Where have I been? Well, I still have been sewing and have tons of things to show, but I have been so busy that I haven't even tried blogging. But I could not resist showing my most favorite thing I have made. Ok, I say that about everything. I have wanted to make a petticoat tutu for a long time, but could never find the right material for it. Well, I finally found it. And 4 1/2 yards later, yes that is a lot of fabric. I made the perfect little skirt. Don't you just love it!!!!!

EVERYONE NEEDS A CUTE BOOK BAG!

At The Quilt Shoppe in Stewartsville, where I work. They have this fabulous book that has tons of sewing things to do for your kids. One of them was this wonderful book bag. How could I pass this up. I mean how cute is this. It is a mushroom house. It took some work, but the results were great. They do have a boy version which my youngest son wants me to make. It is a cute little robot! Since I am snowed in this week, maybe I can get a chance to make it for him.

I Don't Know Where She Gets This!!!

I can't for the life of me figure out where my daughter gets all this girlie-ness from! I am not girlie. But she wants the dresses the dress up shoes the bracelets the make-up and the ATTENTION!! My older daughter, Parker, is nothing like this. yes, I have more kids than Hadlee. I know that I always show pictures of Hadlee. It's just easier and faster making things for her.

Speaking of making things, what you think of my new skirt. It is all my idea, no pattern and I love it. There are some things I am going to fix on the next one. I can' wait to show you, just need time and motivation to get sewing. Went to Walmart today with four kids. Need I say more.

And one more thing, my camera is old so excuse the less than perfect, ok terrible pictures. Don't get me wrong it was a really nice camera five years ago when my husband bought it for me, but from all the kids dropping it, because I never did that, it has seen better days. Anyone have a great camera they want to tell me about, please do. Valentine day is just around the corner

My daughter, the one who is crying in the top picture, is OBSESSED with stuffed animals! If I would let her, the bed she sleeps in would have at least 15 stuffed animals in bed with her. Well, I decided to make her a stuffed animal. The first, the pink polka dot bunny, was a pattern I got from a book. The blue bunny was just an after thought of scraps that I had. So when I wanted to finish the big bunny and put on a face, or even take pictures, Hadlee has decided that those are hers and no one can have or touch them. i.e. the picture at the top. Loved making these bunnies!!!

Vacation Time!!!!

Over Christmas we decided to take a break and head to Colorado!!! Probably, if not, my favorite place to be. My Husband, Ryan had never been, neither had any of my kids. How excited they were to go to another state. It was so much fun!!! The three older kids all took ski lessons, or snow boarding lessons. I decided to try to learn how to snow board with my husband. It was pretty hard! But it was fun learning something new with him and being with him all day. He was a lot better than I was, and I am still feeling all the falls. My kids had a BLAST and can't wait to go back. We are already planning our next trip, where all the kids, including Hadlee will be taking lessons, and maybe one for me too. It is nice to have something that all the kids can do and like no matter what age. I just love Colorado. What is you favorite place to visit and why?

Drew age 3

Carter age 7

Parker age 9

I have one babysitter, two preschool teachers, one second grade teacher, and one fourth grade teacher to get gifts for. What to give them? During the summer teaginnydesigns had the perfect idea. Of course I decided to wait to the last minute to finish them, along with a blanket and a robot back pack I need to make. Oh the holidays brings out the best of my procrastination. In my defense we are heading to Colorado this year for Christmas and getting things ready has been a little chaotic to say the least. I love this idea of making cards. It was super easy too! All you need is some nice cards, any size and some scraps. Oh and you need a sewing machine. I just cut up some scraps and sewed them directly on the cards. Super easy, super fast, super cute. Nothing is better then getting a card that is homemade!

What more could a girl ask for!

A little over a year ago I was teaching 20 preschool kids. Christmas was around the corner and I had no idea what I was going to get my 1 year old. She had everything and with four kids space is a huge problem. I decided that I might try my hand at making a quilt. I went to a quilt shop in Stewartsville, The Quilt Shoppe to get all my fabric. On my second trip I met a young lady named Tula Pink. Little did I know who she was or what she did. She invited me to attend a Modern Quilt Guild. The first meeting I went to Tula was there and also Angela Walter, one of the best if not the greatest long arm quilter. Mind you, I had no clue what a long arm quilter was and I had no clue what Tula did. All I knew was that I had met some gals that I had something in common with and enjoyed spending time with. Fast forward to over a year and I am working at that shop in Stewartsville with some of my best friends, Angela, and Tula. How lucky am I. I am working with two of the most talented girls in the business!!!! So looking back I am so glad my kids are spoiled other wise I might of never went to The Quilt Shoppe that afternoon!

Amy Butler's Flight Bag

WOW!!! This purse was one of the hardest things I have sewn lately (besides quilts, which is a whole other blog). I am not one who likes to pin, I hate reading directions, and not really a big fan of bias tape. Well, there was a lot of pinning, a lot of reading, and A LOT of bias tape. This bag is from Amy Bulter's new book Style Stitches. It has over 26 bags in the book. Easy to hard. Kathy from The Quilt Shoppe wanted me to make a sample from the book. She picked one of the cutest, and one of the hardest bags. I was up to a challenge!! This bag is, or was my baby. I followed directions, I pinned, and even did lots of bias tape. So looking forward to making another bag! Just maybe not that one :)

As for the winner of the tutu...........drum roll please........Nikki is our fab winner!!! WHOOT WHOOT!

TU-TU TERRIFIC!!!

As many of you know I have two daughters. One who is 9, Parker, and one who just turned two, Hadlee. And they couldn't be more different. Parker as a baby never liked dolls, or dress up clothes, it just wasn't her thing. Hadlee on the other hand LOVES dolls, and dressing up. I saw these tutu's everywhere I went and thought how cute they are. Went to google and found tons of tutorials on how to make no sew tutu's, bought the material, and started making them. They are super easy and hardly take any time at all. I just love then so much, and so does Hadlee. Here is the best part.....I am giving one away. Write me a comment and then one lucky person will receive a black tutu!

I fell like I am always trying to come up the perfect saying for my blog...and end up not saying anything at all. So I am deciding just to write what I am thinking, and try not to be so cool! These bags are from Izzy and Ivy. Love their stuff! I decided that making two bags at once would be easier than just making one. One for the Quilt shoppe in Stewartsville and one for me. I was wrong. Lots and Lots and LOTS of pieceing. Did I mention that there was a lot of piecing. Over 30 for each purse. Tip of the day. If something needs to be lined iron it on the fabric before you cut it out. That way you aren't cutting forever. I love the bag though. the ruffles are so darn cute. Speaking of cute. I have made the cutest little tutu's........come visit my blog in the next day or so to see if you could win your very own tutu.

I was given this magazine from a great friend that has tons, and I mean tons, of great modern patterns. This was my first attempt at making something from the magazine. It wasn't for beginners. I'm not saying the coat was hard, but the instructions were. I am finding that everyone has different instructions to their garments, and find it very hard sometimes. But maybe that is why I love making clothes. It takes my mind off of everything that is going on, or has gone on in the day. And let me tell you with four kids.....it is NEVER ending. Back to the coat. I can't wait for Hadlee to wear it. I am thinking of making a little hat and scarf with it. What are you thoughts?

Rule for a baby is you don't put things in their cribs (blankets, stuffed animals, etc). How did we all survive growing up? Well, needless to say Hadlee has always wanted things in her crib. It started with a little baby doll, and has turned into how many things can we get in her crib and she can still sleep. For Christmas I made her a quilt. My first! She loves it. so much so that I have to sneak it out of her room to wash. A couple of times she saw me put in the washer and started crying. She was very upset that I was taking her blanket. I have had this extra material that I was going to use for a jacket or skirt laying around in my stash. Lately Hadlee has been taking it out and putting this SOFT and I mean SOFT material on the ground and pretending to sleep on it. I decided I needed to make a blanket for her. It turned out so cute and so SOFT!!!! I wish that I had a way for you all to feel this blanket is UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

It's Halloween Time!

YES, I said Halloween!!! It is only July and I have already started getting Hadlee's Halloween costume ready. It is one of the cutest things I have every made. OK! So I say that about everything I make. This is so great though because of the fabric. It is the The Ghastleys!!! I just love the little girl in the pink tutu holding a hammer. It reminds me of Tim Burton and all the crazy stuff he does in his films. It looks so cute on Hadlee but am waiting to Halloween to show pictures of her wearing it and I still have some tricks up my sleeve for the rest of her outfit. The dress is on display at The Quilt Shoppe in Stewartsville, and so is the fab fabric!!! Go by and see it and the wonderful fabric they have. Happy Halloween!!

Summer time

I have been working on lots of project....but i am finding everyone has at least three projects going at the same time. Mine is a swim bag, that I am hoping will get done before swim season is over. We go to the pool almost everyday, unless it is raining. speaking of rain...I just made this rain coat. Kathy from the Quilt Shoppe in Stewartsville, MO (love this store) picked out the material and it is hanging up in her shop as I type. It is lined, which took FOREVER!!! But was worth it. I have so many other things I need to show everyone, just have been supper busy at the pool :)

Why oh why?

Why oh why? Why can't grown-ups have naps? Why do I have to pay bills? Why do i always have to cook a good meal? (I want ice cream for dinner) Why do my kids argue over which Wii game to play? Why does my three year old fight taking a nap everyday? Why does Hadlee feel the need to eat the computer mouse (this would be the third one)? Why are my kids still arguing about what game to play....yes I am serious!!! I am typing this while they are both yelling at me about the other one not being fair? Why are they still arguing? Why am i typing about this? Why oh Why? I need a serious break!


Oh yeah......i am sewing! Working on a jacket, blanket, and tons of other things that I should finish!

I have been sewing....really I have been. I have made a couple of dresses, but they are at the Quilt Shoppe in Stewartsville. I am busy making a couple of purses too. But today I decided to make a dress for Hadlee from scratch. No pattern, no templates...just what I wanted!!! So here it is. I am very excited. It turned out really cute. I made some mistakes.....but that is the point in trying new things. The dress and fabric are so cute....but not as cute as the little girl!

Birthday Purse!

There are so many projects at my house that need to be done...besides the everyday things that I seem to fall behind in. The weather is so nice...actually it has become hot here. Spring has missed us for a while I guess. What do they always say in Missouri "what 24 hours if you don't like the weather." I changes so much here, one day jeans, the next shorts. One thing that I am very proud of that I finished today is this Izzy and Ivy purse. It is a Birthday present for my sister, I won't tell you how old she will be. Her birthday is in May, but I am not good with surprises or waiting, so I will be giving it to her tonight. I really hope she likes it!

M-I-Z.......Z-O-U!!!!

March madness is here and so is Spring....well if you call three inches of snow Spring! I didn't even realize until after I made this dress that it was MU's colors. How appropiate! So here is my little MU dress for March Madness (you will not see any red and blue dress on this blog...EVER!!!) :) GO MU!!!!!

Hedgehog Skirt!!

When I was at our last Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild I found the cutest print of hedgehogs!!! Yes...hedgehogs. Instead of thinking how can I use this in a quilt my mind went straight to "this would be great in a skirt or dress." Started working last night on this skirt...made a few changes from the pattern to suit me....and I love it. It is so cute! Who ever thought to make hedgehog fabric....too cute!!