Merry Christmas 2009...

It's Christmas time and I can't think of anything to say.  Shocking.  I had such a wonderful holiday with my family, but I can't think of anything that really stands out to me.  The best part, for me, was just the time away from the everyday everydayness and having some special events planned, and family to visit, and children to spoil, and we are not done yet!  We still have Christmas to celebrate with my side of the family.  We celebrated my second daughter's first Christmas!  And that was very special to me.  It is one of the best things in the world to watch a baby discover new and exciting things every other second.  The look on her face was priceless as she watched everyone sitting around, laughing, opening presents, hugs, kisses, wrapping paper everywhere, etc.  I think she even said "wow" a couple times!  She only knows a handful of words, "wow" being one of them. 

My oldest daughter is four and this is the first year she really knew what was going on.  This was the first year I was able to experience her excitement BEFORE Christmas was actually here.  To see her giddiness  every time a new present appeared under the tree was so much fun!  I was so proud of her when she memorized her first Bible verse ever.  "You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." Luke 2:12.  And to actually HEAR her say it in her cute little girl voice just melts my heart every time.  As we drive through the neighborhood she recites this verse whenever she shes a nativity scene in someone's yard.  Warms my heart!  Watching my children discover and enjoy Christmas was such a joy and a blessing and will probably stand out in my mind as my favorite memory of Christmas 2009.  I guess I did have something to say!  :)

Hope your Christmas was as merry as mine was!  What was your favorite memory of Christmas 2009?  I would love to hear your Christmas stories!

Rachel

A Snowy Day and a Summery Bag...

It snowed last night!  This is the view of our neighbor's house across the street.  Oh it was so beautiful this morning to look outside and see the blue grey morning light reflecting off the snow.  We only got about an inch but that is plenty for some winter fun.

My four-year-old wanted to go out immediately... at 6am!  We eventually got her out the door and she was in heaven.  Watching her foot tracks in the snow, making snow balls, eating the snow... oh to be a kid again.

My eleven-month-old anxiously watched her play from the front door.  She wanted to be out with her soooooo bad.  But me trying to be the good mommy kept her inside to help keep her from getting sicker.  (She's had a cold and a cough for about a month now.)

It officially feels like Christmas now since it has snowed.  Speaking of Christmas, we were supposed to have our Christmas with my side of the family today before they went down to Arkansas, but my brother-in-law fell ill with the stomach flu and we are not feeling too well ourselves so we postponed it for two weeks from now.  Bummer.  Oh well, I guess I can look forward to a little Christmas after the new year then!

I made this bag last night for my Etsy shop.  I love the summery feel of it.  I think I am going to make one for myself after Christmas when I am wishing it was warm outside.  :)

Rachel

Marshmallow Bliss...

So I've seen homemade marshmallows pop up every now and then on different blogs I've read over the past few years and now I've decided to try it for myself.  I've heard that homemade marshmallows are devine, but I had never had one... until today.  All I have to say is, what in the world took me so long?  I looooove homemade marshmallows.  They are so much smoother and flavorfuller (is that a word?) than the ones in the bag and I don't even like the ones in the bag unless they are turned into smores.  I cannot stop eating them, hence the reason I am promptly going to go to the gym this morning.  Never has so much sugar been so ok with me.  I'm pretty sure homemade marshmallows are guaranteed kid zingers, but I haven't tried that one out for myself yet.  I'll need more coffee for that one.  lol

Anyway, I think I'm rambling... probably because I'm in a marshmallow stupor.  I made mine peppermint flavored with pretty red swirls on top.  Mmmmmm.  Perfect for a cup of hot cocoa, don't you think?  I had planned to make them with my four-year-old, but I didn't realize how long it takes for the boiling sugar/water to reach the "soft ball" stage.  I think it was about 20 minutes, which, in the mind of a four-year-old, it might as well be forever.  She gave up on me and made a tent with our kitchen table.  If you would like to join me in my marshmallow bliss, here is the recipe I used (thanks McAuliflower!).  You should try it!

Happy holiday making!

Rachel

Ready To Go Again...

I finally got my sewing area set up here at home! Yay! I can't wait to get started on some projects that have been rolling around in my head. Some to go to my Etsy shop and some for me and my family. I am in desperate need of some organization though. All I have right now is the space under my bed. I really want some shelves from Ikea but I don't know if we want to spend the money just yet. Aside from the organization, I feel so complete having my sewing area nearby. *sigh* Do any of you have some great small-space-sewing-area-organization tips for me? I am open to any ideas. For instance, where to store my fabric stash so that it's visible yet out of the way (and out of little kiddos hands). I don't know if that one is even possible. :)

The first project to be completed is my red wool felt teapot cozy. I started this originally to submit it to a book that was being published, but I never got around to it. My main excuse being that I was pregnant at the time. Bummer. I wish I had followed through with it. Anyway, this sweet little number is available for sale in my Etsy shop. My first item to list in a year and a half! I feel so proud. It looks so lonely there in the shop all its itself.

The embroidery pattern is free for download in my previous post!

Free Embroidery Pattern!

Here she is! I have, available for free, the pattern to my "Girl With Bird" embroidery. For the original one I used just a basic brown for her body and a basic red for her dress and the flowers. Download the pattern, print it out, and use some good ol' fashioned carbon paper to transfer it onto whatever fabric you want to stitch her on. My only request is that you send me a picture of your finished project with her in it. I would love that!

Click here to Download


Speaking of her, I have another project she is making an appearance in! Here is a picture of it in the works. I think I might try to sell this one.

Hope you all are having a great week! We are for sure, as we are all finally getting over being sick for such a long time.

Rachel

Winter Birdie Blues...

About a couple weeks ago, I was really stressed out with pretty much everything. Being a mom, a teething baby, being sick, EVERYONE being sick, a hubby not happy with work, several dreary days in a row, not even scratching the surface of my to do list and yet still being run-into-the-ground busy, etc. So after the girls were in bed I skipped on over to my in-law's house (they were out of town) to get a change of atmosphere and some peace and quiet. Believe it or not, even when the kids are in bed and asleep, you are still on "full alert" for any sounds that might come out of their rooms. You just can't stop listening... even in your sleep. Anyway, I just sat down with my sketchbook in my lap and started drawing. I've never done that before. I kind of had an idea of what I wanted to draw but I didn't know how to make it turn out the way I wanted it to. I told myself "just start drawing". So I did and lo and behold, it turned out exactly how I wanted it to. I REALLY liked it when I was finished. It took me about an hour to sketch it out. It makes me feel peaceful. I think I am going to hang it up as a reminder to get away from everything when everything starts becoming to too much (as soon as hubby gets home, of course). I felt so much more collected and calm when I came back home. I'm disappointed that no one else I show it to seems to like it as much as I do, but that's ok. I can love it even when no one else does.

Sorry this sounds so depressing. On a happier note... I am VERY excited about setting up all my sewing stuff here in the next few days! Yay! Can't wait!

Hope everyone has a great week...

Rachel

Trimming The Tree...

Here are a few pictures of our tree! It took us 3 days to put it up and decorate it. So goes the life of a family with little ones, right? Anyway, it turned out beautiful!




That's me in the ornament and my baby girl in the lower right! :)

Happy Holidays!

Rachel

I've Been Practicing...

Just because I haven't been selling anything in my Etsy shop for the past year and a half doesn't mean I haven't been sewing and making things, mostly for my house! Here are a few:


I repainted and recovered the cushion on this old gossip bench from the 50s or 60s. In case you didn't know what a gossip bench was, they would put a phone on the table and a phone book in the cubby. Fully equipped for gossiping!




This pillow is one of my favorites! I made yo-yos out of my scrap fabric (hardly made a dent) and sewed them together! It was a lot more time intensive than it looks. I honestly thought that it wouldn't take any time at all. I also made the pillow behind it with a sweet pleated ruffle.


One of the first projects I made when we moved into our new house was these fabric covered mirrors. I bought the frames at IKEA for $1 a piece, then removed the mirror, padded the frame with batting, covered the frame with Heather Bailey's fabric, and put the mirrors back in! That's it! I LOVE them!


I made these curtains for my kitchen. Not much, I know, but if you were here you would see how much they add to the kitchen. The colors of this room are yellow, red, and teal! Sorry about the crappy picture, yellow light and rainy weather don't help.

Have a great day... :)

Rachel