Pixies for Baby Mac

I've had the top of this quilt pieced for well over a month now, but for one reason or another, I never made a point to sit down and finish it. I realized the other day that Mama Mac is due in October so I better get crackin! It is made with Alexander Henry's Pocket Pixies, some Michael Miller Dumb Dots, and others from my (ever growing...) stash.

I simply cannot stop looking at these cute little pixies. The middle one is my fave!

I backed the quilt with a very simple floral cream. I would have loved to do the same dandelion fabric as the border, but I really wanted to use what I had on hand. Seeing as though the backing was really simple, I decided to add a fun little detail. I sewed on some chocolate brown ruffle trim before I added the binding. It took me a bit longer to do, but it was totally worth it.

I think it looks just darling. It may be my favorite thing about the quilt, mostly because I picture Baby Mac playing with those ruffles while she's laying on her quilt. Can't wait to meet her...

Signed. Sealed. Delivered.

My dear cousin Amy is celebrating her 30th birthday in Vegas at this very moment. Many of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and even one of my sisters went along to help her celebrate. Sadly, the Claas budget could not swing a trip to Sin City at this time. Disappointing? Yes. End of the world? Not so much. I took Amy to Drawstring Studio to pick out some fabric so I could sew up some goodness to make up for the fact that I wouldn't be celebrating with her and the rest of the fam. Hours later, she decided on this Michael Miller fabric...okay, it was really only a half hour later, but really? That girl takes a loooonnnng time to decide what she likes! Using other fabric from my stash, I made these beauties and they even made it to her before her birthday!

A little zippered pouch to hold chapstick and other beauty products...

A little zippy pouch, with a picture of my babies tucked in the pocket...

A lil cutie pouch, perfect to clip on to the lanyard she carries...



A notebook to throw in her purse, perfect for holding to-do lists and pictures of my girl...

I gave her a head start on a to-do list:)

Not a bad little package to receive for your birthday, if I do say so myself! I made myself a purse this weekend and I may just make her a matching bag to go with all these goodies...

The Girl's Two Year Pics

Seeing as though Abigail just turned two (and by "just" I mean in May...), I thought I should actually take her two year pictures. There is a picture of a baby girl hanging in our living room that is no longer our baby! She's a big girl now! 

I was putting away some summer clothes in Abigail's room to make room for warmer clothes, since fall is apparently around the corner, when she decided that the shorts and tee I had put on her were no longer going to cut it for the day. She started picking out dresses and, fifteen minutes later, finally decided on one of my favorites. I took that as a sign that I should go get the camera!

I love impromptu photo sessions! Bribes weren't even necessary!

I ordered some prints today and I can't wait to see how they turn out. I ordered from Mpix, which I have never done before so we'll just have to wait and see...Don't worry, Papa, I ordered some for you. They will be delivered by the girl this weekend! Anyone care to share thoughts on Mpix?

And then there is this one. After lunch, the kids took their frozen yogurt outside while I cleaned up the kitchen. I kept sneaking glances at them, not that Abigail would ever get into trouble or anything...Anyways, I missed the shot of Charlie having his arm around his little sister. I'm just glad I managed to get one pic of them before they noticed I was there. They truly are wonderful little people. Feeling very blessed:)

While they were sleeping

 Ooh! I just can't get over how cute these little fairies are! While the kiddos took their last nap of the summer (gasp!), I pieced together some of the blocks for Baby Mac's quilt. I love the combination of the fairies in Alexander Henry's Pocket Pixie line with the tans that I had in my stash. I only hope Jesse and Liz do, too.

 Seven down, nine more to go.

Shh! The kids are still sleeping! Good thing, too. I still need to make a batch of Giada's Mascarpone Chocolate Toffee bars for the teachers' lunch tomorrow. Yes. They are as good as they sound. To the kitchen!

Always Changing

It's been a bit over two years since I left my classroom behind to stay home with the two kiddos. I remember thinking, just after Abigail was born, that I should try to get into some sort of routine around the house. You know, do laundry on this day, vacuum on that day. Ha! What was I thinking? I quickly realized that, at least in our house, our routines and schedules are constantly changing.

 I've enjoyed all the planned and unplanned play dates. I've loved the freedom of last minute phone calls from friends asking to meet them for lunch. Even with Charlie in Pre-K last year, we had the luxury of having a long three day weekend whenever we chose and Ben could take off from work.

I remember nursing Abigail in the park while Charlie played. And now, she sits with him on the tire swing screaming to go higher right along side her brother. I remember wearing her in the Sleepy Wrap as I pitched the ball to Charlie. Now Charlie pitches to her as she holds the bat and tries with all her might to hit just like her brother. Most importantly, our biggest change yet, we are only days away from Charlie starting Kindergarten.

 After packing up his school supplies last night for his supply drop off this afternoon, we grilled some goodness in the form of chicken and portobello mushrooms. We made a salad with cucumbers from Auntie Beth's garden and tomatoes from ours. We ate with the wind blowing in through the windows and for the first time it really hit me. Fall is near and Charlie will spend most of his time in school and not home with me and Abigail.

 Thank goodness there were nine marshmallows left in the cupboard to roast for dessert. This mama needed to squeeze just a few more moments out of summer.

 Abigail prefers to eat hers right off the stick. No roasting required. Charles has obviously mastered the art of roasting and eating marshmallows.

 Even though it was dangerously close to eight o'clock by the time we cleaned up, it was just too beautiful to head inside. We've been putting the kids to bed early all week in hopes that next week's early-to-rise time won't come as too much of a shock. Abigail wanted to swing and Charlie wanted to play catch with Benji.

 How do you say no?

Here's to our days changing once again...

For my baby girl

When I first decided to try quilting, I knew that I would want to make my children a quilt for their rooms. I hesitated making Abbie's so soon in my learning process. After all, I only just completed a rag quilt (and a very small quilt for Benji and I...you know, to just see if I could actually do a "real" quilt.). I fell in love, however, with the Central Park by Kate Spain fabric and it gave me just the push I needed. The colors fit beautifully with the girl's room and there was a good combination of whimsy and little girl in the prints. I stuck with charm packs to make the process a bit easier this first time around and I am glad I did. The piecing together of the top went quite smoothly.

Picking out the backing didn't go so smoothly, however. I had a terrible time choosing! Finally, Benji voiced his opinion and I just went with the blue dandelion fabric from the Central Park line. It's a nice calm for the bold pieces on the front.

There are a few things I wish I would change, but nothing major. I had originally wanted to do some applique on the bottom and/or back of the quilt, but the desire to have the quilt completed in time for her first night in her big girl bed won that battle. I had fabric ready to use for the applique so I will just save that to make some coordinating pillows for the girl. All the other little things that *bother* me, no one else will probably even notice. And most importantly, I don't think Abbie minds one bit:)



My first quilt...

...and my first post! I thought I would join the bloggy-blog world, if only to help me organize all the crafting that I am doing. I find it utterly hilarious right now that I am trying to find something clever to say, even though no one, in all likelyhood, is going to be reading this but me! Sigh.

Anyways, enough pretend pitty party. The first quilt! A simple (and by simple I mean, twelve hours and four broken needles later...) rag quilt. It was made especially for Karl and Becky's little girl due in April.

The front

The back

I love how the colors aren't especially girly. After Abbie was born, I felt like our house exploded in pink!

Here's a close up of the tags I made for all my craftiness. I like the design I created, but am not too happy with how the iron-on transfer is holding up in the dryer. I'll have to try something else next time...

I am going to be making a matching drawstring bag for Big Sis Emily with some of the leftover fabric. The quilt was also practice for the quilt I have started working on for Abbie's big girl bed. Hmm. Maybe I should go work on one of those other projects now...