Been doing a lot this week! I can't believe it's finally the last week of school. My mother's birthday was on Monday so I drew her a little cake on a card.

I also started making all these pillows. The Bethlehem Star pillow is for me. I made the star over a year ago just to see if I could. I had grand plans to make a picture entirely sewn out of fabric that would incorporate the star. Then I realized I wouldn't want to hang something like that on my wall! So finally, I have a completely normal, completely lovely accent pillow for my couch. And it has a little lace on the back. Just 'cause. The two pillows in the bottom picture are some I made for my mother's birthday. It's an amazing Schumacher fabric. It was so beautiful - it was quilted with tiny little diamonds, and over this beige background, was stitched a "center border" motif with loops and flowers. I placed the center of the motif more on the side on my pillows so you could see some flowers too. My sister gave me a great big sample rectangle and it all went on these pillows.

Here are some shots of the bulletin board I painted several weeks ago. It's very aqua. I'm still getting used to it. I gave myself a little pat on the back for choosing a reddish orange for the accent. It's just out of my comfort zone. I like that bit. I'm sorry the pictures are so small. When I shrink them and make a tiled arrangement it helps me upload them. I drew the stencil but ended up only cutting out a few bits. I stencilled the bits on, and then added the rest by hand, like all those tiny leaves. There's a little butter-moth in the corner that ended up being covered by the calendar. This is the only spot in the house I can really put the calendar and still write on it. I'm keeping lists and a couple of bible verses on there too.

I'm so excited! On Sunday after church we are going to Dallas-Fort Worth to visit my parents (Granny & Grandfather) and my mom's dad (Papa Pete!). Papa and my Mom have planted a large vegetable garden - something my kids don't have any experience with. I am super-excited!

To Do before I go:

Finish all projects for My and Rebecca's secret project.

Sew a dress out of white eyelet (this was supposed to be for Easter, and then Mother's Day. I am determined to wear it this summer. Determined.)

Make invitations for Peter's birthday out of origami paper, blank cards, and a photoshopped Team UmiZoomi picture.

Let the madness begin. (As in crazy, not angry - hopefully!)

First time for everything...

I'm doing a giveaway today, and I've never done this before. Not nearly as exciting as it sounds - for me anyway. Lot's more exciting to win. So I'm offereing for the giveaway a funky retro trim I found at our local Pennywise. I found it on some curtains. It's not all one piece unfortunately but there's rather a lot of it. I cut the faded red curtain fabric off - trust me, no loss. And there was very little fading on this trim! It's really wide. You wouldn't be getting it except it's just not in colors I use very much: red, orange, pink, green.

I love shopping at Pennywise because they sell people's old sewing patterns for a quarter and they usually have a fabric bin! Awesome! I've picked up, this year alone some red and white striped fabric (really really big stripes) that I may make piping out of because I loved the piping on ikatbag's shortall pattern. Another score (to me) was two cute polka dot cups. I also troll the sheets and pillowcases section for those bright retro florals that are getting so trendy. Which is where I found the faded red curtains that had this wonderful super-bright trim. I just can't describe how bright these colors are. There are two lengths of about 10' each. It would work beautifully on a dress (here's one to copy from Modcloth), or on a roman blind (Little Green Notebook has a neat tutorial on how to make a roman blind from a cheap mini-blind). Oh dear. Now I wish I was keeping it. (Sigh.)All you need to do to enter is leave a comment on my skirt tutorial from yesterday (USA residents only please). Be sure that I can click on your name to get back to you, or leave your address written out (for example: patthebunny(at)fictionalcharacter(d0t)com ). Then I'll randomly generate my number for whoever comments! Here's a tip. I usually average about 2 comments. So you have a much better chance of winning than usual! Please leave only one comment. I will close the give-away on Wednesday at 9pm (CST).

Bon Chance!

Space Craft and Milk Bag

All kinds of fun going on here at my house. This craft for one. I wish wish wish I could post the link to the site where I first saw this. But I forgot it and can't find it anywhere. In my head it's associated with Celebrate the Boy but it doesn't seem to be one of their official links. Argh.James and I dismantled as many broken toys and stuff as we could find and kept all the outside plastic pieces. Then, we went to Home Depot and got some adhesive (and two cans of spray paint). We used an epoxy that came in two tubes that squirt as one. Pretty Cool. Thanks also to Robert for the advice on epoxy!
Then when his sleepover friend arrived - they played Wii. Finally I couldn't take it any more so I made them build space ships. Yes, I was more excited than they. But they were jazzed about the results.

I have also wanted to make this reusable grocery bag set. Especially the milk and meat ones. Here is my attempt. Note to self: actually follow directions next time instead of looking at the picture and thinking: "okay that looks pretty simple/easy/fun." I mean honestly how many times has that thought gotten me in to trouble? I'm pretty sure getting various body parts stuck in things, mangling clothes to make them "better" and at least one son - all had that in common.
But anyway, I'm happy with it.
I'll do better with the meat bag.
And I think it's super cool that I made the plastic fabric out of melted grocery bags!

Happy Cinco De Mayo Everyone! I have to go make a breezy beach skirt for the:

Summer of No Pants

at which I will be a guest blogger!

Merry Christmas!

This is my last blog for this year and to steal and idea from Lady Linguaphile it's only a picture blog! Merry Christmas Everyone!
Can you find:
2 scissors?
a giraffe?
gold beads?
where the time went?











How Pete brought me his apple:

Lots of Ruby Dolls from One Red Robin. I gave them to all the girls that would be here this christmas. I wonder if they'll name them?

I had an absolutely wonderful Christmas! It's amazing how we saw so many people and did so much but I don't feel totally stressed out. It's not over yet so it could happen but I'm going to have faith! Here are some pics of all we did!

From left to right: my homemade candies, our big family caroling, at the San Antonio Riverwalk...
There were also train rides, leaf-blowing, tree-house climbing, treasure-hunting, road-tripping, present wrapping, present tearing open willy nilly, xylophoning, movie seeing, and bread baking.
I'm so thankful for my wonderful Christmas.

I Ween!

No, this blog has nothing to do with nursing (that would be I Wean!).

This blog is about (surprise surprise) Peter and James!
Peter's vocabulary is expanding like, well, something that expands really fast.
We are having to watch what we say more carefully for we never know when Peter will echo us:
"fat guy?"
"cut me off?"
"can't you drive?"
and of course the ever popular stereotypical...."why?"
My favorite is when he accomplishes anything he feels pleased about (a hop, finding a letter, ramming two cars together), he celebrates a victory by shouting: "I Ween!" often with both fists in the air and tiny index fingers pointing stubbily to the ceiling.
Corrie gave me what may have been a compliment her charming back handed way (back of the hand - like a slap eh?) "Peter is the most stereotypical two year old I've ever seen."
Thank you?
Maybe her spiritual gift isn't encouragement.

I'm just teasing Corrie. You didn't hurt my feelings, I thought it was really funny.

Last week, while I was in the bathroom (don't worry this won't be gross) - I had the door locked. Which may be why Peter doesn't know the word "door". He thinks the thing that swings closed on hinges is a "doorlock". Anyway I was in the bathroom and recieved indelible proof of the reader culture that Mark, James and I are demonstrating for Pete. He began to send me books under the crack of the door.
"Here you go Mommy!"
I recieved all seven of the Chronicles of Narnia, and a pamphlet by John Piper on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.

Lest you think that I was in there for a long time (with the door locked and my 2 year old unattended)- they were all stacked next to the bathroom door, and were fired through there in a matter of minutes. It was rather exciting for me too.

I started cutting out fabric that Corrie brought me from L.A.'s fabric district. And in saying so I make this the 3rd blog (I think, unless I missed one by Barbara) about fabric bought on ONE TRIP! And I wasn't even there! I think that's cool. I decided to try and match the pattern across seam lines, so I had to cut the fabric all wonky, and not in an efficient space-saving method at all. Still, the skirt looks groovy so far.
However Peter decided that since his Mom was bent practically double on the ground doing tedious work with scissors, ruler, and pencil - this was a good time to go climb on her back! Poor kiddo. I didn't do much fun with him today. I plan to make it up to him tomorrow.

My fabric is a big bold black and white print, with funky modern flowers. It rocks! You picked really well Corrie. By the way Corrie, although you mentioned that you bought fabric, you didn't show us a lovely pic of what you got like Rachel. Tsk Tsk (I love pitting bloggers against each other!) Please remedy that!

Good night all
Lissa