2012 was

Well, it looked like it would be a rough one... and it was. It's never as bad as it could be, it can always get worse, so I'm not complaining, just talking.

Honestly, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.. but probably because I psyched myself up.

I didn't do much blogging.. even though I wanted to. even though I needed to. I just couldn't.

In January Mathew had spine surgery. [details on the before surgery info, here]
Recovery was rough [here + here]... and not just on Mathew. I almost had a breakdown.
At times I felt weak for not handling it better. But we got through it.

We also celebrated our 7 year anniversary... I'm here to tell you that the 7 year itch is real. It. Is. Real. But we made it. We survived. We're stronger than ever.

I got some good deals.. this dress for 9.99?! I mean...

You guys, Douglas started pre-school.. SCHOOL!

We had a couple of great trips home, even one to fabulous craft show that I haven't told you guys much about. I was so excited to get in, and I had such a fabulous time! But I just haven't had the time to blog about the experience.

Double rainbow!

Isabella was grumpy... I'd say about 355 days out of the year.

I found some more awesomeness via Pinterest. Including some words that help me be ok with being a crappy mom sometimes... I bared my heart and soul to ya'll. I know I'm not the only one that hears the phantom murders, screams, and carnage.

Douglas turned 5 and had a killer Michael Jackson party.. I have that blog as a draft.. forgive me.

Douglas also had his first surgery... hopefully only surgery. He had his tonsils removed, but get this.. on the SAME day as Mathew had his removed.. Double tonsillectomies... I have nothing more to say about that. It wasn't pretty.

We had a fabulous Christmas... but I have to mention Sandy Hook. I was out Christmas shopping when I heard, first I saw something about it on Facebook. Even though Facebook + I have a rocky history, when I'm out on the town I can't help but check it every so often. Everyone just expressed sadness... once I looked into it.. I had a horrible feeling. I tried not to let it get to me, I was trying to get all the shopping done that day. It was on the back of my mind though.. and after the kids were put to bed, I just lost it. I couldn't stop crying. I was so sad. I feel for the parents.... and those poor babies. What they went through... What they felt, the fear. I can't even... I'm so sorry. My heart, prayers, love goes out to all of the victims' families... no words could ever comfort you, or make it easier... I still have my babies though, and I don't think I'll ever look at them the same. though I want to run away from them sometimes, or they make me want to stab myself in the eyeball, the thought of those sweet children & what their parents went through won't leave me. I can't shake it. So I'll hold them a little longer, let them sit on my lap, let them "help me in the kitchen... love them. Because they are still here for me to love.

I think that next year we'll have to do more giving than receiving. And by we I mean the children. They were a little stingy this year. So I'll have to come up with some activities that induce more of a charitable spirit.

This last week D & M got some kind of stomach flu thing.. It lasted less than 24 hours though so that was a +... I'm thinking me & Is didn't get it because we're strong, healthy girls.. men are weak. [*wink*]

I'm kind of glad to see 2012 go... I'm really looking forward to next year. I've got big plans. Mostly plans to get my life back. To do things right, grow, become a better wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend.. a better me.

I also have plans for my little shop.. not big ones, but good ones. But for now, to celebrate the old + new year I have a little something for you.

Cheers!

The Little Craft Show

Guess. What?!

I made it into The Little Craft Show!! I am SO absofreakinglutely excited.

They. Are. Amazing! To see some of the greatness that will be at the show you can check out their 2012 vendor Pinterest board. I can't believe I made it in. With it being a juried show, I just feel so humbled.

With that said, I have lots to do before the show. I have to plan my booth, stock pile some inventory... Plan D's birthday party... Who by the way, is also going to an ENT tomorrow to see about getting his tonsils taken out. Needless to say, I wont be taking any custom orders until after the show. Then you can get your Christmas orders in.

But before I could get started on any of that, I had a project that I HAD to finish. This blanket for Jessica of JessicaNDesigns.

It's a queen size... Talk about a big endeavor.

I'm happy with how it turned out.

Though I don't plan on making any blankets of this size again any time soon, I'm so proud of myself for accomplishing it. If you crochet and would like the pattern for this Flower Patch Quilt, it's for purchase here from The Stitch House and it was pretty simple. The size of this one just made it feel a little overwhelming, but it's beautiful. I think a smaller size would be a great weekend project.

Hope to see you at The Little Craft Show on December 1st, where there MAY be a lap quilt/toddler size Flower Patch Quilt in my booth...

Margaret & Betty

When I was applying for this job a while back I had to write a letter, publish it and email it to multiple people at the company. The instructions were to write a letter about something that I had accomplished and email multiple recipients since that would be something that I'd be doing a lot of at this job. other than raising children. Though I'm not done raising mine, far from it, I couldn't think of anything that I have accomplished that could even compare to something like that. So i thought and thought and figured I'd better look at it as if I'd never had children but was still where I am today. Then I realized that I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't have children, I mean who would I have made a superhero cape for to begin with, or and adorable bear hat?! I really enjoyed that writing exercise and thought I'd share it with you. It's about how I got started sewing & crocheting, I shared a little about it on Mandie's blog last week.  Enjoy!


I am supposed to tell you about one of my greatest accomplishments. It happens that I can write to you about anything else but raising my children, I would like to tell you first though that my greatest accomplishments are my children. Even though they are still so young I am so very proud of them and
everything else just seems minute. The one accomplishment that I am choosing to share with you though is something I never thought I could or would do. I taught myself how to sew and crochet and now I have my very own “small business”.


When I was in high school I would go visit a couple of the elderly women from our church. One of the women was Mrs. Margaret, she got me started on cooking. We would make lunch and dessert and while it cooked or baked we would play card games. The other lady that I remember fondly was Mrs. Betty. Mrs. Betty had a lot of health issues so I would help her tidy up her house and then we would chat. Sometimes I would go to Mrs. Betty’s and there would be small fabric squares arranged for a quilt on her living room floor, she made the prettiest quilts. Her money was tight so all of her fabric was from old items of
clothing, yard sales, and the clearance bins at the fabric store. I admired her patience, her imagination, her creativity. One day her next door neighbor and friend had a sewing machine for sale, Mrs. Betty bought it for me. It was an old sewing machine, one that came on a sewing table. I still have it and still use the table, just with an updated sewing machine. Mrs. Betty didn’t teach me how to sew, but she sure planted the seed. Within a few weeks I had started practicing and made myself an a-line skirt. The skirt was crooked, but I was very proud of it and wore it anyway. Since then, learning from mistakes, from books, from others, from asking questions, and from the internet I’ve made things I never thought I would. This last week I gave one of my best friend’s custom bedding for her baby girl. She picked out and bought the fabric, I did the work. Never in my life did I think I would be able to make a crib bumper, a crib sheet, a crib skirt, a changing pad cover. Now I go to the store and think, “ooh! I could make that!”. I haven’t made a big intricate quilt yet, but have a small one for my son who hardly ever sleeps without it and made a rag doll for my daughter who will not sleep without it either. Another thing that Mrs. Betty really enjoyed doing was crocheting. This completely fascinated me and I actually asked her to teach me. She taught me the basics, I think that two lessons was all we had, at the end of which she gave me an instruction book on needlework that had belonged to her mother. I still have it. Now I’ve made hats, blankets & scarves.


I guess that the most mind blowing thing for me though is having my own little shop. It’s an online shop, but it’s doing well. Now, I know that I won’t become rich from it, at least not yet, a girl can dream though right? But it’s amazing to know that people I know and people I don’t even know from as far away
as Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Utah want to pay me to make something for them. People want to pay me to create, to do what I love, to do what Mrs. Betty Inspired me to do.

I feel like I'm up to my eyeballs in superhero capes

but it's a good thing..

. I enjoy making each & every single one.

focus

I love making things.. all sorts of thing.
I'm very crafty.
my friends & I started Created to sell some of our items.
I'm all over the place. if it looks easy & cute, I can make it!
because I love making cakes also I have a branch of Created named babe.E.cakes.

My friend Jenni told me that I need to pick a focus group. I need to know who I'm targeting & what I want to sell. but I like to do everything. everything!

but she's right.

I've decided to focus on "kid's accessories & mommy must-haves!"

I will offer things like:

this bag handle by make it and love it. Now that I've got 2 kids this is a "mommy must-have"

crayon rolls

tutus, hats, bows

quilts

& capes. definitely capes

I will also satisfy my "learn how to do everything" craving by making myself things & custom orders for the previously mentioned Jenni & you if you'd like. 

for babe.E.cakes I will focus on kid's parties. examples here & here. but again will also do custom orders for other events as well.

it's gonna be great! :)

a blizzard?!!

Friends, how was your weekend? I spent the weekend trying to kick this flu in the butt. Which means I spent most of the weekend in bed. However, I feel only a slight improvement. we're supposed to have a blizzard tonight so I hope to feel more refreshed tomorrow morning. The only blizzards I've ever experienced were from Dairy Queen, (hmmm.... that sounds good). Anyway, maybe it'll snow enough to go sledding or get some more work done on my 2011 spring/summer collection. Do me a favor though, will you? Please don't mention the state of my house. the only thing about being sick is that if I'm up to it I can crochet, design, scheme & dream while i lounge. 

speaking of my spring/summer collection here's something I came up with! 

isn't this a fabulous tote??! perfect for the library, groceries, kid's stuff, day at the pool, ANYTHING!

I kinda love this one so I'll be keeping it! :)

also, look for a blog coming soon. Created blogs. kinda exciting.