This Week's Ups and Downs

This week has been quite fun...

Monday I went to Sam's Club, and Tuesday the grocery store. Typical stuff right?

Well, Wednesday, I woke up at 5:30 and went downstairs to switch the laundry around. Squish is what I heard/felt with my first step into the basement. Mind you, earlier Wednesday morning it was raining cats and dogs. I mean, the kind of rain that if you were standing out in it it would beat your clothes off (ha ha, sorry, inside joke... post for another day). I then proceed to walk, still squishing, into the laundry room where there is no carpet. My door creates a wave... oh happy day...This is what my living room into the dining room looks like now... uhh, and I just got everything organized after moving...

Now, there are still 3 dehumidifiers in my basement drying it out as best they can. We still need to replace the padding under our carpet once that is done, and install a sump pump. Why would none of the previous owners of our home install one in the 33 years since this thing was built. Seriously??? It does rain in Delaware, and quite a bit at times.

Thursday rolls around to an adventure to storytime at the library. My 2 boys start beating each other in the middle of it, and of course won't stop until I get up and grab ahold of them and threaten. This feels like only the beginning of it too...

Friday is finish up some Christmas shopping morning! Woo hoo, just a little candy and I'm DONE!

Ah yes, and Saturday, lovely Saturday. Today is the second Saturday of the month. What does that mean you ask? Well, that means that I get to go, without ANY children for the morning!! I LOVE my kids, but once a month, I KNOW I will get a small break. Everyone needs one of those right? I get to go to Lil' Country Quilt Shop for Show n Tell from 9-10 am, then off to the Quilting group at the Middletown Library from 10-12. Oh it was wonderful!
I bought my very first Honey Bun!!! I'm so very excited to use it, I plan to make doll quilts for my nieces, hopefully by Christmas. Definitely a tutorial soon to come. There was also this extremely beautiful quilt on display that they will be doing their quilt-block of the month thing this next year for. I mean Beautiful, so of course I bought the pattern :)Here's the Honey Bun I got. It's Moda, Spring Magic line. The Quilted Castle also has it for sale.

MIA Hiatus

Yes, I admit it, I have been MIA from the blog-o-sphere for almost a month now. sorry. I guess I was feeling like I was a little addicted... can you blame me? I could sit and read blogs for hours, literally. I can honestly say that I have wasted quite a few nap-time in my day just reading and clicking away. And, by wasting, I mean collecting tons and tons of awesome ideas and brainstorming ;)

However, I have been trying to be as productive as possible!

So, I have realized that there is definitely one thing I LOVE about moving, and that is organizing. Everything needs to find it's new home! I love it!

Another thing about moving is that one has a lot of this problem:


Therefore, I have been piping away at curtains, and now that we've had our first "snow fall" I need to get the curtains up in the bedrooms ASAP!!

We have also got up most of our holiday decorations: the tree, our doorknob hangers, a couple snowmen, you know. I have to say I have come across quite a few holiday items that need to be made for my house!

And, finally, my fireplace has been fixed!!! Yay!! Needless to say, there have been just a few (wink wink) nights that I have sat by my fire instead of plugging away on my blog. Oh the joys of colder weather.

Hot cocoa, here I come!

Friday Find: Vintage Christmas

I know I usually do a Friday Find that is one crafter, site, or organization, but I wanted to spice things up a bit.

I love vintage Christmas stuff! I mean love. I have some vintage push pin ornaments, and they are a close second to all the ones that my kids have made that go on our tree. I am sure that throughout the years I will be adding more to my collection.

My First Custom Order

I can't even describe how excited I am. I just finished my first custom order, that isn't a family member or friend! Yay!




Remember this hat? Well, I guess someone loved how it looked and asked me to make one. Mind you, the hat itself that I had I actually bought at a store, but making a pattern for it was way fun!! I love it so much, and had so much fun making it, that I do believe I will be making more and selling them in my shop! I have even considered selling the pattern, but that means I have to make it make sense to other people :)

Thanks soooo much Nancy for being my very first internet custom order-er, I think I will just have to name the hat after you, or your daughter if you would prefer :)

4 Square Knitted Preemie Blanket Pattern

Since I will be attempting to organize a Greyson's Gifts Charity locally, I figured why not come up with a super easy pattern to knit up a Preemie-sized baby blanket. Here it is:


This pattern is for a 12 inch premie-sized baby blanket.

Materials:
-Lion Brand Cotton Ease Yarn in White, 1 skein (or any other yarn with same gauge)
-Size 8 knitting needles
-scissors
-yarn needle

Ready, Set, Relax...
Cast On 60 stitches. Knit 4 rows.

Rows 5-40: knit 30 stitches, purl 27 stitches, knit 3 stitches.

Rows 41-75: knit 3 stitches, purl 27 stitches, knit 30 stitches.

Knit 4 rows. Cast Off. Weave in ends. Ta-Da!

Edited to add: I would LOVE to see any blocks/projects you create with this pattern! Feel free to join & share in my Flickr group: Your Lyanna Jean Designs.

Just a reminder, my patterns are for your personal use and enjoyment only. They have not been tested, so if you find an error feel free to let me know at lyannajeandesigns@gmail.com.

Featured Here:

lawsofknitting.com/knitting-patterns/preemie-knitting-patterns/

Friday Find: Can-O-Worms Composter

I know this isn't really a crafty thing, or even a pretty thing that everyone needs one of just because it's pretty. No, this is something that has been in one of my Kaboodle wishlists for quite sometime, and now that we are homeowners, this beaut may just be entering my backyard soon.

This is the Can-O-Worms Composter. How stinkin' cool is that! I think that the one thing that truly sold me on this item is that it advertises that it is odorless, oh a word that I really really like considering I have 3 in diapers, still...

On the other hand, could you really imagine keeping this thing in your kitchen?

The website that sells this is Abundant Earth. They have tons of other cool stuff made from recycled materials like: plastic outdoor furniture, animal sculptures, and even super cool tire swings.

Friday Find: One Pretty Thing

This one is for anyone who likes to craft, how-to, brainstorm, etc., etc.

I love love One Pretty Thing! Can I say love just one more time??

Each day, and sometimes more than once, this site has an entire page of DIY goodies. That's right, EACH DAY! Their pages have themes too... oh the goodness...

I really wanted to give an example of their goodies, but don't want to steal any of their graphics, ideas, whatnot. With that being said, you need to check out their site!!!

Wow, busy isn't the word...

I forgot how incredibly time consuming moving is. {understatement.} The endless sea of boxes that grows and grows waiting for moving day, then another endless sea of them awaiting you each day as you wake up until everything you own has found its new home.

Needless to say, I have been busy. Want to see what I have been up to??

Painting the boys room, just envision a white chair rail where the horrible "line" is between the top and bottom of the walls. I really love the colors that we choose!!
Watching my baby girl learn to roll over from her front to her back. Why is my baby growing so fast???
Catching my 3 1/2 year old with my camera, under the dining room table, hiding like always. Like his picture??
7th Birthday Celebration! Yay for cake!!!

Trip to Coleman's Tree Farm for pumpkins, gords, popping corn, and apple cider. FANTASTIC!!! ooo, I got a "cooking" pumpkin too. Very excited about making a homemade pumpkin pie- definitely post more on that one!Oh how I love the fall...

Friday Find: PickYourOwn.org

This site I chose for this weeks Friday Find isn't all that pretty, fancy, or interesting. But, it is AWESOME!!

Pickyourown.org is a website that has tons and tons of information on getting and storing local produce.

You can search for local farms all over the USA here.

You can find tips and information on freezing or canning here.

They even have tips for picking, what books to reference or buy, and where to find canning equipment and supplies.

I love this site, especially since if I go to visit family, I can even find farms near them!

The Happy Birthday Giveaway Winner is...

Congrats to jenni!!

Her comment was:

jenni said...
Happy Birthday!!

September 14, 2009 8:29 PM

You've won your choice of item from my shop, not including quilts.

We are OFFICIALLY Homeowners!!

There it is, our house.

We want to improve a lot on the outside, as well as the inside. So, I'll have plenty to blog about!

Yay house!

Friday Find: Greyson's Gift- Crafters Needed!

The woman behind Greyson's Gift explains it best:

~Posted by Meryntha~

"I am looking for your help. Hospitals all across the country are in need of small, very small, baby blankets. In cases of fetal demise, babies are so tiny, even the smallest nursery blanket is much too big to wrap around their tiny bodies.

I know how parents feel when they are presented with their tiny baby, for the first and last time. Having to deal with a large blanket that doesn't fit, is a distraction. And, unnecessary.

If you can sew or crotchet/knit, would you please help me to supply blankets for these mothers?

My doctor informed me that 30% of all pregnancies end in fetal demise!"


I came across a fellow blogger who found this service project, her name is Kari over at UCreate.

I know that I usually post my Friday Finds about a crafter, or website, but this week I felt that this charitable service project was definitely post-worthy!

This woman's story is one that, for some, is all too close to home, and yet for others, they can't even imagine. I fall into the can't even imagine category, and I am thankful continually for that. But, for all those women who have had to go through something like this, I just want to say, you are amazing and strong!

Intimidated by my Mailbox

Today, for the first time in a long time, I was intimidated by my mailbox.

It's not because I'm waiting for my college acceptance letters (that ship has sailed for now), I'm not anxiously awaiting a wonderful gift of money. No, nothing like that. I am waiting for a verdict, a ruling.

Anyone who has had to battle for custody or 'residency' of a child knows exactly how I am feeling this week, especially today.

I went to court last Friday, unrepresented legally, but with all the love and support I could get from my Heavenly Father. I was prepared and without fear, prepared until I heard "you will receive my ruling within the next week."

uuhhhhh, really?!

It is so hard to be intimidated by a completely inanimate and non-living thing. I am not even sure why it is the mailbox, why aren't I intimidated by the judge? Maybe it's because I know he's human and can be moved by the Holy Spirit.

So, for now, I will 'happily' be intimidated by only my mailbox.

Friday Find: Bugga Bugs

First I would like to apologize for no Friday Find post last week. Since it was 9/11, I decided to treat it as a holiday day and remember. Thanks for understanding.

With that being said, I am so very excited about this week's Friday Find!

Have you seen all those copious amounts of adorable felt food toys around? Well the people behind Bugga Bugs has thought of it all!! They offer patterns for tons and tons of food items, toys, and even kitchen goods too!

I think I'm in Denial...

My husband and I are buying our first house! yay, right?! Well, I think that a part of me is in some type of denial... I mean, really, I am buying my first house, some one pinch me please.

I have been getting rid (giving away) things that we are not using anymore, but that is only because I now have 4 children instead of 3. I need all the room I can get. But, when it comes to boxing stuff up, I really need to get moving! I know I can go get boxes from good ole Wal-Mart and local grocery stores that they will just be recycling anyway.

But, how on earth to I get motivated to move?? Don't get me wrong, I can't even tell you how incredibly excited I am to paint our bedrooms, got thrift store shopping and garage sale-ing to find really cool stuff to reinvent into something we will love and use. And even fall in love with moldings in my house.

BUT... I still have to pack up EVERYTHING that I own, and EVERYTHING that my kids own, and most of all, EVERYTHING that my dear husband owns.

Dear Lord,
Please help me.

Happy Birthday Giveaway!

Today is my birthday, the 14th of September. And, in celebrating I would like to do a giveaway! So, here's what I'm giving away:

Anything in my shop that is NOT a quilt (the butterfly or appliqued one).

You get one entry for each of these:
1-Leave me a comment with what you like
2-Follow my blog
3-Fave me on Technorati
4-Be my fan on my facebook page
5-Blog about my giveaway

You get 2 entries for each of these:
1-Leave a comment with your favorite birthday memory (censored please)
2-Sport my Button

Don't forget to let me know what you would like to win :)

Almost forgot, the giveaway will be ending on September 30, 2009 at midnight. Good Luck!!

Lookin for Some Cute Halloween Decorations?

There's a super cute and adorable plaque that's being given away by the lovely lady over at Not So Idle Hands. Go Enter!!!

Friday Find: Not So Idle Hands

I came upon this site, Not So Idle Hands, looking at someone else's blog actually, but saw how awesome it was, so it's now a Friday Find!

Wow, this tutorial is pretty awesome! It shows you how to make faux make-ups for little girls. LOVE, love it!
Here's another cool tutorial she's got, i's called "Be" Blocks.

Blue Dress Refab

This is what we started with, yet another $1 find at GW. It said it was a child's size 12, I'm guessing it was a long shirt...

We tried it on my little Miss Lulu (that's her "funny" name) and the first thing that she said was, I don't like the top part with the flap (the collar), so that was definitely gonna go. Then she said, "where are my sleeves?" I, of course, said "we haven't found them yet."








First thing's first, the collar came off, and it was just the perfect size to cut in half and make sleeves! Yay.

I added some thin lacy ruffle to the collar, and just made another buttonhole with a button to hold the new collar up and over. Next, I added some ruffle to the bottom, sewing it right onto the current hem to make it appear to be a petticoat.










I really really like how the sleeves turned out. I will be doing this again!
Last step, take in the mid-section to make a waist for her, and here it is:

This 'Novel' Idea

[Warning] This post has just about nothing to do with crafting...

I decided yesterday that it was time, time to potty train. Oh goodness.

I have a 2 year old son and another son that will be 4 in December. I was trying to toilet train the 3 1/2 year old last fall, but found out I was preggers again... whole nother story.

So, our pediatrician recommended that I wait until after the new baby is born to train him. If I did it then, there is/was a large chance that he would just revert when the new baby arrived, and it would be next to impossible to train him again. errr

This morning I awoke early to go to good old Wal-Mart (by myself) and buy the basic potty chair, no cushions, bells, or whistles please (we already have one with too many parts to take apart and disinfect for me). I got two so that each boy could have their own. [Enter new potties]

Now, each boy will sit on his potty all day long. We will be watching movies, reading books, playing cars, eating, and Lord knows what else to keep them there (please help Lord!). Maybe I should bust out some felt, yarn, and yarn needles as a fun project for them. (there's the only crafting in here, sorry :)

It is now 11:30 am, and I am happy to say that they have successfully been sitting on the potty since 7 am this morning. Lots of happy dances, rinsing potties, and only a few toys to go into the dishwasher (they got potty dipped, eww).

All there is to fear now is naptime and bedtime, I have a feeling that's when the "big jobs" will happen...

Thank You JenieShell

I have been trying to figure out how to make a super cute button like so many other blogs/website have. And, thanks to JenieShell I was able to do it just now!!! Oh the wonderful things that get accomplished during naptime :)

Here's the posts I used:

Make the Button

Make the Scroll Box

I am sure I will be using this blog to make some more nifty things for mine ;)

I Got a Deal!

So, here is the loot :)

It just so happened that we were about to run out of Pull-Ups. And, even though I really would prefer to use cloth trainers with snap sides, I have just been a little busy lately and unable to make some. They are in the work-in-progress pile. Sorry, back to my big savings :)

Transaction:

2 Jumbo Packs Pull-Ups at $11.99 each---- $23.98
1 pack Textured Cotton rounds-------------- $1.29

subtotal: $25.27

Coupons:
$5 off $25 purchase from Walgreens (signed up for emails from their website)
$5 off Pull-Ups Jumbo sized pack or larger (signed up for mailings from their website)

Total: $10.27

That's right folks, I paid less that the cost of just one pack of Pull-Ups for 2 packs and cotton rounds (these were somewhat needed, and I picked them also to get over $25 for the store coupon). Go me, I was doing a happy dance when I got in the car, even called my husband I was so excited!

Jumper/Onsie Refab- Tutorial

This refab (just short for re-fabrication) is so easy, I just might look for these jumper/onsie things more often! I picked this one up at GW (GoodWill) when they were having their Tuesdays Sales in August last year, all kids summer items are $1. We're going from jumper/onsie to shirt.

What you will need:

• Jumper/Onsie that looks like it's too short for the child (this one is size 24 months, but was wide, and I'm making it for my 3 1/2 year old)
• Quilting ruler- clear, 6 x 24 inches, roughly
• Rotary cutter or Scissors
• Coordinating thread
• Marker or chalk pencil
• Double needle for sewing machine (single needle instructions in parenthesis)
  
• Sewing machine, pins, etc.

Start off by laying the garment down, making sure that all the seams are flat, and the front and back are aligned. Place your ruler as close to the seams from the button bands as possible, making sure to square the ruler with the sides of your garment. Either use the rotary cutter and cut the bottom part off, or mark a straight line and cut with scissors.
**Side note: I like to buy jumpers with stripes, as long as the side seams are matched up (like below), then all you have to do is follow the stripe all the way around when you cut without even having to measure or draw a line.**
Next, fold the bottom of the garment-now a shirt :)- up 1/4 inch, and again 1/4 inch. This makes sure that the raw edge of the fabric is securely sewn under. And, pin. With stretchy t-shirt material, I like to pin a lot so that you are not trying to re-adjust while you are sewing, that will give you a wavy finished edge, not so pretty.
After you pin, you thread your double needles with the coordinating thread, and sew with the right side of the fabric facing up. (If using a single needle, I recommend sewing it with the wrong side facing upwards, and threading the bobbin with the coordinating thread). I like to use white thread as the thread that will not be seen, since I have tons of white and much much less of colors.
Ta-Da, you're done!

Friday Find: Deal Seeking Mom

Yes, I know there are a ba-gillion coupon and savings blogs out there, but I have just recently found this one, and am quite fond. It is the Deal Seeking Mom blog.

This blog has tons of stuff, from indexes of coupons (here) to even matching up coupons you can print from them to the weekly adds of local grocery stores (here). There is even a section/link to free samples you can order from various companies. Can you say awesome?

Not only that, but this site has coupons ranging from Victoria Secret to Go-Gurt. Now, what mom doesn't need a little of both those things ;)

Fun Baby Hat

I had this hat from when my boys were little. It was rather gender neutral, and a little boring for me to have my cuteness of a baby girl wearing it. So, what's a girl to do?? Make some yo-yos! It literally took my about 15 minutes to make these 2 yo-yos from some scraps and sew them on. Instantly better :)

Friday Find: Pogibabies

I saw this hat quite a while ago and fell in love with it. I even asked the shop owner if she could make it in my size, but babies only :(But, now that I have another little girl, I can promise I will be buying one of these!!

Check out her shop, Pogibabies, she's got some awesome stuff.

Friday Find: Bakerella

Oh my goodness. I know that I posted about her Pie on a Stick recently, but seriously, I think I need to make just about everything this woman blogs about!! I do believe I have found someone who has a love for pound cake just about as much as I do. Whomever is behind Bakerella is simply genius!

Just look at some on the things she hast posted about:These "meals" are cupcakes, brownies, and cookies!! I WILL be making these soon (and gaining at least 5 lbs. making/devouring them).

If this were my blog, and I was anywhere near this talented in the desserts arena, I think I would weigh like 300 pounds, and I am not kidding...

Booster Car Seat Cover- Tutorial

Ok, those of us that have bigger little kids know about these, and how incredibly ugly they are. One gets about three to five choices of what kind of fabric to choose: black, princess, Dora, cars, and maybe a boy cartoon figure. So, in other words, all really ugly/kiddy fabric.I decided that enough was enough, so here is a tutorial about how to turn it into one of these (yay!):

What you will need:

• Car seat cushion
• 3 strips of fabric about 19 inches by 5 inches
• 1 1/4 yard of 1 inch FOE or 1 yard of extra wide double fold bias tape
• thread, sewing machine, pins, scissors, etc.

I am using a Cosco brand car seat, so if you have a different one, this may go a little differently. Take the middle fabric and lay it right side up in the middle of the cushion, next lay one of the side pieces on top with the right side of the fabric facing down, pin in place. Following the seams already on your car seat, sew the 2 layers of fabric to the cushion. Leave about 1/2 to 1/4 of an inch unsewn at the bottom of the cushion, or the part that goes on the front of the car seat.

















Next, open the fabric that you have just sewn onto the cushion so that the side piece you just attached is right side up. Baste this side piece to the edging of the cushion.Lay the remaining piece of fabric on the middle fabric and pin in place. Again, following the existing seam, sew the last side piece to the cushion. And, again, leaving between 1/2 and 1/4 of an inch unsewn at the bottom of the cushion, or the part that goes on the front of the car seat.

















Again, open the fabric you have just sewn so that the side piece is right side up, and baste to the edging of the cushion.Sew the cover fabric to the cushion at the top end, or the end that goes at the back of the car seat, trim.
Fold the fabric under on the bottom, or the part of the cushion that goes on the front of the car seat. Do a blind stitch to secure this fabric, since this part will be visible. (I don't have a photo of this because I didn't realize it would be visible until I put it all back together... oops. So, you can see a blanket stitch on mine in the front of the cushion.)

Finally, sew the FOE or bias tape over the sides of the cushion, and TA DA!