Early Birthday Present

You have probably noticed, I have not been sewing much lately.  There is a very good reason, I have been scrapbooking.  

Three years ago, after Paige and Jesse were married, I made her a scrapbook of all the events leading up to and including the wedding.  This was part of her birthday present.

Erin reminded me of this fact and her birthday is January 1st.  About the first of November, I got busy on this project.  Paige had one album and Erin ended up with three.  I kept wondering why it was so different and then I remembered.  Paige's wedding photographer supplied us with over 700 photographs.  Erin's photographer took many photos but gave us just over 300.  For Paige's album, I ordered the best photos and the ones I wanted for the album.  For Erin's, I ordered all 300 pictures.

So here are the 3 albums

• the first is events leading up to the wedding (showers, dress fitting, decorating, bachelorette party, etc.
• the second album includes the pictures before the wedding, during and right after
• the third album is the reception and opening of presents the following day.  There are leftover pages for Erin to include the honeymoon pictures.

I could not wait to give Erin these scrapbooks, so today after Christmas brunch, I had her open these three presents early.

This afternoon I started on crib sheets for grandson, I just need to get some 1/4" elastic to finish.  I need to make a pillow and these cute hanging book displays

Merry Christmas.

Winner of the My Memories Software

There were 7 comments but 2 comments by one person so I used 6 to generate a number at random.org

The winner is......................

Congrats, Maxine email me so I can get you the information.

My Memories Software

I was contacted by My Memories Digital Software to try out their software.  The digital scrapbooking software helps you create scrapbooks, cards, calendars and other items.  A week ago, I downloaded the scrapbook software and started to work on a couple of projects.

I created a scrapbook page about my recent visit with Lynne of Wonderfully Made and I used a bit of her post from our meeting on the page and a picture of her front porch. 

Great ric-rac trim detail included in the scrapbooking software

For a second project with My Memories Suite I made a Halloween inspired project

I really enjoyed working with this digital software package, it includes many layouts, trims and fonts and more.  It is easy to use and there are several videos and tutorials on My Memories Blog

My Memories Suite has offered a great special for the readers of this blog.  Use this code

STMMMS17670

 for a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!)

Now for a really good part they are going to give one lucky reader of my blog the My Memories Suite software.  To be entered for this drawing head over to My Memories  site and take a look around.   Leave a comment on this blogpost and tell your favorite digital paper pack or layout or tell how you might use this software if you were the lucky winner.

I will draw a winner on September 28th, good luck.



Christmas Planner and Scrapbooking

Now that Meredith's room is complete (and thanks for all the compliments, greatly appreciated) I have been doing a bit of scrapbooking.  Behind is what I am, that is for sure.

This morning while reading my blogs, this wonderful idea for a Christmas Planner was featured.  I knew right away I wanted to make at least three and the first one I finished tonight.

This one is for Paige, my planner and organizer.  She takes care of all our Black Friday shopping needs.

The twins and I went to a new to us scrapbooking store on Saturday and they had paper covered boxes.  Kaitlyn wanted to make these and we bought the supplies for two.  This one is for Paige, part of her Christmas from Kaitlyn.

Here she is with her creation:

 

Not sewing but doing lots of stuff

I haven't posted in awhile so here is what I have been doing:

1. Planting two hydrangea bushes, these are the Endless Summer ones and I purchased the smaller pots at Home Depot.  Hydrangeas all summer long would be amazing.  Think of those big blooms in vases in my house, fingers crossed.

   2.  Planted two new hostas which lead to separating some of my other hostas and weeding the said hosta bed.  This picture is not my garden but the colors are gorgeous, aren't they.

3.  Cleaning the pool and the house, tons of fun.  Also, sealing the deck.  More fun.

4.  Track is over, school is out tomorrow, need to go buy more groceries for the girls to go through in one day! Not exactly one day, maybe two.

5.  I was going to sew up my last piece of fabric, a denim, which was going to be a jacket like Lynne's, which is gorgeous but decided the denim was a bit too heavy and I would save it for jeans.

6.  Fabric buying (3 pieces).  First piece of fabric from Fashionista Fabric.  I am thinking about a skirt, any suggestions?

7.  Next piece of fabric, possibly a blouse.  Also, from Fashionista Fabrics.

8.  One more piece, stretch cotton poplin from Fashionista Fabrics and what is not to like about navy dots.  Suggestions?

 

9.  This bundle of Paula Prass quilting cottons, planning a quilt for dd #2's bedroom apartment.  She has black furniture and really likes aqua and red.  I have always liked this fabric line.

10.  Working on a quilt from this fabric group.  Just for me, probably for the guest bedroom, change it up from this during the summer. 

11.  Scrapbooking, I am to January and feeling pretty good about that.  My big project is all of the pictures pertaining to Paige's wedding and all the events leading up to the big day.  I made one scrapbook for Paige for her birthday and now it is my turn. 

Gotta, go Kaitlyn made chocolate chip cookies and Meredith made brownies for the last day of school. I better taste test and make sure they are okay.

Another Jalie Tie Top

I made Jalie 2921 in March and wanted to make it again.  This time in a polka dot rayon knit and I shortened the ties by quite a bit.

I probably will wear it with this cardigan quite a bit.

Now off to scrapbook, I am up to Christmas 2009 but still have to do all of Paige's wedding and showers.  I did one of all the events one year prior to the wedding and gave it to her as part of her birthday.  Now I need one for me.

Ottobre Jeans Again and My Snow Day

It was a snow day here, no school and I couldn't get to work.  So, the twins and I have had a great day.  Kaitlyn baked goodies, Meredith made cards and I scrapbooked many, many pages.  I have wedding photos to do but I need stuff for that!  Then TV time, a quick nap and then I started working on my Ottobre Jeans, a TNT pattern:
I have made these three times before

Ottobre Jeans
Ottobre Jeans #2
and I didnt' get pictures for the third pair, from a dark brown denim.

I cut these out last night and started sewing tonight.

Here is the coin pocket with rivets, first time I have used those:

Then my back pocket, excuse my chalk marks.  I drew lines 2" and 3" down from the pocket top, then traced some curved lines.

I think that is all the sewing for tonight, the girls just put in a movie and I need to go watch, no I want to go watch!

Top and decorating

First off, a decorating project for under $15. See the framed letters?

.

Kaitlyn and I did that for her room for around $15. The metal letters came from Michael's in the dollar section. We left the ribbons attached, bought scrapbooking paper at Michaels, too. Then stopped by Dollar General and bought these 5x 7 black frames for $3.50 each. Came home, put them together and hung them straight on her wall. This would be cute in 8 x 10 frames, too, but we live in a story and a half house, so the walls are shorter in some of the upstairs bedrooms. Can you see that nice layer of dust on the headboard!?! Speaking of the headboard, hubby made that a couple of years ago.



I made this top in December and never photographed it. Simplicity 2850, the version with the tucks on the sleeves. I made it here
My photographer was in a hurry again, so quality is bad, click on it for a larger view. Maybe you can see the tucks.




Several other things to post pictures of tomorrow. New blouse, couple of new purses, fabric cards and a dedicated scrapbooking area. Meredith is thrilled, it is in her room and she made cards all night long.

Fall Color

Today has been a busy, busy day and right now I am taking full advantage of the fall back for the time change!!
The twins helped me clean up the flowers and the yard, so I rewarded them by a fall picnic. Not many November 1st around here are 70 degrees. We drove about 15 miles to a historic covered bridge. Here is the view from our picnic spot.




Thanks to some local citizens the bridge was saved during the floods in July. These brave people went on the bridge and removed some of the siding. Why? Well, the creek was so flooded the water was as high as the bridge, even a foot or two above the bottom of the bridge. With the siding removed, the water was able to flow through the bridge, thus saving the bridge. A bridge in the same area (over 100 years old) was not so fortunate. This picture will give you an idea of how high the water was.


Another picture of some fall color:


The rest of my day? Out to dinner with some girlfriends and a trip to Joann's with them. They got a huge laugh at this, as none of them sew but one friend wanted home dec fabric to recover dining room chairs. I had to figure the yardage!

Back home by 8 and I went to scrapbooking. A couple of days ago, I spread it out all over the dining room table. Tonight I have all the pictures in the album and have a bit of journaling to do. February to June are all in the album, now to print off more pictures. I did make an 8 x 8 album just of dd #2's graduation.

Cards and Scrapbooking

Pictures of Meredith's cards - one is a collage of different designs, and the grouping on the table is from our class. You can click on the pictures to see a larger size. My collage pictures have the flash glare, sorry. I think she did a terrific job, with the colors and decorative elements.

Bonnie, was impressed with 85 pages, well, don't be really impressed. I started scrapbooking with Creative Memories and I don't do lots of embellishment on each page, some paper, pictures (lots on a double layout), title and journaling. I just like my pictures on a book with the story about the pictures. I want the story to be saved for my kids and their kids. Also, for me, I love to look back on my pictures and the journaling, it starts a flood of memories and I just smile.

So, I am a speed scrapbooker, paper, adhesive, pictures and markers, then go to town! I do have to say for these 85 pages, I bought 3 small packages of 12 x 12 solid paper (less than $7) and then used what I had at home. I was really being creative the last few pages to find paper combinations but I did it. This would have to be the most economical set of pages I have ever done!

Obsessed?

Remember the 248 pictures I uploaded last Saturday? Well, Meredith and I pulled out all the scrapbooking stuff and spread it out over the dining room table. She made 30 cards and I did 85 scrapbook pages.

I tend to obsess over getting my scrapbooking done, especially when it is spread all over the place!!

Meredith loved her card class and is making cards for Christmas presents. She makes a variety of 10 and then ties a ribbon around the 10. I told her a perfect present, everyone needs cards.

I have been sewing 3 garments complete, well, I need buttons for one blouse. I love 2 of the garments and the other is okay but will do for work. I will take pictures as soon as I get the buttons.

Looking Back - Halloween

I haven't had to make costumes the last two years but thought I would share some of the costumes I have made in the past. These pictures were all taken with my film camera, so I did some scanning and adjusting in Photoshop.

This is my first-born daughter, Paige, 1987, 7 months old. I took a pink sweatsuit, added a yarn ball for the tail and sewed a felt oval on the belly!










Paige again, 1989, she wanted to be Snow White. The is the best pattern I could find, a bit of a Little Red Riding hood. She wore a white mask over her eyes, this is something she insisted on.











Now a better Snow White, Erin (2nd oldest), 1993.




Paige as Belle, 1993, 1st grade.




You guys are loving my couch and country decor, right?





Paige, Pink Power Ranger, Erin, a purple princess. The princess outfit came out of the dress-up box, my mom made tons of dress-up clothes for their Christmas the year before. The year, 1994, and I was pregnant with twins, so happy no costume sewing.



Speaking of the twins, their first year mom-made costume, 1996.


Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Meredith is Mickey (left), Kaitlyn is Minnie (right)


Paige is a 50's girl in a borrowed poodle skirt, Erin a cheerleader. The other baby is my niece.








1998, all costumes made by me. Erin is Red Spice from the Spice Girls, Paige is an Egyptian, a required 6th grade costume, the most expensive costume I have ever made (BTW). The twins, yes, same pattern but they were different. Meredith in the purple is a Fairy Godmother, she had a wand at one time, Kaitlyn is a princess.









1999, all mom-made again. Paige, Miss America, complete with sash. Erin a 50's girl, poodle skirt for her and for her Twinn doll. Kaitlyn is a bumble bee, this was a panel at Joann's, easy, easy. Meredith a witch. I made the bags, too.





2001, Paige wanted to be a genie (Think the TV show "I Dream of Jeannie) and so did 2 of her friends, "Mom, can you make their costumes?" So, three genie costumes, but wait, Erin wants to be a genie, too. That is 4 genie costumes, the girls helped and really made them with a bit of help from mom.


Paige Erin







Meredith want to be a Pioneer girl, lots of fabric yardage, I love the bonnet. This is one of the only picture it was still on.



Then the last year for costumes, 2005, I went overboard, since it was the last.
Kaitlyn a cowgirl complete with duster, skirt and vest. Meredith a pirate, cape, vest, and pants.





Thanks for going down memory lane with me. I have been doing a bit of scrapbooking and going through all my scrapbooks to get the pictures emphasizes the importance in doing my scrapbooks. I would have never remembered the details and dates and they are so important.

Now off to sew on my blouse.

Reminder to Self

Keep up with your photographs

5 hours of time in Photoshop and Walgreens.com (uploading photos)
6 months of pictures
248 prints later

I am caught up getting them printed, now to scrapbook them all!

I can get started after 7 tonight (that is when my pictures will be ready at Walgreens)

Simplicity 3887

I loved Jnamcd's version of this top with a knit, so I needed one. Her top is much better with the floral fabric and the solid contrast but mine will do. I cut off the long sleeve part of the sleeve pattern, so I had to draft my own pattern for that part. Not too difficult but I added way too much width at from the elbow down. I cut out 1-1/2" and it was much better. My daughter referred to my sleeves as wings. I do have the tie at the side and eliminated some of the length. I did interface the entire part of the bottom band and the tie for my knit. That was all the changes. This top is much cuter and fits better than my first one, I have since given that one to charity. I did not like the fit or the look on me. Most of it was the fabric, just too heavy and bulky.




I wore my Kwik Sew top today to work, not my favorite but it will do for work. I did get some oil on the sleeve from standing too close to the presses while asking questions. I might add a tie to the top, like my Onion top. I really should of made Onion 2017 with the pink and black fabric. What do they say, hindsight is 20/20.

Now off to a Southern Living party and then to a cardmaking class with my 12 year old daughter (the oldest twin). She loves to make cards and I have promised her a class for 6 months, finally one fit into our schedules. Oh, she has been making pencil cases with a zipper. Nothing fancy but just started cutting fabric, decided it needed a zipper. I showed her how to do it once. Last night she made 2 and I didn't even know she had gone to the sewing room. I have a sewer!!!

Scrapbooking is Current

Okay, big day here, my scrapbooking is caught up. Hurray, hurray. I even cleaned up my area, it looks so nice, as does my scrapbook. I have come to a realization, I like scrapbooking but I LOVE to look at the scrapbooks after they are done. The process is okay but the end result is wonderful.

Other happenings today, I picked up my new red chairs for the great room, so exciting for a new look. I am going to pick out some home dec fabric at Joann's for pillows and curtains. The change is wonderful, the red chairs look perfect with the denim couches. Here is a before picture of the room and I will put up an after later. Gotta get it done first!! The red chairs replaced the floral chairs. The bit of red in the picture is a slipcover I tried on the floral chair first, didn't like that at all.

Last thing for today, I have been looking at Anthropologie for ideas for my new fabric purchases, I have some nice ideas. I will share them at a later posts, have to find some patterns to correspond to the look.

Serger is in the Shop

No sewing here, darn and double darn. I went to thread my Babylock Imagine serger on Sunday and could not get the lower loop to thread. I took it to my dealer and she said it was plugged. Easy fix but 10 days for it to be ready, would you like it cleaned and serviced while it is here? Yes, please.





So while my Imagine is in the Serger Hospital:


I will be doing this craft:

Yes, scrapbooking, I haven't done this since last August. Many events and many, many pictures have been taken. Back-to-school, softball, Homecoming, Thanksgiving, Birthdays, Christmas, basketball, family outings, etc. You get the picture and I am going to get the pictures down in the books!!

My reward after doing several pages, a new purse, sure don't need a serger for that project.