Quick Question

Does anyone know of a good fashion sewing site? I simply adore Ravelry because I can find a pattern for anything and see what so many other knitters and crocheters are working on. I would love to find something similar for fashion sewing. Does this exsist?

Gratitude

It's one of the most important components to a fulfilling, successful life if you ask me. If you can't see and be grateful for what you have and receive then you will never find true contentment. I am desperately trying to teach this to my oldest child. Some come into this world with a  natural sense of gratitude and some come with an overdeveloped sense of entitlement. My child was born with the latter. I know that this is a problem with American youth in general but I have to toot my own horn and say that we have not overindulged with no expectations. There are very high expectations in our household. Reminders of his blessings come daily from his parents. Why can't he internalize this gratitude concept? 

A long time ago my wise and all knowing mother told me that I cannot make him understand, all I can do it continue to say it and trust that one day he will get it. I have seen that process happen. As he grows and matures, I see our hard work paying off one little insight at a time. Today we struggle. It is 9:30 Sunday morning and I am sitting in the concession area of the ice rink typing this. We will stay here for an hour and then hop in the car and go directly to the baseball field where his dad, who is the coach of his team, will be waiting to coach him on to victory. Our lives revolve around this child at the moment and that is ok. We chose to do this with him and for him but it has come at a high cost. Date nights are at the rink, all of our extra money has been pumped into his athletics. His siblings' had to forgo their extracurriculars because there is no time or money for it. I don't want him to feel bad about it because we don't, I just want him to appreciate it. I guess we'll just have to keep reminding him because I don't want to have to take it all away. But rest assured, if that is what I have to do, I will. Parenthood.... whose idea was this anyway?

In Celebration of Reclaiming Me

And to lift my sometimes sinking spirits, I hit the Nook. I haven't tackled a big project in a while. Life has been a whirlwind to say the least. Nap-time, which is my favorite time to spend in the Nook, is nearly non-existent these days. The littles are in afternoon classes now. Not my fave but what can I do? Next year when Sam is in first grade, the girlies and I will head back to mornings but in the meantime I have to work with what I've got.

Anyhoo, here is what I have been up to. I bought this book a long time ago and had yet to make a single thing. This tunic dress screamed my name and I was more than ready for a challenge.

This dress was fun. It has darts, a big center pleat and a cool collar, all of which are new to me. Sometimes a forget how good it feels to learn something new. 

Overall I am happy with this little number. I was impatient and rushed through the hem which means that I am gonna have to take it out and redo it. Oh well, one day I will quit doing that....maybe. 

I Have a Confession

I know I have apologized profusely for neglecting this blog (as well as my other one). I haven't been totally honest as to why I haven't been around. Truthfully there are probably many factors that have lead to my decline but I have decided to confess the main reason.

About a year ago I attended a social gathering with people I didn't know well or, in many cases, at all. The topic of blogging came up and, to make a long story real short, I was asked point blank "Why do you think that anyone cares about what goes on in your daily life? Why don't you just send emails to friends and family, aka the people who actually do care? " Now many of you reading this (if I even have any readers left) are fellow bloggers and I happen to know that I am not alone when I say that that very thought has crossed my own mind periodically. It's that dark, nasty voice that tries to deter us from doing anything significant or meaningful. It's that voice that makes us our own worst enemy. I have fought that rotten voice off for the 3+ years I have blogged and crafted, reminding myself to ignore it and carry on. Well that one fateful night last year was the physical manifestation of "the voice". It looked me in the eye and told me that I have no place speaking publicly. That my life is insignificant and no one cares. Sadly, that was more than I could take. I subconsciously decided to close up shop and quietly retreat back to my apparently insignificant life as a stay at home mom.

I know you all are disappointed in my inability to call an asshole and asshole and stand up for myself and blogger womankind. Rest assured that no one is more disappointed than me. I allowed this person to take my voice. Not the nasty one but the self-expressive one. The one that makes me feel alive and connected. The one that allows me to vent all of this creative and occasionally stifled energy and, in turn, makes me a better mother...a better person.

Over the months that I remained quiet, a very sad thing happened. I lost my voice. I forgot all that makes my mind race and my pulse speed up.  Last week I realized how much I missed this little outlet of mine. Sharing about my family and daily activities is fun and I love that my distant relatives and friends can stay in the know but what I missed most was sharing me. My thoughts, my hardships, my isms and revelations.  I processed my thoughts this way and, most importantly, I received good, positive feedback from people who cared.

So here I am, confessing the truth and standing up to say...no yell

MY LIFE MATTERS. MY THOUGHTS MATTER. I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO SAY WHATEVER I WANT TO SAY IN AS PUBLIC A PLACE AS I WANT TO. YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ IT...HECK YOU DON'T EVER HAVE TO COME HERE AT ALL. BUT IF YOU DO, MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN. AMEN

Lovely Flower Tutorial

I just adore tutorials. I have learned most of what know in the craft department from online tutorials. When I stumble upon a great one, I must pass it along. This one is great!

This flower was so quick and easy to make. Most of what I do the first time is less than perfect but this tutorial was pretty fool proof.

I used felt for this first go round but I can't wait to try fabric. The center is a pearl seed button.

I attached the rosette to a trusty bend and snap barrette. You know I love those because I can put it in their hair, on a crochet hat, on a head band....even on a scarf or bag.

The answer is yes, I have tortured my poor baby girls (ok not so much babies anymore but forever babies to me) by making them try this on in every possible way. You can see that Gracie is ecstatic about it.

Summer Recap Volume 2: The Fair

Oh my, just looking at these photos make me wish I could rewind... replay. This was another magical time for us. My sister in law, Jaysi, and her 2 boys came to stay for a full week. We were on the run trying to pack in memories and adventures. This was tops in my book.

Our little town hosts a fair every summer. It is small and manageable and so much fun for all!

There are rides for the little kiddos and rides for the big one. Imagine having a fair that is full of all of your middle school buddies. Meeting that girl you have had your eye on and riding the ferris wheel with her. Not that my big boy would share all of that with me but I can only imagine what those long days at the fair involved.

That is what the magical memories of childhood are made of. Riding your first roller coaster with your best cousin by your side.


And remote control car races. Come on....doesn't get any better!

Summer Recap Volume 1: The Beach

School starts tomorrow. I am not ready...at all. Jack is off to a brand new school, same district but the new middle school has been completed. I am so excited for him. I am hoping that all the hard work he did last year will continue. Fall baseball begins tonight. Nothing like jumping in with both feet!

Sammy is off the kindergarten tomorrow. I can't even discuss that. I am NOT ready. He is more than ready but his poor mommy can't handle these kids growing up so fast. My girl friend pointed out why this is so hard for me yesterday. I am terrified to start this school ball rolling because it is a slippery slope. You send them off to kindergarten and when you turn around, they are teenagers. I know everyone says that but it really is true (*sniff, sniff*).

Before we can jump into the present, I have to recap the summer. It was magical and wonderous. We had adventure after adventure. Our week in Michigan was definitely a highlight!

My littles are growing up a mile a minute. They jumped on the jetski and didn't want to get off.

I even convinced my my mother in law to go for a ride. The real ride came when she finally relented and let her son drive her. It was a blast!!

Grandpa and girlies.

This is what hard work at the beach looks like. Our men were quite proud.

Babies in the sand...doens't get any better in my opinion!

This was my preferred way to spend the day. I was even brought a frosty adult beverage a few times. Perfection.

Anyone who has spent summertime in Michigan knows that ice cream on a near daily basis is a must. Diet? What diet?

Boys.

Girls.

BLISS!