothing wrong w/ the tut, I just used WAY too much fabric was all (I didn't measure everything exactly). So I decided to take it in and after taking it in like 3" on each side...... still a tent! So I went upstairs and asked Roger to do some pinning where I wanted it to fit. He did and I sewed up the adjustments. I bought some ribbon tonight to use for a belt (I have some D-rings here at home I need to spray paint gold). I've been wearing the shirt since like 3PM but every time I passed a mirror something just didn't sit well. I don't know if it's the line straight down the middle.... DH and BFF said that it was cute and I don't *think* they'd lie to me. Tonight it hit me though- it was the neck. There's so much fabric between my neck and my breasts that they look saggy to me. So I think soon I"m going to adjust the neckline. Either square it, v it, or scoop it. I just need a little less fabric there.
Anyway- here it is- I'm very proud of myself!

You can't see, but there's kind of darts on the side so it's tighter by my breasts and looser by my waist.

Also, I made a couple hand-painted cards last night.

I'm doing it for reals!!

Ok, first announcement, I finished something!!!! Two things actually!
Here is one of the kids' neck pillows. Perfect? No, but it works (mostly)

The next is Juliana's "summer" blanket. I needed something thin because she INSISTS on taking a blanket to bed. So I made this easy sew, no batting, "quilt"

I tied the ties on the ponies' tails because I wanted it to be kinda playful

AND- I'm even working on a new project, get this, for myself. I know, I know- didn't think it would ever happen, but under Kristin's tutelage and with random fabric that didn't cost me anything, I finally got the guts to try. Kristin did all the math for me in converting this tutorial to adult. She's also going to help me take it so it ends up being something cute like one of these shirts from Torrid, Fashion Bug, and Lane Bryant. She said it's just adding elastic under the bust. I seriously wouldn't have the guts to even TRY making any, any, any clothes for myself without her. So a big huge THANK YOU KRISTIN. Hopefully you'll see the end result *soon*
 

Conquering Fears

I figured out why I haven't been sewing, crafting, or crocheting lately. I'm scared witless! I've discovered that if something turns out not quite right I get really discouraged and it's hard for me to pick it up again. I finished Vaughn's afghan and thought it was pretty dang neat till I saw it from a distance and, just like everyone else's first afghans, it has a funky side. I want to do it again, but I don't know how to ensure correct edges!

I am inching closer and closer to trying to sew a couple simple items of clothes from the tutorials on Kristin's blog. I'll use fabric that I have just sitting here. *SCARY* but I really really want to. I just want someone holding my hand and talking me through it step by step. I need a tutor! :D

Anyway- I do plan on adding more here. I'm tempted to do what Kristin's doing and do one creative thing a day....

I started!

Kristin inspired me to get craftin' again. I'm not done w/ the projects. Actually, I'm done w/ one of them....

First, she made some adorable bean bags and matching bags to put them in. I went through my stash and got the bags done, but not the beanbags. They are sewn together, but not filled yet.

I also decided my kids need neck pillows- you should see them attempt to sleep in the car. It's sad. Well, my printer wasn't working, so Kristin told me to "wing it." Very scary concept for me, but I tried anyway. This is what they looked like before I stuffed them.

More pictures of Vaughn

I've had a request for more pi cs of Vauhn. I had been waiting to do his photo shoot, but he's not very cooperative when it comes to that. He always picks picture time to be fussy. SO here are a few and I PROMISE I'll be crafting again soon.
As a matter of fact, I hope to make 5 I Spy books this weekend. I want to sell them at the yard sale we'll be having before too long.

Anyway- back to Vaughn ok, it's not letting me add anymore. Apparently only SOME jpgs are valid formats.....

He's Here!

Ok, so he's been here for over a week now, but I'm just now getting it on my blog- sorry for the delay.

Vaughn Edwin was born Tuesday, June 17th at 3:00 PM. He was 8 lbs 9oz at birth (8 lbs even on his day 2 checkup) and 20 1/2" long

Out of the 3 kids, he's got the biggest nose, but the smallest ears. He has dimples, which I'm ecstatic about!

Story of birth:
So my induction was set at 6:30 AM. We went in, they started my IV (strep b positive, so I had to have anti-biotics). I called Kristi, my doula, who I adore, and she came over. The nurse checked me and told me I was at a 2 and she was a little concerned that the baby wasn't head down. That was bizarre to me because I know he HAD been head down at one point. Anyway- the reason he was turned was because he had so much fluid that he'd just kind of float wherever. The Dr. came in and turned him- talk about ouch- and had me wear a velcro vorset thiong and stay on my right side. Then they started pitosin to see if my contractions would help push him into place. Having Kristi there helped a ton! She massaged my feet, made sure I was comfortable, explained everything the dr's said or did, and just reminded me to relax.
Well, thanks to the pitocin, Dr's turning, and prayers from LOTS of people, Vaughn did what he was supposed to and finally dropped. The Dr took that opportunity to break my water (my first time feeling it). I told him I'd see him in about an hour and to run when they paged him. The first half hour contractions got stronger, nothing I Couldn't handle w/ Kristi there doing leg presses. Then when the contractions started getting SUPER hard and right on top of each other, I endured a few, then told Kristi that they hurt so bad that I couldn't just sit, so she got out the squat bar and told me that on my next contraction to just hang on to the bar.  I could feel him as soon as contractions were next to each other, but I was told not to push yet. As soon as they got out the squat bar, I used it and he was totally there. The nurse was yelling at me to stop (yeah, how do you stop when you feel like he's hanging out of you?) Roger, Kristi, and the nurse had to force me back onto the bed (although I really don't see it as "forced" because I am pretty sure they were gentle- that part is kinda blurry). I look up and there are, I kid you not, 8 people in the room. Kristi helped me lay back and told me that he was here, so I pushed- just once. Then I could hear him cry. No greater relief of pain than hearing your baby cry. I tell you, though, feeling him come out- it was pretty dang cool. Just then the Dr. came in. First thing he said was, "I swear I ran!" He was funny. I almost sat up straight when they told me that I didn't tear and that he was 8lbs 9 oz.

The rest of my hospital stay was great. The Dr. apologized for missing the birth (they didn't call him soon enough). I"m proud of myself for going no epidural (doesn't mean I won't in the future). It was also very neat to see the Lord's hand in all of this.

The night before, I was freaking out, so I asked Roger to give me a blessing. In the blessing, he said that I'd be able to do it on my own and that I had family as a support and help. He also said that the baby would be ok- in exact words, that he would take breath. When he had said those things, I figured "on my own" meant w/out an epidural. I told my mom that as we left. Then, when they came and turned him, they said that if he didn't turn, I'd have to either come back next week or have a C Section. I called my mom in tears and she said, "it all makes sense now. He'll turn 'on his own'" Everything went better from then on out. I am so, SO blessed to have the family support that I have.

Scrap Happy

 I got back into digi-scrapping- mostly because I realized I have a TON of pages for Xander and like none for Juliana. So these are all of Jules, but I thought I'd share!

Most of the actual layouts are from Close to My Heart idea books. I have a hard time coming up with those on my own. If you want to know where I got any of the papers or embellishments, ask which page and I'll find it for you.
 

 

Self Shadow Portrait

Took this pic of myself today. I have 17 days left.

And just FYI, I would be expecting a few more things from me here in the next 2 weeks. I"m getting a little crafty again!